Open Center Positions | Chess Middlegames
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- Опубликовано: 3 окт 2024
- An open center means aggressive play, active pieces and battles on the open files!
For an introduction to pawn structures, watch this video: • Understanding Pawn Str...
The open center occurs when there are no pawns on the d and the e files. This makes the position suit the pieces much more. It gives the pieces more scope and more potential activity. Whichever side manages to utilize the extra space first is is going to have what is called the initiative - a greater attacking potential and the ability to conquer squares, win space and push the opponent to the defensive.
Several principles which apply to positions with an open center should be kept in mind while playing these sorts of positions:
1. Piece activity is your priority!
Try to find the most active square for your pieces. Rooks belong to the open files, and since the center is open, put them on the d or the e file. Doubling rooks is the most thematic maneuver in these types of positions. Doubled rooks have the potential of infiltrating your opponents position and overwhelming it. Bishops need long diagonals on which they will be able to fulfill both defensive and attacking roles. Knights are best kept on safe squares if there are any, or deep in your opponent’s camp. Squares like f5 are perfect for them. Your queen and all of your pieces should be aimed at the king. Attacking is what matters most!
2. King safety
If you can attack, your opponent can too. Make sure that your king is safely guarded while you mount your offensive. The best way to do so is to make your pieces fulfill double duty. Bishops are ideal for that!
3. Bishops outplay the knights
Open center means open diagonals and no outposts. This makes the knight a less valuable piece, unlike in closed positions. Bishops, on the other hand will thrive with the roads to your opponent’s king wide open. The rule is to trade in a way that favors you - trade your knights for the bishops!
4. The endgame is equal
Most often the pawn structure is going to be nearly symmetrical when the e and the d files are open. That means that in an endgame neither side is going to be able to create a passed pawn. One thing to remember is that in that case you want to have a bishop and not the knight because bishops are able to control pawn on both sides of the board.
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Every time I watch your videos I just feel the need to tell you how much I love that little intro with the stop motion :D
Thank you Isabela. I managed to do it with the help of my gf who is an animator and when I pest her to help me do something she will often do it mostly herself:)
@@HangingPawns Interesting 😅
The engine just attacking you on the last game was really funny to watch. I’m enjoying the playlist so far ❤
Second middle game video of the day. We are both blessed and blasted. Truly exceptional excellent nearly overwhelming volume of instruction. It's great being able to have direct comparison of closed and open centers, but it feels like a fire hose of information. I know you've got goals to meet. Fire on the channel! You're a superhero of RUclips chess.
Thank you David:) I would suggest finding some games online, setting them over the board and trying to steer them in the direction of open or closed center somewhere in the late opening or early middlegame. Find a position in which you think the players could've chosen one or the other. Then play the game out with the ideas from the videos!
@@HangingPawns I will do that.
u can say that again
Bf5 in the last example is so illuminating to me. It doesn't set up any impending attack but takes away squares - this is demonstrably what the most active square' amounts to, I guess., a small but worthwhile improvement.. In the video, you get clear about what a this 'most-active-piece' locution actually entails in concrete play. "Activate your pieces" is more or less a slogan to players my level (1450), because my concept of activation is precisely what needs to be improved.
Learning strategy from your videos is as entertaining as it is instructive ...thank you very much for that
You said nothing
@@Cursein you said what only a twat says
@@Cursein If you used more than 1% of your brainpower you will realize that they did communicate something.
You are the hero of many chess player, Sir carry on
I feel I learn more from you than even my other favourite GingerGM. Due to more depth and doesn't take for granted that all viewers understand.
And to be honest, with all your knowledge it scares me that your rating isn't higher. It will take so many years to understand all this.
Thank you Sven. That means a lot!:)
Hi Sven. I seem to be dreaming. I am also a guy just like you who watches Gingergm and Hanging pawns. I learn the general principles from Stjepan and watch Gingergm's longer games where he use those principles. I can't believe a guy had been just like me 3 years back. My first favourite is gingergm too!
Damn it this video deserve a 1m view 😉 good job
:D Thank you!
@@HangingPawns you're welcome 😉 I started learning chess and i found it very enjoyable
Very helpful Mr.Stephan.Please continue the good work.Undoubtedly the best you tube Chess channel to understand the finer nuances of the game.
Thank you very much for all the videos, they have tremendous educational value .. You help me understand the game better and I am grateful for that .. Keep going
Thank you for the kind words and for watching:)
I am so much weak in open centre position. I like defensive ones, attacking ones and closed pawn structures(a reason why I play Caro kann) but in open centre position( reason why I hate playing against Sicilian and never touch to play d4) I and my level players(1900) don't know what to do. I must learn Sicilian theory other than Najdorf and French variation which I watched on your channel. THANKS for that as well. Now I know 😌. Thank you Stjepan.
Definitely fire on this channel!
thanks sir
No problem. Thank you for watching!
Very cool explanation
as always good and very instructive, thank you!!
Thanks:)
I m a Chess lover
I like your videos so much !!
Very helpful. Thank you.
Excellent video!
Thank you!
I think it's hard to suggest a move for White in 26:40 given ...Rxf5 or ... Rxe3 is threatened. What do you think he should have done?
Thanks
Around 28 min after white plays Td8, black is kind of forced to play g6. If you simply move the bishop away from a8 you get Lh7:+ and then Tf8: . If you put it on e4, you have Sg4, Df5 and Dd6 wins the game because you dont have the inbetween check Re1+.
Great video and great channel by the way! I am on a similar quest as you, i just don't aim as high :D Best of luck
Thank you Aleksandar. Good luck to you too!
perfect video
Thank you Adam:)
26:54 I think a better move for black would be Rook takes bishop and knight can't capture back, black is up a piece by the moment but if played perfect is a draw
You could just retrieve with the rook as white and you would be up the exchange
@@fpenzar4177 you cant, the best move for white after rook takes bishop would be to trade back then the black bishop as it cant move
I think it's risky for Black. I'm looking at, after 1. ... Rxf5, 2. Rxf8+ Kxf8 3. Rd8+ now if: 3. ... Ne8 4. Rxe8 Qxe8 (...Kxe8 Qd8#) 5. Nxf5 and White is simply a piece up. And if: 3. ... Ke7 4. Nxf5+ Ke6 Which doesn't look too good for Black because of his exposed King
Important points:
12:50
16:39
23:04
Great!!
Thanks Joel:)
Hello Sir I like your channel but I try to download your video here in RUclips but it came Download Failed I tries a lot but it can’t, Why is this Sir ?
I have no idea. I didn't know you could download from youtube:D
Hanging Pawns yes hehe, some of your videos i saved to offline in my iOS phone but a lot it can’t, maybe I need to use android to download absolutely
Hanging Pawns yes hehe, some of your videos i saved to offline in my iOS phone but for others it can’t, maybe I need to use android to download absolutely
In android I just use vidmate app and for iOS I saved it only in offline Sir 😂
At 26:55. On B×f6 .R×Ne3. Was a better move. Threatening check mate and gaining a more piece???. Do reply
But after I take the rook with the f pawn I'm defending mate with my rook from e2. Not a bad move though.
@@HangingPawns oh yes. Missed that
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