Getting a good positional understanding is an important step to improving your play and becoming a stronger player. Studying the basic themes, seeing the positional masterpieces played by the great players and solving many exercises can help you in this direction. One of the most important concepts, which appears in probably every single game is weaknesses and understanding how to identify and use them in your advantage. Not only this, but you have to also try to create as little as possible in your position and know how to get rid of them if you have any.
A weak point is defined as a point in your opponent’s side of the board that cannot be defended by another pawn. This can be only a square that you can use for your pieces in the future or a pawn that can become a target of attack.
Although this idea seems easy to understand, things may not be so easy at first, when you are just starting to get acquainted with this concept. In this article, we want to clarify a few things about it and give you a few tips on how to use them in your favor.
1. Find the second front of the attack
Having to defend only one point can be sometimes easy for your opponent. Yes, he will have to stay passive, but as long as he can hold his position together it may become difficult for you to find a way to break through. This is why it is important to find or create a second weakness.
With all his pieces tied up to the defense of one point already, it will be difficult for your opponent to switch to the defense of a second one. Combine threats against both of them and your attack is likely to succeed.
2. Don’t hurry
When you have obtained a position where you are totally in control and your opponent has no active ideas it is important to keep it this way. You don’t have to rush and try to win the game immediately by opening the position or creating unnecessary weaknesses in your camp.
Pay attention to your opponent’s ideas of counterplay; opening the position too much may give him chances to become active and, even though you may see that the computer’s evaluation is still very much in your favor, in a practical game it will be much more difficult to win.
Don’t give your opponent any practical chances that force you to find exact moves in order to convert your advantage. Instead, keep building the pressure and improve your pieces and wait for the right moment to strike.
Well what are your weaknesses apart from these?
Let us know in the comments down below and feel free to share as it will help all the chess lovers to understand and face their weaknesses.