McCreadyandChess

Find a player you like to study, play through one of their games until you find a position of interest, then pick up your board and put it in the freezer. Take it out an hour later, set it down on a table and whilst the frost melts, take a good look at the features of the position from both sides without worrying about whose move it is or finding the best move (ensure that frozen peas haven’t found their way onto the board and are doubling up as pawns).

According to Kasparov techniques which give us a broader understanding of positional elements rather than an intuitive grasp of the best move are important for our development. He claims that liberating ourselves from the anxiety of ‘the move’ is a useful technique which can deepen our understanding of chess. He argues that only with a deliberate analysis, can we find the core of a position. Let’s have a quick look at an instructive game position:

Marshall – Nimzowitsch New York 1927

If we were to encounter such a position whilst looking for the best move, we might consider moves such as Re1 for white, trying to capitalize on the open file, or as black then perhaps a kingside pawn storm with g5 and h5 to come but it is only a deeper understanding of the importance of the pawn structures that offers the route to victory for black here. In the game itself, Nimzowitsch understood that white’s doubled pawns must be blockaded with a knight on c4, he knew he would be able to exploit the weaknesses in white’s queenside and win the endgame accordingly if he could do so. Such strategies are less likely to be appreciated by players intent on finding the best move, and more likely to be overlooked entirely.

Black is about to gain a winning advantage with Na2

So the next time you find an interesting game, stop searching for the best move and have a deeper look at the positional factors involved. Look at the pawns, the pieces, king safety and so on. Try to decide which position you prefer and why. Let’s look at a more contemporary position. Forget about who’s move it is, which side stands better and why? What positional factors are most significant and why? What are the strengths and weaknesses of white and black’s respective position? I’m not going to state the result of the game this time, as that would be counterpart to my purpose.

Ivanchuk – Anand Linares 1992

Enjoy.