Is positional advantage more importantly then material advantage? • page 2/2 • General Chess Discussion • lichess.org

@Sarg0n said in #9:

It depends on the position.

Ever heard this before?

Well, I really like Boris Spassky's take on that.

@Sarg0n said in #9: > It depends on the position. > > Ever heard this before? Well, I really like Boris Spassky's take on that.

greysensei

#12

Most often material is way more important than positional stuff.

pet59

#13

@lizani said in #2:

The objective of chess is neither material nor position. It is CHECKMATE. Having more material is useless unless it leads to checkmate. Having a positional advantage is useless unless it leads to checkmate.

right. But instinctively we try to save material , whenever threatened., instead of looking for checkmate, whatever it costs. It's hard to resist, it's a reflex. With this in mind you could say rather position. Because that's what you have to work for, saving material comes 'automatically'

@lizani said in #2: > The objective of chess is neither material nor position. It is CHECKMATE. Having more material is useless unless it leads to checkmate. Having a positional advantage is useless unless it leads to checkmate. right. But instinctively we try to save material , whenever threatened., instead of looking for checkmate, whatever it costs. It's hard to resist, it's a reflex. With this in mind you could say rather position. Because that's what you have to work for, saving material comes 'automatically'

BOTBEEPBOOP

#14

@Sarg0n said in #9:

It depends on the position.

Ever heard this before?

nah

@Sarg0n said in #9: > It depends on the position. > > Ever heard this before? nah

EmaciatedSpaniard edited

#15

position, material, initiative: you can convert one type of advantage into another, what matters is that you have the right kind of advantage to convert the game. You are trying to get to a final position called checkmate. It only matters that you get there.

Toscani

#16

I first learned material advantage, than I learned positional advantages and after that there are advanced concepts (1800+ to Grandmaster).

Material Advantage ~600 - 1000 : Understanding piece values (pawn=1, knight/bishop=3, rook=5, queen=9). Prioritizing capturing opponent's pieces while avoiding losing your own valuable pieces. Simple exchanges. Counting material to assess who is "up" or "down." Avoiding outright blunders of pieces.

Positional Advantage (Basic) ~900 - 1400 : Understanding the "quality" of a position beyond just material. Concepts like central control, pawn structure (e.g., isolated pawns, doubled pawns), king safety (castling!), developing pieces actively, open files and diagonals. Identifying immediate weaknesses in the opponent's position.

What is important is to have a strong chess foundation at every aspect of chess. Without it, you will reach a moment where you can no longer progress and you will sooner or later lose motivation. We never know what we are lacking until someone points it out. I like the puzzle dashboard, because it points things out.

I first learned material advantage, than I learned positional advantages and after that there are advanced concepts (1800+ to Grandmaster). Material Advantage ~600 - 1000 : Understanding piece values (pawn=1, knight/bishop=3, rook=5, queen=9). Prioritizing capturing opponent's pieces while avoiding losing your own valuable pieces. Simple exchanges. Counting material to assess who is "up" or "down." Avoiding outright blunders of pieces. Positional Advantage (Basic) ~900 - 1400 : Understanding the "quality" of a position beyond just material. Concepts like central control, pawn structure (e.g., isolated pawns, doubled pawns), king safety (castling!), developing pieces actively, open files and diagonals. Identifying immediate weaknesses in the opponent's position. What is important is to have a strong chess foundation at every aspect of chess. Without it, you will reach a moment where you can no longer progress and you will sooner or later lose motivation. We never know what we are lacking until someone points it out. I like the puzzle dashboard, because it points things out.

Munich

#17

If you are an A-class player and want to get into expert of even master level, then you need to sac something in at least every 10 game in exchange of a positional advantage. However, both players consider pawn sacs (and even exchange sacs) more often then in every 10th game, just that it wont be played. But the option/possibility is there. Hard to say how often, but it frequently happens.

Mastering when a pawn is worth it (or even the exchange) is increasingly important the stronger you get.

If you are an A-class player and want to get into expert of even master level, then you need to sac something in at least every 10 game in exchange of a positional advantage. However, both players consider pawn sacs (and even exchange sacs) more often then in every 10th game, just that it wont be played. But the option/possibility is there. Hard to say how often, but it frequently happens. Mastering when a pawn is worth it (or even the exchange) is increasingly important the stronger you get.

Munich

#18

I think that in the lower levels the move 1.e4 is more popular than 1.d4, because d4 is often accompanied with c4 and there is always the question: can black capture c4 and hold onto it? And if he does, is white getting more than enough compensation for it?

If you play 1.e4, you have this question less often, and if you sac a pawn, then it is often a known gambit variation.

I think that in the lower levels the move 1.e4 is more popular than 1.d4, because d4 is often accompanied with c4 and there is always the question: can black capture c4 and hold onto it? And if he does, is white getting more than enough compensation for it? If you play 1.e4, you have this question less often, and if you sac a pawn, then it is often a known gambit variation.