When people start their chess studies, rip-roaring kingside attacks and the games of the great attacking geniuses often (and justifiably!) excite them. Though mastering tactics and common attacking schemes is a must, it often turns into a sort of sickness that prevents an appreciation (let alone a mastery) of other extremely important elements of the game.

One bit of chess dementia I’ve noticed is the belief that you can play for a kingside attack just because you want to have one. Taking this even further, many beginning players feel that all they have to do is advance a pawn on the kingside to claim an initiative in that sector. This misconception, of course, is absurd and must be “ripped” out of the student’s mind before it becomes malignant.

One gentleman that wrote to me enjoyed the position (as Black) after 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 Ne4 3.Bf4 g5, evidently feeling that the tempo-gaining advance of this pawn gave him instant chances for a successful kingside attack.

He then mentioned the game Kasparov-Dambo, Israel 1994: 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 Ne4 3.Bf4 g5 4.Bc1 h6 5.f3 Nf6 6.e4 d6 7.Nc3 e5 8.Nge2 Bg7 9.dxe5 dxe5 10.Qxd8+ Kxd8

BLACK IN NOT OKAY!

He said that Black had almost equalized, but the truth is that Black’s game is miserable – his King is unhappy in the center, his g7-Bishop is inactive, and his kingside pawn moves have done nothing but create weaknesses (take note of that gaping hole on f5!). In other words, the fact that Black’s g-pawn stood on g5 served no useful purpose – its impact was purely negative. After the further 11.Ng3 Nc6 12.Be3 Ke8 13.Nb5 Kd8 14.0–0–0+ Black’s discomfort was clear and White eventually won the game.

In general, you should only push pawns against the enemy King if the center is closed or if you control the center (in both cases, this means the opponent won’t be able to generate a counterattack in the middle!). Also, you should have a space advantage in that area and more pieces there (or aimed there) than the opponent.

Our next diagram shows White doing everything wrong.

WHITE TO MOVE

Here Black is the only one who could consider a kingside attack. His c5-Bishop is aiming at the vulnerable f2-pawn and his c8-Bishop and Queen are also taking aim at the kingside. If Black had the move, 1…f5 would be appropriate since it gains space in the area his pieces have influence in, and it brings the f8-Rook to sudden life.

However, it’s White to move and like many other players, the dude with White happens to be a guy that feels it’s his duty to be the first to attack the enemy King. As a result of this self-destructive mindset, White played the remarkably bad 1.h4??. Needless to say, White thought this was the prelude to a strong attack against the Black King. But thinking it and proving it are two different things. Just what does this move really accomplish? There isn’t a threat, it doesn’t bring the rest of the White army any closer to the action, and it creates a hole on the g4-square. After 1…Bg4 with threats like 2…Nd4 (taking advantage of the pinned f3-Knight) or …f7-f5, Black would be in complete control.

Compare the mindlessness of the last example to the move played in the next diagram.

WHITE HAS EVERY JUSTIFICATION TO ATTACK

In this position White has a strong center that gives him control over the key squares on c5, d5, e5, and f5. He is also ahead in development, and his King is safely castled. As a result of these facts White chose to sound the battle cry and use his pawns to try and beat down Black’s defenses: 1.f5 exf5 2.exf5 and White, whose pieces are all aiming at the kingside, had a strong attack.

In cases where the center is closed, you usually must attack with pawns on the wings since there’s no play in the middle and no files for the Rooks. Pushing pawns not only gives you more space, it also brings the Rooks into play. The following position is a common one.

BLACK TO MOVE

Here we see a closed center. Black knows that in such positions you usually play where your pawns point (since that’s where your space lies), and you usually do this by pushing the pawn next to your most advanced pawn. Thus, Black will seeks a kingside attack by an …f7-f5 advance and White will seek queenside play by preparing a c4-c5 thrust: 1…f5 2.Bd2 Nf6 3.f3 f4 and Black’s space advantage on the kingside is obvious. He will follow with more pawn advances via …g6-g5, …h7-h5, and (eventually) …g5-g4 with a terrifying pawn storm.

In future, the student should be careful when he wants to push a pawn down the board; he must learn to differentiate between a pawn advance that initiates play in the right place at the right time, and a bout of pawn-pushing madness that does nothing but create weaknesses in his own camp.

RULES

* In general, you should only push pawns against the enemy King if the center is closed or if you control the center (in both cases, this means the opponent won’t be able to generate a counterattack in the middle!).

* In a closed position, you should have a space advantage in the area you intend to target for attack, and more pieces there (or aimed there) than the opponent.

* You usually don’t want to start an attack until your pieces are developed and your King is safe.

* It’s your opponent’s job to create weaknesses and targets in your position. Why beat yourself by creating holes in your own camp?

* Attack if you feel you have a right to do so (i.e., more space, pieces aimed in that direction, targets to strike at, etc.), NOT because you feel it’s your right.