Editing Chess (section)

====Middlegame====
{{Main|Chess middlegame}}
The middlegame is the part of the game that starts after the opening. Because the opening theory has ended, players have to form plans based on the features of the position, and at the same time take into account the tactical possibilities of the position.<ref>{{harvp|Harding|2003|pp=32–151}}</ref> The middlegame is the phase in which most [[Combination (chess)|combinations]] occur. Combinations are a series of tactical moves executed to achieve some gain. Middlegame combinations are often connected with an attack against the opponent's king. Some typical patterns have their own names; for example, the [[Boden's Mate]] or the [[Lasker - Bauer, Amsterdam, 1889|Lasker–Bauer]] combination.<ref>{{harvp|Hooper|Whyld|1992|p=86}}</ref>

Specific plans or strategic themes will often arise from particular groups of openings that result in a specific type of pawn structure. An example is the {{chessgloss|minority attack}}, which is the attack of queenside pawns against an opponent who has more pawns on the queenside. The study of openings is therefore connected to the preparation of plans that are typical of the resulting middlegames.<ref>{{harvp|Silman|1998|pp=202–205}}</ref>

Another important strategic question in the middlegame is whether and how to reduce material and transition into an endgame (i.e. {{chessgloss|simplify}}). Minor material advantages can generally be transformed into victory only in an endgame, and therefore the stronger side must choose an appropriate way to achieve an ending. Not every reduction of material is good for this purpose; for example, if one side keeps a light-squared bishop and the opponent has a dark-squared one, the transformation into a [[Chess endgame#Bishop and pawn endings|bishops and pawns]] ending is usually advantageous for the weaker side only, because an endgame with [[opposite-colored bishops endgame|bishops on opposite colors]] is likely to be a draw, even with an advantage of a pawn, or sometimes even with a two-pawn advantage.<ref>{{harvp|Emms|2004|p=90}}</ref>