NSCF Coach Jim Santorelli continually emphasizes the importance of understanding the role of permanent and temporary advantages in the game of chess. This begins a series of articles utilizing Jim's methods of teaching this difficult subject. Jim follows the Table of Elements from A. Kotov's fine book, Play Like a Grandmaster. He teaches the elements in the following order:

Permanent Advantages

1. Material advantage
2. Poor opponents King position
3. Control of a file
4. Control of a rank
5. Control of a diagonal
6. The advantage of two Bishops
7. Passed pawns
8. Strong pawn center
9. Weak pawns of opponent
10. Fewer pawn islands
11. Weak squares of opponent
12. Weak color complex

1. Poor position of opponents piece.
2. Lack of harmony in opponent's piece placement.
3. Advantage in development.
4. Piece pressure in the center.
5. Advantage in space.

Click on each live link above to find a lecture on that theme. Over time, we plan to have a lecture on every theme.