Silman’s Suggestion for Making a Plan

1. Figure out positive and negative imbalances of both sides, i.e., (Material, Pawn Structure, Superior Minor Pieces, Space, Control of a Key File or Square, Lead in Development and Initiative).
2. Figure out the side of the board you wish to play on.
3. Dream up your fantasy position.
4. Figure out if you can reach your dream position? If you can't then dream up another dream position.
5. Now calculate different candidate moves and select one for execution.

Valuable Tip for Searching a Best Move in Chess?

Apply following concepts to structure the search with the help of following concepts:

• Main Theme: the theme that dominates the position.
• Partial Goal: a position a little bit better than the one you have on the board, working within the overall plan.
• Mini Operations: small manoeuvres on the way to partial goals.
• Key Positions: positions where everything is critical; this is where games are generally decide.
• Tactics as a Strategic Tool: tactics that support the overall plan.

What are Different Pawn Structures?

We can divide Pawn Structures into following 5 types to facilitate our discussion:

1. Closed Centre: White’s and Black’s pawns from an interlocked chain in the centre. With pawns in the centre wedged against each other, it is on the flanks that breakthroughs are usually made. Often the players take one flank each and then try to be first to break through. However, the rule “An attack on the flank is best answered by a counterattack in the centre” can be relevant even with a closed centre, as it may be possible to disintegrate the centre by sacrificing a piece.
2. Open Centre: There are no pawns in the centre. When the centre lacks pawns the position of the pieces grow in importance. Active piece play is the key to success. A common plan is to coordinate your troops to create weaknesses in the pawn structure on either flank. The rooks usually play an important role as they have good prospects on the open files, striving towards the seventh rank.
3. Fixed Centre: Two opposing pawns are nailed to each other. When a fixed structure in the centre there are various types of plans, but often it is important to get a grip on the centre and to reinforce it with pieces. After that, the attacker tries to create weaknesses in his opponent’s position, infiltrating with his pieces or starting an attack on the flank.
4. Mobile Centre: One of the players has two or more pawns that are capable of advancing in the centre. The side that has a mobile centre often wants to advance the pawns to create a passed pawn. However, if the opponent prevents this, an attack on the king might become possible, as the opponent’s troops are focused on controlling the centre. The side that plays against a mobile centre wants to control and blockade the pawns, and later to undermine them and destroy the centre.
5. Fluid Centre: The structure of the centre is not yet decided. Both players must strive for the centre.

How to Make a Plan in Chess?

Following two questions are the basis for making a plan:

1. What type of pawn-structure is it?
2. What is good and what is bad about my position?

Once answers to questions 1 and 2 are clear, next stage in planning is to develop a plan and make it more specific. Following questions, help us in developing our plan:

1. Which pieces do I want to exchange, and which to keep?
2. Which side of the board should I play on?
3. What is my dream position?
4. What does my opponent want to do?

Last stage of planning is about how to carry out the developed plan, which is done by exploring the answers of these two questions:

1. Can I take a step in the right direction?
2. Which moves are worth taking a closer look at?

Planning in Chess by Flesch

 

It is a difficult task to come up with a plan in the middle game, especially, for the beginner. Flesch in “Planning in Chess” teaches you how to select a correct plan and execute it.

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Chess Strategy by Edward Lasker

 

No one can deny the fact that any player of chess who have read “Chess Strategy” found it helpful and pleasurable experience. Chess novice who can’t afford a chess instructor, can greatly benefit from this book.

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Chess Fundamentals By Jose Capablanca

 

Jose Capablanca in his classic instruction manual “Chess Fundamentals” gave timeless advices on various facets of practical play. He utilized his own games to give practical tips.
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How Not to Play Chess by Eugene Znosko-Borovsky

 

“How Not to Play Chess” remained a chess classic in literature. It trains you to understand a difficult position easily. This book is aimed at beginners and average chess players.

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5 Tips in Developing a Strategy

These tips will help you in devising a strategy, even, in complex board situations:
✓ Control the center prior to initiating attacks on the wing.
✓ Avoid locking your bishops behind your own pawns.
✓ If you have less space, try to exchange pieces of equal value.
✓ If your opponent launches a flank attack, strike back in the center.
✓ Keep the king away from the center until the endgame.