Hi Backstab, What information is needed to formulate a plan in chess? I am told I must have a plan yet no book or video explains what the ingredients of a plan are. What is one looking for to make a plan? What are the building bricks of a plan (what do i aim for)? For example, I have just played a lovely opening as any fool can by memorising a few lines of his pet opening. How do I proceed? I realise that by trial and error I should understand how to proceed, but simply playing to avoid losing material in a position as I play is the nearest I have got to a plan.
|
|
I am going to devote today's whole column to your question, as I believe it is THE most important part of chess. Once you get in the habit of forming a plan, you will feel comfortable in all phases of the game (Opening, Middlegame, and Endgame).
We have all heard the saying. "It is better to have a bad plan, than no plan at all". This is true. Think about a plan like a rudder on a ship... Who would have a better chance of getting out of the harbor, a sailor with no rudder, his ship going whever the wind blows it, or a sailor with a firm hand on the rudder... if he starts to go off-course, a little wrist movement puts him back again in the proper direction? I would go so far as to say that without a plan, you are barely playing chess! You are just shuffling your pieces around haphazardly, (He attacks my knight, I move it). Chess is so much deeper, and playing with a plan will reward you with better enjoyment of the game.
So... how DO you come up with a plan? This is a difficult question to answer, and the lack of information you have seen in videos and books is evidence to this. What is the purpose? The answer to that question is: A PLAN SHOULD MAXIMIZE MY ADVANTAGES AND LESSEN OR ELIMINATE MY DISADVANTAGES. There. I said it. But don't close this window yet!
Since formulating a plan is dependent on what my advantages/disadvantages are, it follows that the better I can EVALUATE the position, the better my plan will be. Look at your position and ask yourself the following questions:
- Is anyone ahead in material?
- Who has the safer king position?
- Who controls more space?
- Do either of us have an advantage in Time?
- What about pawn structure? Any permanent weaknesses?
- What, if anything, is my opponent threatening?
The answers to these questions will go a long way toward formulating the proper plan. A mistake I see often is players who memorize opening moves WITHOUT knowing the purposes behind these moves. DO NOT simply memorize opening moves!! Maybe I should have capitilazied the word "simply"... it is OK to memorize the moves, but learning the reasons behind the moves will help you in your planning... in other words, you wil know what you are trying to accomplish.
There is one thing to add. First importance is accurately evaluating the position. But MORE important is to know the PRIORITY of each element. Often we are faced with choices of priority: Our next move could fix a weakness in our pawn structure, or instead we could make a move that would force our opponent to weaken his castled King position. In my experience, it is better to force the weakness in your opponent than to take the time to fix your own. Fortune favors the bold, and if you force a weakness in your opponent, then you have a better chance of seizing the initiative. Which reminds me, another way of approaching the search for a plan, is PICK THE PLAN THAT PROMISES THE BEST CHANCES FOR GAINING THE INITIATIVE. Let me repeat something I said in an earlier column: THE INITIATIVE IS THE SECRET BEHIND EVERY ATTACK THAT SHIROV, KASPAROV AND!!!!! FISCHER EVER PLAYED!!!! Chess is a game of Thought and Desicion-Making. With EVERY move, you should consider how your next move will strengthen your initiative, or decrease the initiative of your opponent. This is the HALLMARK of all good players, and the DIFFERENCE between being average and excellent.
I hope these comments help you in your search for the all-important plan.
|
