When to trade pieces

in #chess3 years ago

It's usually helpful to trade if you can get ahead but what should you do if a potential trade doesn't gain or lose material? It's usually a mistake to initiate a trade unless you can tell how your position benefits. Good reasons to trade could be to simplify when you're ahead, to remove a well placed opponent's piece or to gain control of an open file.


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Both sides are fighting for the only open file. Is trading rooks White's best move?

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White increases the tension on the d-file, forcing Black to give up the only open file.