WEAK SQUARES
The topic of “weak squares” is at least as important as the question of “weak pawns”. There are simply more of them on average, mainly because there are more squares on the board than pawns. Then, it appears that the average chess player pays more attention to avoiding weak pawns, than he does with respect to avoiding weak squares. This is connected to the inherent materialism of the chess community. Nobody wants to lose pawns, but the suffering, originating from weak squares is less terrifying or fathomable for most players.
27. Does my opponent have weak squares?
Typically, the average club player is not always aware of all weak squares in a position. Hence, the process of detection calls for mindfulness and an active effort. Weak squares come in different shapes and forms. Some are more obvious than others.
28. Can I use an opponent’s weak squares as outpost for my pieces?
Often it turns out that one player’s weak square is the other player’s outpost. The tricky thing is to see the connection. Sometimes it may take a piece to travel for five moves in order to reach a weak square. The solution to this problem is to reengineer, to think backwards. Ask yourself what the ideal square for your pieces would be (as unrealistic as it might initially appear) and then try to figure out how the piece could get there.
29. How can I claim a weak square?
Sometimes, a weak square has to be claimed. Let’s consider the typical black structure a7, b7, c6, e6, f7, g7 and h7. Obviously, there is a weak square on d6. However, it is not before White claims the weak square by pawn moved such as e4-e5 or c4-c5, that this square becomes relevant.
30. Can I create an outpost in my territory due to a weak square of my opponent?
Sometimes you can create an outpost in your own territory (on the fourth rank as White) due to an opponent’s weak square. Imagine the following pawn structure: White: f3, g2, h2. Black: e5, f7, g5, h6. As we can see, there is a potential hole on f5 in Black’s structure. By simply playing g2-g4, we secure the outpost e4 for a knight or a bishop.
31. Can I use my opponent’s weak squares to penetrate his position?
If one player controls an open file with two major pieces, the question arises, whether a penetration on the 7th (2nd) rank is managable. The same applies for a battery on a diagonal. With a queen on d3 and a bishop on c2, White might be able to enter the square h7, if Black is weak on the light squares g6 and f5. Here, Black does not only have one weak square, but is weak on an entire color complex (an important terminus technicus). Sometimes there are weak squares in a pawn structure with spaces advantage, such as f4, e4, c4 and b4. In this case, apart from the square d4, also the squares on the 3rd rank (e3, d3 and c3) could potentially be entered by enemy forces.
32. Can I exchange pieces of my opponent, which defend his weak squares?
Specifically, when it comes to weak color complexes, we are highly motivated to exchange the bishop (sometimes a knight), defending these weak squares. As a result, we might be able to penetrate them, very often with our queen or a knight.
33. How can I preserve the defender of my weak squares?
This is the other side of the medal. We have a strong interest in preserving the defender of our own weak squares. Let’s assume the following pawn structure: a2, b2, c4, e4, f3, g2, h2. A bishop on e3 would defend the vulnerable points d4, e3, f4 and f2. If Black tries to exchange this bishop with …Bg5, we want to withdraw it to f2. Sometimes the bishop can get stalked by …Bh4, in case the move g2-g3 would weaken our king position too much. On that occasion, we would like to play the prophylactic Kg1-h1, so the bishop can drop back all the way to g1.
34. How can I prevent weak squares of my opponent from disappearing?
Let’s assume Black is choosing the Botvinnik-setup a7, b7, c5, d6, e5, f7, g6, h7 against the English Opening. One of his goals would be to play …d6-d5, gaining space and making the hole on d5 disappear. A good counter measure would be to play a timely Nf3-e1-c2-e3, to stop this and then following up with Ned5 to enjoy the outpost d5 and prepare for the advance b2-b4.
35. Can I force weak squares into my opponent’s pawn structure?
Sometimes you can force your opponent to move his pawns in a detrimental way by tactical means. On other occasions, using a pawn lever is the right tool to damage his structure. Imagine White is having the pawns on h2, g2, f3 and e4. By pushing your h-pawn all the way to h3, you would compel your opponent to play g3 most of the time. As a result, there would be a potential mate on g2 with your queen, a potential first rank mate, problems along the a8-h1 diagonal, the point f3 and the second rank. Normally, White would stop your h-pawn from causing so much damage by playing h2-h3. This, however, causes problems on the entire dark color complex h2, g3, f4, e5 and f2.
36. Can I seduce my opponent into weakening squares?
If we cannot force our opponent, seduction often is the next best option. Maybe, he recklessly moves his pawns to push away our teasing pieces….
37. Does weakening squares come with too high a price?
“If you wanna get some, you gotta give some” Bobby Fischer once said. If you want to control new squares, you have to weaken others. You cannot wash yourself without getting wet. Most of the time, playing chess is a trade off. Just make sure you are on the right side of it. If you gain space by pushing your pawns, always ask yourself whether the damage isn’t bigger than the benefit. “Primum non nocere” is what the ancient Greeks and Romans were saying as a word of caution.
38. Do I play too much with my f-pawn?
Many players are too liberal when it comes to using their f-pawns. They want to play actively, but do more damage to their own king than to the one of their opponents. For this reason, I coined this habit “the f-pawn disease”.
