Strategy for Players Rated 800 to 2200

In chess, space means the control of a larger part of the board.
When a player has more space, their pieces can move more freely, while the opponent’s pieces have less room.
Having more space gives more activity and better control of the game.

The space advantage is the easiest to get. From the start of the game, White can try to take more space.
For example, after 1.d4 Nf6, White can already push 2.d5 and take space in the center.
Maybe this move is not always the best, but it shows an important idea: space can be taken quickly, and it gives a clear plan.

Some openings, like the French Defense, the Caro-Kann, or the Pirc Defense, show this very well.
In these openings, Black does not put a pawn in the center right away, so White can play e4 and d4 and take more space.
This gives White more control and easier plans in slow or classical games.
It does not mean Black is lost — Black can fight back — but it explains the basic difference in strategy.

More space means more freedom and easier coordination.

Taking space can also happen on the sides of the board.
For example, when White pushes the a and b pawns, more space is taken on the queenside, often preparing an attack there.
When the f pawn is pushed to f4–f5, space is taken on the kingside, which can prepare an attack against the enemy king.
In both cases, the player with more space decides the plan, and the opponent must react.

Having space is a big advantage, but it must be used carefully. If too many pawns are pushed without support, they can become weak.
But when pawns and pieces work together, the side with more space usually has the better position.

Here's a concrete Example :

Let me know what you think about all of that, see you in the future.

Loris