To try and win a piece, or trying to cut the piece off from the battle. That is the question.

Pulled from one of the PDF files in the month 3 information. A very fine quote from Capablanca:


“Very often in a game a master only plays to cut off, so to speak, one of the pieces from the scene
of actual conflict. Often a Bishop or a Knight is completely out of action. In such cases we might
say that from that moment the game is won, because for all practical purposes there will be one
more piece on one side than on the other.” - Jose Raul Capablanca

I think a lot of beginners and intermediate players really try to go out of their way to trap a piece if they think there is an opportunity. I know that I have really struggled and tried to calculate ways that I could possibly capture a bishop/knight that has gotten into deep into my position. I think an easier plan is to try and neutralizing its effectiveness and or just trying to keep it away from the action (where you have most of your pieces)

Thoughts?