Elements of Positional Evaluation. How the Pieces Get Their Power – Dan Heisman.pdf

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Dan Heisman - The Elements of Positional Evaluation 2010
Elements of Positional Evaluation
Games/Chess
$19.9
Which side stands better?
How the Pieces Get heir Power
How much better?
Why?
lolt chess players rely 01 loosely bit, ustrud
methods to evaluate chen pieces aad positions. Tbey
learn positiODal principles which otea lead to iDaccurate
evaluatiolS and aulty decisions aboat how to pre.
This groud-breaing book by best-selling chess atthor Daa Beisman addresses the
evaluation and uderstanding of how Itatic features fft the value of tke pieces iD a
giveD positio&. Now in its fourth edition, emphuis is placed 00 the Itatic evaluation of
each piece's value ud its role in the overall position rather thu the usessment of a
specific position. Beisman's approach can also be applied to kelp evaluate entire
positiolS by helping to wwer the questiOlS who tus better, by bow much, and ?
!bout the Author
National uter Dan Beisman is a chen writer and professional chess instructor D the
Philadelphia area. Bis best-selling ckes boob iDclude IMmg ir rJJe and Bad t,
uis: ai. Bis award-ng mOlthly column for aers, "ie 'H, hu been a
regular feature at ChessCae.com siDee 200 l.
Russel Enterprises Inc.
$19.95
ISBN 978-1-888690-58-3
51995>
by Dan Heisman
4th Edition, Revised and Enlarged
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Elements
of
Posiional
Evaluaion
How the Pieces
Get Their Power
by
Dan Heisman
Fourth Edition
2010
Russell Enterprises, Inc.
Milford, CT USA
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Table of Contents
Elements of Positional Evaluation
How the Pieces Get Their Power
by
Dan Heisman
Dedication
Preface
Introduction
5
5
6
ISBN: 978-1-888690-58-3
Chapter 1: The Background of Positional Knowledge
1.1 Deinitions
12
©Copyright 2010
1.2 A Brief History of Positional Theory
18
1.3 Positional Theory in 1974
23
Dan Heisman
1.4 Inadequacies of 1974 Theoy
31
All Rights Reserved
Chapter 2: The Elements
2.1 Introduction
36
No part of this book may be used, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system
or transmitted in any manner or form whatsoever or by any means, elec­
tronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, photocopying, recording or otherwise,
without the express written permission from the publisher except in the
case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
2.2 Mobility
37
2.3 Flexibility
4
2.4 Vulnerability
49
2.5 Center Control
55
2.6 Piece Coordination
57
2.7 Time
63
2.8 Speed
68
Published by:
2.9 Summary
70
Russell Enteprises, Inc.
P.O. Box 5460
Milford, CT 06460 USA
Chapter 3: Pseudo-Elements
3.1 Introduction
71
3.2 Material
71
3.3 Space
75
htp://www.russell-enterprises.com
info@russell-enterprises.com
3.4 King Safety
7 7
3.5 Development
7 9
3.6 Summary
4
Cover design by Janel Lowrance
Chapter 4: The Pieces in Relation to the Elements
4.1 Inroduction
85
Printed in the United States of America
4.2 Mobility
85
4.3 The Knight
93
4.4 The Bishop
9
4.5 The Rook
110
4.6 The Queen
4.7 The King
4.8 The Pawn
4.9 Piece Summary
116
118
119
120
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Elements of Positional Evaluation
Chapter 5: Static Features and the Elements
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Static Features and the Pawns
5.2.1 Doubled Pawns
5.2.2 Isolated Pawns
5.2.3 Backward Pawns
5.2.4 Passed Pawns
5.2.5 Pawn Summary
5.3 Files and Diagonals
5.3.1 Introduction
5.3.2 Open Files
5.3.3 Semi-Open Files
5.3.4 Ranks
5.3.5 Diagonals
5.4 Weak Squares and Outposts
5.5 Summay
Dedicaion
126
To "Coach" Donald Byne
130
138
142
144
147
"A cbessplayer's cbessplayer and a friend's friend."
-part ofa telegram rom then World Chess Champion Robert J. (Bobby) Fischer to
Intenational Master Donald Byne at Byne's testimonial dinner in Boalsburg,
Pennsylvania, September 7,1974, shortly before Byne passed away at an early
age as a result of a rare disease that cut short not only his life, but a very promising
chess career. We'll never forget you, Coach!
149
152
153
155
158
158
168
Preface
Chapter 6: Miscellaneous Applications of the Theory
6.1 Introduction 169
6.2 The Elements During the Phases of the Game
6.2.1 The Opening
Elements of Positional Evaluation: How Chess Pieces Get Their Power provides
a different perspective on how to evaluate the effectiveness of chess pieces and
positions.
170
Originally written in 1974 on the author's typewriter, this new, greatly expanded
fourth edition of Elements includes material comparing this current edition of
Elements with 1974 positional chess theory. It also includes new discussions on
how 2009 theory has moved ever closer to the ideas suggested in Elements.
6.2.2 The Middlegame
171
6.2.3 The Endgame
172
6.3 A Brief Guide to Chess Principles
175
Chapter 7: Epilogue
181
In addition, over 100 new examples and diagrams have been added plus an Ap­
pendix of Illustrative Games, making Elements less of a work on theory and more
about theory and practice.
Appendix: Illustrative Games
183
Bibliography
211
I hope my work in greatly enhancing Elements has also enhanced its instructive
value and enjoyment for readers.
Footnotes
213
Dan Heisman
January 2010
Acknowledgements
216
About the Author
216
5
4
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Elements ofPositional Evaluation
Induction
Inroduion
This introduction lays the foundation for a new evaluation theoy and provides an
oveview ofthe book's organization. We will attempt to show why a new theory is
necessary, revolutionary, and novel. Not all of the points made in this book are
original; some of the novelty will be highlighted by the systematic way the material
is organized and presented.
The fourth edition of Elements of Positional Evaluation presents a new chal­
lenge to the author: how to position a book whose first edition was written in 1974
about the inadequacies of positional theory at that time, and make it relevant to
readers in 2009?
Hopeully, the new theory will give a better understanding of the nature of the
game and should help many readers signiicantly improve their playing strength.
Bertrand Russell wrote:
The challenge is more daunting because the suggested improvements to 1974
theory have, to a great extent, become reality, so 2009 theory is much more aligned
with the ideas in Elements.
But when theories change, the alteration usually has only a small efect so far
as observable phenomena are concened. The practical diference between
Einstein's theory of gravitation and Newton's is very minute, even though the
theoretical diference is very great. Moreover, in every new theory there are
some parts that seem pretty certain, while others remain very speCUlative.
One possibility would have been to ignore the changes in theory that have oc­
curred since 1974 and simply leave the book the way it was: compare the proposed
theory to "current" theory as if2009 theory was very similar to that of 1974. This
would be the easiest approach, and superficially reasonable; the first three edi­
tions of the book sold out - why change a good thing?
Chess knowledge is not the same as chess ability. Moreover, positional knowl­
edge is separate from analytical and tactical ability, which are the predominating
factors in a player's overall chess strength. There is no substitute for analytical
and tactical competence. Because Elements is about positional theory, absorbing
its material will not directly enhance most players' analytical ability, but should
greatly beneit their positional awareness.
However, I agree with my publisher that taking the easy way out is not only
incorrect, but overlooks an opportunity to do more for the reader. Therefore, this
edition will take a different approach by adding a theme: occasional discussion!
examples of how theory has changed between 1974 and 2009 and how that change
brings 2009 theory closer to my proposed theory.
The other substantive revision in Elements will be the addition of many new
examples, which will make this expanded edition less of a purely theoretical work
than the first three editions, and more practical.
We will attempt to show that the evaluation theory of 1974 needed to be enhanced.
We will not only present the new theory, but also prove the deficiencies ofthe 1974
theory and sprinkle discussion of how 2009 theory more closely follows the new.
Many examples will be provided to help illustrate these points.
Ater analytical skill, the next most important chess skill is evaluation. For posi­
tions, this means answering the questions: Which side stands better? How much
better? and Why?
Before we start, it would be helpul to discuss revolution - scientiic revolution.
Thomas S. Kuhn's book The Structure of Scientific Revolutions explained the
process of how scientific theories evolve. The fo llowing is a short synopsis of
Kuhn's Structure:
Breaking positional evaluation down into its elemental parts requires an answer to
the question How much is that piece worth in this position?
In any scientific discipline that deals with unknown, diicult-to-perceive, or inex­
act phenomena, there exists a certain status quo that is accepted by most authori­
ties. This status quo is a theory or set oftheories that attempts to explain observed
phenomena and tries to predict uture occurrences. Examples include: the struc­
ture of the universe, molecular theory, origins ofthe earth, origins oflife, and how
physical phenomena occur. In general physics, the well known theories that came
to be widely accepted were formed by Aristotle, then Newton, and inally Einstein.
There were other rejected theories, and the eventually accepted theories were not
accepted immediately by the originator's peers. Some theories may take centuries
before they are generally accepted by specialists in the field.
Most chessplayers rely on loosely knit, unstructured methods to evaluate posi­
tions and the role of the pieces therein. They lean positional principles (i.e.,
guidelines/heuristics/ruies of thumb) that oten lead to inaccurate evaluations.
A similar problem occurs when chess programmers quantiy evaluations in the
form of a "scoring unction." In the erly days of computer chess, programs rely­
ing heavily on evaluation played worse than those using primarily "brute force
look-ahead." Hopeully, this book will provide a step towards overcoming some of
these dificulties.
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