How to Reassess Your Chess: pg 14
This is a thick ass book. I will not post all parts of it (though I would thoroughly shake Silman’s hand if he put the whole book on Chess.com. I do want to post a few examples that I thought were relevant.
This first one comes from the introduction chapter. The last section is an introduction to planning. It starts with this game, and the position below is the teaching lesson. Here’s what Silman thinks you should get from this position (of which I got most right and chose the correct move):
- White has an advantage in the queenside space
- Black has a potentially weak pawn on c7
- If Black pushes the c7 pawn to c6 or c5, bxc6 will leave Black with a weak pawn on b6 and a hole on b5
- Black’s d5-pawn is weak since it can’t be defended by another pawn
- Black’s only source of counter play is on the kingside - his d6-Bshop, e6-Rook, e4-Knight, and Queen are all eyeing that area
- Black’s b7-Bishop, which is defending d5, is playing a purely defensive role
- Black’s dark-squared Bishop is giving firm support to the c7-pawn while also playing a key role in any kingside attack that he might drum up
- White’s b2-Bishop is inactive
