Games Explorer

Modified by Chris  12 Jul '07 22:00

The Starting Position

Both armies are perfect mirrors of one another. The opposing armies are in balance, or what Wilhelm Steinitz called the equilibrium. Generations of chess players have debated the outcome of a game that was perfectly played by both sides. Would the games always be drawn? Because White disturbs the equilibrium by moving first, he gains the advantage of being able to develop his army as well as lay claim to a piece of the center. Black reacts in such a way as to restore the equilibrium. Thus there is a constant shifting in this elusive concept of the equilibrium. If White plays perfectly then Black should always be playing catch up until the forces of both armies are exhausted and the game drawn. Theoretically then, a victory occurs when one side has made a mistake and the equilibrium can no longer be restored.

This text was taken from the book Winning Chess Openings by Yasser Seirawan.

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