Author: William H Rogers
Date: 10:22:39 01/20/99
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On January 20, 1999 at 12:58:08, Laurence Chen wrote: >This is one of the elements in chess which is very difficult to understand, it >still puzzles me a lot. The problem is how do you know that you got control of >center? Is there a way to measure this, if so, how? This is an interesting >question because chess engines nowadays are "taught" or at least programmed to >play for the control of the center, so how does one measure this control? Chess >textbooks tell us that it is imperative to play to control the center, and show >examples of what happens when one side totally ignores center control. I would >be interested in the point of view to this question from all levels of >chessplayers, from novice to master, and chess programmers, too. I can not speak for the rest of the members, but from what I have learned, the pawn in the center attacks two squares, and if it is the King pawn, you have increased you mobility, that is, you have given yourself more move options than any other move that you can play. Before your first move, you only have 20 possible moves, and after the KP, you have 29 choices. This does not speak for different opening lines of play, but old chess masters recoginized that it was an important choice. Over the years, many different lines of opening have been tried with sucess, based upon deep lines of strategy in hopes of gaining more control of the chess board. Control of the center is likend to a real war situation, where as if you can get control of the highest ground, you have an advantage over your enemys. It gives you more possibilities to smash your opponent and if you plan carfully, beat your enemy and win the game. Bill
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