Chess Patterns ❯ Control of Squares ❯ Control of Key Square

Control of Key Square

A Key Square is a critical square that, when controlled or occupied, provides strategic and tactical advantages. This can include restricting your opponent's pieces and pawn advances (as shown in the diagram above), launching effective attacks, or supporting a pawn's promotion.

Ideas for when you are in Control of a Key Square: (1) Use the control of the key square to create other types of imbalances, (2) Position a strong piece on the key square to maximize its influence, (3) Ensure the key square remains well-defended. Ideas against the Control of a Key Square: (1) Exchange pieces to reduce your opponent's control of the key square, (2) Look for tactics that arise from your opponent's focus on the key square.

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Take Control of Key Squares

When we started adding a playful touch to chess learning, we looked through thousands of videos and hundreds of books to find the best resources out there. Here's our curated selection of the best content we encountered on Key Squares and how to control them. We also included some smaller creators who are growing fast and we believe deserve your attention. Check out these resources if you want to master this important chess concept.

Identifying and Controlling Key Squares | Strategy Session with Jonathan Schrantz
Take a look at this in-depth lesson by GM Schrantz for the Saint Louis Chess Club and get a feeling of what Key Squares are and how to work with them in the middlegame. For intermediate players.

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Lessons in chess strategy: how to gain ownership of key squares
This video by Irina Krush is a really clear, slow-paced, step-by-step explanation of how to identify Key Squares and create the right plan around them.

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When to Trade Pieces 5: To Control Key Squares!*
This Chess.com lesson is part of yet another excellent series by GM Bojkov. The series is about “trading pieces,” and this episode is particularly focused on Key Squares. For intermediates and experts.

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Chess Strategy for Club Players: The Road to Positional Advantage*
An excellent book by Herman Grooten that gives a comprehensive introduction to the most important positional concepts, including the control of key squares. Don’t miss this. Follow all the moves with ease thanks to the interactive e-book reader.

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Small Steps to Giant Improvement*
This book by Sam Shankland is a deep dive into pawn structures. The author does a wonderful job explaining all of their nuances (including the way in which they determine the control of key squares). For serious players only.

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