This happens to me all the time, I can't find a good move in a given, somewhat harmless position, so I just move, and that move ends up being a mistake. Often times, when I analyze the board, ANY MOVE would make my position worse. So in such cases, what do you guys do? Is it better to simply move a peice that isn't much of a factor in the middlegame, like the king, back and forth?
Originally posted by mateuloseWhenever this happens to me I should just resign cos I always end up losing.
This happens to me all the time, I can't find a good move in a given, somewhat harmless position, so I just move, and that move ends up being a mistake. Often times, when I analyze the board, ANY MOVE would make my position worse. So in such cases, what do you guys do? Is it better to simply move a peice that isn't much of a factor in the middlegame, like the king, back and forth?
Originally posted by gumbieNo! Go back to the game. Put it on a side board. Think about it and try to find a plan. What would be your first move in that plan? Make it and sit on the other side and find a reply. Repeat that until you feel there is no better move. If all options fail, then consider another plan.
Whenever this happens to me I should just resign cos I always end up losing.
Of course there is a limit to all that. All I am saying is that you must think of a plan, not just a move.
Yep, you need to consider what you think your opponent may do next. Where are you vulnerable? Where might your opponent attack your position? What can you do to defend against such an attack? What are your weak spots? Are your opponent's defenses weak in any specific areas? What part of your opponent's defenses are you targeting?
These are some of the questions you need to ask yourself. Work with what you know. Where is the opponent's pawn defense the weakest? If it's at the base, see if you can target the base. If the pawn defense is strong out to the center, consider challenging the oncoming pawns directly at the front lines, middle ranks 4 and 5. Offer up an exchange. What pieces to you value most? Are you willing to trade a knight for a bishop? Or is your knight more valuable than a single bishop?
These are the things you've got to consider. In mid-game, it's about having a winning strategy. And like Mephisto2 said, a winning strategy usually only comes about through careful planning.
😀
Originally posted by mateuloseI just make a bad one! No, but seriously, what I do is make sure I am thinking about strings of moves, so I never not know what I am doing.....Don't think one move at a time, keep the moves coming!
This happens to me all the time, I can't find a good move in a given, somewhat harmless position, so I just move, and that move ends up being a mistake. Often times, when I analyze the board, ANY MOVE would make my position worse. So in such cases, what do you guys do? Is it better to simply move a peice that isn't much of a factor in the middlegame, like the king, back and forth?
I will move the pieces around on the analyse board for a bit. First i look to see if my opponent has a good move. If i can't see one, i'll look to win a piece. If i can't do that then i will look for a move that takes away a key square from my opponent (limit the movement of a knight or something like that). Once i think i've found a move, i'll stick it in the notes section and play another game. I might come back and look at the game 10 times over 2 or 3 days until i am satisfied the move i have is the best. You'll never know just how many times i've thought a game is hopeless, but after a couple of days i realise i have a great move i can make. When you find yourself in a position that doesn't have an obvious move, you are at a crunch point were your move will decide if you win, loose or draw. It's worth spending the time to get it right! 😉
I tend to rely on what I picked up from A. Nimzowitch and Znosko-Borovsky. Nimzowitch's "My System" focuses on recognizing certain patterns and knowing how to play against them. Znosko-Borovsky's "The Middle Game in Chess" teaches you to analyze the board based on tempo, space and material.
I first look for things like open files, holes in the enemy pawn structure (or my own!), the combination of both (Nimzowitch's "Outpost" ) , access to the 7th, King checks, pawn chains (Nimzowitch definition, where both sides have interlocking pawn chains, as in the Advance French), etc.
I also count tempo (ZB definition, which is the minimum number of moves it would take you to get your pieces into the position they are in) and space and see which I have an advantage in, if any. If it's space, I play carefully to constrict his options by controlling more space, and if it's tempo, I play aggressively in order to take advantage of my greater time advantage.
Also I look to develop or better develop poorly positioned pieces, defend any piece that's out there hanging, etc.
Oftentimes I have a hard time with this too though.
Originally posted by trains44Whoa! That's the one move that cannot be undone.
MY RULE IS..."WHEN IN DOUBT, PUSH A PAWN" SINCERELY, TRAINS44
Don't push unless you know you want to, or know you need to.
If you can't find a good move for you, as has been suggested before, find your opponents best move and do something to prevent it from happening.