When a bishop takes a knight (placed on c6 for example) early on in the game, for instance in a ruy lopez style opening..is Black's recapture better with the B7 pawn or D7 pawn ...i heard that your suppose to take (with pawns) towards the centre of the board..
Just wondered what anyone else thought ?
Thanks
I was always taught to take toward the center of the board as well. It allows a better position overall and strengthens your move-base.
Of course there have been times when moving toward the center would have opened me up for attacks so that I felt I *had* to move to a flank, but the base principles usually always say to move toward the middle if you can.
Originally posted by DeepThoughtWhat's MCO?
MCO gives 4. ... bxc6 ?! 5. d4 exd4 6. Qxd4 saying that this leaves white in control of the centre. In general the rule is to take towards the centre, but there may be some other stronger reason for taking outwards.
It's really simple then. The important thing is not capturing towards the center, but to try and gain control of the center? And if capturing outwards actually increases my control of the center, I should do that.
I'm always terrified of capturing outwards (early in the game) because it leaves a big whole in front of my more important pieces. Guess, that's one of the things I've been doing wrong. 🙂
