Hey guys,
lately I've been having trouble keeping the lead in my games, I often go up a minor piece or Rook vs. Minor piece in the middle stages of the game and then get outplayed in the final stages of the game and go on to lose. My question to all of you geniuses out there is how can I go about learning how to effectively take advantage of being a kNight up? Particularly in the later middle or end stages of the game.
Thanks for reading
-LordofaDown
If you swap off material, particularly pieces, when you are winning materially, then your advantage will become greater. For example two rooks, a bishop and five pawns vs two rooks and five pawns may be quite tricky to win, but a bishop and five pawns vs five pawns will be much easier (I'm talking generally, obviously you can construct cases where this isn't so).
So, when you are material up, swap off as many pieces as you can! And, more subtlety, use the threat of swapping off pieces to get yours onto better squares, forcing your opponent to retreat or face more exchanges.
If the queens or rooks are still on the board then consider sacrificing a pawn or allowing your pawn structure to be disrupted (e.g. doubled pawns) to exchange these. With the queens still on, perpetuals or nasty forks are more likely to happen.
Originally posted by LordofADownWell I'm not a chess genius but sometimes in the past I've found myself in your same condition: up on material, but defeated in the endgame. Here's what I could suggest you:
Hey guys,
lately I've been having trouble keeping the lead in my games, I often go up a minor piece or Rook vs. Minor piece in the middle stages of the game and then get outplayed in the final stages of the game and go on to lose. My question to all of you geniuses out there is how can I go about learning how to effectively take advantage of being a kN ...[text shortened]... ? Particularly in the later middle or end stages of the game.
Thanks for reading
-LordofaDown
FOR NOW - trade pieces whenever you can do it
FOR THE FUTURE - read something about positional tactics: they're much stronger than just go chasing a material advantage! They will also take you through the beautiful art of sacrifices, and make you develop a better, deeper way of playing chess...which is what I'm still trying to learn!
Have fun!🙂
It all really depends on the position. Ask yourself this the next time your up material
-If I trade down, Will my opponent have a better position or counter play
-After I trade down pieces, will my remaining pieces be developed enough to be effective
-Does my opponent have any counter play, or do I have time to prepare for an endgame before trading down.
Any material advantage should prevail in the endgame. Don't make positional sacrifices now in order to trade down when you can trade down material in the future with an even greater edge.
