Jeremy Silman thinking technique cheat sheet
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Minor pieces
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Pawn structure
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Space
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Material
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Files & Squares
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Development
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Initiative
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Doubled pawns
Reduces their flexibility and one or both can be vulnerable to attack
Leads to extra open files and increased squares control |
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Isolated pawns
Cannot be defended by other pawn and very vulnerable in an open file
It's creation my allow its owner to create a half-open file To beat an insolated pawn Control the weak square in front, so it cannot move Trade all minor pieces (ends all attacking chances of the pawn owner) Keep the queen (stops enemy king of taking part on defense) and one or two rooks to double them against the pawn Use a friendly pawn to attack the pinned isolated target The owner of d4-d5 isolated pawn has plenty of space. Keep the pieces and play dinamically. If your opponent manages to trade all minor pieces, trade both rooks as final defense |
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Backward pawns
It's only weak if it's on an open file and unable to advance. To play against fight to control the square in front of the pawn (exchanging square defenders for example)
It deffends an advanced pawn which can be important, and the backward one is not bad if the square in front is well defended |
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Hanging pawns
Can be weak if the other side is able to avoid any dynamic advance of the pair
c4-d4 hanging pair control many important squares, give territory advantage and offer play on half-open b and e files |
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Passed pawns
If the square in front of the pawn is controlled by the other side it's not strong
It is very strong if its owner has play elsewhere, or if the squares in front are cleared |
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If center is locked you should play in the direction your pawns point because it is there where you territory lies
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If center is locked you should try to attack with pawns. This gives you extra space and allows rooks to come into play
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You play on the wings when the center is closed, but otherwise the center is the most important area to concentrate on
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You only play where you have a favorable imbalance or the possibility of creating a favorable imbalance
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You may also start a King-hunt if you have a large lead in development and think you can land a knockout blow before he can recover
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Bishops & Knights are both worth three points. It's up to you to make your piece more valuable
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Bishops are best in open positions
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Bishops are very strong in endgames where both sides have passed pawns dashing to queening
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A 'bad' bishop is one on same color as your center pawns. You'll want to do three things:
Trade it Get the pawns off the bishop's color Get the bishop outside the pawn chain |
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A bishop weakness is that it is stuck on one color. Thus the force of the bishop pair
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Knights love closed positions with locked pawns
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Knights stand better in the center of the board. A knight on the rim controls less squares and needs more time to reach the other side of the board
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Knights need advanced support points to be effective
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Knights are superior to bishops in an endgame where all pawns are on one side of the board
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Steinitz rule: best way to beat knights is to deprive them of advanced support points
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Material beats initiative if you can neutralize opponent's plusses and equalize the game
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Material gives extra unit of force. Make the unit to participate and outnumber your opponent
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Material edges like exchange are only useful if you can give the rook an open file
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When you win material you may find your pieces out of balance. This is because you need a new goal. Don't rush, bring your pieces together and prepare a new plan: material is a long-term advantage
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The center is the board area you would like to control the most
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If center is locked you should play in the direction your pawns point because it is there where you territory lies
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The best reaction to an attack on the wing is a counterattack in the center
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A full pawn center gives its owner territory and control over key squares
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Once you create a full pawn center you must make it indestructible
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Don't advance the center too early! Every pawn move leaves a weak square in its wake
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If your opponent has created a full pawn center you must attack it. For him it's strong, for you a target
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If center pawns get traded, then open files exists for your rooks
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If center becomes locked play switches to the wings
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With a closed center you know which wing to play by noting the direction pointed by your pawns
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A wide open center allows attack with pieces. A closed center means you must attack with pawns
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When you have more space it's better to avoid exchanges
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When you have less space it's better to exchange
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A spatial plus is a long-term advantage. Do not hurry
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A lead in development means that you must start some aggresive act
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A lead in development means the most in open positions
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If enemy king is in the center and you have a lead in development start an immediate attack
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A closed position often nullifies a lead in development
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The goal doesn't have to be mate! Win material, or get the two bishops in open position, or leave the opponent with weak pawns, etc will do
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Use your pawns to blast open files
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Don't open a file if the opponet can take it away from you
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If creation of an open file has nothing to do with your other positive imbalances, don't waste your time in doing it
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At times you can allow the opponent to dominate an open file as long as you make sure no penetration points exists along it
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Always expect the opponent to see your threat and make the best reply
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Play to win
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If you find a plan that conforms the position, follow through with it
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Play with confidence
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If you find yourself lost, tighten everything up. Play the move that you would hate to see in opponent's situation
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If your opponent is in time preassure never try to move quickly and push him over the clock
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