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1.Bb2
The bishop makes a threat against the e pawn. The threat is to capture the pawn. But, the opponent does not want to open up the (a1-h8) diagonal for the white bishop. So, black comes over and defends the e pawn with the black rook. |
In chess, we try to attack our opponent for checkmate. However, if the opponent has everything defended, what do you do then? Well, the answer lies in forcing your opponent to give up squares that they defend. These undefended squares are called "Weak Squares" and you can camp your pieces on those squares. But, how do we make a weak square in the first place? We do this by making threats. So, what is a threat? I'll try to explain as simply as I can. But first let's take a look at weak squares.
In the diagram, the two pawns are side by side. When they are together like this, they are not weak because they attack all the squares in front of them (c4,d4,e4,f4). If one of them is attacked, it can advance protected by the other. There in lies the weakness. It is this pawn advance that we should try to get our opponent to do for us because the advance creates for us those "Weak Squares." The weak square concept is at the heart of all master chess play.
So here we have the e pawn advancing to e4. Do you notice the two circles that are directly in front of the pawns? The circles are two new "Weak squares" that are undefended by the opponent. We can camp our pieces on these weak squares without them being captured by the pawns. Also, if you compare this diagram with the previous diagram you might notice a fresh newly opened diagonal(a1-h8) cutting right though the pawns and attacking the kingside where the Black King might be castled. So, how do we get these pawns to advance in the first place? The enemy is not going to advance them unless it is profitable for them to do so or unless we force the opponent to do it for us by making threats.
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1.Bb2
The bishop makes a threat against the e pawn. The threat is to capture the pawn. But, the opponent does not want to open up the (a1-h8) diagonal for the white bishop. So, black comes over and defends the e pawn with the black rook. |
When attacking the castled king, it is wise to make weak squares in front of the pawns that form the wall of the opponent's castle. We do this by making these pawns advance. Once a pawn advances, this pawn can become the object of attack as well as the weak squares that are created.
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1.Qg1
The queen starts out by making a threat against the g7 pawn. If the pawn doesn't advance, it will be captured. Doubling up like this on a file with queen and rook, or two rooks, or on a diagonal with bishop and queen, is called a "Battery." |
I hope that this lesson was explained well enough so you can create these weak squares in your own games. Remember now, the weak squares can be anywhere on the board. It is up to you, and your imagination, to find out what squares to threaten and what weak squares to occupy to build up an overwhelming attack.
I wish you many hours of peace playing our wonderful game of chess.
Copyright © Manus Patrick Fealy 1994-2003
I truly want you to become a better chess player.
