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<MY WEAKNESS>

<PBA4T: PAWN BREAKS ARE <<<4>>> THREATS>

<PT3S: PAWNS THREATEN <<<3>>> SQUARES>

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*ALL* ASPECTS OF SAFETY ARE *EQUALLY* VALUABLE:

<LOOSENESS> =
<ALIGNMENTS> =
<TRAPPABLE> =
<EXPOSED>

CHESS IS *NOT* JUST COUNTING!

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WHEN YOU PUT A PIECE ON A SQUARE, ONLY ONE THING MATTERS:

<DOES MY OPPONENT HAVE <<<UNSAFE (LATE)>>> PIECES IN THE RESULTING POSITION, YES OR NO? AND IF YES, CAN I EXPLOIT THEM? IF YES AGAIN, THE SQUARE CAN BE TAKEN NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES IT IS PROTECTED. <<<CHESS IS NOT JUST COUNTING!>>>>

YOU CAN TAKE *ANY* SQUARE IF IT RESULTS IN YOUR OPPONENT HAVING *UNSAFE* OR *LATE* PIECES.

25 e5-e6! Petrosian vs Kozali Montevideo 1954
40 Nf6-d7+!! Kasparov vs Bareev Cannes Rapid 2001

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To see an enlarged version of my avatar and for the history behind it, click http://www.thechessdrum.net/65thSqu....

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<<<FUNDAMENTAL THEOREM OF THREATS>>>

The number of times that a square is attacked (NA) and defended (ND) *cannot* be calculated by simply counting the number of pieces controlling that square. Rather,

<<THE NUMBER OF TIMES A SQUARE IS ATTACKED AND DEFENDED CAN BE COMPUTED ONLY AFTER -ALL- THE THREATS THAT CURRENTLY EXIST IN THE POSITIONAND THEIR -SEVERITY- (--) , AE WELL AS ALL THE THREATS THAT -CAN- -BE- -MADE- AND THEIR SEVERITY (++), HAVE BEEN TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.>>

See 11 d4-d5! in I Kurnosov vs M Dzhumaev, 2008 for a *perfect* example of using <MAKING THREATS (++)> and <MEETING THREATS (--)> to count properly the number of times that the d5-square is attacked and defended. The d5-square is not 1 attacker (White d4-pawn), 2 defenders (Black b6-knight, e6-pawn); rather it is 2 attackers (White d4-pawn, c3-queen <CHECKING> on c6)(++), 1 defender (Black b6-knight, e6-pawn is <PINNED> to e8)(--)!!!!

In particular, you must account for the <<MOST OBVIOUS THREAT ON THE CHESSBOARD>>: <<<<THE THREAT TO CAPTURE A SQUARE>>>>, with or without an enemy piece or pawn on that square. The threat of an enemy unit to occupy a significant square must be dealt with.

And you must account for the <<FOUR TYPES OF SUBTLE THREATS>>:

: creates loose squares near enemy king
: attack every single square on their lines
: defender cannot defend tactical base, target
: threatens to advance to the blockading square

Game Collection: FOUR TYPES OF SUBTLE THREATS TO SQUARES

<Part I (++).> Being able to -MAKE- a threat (especially <CHECK> or a <MATE THREAT>, a <<SENTE>> move) means that you control a square -MORE- times than meets the eye (<THREATS GAIN TEMPO>).

<Part II (--).> Having to -MEET- a threat means that you control a square -FEWER- times than meets the eye (<OBLIGATION RESTRICTS MOBILITY>).

Maybe I can add attackers to the square with tempo, making a threat.

Maybe you can add defenders to the square with tempo, making a threat.

Maybe some of my attackers are tied down meeting threats.