Positional Play in Chess

What do you do when there are no tactics to consider? You try to strengthen your own position and weaken your opponent's position. To do that, you need to know the elements that distinguish a strong position from a weak one.

Engrave this diagram on the portion of your subconscious mind that you use for chess. The center of the chessboard radiates power. Pieces move through the center of the board the way passengers move through the main train station at the center of town.

The four squares outlined in green are the true center, but the 12 squares immediately adjacent to them are also important. The 4 x 4 square formed by c6, f6, f3, and c3 is sometimes called the extended center.

If your pieces can't occupy the center, the next best thing is that they be within striking distance -- that they can get there as quickly as possible. Every time you make a move, you should consider its impact on the center.