When I read the blogs of the Knights Errant and their friends, I see that a lot of them love to play gambits. This doesn't surprise me. It makes sense to seek complications if you think that your main strength is your tactical skill.
But what most Knights do not seem to realise is that tactical skill is only one element of gambit-play. Just as important as tactical skill is the gambiteers ability to retain the dynamic advantages (development, activity, coordination) he has received in return of the pawn(s). The natural tendency in chess games is that dynamic advantages level out, but that structural advantages (material) remain.
Most chess players are consciously or subconsciously aware of this. Therefore they are tempted to focus on forced lines, in order to capitalise as soon as possible on their dynamic advantages. This attitude though is often very contra productive. The secret of successful gambiteering is the skill of fostering the dynamic advantages by constantly creating new threats and keeping the tension in the position. This is a skill that not many class players have. On class level most players force events, thereby resolving the tension which is the essence of their compensation.
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But what most Knights do not seem to realise is that tactical skill is only one element of gambit-play. Just as important as tactical skill is the gambiteers ability to retain the dynamic advantages (development, activity, coordination) he has received in return of the pawn(s).
Over at www.chessforums.org, there's a poster by the name of Fromper. He's been documenting his progress there for awhile, over several long-term threads, and recently said something very similar.
What he has gained from playing gambits for a year or more is the dynamic elements of a position, what they are worth, and how to exploit them.
Hi Gorckat,
Thanks for the tip. I will certainly look at those postings. I plan to do a follow up on this post, discussing several gambits and the compensation they give for the pawn.
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