A simple demonstration of the importance of having a pawn in the center. What should Black play here? |
A very simple move. White's Bishop on c4 is looking pretty foolish, isn't it? But if White had his Pawn on e4, rather than e3, the Bishop would have been safe from attack. |
And again, what should White play here?
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The same idea again. By playing d2-d4 White gains SPACE in the CENTER and TIME by kicking the Bishop, which has to move again. Watch out for this idea in your own games. |
You'll learn more about it in a later lesson. But tell me, what do you think White's most popular move is here? d2-d4 Ng1-f3 Bf1-c4 Qd1-h5 |
And this is ALEKHINE'S DEFENSE. Can you guess what White usually plays here? d2-d3 d2-d4 e4-e5 Ng1-f3 |
Here's a position from the VIENNA GAME. What would you advise White to play here? |
White's trying to exchange his f-pawn for Black's e-pawn. He's even prepared to SACRIFICE it to gain control of the CENTER. You'll learn more about this in Class 8. |
Another very popular opening. The main idea is that, if White plays d2-d4, Black will play c5xd4, exchanging his c-pawn for White's d-pawn. |
White has a big advantage here. Why? Because Black has a BACKWARD PAWN on a HALF-OPEN FILE! |
Is White's Pawn on b3... Backward Doubled Isolated Passed |
What about the Pawn on e3? Backward Doubled Isolated Passed |
Backward Doubled Isolated Passed |
b3 is one, d4 and e3 another, and g2, g3 and h3 a third. And how many PAWN ISLANDS does Black have? |
What would you play? g2xf3 Qd1xf3 |
Which way would you recapture here? a2xb3 c2xb3 |
Click on the FINISH button to find out how you got on! |