Thoughts upon a position: 5. The River between us

There are many chess writers who often compare chess, strategy and tactics to the real warfare. I am not a supporter of such arguments, but for those who enjoy the resemblance, I have found a position that looks like two armies ready to battle.

Just take a look: The soldiers are lined-up on the banks of a river. Swallow waters on the Queenside allow the cavalry to cross the river. Three squadrons are already there. Another one is pretty close. The heavy artillery and the Kings are way behind in safety, while the Queens are ready to provide support to the weak units.

The position comes from a game for the Polish championship of 2002 between Lagowski and Tomczak. It’s White’s turn to play. Assess the position. What do you think? Are there any weak squares or weak pieces? Should White strike immediately or there is need for some preparation?

								8
								7
								6
								5
								4
								3
								2
								1
a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

Enjoy…

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