Lecture by UMBC Chess Coach Igor Epshteyn
Strategy and tactics in chess deal primarily with the elements of time, space, and material. During a game, advantages can arise in one or more of these elements. Many games are shaped by the evolution of such advantages, which might grow, diminish, or change form. Some advantages, such as time, are volatile: unless the advantage is exploited promptly, it might dissipate. Other advantages, such as material and space, tend to be stable and long-lasting. The relative importance of these elements depends on the particular situation, including the pawn structure.
In this lesson, we will study the importance of time and space in games with open centers. In such positions, rapid development, central control, and king safety are crucial priorities.
When both sides play well, a quick decisive outcome is usually not possible. Instead, White for example, might try to convert advantages in time and space into a superior ending. In some cases--especially when the other makes a mistake--White may be able to convert such advantages into a permanent material advantage, or even a mating attack. In Game 1, White successfully converts an opening advantage in time and space into a decisive attack. In Game 2, White converts a superiority in space into a remarkable zugzwang finish.