The opening is over. Now what?

Question

After "surviving" the opening phase of the game, where many players have memorized the first 5 - 10 moves, it is now time for the middle game, where memorization is not helpful any longer. How should a player handle this part of the game?

Answer 1

In the beginning of the game one develops the pieces, controls the center and safeguards the king. But after these 5-10 opening moves, which many players play by memory, one really needs to think. Here is how to handle this part of the game.

1) Look out for tactical opportunities. Are there any unprotected pieces of your opponent, that you could easily capture? Any opportunities for forks, pins or skewers? On the flip side, make sure you do not give your opponent any such opportunity. If such an opportunity already exists, make sure you fix it.

2) If there is no tactical opportunity, consider the long picture. Are your pieces in the most active squares? Are rooks in open files and bishop in open diagonals, ideally as long as possible? If you have only one bishop, make sure the pawns do not block the bishop, try to have pawns at squares of the opposite color. This is especially true if both sides have one bishop each, of the same type (light or dark). Try to have your pawns at squares of the opposite side, while forcing your opponent to have pawns at squares of the same color.

3) Pawn structure. Try to have as few pawn islands as possible. Avoid double pawns and backward pawns. Try to have your opponent face such issues. Try to create a passed pawn, ideally supported by another pawn.

4) Eventually try to reach a winning ending, or at least an ending where the odds are on your side.

Answer 2

1. Identify the Pawn Structure

The pawns dictate where the "traffic" flows.

1. If the center is locked (closed): Look to attack on the wings (the sides of the board).
2. If the center is open: Prioritize piece activity and long-range attacks.
3. The "Lever": Look for ways to use your pawns to break open your opponent's defense. A pawn break (moving a pawn to challenge an enemy pawn) is usually the "starter motor" for a middlegame attack.

2. Improve Your "Worst" Piece

Look at your board. Which piece is doing the least?

1. Is your Bishop stuck behind your own pawns?
2. Is your Knight on the edge of the board ("A Knight on the rim is dim")?
3. The Goal: Relocate that piece to a more active square. A middlegame is often won simply by the player who has all their pieces working together while the opponent has one or two "lazy" pieces.

3. Find a "Target"

You need something to attack. Common middlegame targets include:

1. Weak Pawns: Isolated pawns (no friendly pawns on the sides to guard them) or backward pawns.
2. The King: If your opponent hasn't castled, or if they have pushed the pawns in front of their King, start shifting your pieces toward that side.
3. Outposts: Find a square deep in enemy territory that cannot be attacked by enemy pawns. Plunk a Knight there—it will become a "monster" that dominates the game.

4. Prophylaxis (The Art of Prevention)

Before you start your own plan, ask: "What does my opponent want to do?"

1. If they want to jump a Knight into your territory, move a pawn to stop it.
2. If they are lining up a battery against your King, add a defender.
3. Prophylaxis is about "taking the sting" out of your opponent's ideas before they even happen.

Answer 3

In this video, I talk about middlegame, and what to do in this game phase. I hope it helps

https://youtu.be/2Gyq4bRyzq8?si=vnnxyr-AsqJvjbis

Answer 4

If you have opened properly you now look for targets and weaknesses. For example the black king side castled king has a weak square on g7 and white on g2 only guarded by the king himself so that square and pawn on it can be attacked by two pieces. You have to look at the weak pawns to attack and weak squares to place your pieces on as you begin to try to advance and attack the king and his army. If one of his pieces is unprotected you should see if you can attack it. As a beginner I suggest you exchange pieces of the same value as the game goes along. Chess takes time to learn and there are many things to learn and tings that must be known this is a good place to start.