Tuesday, September 18, 2007

The art of thinking backwards



















After thinking long and hard and after trying different options there is only one thing I can think of as an attempt to solve the problem I formulated in my previous post. And that is to develop the art of backwards thinking to the max.

The method of backwards thinking starts with the recognition of characteristics. In the case of plan bhèta I'm talking of how you can recognize the characteristics of the crucial invasion squares. Once you know the characteristics of plan bhèta you have to find a plan alpha. This plan alpha can be composed of every tactical motif or combination of motifs around. These tactical motifs have their own characteristics. When it concerns a duplo-attack there are two targets around which you want to attack with one manoeuvre. A target can be a piece or a square. It shouldn't come as a surpise to you that we are talking about invasion squares. You can have one or to attackers. The targets can be on the same line or not etc..

When you have to learn to recognize the tactical motifs backwards, it is of course not only useful for the implementation of plan alpha but for any accidental tactic too.
The coming time I'm going to experiment with backwards thinking. I wouldn't even be surprised if it is a perfect method for chunk-building. In order to relief the short term memory.

I have read Vukovic's book partly. His focal points come close to what I have called invasion squares. He makes a distinction between different kinds of focal points:
  • Mating squares. Where the attacking piece delivers mate.
  • Mating focal points. Squares that give access to the mating square
  • Auxilary focal points.
  • Attacker's strong squares.
  • Focal point-complex. More weak squares.
  • Weak color complex. More weak squares of the same color.
He devotes a full chapter of 40 pages to focal points and the attacks based on them. He relates the focal points to the position of the king, be it castled or uncastled. An interesting read and a useful addition to my vision on invasion squares.

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