Like most things in the world, chess is filled with dualities. Actually, when it comes to chess, the concept seems to relate to the very spirit of the game — especially as a weak square in your opponent’s camp is normally a strong outpost for your pieces.
This is just one of the many examples of dualities in this formidable game. However, some of them are far more elaborate, such as tactical or positional playing styles. While playing styles may not represent the best definition, in this article they will be treated as types of strategies.
Tactical vs. Positional Chess: Which Is The Best?
Positional Chess | Tactical Chess | |
Rules
|
Stick to the basics. |
No guidelines. |
King
|
Normally castled. |
No special defense. |
Pawn Structure
|
Uses pawns to form a protective wall. |
Uses pawns more as attacking pieces. |
Disposition Of Pieces
|
Gets pieces in their perfect position before midgame. |
Messy board without patterns. |
Moves
|
With intent of occupying a better position with every move. |
With intent of invading the opponent’s space. |
Which One Should You Dive Into First?
Taking from most manuals, it seems to be a trend to suggest that new players should learn tactical chess, keep developing this set of skills until they master it, and then move on to learn positional chess.
Almost every master has mentioned that players shouldn’t even consider entering the world of positional chess before they reach the 2000 ranking threshold, which takes a lot of tactical prowess.
It has also been said that tactical chess is knowing what to do when there are options — and positional chess is knowing what to do when there are none. However plain, this definition says a lot.
For instance, when a player is facing a threat and has to maneuver away from it but sees no way to do so while presenting a counter-threat, a positional strategy is adopted.
In simpler terms, the defensive intent is more focused on the position of the pieces rather than on building up a sequence of moves that might constitute a threat to the opponent.
On the other hand, tactical chess is more practiced as a combination of threatening moves that, due to the multiplicity of attacking fronts, causes the opponent to concede something in the end.
Tactical Chess and Positional Chess
Tactical chess involves more direct moves, such as forks, pins, and skewers, removing the guard, discovering attacks, decoys, and sacrifices.
Positional chess has principles that place a stronger emphasis on solidifying a position, improving the pieces or the ‘structure’ of some of them, using pieces to undermine the power of opponents’ pieces, and so on.
There normally is a clear difference between the two, even if sometimes players seem to use both strategies during the same game.
Starting Your Game
In a match, the player that starts with a positional strategy should focus on getting the pieces into the strongest possible position to then make a threat move. Alternatively, a player that chooses a tactical strategy should make more non-conventional moves to reach the point at which an attacking sequence can be started.
Positional strategies also mean to set the pieces in such a way that they can offer their best, both in defending and attacking, while tactical strategies seek to form an attacking sequence of moves even at the cost of a weakened defense.
You Define Your Playing Style
Regarding the position of the pieces, the tactical sides of the table are usually messier, while the positional side clearly displays a pattern. This also refers to the intent of building up the best possible position for attacking, present in the positional strategy.
Lastly, even the king, the most important piece of the game, has a particular role in each `style`. For example, more positional players tend to protect the king by putting other pieces around it in a way that no direct attack can be attempted.
Tactical players do not have that much regard for the protection of the king and usually bet on a constant attacking sequence as a mechanism for their defense. Differences apart, the more you play the game, the clearer each strategy type becomes.
In the end, you’ll probably tend to use one more than the other and that should define your playing style. However, bear in mind that the best players are those who can master both strategies.