Closed Center Positions | Chess Middlegames
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- Опубліковано 19 бер 2019
- Whether the center is open or closed determines the nature of the position. A closed center means less tactics, lots of maneuvering and searching for pawn breaks and piece activity.
For an introduction to pawn structures, watch this video: • Understanding Pawn Str...
The center is closed if the d and the e files are blocked by pawns (an open center is when the files are open, and semi-open when one of them is free of pawns). This means that the players have locked down their central pawns and blocked the center from opening using them. So it’s going to have to be open using flank pawns - pawn breaks. Either c4/c5 or f4/f5 are going to be necessary to ever move the e and the d pawns.
Closed Center positions have certain traits and things to know about them. Firstly, one side is always going to have more space than the other. Most often it’s going to be white. Whoever has more space has the advantage, albeit small, but still an advantage. In regards to this, whoever has more space also has more piece activity because the pieces have more scope. Hence the player with more space should strive to keep the minor pieces on the board. Rooks are inactive in closed center positions, and cannot exploit space, but the minor pieces can. The side with less space, conversely, should try and exchange as many minor pieces as possible to reduce the significance of the space disadvantage.
The only way to gain activity and create attacking chances is to open the position up. If the center is closed, your best and only chance is a timely pawn break. You always want to break open the position in the direction where your pawn chain is facing. This is generally the direction in which you are going to attack. Look for pawn breaks and open up things for your pieces.
At the same time, try to prevent your opponent from doing the same thing. Closed center positions are often slow and maneuvering, and any progress is going to be made incrementally and in several moves. This means that you can often see what your opponent is planning to do. Once you do, prevent it! If your opponent just played a6, that means that he is probably going for b5. What should you do? Play a4! Stop it!
In closed positions, knights outweigh bishops almost every time. Bishops thrive in open positions in which they have diagonals to control and abundant space. When the center is blocked, the bishops are half dead. So the general rule is that you want to keep your knights and trade of your bishops if possible.
When playing a positions with a closed or blocked center, be patient. Take your time to create a plan. Never rush and don’t let your opponent gain an edge because you missed a timely pawn break or played it when it was too dangerous. Be patient and think ahead!
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Any support is greatly appreciated! Thank you!
#chess
Detailed and clear explanation with well-chosen real game examples, this is what I always looking for. Brilliant!
Thank you very much Jakub:)
Thanks
I really started understanding chess.
Great! And no problem, I'm happy to be able to help.
Impressive!! one of the best Chess UA-cam channel
Thank you:) That means a lot!
absolutely!
Hi, I'm a new subscriber and love your content. One simple suggestion I have for novice players like me: Could you also show the letters A-H at the bottom or top of the chess board? I realize experienced players automatically know which letter corresponds to which square, but that would be a big help for the rest of us. Thank you and keep up the good work!
my problem too :(
Hmm.Thank you for the suggestion. I will try to do something about that. And I'm glad you like the videos:)
Thank you for your thoughtful lecture on closed games. A clear explanation of strategic considerations. You are a skillful teacher. Keep up your great work. Amazing and engaging.
I hope you will reconsider becoming a trainer, though I support your decision should you choose otherwise. At least we will have this wonderful series.
As always, it's a pleasure David. It's also a pleasure to read through your well put and thoughtful comments:) Training is something I don't find myself good enough to do yet. I also lack time to commit to a schedule and I know how bad it is to train with someone on and off irregularly. If I ever do that I want to be able to provide true value and commit my time to the person.
Hey man! Just wanna say I love the fact that you reply to all comments. ☺
Thanks! I appreciate feedback, so if I don't get involved I won't get any:)
Great video! It's incredible how you can summarize such ideas/topics this easy to follow and compact. Especially for me this video was very interesting because I really like playing closed positions myself (I play closed Ruy, French and the Huebner in Nimzo) and I only knew one of the games. Thank you for your work!
Thanks for the great feedback:) I'm happy to hear that the video helped!
Many thanks, another spot-on video. I think we are all lucky to benefit from your recent personal learning experience. This is excellent.
Thank you Rachel. As always, your support is very much appreciated:)
Nice video it helps me alot❤
Fantastic channel. The videos are very didactic, the explanations are quite objective. Congratulations and thank you very much. Keep up the great work!
Thank you very much for the great feedback Brayan! I appreciate the support!
This was a great lesson. I´m a 1700-player. I´m quite one-sided and my games are mostly based on attack and tactics. I hate closed centers. This was, however, an eye-opener for me. Quite interesting as a matter of fact. I´ll watch this again now. I´ll check out our other videos too. Thank you very much.
Beautiful video, as always.
Thank you:)
Just very instructive lessons! I enjoy your videos a lot, and write down notes to study the material. Thanks! :-)
No problem Angel! I'm very happy to hear that you find my videos helpful and instructive:)
Great work just keep it up
Hvala! Ili Thank you!
Your a gifted instructor and help my middle game. Many thanks
very nice video my friend i enjoyed it
Thank you Aiden I'm glad you have!
Very helpful, as these positions are my achilles heel as an intermediate player. That last game perfectly demonstrated positional play without many tactical fireworks but sound long-term decisions.
Great instructive video. Ive learned a lot.
I have seen many videos, trying to get into chess, now I'm reading a book too. This lecture was amazing, thank you, you are the best chess teacher I've ever had.
I must congratulate you because I won two games using this strategy.
Great!
You are a very great personality sir. I am waiting for kid series. Thank you for making great chess videos.
Thank you for the kind words and for watching Vikram:)
Excellent chess lesson - your numbers will grow quickly because your teaching is brilliant! Thank you very much.
Thank you very much for the feedback and for the support Dan!
20 videos into your middlegame playlist and I'm already 200 points up on my rapid lichess rating. You are a great teacher and I support you on Patreon. Thanks and good luck on your journey to GM!
How much do you rate?
It's amazing how these principles work.
Thank you... It is very useful..
One of the best ever, thanks.
Thank you Peter!
Thank you Stephan for this nice video with very good examples and also for talking slower :) :)
No problem Bulent:)
best chess channel
Lovely.Because of u My doubts got clear. Be in touch. Make a video on reti.opening
Happy to hear that Shivam! The Reti series will be recorded!
@@HangingPawns TY . Iam a big chess buff. Love u. Will be waiting .B06 Robatsch (Modern) defense also all variations. For now its much. GBU
@@shivamshah158 I've made a whole series on the modern mate:) Check it out!
@@HangingPawns Robatsch (modern) defence
B06 Sub-variants:
Robatsch (modern) defence
1. e4 g6
Norwegian defence
1. e4 g6 2. d4 Nf6 3. e5 Nh5 4. g4 Ng7
Robatsch (modern) defence
1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7
Robatsch defence, three pawns attack
1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. f4
Robatsch defence
1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3
Robatsch defence, Gurgenidze variation
1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c6 4. f4 d5 5. e5 h5
Robatsch (modern) defence
1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6
Robatsch defence, two knights variation
1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. Nf3
Robatsch defence, two knights, Suttles variation
1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. Nf3 c6
Robatsch defence, Pseudo-Austrian attack
1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. f4
Do u have a video on all
thanks for making this videos and pls provide some exercise problems on your topic sir or atleast give an advice that how to practice on your topics tqqq
and i am a huge fan for you and all the best for your grandmaster journey
thanks sir
No problem Sir!
Could someone explain why knight takes d5 at 16:17?
If pawn takes knight then the bishop is hanging and bishop takes bishop.
@@HangingPawns isn't that good for white? Un-doubles his pawn and gets the knight off the board.
@@jamesgearyjames Completely winning endgame for black. Look at the position after cxd5 Bxd3 - what can white even play? White's King can't even move back to defend unless he plays c4 first, giving black yet another target. What scope does the dark square bishop have? The light square bishop will simply go to e2 and play checkers. White's dark square bishop and king are far too slow to do anything useful; even if they could stop the three connected passed pawns (probably they can't) there's another passed pawn on a7.
White would be more resilient in playing Bd2.
26:42
*Stjepan:* smiling full of excitement "g4! g4! This was, I think, the best move of the game!"
*Me:* -__- clueless, waiting for explanation...
Play more training games
I'll try to. I plan to play more!
am i the only one impressed by the opening theme song?
Did anyone tell that r u very handsome man
No homo
Haha no. Not yet. I've been called Elon Musk 12 times though. Whether that = handsome is subjective.
I did, I'm objective, I'm his mother :)
😆
It's a dead draw😂🤣😂🤣its a dead draw!