GameKnot: GameKnot related, A pawn-structure-only feature under Analyze the Board

GameKnot related: A pawn-structure-only feature under Analyze the Board

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shamash
04-Mar-12, 18:40

A pawn-structure-only feature under Analyze the Board

Under the <Analyze the board> feature in looking at a game,
I would add an 8th option:
Show just the pawn structure,
just an analysis board with the pieces removed
showing just the pawns at that move in time.

Would especially be useful when planning which variation to pursue during the opening;
also, in exploring the transition points from opening to middle game,
and from middle game to endgame.

myrydin
05-Mar-12, 06:01

That's an interesting suggestion! It would perhaps also be of help to beginners getting to grips with how the pawns move and capture (and e.p. !)

tactical_abyss
05-Mar-12, 22:50

Yes,but which variation do you pursue if the pawn structure opening is extremely irregular like I do in some blitz games moving ALL my pawns to the 2nd rank as white....or perhaps just the a and h pawns to the 4th rank in the opening?I have beaten hundreds with those WEAK moves,simply because many players simply do not know how to handle the bizarre,being programmed for only more natural responses like the 1.e4,e5 scenario.When a pawn storm moves forward from placement of all pawns on the 2nd rank(or on the 7th rank as black)so many players get a short circuit in their brain and give up!There is no opening analysis that does much good for many types of irregular pawn openings,especially under time restraint like 3 to 5 minutes.

But under more straight forward pawn moving normalcy,I suppose shamash has a great idea.
There is actually a theoretical strength in many kinds of moves that reach outside the established norms with respect to the pawns,even if it is considered "weak"by book standards.
The same goes for so called weak "knight" moves in the opening....1.Na3 and 2.Nh3,weak yes,but suprisingly strong against the unwary.

sixofspades
06-Mar-12, 07:01

Good suggestion

I like the idea. I have seen pawn structures presented in that format in some chess books. I think it would aid the weaker players (me) in dealing with some of the static characteristics of a position as it relates to planning.

shamash
06-Mar-12, 08:50

and it would benefit All players in visualizing game-changing choices

A case in point:
responding to the Kmoch Variation of the Nimzo-Indian opening,
Black has to make crucial choices as early as the 4th, the 5th, and the 6th moves.

Recently played this -- & what made the choice between all the various Book lines clear for
me,
was to trace the shifting pawn structure, and really see it,
measuring Black's (dynamic) sacrifice of a pawn against what it would do
to White's (static) pawn structure.

Because in the opening it's often not about making the best next move,
but choosing the best plan of action,
or the plan that will yield a playing field that most suits your playing style.

Picturing the shifting pawn structure helps in choosing a move, and
is outstandingly useful when choosing to transpose into a related opening system.
(Andy Soltis has a great book on this, not his Transpositions book, but his "Pawn Structure
Chess.")

Because visualizing the dynamics of the situation
helps in any combat -- in life, in war, or in the chess we play here at GameKnot.

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