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Updated Febuary 10, 2010
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| Central Squares: Are They Important? |
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| Written by Yury Markushin |
| Monday, 05 October 2009 22:30 |
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Q. Which of the central squares are more important - d4, d5, e4 or e5? As a point of reference, let's say the player is playing White. Can you explain why? A. That depends if you playing so-called light squared game or dark squared game - which basically means what squares you are trying to dominate. So, if you place pawns on d4 & e5 - light squares (increasing the value for light sq bishop) become more important since black squares are being occupied by pawns. Q. This is the first time I have heard of dark- and light-squared games...it does make a lot of sense. I will look further into this. Thanks for the tip, Yury. A. Take a look at this Slav Defense Exchange variation example: After move 9 position is somewhat symmetrical. White has its central pawns placed on dark squares d4 and e3. Black has its pawns positioned on light squares e6 and d5. From the white's point of view it would be great to get rid of black's light sq bishop since black's influence e4 square is strong. At the same time White has major influence on e5 square: Q. Not confusing at all, Yury because you have taken time to explain it well. Q. so Yury let me get this right if im playing as white and my pawns are on dark squares and blacks pawns are on light squares then I want to take out blacks light square bishop if that's right then why? A. Roy, I think you already got the answer on your question, but let me repeat once again. If you're White and your pawns are on dark squares that means that b1 - g6 diagonal is weak, so is e4 square. In such position (Slav/Semi Slav) c2 is a great square for White's queen. However, since black's light squared bishop control this square it is good to exchange the bishop. Q. Yury, after ruminating on your comment that White will attempt to take out the Black's light-squared bishop, why does Black in this Slav Defense Exchange variation ( I am not familiar with this defense ) do not create a escape square for it since White's Nh4 will definitely bring it down ? A. Well, you right, sometimes they actually do create escape square by playing h6, but there are some problems with that move: it weakens king side since h6 becomes a target for possible sacrifices/attacks, time is needed which black is usually short on, and if White really wants to it is possible to exchange light sq bishops placing light bishop on d3. |
| Last Updated on Monday, 05 October 2009 22:35 |





