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When to Trade in the Middlegame

Trading in the middlegame changes the whole position. Trade with a plan, not out of habit.

Trade when ahead

White queen is on e5 and Black rook is on e6. White captures the rook and stays ahead in material.

FEN: 4k3/8/4r3/4Q3/8/8/8/4K3 w - - 0 1

a b c d e f g h
8 . . . . k . . . 8
7 . . . . . . . . 7
6 . . . . r . . . 6
5 . . . . Q . . . 5
4 . . . . . . . . 4
3 . . . . . . . . 3
2 . . . . . . . . 2
1 . . . . K . . . 1
  a b c d e f g h

Trade the best enemy piece

White knight is on d4 and Black pawn is on e6. This trade is bad, because White gives a strong knight for a weak pawn.

FEN: 4k3/8/4p3/8/3N4/8/8/4K3 w - - 0 1

a b c d e f g h
8 . . . . k . . . 8
7 . . . . . . . . 7
6 . . . . p . . . 6
5 . . . . . . . . 5
4 . . . N . . . . 4
3 . . . . . . . . 3
2 . . . . . . . . 2
1 . . . . K . . . 1
  a b c d e f g h

Trade in a real game

White and Black trade knights in the center. The trade opens the position and changes which pieces remain.

FEN: rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1

a b c d e f g h
8 r n b q k b n r 8
7 p p p p p p p p 7
6 . . . . . . . . 6
5 . . . . . . . . 5
4 . . . . . . . . 4
3 . . . . . . . . 3
2 P P P P P P P P 2
1 R N B Q K B N R 1
  a b c d e f g h

Key points

  • Trade when you are ahead in material. Fewer pieces make a lead easier to keep.
  • Trade when the trade removes the enemy's best piece. Your remaining pieces then face weaker opposition.
  • Avoid trading when you are attacking. Attacking needs pieces, and trades reduce the attack.
  • Avoid trading your good piece for an enemy bad piece. That trade improves the enemy position.
  • Ask which pieces remain after the trade. The remaining pieces decide whether the trade helps you.

Try it Yourself

Edit the code, then press Run.

Running is simulated · Rust Playground

Exercise

You are ahead in material in the middlegame. What is usually a good plan?