mid game tactics - guiding principles

in as much as there can be any standard concepts what do people think are the general principles i.e. aim for rooks to the seventh rank, etc.
just after some general ideas

Really, unless your opponent blunders, your goal strategically should be to increase your opportunity for a tactical "shot". This through rooks on open and half open files, knights on outposts that can't be controlled by enemy pawns, bishops on open diagonals, etc.

Originally posted by scoop122
in as much as there can be any standard concepts what do people think are the general principles i.e. aim for rooks to the seventh rank, etc.
just after some general ideas

King Safety
Undefended/Weak defended pieces
Weak squares/square complexes
Space Advantage
Center Control
Initiative
Weak Back Rank
Bishop vs. Knight
Open or Closed position
Pawn Structure
Material

You should think about these every move.

Originally posted by cmsMaster
King Safety
Undefended/Weak defended pieces
Weak squares/square complexes
Space Advantage
Center Control
Initiative
Weak Back Rank
Bishop vs. Knight
Open or Closed position
Pawn Structure

You should think about these every move.

really useful stuff thank you
what are 'square complexes?'

Originally posted by scoop122
really useful stuff thank you
what are 'square complexes?'

I meant to define that more clearly.

There are square "complexes" around the king, let's look specifically at that around black.

f7, g6, h7 - light squared complex

or

h6, g7, f6 - dark squared complex

If these squares are weakened, or are under heavy pressure from white and blacks king is castled kingside black is probably in trouble.


Consider the following position:




I just made it up...but I think it demonstrates the point. White to move and mate in 4. Notice how black weakened the dark squares around his king, and despite having a nice pawn structure and material advantage he is lost - white to mate in 4, because of white's initiative and black's weak dark squares around his king.

Originally posted by scoop122
really useful stuff thank you
what are 'square complexes?'

BTW: I forgot to include "material" in that list.

cms has it down.

look for threats as well, don't forget to look for threats.

Tactics are the watchdog of strategy, so you need to have a strategy, don't just wish for tactics.

Originally posted by cmsMaster
King Safety
Undefended/Weak defended pieces
Weak squares/square complexes
Space Advantage
Center Control
Initiative
Weak Back Rank
Bishop vs. Knight
Open or Closed position
Pawn Structure
Material

You should think about these every move.

One more.

Keep Developing your pieces.

Originally posted by Ramned
One more.

Keep Developing your pieces.

Right, development should be there too if it's early in the game.

Originally posted by scoop122
in as much as there can be any standard concepts what do people think are the general principles i.e. aim for rooks to the seventh rank, etc.
just after some general ideas

An excellent inexpensive book on strategic motifs is "Weapons of Chess" by Bruce Pandolfini.

A better, but much more expensive, book on strategic motifs is "Point Count Chess" by IM I.A. Horowitz and Geoffrey Mott-Smith. This book has been out of print for decades. I hope Dover resissues it at some point.

Originally posted by cmsMaster
I meant to define that more clearly.

There are square "complexes" around the king, let's look specifically at that around black.

f7, g6, h7 - light squared complex

or

h6, g7, f6 - dark squared complex

If these squares are weakened, or are under heavy pressure from white and blacks king is castled kingside black is probably in trouble.


C ...[text shortened]... to mate in 4, because of white's initiative and black's weak dark squares around his king.

it's too early for me to think..whats the mate?

Originally posted by cmsMaster
King Safety
Undefended/Weak defended pieces
Weak squares/square complexes
Space Advantage
Center Control
Initiative
Weak Back Rank
Bishop vs. Knight
Open or Closed position
Pawn Structure
Material

You should think about these every move.

And also,

Compensation (if materially down, what do you have to show for it?)
Kingside/queenside play
counterplay (do you have something to do other than just defend?)
peice placement (eg...knight outposts, rooks on open files, etc)
imbetween moves (anything else to be played before obvoius moves?)
trading down/removing defenders/attackers (do you benifit?)
the peices (ie, in the position is my rook worth less than a Knight)

and time (dont, dont, dont forget the clocks)

Originally posted by Restless Soul
it's too early for me to think..whats the mate?

lol nvm....im awake now

Yasser Seirawan's Winning Chess Strategies is probably the best strategy book I've ever read.

Don't help your opponent.