chess fundamentals

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Title:ChessFundamentals

Author:JosRalCapablanca

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JOSR.CAPABLANCA

CHESSFUNDAMENTALS

BY

JOSR.CAPABLANCA

CHESSCHAMPIONOFTHEWORLD



NEWYORK

HARCOURT,BRACE&WORLD,INC.LONDON:G.BELLANDSONS,LTD.

COPYRIGHT,1921,BY

HARCOURT,BRACE&WORLD,INC.

1949BYOLGACAPABLANCA

Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthispublicationmaybereproducedortransmittedinanyformorbyanymeans,electronicormechanical,includingphotocopy,recording,oranyinformationstorageandretrievalsystem,withoutpermissioninwritingfromthepublisher.

SeventeenthPrinting

PRINTEDINTHEUNITEDSTATESOFAMERICA

PREFACE

ChessFundamentals was first published thirteen years ago. Since then there have appeared atdifferent timesanumberofarticlesdealingwith thesocalledHypermodernTheory.Thosewhohave read thearticlesmaywellhave thought that somethingnew,ofvital importance,hadbeendiscovered.ThefactisthattheHypermodernTheoryismerelytheapplication,duringtheopeningstagesgenerally,ofthesameoldprinciples throughthemediumofsomewhatnewtactics.Therehasbeenno change in the fundamentals. The change has been only a change of form, and notalwaysforthebestatthat.

Inchess the tacticsmaychangebut thestrategicfundamentalprinciplesarealways thesame,sothatChessFundamentalsisasgoodnowasitwasthirteenyearsago.Itwillbeasgoodahundredyearsfromnowaslonginfactasthelawsandrulesofthegameremainwhattheyareatpresent.The readermay thereforegoover the contentsof thebookwith the assurance that there is in iteverything he needs, and that there is nothing to be added and nothing to be changed.ChessFundamentals was the one standard work of its kind thirteen years ago and the author firmlybelievesthatitistheonestandardworkofitskindnow.

J.R.CAPABLANCA

NewYork

Sept.1,1934

LISTOFCONTENTS

PARTI



CHAPTERI

FirstPrinciples:Endings,MiddlegameandOpeningsPAGE

1.SOMESIMPLEMATES 32.PAWNPROMOTION 93.PAWNENDINGS 134.SOMEWINNINGPOSITIONSINTHEMIDDLEGAME 195.RELATIVEVALUEOFTHEPIECES 246.GENERALSTRATEGYOFTHEOPENING 257.CONTROLOFTHECENTRE 288.TRAPS 32

CHAPTERII

FURTHERPRINCIPLESINENDGAMEPLAY9.ACARDINALPRINCIPLE 3510.ACLASSICALENDING 3711.OBTAININGAPASSEDPAWN 4012.HOWTOFINDOUTWHICHPAWNWILLBETHEFIRSTTOQUEEN 4113.THEOPPOSITION 4314.THERELATIVEVALUEOFKNIGHTANDBISHOP 5015.HOWTOMATEWITHKNIGHTANDBISHOP 5916.QUEENAGAINSTROOK 62

CHAPTERIII

PLANNINGAWININMIDDLEGAMEPLAY17.ATTACKINGWITHOUTTHEAIDOFKNIGHTS 6818.ATTACKINGWITHKNIGHTSASAPROMINENTFORCE 7119.WINNINGBYINDIRECTATTACK 75

CHAPTERIV

GENERALTHEORY20.THEINITIATIVE 77

21.DIRECTATTACKSENMASSE 7822.THEFORCEOFTHETHREATENEDATTACK 8223.RELINQUISHINGTHEINITIATIVE 8924.CUTTINGOFFPIECESFROMTHESCENEOFACTION 9425.APLAYER'SMOTIVESCRITICISEDINASPECIMENGAME 99

CHAPTERV

ENDGAMESTRATEGY26.THESUDDENATTACKFROMADIFFERENTSIDE 11127.THEDANGEROFASAFEPOSITION 12028.ENDINGSWITHONEROOKANDPAWNS 12229.ADIFFICULTENDING:TWOROOKSANDPAWNS 12730.ROOK,BISHOPANDPAWNSv.ROOK,KNIGHTANDPAWNS(AFinalExampleofpreservingFreedomwhilstimposingrestraint.)

138

CHAPTERVI



FURTHEROPENINGSANDMIDDLEGAMES31.SOMESALIENTPOINTSABOUTPAWNS 14332.SOMEPOSSIBLEDEVELOPMENTSFROMARUYLOPEZ(showingtheweaknessofabackwardQBPthepowerofaPawnatK5,etc.)

146

33.THEINFLUENCEOFA"HOLE" 150

PARTII

ILLUSTRATIVEGAMES

GAME.1.QUEEN'SGAMBITDECLINED(MATCH,1909)White:F.J.Marshall.Black:J.R.Capablanca.

159

2.QUEEN'SGAMBITDECLINED(SANSEBASTIAN,1911)White:A.K.Rubinstein.Black:J.R.Capablanca.

163

3.IRREGULARDEFENCE(HAVANA,1913)White:D.Janowski.Black:J.R.Capablanca.

169

4.FRENCHDEFENCE(ST.PETERSBURG,1913)White:J.R.Capablanca.Black:E.A.SnoskoBorovski.

174

5.RUYLOPEZ(ST.PETERSBURG,1914)White:Dr.E.Lasker.Black:J.R.Capablanca.

181

6.FRENCHDEFENCE(RICEMEMORIALTOURNAMENT,1916)White:O.Chajes.Black:J.R.Capablanca.

189

7.RUYLOPEZ(SANSEBASTIAN,1911)White:J.R.Capablanca.Black:A.Burn.

197

8.CENTREGAME(BERLIN,1913)White:J.Mieses.Black:J.R.Capablanca.

201

9.QUEEN'SGAMBITDECLINED(BERLIN,1913)White:J.R.Capablanca.Black:R.Teichmann.

209

10.PETROFFDEFENCE(ST.PETERSBURG,1914)White:J.R.Capablanca.Black:F.J.Marshall.

215

11.RUYLOPEZ(ST.PETERSBURG,1914)White:J.R.Capablanca.Black:D.Janowski.

221

12.FRENCHDEFENCE(NEWYORK,1918)White:J.R.Capablanca.Black:O.Chajes.

225

13.RUYLOPEZ(NEWYORK,1918)White:J.S.Morrison.Black:J.R.Capablanca.

231

14.QUEEN'SGAMBITDECLINED(NEWYORK,1918)White:F.J.Marshall.Black:J.R.Capablanca.

238

CHESSFUNDAMENTALS

PARTI

CHAPTERI

FIRSTPRINCIPLES:ENDINGS,MIDDLEGAMEANDOPENINGS

Thefirstthingastudentshoulddo,istofamiliarisehimselfwiththepowerofthepieces.Thiscanbestbedonebylearninghowtoaccomplishquicklysomeofthesimplemates.

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1.SOMESIMPLEMATES

Example1.TheendingRookandKingagainstKing.

TheprincipleistodrivetheopposingKingtothelastlineonanysideoftheboard.

In this position the power of the Rook is demonstrated by the first move, R R 7, whichimmediatelyconfines theBlackKing to the last rank,and themate isquicklyaccomplishedby:1RR7,KKt12KKt2.

The combined action ofKing andRook is needed to arrive at a position inwhichmate canbeforced.Thegeneralprincipleforabeginnertofollowisto

keephisKingasmuchaspossibleonthesamerank,or,asinthiscase,file,astheopposingKing.

When,inthiscase,theKinghasbeenbroughttothesixthrank,itisbettertoplaceit,notonthesamefile,butontheonenexttoittowardsthecentre.

2...KB13KB3,KK14KK4,KQ15KQ5,KB16KQ6.

NotKB6,becausethentheBlackKingwillgobacktoQ1anditwilltakemuchlongertomate.IfnowtheKingmovesbacktoQ1,RR8matesatonce.

6...KKt17RQB7,KR18KB6,KKt19KKt6,KR110RB8mate.

Ithas takenexactly tenmoves tomate from theoriginalposition.Onmove5Blackcouldhave

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playedKK1,and,accordingtoprinciple,Whitewouldhavecontinued6KQ6,KB1(theBlackKingwillultimatelybeforcedtomoveinfrontoftheWhiteKingandbematedbyRR8)7KK6,KKt18KB6,KR19KKt6,KKt110RR8mate.

Example2.

SincetheBlackKingisinthecentreoftheboard,thebestwaytoproceedistoadvanceyourownKingthus:1KK2,KQ42KK3.AstheRookhasnotyetcomeintoplay,itisbettertoadvance theKingstraight into the centreof theboard, not in front, but toone sideof theotherKing.ShouldnowtheBlackKingmovetoK4,theRookdrivesitbackbyRR5ch.Ontheotherhand,if2...KB5instead,thenalso3RR5.Ifnow3...KKt5,therefollows4KQ3butifinstead3...KB6then4RR4,keepingtheKingconfinedtoasfewsquaresaspossible.

Now the ending may continue: 4...K B 7 5 R B 4 ch, K Kt 6 6 K Q 3, K Kt 77RKt4ch,KR68KB3,KR7. ItshouldbenoticedhowoftentheWhiteKinghasmovednext to theRook, not only to defend it, but also to reduce themobility of the opposingKing.NowWhitematesinthreemovesthus:9RR4ch,KKt810R anysquareon theRook'sfile,forcingtheBlackKinginfrontoftheWhite,KB811RR1mate.Ithastakenelevenmoves tomate, and, under any conditions, I believe it should be done in under twenty.Whileitmaybemonotonous,itisworthwhileforthebeginnertopracticesuchthings,asitwillteachhimtheproperhandlingofhispieces.

Example3.NowwecometotwoBishopsandKingagainstKing.

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SincetheBlackKingisinthecorner,Whitecanplay1BQ3,KKt22BKKt5,KB23B B 5, and already theBlackKing is confined to a few squares. If theBlackKing, in theoriginalposition,hadbeeninthecentreoftheboard,orawayfromthelastrow,WhiteshouldhaveadvancedhisKing,andthen,withtheaidofhisBishops,restrictedtheBlackKing'smovementstoasfewsquaresaspossible.

Wemightnowcontinue:3...KKt24KB2.InthisendingtheBlackKingmustnotonlybedriventotheedgeoftheboard,buthemustalsobeforcedintoacorner,and,beforeamatecanbegiven,theWhiteKingmustbebroughttothesixthrankand,atthesametime,inoneofthelasttwofilesinthiscaseeitherKR6,KKt6,KB7,KB8,andasKR6andKKt6arethenearestsquares,itistoeitherofthesesquaresthattheKingoughttogo.4...KB25KKt3,KKt26KR4,KB27KR5,KKt28BKt6,KKt19KR6,KB1.Whitemustnowmark timeandmoveoneof theBishops,soas to force theBlackKing togoback10B R5,KKt111BK7,KR1.NowtheWhiteBishopmusttakeupapositionfromwhichitcangive check next move along the White diagonal, when the Black King moves back to Kt 1.12BKKt4,KKt113BK6ch,KR114BB6mate.

Ithastakenfourteenmovestoforcethemateand,inanyposition,itshouldbedoneinunderthirty.

Inallendingsofthiskind,caremustbetakennottodriftintoastalemate.

InthisparticularendingoneshouldrememberthattheKingmustnotonlybedriventotheedgeoftheboard,butalsointoacorner.Inallsuchendings,however,itisimmaterialwhethertheKingis

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forcedontothelastrank,ortoanoutsidefile,e.g.KR5orQR4,K1orQ8.

Example4.WenowcometoQueenandKingagainstKing.AstheQueencombinesthepowerof theRook and theBishop, it is the easiestmate of all and should always be accomplished inundertenmoves.Takethefollowingposition:

Agoodway tobegin is tomake thefirstmovewith theQueen, trying to limit theBlackKing'smobilityasmuchaspossible.Thus:1QB6,KQ52KQ2.AlreadytheBlackKinghasonlyoneavailablesquare2...K K43K K3,K B44Q Q6,K Kt4. (ShouldBlackplayK Kt 5, thenQ Kt 6 ch) 5Q K 6,K R 5 (ifK R 4,K B 4 andmate nextmove)6QKKt6,KR67KB3,Kmoves8Qmates.

Inthisending,asinthecaseoftheRook,theBlackKingmustbeforcedtotheedgeoftheboardonlytheQueenbeingsomuchmorepowerfulthantheRook,theprocessisfareasierandshorter.Thesearethethreeelementaryendingsandinallofthesetheprincipleisthesame.IneachcasethecooperationoftheKingisneeded.InordertoforceamatewithouttheaidoftheKing,atleasttwoRooksarerequired.

2.PAWNPROMOTION

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ThegainofaPawnisthesmallestmaterialadvantagethatcanbeobtainedinagameanditoftenis sufficient towin, evenwhen thePawn is theonly remainingunit, apart from theKings. It isessential,speakinggenerally,that

theKingshouldbeinfrontofhisPawn,withatleastoneinterveningsquare.

IftheopposingKingisdirectlyinfrontofthePawn,thenthegamecannotbewon.Thiscanbestbeexplainedbythefollowingexamples.

Example5.

Theposition isdrawn, and theway toproceed is forBlack tokeep theKing alwaysdirectly infrontofthePawn,andwhenitcannotbedone,asforinstanceinthispositionbecauseoftheWhiteKing,thentheBlackKingmustbekeptinfrontoftheWhiteKing.Theplaywouldproceedthus:1PK3,KK42KQ3,KQ4.Thisisaveryimportantmove.Anyothermovewouldlose,aswillbeshownlater.AstheBlackKingcannotbekeptcloseuptothePawn,itmustbebroughtasfarforwardaspossibleand,atthesametime,infrontoftheWhiteKing.

3PK4ch,KK44KK3,KK35KB4,KB3.Againthesamecase.AstheWhiteKingcomesup, theBlackKingmustbekept in frontof it, since itcannotbebroughtup to thePawn.

6PK5ch,KK37KK4,KK28KQ5,KQ29PK6ch,KK210KK5,KK111KQ6,KQ1.IfnowWhiteadvancesthePawn,theBlackKinggetsinfrontofit

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andWhitemusteithergiveup thePawnorplayK K6,anda stalemate results. If insteadofadvancingthePawnWhitewithdrawshisKing,BlackbringshisKinguptothePawnand,whenforcedtogoback,hemovestoKinfrontofthePawnreadytocomeupagainortomoveinfrontoftheWhiteKing,asbefore,shouldthelatteradvance.

The whole mode of procedure is very important and the student should become thoroughlyconversantwithitsdetailsforitinvolvesprinciplestobetakenuplateron,andbecausemanyabeginnerhas lost identicalpositions from lackofproperknowledge.At this stageof thebook Icannotlaytoomuchstressonitsimportance.

Example6.In this positionWhitewins, as theKing is in front of his Pawn and there is oneinterveningsquare.

Themethodtofollowisto

advance theKingas faras is compatiblewith the safetyof thePawnandnever to advance thePawnuntilitisessentialtoitsownsafety.

Thus:

1.KK4,KK3.

BlackdoesnotallowtheWhiteKingtoadvance,thereforeWhiteisnowcompelledtoadvancehisPawnsoastoforceBlacktomoveaway.HeisthenabletoadvancehisownKing.

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2.PK3,KB33.KQ5,KK2.

IfBlackhadplayed3...KB4,thenWhitewouldbeforcedtoadvancethePawntoK4,sincehecouldnotadvancehisKingwithout leavingBlack theopportunity toplayKK5,winning thePawn.Sincehehasnotdoneso,itisbetterforWhitenottoadvancethePawnyet,sinceitsownsafetydoesnotrequireit,buttotrytobringtheKingstillfurtherforward.Thus:

4.KK5,KQ25.KB6,KK1.

NowtheWhitePawnistoofarbackanditmaybebroughtupwithinprotectionoftheKing.

6.PK4,KQ2.

NowitwouldnotdotoplayKB7,becauseBlackwouldplayKQ3,andWhitewouldhavetobringbackhisKingtoprotectthePawn.Thereforehemustcontinue.

7.PK5,KK1.

Hadhemovedanywhereelse,WhitecouldhaveplayedKB7,followedbytheadvanceofthePawntoK6,K7,K8all thesesquaresbeingprotectedby theKing.AsBlack tries topreventthat,Whitemustnowforcehimtomoveaway,atthesametimealwayskeepingtheKinginfrontofthePawn.Thus:

8.KK6.

P K6wouldmake it adraw,asBlackwould thenplayK B,andwewouldhave a positionsimilartotheoneexplainedinconnectionwithExample5.

8...KB19.KQ7.

KingmovesandtheWhitePawnadvancestoK8,becomesaQueen,anditisallover.

Thisending is like thepreviousone,and for the same reasons shouldbe thoroughlyunderstoodbeforeproceedinganyfurther.

3.PAWNENDINGS

IshallnowgiveacoupleofsimpleendingsoftwoPawnsagainstone,orthreeagainsttwo,thatthereadermayseehowtheycanbewon.Fewerexplanationswillbegiven,asitisuptothestudenttowork things out for himself. Furthermore, nobody can learn how to playwellmerely from thestudyofabookitcanonlyserveasaguideandtherestmustbedonebytheteacher,ifthestudenthasoneifnot,thestudentmustrealisebylongandbitterexperiencethepracticalapplicationofthemanythingsexplainedinthebook.

Example7.

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In thispositionWhite cannotwinbyplaying1P B6,becauseBlackplays, notPP,whichwouldlose,but1...KKt1,andifthen2PP,KP,anddraws,asshowninapreviouscase.If2 P B 7 ch, K B 1, andWhite will never be able to Queen his Pawn without losing it. If2KK7,PP3KP,KB1,anddraws.White,however,canwinthepositiongiveninthediagrambyplaying:

1KQ7,KKt12KK7,KR13PB6,PP.If3...KKt14PB7ch,KR15PB8(Q)mate.

4KB7,PB45PKt7ch,KR26PKt8(Q)ch,KR37QKt6mate.

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Example8.IntheabovepositionWhitecan'twinby1PB5.Black'sbestanswerwouldbePKt3draws.(Thestudentshouldworkthisout.)Hecannotwinby1PKt5,becausePKt3draws.(This,becauseoftheprincipleofthe"opposition"whichgovernsthisendingaswellasallthePawnendingsalreadygiven,andwhichwillbeexplainedmorefullylateron.)

Whitecanwin,however,byplaying:1K K4,K K3. (If1...P Kt32K Q4,K K33KB5,KB34KQ6,KB25PKt5,KKt26KK7,KKt17KB6,KR28KB7andWhitewinsthePawn.)

2PB5ch,KB33KB4,PKt3.(IfthisPawniskeptbackwearriveattheendingshowninExample7.)4PKt5ch,KB25PB6,KK36KK4,KB27KK5,KB1.WhitecannotforcehisBishop'sPawnintoQ(findoutwhy),butbygivinghisPawnuphecanwintheotherPawnandthegame.Thus:

8PB7,KP9KQ6,KB110KK6,KKt211KK7,KKt112KB6,KR213KB7,KR114KP,KKt1.

ThereisstillsomeresistanceinBlack'sposition.Infact,theonlywaytowinistheonegivenhere,aswilleasilybeseenbyexperiment.

15KR6(ifKB6,KR2andinordertowinWhitemustgetbacktotheactualposition,asagainst16P Kt6ch,K R1draws),K R116P Kt6,K Kt117P Kt7,K B218KR7,andWhitequeensthePawnandwins.

This ending, apparently so simple, should show the student the enormous difficulties to be

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surmounted,evenwhentherearehardlyanypieces left,whenplayingagainstanadversarywhoknowshowtousetheresourcesathisdisposal,anditshouldshowthestudent,also,thenecessityof paying strict attention to these elementary thingswhich form the basis of truemastership inChess.

Example9.Inthisending

White canwin by advancing any of the three Pawns on the firstmove, but it is convenient tofollowthegeneralrule,wheneverthereisnogoodreasonagainst it,ofadvancingthePawnthathasnoPawnopposingit.Thuswebeginby

1.PB5,KK2.

IfP Kt3,P B6andwehavea similarending tooneof those shownabove. If1...P R32PKt5.

2.KK5,KB23.PKt5,KK2.

If3...P Kt34PB6,and if3...P R34PKt6ch,and ineithercasewehaveasimilarendingtooneofthosealreadyshown.

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4.PR5,

andby following itupwithP Kt6wehave thesameendingpreviously shown.ShouldBlackplay4...PKt3,thenRPP,PPPB6chwiththesameresult.

HavingnowseenthecaseswhenthePawnsareallononesideoftheboardweshallnowexamineacasewhentherearePawnsonbothsidesoftheboard.

Example10.Inthesecasesthegeneralruleistoactimmediatelyonthesidewhereyouhavethesuperiorforces.Thuswehave:

1.PKKt4.

ItisgenerallyadvisabletoadvancethePawnthatisfreefromopposition.

1......... PQR4.

Blackmakesanadvanceontheotherside,andnowWhiteconsiderswhetherornotheshouldstoptheadvance.Inthiscaseeitherwaywins,butgenerallytheadvanceshouldbestoppedwhentheopposingKingisfaraway.

2.PQR4,KB33.PR4,KK3.

If3...KKt3,thensimplecountingwillshowthatWhitegoestotheothersidewithhisKing,wins

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thePatQR4,andthenQueenshissinglePawnlongbeforeBlackcandothesame.

4.PKt5,KB25.KB5,KKt26.PR5,KB2.

If6...PR37PKt6,andthenthetwoPawnsdefendthemselvesandWhitecangototheothersidewithhisKing,towintheotherPawn.

7.KK5.

Now it is time togo to theother sidewith theKing,win theBlackPawnandQueen the singlePawn.Thisistypicalofallsuchendingsandshouldbeworkedoutbythestudentinthiscaseandinsimilarcaseswhichhecanputup.

4.SOMEWINNINGPOSITIONSINTHEMIDDLEGAME

Bythetimethestudenthasdigestedallthathasbeenpreviouslyexplained,he,nodoubt,isanxioustogettotheactualgameandplaywithallthepieces.However,beforeconsideringtheopenings,weshalldevotealittletimetosomecombinationsthatoftenariseduringthegame,andwhichwillgivethereadersomeideaofthebeautyofthegame,oncehebecomesbetteracquaintedwithit.

Example11.

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ItisBlack'smove,andthinkingthatWhitemerelythreatenstoplayQR6andtomateatKKt7,Blackplays1...RK1,threateningmatebywayofRK8.Whitenowuncovershisrealandmosteffectivethreat,viz.:

1...RK12QPch,KQ3RR3ch,KKt14RR8mate.

Thissametypeofcombinationmaycomeastheresultofasomewhatmorecomplicatedposition.

Example12.

Whiteisapiecebehind,andunlesshecanwinitbackquicklyhewilllosehethereforeplays:

1.KtKt BKt4

HecannottaketheKtbecauseWhitethreatensmatebyQPchfollowedbyRR3ch.

2.KtK7ch QKt

AgainifBKtQPch,KQRR3ch,KingmovesRR8mate.

3.RQ BR 4.QQ7

andWhitewinsoneofthetwoBishops,remainswithaQandaBagainstaRandB,andshould

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thereforewineasily.These twoexamplesshowthedangerofadvancing theKKtPonesquare,afterhavingCastledonthatside.

Example13.

Thisisanotherveryinterestingtypeofcombination.BlackhasaRforaKtandshouldthereforewin,unlessWhiteisabletoobtainsomecompensationimmediately.White,infact,matesinafewmovesthus:

1.KtB6ch PKt

Forced,otherwiseQXPmates.

2.QKt3ch KR1 3.BPmate.

Example14.Thesametypeofcombinationoccursinamorecomplicatedforminthefollowingposition. {22}



1.BKt QB.

If...BKtQB3threatensmate,andthereforewinstheQ,whichisalreadyattacked.

2.KtB6ch PKt 3.RKt3ch KR1 4.BPmate.

Example15.Averyfrequenttypeofcombinationisshowninthefollowingposition.



HereWhiteistheexchangeandaPawnbehind,buthecanwinquicklythus:1BPch,KB.(If1...KR12QKR5,PKKt33QR6,andwins.)

2QR5ch,KKt13KtKt5,andBlackcannotstopmateatKR7exceptbysacrificingtheQueenbyQK5,whichwouldleaveWhitewithaQforaR.

Example16.Thissametypeofcombinationisseeninamorecomplicatedforminthefollowingposition.

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Whiteproceedsasfollows:1KtKtch(thisclearsthelinefortheB)BKt(tostoptheKtfrommovingtoKt5afterthesacrificeoftheB)2RB,KtRbest3BPch,KB.(If3..KR14Q R5,P KKt3 5BP ch,K Kt2 6Q R7 ch,K B3 7P Kt5 ch,K K38BPch,RB9QK4mate.)4QR5ch,KKt15KtKt5,RB16QR7ch,KB17QR8ch,KtKt18KtR7ch,KK29RK1ch,KQ110QKtmate.

Thiscombinationisratherlongandhasmanyvariations,thereforeabeginnerwillhardlybeabletofathomitbut,knowingthetypeofcombination,hemightundersimilarcircumstancesundertakeandcarryoutabrilliantattackwhichhewouldotherwiseneverthinkof.Itwillbeseenthatallthecombinationsshownhaveforafoundationthepropercoordinationofthepieces,whichhaveallbeenbroughttobearagainstaweakpoint.

5.RELATIVEVALUEOFTHEPIECES

Beforegoingontothegeneralprinciplesoftheopenings,itisadvisabletogivethestudentanideaoftheproperrelativevalueofthepieces.Thereisnocompleteandaccuratetableforallofthem,andtheonlythingtodoistocomparethepiecesseparately.

ForallgeneraltheoreticalpurposestheBishopandtheKnighthavetobeconsideredasofthesamevalue,thoughit ismyopinionthattheBishopwillprovethemorevaluablepieceinmostcasesanditiswellknownthattwoBishopsarealmostalwaysbetterthantwoKnights.

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TheBishopwillbestrongeragainstPawnsthantheKnight,andincombinationwithPawnswillalsobestrongeragainsttheRookthantheKnightwillbe.

ABishopandaRookarealsostrongerthanaKnightandaRook,butaQueenandaKnightmaybestrongerthanaQueenandaBishop.

ABishopwilloftenbeworthmorethanthreePawns,butaKnightveryseldomso,andmayevennotbeworthsomuch.

ARookwillbeworthaKnightandtwoPawns,oraBishopandtwoPawns,but,assaidbefore,theBishopwillbeabetterpieceagainsttheRook.

TwoRooksareslightlystrongerthanaQueen.TheyareslightlyweakerthantwoKnightsandaBishop,andalittlemoresothantwoBishopsandaKnight.ThepoweroftheKnightdecreasesasthepiecesarechangedoff.ThepoweroftheRook,onthecontrary,increases.

TheKing,apurelydefensivepiecethroughoutthemiddlegame,becomesanoffensivepieceonceallthepiecesareofftheboard,andsometimesevenwhenthereareoneortwominorpiecesleft.ThehandlingoftheKingbecomesofparamountimportanceoncetheendgamestageisreached.

6.GENERALSTRATEGYOFTHEOPENING

Themainthingistodevelopthepiecesquickly.Getthemintoplayasfastasyoucan.

Fromtheoutset twomoves,1PK4 or1PQ4,openuplinesfor theQueenandaBishop.Therefore, theoretically one of these two moves must be the best, as no other first moveaccomplishessomuch.

Example17.Supposewebegin:

1.PK4 PK4 2.KtKB3

This is both an attackingandadevelopingmove.Black cannoweither replywith the identicalmoveorplay

2......... KtQB3

ThisdevelopingmoveatthesametimedefendstheKing'sPawn.

3.KtB3 KtB3

Thesemovesareofapurelydevelopingnature.

4.BKt5

ItisgenerallyadvisablenottobringthisBishopoutuntiloneKnightisout,preferablytheKing'sKnight.TheBishopcouldalsohavebeenplayedtoB4,but it isadvisablewheneverpossibletocombinedevelopmentandattack.

4......... BKt5

Black replies in the same manner, threatening a possible exchange of Bishop for Knight withKtPtofollow.

5.OO

anindirectwayofpreventing5...BKt,whichmoreexperienceorstudywillshowtobebad.AtthesametimetheRookisbroughtintoactioninthecentre,averyimportantpoint.

5......... OO

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Blackfollowsthesamelineofreasoning.

6.PQ3 PQ3

Thesemoveshaveatwofoldobject,viz.:toprotecttheKing'sPawnandtoopenthediagonalforthedevelopmentoftheQueen'sBishop.

7.BKt5

Averypowerfulmove,whichbringsus to themiddlegamestage, as there is already inviewacombinationtowinquicklybyKtQ5.ThisthreatmakesitimpossibleforBlacktocontinuethesamecourse.(ThereisalonganalysisshowingthatBlackshouldloseifhealsoplaysBKt5.)Heisnowforcedtoplay7...BKt,asexperiencehasshown,thusbringinguptonoticethreethings.

First,thecompletedevelopmentoftheopeninghastakenonlysevenmoves.(Thisvariesuptotenortwelvemovesinsomeveryexceptionalcases.Asarule,eightshouldbeenough.)Second,Blackhasbeen compelled to exchange a Bishop for a Knight, but as a compensation he has isolatedWhite's Q R P and doubled a Pawn. (This, at such an early stage of the game, is rather anadvantageforWhite,asthePawnisdoubledtowardsthecentreoftheboard.)Third,WhitebytheexchangebringsupaPawntocontrolthesquareQ4,putsBlackonthedefensive,asexperiencewillshow,andthuskeepstheinitiative,anunquestionableadvantage.[1]

The strategicalprinciples expoundedaboveare the same for all theopenings,only their tacticalapplicationvariesaccordingtothecircumstances.

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BeforeproceedingfurtherIwishtolaystressonthefollowingpointwhichthestudentshouldbearinmind.

Beforedevelopment hasbeen completednopiece shouldbemovedmore thanonce, unless it isessentialinordertoobtaineithermaterialadvantageortosecurefreedomofaction.

Thebeginnerwoulddowelltorememberthis,aswellaswhathasalreadybeenstated:viz.,bringouttheKnightsbeforebringingouttheBishops.

7.CONTROLOFTHECENTRE

The four squares,K4 andQ4on each side respectively, are the centre squares,andcontrolofthesesquaresiscalledcontrolofthecentre.Thecontrolofthecentreisofgreatimportance.Noviolent attack can succeedwithout controlling at least two of these squares, andpossibly three.Manyamanuvreintheopeninghasforitssoleobjectthecontrolofthecentre,whichinvariablyensurestheinitiative.It iswellalwaystobearthisinmind,sinceitwilloftenbe thereasonofaseriesofmoveswhichcouldnototherwisebeproperlyunderstood.AsthisbookprogressesIshalldwellmorefullyonthesedifferentpoints.AtpresentIshalldevotesometimetoopeningstakenatrandomandexplainthemovesaccordingtogeneralprinciples.Thestudentwillinthatwaytrainhis mind in the proper direction, and will thus have less trouble in finding a way out whenconfrontedwithanewanddifficultsituation.

Example18.

1.PK4 PK4 2.KtKB3 PQ3

Atimidmove.Blackassumesadefensiveattitudeatonce.Onprinciplethemoveiswrong.Intheopenings,wheneverpossible,piecesshouldbemovedinpreferencetoPawns.

3.PQ4

Whitetakestheoffensiveimmediatelyandstrivestocontrolthecentresoastohaveampleroomtodeployhisforces.

3......... KtQ2

BlackdoesnotwishtorelinquishthecentreandalsoprefersthetextmovetoKtQB3,whichwouldbethemorenaturalsquarefortheKt.Butonprinciplethemoveiswrong,becauseitblockstheactionoftheQueen'sBishop,andinsteadoffacilitatingtheactionofBlack'spieces,tends,onthecontrary,tocrampthem.

4.BQB4 PKR3

Blackisforcedtopaythepenaltyofhispreviousmove.SuchamoveonBlack'spartcondemnsbyitselfanyformofopeningthatmakesitnecessary.WhitethreatenedKtKt5andBlackcouldnotstopitwith4...BK2,becauseof5PP,KtP(if5...PP,6QQ5)6KtKt,PKt7QR5,andWhitewinsaPawnandhasbesidesaperfectlysafeposition.

5.KtB3 KKtB3 6.BK3 BK2 7.QK2

ItshouldbenoticedthatWhitedoesnotCastleyet.Thereasonisthathewantstodeployhisforcesfirst,andthroughthelastmoveforceBlacktoplayPQB3tomakeroomfortheQueenasWhitethreatensRQ1, tobefollowedbyPP.Black'sotheralternativeswouldfinally forcehim toplayPP,thusabandoningthecentretoWhite.

7......... PB3 8.RQ1 QB2

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9.OO

With this last move White completes his development, while Black is evidently somewhathampered.AsimpleexaminationwillsufficetoshowthatWhite'spositionisunassailable.Therearenoweakspotsinhisarmour,andhispiecesarereadyforanymanuvrethathemaywishtocarryoutinordertobegintheattackontheenemy'sposition.Thestudentshouldcarefullystudythisexample.ItwillshowhimthatitissometimesconvenienttodelayCastling.Ihavegiventhemovesastheycometomymindwithoutfollowinganystandardbookonopenings.Whetherthemovesgivenbymeagreeornotwiththestandardworks,Idonotknow,butatthepresentstageofthisbookitisnotconvenienttoenterintodiscussionsofmeretechnicalitieswhichthestudentwillbeabletounderstandwhenhehasbecomemoreproficient.

Example19.

1.PK4 PK4 2.KtKB3 PQ3 3.PQ4 BKt5

Abadmove,whichviolatesoneoftheprinciplessetdown,accordingtowhichatleastoneKnightshouldbedevelopedbeforetheBishopsarebroughtout,andalsobecauseitexchangesaBishopforaKnight,whichintheopeningisgenerallybad,unlessthereissomecompensation.

4.PP BKt

4...PPlosesaPawn.

5.QB PP 6.BQB4 QB3

IfKtB3QQKt3winsaPawn.

7.QQKt3 PQKt3 8.KtB3 PQB3

TopreventKtQ5.

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Black, however, has no pieces out except his Queen, andWhite, with a Bishop and a Knightalreadydeveloped,hasachanceofobtaininganadvantagequicklybyplayingKtQ5anyway.Thestudentislefttoworkoutthemanyvariationsarisingfromthisposition.

These exampleswill show thepractical applicationof theprinciples previously enunciated.Thestudent is warned against playing Pawns in preference to pieces at the beginning of the game,especiallyPKR3andPQR3,whicharemovesverycommonlyindulgedinbybeginners.

8.TRAPS

Ishallnowgiveafewpositionsortrapstobeavoidedintheopenings,andinwhich(practicehasshown)beginnersareoftencaught.

Example20.

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Whiteplays:

1.PP KtP

BlackshouldhaverecapturedwiththePawn.

2.KtKt BQ 3.BPch KK2 4.KtQ5mate.

Example21.



Black,havingthemove,shouldplayPK3.ButsupposeheplaysKtKB3instead,thencomes

1.BPch

KtK5wouldalsogiveWhitetheadvantage,thethreatbeingofcourseifBQ2BPmate.NordoesBR5helpmatters,becauseof2QB,1...B K3 leavesBlackwith the inferiorposition.ButWhite'smoveinthetextsecuresanimmediatematerialadvantage,andthebeginnerat any rate should never miss such an opportunity for the sake of a speculative advantage inposition.

1......... KB 2.KtK5ch Kmoves 3.KtB

andWhitehaswonaPawnbesideshavingthebetterposition.

Thereareagoodmanyothertrapsinfact,thereisabookwrittenontrapsonthechessboardbutthetypegivenaboveisthemostcommonofall.

CHAPTERII

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FURTHERPRINCIPLESINENDGAMEPLAY

Weshallnowgobacktotheendingsinsearchofafewmoreprinciples,thenagaintothemiddlegame, and finally to the openings oncemore, so that the advancemay not only be gradual buthomogeneous.In thiswaythefoundationonwhichweexpect tobuild thestructurewillbe firmandsolid.

9.ACARDINALPRINCIPLE

Inthepositionshownabove,WhitecandrawbyplayingPKt4accordingtothegeneralrulethatgovernssuchcases,i.e.toadvancethePawnthatisfreefromopposition.ButsupposethatWhite,either becausehedoesnot know this principle or becausehedoesnot, in this case, sufficientlyappreciatethevalueofitsapplicationsuppose,wesay,thatheplays1PQR4.ThenBlackcanwinbyplaying1...PQR4,applyingoneofthecardinalprinciplesofthehighstrategyofchess

Aunitthatholdstwo.

InthiscaseonePawnwouldholdtwooftheopponent'sPawns.Thestudentcannotlaytoomuchstress on this principle. It can be applied inmanyways, and it constitutes one of the principalweaponsinthehandsofamaster.

Example22.Theexamplegivenshouldbesufficientproof.Wegiveafewmovesof themainvariation:

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1.PR4 PQR4 2.KKt2 KB5 (Bestseewhy.) 3.PKt4 PP (Best.) 4.PR5 PKt6 5.PR6 PKt7 6.PR7 PKt8(Q) 7.PR8(Q) QK5ch 8.QQ KQ

This brings the game to a position which is won by Black, and which constitutes one of theclassical endings of King and Pawns. I shall try to explain the guiding idea of it to those notfamiliarwithit.

10.ACLASSICALENDING

Example23.InthispositionWhite'sbestlineofdefenceconsistsinkeepinghisPawnwhereitstandsatR2.AssoonasthePawnisadvanceditbecomeseasierforBlacktowin.Ontheother

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hand,Black'splantowin(supposingthatWhitedoesnotadvancehisPawn)maybedividedintothreeparts.The first partwill be to get hisKing toKR6, at the same timekeeping intact thepositionofhisPawns.(Thisisallimportant,since,inordertowinthegame,itisessentialattheend thatBlackmay be able to advance his rearmost Pawnone or two squares according to thepositionoftheWhiteKing.)

1.KKt3 KK6 2.KKt2

If2KKt4,KB73PR4,PKt3willwin.

2......... KB5 3.KB2 KKt5 4.KKt2 KR5 5.KKt1 KR6

Thefirstparthasbeencompleted.

ThesecondpartwillbeshortandwillconsistinadvancingtheRPuptheK.

6.KR1 PR4 7.KKt1 PR5

Thisendsthesecondpart.

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ThethirdpartwillconsistintimingtheadvanceoftheKtPsoastoplayPKt6whentheWhiteKingisatR1.ItnowbecomesevidenthownecessaryitistobeabletomovetheKtPeitheroneortwosquaresaccordingtothepositionoftheWhiteKing,asindicatedpreviously.[2]Inthiscase,asitisWhite'smove,thePawnwillbeadvancedtwosquaressincetheWhiteKingwillbeinthecorner,but if itwerenowBlack'smove theKtPshouldonlybeadvancedonesquare since theWhiteKingisatKt1.

8.KR1 PKt4 9.KKt1 PKt5 10.KR1 PKt6 11.PP

IfKKt1,PKt7.

11......... PP 12.KKt1 PKt7 13.KB2 KR7

andwins.

Itisinthisanalyticalwaythatthestudentshouldtrytolearn.Hewillthustrainhismindtofollowalogicalsequenceinreasoningoutanyposition.Thisexampleisexcellenttraining,sinceitiseasytodivideitintothreestagesandtoexplainthemainpointofeachpart.

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Thenextsubjectweshallstudyisthesimpleopposition,butbeforewedevoteourtimetoitIwishtocallattentiontotwothings.

11.OBTAININGAPASSEDPAWN

WhenthreeormorePawnsareopposedtoeachotherinsomesuchpositionastheoneinExample24,thereisalwaysachanceforonesideortheotherofobtainingapassedPawn.

Example24.IntheabovepositionthewayofobtainingapassedPawnistoadvancethecentrePawn.

1.PKt6 RPPIfBPPPR6, 2.PB6 PBP 3.PR6

andas in thiscase theWhitePawn isnearer toQueen thananyof theBlackPawns,Whitewillwin.NowifithadbeenBlack'smoveBlackcouldplay

1......... PKt3

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2.BPP BPP

ItwouldnotbeadvisabletotrytoobtainapassedPawnbecausetheWhitePawnswouldbenearertoQueenthanthesingleBlackPawn.

3.PP PP

andthegameproperlyplayedwouldbeadraw.Thestudentshouldworkthisoutforhimself.

12.HOWTOFINDOUTWHICHPAWNWILLBEFIRSTTOQUEEN

When twoPawnsare free,orwillbe free, to advance toQueen,youcan findout, by counting,whichPawnwillbethefirsttosucceed.

Example25.Inthispositionwhoevermovesfirstwins.

Thefirst thing is tofindout,bycounting,whether theopposingKingcanbe in timetostopthepassedPawnfromQueening.When,asinthiscase,itcannotbedone,thepointistocountwhichPawncomesinfirst.Inthiscasethetimeisthesame,butthePawnthatreachestheeighthsquarefirstandbecomesaQueenisinapositiontocapturetheadversary'sQueenwhenhemakesone.Thus:

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1.PR4 PKR4 2.PR5 PR5 3.PKt6 PP

Nowcomesalittlecalculation.WhitecancapturethePawn,butifhedoesso,hewillnot,whenQueening, command the square where Black will also Queen his Pawn. Therefore, instead oftaking,heplays:

4.PR6 PR6 5.PR7 PR7 6.PR8(Q),andwins.

Thestudentwoulddowell toacquainthimselfwithvarioussimpleendingsof thissort, soas toacquirethehabitofcounting,andthusbeabletoknowwitheasewhenhecanorcannotgettherefirst.OnceagainImustcallattentiontothefactthatabookcannotbyitselfteachhowtoplay.Itcanonlyserveasaguide,andtherestmustbelearnedbyexperience,andifateachercanbehadatthesametime,somuchthefasterwillthestudentbeabletolearn.

13.THEOPPOSITION

WhenKingshavetobemoved,andoneplayercan,byforce,bringhisKingintoapositionsimilartotheoneshowninthefollowingdiagram,sothathisadversaryisforcedtomoveandmakewayforhim,theplayerobtainingthatadvantageissaidtohavetheopposition.

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Example26.SupposeintheabovepositionWhiteplays

1.KQ4

NowBlackhastheoptionofeitheropposingthepassageoftheWhiteKingbyplayingKQ3or,ifheprefers,hecanpasswithhisownKingbyreplyingKB4.NoticethattheKingsaredirectlyopposedtoeachother,and thenumberof interveningsquaresbetween themisoddonein thiscase.

The opposition can take the form shown above, which can be called actual or close frontaloppositionorthisform:

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whichcanbecalledactualorclosediagonalopposition,or,again,thisform:



whichcanbecalledactualorcloselateralopposition.

Inpractice theyare alloneand the same.TheKingsare alwayson squaresof the samecolour,thereisonlyoneinterveningsquarebetweentheKings,andtheplayerwhohasmovedlast"hastheopposition."

Now,ifthestudentwilltakethetroubleofmovingeachKingbackwardsasinagameinthesamefrontal, diagonal or lateral line respectively shown in the diagrams,we shall havewhatmay becalleddistantfrontal,diagonalandlateraloppositionrespectively.

Thematteroftheoppositionishighlyimportant,andtakesattimessomewhatcomplicatedforms,allofwhichcanbesolvedmathematicallybut, for thepresent, thestudentshouldonlyconsiderthemost simple forms. (An examination of some of the examples of King and Pawns endingsalreadygivenwillshowseveralcasesofcloseopposition.)

Inallsimpleformsofopposition,

whentheKingsareonthesamelineandthenumberofinterveningsquaresbetweenthemiseven,theplayerwhohasthemovehastheopposition.

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Example27.Theabovepositionshowstoadvantagetheenormousvalueoftheopposition.Thepositionisverysimple.Very little is lefton theboard,and theposition, toabeginner,probablylooks absolutely even. It is not the case, however.Whoeverhas themovewins. Notice that theKingsaredirectlyinfrontofoneanother,andthatthenumberofinterveningsquaresiseven.

Nowastotheproceduretowinsuchaposition.Theproperwaytobeginis tomovestraightup.Thus:

1.KK2 KK2 2.KK3 KK3 3.KK4 KB3

NowWhitecanexercisetheoptionofeitherplayingKQ5andthuspassingwithhisKing,orofplayingKB4andpreventtheBlackKingfrompassing,therebykeepingtheopposition.Merecountingwillshowthattheformercoursewillonlyleadtoadraw,thereforeWhitetakesthelattercourseandplays:

4.KB4 KKt3

If4...KK35KKt5willwin.

5.KK5 KKt2

NowbycountingitwillbeseenthatWhitewinsbycapturingBlack'sKnightPawn.

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Theprocesshasbeencomparativelysimpleinthevariationgivenabove,butBlackhasotherlinesofdefencemoredifficulttoovercome.Letusbeginanew.

1.KK2 KQ1

Nowif2KQ3,KQ2,orif2KK3,KK2,andBlackobtainstheoppositioninbothcases.(When the Kings are directly in front of one another, and the number of intervening squaresbetweentheKingsisodd,theplayerwhohasmovedlasthastheopposition.)

Nowinordertowin,theWhiteKingmustadvance.Thereisonlyoneothersquarewherehecango,B3,andthatistherightplace.Thereforeitisseenthatinsuchcaseswhentheopponentmakesa socalled waiting move, you must advance, leaving a rank or file free between the Kings.Thereforewehave

2.KB3 KK2

Now, itwouldbebad toadvance,because thenBlack,bybringinguphisKing in frontofyourKing,wouldobtaintheopposition.ItisWhite'sturntoplayasimilarmovetoBlack'sfirstmove,viz.:

3.KK3

which brings the position back to the first variation shown. The student would do well tofamiliarisehimselfwiththehandlingoftheKinginallexamplesofopposition.Itoftenmeansthewinningorlosingofagame.

Example28.The following position is an excellent proof of the value of the opposition as ameansofdefence.

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WhiteisaPawnbehindandapparentlylost,yethecanmanagetodrawasfollows:

1.KR1!

The position of the Pawns does not permit White to draw by means of the actual or closeopposition,hencehetakesthedistantopposition:ineffectif1KB1(actualorcloseopposition),KQ72KB2,KQ6andWhitecannotcontinuetokeepthelateraloppositionessentialtohissafety,becauseofhisownPawnatB3.Ontheotherhand,afterthetextmove,if

1......... KQ7 2.KR2 KQ6 3.KR3! KK7 4.KKt2 KK6 5.KKt3 KQ5 6.KKt4

attackingthePawnandforcingBlacktoplay6...KK6whenhecangobacktoKt3asalreadyshown,andalwayskeeptheopposition.

Goingbacktotheoriginalposition,if

1.KR1 PKt5

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WhitedoesnotplayPP,becausePK5willwin,butplays:

2.KKt2 KQ7

If2...PPch3KP,followedbyKK4,willdraw.

3.PP PK5

andmerecountingwillshowthatbothsidesQueen,drawingthegame.

IfthestudentwillnowtakethetroubletogobacktotheexamplesofKingandPawnswhichIhavegiveninthisbook,[3]hewillrealisethatinallofthemthematteroftheoppositionisofparamountimportanceas,infact,itisinnearlyallendingsofKingandPawns,exceptinsuchcaseswherethePawnpositioninitselfensuresthewin.

14.THERELATIVEVALUEOFKNIGHTANDBISHOP

Before turningour attention to thismatter it iswell to statenow thattwoKnights alone cannotmate, but, under certain conditions of course, they can do so if the opponent has one or morePawns.

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Example29.IntheabovepositionWhitecannotwin,althoughtheBlackKingiscornered,butinthefollowingposition,inwhichBlackhasaPawn,

Whitewinswithorwithoutthemove.Thus:

1.KtKt6 PR5

WhitecannottakethePawnbecausethegamewillbedrawn,asexplainedbefore.

2.KtK5 PR6 3.KtB6 PR7 4.KtKt5 PR8(Q) 5.KtB7mate

Thereasonforthispeculiarityinchessisevident.

WhitewiththetwoKnightscanonlystalematetheKing,unlessBlackhasaPawnwhichcanbemoved.

Example30.AlthoughheisaBishopandaPawnaheadthefollowingpositioncannotbewonbyWhite.

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It is the greatest weakness of the Bishop, that when the Rook's Pawn Queens on a square ofoppositecolourandtheopposingKingisinfrontofthePawn,theBishopisabsolutelyworthless.AllthatBlackhastodoistokeepmovinghisKingclosetothecornersquare. {52}



Example31.In the above positionWhite with or without the move can win. Take the mostdifficultvariation.

1......... KR7 2.KtKt4ch KR8 3.KB1 PKt4 4.KB2 PR7 5.KtK3 PKt5 6.KtB1 PKt6ch 7.KtPmate

Nowthatwehaveseentheseexceptionalcases,wecananalysethedifferentmeritsandtherelativevalueoftheKnightandtheBishop.

ItisgenerallythoughtbyamateursthattheKnightisthemorevaluablepieceofthetwo,thechiefreason being that, unlike the Bishop, the Knight can command both Black andWhite squares.However,thefactisgenerallyoverlookedthattheKnight,atanyonetime,hasthechoiceofonecolouronly.IttakesmuchlongertobringaKnightfromonewingtotheother.Also,asshowninthefollowingExample,aBishopcanstalemateaKnightacomplimentwhichtheKnightisunabletoreturn.

Example32.

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TheweakertheplayerthemoreterribletheKnightistohim,butasaplayerincreasesinstrengththe value of the Bishop becomesmore evident to him, and of course there is, or should be, acorrespondingdecreaseinhisestimationofthevalueoftheKnightascomparedtotheBishop.Inthis respect, as in many others, the masters of today are far ahead of the masters of formergenerations. While not so long ago some of the very best amongst them, like Pillsbury andTchigorin, preferred Knights to Bishops, there is hardly a master of today who would notcompletelyagreewiththestatementsmadeabove.

Example33.ThisisabouttheonlycasewhentheKnightismorevaluablethantheBishop.

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Itiswhatiscalleda"blockposition,"andallthePawnsareononesideoftheboard.(IftherewerePawns on both sides of the board therewould be no advantage in having aKnight.) In such apositionBlackhasexcellentchancesofwinning.Ofcourse,thereisanextrasourceofweaknessforWhiteinhavinghisPawnsonthesamecoloursquaresashisBishop.Thisisamistakeoftenmadebyplayers.Theproperway,generally, inanending, is tohaveyourPawnson squaresofoppositecolour to thatofyourownBishop.WhenyouhaveyourPawnsonsquaresof thesamecolourtheactionofyourownBishopislimitedbythem,andconsequentlythevalueoftheBishopis diminished, since the value of a piece can often be measured by the number of squares itcommands.Whileonthissubject,IshallalsocallattentiontothefactthatitisgenerallypreferabletokeepyourPawnsonsquaresofthesamecolourasthatoftheopposingBishop,particularlyiftheyarepassedPawnssupportedbytheKing.Theprinciplesmightbestatedthus:

When the opponent has a Bishop, keep your Pawns on squares of the same colour as youropponent'sBishop.

Whenever you have a Bishop, whether the opponent has also one or not, keep your Pawns onsquaresoftheoppositecolourtothatofyourownBishop.

Naturally,theseprincipleshavesometimestobemodifiedtosuittheexigenciesoftheposition.

Example34.InthefollowingpositionthePawnsareononesideof theboard,andthere isnoadvantageinhavingeitheraKnightoraBishop.Thegameshouldsurelyendinadraw.

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Example35.Nowletusadd threePawnsoneachside to theaboveposition, so that therearePawnsonbothsidesoftheboard.

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ItisnowpreferabletohavetheBishop,thoughtheposition,ifproperlyplayedout,shouldendinadraw.TheadvantageofhavingtheBishopliesasmuchinitsabilitytocommand,atlongrange,bothsidesoftheboardfromacentralpositionasinitsabilitytomovequicklyfromonesideoftheboardtotheother.



Example 36.In the above position it is unquestionably an advantage to have the Bishop,because,althougheachplayerhasthesamenumberofPawns,theyarenotbalancedoneachsideoftheboard.Thus,ontheKing'sside,Whitehasthreetotwo,whileontheQueen'ssideitisBlackthathas three to two.Still,withproperplay, thegameshouldend in a draw, thoughWhite hassomewhatbetterchances.

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Example37.Here isaposition inwhich tohave theBishop is adecidedadvantage, sincenotonlyare therePawnsonboth sidesof theboard, but there is apassedPawn (KRP forWhite,QRPforBlack).Blackshouldhaveextremedifficultyindrawingthisposition,ifhecandoitatall.

Example38.AgainBlackwouldhavegreatdifficultyindrawingthisposition.

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Thestudentshouldcarefullyconsiderthesepositions.Ihopethatthemanyexampleswillhelphimtounderstand,intheirtruevalue,therelativemeritsoftheKnightandBishop.Astothegeneralmethod of procedure, a teacher, or practical experience, will be best. I might say generally,however,thatthepropercourseintheseendings,asinallsimilarendings,is:AdvanceoftheKingto the centre of the board or towards the passed Pawns, or Pawns that are susceptible of beingattacked,andrapidadvanceofthepassedPawnorPawnsasfarasisconsistentwiththeirsafety.

To give a fixed line of play would be folly. Each ending is different, and requires differenthandling, according towhat the adversary proposes to do. Calculation by visualising the futurepositionsiswhatwillcount.

15.HOWTOMATEWITHAKNIGHTANDABISHOP

Now,beforegoingbackagaintothemiddlegameandtheopenings,letusseehowtomatewithKnightandBishop,and,then,howtowinwithaQueenagainstaRook.

WithaKnightandaBishopthematecanonlybegiveninthecornersofthesamecolourastheBishop.

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Example39.InthisexamplewemustmateeitheratQR1orKR8.Theendingcanbedividedintotwoparts.PartoneconsistsindrivingtheBlackKingtothelastline.Wemightbegin,asisgenerallydoneinallsuchcases,byadvancingtheKingtothecentreoftheboard:

1.KK2 KQ2

Black,inordertomakeitmoredifficult,goestowardsthewhitesquaredcorner:

2.KQ3 KB3 3.BB4 KQ4 4.KtK2 KB4 5.KtB3 KKt5 6.KQ4 KR4 7.KB5 KR3 8.KB6 KR2 9.KtQ5 KR1

ThefirstpartisnowovertheBlackKingisinthewhitesquaredcorner.

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ThesecondandlastpartwillconsistindrivingtheBlackKingnowfromQR8toQR1orKR8inordertomatehim.QR1willbethequickestinthisposition.

10.KtKt6ch KR2 11.BB7 KR3 12.BKt8 KR4 13.KtQ5 KR5

Black tries to make for K R 1 with his King. White has two ways to prevent that, one by14BK5,KKt615KtK3,andtheotherwhichIgiveasthetext,andwhichIconsiderbetterfor the student to learn, because it ismoremethodical andmore in accordwith the spirit of alltheseendings,byusingtheKingasmuchaspossible.

14.KB5! KKt6 15.KtKt4 KB6 16.BB4 KKt6 17.BK5 KR5 18.KB4 KR4 19.BB7ch KR5 20.KtQ3 KR6 21.BKt6 KR5 22.KtKt2ch KR6

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23.KB3 KR7 24.KB2 KR6 25.BB5ch KR7 26.KtQ3 KR8 27.BKt4 KR7 28.KtB1ch KR8 29.BB3mate

Itwill be seen that the ending is rather laborious.There are twooutstanding features: the closefollowingbytheKing,andthecontrollingofthesquaresofoppositecolourtotheBishopbythecombined action of the Knight and King. The student would do well to exercise himselfmethodicallyinthisending,asitgivesaverygoodideaoftheactualpowerofthepieces,anditrequiresforesightinordertoaccomplishthematewithinthefiftymoveswhicharegrantedbytherules.

16.QUEENAGAINSTROOK

ThisisoneofthemostdifficultendingswithoutPawns.Theresourcesof thedefencearemany,and when used skilfully only a very good player will prevail within the limit of fifty movesallowedbytherules.(Theruleis thatatanymomentyoumaydemandthatyouropponentmateyou within fifty moves. However, every time a piece is exchanged or a Pawn advanced thecountingmustbeginafresh.)

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Example40.ThisisoneofthestandardpositionswhichBlackcanoftenbringabout.Now,itisWhite'smove. If itwereBlack'smove itwouldbe simple, ashewouldhave tomovehisRookawayfromtheKing(findoutwhy),andthentheRookwouldbecomparativelyeasytowin.Wededucefromtheabovethatthemainobjectis toforcetheBlackRookawayfromthedefendingKing,andthat,inordertocompelBlacktodoso,wemustbringaboutthepositioninthediagramwithBlacktomove.Onceweknowwhatisrequired,thewaytoproceedbecomeseasierto find.Thus:

1.QK5ch

Not1QR6,becauseRB2ch2KKt6,RB3ch3KR.Stalemate.(Thebeginnerwillinvariablyfallintothistrap.)

1......... KtoR1ortoR2 2.QR1ch KKt1 3.QR5

Inafewmoveswehaveaccomplishedourobject.Thefirstpartisconcluded.Nowwecometothesecondpart.TheRookcanonlygotoaWhitesquare,otherwisethefirstcheckwiththeQueenwillwinit.Therefore

3......... RKt6 4.QK5ch KR1best

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5.QR8ch KR2 6.QKt7ch KR1 7.QKt8ch RKt1 8.QR2mate

(Thestudentshouldfindoutbyhimselfhowtowinwhen3...RKt84QK5ch,KR2.)

Example41.Theprocedurehere isverysimilar.The things tobear inmindare that theRookmustbepreventedfrominterposingatKt1becauseofanimmediatemate,andinthesamewaytheKingmustbepreventedfromgoingeithertoR3orB1.

Example42.Weshallnowexamineamoredifficultposition.

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Manyplayerswouldbedeceivedby thisposition.Themost likely lookingmove isnot thebest.Thussupposewebegin

1.QK5ch KB1 2.KKt6 RQ2

Theonlydefence,but,unfortunately,averyeffectiveone,whichmakesitverydifficultforWhite,sincehecannotplay3QK6becauseof3...RKt2ch4KB6,RKt3chdraws.Norcanhewinquicklyby3QQB5chbecause3...KK1,4KB6,RQ3ch!drivingbacktheWhiteKing.

Nowthatwehaveseenthedifficultiesofthesituationletusgoback.Thebestmoveis

1.QKt5ch! KR1

IfKR22QKt6ch,KR13KR6!

2.QK5ch! KR2best 3.KKt5 RR2!best

If3...RKt2ch4KB6leadstoapositionsimilartothoseinExamples40and41.

4.QK4ch KKt1 5.QB4ch KR2

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6.KB6 RKKt2 7.QR4ch KKt1 8.QR5

andwehavethepositionofExample40withBlacktomove.

Letusgobackagain.

1.QKt5ch KB1 2.QQ8ch KKt2 3.KKt5 RB6

ThebestplacefortheRookawayfromtheKing.3...KR24QQ4,RKt2ch5KB6wouldleadtopositionssimilartothosealreadyseen.

4.QQ4ch KB1 5.KKt6

5QQ6ch,KKt26QK5ch,KB17KKt6wouldalsowintheRook.Thetextmove,however,isgiventoshowthefinesseofsuchendings.WhitenowthreatensmateatQ8.

5......... RKt6ch 6.KB6 RB6ch 7.KK6 RKR6

WhitethreatenedmateatKR8.

8.QB4ch

andtheRookislost.

Note,intheseexamples,thatthechecksatlongrangealongthediagonalshaveoftenbeenthekeytoallthewinningmanuvres.AlsothattheQueenandKingareoftenkeptondifferentlines.Thestudentshouldcarefullygooverthesepositionsandconsiderallthepossibilitiesnotgiveninthetext.

He should oncemore go through everything alreadywritten before proceeding furtherwith thebook.

CHAPTERIII

PLANNINGAWININMIDDLEGAMEPLAY

Ishallnowgiveafewwinningpositionstakenfrommyowngames.Ihaveselectedthose thatIbelievecanbeconsideredastypes,i.e.positionsthatmayeasilyoccuragaininasomewhatsimilarform.Aknowledgeofsuchpositionsisofgreathelpinfact,onecannotknowtoomany.Itoftenmayhelptheplayertofind,withlittleeffort,therightmove,whichhemightnotbeabletofindatallwithoutsuchknowledge.

17.ATTACKINGWITHOUTTHEAIDOFKNIGHTS

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Example43.ItisBlack'smove,andasheisaKtandPbehindhemustwinquickly,ifatall.Heplays:

1......... QRKt1! 2.RB2

If,QQ,RPchKR1,BQ4andmatefollowsinafewmoves.

2......... RPch 3.KB1 BB5ch 4.KtB RKt8mate

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Example44.Black'slastmovewasPK6,playedwiththeobjectofstoppingwhathethoughtwasWhite'sthreat,viz.:RQR5,towhichhewouldhaveansweredQB5chanddrawnthegamebyperpetualcheck.White,however,hasamoreforcefulmove,andhematesinthreemovesasfollows:

1.RPch QR 2.RQR5 Blackmoves 3.Whitemates

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Example45.Whitehasabeautifulposition,butstillhehadbettergainsomematerial,ifhecan,beforeBlackconsolidateshisdefensiveposition.Hethereforeplays:

1.RKt! PR 2.BPch KK2

IfKtBRKtandBlackwouldbehelpless.

3.QR7ch KK1 4.QKtch KQ2 5.QR7ch QK2 6.BB8 QQ 7.RQch KK1 8.RR Resigns

InthesefewexamplestheattackinghasbeendonebyRooksandBishopsincombinationwiththeQueen.TherehavebeennoKnightstotakepartintheattack.WeshallnowgivesomeexamplesinwhichtheKnightsplayaprominentpartasanattackingforce.

18.ATTACKINGWITHKNIGHTSASAPROMINENTFORCE

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Example 46.White is two Pawns behind. He must therefore press on his attack. The gamecontinues:

1.Kt(B5)KtP KtB4

EvidentlyanerrorwhichmadethewinningeasierforWhite,ashesimplytooktheRookwiththeKnightandkeptuptheattack.Blackshouldhaveplayed:1...KtKt.Thenwouldhavefollowed:2KtB6ch,KKt33KtB,PB3(best)4PK5,KB25KtP,RK26KtK4,andBlackshouldlose.[4]

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Example47.Thestudentshouldcarefullyexaminetheposition,asthesacrificeoftheBishopinsimilarsituationsistypical,andthechanceforitisoffrequentoccurrenceinactualplay.Thegamecontinues:

1.BPch KB 2.KtKt5ch KKt3

Best.If2...KR33KtPchwinstheQueen,andif2...KKt13QR5,withanirresistibleattack.

3.QKt4 PB4 4.QKt3 KR3

Whitefinallywon.[5]

19.WINNINGBYINDIRECTATTACK

WehavesofargivenpositionswheretheattackswereofaviolentnatureanddirectedagainsttheKing'sposition.Veryoften,however, in themiddlegameattacksaremadeagainstapositionoragainstpieces,orevenPawns.

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ThewinningofaPawnamonggoodplayersofevenstrengthoftenmeansthewinningofthegame.

Hencethestudyofsuchpositionsisofgreat importance.Wegivebelowtwopositions inwhichtheattackaimsatthegainofamerePawnasameansofultimatelywinningthegame.

Example48.BlackisaPawnbehind,andthereisnoviolentdirectattackagainstWhite'sKing.Black'spieces,however,areverywellplacedandfreetoact,andbycoordinatingtheactionofallhispiecesheissoonablenotonlytoregainthePawnbuttoobtainthebettergame.Thestudentshould carefully consider this position and the subsequentmoves. It is a very good example ofpropercoordinationinthemanagementofforces.Thegamecontinues:

1......... RR1 2.PQR4

White'sbestmovewasPQKt3,whenwouldfollowKtB3QKt,RR6andBlackwouldultimatelywin theQRP, alwayskeeping a slight advantage in position.The textmovemakesmatterseasier.

2......... KtB 3.QKt QB5 4.KRQ1 KRKt1

BlackcouldhaveregainedthePawnbyplayingBKt,butheseesthatthereismoretobehad,and therefore increases thepressureagainstWhite'sQueen side.Henow threatens, amongother

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things,RKtP.

5.QK3 RKt5

ThreateningtowintheexchangebyBQ5.

6.QKt5 BQ5ch 7.KR1 QRKt1

ThisthreatenstowintheKt,andthusforcesWhitetogiveuptheexchange.

8.RB QR 9.RQ1 QB5

NowBlackwillrecoverhisPawn.

Example49.Anexaminationof thispositionwillshowthatBlack'smainweakness lies in theexposedpositionofhisKing,andinthefactthathisQRhasnotyetcomeintothegame.Indeed,ifitwereBlack'smove,wemightconcludethathewouldhavethebettergame,onaccountofhavingthreePawnstotwoontheQueen'sside,andhisBishopcommandingthelongdiagonal.

Itis,however,White'smove,andhehastwocoursestochoosefrom.Theobviousmove,BB4,mightbegoodenough,sinceafter1BB4,QRQ12PQKt4wouldmakeitdifficultforBlack. But there is another move which completely upsets Black's position and wins a Pawn,

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besidesobtainingthebetterposition.ThatmoveisKtQ4!Thegamecontinuesasfollows:

1.KtQ4! PKt 2.RB KtKt5

Thereisnothingbetter,asWhitethreatenedBB4.

3.BB4ch KR1 4.RK6 PQ6 5.RP

AndWhite,withthebetterposition,isaPawnahead.

Thesepositionshavebeengivenwith the ideaofacquainting thestudentwithdifferent typesofcombinations.Ihopetheywillalsohelptodevelophisimagination,averynecessaryqualityinagoodplayer.Thestudentshouldnote,inallthesemiddlegamepositions,that

oncetheopportunityisoffered,allthepiecesarethrownintoaction"enmasse"whennecessaryandthatallthepiecessmoothlycoordinatetheiractionwithmachinelikeprecision.

That, at least, is what the idealmiddlegame play should be, if it is not so altogether in theseexamples.

CHAPTERIV

GENERALTHEORY

Beforewereverttothetechniqueoftheopeningsitwillbeadvisabletodwellalittleongeneraltheory,sothattheopeningsintheirrelationtotherestofthegamemaybebetterunderstood.

20.THEINITIATIVE

As the pieces are set on the board both sides have the same position and the same amount ofmaterial.White,however,has themove,and themove in thiscasemeans theinitiative, and theinitiative,otherthingsbeingequal, isanadvantage.Nowthisadvantagemustbekeptas long aspossible,andshouldonlybegivenupifsomeotheradvantage,materialorpositional,isobtainedin itsplace.White, according to theprinciples already laiddown,developshispieces as fast aspossible,butinsodoinghealsotriestohinderhisopponent'sdevelopment,byapplyingpressurewherever possible. He tries first of all to control the centre, and failing this to obtain somepositionaladvantagethatwillmakeitpossibleforhimtokeeponharassingtheenemy.Heonlyrelinquishes the initiative when he gets for it some material advantage under such favourableconditionsas tomakehimfeelassured thathewill, in turn,beable towithstandhisadversary'sthrustandfinally,throughhissuperiorityofmaterial,oncemoreresumetheinitiative,whichalonecangivehim thevictory.This last assertion is selfevident, since, inorder towin thegame, theopposing King must be driven to a position where he is attacked without having any way ofescape. Once the pieces have been properly developed the resulting positions may vary incharacter.ItmaybethatadirectattackagainsttheKingisinorderorthatitisacaseofimprovinga position already advantageous or, finally, that some material can be gained at the cost ofrelinquishingtheinitiativeforamoreorlessprolongedperiod.

21.DIRECTATTACKSENMASSE

Inthefirstcasetheattackmustbecarriedonwithsufficientforcetoguaranteeitssuccess.Underno considerationmust a direct attack against theKing be carried onoutrance unless there isabsolutecertaintyinone'sownmindthatitwillsucceed,sincefailureinsuchcasesmeansdisaster.

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Example50.A good example of a successful direct attack against the King is shown in thefollowingdiagram:

InthispositionWhitecouldsimplyplayBB2andstillhavethebetterposition,butinsteadheprefersanimmediateattackontheKing'sside,withthecertaintyinhismindthattheattackwillleadtoawin.Thegamecontinuesthus:[6]

12.BPch KB 13.KtKt5ch KKt3 14.QKt4 PB4

Best.P K4wouldhavebeen immediately fatal.Thus:14...P K415Kt K6ch,K B316PB4!PK517QKt5ch,KKt18QK5ch,KQ219KRQ1ch,KtQ620KtP,KB3(ifKK1,KtQ6chwinstheQueen)21RKt,QR22RB1ch,KKt3(ifKQ2mateintwo)23QB7chandmateinfivemoves.

15.QKt3 KR3 16.QR4ch KKt3 17.QR7ch KB3

IfKKtQKtPchandmateinafewmoves.

18.PK4 KtKt3

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19.PP PP 20.QRQ1 KtQ6 21.QR3 Kt(Q6)B5 22.QKt3 QB2 23.KRK1 KtK7ch

This blunder loses at once, but the game could not be saved in any case e.g. 23...B K 324RBch,KtR25KtQ5mate.

24.RKt QQ 25.KtR7ch KB2 26.RPQ RR1 27.KtKt5ch KB3 28.PB4 Resigns

Example51.Anotherexampleofthiskind:

IntheabovepositionthesimplemoveKtPwouldwin,butWhitelooksforcomplicationsandtheir beauties. Such a course is highly risky until a wide experience of actual masterplay hasdeveloped a sufficient insight into all the possibilities of a position. This game,whichwon thebrilliancyprizeatSt.Petersburgin1914,continuedasfollows:

21.BR4 QQ2

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22.KtB QR 23.QQ8ch QK1

IfKB224KtQ6ch,Kingmoves25mate.

24.BK7ch KB2 25.KtQ6ch KKt3 26.KtR4ch KR4

If26...KR327Kt(Q6)B5ch,KR428KtPch,KR329Kt(R4)B5ch,KKt330QQ6chandmatenextmove.

27.KtQ RQ 28.KtPch KR3 29.Kt(Kt7)B5chKR4 30.PKR3!

Theclimaxofthecombinationstartedwith21BR4.Whiteisstillthreateningmate,andthebestwaytoavoiditisforBlacktogivebackallthematerialhehasgainedandtoremainthreePawnsbehind.

Thestudentshouldnote that in theexamplesgiventheattackiscarriedoutwitheveryavailablepiece,andthatoften,asinsomeofthevariationspointedout,itisthecomingintoactionofthelastavailablepiecethatfinallyoverthrowstheenemy.Itdemonstratestheprinciplealreadystated:

Directandviolentattacksagainst theKingmustbecarriedenmasse,with full force, to ensuretheirsuccess.Theoppositionmustbeovercomeatallcosttheattackcannotbebrokenoff,sinceinallsuchcasesthatmeansdefeat.

22.THEFORCEOFTHETHREATENEDATTACK

Failinganopportunity,inthesecondcase,fordirectattack,onemustattempttoincreasewhateverweaknesstheremaybeintheopponent'spositionor,ifthereisnone,oneormoremustbecreated.Itisalwaysanadvantagetothreatensomething,butsuchthreatsmustbecarriedintoeffectonlyifsomething is to be gained immediately. For, holding the threat in hand, forces the opponent toprovideagainstitsexecutionandtokeepmaterialinreadinesstomeetit.Thushemaymoreeasilyoverlook,orbeunabletoparry,athrustatanotherpoint.Butoncethethreatiscarriedintoeffect,itexistsnolonger,andyouropponentcandevotehisattentiontohisownschemes.Oneofthebestandmostsuccessfulmanuvresinthistypeofgameistomakeademonstrationononeside,soastodrawtheforcesofyouropponenttothatside,thenthroughthegreatermobilityofyourpiecestoshiftyourforces quickly to theother side andbreak through, before your opponent has had thetimetobringoverthenecessaryforcesforthedefence.

Agoodexampleofpositionalplayisshowninthefollowinggame:

Example52.PlayedattheHavanaInternationalMastersTournament,1913.(FrenchDefence.)White:J.R.Capablanca.Black:R.Blanco.

1.PK4 PK3 2.PQ4 PQ4 3.KtQB3 PP 4.KtP KtQ2 5.KtKB3 KKtB3 6.KtKtch KtKt 7.KtK5

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ThismovewasfirstshowntomebythetalentedVenezuelanamateur,M.Ayala.TheobjectistopreventthedevelopmentofBlack'sQueen'sBishopviQKt2,afterPQKt3,whichisBlack'susualdevelopmentinthisvariation.Generallyitisbadtomovethesamepiecetwiceinanopeningbeforetheotherpiecesareout,andtheviolationofthatprincipleistheonlyobjectionthatcanbemadetothismove,whichotherwisehaseverythingtorecommendit.

7......... BQ3 8.QB3

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BKKt5mightbebetter.ThetextmovegivesBlackanopportunityofwhichhedoesnotavailhimself

8......... PB3

PB4wastherightmove.Itwouldhaveledtocomplications,inwhichBlackmighthaveheldhisownatleast,White'splaywouldbeverydifficult.Thetextmoveaccomplishesnothing,andputsBlackinanaltogetherdefensiveposition.Theveiled threatBKt followedbyQ R4 ch iseasilymet.

9.PB3 OO 10.BKKt5 BK2

The fact thatBlackhas now tomovehisBishopback clearly demonstrates thatBlack's planofdevelopment is faulty.He has lost toomuch time, andWhite brings his pieces into theirmostattackingpositionwithouthindranceofanysort.

11.BQ3 KtK1

ThealternativewasKtQ4.OtherwiseWhitewouldplayQR3,andBlackwouldbeforcedtoplayPKKt3(notPKR3,becauseofthesacrificeBP),seriouslyweakeninghisKing'sside.

12.QR3 PKB4

White has no longer an attack, but he has compelledBlack to create amarkedweakness. Now

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White'swholeplanwillbetoexploitthisweakness(theweakKP),andthestudentcannowseehowtheprinciplesexpoundedpreviouslyareappliedinthisgame.EverymoveisdirectedtomaketheweakKing'sPawnuntenable,or toprofitby the inactivityof theBlackpiecesdefendingthePawn,inordertoimprovethepositionofWhiteatotherpoints.

13.BB QB 14.OO RB3 15.KRK1 KtQ3 16.RK2 BQ2

At last theBishop comesout, not as an active attackingpiece, butmerely tomakeway for theRook.

17.QRK1 RK1 18.PQB4 KtB2

Averyclevermove,tendingtopreventPB5,andtemptingWhitetoplayKtB,followedbyB P,whichwould be bad, as the following variation shows: 19Kt B,Q Kt 20B P,KtKt421QKt4,RB22PKR4,PKR423QR,PQ24RRch,KR225PKt,QP.Butitalwayshappensinsuchcasesthat,ifonelineofattackisanticipated,thereisanotherandthisisnoexceptiontotherule,aswillbeseen.

19.PQ5! KtKt

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Apparently the best way to meet themanifold threats ofWhite. B P P wouldmakemattersworse,astheWhiteBishopwouldfinallybearontheweakKing'sPawnviQB4.

20.RKt PKKt3 21.QR4 KKt2 22.QQ4 PB4

Forced,asWhitethreatenedPKP,andalsoQP

23.QB3 PKt3

QQ3wasbetter.ButBlackwantstotemptWhitetoplayPP,thinkingthathewillsoonafterregain his Pawn with a safe position. Such, however, is not the case, as White quicklydemonstrates.ImustaddthatinanycaseBlack'spositionis,inmyopinion,untenable,sinceallhispiecesaretiedupforthedefenceofaPawn,whileWhite'spiecesarefreetoact.

24.PP BB1

25.BK2!

Thedecidingandtimelymanuvre.AlltheBlackpiecesareuselessafterthisBishopreachesQ5.

25......... BP 26.BB3 KB2

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27.BQ5 QQ3

Nowit isevident thatall theBlackpiecesare tiedup,and itonlyremainsforWhite to find thequickestwaytoforcetheissue.WhitewillnowtrytoplacehisQueenatKR6,andthenadvancetheKRPtoR5inordertobreakuptheBlackPawnsdefendingtheKing.

28.QK3 RK2

If28...PB529QKR3,PKR430QR4,RK231QKt5,KKt232PKR4,QQ233PKKt3,PP34PB4,andBlackwillsoonbehelpless,ashehastomarktimewithhispieceswhileWhiteprepares to advanceP R5, and finally at theproper time to playRB,winning.

29.QR6 KKt1 30.PKR4 PR3 31.PR5 PB5 32.PP PP 33.RB Resigns.

CommentingonWhite'splayinthisgame,Dr.E.LaskersaidatthetimethatifWhite'splaywereproperlyanalyseditmightbefoundthattherewasnowaytoimproveuponit.

Theseapparentlysimplegamesareoftenof themostdifficultnature.Perfectioninsuchcases ismuchmoredifficulttoobtainthaninthosepositionscallingforabrilliantdirectattackagainsttheKing,involvingsacrificesofpieces.

23.RELINQUISHINGTHEINITIATIVE

Inthethirdcase,thereisnothingtodo,oncethematerialadvantageisobtained,buttosubmittotheopponent'sattackforawhile,andonceithasbeenrepulsedtoactquicklywithallyourforcesandwinonmaterial.Agoodexampleofthistypeofgameisgivenbelow.

Example53.From theHavana InternationalMastersTournament, 1913. (RuyLopez.)White:J.R.Capablanca.Black:D.Janowski.

1.PK4 PK4 2.KtKB3 KtQB3 3.BKt5 KtB3 4.OO PQ3 5.BKtch PB 6.PQ4 BK2 7.KtB3

PPmightbebetter,butatthetimeIwasnotfamiliarwiththatvariation,andthereforeIplayedwhatIknewtobegood.

7......... KtQ2 8.PP PP 9.QK2 OO 10.RQ1 BQ3 11.BKt5 QK1 12.KtKR4 PKt3

Blackofferstheexchangeinordertogaintimeandtoobtainanattack.WithoutconsideringatallwhetherornotsuchacoursewasjustifiedonthepartofBlack,itisevidentthatasfarasWhiteisconcernedthereisonlyonethingtodo,viz.,towintheexchangeandthenpreparetoweatherthestorm.Then, once it is passed, to act quicklywith all forces to derive the benefit of numericalsuperiority.

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13.BR6 KtB4 14.RQ2 RKt1 15.KtQ1 RKt5

ToforceWhitetoplayPQB4,andthuscreateaholeatQ5forhisKnight.[7]Suchgrandtacticsshowthehandofamaster.

16.PQB4 KtK3 17.BR QB 18.KtK3

KtKB3wasbetter.

18......... KtQ5 19.QQ1 PQB4

In order to prevent R Kt giving back the exchange, but winning a Pawn and relieving theposition.

20.PQKt3 RKt1

InordertoplayBKt2withoutblockinghisRook.

Black'smanuvringforpositionaladvantageisadmirablethroughoutthisgame,andifhelosesitisdueentirelytothefactthatthesacrificeoftheexchange,withoutevenaPawnforit,couldnotsucceedagainstsounddefensiveplay.

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21.KtB3 PB4 22.PP PP



The position begins to look really dangerous forWhite. In realityBlack's attack is reaching itsmaximumforce.Verysoonitwillreachtheapex,andthenWhite,whoiswellprepared,willbeginhiscounteraction,andthroughhissuperiorityinmaterialobtainanundoubtedadvantage.

23.KtB1 PB5 24.KtKt BPKt 25.QR5 BKt2 26.RK1 PB4

HecouldnotplayRK1becauseofRQP.Besides,hewantstobereadytoplayPK5.AtpresentWhitecannotwithsafetyplayRKP,buthewillsoonpreparethewayforit.Then,bygivingupaRookforaBishopandaPawn,hewillcompletelyupsetBlack'sattackandcomeoutaPawnahead.ItisonthisbasisthatWhite'swholedefensivemanuvreisfounded.

27.PB3 RK1 28.R(Q2)K2 RK3

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NowtheBlackRookentersintothegame,butWhiteisprepared.Itisnowtimetogivebacktheexchange.

29.RP BR 30.RB RKR3 31.QK8 QQ 32.RQch KB2 33.RK5 RQB3 34.KtQ2

RB5chmighthavebeenbetter.Thetextmovedidnotproveasstrongasanticipated.

34......... KB3 35.RQ5 RK3 36.KtK4ch KK2

RKtwouldloseeasily

37.RBP PQ6!

Veryfine.WhitecannotplayRB7chbecauseofKQ1RB,RKtwinning.

38.KB2 BKt

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39.PB RP 40.RQ5 RK6

Theendingisverydifficulttowin.AtthispointWhitehadtomakethelastmovebeforethegamewasadjourned.

41.PQKt4! RK5 42.RP RP 43.RKR3 RP 44.RPch KB3 45.RP KB4 46.KB3 RKt7 47.RR5ch KB3 48.RR4 KKt4 49.RP RRP 50.PR4ch KR4 51.RB5ch KR3 52.PKt4 Resigns

Ihavepassedoverthegamelightlybecauseofitsdifficultnature,andbecauseweareatpresentconcernedmorewiththeopeningandthemiddlegamethanwearewiththeendings,whichwillbe

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treatedseparately.

24.CUTTINGOFFPIECESFROMTHESCENEOFACTION

Veryofteninagameamasteronlyplaystocutoff,sotospeak,oneofthepiecesfromthesceneofactualconflict.OftenaBishoporaKnightiscompletelyputoutofaction.Insuchcaseswemightsaythatfromthatmoment thegameiswon,becauseforallpracticalpurposes therewillbeonemorepieceononeside thanon theother.Averygood illustration is furnishedby thefollowinggame.

Example 54.Played at the Hastings Victory Tournament, 1919. (Four Knights.) White: W.Winter.Black:J.R.Capablanca.

1.PK4 PK4 2.KtKB3 KtQB3 3.KtB3 KtB3 4.BKt5 BKt5 5.OO OO 6.BKt

Niemzowitch'svariation,whichIhaveplayedsuccessfullyinmanyagame.ItgivesWhiteaverysolidgame.Niemzowitch'sideaisthatWhitewillinduetimebeabletoplayPKB4,openingaline for his Rooks, which, in combination with the posting of a Knight at K B 5, should besufficienttowin.HethinksthatshouldBlackattempttostoptheKnightfromgoingtoKB5,hewillhavetoweakenhisgameinsomeotherway.Whetherthisistrueornotremainstobeproved,butinmyopinionthemoveisperfectlygood.Ontheotherhand,thereisnoquestionthatBlackcan easily develop his pieces. But it must be considered that in this variationWhite does notattempt to hinder Black's development, he simply attempts to build up a position which heconsidersimpregnableandfromwhichhecanstartanattackinduecourse.

6......... QPB

Thealternative,KtPBgivesWhitethebestofthegame,withoutdoubt.[8]

7.PQ3 BQ3 8.BKt5

Thismoveisnotatallinaccordancewiththenatureofthisvariation.ThegeneralstrategicalplanforWhiteistoplayPKR3,tobefollowedintimebytheadvanceoftheKKtPtoKt4,andthebringingoftheQKttoKB5viaK2andKKt3orQ1andK3.Then,ifpossible,theKKtislinkedwiththeotherKtbyplacingitateitherKR4,KKt3,orK3astheoccasiondemands.TheWhiteKingsometimesremainsatKt1,andothertimesitisplacedatKKt2,butmostlyatKR1.Finally, inmostcasescomesPKB4,andthentherealattackbegins.Sometimesit isadirectassaultagainsttheKing,[9]andatothertimesitcomessimplytofinessingforpositionaladvantageintheendgame,aftermostofthepieceshavebeenexchanged.[10]

8......... PKR3 9.BR4 PB4

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TopreventPQ4andtodrawWhiteintoplayingKtQ5,whichwouldprovefatal.Black'splanistoplayPKKt4,assoonasthecircumstancespermit,inordertofreehisQueenandKnightfromthepinbytheBishop.

10.KtQ5

White falls into the trap.Only lackofexperiencecanaccount for thismove.White shouldhaveconsideredthataplayerofmyexperienceandstrengthcouldneverallowsuchamoveifitweregood.

10......... PKKt4



After thismoveWhite'sgame is lost.WhitecannotplayKtKtP,becauseKtKtwillwinapiece.ThereforehemustplayBKt3,eitherbeforeorafterKtKt,withdisastrousresults ineithercase,aswillbeseen.

11.KtKtch QKt 12.BKt3 BKt5 13.PKR3 BKt 14.QB QQ 15.PQ PKB3

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AsimpleexaminationwillshowthatWhite isminusaBishopforallpracticalpurposes.HecanonlyfreeitbysacrificingonePawn,andpossiblynoteventhen.AtleastitwouldlosetimebesidesthePawn.BlacknowdevotesallhisenergytotheQueen'sside,and,havingpracticallyaBishopmore,theresultcannotbeindoubt.Therestofthegameisgiven,sothatthestudentmayseehowsimpleitistowinsuchagame.

16.KKt2 PQR4 17.PQR4 KB2 18.RR1 KK3 19.PR4 KRQKt1

There is no necessity to pay any attention to the King's side, becauseWhite gains nothing byexchangingPawnsandopeningtheKing'sRookfile.

20.PP RPP 21.PKt3 PB3 22.RQR2 PKt4 23.KRR1 PB5

IfWhitetakestheprofferedPawn,BlackregainsitimmediatelybyRKt5,afterPBP.

24.RPP PP(Kt6)

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25.BPP RP 26.RR4 RP 27.PQ4 RKt4 28.RB4 RKt5 29.RBP RP Resigns

25.APLAYER'SMOTIVESCRITICISEDINASPECIMENGAME

Nowthata fewofmygameswithmyownnoteshavebeengiven, Ioffer forcloseperusalandstudyaveryfinegameplayedbySirGeorgeThomas,oneofEngland'sforemostplayers,againstMr.F.F.L.Alexander, in thechampionshipof theCityofLondonChessClub in thewinterof19191920.IthastheinterestingfeatureforthestudentthatSirGeorgeThomaskindlywrotethenotes to the game for me at my request, and with the understanding that I would make thecomments on them that I considered appropriate. SirGeorgeThomas' notes are in brackets andthuswillbedistinguishedfrommyowncomments.

Example 55.Queen's Gambit Declined. (The notes within brackets by Sir George Thomas.)White:Mr.F.F.L.Alexander.Black:SirGeorgeThomas.

1.PQ4 PQ4 2.KtKB3 KtKB3 3.PB4 PK3 4.KtB3 QKtQ2 5.BKt5 PB3 6.PK3 QR4

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(Oneof theobjectsofBlack'smethodofdefence is toattackWhite'sQKtdoublybyKt K5,followedbyPP.But7Kt Q2 is probably a strongwayofmeeting this threat.)There are,besides,twogoodreasonsforthismethodofdefencefirst,thatitisnotasmuchplayedassomeoftheotherdefencesandconsequentlynotsowellknown,andsecondthatitleavesBlackwithtwoBishopsagainstBandKt,which,inageneralway,constitutesanadvantage.

7.BKt KtB 8.PQR3 KtK5 9.QKt3 BK2

ThisisnotthelogicalplacefortheBwhichshouldhavebeenpostedatQ3.Intheopening,timeisofgreatimportance,andthereforetheplayershouldbeextremelycarefulinhisdevelopmentandmakesurethathepostshispiecesintherightplaces.

10.BQ3 KtKt 11.PKt PP 12.BBP BB3

(IdidnotwantWhite'sKttocometoK5,fromwhereIcouldnotdislodgeitbyPKB3withoutweakeningmyKP.)ThesameresultcouldbeaccomplishedbyplayingBQ3. Incidentally itbearsoutmypreviousstatementthattheBshouldhavebeenoriginallyplayedtoQ3.

13.OO

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ThealternativewasPK4,followedbyPK5,andthenOO.WhitewouldtherebyassumetheinitiativebutwouldweakenhisPawnpositionconsiderably,andmightbecompelledtostakeallonaviolentattackagainsttheKing.Thisisaturningpointinthegame,anditisinsuchpositionsthatthetemperamentandstyleoftheplayerdecidethecourseofthegame.

13......... OO 14.PK4 PK4

15.PQ5

(Whitemightplay15KRQ1,keepingtheoptionofbreakingupthecentrelateron.IwantedhimtoadvancethisPasthereisnowafinepostformyBatQB4.)BythismoveWhiteshowsthat he does not understand the true value of his position. His only advantage consisted in theundevelopedconditionofBlack'sQB.HeshouldthereforehavemadeaplantopreventtheBfromcomingout, or if thatwerenot possible, thenhe should try to forceBlack toweakenhisPawnpositioninordertocomeoutwiththeB.Therewerethreemovestoconsider:first,PQR4,inorder tomaintain theWhiteBin thedominatingposition that itnowoccupies.ThiswouldhavebeenmetbyQ B2 second, eitherof theRooks toQ1 inorder to threaten16PP,BP17KtB,QKt18BPch.ThiswouldhavebeenmetbyBKt5andthird,PKR3topreventBKt5andbyplayingeitherRtoQ1,followedupaspreviouslystatedtoforceBlacktoplayPQKt4,whichwouldweakenhisQueen'ssidePawns.ThusbyplayingPKR3Whitewould have attained the desired object. The text move blocks the action of the White B andfacilitates Black's development. Hereafter White will act on the defensive, and the interestthroughoutthe rest of thegamewill centremainlyonBlack's play and themanner inwhichhe

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carriesouttheattack.

15......... QB2 16.BQ3

(This seems wrong, as it makes the development of Black's Queen wing easier. At present hecannotplayPQKt3,becauseofthereplyPPfollowedbyBQ5.)

16......... PQKt3 17.PB4 BKt2 18.KRB1

(WiththeideaofQRKt1andPB5.ButitonlycompelsBlacktobringhisBtoQB4,whichhewoulddoinanycase.)

18......... BK2 19.RB2 BB4 20.QKt2 PB3

(Itwouldhavebeenbetter,probably,toplay20...KRK1,withtheideaofPB4presently.)Black'splayhereaboutisweakitlacksforce,andthereseemstobenowelldefinedplanofattack.Itistruethatthesearethemostdifficultpositionstohandleinagame.Insuchcasesaplayermustconceiveaplanonalargescale,whichpromiseschancesofsuccess,andwithitall,itmustbeaplanthatcanbecarriedoutwiththemeansathisdisposal.FromthelookofthepositionitseemsthatBlack's best chancewouldbe tomass his forces for an attack againstWhite's centre, to befollowedby a direct attack against theKing.He should, therefore, playQR K1, threateningPKB4.IfWhiteisabletodefeatthisplan,orrathertopreventit,then,oncehehasfixedsomeoftheWhitepiecesontheKing'sside,heshouldquicklyshifthisattacktotheQueen'sside,andopen a line for his Rooks, which, once they enter in action, should produce an advantage onaccountofthegreatpowerofthetwoBishops.

21.QRKt1 QRQ1 22.PQR4 BR3 23.RQ1

(WhitehasclearlylosttimewithhisRook'smoves.)

23......... KRK1 24.QKt3

(TobringhisQueenacrossafterKtR4andBK2.)

24......... RQ3 25.KtR4 PKt3 26.BK2

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26......... PP

(Ithoughtthisexchangenecessaryhere,asWhiteisthreateningtoplayhisBishopviaKt4toK6.IfheretookwiththeBishop'sPawnIintendedtoexchangeBishopsandrelyonthetwoPawnstooneontheQueen'swing.IdidnotexpecthimtoretakeitwiththeKing'sPawn,whichseemedtoexposehimtoaviolentKing'ssideattack.)Black'sjudgmentinthisinstanceIbelievetobefaulty.Had White retaken with the B P, as he expected, he would have had the worst of the Pawnposition,asWhitewouldhavehadapassedPawnwell supportedon theQueen's side.HisonlyadvantagewouldlieinhishavingaverywellpostedBishopagainstabadlypostedKnight,andonthefactthatinsuchpositionsastheabove,theBishopisinvariablystrongerthantheKnight.Hecould and should have prevented all that, by playingB B 1, as, hadWhite then repliedwithQKt3,hecouldthenplayPP,andWhitewouldnothavebeenabletoretakewiththeBPonaccountofBPchwinningtheexchange.

27.KPP PK5 28.PKt3 PK6

Idonotlikethismove.ItwouldhavebeenbettertoholditinreserveandtohaveplayedPB4,tobefollowedinduetimebyPKKt4andPB5,afterhavingplacedtheQatQ2,KB2,orsomeothersquareastheoccasiondemanded.ThetextmoveblockstheactionofthepowerfulBatQB4,andtendstomakeWhite'spositionsaferthanitshouldhavebeen.Themoveinitselfisaverystrongattackingmove,butitisisolated,andthereisnoeffectivecontinuation.Suchadvancesasaruleshouldonlybemadewhentheycanbefollowedbyaconcertedactionofthepieces.

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29.PB4 BB1 30.KtB3 BB4 31.RKt2 RK5 32.KKt2 QB1 33.KtKt1 PKKt4

(Ifnow34BB3,PP35BR,BBch,withawinningattack.)

34.PP PP 35.RKB1 PKt5

R R3was the alternative.White's onlymovewouldhavebeenK R1.Thepositionnow isevidentlywonforBlack,andit isonlyaquestionof finding therightcourse.Thefinalattack isnowcarriedonbySirGeorgeThomasinanirreproachablemanner.

36.BQ3 RKB3 37.KtK2 QB1

(Again preventing B R, by themasked attack onWhite's Rook.White therefore protects hisRook.)IfKtB4,PK7!39KtP,RKtch40RR,BK5ch!!41BB,best,RRandWhiteislost.If,however,against38KtB4,BlackplaysQR3,andWhite39QB2,ItakepleasureinofferingthepositiontomyreadersasamostbeautifulandextraordinarywinforBlack,beginningwith39...QR6ch!!!Ileavethevariationsforthestudenttoworkout.

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38.R(Kt2)Kt1 QR3 39.QB2

(MakingadoubleattackontheRookwhichstillcannotbetakenandpreparingtodefendtheKRP.)IfeithertheRookorBishoparetakenWhitewouldbematedinafewmoves.

39......... QR6ch 40.KR1 RP!!

(If40...RR341KtKt1,QKtP42QKKt2.BlackthereforetriestogettheQueenawayfromthedefence.)Averybeautifulmove,andthebestwaytocarryontheattack.

41.QR

(Thebestdefencewas41RB,butBlackwouldemergewithQueenagainstRookandKnight.)

41......... BB

(Again,notRKR3becauseofPQ6dis.ch.)

42.RR

(If42QB,then,atlast,RR3wins.)

42......... BQ

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43.KtB4 PK7!

(TheQueenhasnoescape,butWhitehasnotimetotakeit.)

44.RKKt1 QB8

Whiteresigns.Averyfinefinish.

CHAPTERV

ENDGAMESTRATEGY

Wemustnowrevertoncemoretotheendings.Theirimportancewillhavebecomeevidenttothestudent who has taken the trouble to study my game with Janowski (Example 53). After anuneventfulopeningaRuyLopezinoneofitsnormalvariations,myopponentsuddenlymadethingsinterestingbyofferingtheexchangeanofferwhic

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