A weekly question and answer column by FIDE Master Andy Lee.
Q: I recently played white in a game against a friend that started 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. 00 Nf6 5. Ng5 00 6. Nxf7 Rxf7 7. Bxf7+ Kxf7. Even though the trade was even (six points for six points), I went on to lose the game. How come? -- Taylor, Los Angeles, CA
A: Your opening idea is a common one - to attack the f7 square as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, in the position you have described, black can stop your attack and start one of his own. Let's look at it in closer detail to figure out why:
There are some good things about white's position: black has had to move his king and has given up his rook. But white is in much greater danger. Notice that he has given up his only two developed pieces for black's rook. Black, on the other hand, has three developed pieces and is ready to begin an attack.
Let's take a look at a few more likely moves for each side to illustrate this point:
Black can effortlessly attack from the final position: he will bring his rook to f8, his king will go back to safety at g8, and the knight will come in to d4. White, on the other hand, has trouble getting the rest of his pieces into the game.
The moral of the story? Whenever you make a trade, even if you are trading equal numbers of "points," consider the positional strengths of the pieces being traded. Remember that rooks are stronger in the endgame, while minor pieces are better in the opening and middlegame.