Chess strategy

Chess strategy is concerned with the evaluation of chess positions and with setting up goals and long-term tactics for upcoming play. During the evaluation, a player must take into account the value of pieces on the board, pawn structure, king safety, positioning, and control of key squares and groups of squares.

The most basic is to count the total value of pieces on both sides. The point values used for this purpose are based on familiarity. Usually pawns are considered worth one point, knights and bishops three points each, rooks five points, and queens nine points. The fighting value of the king in the endgame is equivalent to four points. These basic values are modified by other factors such as position of the piece, coordination between pieces or type of position.

Another important factor in the evaluation of chess positions is the pawn structure or pawn skeleton. Since pawns are the most immobile of the chess pieces, the pawn structure is moderately static and largely determines the calculated nature of the position. Weaknesses in the pawn structure, such as isolated, doubled or backward pawns and holes, once created, are usually permanent. Care must therefore be taken to avoid them unless they are remunerated by another valuable asset, such as the chance to develop an attack.