Prophylaxis: Stopping the Opponent's Ideas

In this blog, we will look importance of Prophylaxis and few scenarios with positions explaining each.

[Quick note: If you are reading the blog from a mobile device, Click on the "Analysis Board" for reading the annotations and exploring the variations. ]

1.Stopping the Opponent’s Rook from Reaching the Seventh Rank

[ Black to Move ]

Solution: ...Kg8* Black's up a pawn, but white was planning to exchange the rooks and bring the other rook on the 7th rank. With this move, black stops that idea of white.

2.Stopping the Opponent’s Piece Improvement

[ Black to Move ]

Solution: ...Nc4* With this move, black stops white's c4 idea. It would have helped white in activating their b2 bishop.

3.Stopping the Opponent’s Multiple Ideas

[ White to Move ]

Solution: Be2* This move helps white in not only keeping their double bishop advantage, but also in stopping black's Nd3/Nc4 ideas.

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4.Stopping the Opponent’s Pawn Play

[ White to Move ]

Solution: Ne4 *White has potential for the attack on the kingside due to their advanced pawns. But before that, they need to stabilize the center by stopping black's e4 idea. This move also helps them in stopping black's Nc2 idea.

5.Stopping the Opponent from Creating a Passed Pawn

[ White to Move ]

Solution: h3* Black was planning to play h3 to create a passed pawn on the f-file. This move helps white in dealing with it.

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Learn more strategies like:

• Avoiding Unfavourable Exchanges
• Stopping the Opponent from Weakening Our King
• Stopping the Opponent from Restricting Our King
• Stopping the Opponent’s Centralization

If you’d like to dive into above strategies for Prophylaxis, read the full blog on ChessNeurons for Free.
https://chessneurons.com/blogs/prophylaxis-stopping-the-opponents-ideas