Strategy....and Tactics
Hannibal's Strategy: Invade Italy from the Rear
Hannibal's Tactics: Cross the Alps with elephants
Henry V's Strategy: Hold back or destroy the French Army at Agincourt
Henry V's Tactics: Restrict the opposing army by funnelling it into a small opening. Then, shoot the unarmored horses using the longbowmen miring the armored nobles in the mud. Then, let the peasant bowmen and infantry take out the floundering nobility.
Strategy is how you are going to win. This is general. You have much freedom in choosing the right way to win. Tactics are how you are going to implement your strategy. These are specific. You do NOT have much leeway in choosing the right way to implement your strategy. Therefore, if the tactics don't result in implementation of the strategy, the strategy is wrong. If the tactics say you win a pawn here, you do not maintain a plan to disdain the win of a pawn to implement a desired kingside attack, for example.
Ok. My rant is over.
Hannibal's Tactics: Cross the Alps with elephants
Henry V's Strategy: Hold back or destroy the French Army at Agincourt
Henry V's Tactics: Restrict the opposing army by funnelling it into a small opening. Then, shoot the unarmored horses using the longbowmen miring the armored nobles in the mud. Then, let the peasant bowmen and infantry take out the floundering nobility.
Strategy is how you are going to win. This is general. You have much freedom in choosing the right way to win. Tactics are how you are going to implement your strategy. These are specific. You do NOT have much leeway in choosing the right way to implement your strategy. Therefore, if the tactics don't result in implementation of the strategy, the strategy is wrong. If the tactics say you win a pawn here, you do not maintain a plan to disdain the win of a pawn to implement a desired kingside attack, for example.
Ok. My rant is over.
posted by CelticDeath at 4:33 PM
2 Comments:
Well said. From Seirawan's Winning Chess Tactics:
Good players like to pick a strategy and follow it to its logical conclusion. Unfortunately, they're often thwarted by a strange randomizing factor known as tactics. Tactics can both support your own strategy and destroy your opponent's strategy. They can take the wind out of general strategic plans because they have the power to completely and advantageously change any situation.
[...]
As you work through the lessons in this book, you will come to realize that tactics are actually the guard dogs of strategy. By staying on top of tactical possibilities, you will be able to defend yourself against your opponent's tactical forays and force him to follow the strategic path you want him to tread.
Thanks, Blue Devil.
As a postscript, I should note that the Hannibal example is akin to a one-move combinations, where as the Agincourt example is like a multi-move combo. Both tactics were effective, but one happened to be more complicated than the other.
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