Ok, I generally think about a tempo as one move. That's why checks gain a tempo: you're forcing the other player to waste a tempo on the king. Here's an example.
The game's probably chock full of errors, but it's just for illustrative purposes. Sorry if you count that as opening still, I think it's middlegame.
In the endgame it's the same sort of thing.
Ok, thanks. I see what you mean, and you are correct.
Thanks for the correction!
It could help you A lot to find games of Tarrasch...
by my meager reckonning, I always have considered it to be a tempo gain if you can make a move that both (1) serves a purpose to you, and (2) forces your opponent to react in a way that serves no other purpose, except to avoid a threat presented by your move. If his positioon isn't better after his move, but yours is, then he just lost a turn, no?
Kleelof, winning a tempo in the endgame is not different from winning a tempo in the opening (one side has a useful move while the other side has not - by force or by Zugzwang or whatever). You claim to understand the concept in the opening, so you apparently use a concept of "winning a tempo" that is somehow only applicable in the opening. Could you explain?
Kleelof, winning a tempo in the endgame is not different from winning a tempo in the opening (one side has a useful move while the other side has not - by force or by Zugzwang or whatever). You claim to understand the concept in the opening, so you apparently use a concept of "winning a tempo" that is somehow only applicable in the opening. Could you explain?
I'm interested in what the difference is too. Because I think maybe I'm misunderstanding the concept. In the opening, if you develop a piece, and thereby threaten one of his, or his position in some way, and he has to, say.. move a pawn that he wouldn't have, or move a threatend piece, or whatever, instead of developing. You win a tempo (I.e.: your opposent lost a turn). Isn't that what a tempo is?
That is the same in the opening as any other part of the game
Kleelof, winning a tempo in the endgame is not different from winning a tempo in the opening (one side has a useful move while the other side has not - by force or by Zugzwang or whatever). You claim to understand the concept in the opening, so you apparently use a concept of "winning a tempo" that is somehow only applicable in the opening. Could you explain?
It's not a matter of a differnet definition.
The problem is, in the opening,it is not so difficult to see the effects of tempi when you develop correctly or incorrectly.
In the middle and endgame, it is not so easy to identify gains and losses in tempo.
Simply put, gaining a tempo in the middlegame or endgame means gaining an extra move to put your plan into action.
So, let's see what happens in Nimzo's example to see whether Black can use that tempo.
In the line where Nimzo claims Black gains a tempo, Black is a pawn up. In both cases, the king reaches c4 on move 6, but with an important difference. Ok, not important to the result, since Black wins anyway.
I was thinking about playing ...c3 and after 2. Kb6 c4 trying to deny the King from b5 but he can move and I can leave my pawn now :(.. good analysis
Here are 2 good examples of tempo gaining from My Sysystem chapter 7, The Pin.
^^ This kind of thing happens a lot in Sicilians where the black player spends a lot of time setting up a 'better' position but loses due to lack of tempi to make that position do anything.
@Kleelof, last example was excelent! Thats why everytime you can you should consider capturing not in the natural order (low value piece first). Generally with your bishop you can pin and hold that pin, meaning that you have the tension over the position and the upper hand. THe other player must do something to break the pin and that mostly of the time result in loss of time, weaking of the position, leaving a piece badly placed, etc.
This whole concept is so difficult it makes me cry. Thank god I have these:
Варкалось, хливкие шорьки пырялись по наве и хрюкотали зелюки,
... так что, скажи спасибо (пытался помочь вам, саксаулам, чем мог, не обессудьте ужо 
) и не выпендривайся 
как мюмзики в мове... интересно, понял бы ты хоть что-нибудь, изъясняйся я на русском, напиши я, чем в шахматах отличается полуход от темпа