How do i keep advantage?

Hi guys!

I love the analysing function of the website. I analyzed my games and i found that it is easy to spot your opponent's faults but it is hard to keep the advantage. I am a novice chess player but i want to know how can i practie to keep the pressure. The chess puzzles are good to spot them, but i can not keep.

hu.lichess.org/TbrkPdRlIOSG

I made a blunder in the lategame. But watch the advatange i had 4 points advantage and i always move so badly i reduce it to 0.

@Diszpecser #1

Hi, losing the advantage in chess can consist of various things, for example :
* Losing the initiative
* Losing an important pawn
* Losing important tempo
* Losing control of a file or a square

In your game at move 21 : en.lichess.org/TbrkPdRl#40

you could have played Bc6-b5, which attacks the black knight but also makes Bb5-f1 possible, defending against back rank checkmate options from black.

And Stockfish does not complain about you trading pieces, but you could have played 18.Bxc6!? attacking the Rd7.

There's 2 different rules of thumb :
* Trade material when you are material up
* Do not trade when your opponent has less space or has defending problems.
(And there's also : Trade active or good opponent pieces vs. your passive or bad pieces)

Those 2 rules of thumb can kind of conflict, but ... since you had so much space, and more square control, and since black had some problems developing the knight on b8 and the rook on a8, I would have thought to not trade pieces in that position around move 18.

For the rest : I suggest that you study annotated chess games, watch chess videos with comments preferably by chess masters.
And analyse with equally strong or stronger players, e.g. at a local chessclub or in a chess group on the internet.

HTH

The ability to hold an advantage depends on one's understanding of the position as well as that person's state of mind and other psychological factors such as attitude. My belief is that for every advantageous position there is a main line. Alternatives favor your opponent. So when you're winning, trust your intuition. When your losing, carefully consider each possibility, as most of these will favor you ( because they are alternatives to the main line).

That said, there are a couple of things to keep in mind; in a winning position avoid greed. When I use the word "greed", I don't just mean when people capture anything that's hanging, (though that's an example of greed). I also mean that you should avoid things like controversial sacrifices when you're winning. There is no need to take much risk when you have a position like that.

One more thing; forcing things in a winning position is not advisable. Forcing things in a losing position is even less advisable.

@mruknowwho #3

"Forcing things" ?
Can you give an example by what you mean ?

I like forcing variations where there's "only moves" for my opponent, making calculations easier.
I also like all kind of tactics to force things, rather than playing for a tiny advantage during some 130 moves, like young GM Carlsen seemingly likes to do :)

I mean forcing changes in the position. The first player to make the position change is usually the weaker player. Each position has demands/conditions, and so avoiding these demands/conditions by changing the position usually favors the other player. There's a similar thing in Soccer; you take what your opponent gives you but if you try to take something that's not there, you pay a price for it. You can absolutely force a variation if you have a good reason for doing it but the danger is when people take the initiative to change the position.

One more thing I'd like to mention Diszpecser; when you have the bishop in the bishop vs knight endgame, try to use the bishop to dominate (take squares away from) the knight. There were a couple of times when you could have worked against the knight when instead you were bringing back the king. However, you do want your king to be an active piece in the endgame. By the way, I appreciate the boldness of your sacrifice attempt. Unfortunately, the position doesn't call for it.

Great answers, and tips! Thank you guys! I think not always the most impressive move is the stronges, sometimes the little moves are the best.

"There's 2 different rules of thumb :
* Trade material when you are material up
* Do not trade when your opponent has less space or has defending problems.
(And there's also : Trade active or good opponent pieces vs. your passive or bad pieces)"

Thanks Achja! This is a golden tip.

Thank you Mruknowwho, I tried to win too fast. Also thanks for the tips, so I need to control and dominate over the opponent's pieces.