ChessWorld Glossary
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Accumulation of Advantages: Course Module FormatPlease read the background about the course concept, and then practice the concept using the 'Practice Resources' found at the end of this course module pageThe TheoryThis strategy was put forward by Steinitz who was one of the fathers of modern positional play. By accumulating small advantages, collectively those advantages could become decisive. Games didn't need to be decided by "hack-attacks". Material didn't always have to be sacrificed spectacularly. Many games could be won just by slow positional play - accumulating advantages until they became decisive. Before Steinitz the "Romantic period" focused on Attacks which were often unsound. But in the 1870’s - and many refer to the Vienna Tournament of 1873, this started to change. Steinitz in a position of influence on the Chessworld start to emphasise positional play. In Vienna, 1873 Steinitz played in an international tournament, winning 18 games, drawing 5 games, and losing one. Almost everyone conceded that Steinitz was the strongest chess player in the world at that time. His first place prize money of 200 ducats was presented to him by the Austrian Emperor. 2nd place went to Blackburne, followed by Anderssen. Not only was Steinitz a powerful player, he was also a chess magazine columnist and could use this editorial capacity to communicate his thoughts of positional play about the game. Steinitz started to cast doubt on the games in the Romantic era, claiming that if it was not for defensive errors, the romantic attacks of that era would not have worked out so well. Steinitz focused on the accumulation of small advantages and Pawn structure. There was a visible change in his style of play, and many modern looking positional games were played by Steinitz.
Relevant quotations "Therefore... in the beginning of the game ignore the search for violent combinations, abstain from violent moves, aim for small advantages, accumulate them, and only after having attained these ends search for the combination - and then with all the power of will and intellect, because then the combination must exist, however deeply hidden." -- Em. Lasker, Manual of Chess, Book IV "My objection to the "Tactics, tactics, tactics" school of thought is not to say that tactics are not important or that most games are not decided by tactical blows. Indeed, what is often at fault in the game of the club player is a failure to check for their opponent's opportunities in reply. Moreover, given the rather static manner of play and poor level of defensive skill amongst club players, they are probably as well advised to imitate Zukertort or Blackburn than Lasker or Steinitz. Seizing the initiative, going for an attack, and having an eye for random chances are probably at least as important as positional judgement in club play. But I would still not wish to call for one type of study as being important - in particular, not for tactics being more important than strategy." - Purdy | ||
Practice resources |