What is Materialism?

Materialism in chess refers to a playing style or attitude where a player places an excessive emphasis on gaining material advantage, often at the expense of other important factors such as piece development or king safety. This typically involves focusing on capturing opponent's pieces, amassing pawns, or otherwise achieving a higher point count. While material advantage is an important aspect in chess, an excessive focus on materialism can be detrimental if it leads to neglecting other crucial aspects of the game.