Bookstudy on Yang's Notes

1. First Principles: Endings, Middle-game and Openings

yang@yhu.me (Yang Hu) — Sat, 16 Jan 2021 16:16:44 -0800

Single pawn
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The King should be in front of his Pawn, with at least one intervening square.
Advance the King as far as possible with the safety of the pawn, and never to advance the Pawn until it is essential to its own safety.

Other Pawn Endings
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ℹ️ Don't push pawns prematurely

don’t push the pawn prematurely, which may send it to the opponent’s King, and you can’t protect it.

In this position, if white pushes the f-pawn, the game draws because ... Kf7. White is better to move his King and force the Black king to the corner, with help from g6 push, controlling the f7 square .

Imbalances and Bishop vs Knight

yang@yhu.me (Yang Hu) — Fri, 15 Jan 2021 22:17:41 -0800

Imbalances: the static and dynamic differences.

List of imbalances
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Minor pieces: the interplay between Bishops and Knights
Pawn structure: doubled/isolated/backward/passed pawns, islands.
Space
Material
Files and squares: files, ranks and diagonals act as pathway, while squares act as homes.
Development: this is a temporary balance.
Initiative: also temporary.

⚠️ Don't look at individual moves!

Try to understand the position, before starting calculation on individual moves.

Bishop vs Knights
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It’s the most important imbalance of the game.

The Center, Territory and Space

yang@yhu.me (Yang Hu) — Sun, 17 Jan 2021 23:18:05 -0800

Amateurs often have no clue of how to use center/space advantage, instead keen on forcing continuations, and unjustified attacks.

Rules of center
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Rule 1. Full pawn center gives control and space.
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A full pawn center gives its owner territory and control over key central squares.

Pawn Structure

yang@yhu.me (Yang Hu) — Sun, 24 Jan 2021 23:04:49 -0800

Knowning which pawn structure is “weak” is not enough: one need to know how to attack them, or making use of the weaknesses.

In general, the formular to attack weak pawns(isolated, backward) is to control the square in front of the pawn so it can’t advance. (the squares are usually weak since no pawn can defend it). Then pile up on the weakness.

Every structure has its pros and cons.

4. General Theory

yang@yhu.me (Yang Hu) — Sat, 16 Jan 2021 22:12:23 -0800

Lichess study of this chapter
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Embedded chessboard from lichess.org

The initiative
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White has the move, which means initiative. He tries to first control the center, or obtain some positional advantage, so it’s possible for him to keep on harrassing the enemy.

He only relinquishes the initiative when he gets for some material advantage in return.

5. End Game Strategy

yang@yhu.me (Yang Hu) — Sat, 16 Jan 2021 22:26:15 -0800

Lichess study of this chapter
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Embedded chessboard from lichess.org

The sudden attack from a different side
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Similar to general theory, the idea is to first attacking on one side, then, with greater mobility of the pieces, quickly transfer attack to the other side and break through, before the opponent can respond.

Bookstudy on Yang's Notes

1. First Principles: Endings, Middle-game and Openings

Single pawn #

Other Pawn Endings #

Imbalances and Bishop vs Knight

List of imbalances #

Bishop vs Knights #

The Center, Territory and Space

Rules of center #

Rule 1. Full pawn center gives control and space. #

Pawn Structure

4. General Theory

Lichess study of this chapter #

The initiative #

5. End Game Strategy

Lichess study of this chapter #

The sudden attack from a different side #

Single pawn
#

Other Pawn Endings
#

List of imbalances
#

Bishop vs Knights
#

Rules of center
#

Rule 1. Full pawn center gives control and space.
#

Lichess study of this chapter
#

The initiative
#

Lichess study of this chapter
#

The sudden attack from a different side
#