How to Evaluate a Position | Chess Middlegames

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Knowing who is better and why is the first step to playing the correct move. Without it it will be impossible to create a good strategic plan.

Finding a good move is a complicated process. I have divided it into four stages. Next to the final three stages are the video I made on them. Try to combine all four videos and implement them into your thinking process during a game.

1. Evaluating the position

2. Creating a plan youtu.be/9PrGtLmfsnQ

3. Choosing candidate moves youtu.be/5rEqhhYYOrQ

4. Calculating variations youtu.be/pEsA1eB8RBI

Step one, evaluation, is crucial to understanding the position. It’s not just about reaching an engine assessment. You need to understand why someone is better or worse. The best and easiest way to do that is by following key aspects of a position:

1. Material

2. King safety – look at the pawn structure around the king, the defenders, attackers near it, and possible pawn storms which could come its way.

3. Piece activity – whose pieces are better? This will often give you ideas of a strong strategic plan.

4. Pawn structure – count the pawn islands. The more pawn islands, the weaker the position is. Also consider isolated, backward, doubled and hanging pawns, which are all static weaknesses.

5. Threats – none of the above is relevant if you have a piece hanging. Never forget to check for possible threats. Both yours and your opponent’s.

Evaluating a chess position takes time and it can’t be done on every single move. It should be done in critical positions; when something big is about to change. Here are five examples of critical positions which should trigger position evaluation automatically:

1. When exiting theory and entering the middlegame
2. When transitioning to the endgame
3. When an exchange is about to happen
4. When there can be a change in pawn structure
5. When there are dynamic chances for either side

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