Opening
To begin with, let's give the relative value of
the pieces:
Pawn = 1 Bishop = 3
Knight = 3 Rook = 5
Queen = 9
Therefore, 2 rooks are more valuable than a queen, 3 minor pieces (bishop +
knight)
are more valuable than a queen, etc. 2 minor pieces are generally
stronger than a rook
+ pawn.
Let's look at the starting position:
| |
a |
b |
c |
d |
e |
f |
g |
h |
| 8 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
8 |
| 7 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
7 |
| 6 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
6 |
| 5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5 |
| 4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4 |
| 3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
| 2 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
| 1 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
1 |
| |
a |
b |
c |
d |
e |
f |
g |
h |
|
The
basic goal of chess (and kungfuchess) is to develop your pieces to effective
positions
in order to win material, and or lead a direct attack against the
enemy king. In regular
chess, each move is very important in the development
of your pieces, in kungfuchess however,
you can in effect move out all your
pieces in a single move.
Developing your pieces means putting them on an effective square where they
have a broad
range of influence + have effect in the sector / sectors of the
board which are most important
So for example, the following picture is NOT a
good developing scheme for white:
| |
a |
b |
c |
d |
e |
f |
g |
h |
| 8 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8 |
| 7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7 |
| 6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6 |
| 5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5 |
| 4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4 |
| 3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
| 2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
| 1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
| |
a |
b |
c |
d |
e |
f |
g |
h |
|
White
has developed his knights to the sides of the boards (where they have the least
influence (both knights can only move to a total of 5 squares, whereas 2
knights posted at
better locations would have up to 16 possible moves.)) His
bishops are locked in by either
his own pawns(the light square bishop) or
hopelessly staring at a solid enemy pawn formation
(the dark square bishop).
Knights should generally be posted in or near the center for wide control and
access to both
sides of the board, the closer to the enemy, the better.
Bishops should be placed on open
diagonals in which they can attack key
diagonals or pieces.
To complete development you must castle your king - This gives your king
safety behind a wall
of pawns, and connects your rooks together. You should
also develop your queen to the most
effective post. Making sure you develop
all of your pieces should be one of your first
priorities.
Another of your important priorities should be to immediately gain some space
with pawn
pushes into the center. You can move your e or d pawn into the
center, or both
(if you are fast enough). Generally speaking I will only
move 1 into the center so that I can
be able to defend it if the opponent
beats me to the punch and is able to take it. You can
also move your c or f
pawns forward, in order to take the opponent's
king or queen pawn. In any
case, it is important to put some challenge into the central squares
so that
your opponent does not gain a decisive space advantage by advancing pawns such
as the
following:
| |
a |
b |
c |
d |
e |
f |
g |
h |
| 8 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8 |
| 7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7 |
| 6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6 |
| 5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5 |
| 4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4 |
| 3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
| 2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
| 1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
| |
a |
b |
c |
d |
e |
f |
g |
h |
|
While
white's development hasn't been bad, he is likely to have great difficulties in
the
game, due to black's classical space advantage.
Previous: N/A |
Next: "Tactics" | Back to Table of
Contents