Weak Colour Complex - Principles of Chess Middle Games
“You may learn much more from a game you lose than from a game you win.”
- Jose Capablanca
Hello Chessbros. Welcome to the series, Where we discuss middle-game concepts. We have already completed the following topics,
Blockade & Restriction ( https://www.chess.com/blog/siddharth026/blockade-restriction-principles-of-chess-middle-games )
Greek Gift sacrifice ( https://www.chess.com/blog/siddharth026/greek-gift-sacrifice-principles-of-chess-middle-games )
Opposite Side Castling ( https://www.chess.com/blog/siddharth026/opposite-side-castling-principles-of-chess-middle-games )
Weak Square & Outpost ( https://www.chess.com/blog/siddharth026/weak-square-outpost-principles-of-chess-middle-games )
The Bishop Pair ( https://www.chess.com/blog/siddharth026/the-bishop-pair-principles-of-chess-middle-games )
Prophylaxis ( https://www.chess.com/blog/siddharth026/prophylaxis-principles-of-chess-middle-games-2 )
Clearance sacrifice ( https://www.chess.com/blog/siddharth026/clearance-sacrifice-principles-of-chess-middle-games )
Today we will discuss a very critical topic in the middle game. This is an advanced concept that goes by the name "Weak Colour Complex." We usually don't notice. When any pawn or piece moves, It keeps space vacant. Sometimes this space is called a weakness. This may be a single square or multiple square. To understand this complex, let's study deeper into theory and go straight into the content.
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Content |
Weak Colour Complex-
- squares are perfectly safe. Whenever you move a pawn, you will inevitably be weakening some squares behind.
- Multiple weak squares of the same colour create a weak colour complex which is easily exploitable and could mean a decisive advantage!
Weak colour complexes occur when multiple pawns move to one colour, leaving the opposite colour squares undefended. This fact is emphasized by the fact that Pawns don’t move backwards, which means the weaknesses are permanent. - This is important because several weak squares of the same colour can be easily highlighted in your opponent’s position in a very simple way
– by trading off their defender. If your opponent has weak light squares, trade the light square bishop. Once the defender is gone, it’s going to be much simpler to harass your opponent on the light squares.
Weak squares -
We talked about the importance of controlling more squares than your opponent. But not all squares are equally important. Some squares are difficult (or impossible) for one player to control with his pawns. Such squares have the potential to be weak squares, especially if the other player can control them with his pawns.
To recognize which squares are weak, just see which squares you or your opponent can’t easily (or ever) control with pawns.
Let's make this simple with
| A pawn move creates weakness around it |
You can see in this situation, White has moved the pawn which has created multiple weaknesses on the dark square.
Now it is not necessary to move multiple pawns, moving a single pawn can also result in weakness,
| No pawn moves are no weakness |
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Note - To recognize which squares are weak, just see which squares you or your opponent can’t easily (or ever) control with pawns. |
Let's try to identify the weakness in the below position,
| Identifying weaknesses in a complicated position |
Black has three weak squares: b6, d5, and d6. Even though Black has weak squares, they are not too much of a liability because they are well-controlled by his pieces. The b6 square is controlled by the knight on d7 and the queen on c7. The d6 square (and the pawn sitting on it) is defended by the bishop on e7 and the queen on c7. And the d5 square is controlled by the knight on f6 and the bishop on e6.
So it's not always going to be in your favour. You have to understand which squares you have to exploit.
Position 3 -
Now here is a position how will you exploit the weak squares-
Answer-| Weak colour complex |
| Grandmasters game |
As always, I will analyse one game for you and then give you the list for the rest of them.
If, we are talking about positional chess. Who is the most renowned player any guesses?
He is the man who goes by the name " Tigran V Petrosian "
So what Petrosian does is he starts trading the pieces which can protect the dark square they are,
- Bishop and queen.
Now why is he trading? Because there will be no dark square defender then for black.
Now in this position, we see the relative value of pieces.
- Both have rooks that are not yet completely developed.
- Although Nc5 looks scary, Its forward mobility is blocked by the bishop.
- White Queen is more centralized and active.
- White Knights have more potential than black bishops.
Now after his opponent here played Ra8 because he has no moves. Petrosian here played a very powerful move Which is trading queens.
Why trading queens? For the same reason as the above question, there will be no dark square defenders.
In this position, Petrosian showed his masterclass by slowly covering all the key squares.
Kg2- Rae8
f4 ( Blocking the e5 square )
Now the idea of kg2 was to bring the rook to h phile. So Petrosian now does it.
kg8, is played.
Nf3 ( planning outpost of e5 )-Nd6
Ne5
Look at this position. Every pawn is placed on the dark square totally exploits the weakness. ( Except a4 )
The next few moves are just lengthening moves. Petrosian has such domination over this position you will see he marches King to the centre of the board, Still opponent can't do anything.
Ahmed Adly vs Viktor Laznicka ( 2007 ) -
Few more matches to refer,
A Adly vs V Laznicka, 2007
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 28 moves, 1-0
Radjabov vs Anand, 2008
(D44) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 85 moves, 1-0
Gelfand vs Karjakin, 2008
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 46 moves, 0-1
I hope you love this content on "weak colour complex." I wish this blog helps you understand your position, much better than your previous games. This concept will definitely help you solidify your middle game and strengthen your positional play. For now, let's end this blog here. Follow my page for more theoretical blogs.
Till then,
Let us all grow at chess together.
...The End...
