My notes after reading Attacking Manual 1 & 2 by Jacob Aagaard:
How many pieces do you need to bring into your attack to make it successful?
Where needs your pieces be placed to be most attacking effective?
Where needs your opponent's pieces be placed to be able to defend in the best possible way against your attacking ambitions?
"When your pieces are becoming more active and you get more active options, things are generally moving in the right direction." (Jacob Aagaard)
"A piece is only influential in the attack if it is there." (Jacob Aagaard)
A weakness is only a weakness if the opponent can take advantage of it.
Strike at the weakest point in the opponent's position.
If that is not possible - strike then instead against the strong point in the opponent's position.
· Attack with all of your pieces.
"If possible, include all your pieces in the attack before executing it." (Jacob Aagaard)
In a great majority of cases we need to bring all our pieces into the attack to make it successful.
Once you have brought all of your pieces into the attack (=once you have improved your position to the maximum) you should sacrifice your way through your opponent's defences.
· Few other times there is no time to bring all our pieces into the attack. We have to strike immediately if we want success.
"In general, a successful kingside attack will need at least three pieces participating: one to be sacrificed and two to give checkmate. " (Colin Crouch)
· At times are pawns as strong as pieces to use in the attack.
· When you have the initiative in a dynamic position there is no time to lose. You have to act with great speed and play as forcefully as possible on every move to keep the momentum – or lose it.
"When you have the momentum you have to act with great speed or the momentum will perish." (Jacob Aagaard)
