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Middlegame planning

Chess

Find a plan when there is no tactic.

What coaches agree on

  • Look at the pawn structure before anything else - it points you toward where to attack and where a pawn break will open lines for your pieces.
  • Before you look for a specific move, weigh up the position imbalances - space, piece activity, king safety, pawn structure - and let that tell you the plan.
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  • When there is no clear plan, find your least active or worst-placed piece and look for a way to improve it.
  • A plan is not only about your own ideas - look at what your opponent is trying to achieve and consider stopping their plan too.