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Middlegame Strategy Essentials · Kapilash Chess Academy

Prophylaxis

What does my opponent want?

In this lesson you will learn

  • Prophylactic thinking: asking what your opponent wants
  • Moves that prevent the opponent's plan before it starts
  • Classic prophylactic moves like h3 and a4
  • How prophylaxis helps you attack later

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.

10.1 Ask the Question

Before every move, ask: what does my opponent want to do? Sometimes the best move is not an active one, but a move that stops the opponent's plan. This is called prophylaxis. Great positional players — Nimzowitsch, Petrosian, Karpov — were famous for it.

Diagram 10.1White to move

Example 10.1 · Why 9.h3 in the Ruy Lopez

The Closed Ruy Lopez. White wants to play d4. What does Black want?

If White played d4 at once, Black would answer ...♗g4, pinning the knight on f3 that supports d4. So White first plays 9.h3!, taking the g4-square away from the bishop. Only then does White play d4. A small pawn move that prevents the opponent's best piece move is a typical prophylactic idea.

Diagram 10.2Black to move

Example 10.2 · Freeing the cramped position

The Queen's Gambit Declined, Lasker Defence. Black is a little cramped. Black wants to exchange pieces to free the position.

Black exchanges two pairs of minor pieces and frees the position. Exchanges are the natural plan for the side with less space. White, who has more space, would rather keep the pieces on.

Remember

  1. Always ask: what does my opponent want?
  2. A prophylactic move stops the opponent's plan before it starts.
  3. The cramped side should exchange pieces; the side with space should avoid exchanges.
  4. Small pawn moves like h3 or a4 often have a big strategic purpose.

Exercises · Lesson 10

Every exercise has been checked with a chess engine. Find the best move or choose the right plan.

Solve these 10 exercises on the boardCreate a free account to check your moves, open hints and solutions, and save your progress.
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Exercise 10.1Question
White to move

White to move. White wants to play d4. Which move should come first?

Exercise 10.2Find the move
Black to move

Black to move. Find the strongest move.

Exercise 10.3Find the move
White to move

White to move. Find the strongest move.

Exercise 10.4Find the move
White to move

White to move. Find the strongest move.

Exercise 10.5Find the move
Black to move

Black to move. Find the strongest move.

Exercise 10.6Find the move
Black to move

Black to move. Find the strongest move.

Exercise 10.7Find the move
Black to move

Black to move. Find the strongest move.

Exercise 10.8Find the move
Black to move

Black to move. Find the strongest move.

Exercise 10.9Find the move
Black to move

Black to move. Find the strongest move.

Exercise 10.10Find the move
Black to move

Black to move. Find the strongest move.