100 Strategic Questions for Chess Training Ypaat Chess Academy

 

1–10: Position Evaluation

1. Who has the better position and why?

2. Which side has more space?

3. Which pieces are active and which are passive?

4. What are the strengths of this position?

5. What are the weaknesses in the position?

6. Which side controls the center?

7. Which side has better coordination?

8. Is the king safe?

9. Which side has long-term advantages?

10. What is the most important feature of the position?

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11–20: Piece Activity

11. Which is your worst placed piece?

12. How can you improve your worst piece?

13. Which piece should be activated first?

14. Where is the best square for your knight?

15. Which piece should be exchanged?

16. Which piece must stay on the board?

17. Can you place your rook on an open file?

18. Can you double your rooks?

19. Which piece is defending the opponent’s position?

20. Can you attack that defender?

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21–30: Pawn Structure

21. What type of pawn structure do we have?

22. Are there any weak pawns?

23. Is there a backward pawn?

24. Are there doubled pawns?

25. Can you create a passed pawn?

26. How can you attack the pawn structure?

27. What pawn break is possible?

28. Should you open the center or keep it closed?

29. Which pawn move improves the position?

30. Can you fix the opponent’s pawn weakness?

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31–40: Weak Squares

31. Are there weak squares in the opponent’s camp?

32. Can you occupy that square with a knight?

33. Is there an outpost for your pieces?

34. Which squares are weak around the king?

35. Can you control those squares?

36. Are the dark squares weak?

37. Are the light squares weak?

38. Can you restrict the opponent’s pieces?

39. Can you dominate an important square?

40. Can you prevent the opponent from using a key square?

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41–50: Planning

41. What is your plan in this position?

42. What is your opponent’s plan?

43. How can you stop the opponent’s plan?

44. Which side of the board should you play on?

45. Should you attack on the kingside or queenside?

46. What is the long-term goal?

47. Which piece maneuver supports your plan?

48. What is the next improving move?

49. Can you slowly increase the pressure?

50. What is the best strategic idea?

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51–60: Exchanges

51. Should you exchange pieces?

52. Which exchange improves your position?

53. Should you keep queens on the board?

54. Can you trade into a favorable endgame?

55. Which enemy piece is strongest?

56. Can you exchange that piece?

57. Which piece should not be exchanged?

58. Are you ahead in material?

59. If yes, should you simplify?

60. If behind, should you keep pieces on the board?

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61–70: King Safety

61. Is your king safe?

62. Is the opponent’s king safe?

63. Can you open lines toward the king?

64. Can you bring more pieces to the attack?

65. Which square near the king is weak?

66. Can you remove the king’s defender?

67. Should you start an attack now?

68. Do you need more preparation?

69. Can you sacrifice to open the king?

70. Is your king safer in the endgame?

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71–80: Space & Control

71. Who has more space?

72. Can you gain more space with pawns?

73. Can you restrict the opponent’s pieces?

74. Can you push the opponent back?

75. Which squares are under your control?

76. Which squares are controlled by the opponent?

77. Can you occupy an open file?

78. Can you control a diagonal?

79. Can you dominate the center?

80. Can you limit counterplay?

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81–90: Prophylaxis

81. What does your opponent want to do?

82. What is their main threat?

83. How can you stop it?

84. Can you prevent their pawn break?

85. Can you stop their best piece?

86. Can you limit their plan?

87. Can you force them into a passive position?

88. Can you remove their active piece?

89. Can you block their open file?

90. Can you stop their attack before it starts?

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91–100: Endgame Strategy

91. Can you create a passed pawn?

92. Where should the king go in the endgame?

93. Which pawn should advance?

94. Should you activate the king now?

95. Can you improve rook activity?

96. Can you place the rook behind the pawn?

97. Can you fix pawn weaknesses?

98. Can you create zugzwang?

99. Can you simplify to a winning endgame?

100. What is the winning plan?

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✅ Coaching Tip

Strong trainers like Jacob Aagaard emphasize asking questions instead of giving answers. This method forces students to think actively and develop their own strategic understanding.