Keep the Tension vs Release It: a middlegame course

Keeping pawn tension preserves options. Capture when the resulting structure or opened line helps your plan.

5 lessons, each followed by its own puzzle drill, then 10 themed puzzle packs.

• What Tension Is — Identify the captures available between the pawns.
• Maintain to Keep Options — Improve pieces while keeping useful capture options.
• Add Pressure on the Tension Point — Add pressure before deciding whether to exchange.
• Release to Open a Line — Capture when your pieces can use the opened line.
• Release to Fix a Weakness — Choose a recapture structure that leaves the opponent a target.