Skip to content
TheChessWorld.com
TheChessWorld Facebook TheChessWorld Twitter TheChessWorld Pinterest TheChessWorld YouTube
  • Start Here
  • Play
  • Learn
    • Training Techniques
    • Openings
    • Middlegame
    • Endgames
    • General Information
  • Tournaments
  • Academy
  • 21-Day Course
  • Store
    • TheChessWorld
    • TCW Academy
    • iChess
    • Chess-Teacher
    • Modern Chess
    • Roman Chess Lab
    • Foxy Chess
    • Grandmaster Magazine
    • ChessLecture
    • ICC
    • Rules Chess Strategies
    • Improve My Chess
    • Others
  • Contact
TheChessWorld.com
Close

Won Positions: 4 Tips for Converting Them

WGM Raluca Sgîrcea, IM Renier Castellanos
WGM Raluca Sgîrcea, IM Renier Castellanos
03.26.2019
Category: General Information
Tags: comverting games, exchanges, how to play chess, masters secrets, middlegame, winning, won positions,
Won Positions: 4 Tips for Converting Them

Won Positions are said the most difficult ones to win. And I believe many of you can relate to this saying. No matter how big the advantage, there are opponents who just won’t give up and will put up stubborn resistance. Not only that, but our brain sometimes seems to be on their side as well – we make decisions that later cannot explain or understand ourselves. It’s as if the thought of having a won position sometimes paralyzes our brain and we cannot continue to just simply play chess.

Or, we consider the position so winning that we expect our opponent to give up and resign any time now and we relax too soon. This is a huge mistake and is what opens the gates of unexpected chances for our opponent.

How should we react in these moments, then?

Get stressed about the advantage and see ghosts everywhere?

No – see the “brain freeze” above – but you should:

1. Be more alert and pay more attention to your opponent’s ideas

You are winning – you know it and so does your opponent. But nobody will go down without a fight. So expect him to try to get active or set little traps. Keep your eyes wide open, but don’t panic either. They shouldn’t work, you just have to find the right way to fend them off and create threats yourself.

2. Won Positions: Keep playing chess

Most people expect to win immediately after getting material advantage. While this can sometimes happen, it may not always be the case. It’s important to cool your head and just get on with the game.

Stop thinking about the material advantage that you have and tell yourself that this is where the game starts – the strategy is the same and so are the rules of the attack or the tactics. Continue playing as if it was a normal game, only that you have a bigger army than your opponent.

3. Trades favor you, but don’t execute them automatically

With fewer pieces on the board, your opponent’s chances of getting the initiative and trying to mud the waters are significantly lower.

However, you should take into account the type of endgame you want to achieve as well – assess your winning chances correctly and avoid the situations where your opponent may be able to fight for a draw. On the other hand, before exchanging any pieces you should evaluate if trades really are in your favor.

  • Are you attacking?
  • Whose king is safer?
  • Can you get the initiative?

These are only some of the questions you have to find answers to before deciding on a trade.

We also recommend reviewing Exchanging Queens – The Complete Lesson.

4. Won Positions: Limit your opponent’s activity

With nothing left to lose, expect your opponent to try to get active and complicate the game at any cost. While the odds should still be in your favor, there’s no point in entering a double-edged position where, as winning as you may still be, it would be easy for you to make a mistake and lose the advantage.

The initiative is very important during a game, but in these cases, it becomes even more valuable. Try to hold on to it at all times and don’t overlook your opponent’s active ideas, thinking that they are not dangerous anyway. Always try to keep him in a passive position and be the first to create dangerous threats!

We hope that the ideas above will help you to convert the advantage successfully in your future games. Remember, this is not always an easy task, so you shouldn’t relax too soon, but you shouldn’t become stressed about it either – just keep playing simple chess!

Find this post useful? Share it?
Become a Chess Player You've Meant to Be!
TCW Academy is the fast, fun & convenient way to become a MUCH better chess player.
Join Academy Today!

Related Posts

  • 7 Rules to Follow When Playing Middlegame7 Rules to Follow When Playing Middlegame
  • The Struggle for the Initiative in the OpeningThe Struggle for the Initiative in the Opening
  • 10 Reasons to Study Chess Middlegame10 Reasons to Study Chess Middlegame
Related Products
0 0 votes
Article Rating
Login
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Join the FREE Road to 2200 Masterclass (and learn how to Attack Like a Chess Master)
We value your privacy
Supercharge Your Chess in 21 Days!
Join Academy Today!
TheChessWorld.com
http://pogonina.com/
Company
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • F.A.Q.
  • Partnership
  • Blog
  • Grandmasters
  • Jobs
Chess Resources
  • TCW Academy
  • The Store
  • 21 Day Course
Top Resources
  • Opening Lab
  • Mastermind
  • Chess Mastery Series
  • Academy
100% Secure Purchase
Customer Support +1 (410) 656-9104
Email Us [email protected]
Contact Us
Facebook Twitter Mail Pinterest Youtube
Copyright 2007-2023 • TheChessWorld.com • All Rights Reserved
Cookie Policy | Acceptable Use Policy | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of all the cookies.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
wpDiscuz
wpDiscuz