Chess lessons › Chess strategy
Converting an advantage
A won position still has to be won: trade the active pieces, take away counterplay, then bring the king.
The idea
When ahead, trade the pieces that make threats, then win slowly.
- Black’s queen and rook sit on White’s second rank.
- Qxb2 trades off Black’s most dangerous attacker.
- With the queens gone, an extra bishop against one pawn is a large advantage.
In a game: When you are material up, ask which enemy piece makes the threats, and offer to trade it.
How the lesson begins
Being ahead is not the same as winning. Converting an advantage means turning it into a win with as little risk as possible. The first rule: when you are ahead in material, trade pieces, above all the ones your opponent attacks with.
This is Garry Kasparov against Magnus Carlsen, a rapid game in Reykjavik, 2004. White has a bishop more, Black a pawn more. But Black’s queen and rook stand on White’s second rank, close to White’s king.
Find the move
White to move. Take the sting out of Black’s play.
A hint
Which black piece makes all the threats? Offer to trade it.
Show the answer
30. Qxb2
Qxb2 trades the queens. Black’s queen was the most dangerous attacker; after Rxb2 only one black rook is left on White’s second rank, and an extra bishop against one pawn is a large advantage. It is the engine’s first choice, and Kasparov won the game.