2 thoughts on “Lesson #25: The Most Fundamental Chess Knowledge (1) – Square Control”
I was wondering how you determine square control? What is the criteria? I see that White’s Knight is attacking a6,b7,d7, and e6, but these squares are protected by Black’s Queen, Bishop and Rook, so are they really being controlled by White? White’s Rook on e5 is attacking 3 controlled squares etc. I would really like to know the process by which square control is determined?
Gary
The control of a square is very simply determined by the fact if your piece is “attacking” or “looking at” the square in question.
What you say is true: the black queen, bishop and rook also control the squares the white knight is controlling, but that does not mean the white knight is not controlling them.
There may be a certain equilibrium in the control of these squares right now, but in the end it clearly favors White because:
– the squares are on black’s side of the board (if White would mainly control squares on his own side of the board, it would not be a lot of fun. In order to win a war, you have to go to war)
– the black queen, rook and bishop are all more “expensive”, higher-valued pieces then the knight, so they cannot really go to these squares, which hampers there mobility
All in all, the knight on c5 is really putting some serious pressure on the Black position, and we have not even considered white’s bishop, rook and queen!
I was wondering how you determine square control? What is the criteria? I see that White’s Knight is attacking a6,b7,d7, and e6, but these squares are protected by Black’s Queen, Bishop and Rook, so are they really being controlled by White? White’s Rook on e5 is attacking 3 controlled squares etc. I would really like to know the process by which square control is determined?
Gary
Hi Gary,
The control of a square is very simply determined by the fact if your piece is “attacking” or “looking at” the square in question.
What you say is true: the black queen, bishop and rook also control the squares the white knight is controlling, but that does not mean the white knight is not controlling them.
There may be a certain equilibrium in the control of these squares right now, but in the end it clearly favors White because:
– the squares are on black’s side of the board (if White would mainly control squares on his own side of the board, it would not be a lot of fun. In order to win a war, you have to go to war)
– the black queen, rook and bishop are all more “expensive”, higher-valued pieces then the knight, so they cannot really go to these squares, which hampers there mobility
All in all, the knight on c5 is really putting some serious pressure on the Black position, and we have not even considered white’s bishop, rook and queen!
I hope that answers your question.
Cheers,
Waldemar