Middle Game

WGM Raluca Sgircea, IM Renier Castellanos
03.21.2018

Probably one of the most difficult concepts for a chess player to understand when he is trying to improve is how to correctly make a plan. We have been told from early beginnings that every move we make should have an idea and a chaotic play leads -nowhere. There is even a famous saying, “having […]

WGM Raluca Sgircea, IM Renier Castellanos
03.12.2018

There are a few classical positions or classic middlegames that every chess player should know how to play. Some of them are the King’s Indian structure with the closed center, the hanging pawns structure, and the isolated central pawn, which is the subject of this article. Clearly, the importance of knowing these structures is because […]

WGM Raluca Sgircea, IM Renier Castellanos
03.09.2018

A basic rule in chess tells us that in order to obtain a better position and win a game we must keep accumulating small advantages throughout the game. We should try to create weaknesses in our opponent’s structure, control the open files, weaken his king, gain space, fight for the initiative and so on. While […]

WGM Raluca Sgircea, IM Renier Castellanos
03.04.2018

The pawn structure is probably one of the elements that we need to pay more attention to during our games. It defines the character of the play, the direction of our attacks, and the plans we have to make. Pawn structures are the foundations that keep a position together. In this article, we are going […]

WGM Raluca Sgircea, IM Renier Castellanos
02.27.2018

The pawn structure is a very important aspect of the game and we should always pay attention to the particularities of every position. This is what helps us determine if the said structure makes our position bad or there is enough compensation to make up for this strategic minus. For example, it is well known […]

WGM Raluca Sgircea, IM Renier Castellanos
01.26.2018

Understanding the fundamental strategic elements is one of the keys to improving your level and converting into a strong player. Strategy is one of the aspects that make the difference between a club player and a master. While lower-rated players can have good opening knowledge and decent calculation skills, it is usually in the strategic […]

WGM Raluca Sgircea, IM Renier Castellanos
01.15.2018

Knowing the classics is a basic part of every chess player’s general culture. In times where modern chess games, engine analysis, and engine spectacular matches occupy 98% of the attention, it is refreshing to look back in time and admire the greatness of the pioneers of our game. There are plenty of books written on […]

WGM Raluca Sgircea, IM Renier Castellanos
12.20.2017

Attacking is one of the most attractive skills for every chess player. Being a positional genius, a boa constrictor, squeezing the small advantages is great, but the ability to find tactics and create direct attacks is something that makes everyone’s eyes sparkle. Like every other chess skill attacking can be learned and trained, it is […]

WGM Raluca Sgircea, IM Renier Castellanos
10.28.2017

When it comes to minor pieces, we know that there are a number of principles that can help us determine which one is good and which one is bad in a specific position. Thus we can properly decide which one to change and which one to keep. Since the bishops are the main subject of […]

WGM Raluca Sgircea, IM Renier Castellanos
09.01.2017

It is very often nowadays that when we study pawn structures we tend to separate them into “good” and “bad” ones. Among the good, we put those queenside majorities, as fewer pawn islands as possible, strong pawn chains in the center, etcetera. Among the not-so-good structures, we consider having an isolated central pawn, doubled pawns, […]