Chess Tutoring, Chess Coaching, Chess Classes with NM Will Stewart

The essence of chess war is struggle between two opposing armies, or two hostile and irreconcilable wills of the generals of the two armies, each trying to impose itself on the other. It is like a pair of wrestlers locked in a hold, each exerting force and counterforce trying to throw the other. Chess war is therefore a process of continuous mutual adaptation, of give and take, move and countermove. The key here is that [...]

Everybody knows the importance of infantry. As the oldest branch of combat arms, it is still the backbone of modern armies. The army’s infantry is its most essential component. You don’t win a war unless you have your Infantrymen, “boots on the ground,” standing on and holding your enemies ground. The foot soldier has always ruled the battlefield. Infantry is notable for its reliance on closely organized formations to be employed in battle. As shown [...]

“I have never seen anything more terrible and dreadful than a Macedonian phalanx!” — Aemilius Paullus, Roman general Understanding Pawn Play in Chess: Pawn Duo Two very important concepts of the pawn play, the ram and the lever, have been already covered in the Episode 3. The lever normally serves the attacking side by creating tension and possible lines opening for piece activity to follow. The ram typically serves the defender as it means immobility [...]

We already know that the pawns are the main actors in the game of chess. Don’t underestimate these deceptively weak soldiers. Without pawns there would be no game. They give life to pieces and at the same time form the backbone giving strength to the entire position. Remember Bronstein, “Without pawns, how can there be any strategy, any creative, far-reaching plans, any defensive fortifications or mobile pawn ranks for offensive aims!” In the previous post [...]

Building up strength You’re about to start playing a game of chess. What should be the first thought that guides you through the initial stage of the battle? You know it’s important to bring out your pieces quickly and effectively. You have been told to control the center. But just WHY is it important to control the center? In any battle you fight in your life you need to act from a position of strength. [...]

There would be no chess without humble and courageous pawns and their heroic sacrifice in chess battles everywhere. The Sacred Work of Pawns For starters, the pawns, supported by friendly units behind them, are used to create strong points in the center early in the opening. The central pawn structure and well-protected strongholds guard important squares and generally prevent the other warring side from expanding and conquering your territory. The solid pawn set-up in the [...]

At each move we have to make a sober evaluation of the course of the struggle. Chess books and authorities teach us it requires a consideration of many static and dynamic factors (position of the kings, material (im)balance, the center, weak and strong points, space, who owns the initiative, etc). The pawn formation ranks high and most times deserves priority among these elements. Though pawns are the “weakest” army units, they have special qualities that [...]