CHESS40 العربية

Outposts and plans

Strong squares, and what to do next

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Step 1

An outpost is a square in the enemy half that no enemy pawn can ever attack, best protected by your own pawn. A knight there is a monster.

White: King g1, Rook a1, Rook f1, Knight d5, Pawn e4, Pawn a2, Pawn b2, Pawn c2, Pawn f2, Pawn g2, Pawn h2. Black: King g8, Rook a8, Rook f8, Pawn a7, Pawn b7, Pawn f7, Pawn g7, Pawn h7, Pawn d6. Marked: d5.a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1

Step 2

When there is no tactic, make a plan: find the opponent's weakness, then improve your worst-placed piece, one move at a time.

Step 3

What makes a square an outpost?

White: King g1, Rook a1, Rook f1, Knight d5, Pawn e4, Pawn a2, Pawn b2, Pawn c2, Pawn f2, Pawn g2, Pawn h2. Black: King g8, Rook a8, Rook f8, Pawn a7, Pawn b7, Pawn f7, Pawn g7, Pawn h7, Pawn d6.a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
  1. No enemy pawn can ever attack it
  2. It is in the corner
  3. A queen stands on it
Show the answer

Answer: No enemy pawn can ever attack it

Step 4

There is no tactic on the board. What is a good plan?

An empty boarda8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
  1. Improve the worst-placed piece
  2. March the king forward
  3. Exchange every piece at once
Show the answer

Answer: Improve the worst-placed piece

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