Critical squares
Generally speaking, every focal-point is a weak square in the defender’s territory and a potentially strong one for the attacker.’ This is especially so when such a point is adjacent to the opponent’s king. A focal point is a square near the opponent's king position that we want to focus on with our pieces. We want all of our pieces to pick a specific square and target it as much as possible. Critical squares are involved in all parts of chess, but they are especially important factors in tactics and combinations. By the end of this article, you’ll be able to spot more tactics on the board, keep your opponent on the defensive, and also know how to prevent tactics and attacks from happening against yourself.
White to move
Black to move:
