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How to Evaluate Positions, Part #1

In my opinion this approach has some major flaws. I'd agree that, given we have a position of reference, it is valuable to compare and access the differences. However, the assessment is a procedure that should be done multiple times in a game and it would be quite normal for the game to change aspects amidst the battle. At some point the player will not have a position of reference and this "relativistic" approach fails. It is then that we'd some objective criteria to rely on.

In my opinion this approach has some major flaws. I'd agree that, given we have a position of reference, it is valuable to compare and access the differences. However, the assessment is a procedure that should be done multiple times in a game and it would be quite normal for the game to change aspects amidst the battle. At some point the player will not have a position of reference and this "relativistic" approach fails. It is then that we'd some objective criteria to rely on.

@Gnz110 said in #10:

Nice video! but what if black tries to generate some play with f5 as in the worse position #3 example? with the pawn on g5, its easier for black open the f-file with f6. however, let's say the pawns are back on g2 and h2. can't black prepare f5 followed by fxe4?

Yes they can, but honestly, that plan doesn't achieve much unless you have other things going for you.
White can keep their strong control of light-squares and the d6-pawn will continue to be very vulnerable.
Also, after ...f5 and exf5, the e4-square becomes another outpost for the knight or maybe queen.

Overall, I agree that ...f5 is worth trying (better than just sitting and waiting to lose), but we shouldn't expect it to work unless White blunders somehow.

@Gnz110 said in #10: > Nice video! but what if black tries to generate some play with f5 as in the worse position #3 example? with the pawn on g5, its easier for black open the f-file with f6. however, let's say the pawns are back on g2 and h2. can't black prepare f5 followed by fxe4? Yes they can, but honestly, that plan doesn't achieve much unless you have other things going for you. White can keep their strong control of light-squares and the d6-pawn will continue to be very vulnerable. Also, after ...f5 and exf5, the e4-square becomes another outpost for the knight or maybe queen. Overall, I agree that ...f5 is worth trying (better than just sitting and waiting to lose), but we shouldn't expect it to work unless White blunders somehow.

@generaldimos said in #11:

In my opinion this approach has some major flaws. I'd agree that, given we have a position of reference, it is valuable to compare and access the differences. However, the assessment is a procedure that should be done multiple times in a game and it would be quite normal for the game to change aspects amidst the battle. At some point the player will not have a position of reference and this "relativistic" approach fails. It is then that we'd some objective criteria to rely on.

Sure, I agree. But honestly, I don't see any downside in using this approach as a means of having a "correct starting point".
Of course, it's not a recipe, you always have to eventually think with your own brain, but I feel it gets people closer to the goal, right?

@generaldimos said in #11: > In my opinion this approach has some major flaws. I'd agree that, given we have a position of reference, it is valuable to compare and access the differences. However, the assessment is a procedure that should be done multiple times in a game and it would be quite normal for the game to change aspects amidst the battle. At some point the player will not have a position of reference and this "relativistic" approach fails. It is then that we'd some objective criteria to rely on. Sure, I agree. But honestly, I don't see any downside in using this approach as a means of having a "correct starting point". Of course, it's not a recipe, you always have to eventually think with your own brain, but I feel it gets people closer to the goal, right?

@ChessMindAI said in #13:

Sure, I agree. But honestly, I don't see any downside in using this approach as a means of having a "correct starting point".
Of course, it's not a recipe, you always have to eventually think with your own brain, but I feel it gets people closer to the goal, right?

agree to this as these series on evaluation situation raising from some openings so you are more likely to have something to evaluate and place your plan. Also this approach has always been used in endgames. In simplest you see that for example sacrificing Knight to for pawn gives you a passer with too far for opponent to catch. Like here also the endgame position was shown as why it is winning.

@ChessMindAI said in #13: > Sure, I agree. But honestly, I don't see any downside in using this approach as a means of having a "correct starting point". > Of course, it's not a recipe, you always have to eventually think with your own brain, but I feel it gets people closer to the goal, right? agree to this as these series on evaluation situation raising from some openings so you are more likely to have something to evaluate and place your plan. Also this approach has always been used in endgames. In simplest you see that for example sacrificing Knight to for pawn gives you a passer with too far for opponent to catch. Like here also the endgame position was shown as why it is winning.

Thank you very much! Now I know a simple method to evaluate positions quickly.

Thank you very much! Now I know a simple method to evaluate positions quickly.

Dumb question, but it sometimes confuses me when I see quiet moves like in Canonical Win #1, where black moves 7...Kh8. Was that simply the best available move because everything else was locked down?

Dumb question, but it sometimes confuses me when I see quiet moves like in Canonical Win #1, where black moves 7...Kh8. Was that simply the best available move because everything else was locked down?

@Pawnpuzzle said in #15:

Thank you very much! Now I know a simple method to evaluate positions quickly.

Glad you found this helpful! This is part of a series by the way, I'll make more blogs/videos like this ;)

@Pawnpuzzle said in #15: > Thank you very much! Now I know a simple method to evaluate positions quickly. Glad you found this helpful! This is part of a series by the way, I'll make more blogs/videos like this ;)

@chessiniowa4545 said in #17:

Yeah, the position was so locked that there wasn't really something better.
But of course, sometimes people just show these moves in examples in order to illustrate how White's plan would continue.
So, it's a little bit of both. In a real game, some players might just try something more active (even if it's hopeless) to avoid
waiting to lose.

@chessiniowa4545 said in #17: > Yeah, the position was so locked that there wasn't really something better. But of course, sometimes people just show these moves in examples in order to illustrate how White's plan would continue. So, it's a little bit of both. In a real game, some players might just try something more active (even if it's hopeless) to avoid waiting to lose.