Schools of Thought
The two great schools of chess thought — Classical and Hypermodern — and how they see the centre.
Advanced
Hypermodernism
A 1920s rebellion against classical dogma: control the center with pieces from a distance instead of pawns, then let the opponent's own center become the target.
Intermediate
The Classical School (Steinitz's Principles)
The first World Champion, Wilhelm Steinitz, turned chess strategy into a system of provable principles — occupy the center, keep a sound structure, don't attack without an advantage.