Greater Space:
Part of the Advanced Beginner's Chess Guide (Section 1)

About This Article...

This article includes my notes, additional images and interactive chess positions from my study of Horowitz & Mott-Smith's book, Point Count Chess.

Source:
Point Count Chess,
Chapter 16. Space (p190-198)

Point Count Chess, Examples:

• The Strategy of Restraint
• Expansion
• The Open Board

This is all about freedom of movement. Take the example, shown in Diagram 1, below, of a Rook (Re1) that sits on a Half-Open File, with all those clear and squares to move to ... it has a Greater Space advantage than, say, a Rook (Ra8) whose Knight and Rook-Pawn remain all remain on their original starting squares.

Diagram 1: White's Re1 has Greater Space
than Black's Ra8.

Of course, you must still pay attention to basic principles of chess, such as the Vulnerability of your Pieces. For instance, in Diagram 1, you wouldn't immediately send White's Re1 to e4, as it's greater relative worth makes it vulnerable to Black's less valuable Nf6, which wouldn't hesitate to capture the Rook (...Nxe4).

Greater Space isn't just measured against single units, like the two adverse Rooks in Diagram 1; you must take into consideration all the troops within both armies. If you have more options for moving your Pawns and Pieces, than your opponent, you have the advantage of Greater Space (and one plus point).

Move your Pawns wisely, to help restrict the advancement of your opponent's Pawns and Pieces, while at the same time, improving the amount of Space behind, for your Pieces to maneuver into better positions, as necessary to carry out your plan of attack.

Moving On: Greater Space, Examples (Page 2).