The Abysmal Depths of Chess

  "… the minority attack … is no more or less than a method of weakening an otherwise sound pawn set-up by advancing pawns at it." Michael Stean

  "… I have used a selection of such games as a medium through which to put across the fundamental principles of simple chess. These games are not of the type to capture the limelight of chess literature …" Michael Stean

  " 5 … Re8 (forced)" Michael Stean We need to talk about engines.

  " …open files only have value as a means of feeding rooks (or possible queens) into the enemy position, so that a file has no value unless there is somewhere along it an entry point …." Michael Stean

  " 'Put your rooks on open files’ is a piece of advice every beginner receives, and a very sound piece of advice it is. But like all pieces of sound advice, it can prove to be inadequate or worse." Michael Stean

  "One of the dangers of falling behind in development in the opening is that the enemy rooks will be first on the scene and will take possession of the open files before your own can be scrambled into action." Michael Stean

  "The power of a rook on the seventh rank. It ties down both the black major pieces single-handed." Michael Stean

  "The minor pieces play a major role in determining who controls open files. The side with the more active minor pieces can generally count on gaining access to any files that may open up." Michael Stean

  "Naturally doubled isolated pawns are to be avoided …." Michael Stean

  "The pros and cons of doubled pawns may be thought of in terms of a military line along which forces are evenly distributed. One can reinforce a certain part of the line only at the cost of weakening another." Michael Stean

  "A very good square for the knight. the pressure on Black’s d-pawn is obvious, but he is not without some counterchances based on his own well-placed knight." Michael Stean

  "Black is not doubling White’s f-pawns in order to attack them, but to create an outpost for his knight on d4 " Michael Stean

"Contrary to popular belief, doubled pawns are not invariably weak but in many cases are definitely advantageous." Michael Stean

  "Having successfully saddled Black with two isolated pawns Fischer now gives us a perfect lesson in how to go about taking full advantage of them." Michael Stean

  "A weak pawn is one which cannot be protected by another pawn and so requires support from its own pieces. Note that the criterion is the ability to be protected by another pawn, not the existence of such protection." Michael Stean

  "I use the term semi-outpost because White can defend that point with a pawn … but does not want to …." Michael Stean

  "In general a successful attack can only be launched from a position of strength in the centre of board. This 'position' of strength' can take various forms, the simplest being an outpost." Michael Stean

  "The most usual way to counter an enemy outpost is to cover it with as many pieces as possible so that when he occupies it with a piece you can capture enough times to force him eventually to recapture with a pawn." Michael Stean

  "When an outpost has been set up the next and most logical thing to do is to chase off, exchange or harass defending pieces which cover the square in question." Michael Stean

"In most cases outposts, or potential outposts, are clearly apparent from the pawn structure, but occasionally a keen strategical eye is needed to realise the importance of a certain square. The Lord gave Botvinnik two very keen strategical eyes." Michael Stean

  "With the disappearance of the White king, Black’s impressive-looking outpost on f4 bears little relevance to the position compared to White’s" Michael Stean

  "… an outpost is a square at the forefront of your position which you can readily support and from where you can control or contest squares in the heart of the enemy camp … in particular it must be immune to attack by enemy pawns. " Michael Stean

  " [Simple Chess] shows you how to recognise and accumulate small, sometimes almost insignificant-looking advantages which may well have little or no short-term effect, but are permanent features of the position."   Michael Stean

  "The moral behind this trilogy of games should be clear: Look after your pawns and your pieces will look after themselves." Michael Stean

  "In general terms White does not want to lift the blockade of the c-pawn, but here he has a particularly incisive follow-up." Michael Stean

  A sense of timing is the key to good defensive play. Here Petrosian accepts the weakening of his kingside pawns as he realises that he can thereby completely repulse the attack. Michael Stean

  "Why is Black lost? Material is equal and White hasn’t got a piece beyond the second rank. The answer lies in the pawns. White has two beautiful squares on c4 and d5 plus a mobile pawn roller on the left flank, whereas Black’s pawns constrict his own pieces terribly, particularly the bishop." Michael Stean

  "Undoubtedly the best way to improve your chess is by studying master and grandmaster games. For this reason I have used a selection of such games as a medium through which to put across the fundamental principles of simple chess. These games are mostly not of the type to capture the limelight of chess literature because they are too simple and unsensational, but for this very reason they are suitable for showing off clearly the basic ideas I want to convey." Michael Stean

If each player is capable of quick development, castling and of not blundering any pieces away, what is there to separate the two sides? This is the starting point of Simple Chess . - Michael Stean