School of chess
Encyclopedia
A school of chess means a chess
player or group of players that share common ideas about the strategy of the game. There have been several schools in the history of modern chess. Today there is less dependence on schools – players draw on many sources and play according to their personal style.
published Analyse du jeu des Échecs. This was the first book to discuss the strategy of chess in the whole in detail. It was also the first to discuss the interplay of pieces and pawns
in the game. Philidor believed that maintaining the mobility of pawns was the most important strategic factor of chess, and he discussed pawn structure
, particularly isolated pawn
s, doubled pawns
, and backward pawn
s.
Philidor's writings were widely praised and often misunderstood for 90 years. His ideas were taken up by the English school in the 1840s. In 1925 Aron Nimzowitsch
recognized the importance of pawn mobility. Philidor has increasingly been recognized as the founder of modern chess strategy.
: Domenico Lorenzo Ponziani
, Giambattista Lolli
, and Ercole del Rio
. They recommended playing the Italian Game
opening
. In contrast to Philidor's idea of pawn structure and mobility, the Modenese school emphasized rapid development of the pieces for an attack on the opposing king
, aiming for checkmate
or winning material in the process. This style of play was used by Gioachino Greco, Alessandro Salvio
, and other Italian players of the 16th century .
in the 1840s. His followers
included Bernhard Horwitz
, Elijah Williams
, Marmaduke Wyvill, and to some degree Adolf Anderssen
and Daniel Harrwitz
. In this style, there was no quick attack on the opposing king. Instead, the position was prepared – control was gained over the center and key points. Attacks came only after strategic advantages were obtained. Pieces were developed behind pawns to support their advance. Staunton pioneered the use of flank opening
s and the fianchetto
of the bishop
. After Staunton practically retired in 1853, these ideas were neglected.
realized that many attacks on the king succeeded because of poor defense. Wilhelm Steinitz
agreed with that and rejected the prevailing notion that attack was more honorable than defense. Steinitz strengthened defensive techniques and advocated strategic maneuvering to gain enough of an advantage before launching an attack. Steinitz was an advocate of the queenside pawn majority and the use of the bishop pair. He also emphasized occupation of the center of the chessboard
and pawn structure. Steinitz began using his ideas in games in 1872. Steinitz had few followers at first, but by the 1890s most masters had been influenced by his ideas. Siegbert Tarrasch
was a great promoter of the Steinitz school.
, Richard Réti
, Savielly Tartakower
, and Gyula Breyer
in the 1920s. The hypermodernists rejected the idea that occupation of the center was important. Instead, the hypermodern school emphasizes control of the center by attacking it with pieces.
began a long domination of chess. The Soviet school agreed with Tarrasch and emphasized mobility. A weakness that could not be attacked was not a real weakness. The Soviet school was based on teachings of Mikhail Chigorin
(1850-1908).
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
player or group of players that share common ideas about the strategy of the game. There have been several schools in the history of modern chess. Today there is less dependence on schools – players draw on many sources and play according to their personal style.
Philidor
In 1749, François-André Danican PhilidorFrançois-André Danican Philidor
François-André Danican Philidor , often referred to as André Danican Philidor during his lifetime, was a French composer and chess player. He contributed to the early development of the opéra comique...
published Analyse du jeu des Échecs. This was the first book to discuss the strategy of chess in the whole in detail. It was also the first to discuss the interplay of pieces and pawns
Pawn (chess)
The pawn is the most numerous and weakest piece in the game of chess, historically representing infantry, or more particularly armed peasants or pikemen. Each player begins the game with eight pawns, one on each square of the rank immediately in front of the other pieces...
in the game. Philidor believed that maintaining the mobility of pawns was the most important strategic factor of chess, and he discussed pawn structure
Pawn structure
In chess, the pawn structure is the configuration of pawns on the chessboard. Since pawns are the least mobile of the chess pieces, the pawn structure is relatively static and thus largely determines the strategic nature of the position.-General observations:Weaknesses in the pawn structure, such...
, particularly isolated pawn
Isolated pawn
In chess, an isolated pawn is a pawn which has no friendly pawn on an adjacent file. An isolated queen's pawn is often called an isolani. Isolated pawns are usually a weakness because they cannot be protected by other pawns...
s, doubled pawns
Doubled pawns
In chess, doubled pawns are two pawns of the same color residing on the same file. Pawns can become doubled only when one pawn captures onto a file on which another friendly pawn resides. In the diagram, the pawns on the b-file and e-file are doubled...
, and backward pawn
Backward pawn
In chess, a backward pawn is a pawn that is behind the pawns of the same color on the adjacent files and that cannot be advanced without loss of material, usually the backward pawn itself....
s.
Philidor's writings were widely praised and often misunderstood for 90 years. His ideas were taken up by the English school in the 1840s. In 1925 Aron Nimzowitsch
Aron Nimzowitsch
Aron Nimzowitsch was a Russian-born Danish unofficial chess grandmaster and a very influential chess writer...
recognized the importance of pawn mobility. Philidor has increasingly been recognized as the founder of modern chess strategy.
Modenese school
The Modenese school is due to three 18th-century players known as the Modenese MastersModenese Masters
The Modenese Masters are three 18th-century chess masters and writers:* Domenico Lorenzo Ponziani * Ercole del Rio and* Giambattista Lolli ....
: Domenico Lorenzo Ponziani
Domenico Lorenzo Ponziani
Domenico Lorenzo Ponziani was an 18th-century Italian law professor, priest, chess player, composer and theoretician. He is best known today for his chess writing.-Life:...
, Giambattista Lolli
Giambattista Lolli
Giambattista Lolli was an Italian chess player. Lolli was one of the most important chess theoreticians of his time. He is most famous for his book Osservazioni teorico-pratiche sopra il giuoco degli scacchi , published 1763 in Bologna...
, and Ercole del Rio
Ercole del Rio
Domenico Ercole del Rio was an Italian lawyer and author. He published an 110-page chess book in 1750 which was the basis of a work by Giambattista Lolli thirteen years later. He composed many chess problems. He was one of the Modenese Masters.-References:...
. They recommended playing the Italian Game
Italian Game
The Italian Game is a family of chess openings beginning with the moves:The game's defining move is the White king's bishop's move to c4 in preparation for an early attack on Black's vulnerable f7-square. As such the game is typified by aggressive play, where Black's best chances are often...
opening
Chess opening
A chess opening is the group of initial moves of a chess game. Recognized sequences of opening moves are referred to as openings as initiated by White or defenses, as created in reply by Black. There are many dozens of different openings, and hundreds of named variants. The Oxford Companion to...
. In contrast to Philidor's idea of pawn structure and mobility, the Modenese school emphasized rapid development of the pieces for an attack on the opposing king
King (chess)
In chess, the king is the most important piece. The object of the game is to trap the opponent's king so that its escape is not possible . If a player's king is threatened with capture, it is said to be in check, and the player must remove the threat of capture on the next move. If this cannot be...
, aiming for checkmate
Checkmate
Checkmate is a situation in chess in which one player's king is threatened with capture and there is no way to meet that threat. Or, simply put, the king is under direct attack and cannot avoid being captured...
or winning material in the process. This style of play was used by Gioachino Greco, Alessandro Salvio
Alessandro Salvio
Alessandro Salvio was an Italian chess player who is considered to be the unofficial world champion around the year 1600. He started an Italian chess academy in Naples, Italy, and wrote a book called Trattato dell'Inventione et Arte Liberale del Gioco Degli Scacchi, which was published in Naples...
, and other Italian players of the 16th century .
English school
The English school was founded by Howard StauntonHoward Staunton
Howard Staunton was an English chess master who is generally regarded as having been the world's strongest player from 1843 to 1851, largely as a result of his 1843 victory over Saint-Amant. He promoted a chess set of clearly distinguishable pieces of standardised shape—the Staunton pattern—that...
in the 1840s. His followers
included Bernhard Horwitz
Bernhard Horwitz
Bernhard Horwitz was a German English chess master and chess writer.Horwitz was born in Neustrelitz, and went to school in Berlin, where he studied art. From 1837 to 1843, he was part of a group of German chess players known as "The Pleiades".He moved to London in 1845...
, Elijah Williams
Elijah Williams
Elijah Williams was an eminent British chess player of the mid-19th century. The first president of the Clifton Chess Club, and publisher of a book of games from the Divan Club....
, Marmaduke Wyvill, and to some degree Adolf Anderssen
Adolf Anderssen
Karl Ernst Adolf Anderssen was a German chess master. He is considered to have been the world's leading chess player in the 1850s and 1860s...
and Daniel Harrwitz
Daniel Harrwitz
Daniel Harrwitz was a Jewish German chess master.Harrwitz was born in Breslau in the Prussian Province of Silesia. He established his reputation in Paris, particularly as a player of blindfold games...
. In this style, there was no quick attack on the opposing king. Instead, the position was prepared – control was gained over the center and key points. Attacks came only after strategic advantages were obtained. Pieces were developed behind pawns to support their advance. Staunton pioneered the use of flank opening
Flank opening
A flank opening is a chess opening played by White and typified by play on one or both flanks ....
s and the fianchetto
Fianchetto
In chess the fianchetto is a pattern of development wherein a bishop is developed to the second rank of the adjacent knight file, the knight pawn having been moved one or two squares forward....
of the bishop
Bishop (chess)
A bishop is a piece in the board game of chess. Each player begins the game with two bishops. One starts between the king's knight and the king, the other between the queen's knight and the queen...
. After Staunton practically retired in 1853, these ideas were neglected.
Steinitz
Around 1860 Louis PaulsenLouis Paulsen
Louis Paulsen was a German chess player.In 1860s and 1870s, he was among the top five players in the world. He was a younger brother of Wilfried Paulsen....
realized that many attacks on the king succeeded because of poor defense. Wilhelm Steinitz
Wilhelm Steinitz
Wilhelm Steinitz was an Austrian and then American chess player and the first undisputed world chess champion from 1886 to 1894. From the 1870s onwards, commentators have debated whether Steinitz was effectively the champion earlier...
agreed with that and rejected the prevailing notion that attack was more honorable than defense. Steinitz strengthened defensive techniques and advocated strategic maneuvering to gain enough of an advantage before launching an attack. Steinitz was an advocate of the queenside pawn majority and the use of the bishop pair. He also emphasized occupation of the center of the chessboard
Chessboard
A chessboard is the type of checkerboard used in the board game chess, and consists of 64 squares arranged in two alternating colors...
and pawn structure. Steinitz began using his ideas in games in 1872. Steinitz had few followers at first, but by the 1890s most masters had been influenced by his ideas. Siegbert Tarrasch
Siegbert Tarrasch
Siegbert Tarrasch was one of the strongest chess players and most influential chess teachers of the late 19th century and early 20th century....
was a great promoter of the Steinitz school.
Hypermodern school
The hypermodern school was founded by Aron NimzowitschAron Nimzowitsch
Aron Nimzowitsch was a Russian-born Danish unofficial chess grandmaster and a very influential chess writer...
, Richard Réti
Richard Réti
Réti composed one of the most famous chess studies, shown in this diagram. It was published in Ostrauer Morgenzeitung 4 December 1921. It seems impossible for the white king to catch the advanced black pawn, while the white pawn can be easily stopped by the black king...
, Savielly Tartakower
Savielly Tartakower
Ksawery Tartakower was a leading Polish and French chess Grandmaster. He was also a leading chess journalist of the 1920s and 30s...
, and Gyula Breyer
Gyula Breyer
Gyula Breyer was a Hungarian chess player. He was a leading member of the hypermodern school of chess theory, which favored controlling the center with pressure from the flanks....
in the 1920s. The hypermodernists rejected the idea that occupation of the center was important. Instead, the hypermodern school emphasizes control of the center by attacking it with pieces.
Soviet hegemony
In the 1940s the Soviet UnionSoviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
began a long domination of chess. The Soviet school agreed with Tarrasch and emphasized mobility. A weakness that could not be attacked was not a real weakness. The Soviet school was based on teachings of Mikhail Chigorin
Mikhail Chigorin
Mikhail Ivanovich Chigorin also was a leading Russian chess player...
(1850-1908).