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
    • Chess-Teacher
    • Modern Chess
    • Roman Chess Lab
    • Foxy Chess
    • Grandmaster Magazine
    • ChessLecture
    • ICC
    • Rules Chess Strategies
    • Others
  • Contact
TheChessWorld.com
Close

4 Tips to Improve Your Positional Play

WGM Raluca Sgircea, IM Renier Castellanos
WGM Raluca Sgircea, IM Renier Castellanos,
01.03.2019
992
0
Category: Middle Game
Tags: bishop pair, classical players, knight vs bishop, opposite color bishop, pawn structures, positional exercises
4 Tips to Improve Your Positional Play

Mastering positional play should be one of every chess player’s goals in their journey to improvement. It is highly important to know how to react in different types of positions and how to select the right plan. Not only this, but you will find it easier to do so during the game if you have studied beforehand the typical plans according to the pawn structure or if you have solved many positional exercises, for example.

It will help you make good moves in a shorter amount of time and it will help you save time for the more complicated moments. But how to get there? The key is always to study and here are some things we suggest you include in your training routine.

1. Typical pawn structures

One of the most important factors in choosing the right plan is the pawn structure you have on the board. Learn how to “read” it and you will understand on which side of the board you have to play, how you are supposed to place your pieces, which ones should be kept and which ones you should try to exchange.

Always pay attention to the changes in the pawn structure and modify your plans accordingly.

Try to keep the central tension for as long as possible and only release it when you are sure that the resulting position will be in your favor. Improve your understanding of the pawn structure by seeing many games played by Grandmasters and trying to understand the moves they make and the plans they seek to employ.

2. Games of the classical players

We always emphasize how important this step is in any player’s training routine. Nowadays, when everybody uses the engine to analyze their games, you can see the influence of the machine in many of the top players’ games.

They play fantastic chess, but one that is sometimes difficult to understand.

However, if you turn on the engine, you will find that most of their moves are the computer’s first choice. This will rarely happen in the classics’ games. The ideas employed are most of the times clear and it is beautiful to watch how they convert a positional advantage “by the book”.

3. Switch off the engine

Nowadays, most of the players can’t even conceive watching a game without turning the engine on. With the computer’s evaluation in front all the times, it is easy to criticize a move or consider the engine’s first choice as obvious. However, this will not help your chess. In order to improve, you have to try to find moves by yourself, without any kind of help.

So, next time you are watching a game online, switch off the engine and try to find a good move yourself. Consider it as an exercise; use everything you have learned so far exactly as if you were playing the game.

Another useful thing to do when you are looking at the games of strong players is to try to understand why they played the way they did and what their plan is (again, without the help of the engine).

4. Solve many positional exercises

These ones, just like the tactical exercises, are very important for the improving player. You can solve them from books or you can select them yourself by stopping at the critical moments of a game and trying to find the right way to continue.

From the positional point of view, you can recognize the critical moment as the moment where you have to find a suitable plan for your position.

These are only a few ideas that you can apply in order to improve your positional understanding. Of course, you must not forget about studying the most important positional patterns such as the bishop pair, opposite color bishop, knight vs bishop, favorable tandems, etc. either. They are all equally important and by understanding all of them you will certainly see an improvement in your games.

Good luck!

Find this post useful? Share it?
Updated 07.28.2023
4 Tips to Improve Your Positional Play
Related Posts
The Capablanca Pawn StructureThe Capablanca Pawn StructureChess Strategy for Club Players - Complete GuideChess Strategy for Club Players - Complete GuideKarpov against the Isolated Queen’s PawnKarpov against the Isolated Queen’s Pawn
Related Products
0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Login
Notify of
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!
Company
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • F.A.Q.
  • Partnership
  • Blog
  • Grandmasters
  • Jobs
Chess Resources
  • TCW Academy
  • The Store
  • 21 Day Course
  • Play Computer
  • TCW Academy Login
Top Resources
  • Opening Lab
  • Mastermind
  • Chess Mastery Series
  • Academy
100% Secure Purchase
Money Back PayPal SSL Comodo
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