Author: Stephen Ham
Date: 12:53:19 09/15/05
Go up one level in this thread
On September 15, 2005 at 13:53:42, Robert Hyatt wrote: >On September 15, 2005 at 12:06:29, Steve Maughan wrote: > >>Bob, >> >>[snip] >>>The positions where a pawn-storm is correct are often very close to positions >>>where a pawn storm is_not_ correct. >>[snip] >> >>...but when kings are castled on opposite sides isn't it *always* correct to >>pawn storm? >> >>Steve > > >Have to count the tempi. Sometimes it is correct to prepare for the storm >against you first, rather than start a storm when your opponent is a couple of >tempi ahead and "gets there first"... > >Problem is counting those tempi. It is far from obvious and simple. Is that >bishop at g7 attacking white's castled king position? Or is the center blocked >for all time? Or is it blocked just enough that we can't open it in time to get >the bishop into the game when needed? > >This is difficult stuff... Dear readers, Prof. Hyatt is correct, per usual. One simple way to view this is to state that in opposite side castling, the first side to launch a meaningful attack gains the advantage. The key word here is meaningful. If the first side to launch a pawn storm is also the least developed side, then attacking is a recipe for defeat. Instead, prophylaxis is required. So if development is approximately equal and all other factors are equivalent, only then is the first attacker likely to gain some advantage, such as a long-term initiative. But again, just advancing pawns toward the enemy King is insufficient. One must instead calculate the consequences of the pawn moves to ensure that the defender doesn't simply lock up your pawns, transferring the initiative to him and making him the only effective attacker. Long story short, opposide side castling is double-edged. The consequences of this action are often long-term, beyond the calculating scope of most chess engines, and many humans. That's why I resort to the above mentioned generalities as my guide. But one still needs to perform calculations in accord with the guidleines. All the best, Steve
This page took 0 seconds to execute
Last modified: Thu, 15 Apr 21 08:11:13 -0700
Current Computer Chess Club Forums at Talkchess. This site by Sean Mintz.