Reading a position: the imbalances
In short
When there are no tactics, decide what to do by comparing the differences between the two sides: material, pawn structure, piece activity, king safety, space, control of open files and key squares, and development.
By the end you can
- List the imbalances in a position
- Derive a plan from them
The lesson
When there are no tactics, decide what to do by comparing the differences between the two sides: material, pawn structure, piece activity, king safety, space, control of open files and key squares, and development.
Each difference suggests a plan. A space advantage says: avoid trades and squeeze. A better minor piece says: trade into an endgame where it dominates. A weak enemy king says: open lines towards it.
Write the imbalances down in your training games until it becomes automatic. A move made for a reason is almost always better than a move made because it “looked natural”.
Key points to remember
- Material, structure, activity, king safety, space, files, development
- Each imbalance suggests a plan
- Play for your advantages, neutralise theirs
Examples
Practise it
Solve puzzles on this idea: quiet move puzzles.
Homework
For three of your games, write the imbalances at move 15.
Free further reading
- Chess Strategy, Edward Lasker (1915, public domain)
More strategy lessons
- Good and bad pieces (Class D)
- Outposts and open files (Class D)
- The isolated queen’s pawn (IQP) (Class C)
- Carlsbad structure and the minority attack (Class C)
- Hanging pawns and pawn breaks (Class C)
- Which pieces to exchange (Class B)