Exercise 1.1Question
White to move
White to move. Which move fits the plan of improving the worst piece?
1
Middlegame Strategy Essentials · Kapilash Chess Academy
How to Make a Plan
Four questions before every plan
In this lesson you will learn
- The four questions that describe any middlegame position
- How to find your worst piece and improve it
- Why a slow, logical plan beats random moves
- How the pawn structure tells you where to play
Every board on this page is live. Move the pieces by tapping or dragging, click any move in the lines to see that position, and press ↺ to start again.
1.1 What Is Strategy?
Tactics are short, forcing sequences: checks, captures and threats. Strategy is everything else — where your pieces belong, which pawns to push, which pieces to exchange and on which side of the board to play. When there is no tactic on the board, you still need a reason for every move. That reason is your plan.
Strong players do not find plans by inspiration. They look at the position and ask the same few questions every time. The answers point to the plan.
- Material. Who has more, and is any piece or pawn about to be lost?
- King safety. Is either king weak, open or short of defenders?
- Piece activity. Which pieces are working, and which piece is your worst?
- Pawn structure. Where are the weak pawns and weak squares? Which side of the board do the pawns point to? Which pawn breaks are possible?
Rule of thumbPlay on the side of the board where your pawn chain points, or where you have more space. Your pawns tell your pieces where to go.
1.2 Improve Your Worst Piece
When the position is quiet, the simplest good plan is to find your worst piece and bring it to a better square. A knight on the edge, a bishop blocked by its own pawns or a rook that has not moved yet — each is a target for improvement.
Diagram 1.1Black to move
Example 1.1 · The knight tour in the Italian
A slow Italian Game. Nothing is attacked and both kings are safe. Which white piece is worst?
The knight on d2 blocks the bishop on c1 and does little. Via f1 it reaches g3, where it eyes f5 and h5 and supports the kingside. This manoeuvre — ♘bd2–f1–g3 — appears in thousands of games in the Italian and the Ruy Lopez. Notice that White does not hurry: the centre is closed enough that a slow plan is safe.
Diagram 1.2Black to move
Example 1.2 · The same idea in the Ruy Lopez
The Closed Ruy Lopez. The centre is tense; White's queenside pieces are still at home.
If Black opens the c-file, White's knight goes to b3 to support d4. If Black waits, the knight follows the classic route d2–f1–e3 or g3. In both cases White improves the worst piece first and decides on the pawn structure later.
TipWhen you cannot find a plan, ask: 'Which of my pieces would I most like to move to a better square?' Then find the route.
Remember
- Ask four questions: material, king safety, piece activity, pawn structure.
- The pawn structure shows where to play.
- In quiet positions, improve your worst piece.
- Classic route: ♘bd2–f1–g3 or e3.
Exercises · Lesson 1
Every exercise has been checked with a chess engine. Find the best move or choose the right plan.
Exercise 1.2Find the move
White to move
White to move. Find the strongest move.
Exercise 1.3Find the move
White to move
White to move. Find the strongest move.
Exercise 1.4Find the move
Black to move
Black to move. Find the strongest move.
Exercise 1.5Find the move
Black to move
Black to move. Find the strongest move.
Exercise 1.6Find the move
White to move
White to move. Find the strongest move.
Exercise 1.7Find the move
White to move
White to move. Find the strongest move.
Exercise 1.8Find the move
White to move
White to move. Find the strongest move.
Exercise 1.9Find the move
White to move
White to move. Find the strongest move.
Exercise 1.10Find the move
White to move
White to move. Find the strongest move.