Good bishop, bad bishop: judge the work, not just the colour
Pawn colours matter, but activity and useful targets decide whether a bishop is helping your position.
4 min read · one exercise
♗ A chapter of the Academy
Strategy
Read the pawn structure, improve your pieces, and turn the position into a plan.
7 original lessons · Free to read
How to create a plan in chess: name a target and a route
Turn “I don't know what to do” into a short list of threats, weak squares, and pieces that need a better job.
4 min read · one exercise
How to use rooks: open files, entry squares, and coordination
Put rooks where they can reach targets. An open file is valuable when it leads somewhere useful.
4 min read · one exercise
Knight outposts: a safe square needs a useful job
A protected central knight can dominate, but only if the opponent cannot easily challenge it and it influences real targets.
4 min read · one exercise
Middlegame strategy: turn the position into a plan
Use king safety, pawn structure, piece activity, and concrete threats to decide what the position needs next.
4 min read · one exercise
Pawn structure: the map your pieces have to use
Read pawn chains, isolated pawns, and open files as clues about piece placement and future pawn breaks.
4 min read · one exercise
Prophylaxis in chess: improve your position by reading theirs
Before choosing your plan, ask what the opponent wants. Prevent useful ideas without wasting moves on imaginary threats.
4 min read · one exercise