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StrategyChapter 11 · Imbalances

Improve the worst piece.
Claim useful squares.

Strategy begins when no immediate tactic decides the position.

ConceptUnderstand before you move

Compare material, king safety, pawn structure, space, development, weak squares, files, diagonals, and good-versus-bad pieces. Build a plan around the most important imbalance.

  • Find your least active piece and its best realistic square.
  • Use outposts that cannot be chased by enemy pawns.
  • Open files belong to rooks; open diagonals belong to bishops; closed centres often favor knights.
Last moveO-Oe8 → g8White to move
FEN & PGNTap any move above for its position+
FEN · current
r1bq1rk1/pp3ppp/2nbpn2/2pp4/3P4/1P1BPN2/PBP2PPP/RN1Q1RK1 w - - 3 8
PGN · through this move
1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3 e6 4. Bd3 c5 5. O-O Nc6 6. b3 Bd6 7. Bb2 O-O
♘
Your move

Place the knight on the central outpost.