While thinking about the opening I return to
an old idea of mine. It should be possible to base my positional thinking not on the characterististics of the position but on what a single move actually accomplishes. Since one single move has a vast amount of consequences, that is a challenging approach. Yet it might be the only one that is actually doable.
To chart the consequences of a single move can easily take hours, as I found out. Since you have only 3 minutes to think at average during a game that doesn't sound very promising. There is more to it, though.
First of all, it is the only way to notice
all changes of the position
immediately. Compare that with my normal way of moving. If I play 1.f4 I'm totally unaware that I weaken the diagonal where my future king will be after castling short. Twelve moves later,
out of the blue as it seems, I am bitten from behind by it since my opponent has a terrible threat due to that weak diagonal. So
theoretically, thinking of the effects
per move might be the only way to not constantly fall victim to your own sown seeds of positional destruction.
A second point is, that you don't have to calculate every position
as if it were new over and over again. Our usual way of thinking isn't very productive, to put it mildly.
Theoretically you have to find every consequence of a move only once. You only have to think about single moves. (And remember the consequences which simply accumulate over time).
Thirdly, the effects of a single move are vast, yet finite. Both finite in the
amount of effects as in the
sort of effects.
Let me give an example.
A straight forward move of a pawn has
always the same 3 sets of effects:
- It closes a set of diagonals
- It opens a set of diagonals
- It uncovers two squares
- It covers two new squares
- It frees a square
- It occupies a square
Look
here where I elaborate on this.
The only thing we have to look at is how these 3 sets of effects influence the 3 positional elements of
attackers, targets and the roadmap.
There can't be no more to it.
I expect a huge amount of overlap once you become familiar with these finite effects of a single move. Thus saving time after a lot of exercise.
So is it doable?
I have no idea but I'm going to find out.