Concept building
Robert pointed out that learning tactics can be a pretty daunting task. Yet not everything is doom and gloom, though. There is some light at the end of the tunnel.
- During concept building, it is perfectly legitimate to use a grandmaster. I consult Mr. Stockfish14
- All salient points play a role. Nothing can happen without a salient point. That is extremely helpful to know, since it limits the amount of possibilities. No reason for the mind to feel overwhelmed.
- All elements that play a role, can only be stitched together by being aware of the purpose you want to accomplish. That's different from combining the elements by trial and error. It invites logical reasoning. Which I always failed to apply, until now. If you can imagine what the purpose is, it is easy to find the moves that lead to that purpose. Concept building builds a database of purposes.
- The last problem did teach me two powerful idea's that are transferable: pawn promotion even when the pawns look blocked, and change of LoA by a piece (Qc5 - c3)
I don't know how many powerful idea's there are that are transferable. Maximum 200, I deem. Maybe less. The point is to reap the most from a tactical problem. In my mind, this problem is now totally clear. This means, it isn't complex anymore.
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ReplyDeleteThe last problem did teach me two powerful idea's that are transferable: pawn promotion even when the pawns look blocked, and change of LoA by a piece (Qc5 - c3)
My "vulture's eye vision" has been significantly increased by the practice of "looking through" any and all obstructions to the edge of the board. I used to think it only applies to the pieces (particularly the line-moving pieces), and failed to "see" that it is just as applicable to Pawns (especially if they are close to the opposing King or the 8th rank). That aids in "seeing" where Pawn breaks (one category of PoPs) are possible. A generalization: if apparently blocked Pawns can be forced to capture (even if a piece sacrifice is required), then the blockade can be broken, freeing up an advanced Pawn or a Pawn phalanx. As is well-known, a Pawn phalanx which can be made free to advance can very rapidly become an avalanche that sweeps everything away in front of it! This notion is why Nimzovitch declared the passed (mobile) Pawn (or Pawn mass) to be a "criminal," who must be kept under lock and key (blockaded). For a long time, I misunderstood this concept, thinking only in terms of a PIECE blockading a Pawn. I don't recall where, but someone annotating a game mentioned "removing the blockade" - where there was only a Pawn "ram" and no piece involved in blockade.
(Yeah, I know: sometimes I'm a little slow to "see" the broader ramifications of a concept at a more abstract level.)