Attacking the Uncastled King | Chess Middlegames

The King left in the center is often the beginning of brilliant chess victories! It should be the main focus of your attention and most of your play should be based around how to punish it!

The safest and the best way to play chess is to follow classical chess principles – develop your pieces (knights before bishops), castle, and only then start creating attacking plans. There is a whole school of chess neglecting that! Modern openings and many aggressive openings choose time and the initiative over safety.

In some cases, the aggressive player is left with his most important piece stuck on e8 or e1, in the middle of the board and as a target for a deadly attack!

A king left in the center is a feature of the position which changes play completely. The player with the uncastled king will often look for attacking chances and a quick initiative to compensate for the lack of development, and the other player must adjust his play too. The way to play against a lack of development and a king in the center is quickly, aggressively and mercilessly!

The pawn structure doesn’t matter, the material doesn’t matter! Your goal is to open up lines, bring in reinforcements and checkmate.

One thing I think is crucial is taking more time in these positions. Even though it’s the late opening or early middlegame, take the position seriously and stop at each move. Think as if you were solving a puzzle saying: “White to play and win.” Very often you will have a deadly tactical blow!

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