ChessPub Forum - What is a "clamp" or clamping down ?

TopNotch

God Member

Offline

I only look 1 move ahead,
but its always the best

Posts: 2211
Joined: 01/04/03
Gender: Male

Re: What is a "clamp" or clamping down ?
Reply #2 - 02/09/22 at 00:14:09

Post Tools

Print Post

ernie wrote on 02/05/22 at 17:30:02:

A recent essay on chessbase by GM Kidambi analyzes Ponomariov-Kramnik Wijk 2003. After 20. b4 White's position is described as a queenside clamp.

Searched "clamp" on Wiki. There are several references to "The Big Clamp" in the 1980s. This is White's pawns on e4 & f4 in a Sicilian, said to be "clamping down on the dark squares". Quite different from the above position.
After 20. b4 there is a resemblance to a Maroczy bind, shifted over. Since creation pawns have controlled the forward diagonal. Does clamp have special meaning ?

Yes it does, in chess 'Clamp' generally refers to restricting the opponent's freeing pawn breaks. or absolute control of a square or squares usually of the same color complex. That would be my working definition anyway, hope it helps clarify things for you.

The man who tries to do something and fails is infinitely better than he who tries to do nothing and succeeds - Lloyd Jones

IP Logged

an ordinary chessplayer God Member Offline I used to be not bad. Posts: 1825 Location: Columbus, OH (USA) Joined: 01/02/15	Re: What is a "clamp" or clamping down ? Reply #1 - 02/05/22 at 18:02:35	Post Tools	Print Post
	Clamp is a synonym for bind, isn't it? I don't think it needs a special meaning, since the usual meaning suffices.


	IP Logged

ernie

YaBB Newbies

Offline

I Love ChessPublishing!

Posts: 19
Joined: 10/18/18
Gender: Male

What is a "clamp" or clamping down ?
02/05/22 at 17:30:02

Post Tools

Print Post

A recent essay on chessbase by GM Kidambi analyzes Ponomariov-Kramnik Wijk 2003. After 20. b4 White's position is described as a queenside clamp.

Searched "clamp" on Wiki. There are several references to "The Big Clamp" in the 1980s. This is White's pawns on e4 & f4 in a Sicilian, said to be "clamping down on the dark squares". Quite different from the above position.
After 20. b4 there is a resemblance to a Maroczy bind, shifted over. Since creation pawns have controlled the forward diagonal. Does clamp have special meaning ?

IP Logged