Space invaders

 In 2008 I was already pondering about battlements. Finally these ideas get imbedded in a bigger framework.

There are all sorts of positional middlegame books out there. Like HTRYC for instance. The problem with these books is that they leave you with a lot of loose dots without connecting them. You cannot make a checklist of all these points. That is not workable.

This means that I can only work with what I can relate to a framework that provides context. This way it becomes more easy to evaluate the points. And to value them when there are two conflicting interests.

I only understand what I can relate to my framework. The framework provides the context. Recently, my framework got two big extensions:

• Invasion. Before an assault or a winning endgame sits the invasion.
• Attack on two fronts can mean two invasions

Currently I'm studying space via the Chessable course The Positional Chess Patterns Manual. Space without context leads easily to misinterpretation. The course helps me to mold the context towards my framework.

What do I mean?

Metaphor of the battlement

In the link I introduced the metaphor of the battlement. The pawns are the merlons. The pieces man the crenels.

The pawns are the outer wall of the castle. They must keep the hostile pieces out. The pieces must prevent hostile pieces to enter the castle via a breach in the wall. In this context, the concept of space becomes more clear.

We have

• the inner space. Where your own pieces can regroup.
• the middle space. The no man's land where your pieces can make sallies and are vulnerable for counter attacks by the enemy pawns.
• the enemy space. The inner space of the enemy. Where the hostile pieces clog together.

You can imagine how much bewilderment is caused when an author doesn't mention which space he is talking about. 

Invasion is when you get a piece behind enemy walls. For instance on an outpost or a weak square. From there it can:

• attack the sitting ducks.
• bound defenders to sitting ducks
• take space away from the defenders

This gives a whole new dimension to the concept of space.