Elements of Positional Evaluation, 4th Edition (Heisman, 2010)

Elements of Positional Evaluation, 4th Edition (Heisman, 2010)

How the Pieces Get Their Power

Which side stands better? How much better? Why? Most chess players rely on loosely knit, unstructured methods to evaluate chess pieces and positions. They learn positional principles which often lead to inaccurate evaluations and faulty decisions about how to proceed. This groundbreaking book by best-selling chess author Dan Heisman addresses the evaluation and understanding of how static features affect the value of the pieces in a given position. Emphasis is placed on the static evaluation of each piece's value and its role in the overall position rather than the assessment of a specific position, but Heisman's approach can also be applied to help evaluate entire positions by helping to answer the questions who stands better, by how much, and why?

National Master Dan Heisman is a chess writer and professional chess instructor in the Philadelphia area. His best-selling chess book Looking for Trouble was one of the first chess books to highlight the importance of identifying possible tactical threats. His popular monthly column for beginners, Novice Nook, has been a regular feature at ChessCafe.com since 2001.

[JLJ - Dan Heisman has much to say in this modern work, which aligns well with the independently developed concepts examined in A Proposed Heuristic for a Computer Chess Program. It is important to note that the two works complement each other and each offers a different perspective.

Heisman expands on concepts discussed in the previous editions of his work, with the explanation that his concepts are more basic than the traditional "pseudo" elements explained in older books of chess theory.

What Heisman actually proposes are "useful" building blocks of a proposed strategy or "system" for humans learning to play or master a specific board game. An author of a "system" always sees their approach as THE approach, rather than one of many possible. What is "real" is the promise of usefulness for understanding gameplay and the chances for improving one's win/loss score in tournament play.

The work is essentially a package of valuable chess lessons worth far more than the modest price of the book. There is nothing I would disagree with in the work. You have to plow through the endless examples, perhaps on a chess-set - you DO have a chess set and board on a nearby table, with the pieces set up and ready to go? Think of yourself as a student again and open your mind to Heisman's wisdom. The next step after Heisman's book would be the endless play-through of high-level games, putting the ideas into practice.

Heisman is saying, "fill your mind with these concepts and ideas. These concepts will essentially help you break down the complexity of the position you are facing so you can better determine how to 'go on' in the game you are playing."

p.42 Heisman claims for a certain blocked position that "2008 World Computer Champion Rybka only evaluates Black as better by less than half a pawn at 18-ply" Yet my quick double-check with Rybka 3 at 18- 19- and 20-ply evaluates -1.09 [1.Qc4 Qf7 2.Bc3 Qxd5 3.Qb4 Qf7] Heisman should mention the version of the chess software used and the speed/processor/memory of his system.

Rather than further nit-pick the work of a respected chess coach and author [which I am not], I recommend that you read what Heisman has to say. He understands the game, understands how to teach the game, and understands how to make you a better chess player. Perhaps too cerebral in what it attempts to accomplish, but then again, chess players are a cerebral lot.

http://mysite.verizon.net/vzesz4a6/current/id80.html]

p.11 Static features are factors based upon where the pieces are situated on the board. Dynamic features are based upon analysis; i.e., mentally moving the pieces. This book addresses how static features affect the value of the pieces in a given position.

p.12 Static features: Aspects of a position that do not requires analysis of piece movement.

p.12 Dynamic Features: Aspects of a position that require knowledge of how the pieces move. This includes both potential movement... and movement in legal positions. Dynamic features include both how the pieces move and the time measurement for motion: the tempo.

p.17 This book pertains primarily to positional play and its evaluation.

p.17 a positional player usually will try to build up a winning position by increasing positional pressure (via accumulating positional advantages) until the opponent "breaks down," allowing a simple tactical finish.

p.21 Overprotection deserves a simple explanation: For example, if a pawn is attacked four times and defended four times, all four of the defending pieces are usually tied down to the defense... if the pawn were to be protected by a fifth piece (overprotection), then all five of the protecting pieces would be freer for other duties.

p.36 This chapter identifies positional concepts that are elemental to evaluation of piece value. An element is a basic feature describing a quantity or quality of the movement of chess pieces; i.e., their actual or potential capabilities... the proposed elements are more "basic" than [traditional] theory, and thus can be used as building blocks to better understand that theory.

p.36 piece evaluation, the primary focus of this book, focuses on "How strong is this piece (or, occasionally, set of pieces)?"

p.37-68 [Heisman's elements] Mobility... Flexibility... Vulnerability... Center Control... Piece Coordination... Time... Speed

p.37 activity can be defined as how much the piece can do in an actual position and thus is subjective.

p.38 while mobility is the basic tool, [piece] activity is the better "real position" indicator and is a major part of position evaluation.

p.43 Potential, actual, and global mobility will form the foundation for the new theory.

p.44 [GM Neil McDonald] an advantage in mobility means nothing unless it can be converted into something more tangible.

p.44 Flexibility consists of keeping one's options open, maintaining many alternate paths... Flexibility does not imply high mobility, but rather a wide range of plausible ways to maneuver.

p.49 Absolute vulnerability is independent of the position of the pieces. For example, the center is the most vulnerable area because it can be reached or attacked the quickest from any other spot on the board... Relative vulnerability is a piece being subject to attack that is dependent on the position of the pieces.

p.65 Evans uses time as one of his four elements, the other three being pawn structure, space, and force (more accurate than "material")... a computer program that takes into account Evans' elements should do well.

p.113 Losing goes a long way in helping convince you that you're doing something wrong!

p.115 Pieces... it is how they can be used in the future play in a given position that determines their worth.

p.118 king vulnerability is a dominant element.

p.120 The stronger the piece guarding the pawn, the more liability for the defending side.

p.138 In general, a king is only as vulnerable as the opponent's ability to attack it.

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