When Should You Trade In Chess?

Summary

This instructional video script delves into the strategic nuances of piece trading in chess. It emphasizes the importance of evaluating trades contextually rather than relying on abstract rules, using examples from the Sicilian Defense and other openings. The script guides viewers through theoretical concepts and analyzes subscriber-submitted games to illustrate good and bad trades, highlighting the need for concrete reasons and adjustments in pawn structure. It concludes with advice on trading in different game phases, advocating for a deeper understanding of position transformation and the impact of trades on the game's dynamics.

Takeaways

• 🤔 The importance of evaluating piece trades in chess strategically rather than relying on abstract concepts.
• 📚 The video will cover theoretical study, examples, and concepts, followed by analysis of two subscriber games to understand trades.
• 🏳️ In the opening phase, players should focus on development rather than trades, with specific positions dictating when trades are appropriate.
• 🔄 Understanding the difference between trading pieces that benefit your position versus trades that help the opponent develop without gain.
• 🐴 Recognizing that trading knights for bishops can be advantageous if it secures a strong outpost for the knight.
• 🏰 The significance of maintaining or disrupting the pawn structure when trading pieces, especially bishops for knights.
• 👥 The concept of 'keeping the tension' in trades, especially when attacking, by trading less pieces to maintain pressure.
• 👑 When defending, it might be beneficial to trade more pieces to relieve pressure and simplify the position.
• 🎯 The need to adjust pawn structure and piece placement after trades to take advantage of the new board dynamics.
• 🤝 The video emphasizes the importance of not making random trades, but rather trades that have a clear purpose and strategic advantage.
• 🚀 Encouragement for viewers to apply the concepts discussed through experience and practice to improve their understanding of piece trades in chess.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video script?

The main focus of the video script is to provide guidance on when and how to evaluate piece trades in chess, with specific examples and strategies for different phases of the game.

What is the difference between abstract and specific or concrete advice in chess?

Abstract advice is general and not tied to specific positions, like 'always trade queens,' whereas specific or concrete advice is tied to particular positions and includes reasons for making a trade, such as trading queens in a certain position to gain an advantage.

Why is trading a flank pawn for a central pawn generally good in the opening phase?

Trading a flank pawn for a central pawn is generally good because it allows Black to contest the center, and White to activate their knight to a central square, which is often a strategic advantage.

What is the Rossolimo Sicilian and why is trading a bishop for a knight in this variation not recommended?

The Rossolimo Sicilian is a variation of the Sicilian Defense where White plays 3.Bb5+. Trading a bishop for a knight in this variation is not recommended because it often leads to the bishop getting stuck behind pawns and limits Black's ability to open up the position effectively.

Why is it important to consider the consequences of trading pieces on the pawn structure?

It is important to consider the consequences of trading pieces on the pawn structure because it can affect the mobility and effectiveness of the remaining pieces, as well as create weaknesses or targets in the position.

What is the significance of the dark-squared bishop in the Sicilian Defense?

The dark-squared bishop is significant in the Sicilian Defense because it can exert pressure on the center and control important dark squares. Trading it off without a clear reason can weaken Black's control over the center and dark squares.

Why is it not always beneficial to trade pieces when you are under attack in chess?

It is not always beneficial to trade pieces when under attack because it can relieve the pressure and allow your opponent to simplify the position, potentially leading to a disadvantage if the material balance is restored.

What is the concept of 'keeping the tension' in chess?

The concept of 'keeping the tension' in chess refers to maintaining pressure on your opponent by not allowing them to capture or trade pieces easily, which can lead to creating weaknesses or targets in their position.

How does the video script suggest approaching trades in the endgame?

The video script suggests that in the endgame, if you are down in material, you should try to avoid trading pieces as it can lead to a lost position. Instead, you should aim to keep as many pieces on the board as possible to create potential counterplay.

What is the importance of understanding the transformation of the position after a trade in chess?

Understanding the transformation of the position after a trade is crucial because it can affect the mobility of the pieces, control of the board, and the potential for future attacks or defenses. It helps you to make informed decisions about the best course of action.

Why should you be cautious about trading your light-squared bishop in certain positions?

You should be cautious about trading your light-squared bishop because it can leave your position with a lack of control over light squares, especially if your pawn structure is predominantly on dark squares, making it difficult to counteract the opponent's dark-squared bishop.

Outlines

00:00

🤔 Evaluating Chess Piece Trades

The video script begins with an introduction to the strategic evaluation of piece trades in chess. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the difference between abstract and specific trading scenarios. The speaker provides examples, such as the Sicilian Defense, to illustrate good and bad trades, and explains the impact of trading on the game's dynamics. The video is structured into three parts: theoretical study with examples and strategy, analysis of two subscriber-submitted games, and a discussion on trading considerations in various chess phases. The opening phase is highlighted as a time when trades should not be the primary focus, with the script offering a detailed look at specific positions and the rationale behind certain moves.

05:05

📚 Balancing Chess Trade Concepts

This paragraph delves into the nuances of chess trading, stressing the need to balance various concepts and to avoid making trades without a net positive outcome. The speaker critiques the habit of making trades based on abstract ideas rather than concrete positions, using a French subscriber game as a case study. The analysis includes an incorrect bishop trade, the transformation of the game's structure after certain trades, and the importance of recognizing how the board changes post-trade. The summary also touches on the significance of not blindly following general rules but making decisions based on the specific context of the game.

10:07

🎯 Strategic Trading in Attack and Defense

The script continues with an exploration of trading strategies during attacks and defenses. It provides a detailed account of a game where the player, under pressure, makes strategic trades to regain control. The discussion covers the importance of not making random bishop for knight swaps without a clear purpose, and the need to adjust pawn structures accordingly. The speaker also shares an exaggerated example to illustrate the point and emphasizes the golden rule of trading fewer pieces when attacking and more when defending, using specific game scenarios to reinforce the concept.

15:08

🏰 Advanced Trading Concepts and Positional Play

The paragraph introduces more advanced trading concepts and their application in both positional play and attack strategies. It discusses the importance of understanding the implications of trading on the game's structure, using a gambit as an example. The speaker explains how certain trades can lead to sacrifices and how to respond to such situations, highlighting the need for precise decision-making. The summary also includes a detailed analysis of a subscriber's game, where the player navigates through a complex position with careful trading decisions, ultimately leading to a wild endgame.

20:15

🤓 Mastering Chess Trades with Experience

In the final paragraph, the speaker concludes the video script by emphasizing the importance of experience in mastering chess trades. They discuss the specificity of pawn trading and its impact on the game, suggesting that viewers watch a dedicated video on the topic. The speaker encourages continuous practice and learning from each game played, assuring viewers that understanding of trading will become second nature over time. The summary wraps up with a reminder that while general principles apply, the context of each game is crucial for making the right trading decisions.

Keywords

💡Trade

In chess, a 'trade' refers to the exchange of pieces of equal value according to the game's rules. The concept is central to the video's theme, as it discusses when and how to trade pieces strategically. For instance, the script mentions trading queens in certain positions to gain an advantage or avoid a disadvantage.

💡Abstract vs. Concrete

The video distinguishes between abstract ideas, which are general and not specific to a situation, and concrete ideas, which are specific and actionable. This concept is crucial as it advises viewers to avoid making abstract decisions about trading pieces without considering the specific position on the board, such as always trading queens without a clear reason.

💡Opening Phase

The 'opening phase' is the initial part of a chess game where players develop their pieces and set up their positions. The script emphasizes that during this phase, players should not focus on trades but rather on proper piece development and board control, as illustrated by the Sicilian Defense example.

💡Sicilian Defense

The 'Sicilian Defense' is a specific chess opening that begins with the moves 1.e4 c5. The video uses this opening to discuss the implications of certain trades, like trading a flank pawn for a central pawn, and how these trades can affect the game's dynamics.

💡Bishops

Bishops are chess pieces that move diagonally across the board. The script frequently mentions bishops, especially in the context of trading. It advises keeping bishops when possible due to their long-range and powerful nature, as seen in the discussion about the Rossolimo Sicilian.

💡Outpost

An 'outpost' in chess is a square that is particularly strong for a piece, often because it is difficult for the opponent to challenge. The video mentions that trading a bishop for a knight can result in occupying an outpost, which can be advantageous.

💡Fianchetto

A 'fianchetto' is a term used when a bishop is developed to the side of the queen's pawn, usually after the pawn has moved twice. The script explains how trading bishops can be beneficial when it involves infiltrating the opponent's position after a fianchetto setup.

💡Positional Play

Positional play refers to the strategic aspect of chess where players aim to create a superior position rather than seeking immediate tactical advantages. The video script discusses how trades can impact positional play, such as when trading can lead to a more active or passive position.

💡Endgame

The 'endgame' is the final stage of a chess game where there are fewer pieces on the board, and the goal is often to promote a pawn or checkmate the opponent's king. The script touches on endgame strategy, particularly how trades should be approached when material is low.

💡Tension

In chess, 'tension' refers to the balance of power and potential threats in a position. The video script advises keeping tension by not trading pieces when attacking, as it can relieve the pressure and allow the opponent to consolidate their position.

💡Pawn Structure

A player's 'pawn structure' refers to the arrangement of their pawns on the board, which can significantly influence the game's strategy. The video discusses how certain trades can affect pawn structure, for example, by creating weaknesses or opening lines for attack.

Highlights

The importance of evaluating piece trades in chess with a balance between abstract and specific considerations.

Trades in the opening phase should be based on opening principles rather than arbitrary decisions.

The Sicilian Defense illustrates the impact of trading a flank pawn for a central pawn and the subsequent development.

The Rossolimo Sicilian shows the consequences of trading a light-squared bishop and the resulting pawn structure.

An example game demonstrates the negative effects of trading off the dark-squared bishop without a clear advantage.

The concept of outposts and how piece trades can secure strong positions for knights.

The strategic value of the fianchetto and how to infiltrate with a bishop trade.

The significance of understanding why and when to trade pieces in chess rather than following abstract rules.

Analyzing a subscriber's game to highlight the importance of piece trades in the Sicilian Defense.

The impact of trading a bishop for a knight and the resulting control over the center of the board.

The transformation of the game's structure through trades and the importance of recognizing these changes.

The subtleties of trading in the endgame and how to approach trades when down on material.

The strategic approach to trading pieces when attacking and the principle of trading less when you are the attacker.

A detailed analysis of a Vienna Gambit game showing the thought process behind piece trades during an attack.

The role of piece trades in a gambit scenario and the importance of maintaining material balance.

The endgame strategy of trading pieces to win, focusing on the importance of not isolating pieces when down on material.

The necessity of experience in understanding piece trades and the encouragement to keep playing and learning.

Transcripts

if you're a chess player who's ever wondered  when am i supposed to trade my pieces  

this is the video to answer your question i'm  going to walk you through exactly how you're  

supposed to evaluate a trade keep in mind  that there's a difference between abstract  

and specific or concrete i'll give you an example  somebody might say to you i always trade queens  

that's way too abstract something that's  specific would be well if i trade queens  

in this position and then i have this bishop  move that will get me some sort of advantage  

this video will be broken up into three parts  in the first we're going to do a little bit of  

theoretical study and i'm going to give you  examples and concepts and terms and strategy  

and then we're going to look at two games  that my subscribers submitted and will analyze  

the trades and everything that happened in both  of those games so let's begin first things first  

in the opening phase you shouldn't be thinking so  much about trades but let's just start off with  

an example in the sicilian defense with knight f3  knight c6 and pawn to d4 so why this trait is good  

for really both parties is that black trades  a flank pawn for a central pawn white in turn  

activates the knight to the middle but it's  well known that the nitrate is bad for black  

why is that well you've activated white's queen  and you don't actually have a way to get it out  

of the center anymore normally you have this  knight move so here what this is considered is  

helping the other side develop you've helped  me develop you've gotten nothing for it and now  

white just gets free-flowing development but let's  also look instead of d4 let's look at bishop to b5  

this is known as the rossolimo sicilian  and after g6 bishop takes knight  

you might say okay well why is this trade good  or bad now here's the thing bishop for nitrate  

generally is not recommended i would basically  advise you to keep your bishops on the board if  

if you can unless you have a specific reason  you would you would do that but since you've  

traded your light squared bishop the person who  has two bishops in this case black wants to open  

up the position because the bishops are long-range  pieces and white in this position usually plays d3  

and then plays h3 why because you've traded  off your light squared bishop already right so  

you replace your light squares with pawns and you  counteract the movement of the bishop on c8 so it  

cannot go here or here so this bishop oftentimes  gets stuck and black will normally play a move  

like e5 to try to take some central space defended  by the bishop and so on and so forth now here is  

an example of a game that i saw a subscriber play  a while back this was in the guess the elo series  

it began with a king's indian defense uh and white  played knight f3 there was some normal play i  

think black played e5 uh which is the standard  main line d5 and then black played like here  

and white went bishop g5 h6 bishop f6 now you just  saw that first example right so talk to me do you  

think that this trade is good the answer is no the  answer is not really why because you've traded off  

your dark squared bishop for seemingly no reason  and all your pawns are already on light squares so  

you have a light squared bishop stuck behind  light squared pawns and as this game went on  

black knows that with the two bishops they need to  activate their pieces right so they went back f5  

was played next uh and then they just pawn stormed  and they completely destroyed the other player so  

this is how you have to think about bishop for  nitrate you need to have a tangible reason and a  

good reason to do it and then if you do it you  need to be able to adjust the pawn structure  

accordingly and not open the position up in a bad  manner for yourself now in this example which is  

obviously pretty exaggerated because i don't think  you'd ever reach a position where there's no kings  

on the board but the lesson is all the same white  wants to go here and the knight is covering and  

if you go bishop here and then trade and put your  knight on d5 you will get what's called an outpost  

your knight will live on this square and not be  targeted by the bishop because it cannot fight  

for the d5 square right so there are instances  the bishop for the night trade is completely fine  

but you need to be ready to adjust that's all i'm  saying now one more point the fianchetto whenever  

the bishop is hiding out in its little tower  here this is good obviously it's played in many  

openings but there is a way to go and infiltrate  and that bishop for bishop trade is really nice  

if you can get your bishop to h6 uh when the other  person has a king castled over there you'll remove  

that that piece kind of from existence period and  then because all the pawns are on the opposite  

color square that that bishop stood on that  color complex will be weak and you'll be able to  

infiltrate so a brief summary just thus far number  one you should not be thinking of what traits to  

make from the openings that you play you should be  able to know in what opening and what variation a  

trade has to happen you don't need to reinvent the  wheel because you might end up in a position where  

a bishop for knight has never traded but because  you haven't studied that opening you play it that  

same way all the time right so that's number one  number two is you're gonna have to balance all  

of these concepts like i wanna make this trade  what are the good what are the bad and if you're  

not getting a net positive you're just going  i don't know i'm just gonna go ahead and take  

don't do it stop doing it stop saying things  like i always trade here no no no chess is not  

like that as i say many many times chess is not so  abstract the move is either good or it's bad give  

me the reasons make a decision now i want to look  at two games from start to finish and incorporate  

some more advanced concepts that i might not  be able to cover so easily in examples uh that  

are just kind of like one-off okay so we're gonna  take a look at a french subscriber game uh and uh  

my subscriber played with the black pieces it was  a sicilian bishop c4 not a very accurate move by  

the way against the sicilian e6 is the best and  exactly why not because of d6 but because of d5 so  

d6 okay we see that central pawn trade knight out  bishop to g5 okay so this is a pin but white does  

not know the sicilian defense the bishop never  goes there i mean it goes there in like one or two  

variations out of like a million but not when  these other pieces are here why because black  

just blocks the spin knight comes out to c3 and  a few moves later black just attacks the bishop  

right and the bishop takes so this trade  increases black's value on the dark squares  

because now black has the dark squared bishop  so what does a guy with a dark scored bishop  

want to look for opening up the position  queen to b6 targeting the knight and the pawn  

knight to c6 maybe d5 break it all open white  plays f4 which is a blunder for a few reasons  

but first of all there's just this like white's  plan made no sense because this is a completely  

unnecessary trait of bishop for night and that  one move comes back to bite white plays f4 which  

is first of all hanging upon which my subscriber  doesn't see but plays a good move trying to target  

the night the knight takes now how has this trade  affected the position when that night moved from  

here to here what opened the queen opened you got  to realize how the board changes now knight takes  

c6 is the best move because if you don't do that  like if you just go back i mean i just got a free  

move of development so right and if you're lacking  space like black kinda is black needs to fight  

in the center with pawns so that trade  transformed the structure and gave me more  

central pawn control and one last thing this trade  did pay attention take take what else has changed  

this is open and the b file is open very subtle  change g4 why does just go i mean bishop takes  

pawn by the way is just still there and here black  plays this move which i mean i i i almost wanted  

to fly to france and you know smack the guy on  on the head for playing this move your your logic  

for playing this move is ah i doubled his pawns  wait excuse me you are the only guy on the board  

with the dark squared bishop were you really that  worried about g5 like if g5 happens i get it but  

that's just the free pawn and maybe you want to  say well i don't want to open his rook okay but  

the board doesn't care what you want the best move  is gonna be the best move you either strike in the  

center or you take the free pawn this is no good  but there is now a weakness so let's go after it  

or that okay d5 right bishop back to d3  and now is this trade good or bad for black  

queens open up i mean i don't know it's very  tough to say queen could go here and hit both  

pawns you're not going to win them because  white can guard both but you know i like  

that black plays c5 black is trying to take a  little bit of space now e5 white doesn't take  

is this trade good for for white no it's terrible  this is a terrible trade for white because white  

just activates one of black's pieces you see what  i'm saying that's how you have to think about it  

that's not a good trade so black goes here now  the bishop moves queen a5 queen d4 guarding this  

and all of a sudden white has some advantage now  g5 now okay another good moment should you take

okay that looks a little bit scary but to be  honest what are your choices your choices in  

a pawn trade are take ignore push if you ignore  i'm taking you if you push i take you anyway so  

it's a very difficult decision as long as  there is no threat are you getting mated  

no okay great i can play a move but now white  should use the transformation of this position  

to go queen e3 queen h3 and white castles kingside  which i don't understand at all i mean you have to  

use how the position transforms when trades happen  you have to notice what opens what closes right  

now castles queen c5 is this a smart queen trade  this is a very difficult question because you say  

my queen's passive and this queen is very active  really what does activity mean activity means that  

your presence is felt can you really feel this  queen's presence really i if it went that way  

yeah but now the rook's not there anymore  this queen's kind of boxed in by pawns it's  

desperately clinging on to this right now  the best move is probably rook b8 rugby too  

but having said that what is black gonna do  with their queen right so it's a difficult  

decision and it's not always such an easy answer  i'd love to be like yes every single time queen c5  

so the golden rule is that when you are attacking  when you are attacking a player you want to trade  

less pieces that's what you want to do okay you  want to trade a little bit less but if you're  

under attack you'd like to trade a little bit  more keep that in mind for the next game right so  

we get this this now a5 so now what who wants a  bishop trade who wants a rook trade well in all  

end games one you know one player is going to end  up with some weaknesses right great rook b1 now do  

not take the rook on the same file like  this unless there is a good reason and in  

this case black chooses not to because the  thing is you surrender control of the file  

if you do this in this case you actually can play  rook takes a5 but even with that i'm getting in so  

you don't want to take the rook like this you want  to double up force them to make a decision and now  

they play rook in one now they're very passive at  this point since this rook is stuck guarding your  

pawn it's time to start bringing the king it's the  end game maybe trade upon on d4 to infiltrate rook  

b2 bishop d1 okay very nice do you see this key  move f6 realizing that even with the loss of a  

pawn for a move what's gonna happen is that i go  king f7 white is in such a state of paralysis that  

i get to activate now here i probably i think  i like king f5 e5 is also a reasonable move  

um and now that the rook has completely left  i guess you can just go for this pawn or that  

way uh and good trade i like this trade making  sure the king can't get closer and maybe now we  

we rotate we wrap around and we go this way but  of course both players get low on time uh and i  

think a little bit later black oh you see this  bishop trade yes it's bishop trade black trades  

bishops and gets it into a rook end game and now i  mean now it's time for rook end game and so on but  

the key moment was early on these random bishop  for night swaps that people do i hate this stop  

doing this it has to make sense like if i edit  this position right now to to something like this  

like no joke like like let's say this is the  position i've basically transformed the structure  

so that um you know more pawns for white are on  dark squares and this position is not so bad for  

white there's a lot more dark squared stability  for that dark square bishop but still stop there's  

no need to do that in fact this position maybe  even we go on an attack right so stop making these  

silly trades now i said earlier that i would give  you an example from one of my own games right uh  

attacking so earlier today i played a game and it  was a vienna gambit and we got a position where  

there's a trade of bishops possible  and if my opponent took me i would  

have taken and then they have an option to  even trade queens with me but what happens  

they leave themselves an isolated target and i  have this so they didn't like that but notice i  

didn't like taking either because if i take i open  up their rook and i fix their structure for them  

that is how you need to think about trades this is  something called keeping the tension come and take  

me and i played around my bishop like my bishop  is pinning like this situation right so they can't  

take me and i just went on an attack while my  bishop just stayed there we just had this standoff  

to the point that finally they took but by then  it was too late i had already broken through  

and that kind of goes into my next game of the  subscribers right this one is going to combine  

uh kind of positional play with a  little bit more attacking and everything  

um so let's go d4 uh actually subscriber has  the black pieces now this is a gambit this is  

actually black mardemer sort of except f4 got  played but it's a black marty demer gambit now  

in these positions you know with with bishop g6  etc knight d7 and h6 um i think black castle's on  

the next move yes very good okay so white is down  a pawn black is solid black is up upon um but a  

little bit passive you know maybe there's some  attack brewing here in the future knight to h4  

when you are under pressure a little bit like this  you want to trade some pieces in the right way  

what does that mean so why plays rookie one  how can you offer a few trades in this position  

black can play knight d5 knight d5 actually  guarantees a trade you're gonna get something  

or you can go knight g4 so here's the thing about  knight g4 if bishop f4 and you trade bishop for  

bishop that's not bad that's it's honestly  it's not the worst thing in the world but  

it would be significantly better  for you to trade knight for bishop  

because now you're the only guy with  a dark squared bishop on the girl  

i'm not even going to edit that out what i  meant to say was you're the only guy with  

a dark square bishop but i meant to say or maybe  girl but then i said you're the only guy with the  

dark squared bishop on the girl and that could  be misconstrued for i don't even know what so  

we're just going to keep that part in for  laughs hopefully you had a laugh out of that um  

i think uh if you're part of the three and a half  to four percent of the female viewing audience you  

could be the only person on the border the dark  squared bishop um but if we just back up knight  

b6 was played in the game at knight d5 so black  guarantees a trade because they're under pressure  

and then white sacrifices so white sacrifices  now there are two types of people one of them  

goes wow this move is so stupid my opponent  is so desperate the other the other goes

and you know gets scared and loses so rookie  aiko played now rookie it's a little bit too tame  

uh i would have just went after it you know i  would have played bishop f4 kicking the queen  

out you know using my dominant squares maybe take  the knight rookie it's a little bit too solid but  

you know you want to bring this back white plays  knight h4 now this is already starting to look  

scary this line looks scary oops knight takes g6  oh man that oh boy now we get bishop to f8 which  

is a good move queen g5 and now you're like wait a  minute if i move my knight i'm gonna trade queens  

so at this point what i would do is  i would probably play knight to h7  

because what that does is it opens up the queens  to each other if white moves the queen all the way  

back here we take the knight if white plays queen  to g3 we chase the queen away with our bishop  

and the queen has to desperately defend this  knight and we can consolidate but still keeping  

the queen on the board is good you want trades if  you're under attack you want to trade the queen  

if you're under attack for the most part  but still it's less of this general stuff  

like i always have to trade when i'm under attack  and more specifically and in this game black did a  

very good job black played this move knight to e4  uh takes takes takes and found knight to e3 which  

to me is a little bit fancy uh and also  not as good as just going all the way back  

this is generally the rule of thumb but there  was this trade and then we got this position  

so it's two rooks it's uh bishop and two rooks  versus rook bishop knight but white is doing okay  

white actually recovered their material balance uh  and then we had like a wild end game now at this  

point the way you want to win this uh if you're  playing with black like let's say white played h4  

the way you would try to play this  is you would try to trade pieces  

in an advantageous way like bishop takes this and  then rook f8 is how black wants to win this and  

white does not want to make it rook versus bishop  does that make sense if you're down material you  

don't want to isolate one of your pieces versus  a rook you want as many pieces on the board as  

possible like when this move gets played you  want to like back up you would rather preserve  

three pieces because those three together might  be able to fight rook rook bishop but rook cannot  

bishop cannot fight a rook so hopefully that kind  of gives you this understanding of how to approach  

trades in the opening how to approach them  in the middle game a little bit better  

and how to even approach them in the end game like  in the end game if you're down material you got to  

stop trading if you're down material throughout  the game you got to stop trading if you're under  

if you're if you're attacking somebody you got  to stop trading but again as i've tried to say  

time and time again throughout this video it's  a lot less about these big generalities right  

stop making abstract concepts and stamping them  down onto your own chess game but certain things  

like if you trade your light squad bishop and  you should probably try to create a light squared  

pawn structure still apply to a point you don't  need to put every single pawn on a light square  

but you need to also look at how to negate the  development of the enemy light squad bishop  

you have to trade a little bit less if you have  two knights versus two bishops you need to make  

sure that the bishops can't open up and just  control the entire length of the board right  

or you want to trade a bishop for a night  because you'll double your opponent's pawns  

and then make a target and go after that pawn  don't just trade bishop for night because like  

oh well i i mean like i'm doubling their pawns i'm  so smart double pawns don't win games like being  

up a pawn two pawns six pawns 16 pawns that's what  wins you games hopefully this was helpful uh and  

again feel free if there's like some little  wrinkle in trading that i haven't covered uh  

pawn play specifically with pawn trading uh or  rooks or queens or whatever the the same kind  

of concepts apply but pawn plays a little bit  more specific and i actually have a video out  

on pawn play and pawn structures and and these  kinds of things but all this all you will get  

better at this with experience okay like the more  you play the better you're gonna get at this the  

more you're gonna know rather than reinventing the  wheel you don't need to be in a position and go  

what am i supposed to do here you're just  gonna know so keep on playing keep on grinding  

uh and soon all of these videos  will be like second nature to you