3 + 1 plans

 Long term plans can only be based on moves that are irreversible:

• Pawn moves
• Exchanges
• Castling
• Promotion
• Development

Pawn plans

Pawns can steer the game in 3 directions:

• LoA battle
• Mobile pawn roller
• Endgame

In the past, I considered piece activity as the nec plus ultra of positional play. Creating LoAs to increase piece activity, restricting pieces with pawns. The LoA battle has its own scenarios.

With a mobile pawn roller, you use the pawns as a battering ram to breach the enemy lines.

The pawn structure is related to the endgame. When you think all pieces away, do you have a winning endgame?

Exchanges

Piece exchanges change the dynamics of the game. They can be used to:

• Reduce the dynamics of the pieces after a certain advantage has manifested itself
• Change the balance on a color complex
• Get rid of a dangerous enemy piece
• Get rid rid of your own problem piece
• Change the pawn structure

Development

Development is about the temporary piece balance. Which attackers are ready to strike vs. the defenders ready to defend. When you have an advantage you must strike immediately, or the advantage will fade away.

So far, my games have always been based on accidental tactics. Now that I am getting stronger tactically, I am starting to see opportunities to impose positional plans on my opponent using tactics. It are exciting times.