The Third Principle: Space

• When you have advantage in space, you control more trritory than your opponent
• Your pieces have more sqaures to choose from than the enemy pieces, which are severely restricted in their movements.

The Space Count System

• White owns the ranks from 1 to 4, while black owns the ranks from 5 to 8.
• Anything controlled beyond these personal squares in the enemey domain is accounted in space count system.
• Other factors to consider are:
  • Can king castle?
  • Pawn/Piece advantage
  • Pawn islands?
  • Rook on active files
  • etc.

How to use a space advantage

Rooks and Open Files

• Rooks need open files to be effective.

Bishops and Open Diagonals

• Bishops need open diagonals if they are to reach their full potential.

The Fianchettoed Bishop

• To place a bishop on the longest possible diagona is to fianchetto it.

The Knight as Advance Scout

• Don’t keep knight in corner and try to advance knight for more space.

How to gain a space advantage in the openeing

• Acquiring superior force in some part of the board
• Gaining a lead in development
• Improving your paawn structure
• Gaining space

How to defend against a space advantage

• The player with less space should try to trade some pieces.