Training Resources

Plans

• Plan:

It is result of right assessment of the Position.

A Good Plan effectively gives us advantage and take away the advantage of opponent

• Parameters of Planning

Realisation of Advantage and its Type (Material, Static, Dynamic)

Improvement of Position (Current and Possibilities)

Transition to End Game with Exchanges

Advantage

• It is when a position favours a player and helps in increasing the ability to attack, nullify the treat of opponent and provide potential to use tactics.

• At a given position, an advantage may favour either the player or their opponent.

• Advantage of a player can be countered with the advantage of their opponent

• Types of Advantage

Static Advantage is when a position continues to favour the player.

Dynamic Advantage is when a position temporarily favours the player

Material Advantage is when a position favours the imbalance of material. This is realized if one has more active pieces

Structural Advantage is when an irreversible position favours the player. It is realized if one has a pawn structure which compliments the pieces.

• A player gets advantage by Strategies and Tactics. They can be found at any stage of the game. They help in Attack and Defense both.

Strategy

It is a plan which oversees the general development of positions in the game. It is used when player intends to realise a static advantage

• Parameters of Good Strategy

Open Lines:

Open Spaces:

Outposts for Pieces:

Pawn Structure:

• Principles of Good Strategy

Relative Value of Pieces:

Coordination of Pieces:

• Development of Good Strategy

Positional Play: A game play which intends on improving the position of the player

Weakness Control: While improving on a parameter of positional play, if another parameter is compromised, a weakness can be created. Player must minimize their weakness and be able to exploit opponent weakness

Activity Control: When a player has control over the flow of moves and change in positions

• Indicators of a Strategic Advantage

These indicators must be tested for a given position from perspective of both player and their opponent 

Pawns:

Pawn Structure

Backward Pawns

Double Pawns

Isolation of Pawn

Passed Pawn

Blockade

Pieces:

Good Bishop / Bad Bishop

Bishop Pair

Queen and Knight

Connected Rook

Battary

Tactics

It is a plan which which oversees the existing / current position of the game. It is used when a player intends to realise the potential dynamic advantage

• Calculations

By the nature of situations that arise on the board, we can distinguish between quiet positions that do not require intensive calculations of variations. On the contrary, their are sharp positions where consequences of any move has high impact. The tactics are most effective where Calculations are needed. If it work out, we get a significant and probably decisive advantage but if it doesn't, it works in favour of the opponent.

• Combinations

It is creating a situation which has a forced variation with a tactical motive. In other words, it is how a player implements Tactics. Combinations are created when a position is calculated with various tactics. 

GM Steinitz showed that Conditions for a Combination must exist. If both sides play correctly, a combination played in an equal or worse position cannot give an advantage. This is where Strategy plays its role.