CH ESS
F U ND A M E NT A L S
BY
JO S
E R C A P A B L A NC A
.
CHESS CHAM PION OF THE
NE W
Y OR K
HAR COURT B RA CE
,
L O ND ON : G
.
WORLD
AND
BELL AND
COM PANY
S ON S
,
LT D
.
CO PY RI GHT
H
All rig h t s
AR C O U R T
rese rve d
.
No
,
BRACE
p ar t
of
,
1
9
A ND
2 1
,
CO M P ANY
t his b o ok m ay b e
PRINTED
BY
IN THE U
.
,
re pro duc e d
S
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A
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INC
in
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a ny
fo rm , by
PR E F A C E
was fi rst pu b lishe d thirteen y ears
ago S in ce then there have appeared at differen t times
a n u mber o f articles dealin g with the so called Hyper
modern Theory Those who have read the articles
may well have thou ght that something new o f vital
importance had been discovered The fact is that the
Hypermodern Theory is merely the application du r in g
the open ing stages gen erally o f the same o ld pr inciples
thr ou gh the medium o f somewhat new tactics There
The change
h as been no change in the fun damen tals
has been only a change o f form and not always for the
best at that
In chess the tactics may chan g e b ut the strateg ic
fundamental principles are always the same s o that
Ch ess Fu nda m en t als is as g ood now as it was thir teen
years ago It will b e as good a hun dred years fr om now ;
as lon g in fact as the laws an d rules of the g ame remain
what they are at present The r eader may therefore
g o over the contents o f the book with the assurance
that there is in it everyth in g he needs an d that there
is nothin g to b e added an d nothing to b e chan g ed
Ch ess F u nd a m ent als was the o n e stan dard work of its
kind thirteen years ago an d the author fi rmly believes
that it is the o ne standard work o f i ts kin d now
CIzess F und a m entals
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New Yor k
S ep t
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1 , 1 934
R
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C AP AB LAN CA
L IS T O F C O NT E NT S
PART
C HA PT E R
FIR ST PRINCIPLE S :
1
I
E NDING S , M ID D L E
S O M E S IM P L E M A T E S
-
G AME
AND
O PE NING S
.
PAWN PR O M O TIO N
PAWN END I N G S
SO M E WINNI N G P O S ITIO N S IN THE M IDD L E G A M E
RE LA TIVE VAL UE O F THE PIECE S
G ENE RAL S T RA T EG Y O F THE O PENING
C O N T R O L O E TH E C E N T R E
-
T
RAP S
C HA PT E R II
F
U
R
TH E R P RIN CIPLE S
IN
E ND
-
G AM E P LA Y
A CARDIN A L PRIN CIP L E
A C LA S SIC AL E NDIN G
O B T AINI NG A P A S S ED P A WN
HO W To FIN D O U T WHI CH PA WN WI L L
BE
THE
Q UE EN
THE O PP O S I TI O N
THE R E L A T IVE VA L UE O F K IG H T AND BI S H O P
H O W To M A T E WI T H KNI G H T A ND BIS H O P
Q UE E N A G AIN ST R OO K
F RST
I
To
N
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.
C HAPTE R III
PLANNI NG A WIN
ATT A C KI N G WITH o U T
THE
IN
AID
M ID D L E
G AME P LA Y
o r K NI G H TS
A PR O MINE N T F O R CE
ACKIN G WITH KNI GHTS A s
WINNING B Y IND IRE CT ATTA CK
ATT
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LI ST O F C ON TENT S
C HA PT ER IV
G ENE RA L
THE O RY
NI TIA TI VE
D IRE C T A TTA C K S EN M A S SE
TH E F O R C E O F TH E TH R E A T E N E D A TTA CK
R E LI N Q UI S HI NG TH E INI TIA TI VE
C U TTING O FF PI ECE S F R O M TH E S CENE O F AC TI O N
A PLAY ER s M O TIVE S CRI TICI S ED IN A S PE CIM EN G A M E
THE I
’
C HAP TE R V
END
GAM E
S TRAT EG Y
A CK FR OM A D IFFE RENT SID E
THE D ANGE R O F A S AF E P O S ITI O N
END IN G S WI TH O NE R OOK AND PA WN S
A D IFFIC UL T END ING T WO R OO K S AND PA WN S
R OO K BI S H O P A ND PA WN S v R OO K KNI G H T AND PA WN S
( A F i nal E xam ple o f p re se rvin g Fre e do m Whil s t
i m pos i ng re s t ra in t )
THE S
U EN
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DD
A TT
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CH APTER VI
F URTHE R
O PENI NG S
AND
M IDD LE- G AME S
POIN TS AB O U T PAWN S
SO ME P O SS IB L E D E V E L O PM EN T S F R O M A R UY L O PEZ
( Sh o wi ng t h e we ak ne ss o f a b a c kw ard Q B P ; t h e
p o w e r o f a P awn a t K 5 e t c )
“
”
THE INF L U E N CE O F A
H O LE
SO M E S A LIE N T
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LI ST O F C O N TEN TS
P ART II
ILLU S TRATIVE
G AM E
Q UE EN S G AMB IT
ECLINED ( M A TCH
Wh i t e : F J M a r s h all B la c k : J R C ap a bl anca
Q UE EN S G AM B IT D E CLINED ( SAN S EB A ST IAN
Whi te : A K R u bins t e in B la c k : J R C a pa blanca
IRR EG ULAR D E F E N C E ( HA VAN A 1 9 1 3 )
Whi t e : D J ano wski B la ck : J R C a p ab lanc a
FR EN CH D E FEN C E ( ST PE T ER S B UR G 1 9 1 3 )
Wh it e z J R Ca pab lan a B la c k : E A Sno s k O B o ro vs ki
R UY L OP E Z ( ST P E T E R S B UR G 1 9 1 4 )
Whit e : D r E La s ke r B la c k : J R C ap abla nca
F RE N CH D E FEN CE ( R IC E M EM OR IAL T O UR NAM ENT 1 9 1 6 )
Whi te : 0 C h aj e s B l a c k : J R C a p a b la nc a
R UY LO PEZ ( SAN S EB A ST IAN 1 9 1 1 )
Whi t e : J R C a pa blanc a B la c k : A B u rn
CENTRE G AM E ( BERLIN 1 9 1 3 )
White : J M ie se s B la c k : J R C a p ablanc a
Q UE EN S G AM B IT D E CLINED ( B E RLIN
Wh i te : J R C apa blanc a B la ck : R Te i chmann
PET R O FF D E F E N C E ( S T P E T E R S B U R G 1 9 1 4 )
Whit e : J R C a pa b lanc a B la c k : F J M ars h all
R UY LO PE Z ( ST PET E R S B UR G 1 9 1 4 )
White : J R C ap a b lan c a B lac k : D J ano wski
FRE N CH D EF E NCE ( NE W Y O RK
Whi t e : J R C a p ablan ca B l a c k : 0 C h aj e s
R UY L OPEZ ( NEW Y O RK 1 9 1 8 )
Whit e : J S M o rr iso n B lac k : J R Ca pab l an ca
W
I
E
D
E
Y O RK
U
E
N
S
G
A
B
T
E
CL
N
M
I
N
E
D
(
Q
Whit e : F J M arsh all B l ac k : J R C a pa b lanc a
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G AM E S
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II.
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12
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C H ESS FU ND A M ENT A LS
PA R T
I
C HAP TER I
F IR ST
P R INCIP LE S :
AND
M ID D LE GAM E
END INGS ,
-
OP E NING S
T H E fi rst
thing a student Should do is to familiarise
himself With the power O f the pieces
This can
b est be done b y learning how to accomplish qui ckly
some o f the simple mates
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1
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Exam fle 1
.
Th e
principle
las t line
S O M E S IM P LE
The
M AT E S
en din g Roo k and Kin g aga inst
is to dr ive t h e
a ny s ide o
f
t he board
o
.
pp os ing King
t o t he
S OME
4
S IM P L E
MATE S
In t h i s position the po wer o f the Rook is demon
R 7 whi ch immediately
s t ra t e d by the fi rst move R
confin es the Black Kin g t o the last rank and the
mate is quickly accomplished b y : I R R 7
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,
—
Kt I
K
;
2
,
—
K
Kt
2
.
The combined action O f King and Roo k is
need ed t o arrive at a position in which mate can be
forced The general principle for a b eginner t o
foll ow is to
.
k ee p h is K ing
r ank , or , a s
mu ch
as
in t h is
ca s e ,
fi le
as
,
as
p os s ible on
t h e opp os ing
th e
s am e
K ing
.
When in this case the King has been brought t o
the Sixth rank it is better t o place it not o n the same
fil e b ut o n the o ne next t o it towards the centre
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—B I
—
—
—
K
B
K
K
I
K
K
; 4
; 3
3
—
—
—
K
Q 5 K B I; 6 K Q 6
,
4,
—
I
K
Q ; 5
—
o
N t K B 6 b ecause then the Black Kin g w ill
go b ack to Q I and it will take much longer to mate
If no w the King moves back t o Q I R R 8 mates
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at once
.
— Kt I ; 7 R — Q B 7 K — R I ; 8 K — B 6
K — K t I ; 9 K — Kt 6 K — R 1 ; I O R — B 8 mate
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It has taken exactly ten moves to mate from the
ori g inal position O n move 5 Black could have played
K
K I and accor ding to prin ciple Wh ite would
have c ontinued 6 K Q 6 K B I ( the Black King
will ultimately b e forced to move in front O f t h e Wh i te
—
—
K 6
Kin g and b e mated b y R R
7 K
K — K t I ; 8 K — B 6 K — R I ; 9 K — Kt 6
—
K
Kt 1 ; I O R — R 8 mate
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S O M E S IM P L E
Exam fl e 2
MATE S
5
.
S ince
the Black Kin g is in the centre o f the b oard
the b est way to proceed is to advance your o wn Kin g
—
—
—
thus : I K K 2 K Q 4 ; 2 K K 3 As the
Rook has not yet come into play it is better to
a dva n ce t h e King straight into the centre o f the board
not in front b u t to o ne si de O f the other King S ho ul d
now the Black King move to K 4 the Rook drives
it back by R — R 5 ch On the other hand if 2
—
—
R 5
If no w
B 5 instead then also 3 R
K
—
—
K t 5 there foll ows 4 K
K
Q 3 ; but if instead
— B 6
—
R 4 keeping the Kin g
; then 4 R
confined to as few squares as possible
—
:
K
B 7;
the
endin
g
may
continue
Now
4
—
—
—
—
K
K
K
t
6
ch
K
t
6
R
B
K
Q
4
3
7;
;
5
—
—
—
—
R
It
K
B
K
ch
8
6
R
K
t
K
R
4
3
7
;
7
shoul d b e noticed how O f ten the Wh ite King has moved
next to the Ro ok no t only to defend it b ut also to
No w
reduce the mo b ili ty o f the O pposin g Kin g
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S OME
6
S IM P L E MATE S
—
:
ite
mates
in
three
moves
thus
R
R 4 ch
Wh
9
—
—
any square o n the Rook s fil e
Kt 8 ; I O R
K
forcin g the B lack Kin g in front o f the White K B 8 ;
I I R R I mate It has taken eleven moves to mate
and un der any conditions I believe it Shoul d b e done
in under twenty Wh ile it may be monoto nous it
is worth while for the beginner to p r actice such
things as it will teach h im the proper handl ing o f
his pieces
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Exam
m3
e
Kin g against
No w we come to two Bishops an d
.
King
.
S ince
the Black King is in the corner
can
play I B — Q 3 K — Kt 2 ; 2 B — K Kt 5 K — B 2 ;
B 5 and already the Black King is confi ned
3 B
to a few squares If the Black King in the original
position had b een in the centre o f the b oar d or away
from the last row Wh ite should have advan ced his
King and then wi th the aid of his Bishops restricte d
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SO M E S IM P L E MA TE S
7
the Blac k Kin g s movements to as few squa res as
possible
—
:
K
2
might
now
continue
Kt
K
We
B 2
; 4
3
In this ending the Black King must not o n ly b e driven
to the ed g e Of the boa rd but he must also b e fo r ced
into a corner a nd before a mate can be g iven the
White King must be brought to the Sixth r ank and
at the same time in o ne o f the last two files ; in this
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c a s e e it h e r
K R 6, K Kt 6 , K B 7 , K B 8 ,
a nd a s
KR 6
and K Kt 6 are the nearest squares it is to eithe r O f
these squares that the King ought t o go 4 K
,
.
B
7
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.
— Kt , K — Kt 2 ; 6 K — R 4 , K — B
K
; 5
3
—
—
—
—
Kt 6 , K
Kt
Kt 2 ; 8 B
K
R 5, K
2
2
;
I
;
B I White must no w mark time and
move o ne O f the Bishops SO a s to force the Black
—
—
—
B
K
back
I
I
I
t
o
To
B
R
K
K
t
King o g
;
;
5
7
R I NO W the White Bi s hop must take up a
K
position from which it can give check next move
alon g the White diagonal when the Black King
—
—
K
Kt 1 ;
moves back to Kt I I 2 B K Kt 4
I 3 B — K 6 ch
K — R I ; I 4 B — B 6 mate
It h a s take n fo u r teen move s to fo r ce the mate
in a ny po s itio n it sho ul d be do n e in under
and
R
9 K
6, K
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In all endings o f this kind care must be taken
not to drift into a s tale mate
In thi s particul ar ending one Sho ul d remember that
the King must no t only be d riven t o the edge Of the
board but also into a corne r In all such en dings
however it is immaterial Whether the King is forced
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S O M E S IM P LE MATE S
8
on
OI
to the last rank
Q
R 4, K
OI
I
or
,
Q
8
to an outside
file ,
e
.
g
.
KR
5
.
We now come t o Queen and King
again st King As the Queen combines the powe r o f
the Ro ok and the Bishop it is the easiest mate Of a ll
and Sho ul d always b e accomplished in under ten moves
Take the following position :
Exam pl e 4
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A good way t o b e g in is t o make the fi rst move with
the Queen t rying to limit the B lack King s mobility
—
—
K
6
as much as pos s ible Thus : I Q B
Q 5;
o ne
n
2 K
ready
the
Black
King
has
o
ly
2
Al
Q
—
—
—
B 4;
availab le square
K 3 K
K 4; 3 K
4 Q
Q 6 K Kt 4 ( S hould Black play K Kt 5
—
—
—
then Q Kt 6 ch ) ; 5 Q K 6 K R 5 ( if
K
R 4 K — B 4 and mate next move ) ;
—
—
6 Q — K Kt 6
B 3 K moves ;
K
R 6; 7 K
8 Q mates
In this en ding as in the case Of the Roo k the Black
King must be forced t o the edge Of the board ; only
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P AWN P R O M OT I O N
Io
The position is drawn and the way to proceed i s
for Black to keep the King always directly in front
as for in
o f the Pawn and w hen it ca nnot be done
stance in this position because of the White King
then the Black King must be kept in front Of the
White King The play would p roceed thus I P K 3
This is a very
K— K 4 ; 2 K— Q 3 K— Q 4
importan t move Any other move would lose as
will be shown later AS the Black King cannot be
kept close up to the Pawn it must be b rought as far
forward as possible an d a t the same time in fr ont
o f the White Ki n g
—K 4 ch K — K 4
—
— K
P
K
K
K
; 4
3
3
3;
— B 4 K— B
Again
the
s
ame
case
A
the
K
S
3
5
White King comes up the Black Ki ng must be kept
in front o f it since it cannot be brought up to the
Pawn
—
—
—
—
K
K 2;
K 5 ch K
K 3; 7 K
K 4
6 P
—
—
—
—
K
K
2
P
K
6
ch
K
2
8 K
;
Q 5
Q ; 9
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IO
K — K 5, K — K
I
II
;
K—
,
Q
6, K — Q
I
K
.
no w
White advances the Pawn the Black King g ets in
front Of it an d White must either give up the Pawn
o r play K
K 6 a n d a stale mate results If instead
Of advan cing the Pawn White withdraws his Kin g
Black b rings his King up to the Pawn and when
forced to go b ack he moves to K in front of the Pawn
ready to come up again or to move in front o f the
White Kin g as before Should the latter advance
The whole mode Of procedure is very important
and the student should b ecome thoroughly conversant
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P AWN P R O M OT I O N
II
wi th it s details ; fo r it involves principles to b e taken
up later o n and because many a beginner h a s lost
identica l positions from lack o f proper knowledge At
this sta ge o f the book I cannot lay t o o much stress o n
its importance
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In this position Wh ite wins as the
King is in fro n t o f hi s Pawn and there is one intervening
square
Exam ple 6
.
,
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The
method to follow is
ad va n ce
f
o
t h e K ing
t h e P a wn
es s e nt ia l
as
a nd n eve r
to it s
own
Thus
I
.
to
f a r a s is com p a tible with th e s afety
to
f
ad va n ce
s a e ty
K— K
t h e P a wn
u nt il
it is
.
—
K 3
K
4,
.
Black does not allow the White King to advance
therefore White is now compell ed to advance h is Pawn
S O as to fo r ce Black to move away He is then able
t o advance his o wn King
2
P — K 3 K — B 3 ; 3 K — Q 5 K —K 2
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P AWN P R O M OT I O N
12
If Black had played 3 K B 4 then Wh ite would
be forced to advance the Pawn to K 4 since he could
not advance his Kin g without leavin g Black the
Opportunity to play K K 5 winn in g the Pawn
S ince he has not done SO it is better for Wh ite not
to advance the Pawn yet Since its o wn safety does
not r equire it but to try to b ring the King still fur
ther forward Thus :
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4
.
—
—
K 5, K
K
Q
2
5
;
.
—
—
B
K
6, K
K I
.
N ow the White Pawn is t o o far back and it may b e
b rought up within protection of the Kin g
6 P — K 4 K —Q 2
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N ow it would not do to play
—
K
B 7 , b ecause
White would h ave
Black would play K Q 3 and
to b ring back his King to protect the Pawn
fore he must continue
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.
Th ere
.
7
.
P — K 5, K — K
1
.
Had he moved any where else White could have played
B 7 followed b y the advance Of the Pawn to
K
K 6 K 7 K 8 ; all these squares being protecte d b y
the King AS Black tries to prevent that White must
now force him to move away at the same time always
keeping the King in front Of the Pawn Th us
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8
K— K 6
.
would make it a d r aw as Black would then
play K B and we would have a position Similar
to t h e one explained in connection with Example 5
P
K
.
6
,
,
.
—B I
; 9 K
—Q
7
.
P AWN
E NDIN G S
13
Kin g moves and the Whi te Pawn advances to K 8
b ecomes a Queen and it is all over
This ending is like the p revio us o ne and for the
same reaso n s shoul d be tho r oug hly understood before
proceedin g any further
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ING S
I shall now give a couple o f S imple e n dings of two
Pawns against o ne o r th ree against two that the
reader may se e h o w they ca n be w o n F ewer explan a
tions Will be given as it is up t o the studen t to wo r k
thin g s o u t fo r himself F urthermo r e nobody can
learn h o w t o play we ll me r ely fro m the study Of a
book ; it can only serve a s a guide a n d the rest must
be done by the teacher if the studen t h a s o n e ; if
the stude n t must realise by lo n g and bitter ex
no t
the
practical
application
of
the
many
things
n
e
r
i
e
c
e
p
explained in the b ook
3
.
PAWN
EN D
,
,
.
,
.
,
,
,
.
Exam pl e 7
.
PAWN
I4
END IN G S
i
h
osition
te
cannot
w
in
b
y
la
yi
g
W
n
p
p
no t P X P
which
I P — B 6 b ecause Black plays
—
K
K t I and i f then 2 P x P
woul d lose b ut I
K x P an d draws as shown in a previous case If
—
B I and Wh ite will never b e
2 P
B 7 ch K
able to Queen his Pawn without losing it If
2 K— K 7
P X P ; 3 K X P K — B I and draws
White however can win the position given in the
diagram b y playing
In th i s
,
,
,
.
.
,
,
,
,
,
.
-
,
,
.
,
,
.
,
,
I K—Q
,
7,
—
Kt
K
I
;
3 P
—
K
K
2
-
Kt
I
;
7,
K —R
—
P
B 7
4
—
—
B 8 ( Q) mate
K
R I ; 5 P
—
—
—
—
B 7, P
B 4; 5 P
Kt 7 ch , K
R
4 K
—
—
—
R 3; 7 Q
Kt 6 mate
6 P
Kt 8 ( Q) ch , K
I
;
ch ,
.
2
;
.
In the above position White can t win
by I P
B 5 Black s best answer would be P Kt 3
dr aws
( The studen t Should work this o u t ) He
—
—
cannot win by I P K t 5 because P K t 3 draws
“
”
( This b ecause o f the principle o f the opp os ition
E xam pl e 8
’
.
’
.
.
.
,
,
.
P AWN
END ING S
15
which g overns t his ending as well as all the Pawn
endings a lready given and which will be explained
more fully later on )
—
r
:
hite
can
win
howeve
by
playing
I
K
K 4
W
—
—
—
—
2
K
t
K
K
K 3;
K
K 3
3;
Q 4
( If
,
.
,
,
,
,
.
—
—
—
—
—
K
6
K
B
K
B
B
Z
P
K
K
t 5
4
Q
;
;
3
5
s
s
K — Kt 2 ; 6 K — K 7 K — K t I ; 7 K — B 6
K — R 2 ; 8 K — B 7 and White wins the Pawn )
2 P — B 5 ch
K — B 3 ; 3 K — B 4 P — Kt 3
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
.
( If this Pawn is kept b ack we arrive at the end ing
—
—
K
B 2 ;
shown in E xample
K t 5 ch ,
4 P
—
—
—
—
—
2
K
B
B
K
P
6
K
K
6
K
K
K
4
;
7
5,
,
,
5
3;
’
K—B I
White cannot force his Bishop s Pawn
.
into Q (find o u t why) b ut b y giving hi s Pawn up he
can win the other Pawn and the game Thus :
,
.
—
8 P
B
—
K
Kt 2 ;
K— R 2 ;
—Q
—
—
K 6,
B I ; IO K
6, K
—
—
—
I I K K 7 , K Kt I ; I 2 K B 6 ,
—
13 K
14 K x
P,
B 7, K
R I ;
Kt I
There is still some resistance in Black s position
In fact the o nl y way to win is the o ne given here
as will easily be see n by experiment
—
1 5 K — R 6 ( if K — B 6
K
R 2 ; and in order
to win White must get back to the actual position
as against 1 6 P — Kt 6 ch K R I draws ) K — R I ;
K
.
’
.
,
,
.
,
,
-
,
I6
—
P
Kt
6,
I8
K— R
7,
wins
—
Kt I ;
K
and Whi te
I
—
P
Kt
7
queens
t he
,
7
,
K— B
2
;
Pawn and
.
This endin g apparently so Simple sho ul d show the
student the enormous diffi cul ties to b e surmounted
,
,
,
P AWN
I6
END IN GS
even when there are hardly any pieces left when
playin g against an adve r sary who knows how to u se
the resour ces at his disposal and it should Show the
student also the necessity o f paying strict attention
to these elemen tary things which form the b asis Of
true mastership in Chess
,
,
,
,
.
Exam pl e 9
In this endin g
.
can win by advancin g any o f the three Pawns
but it is convenient to follow the
o n the fi rst move
general rule whenever there is no good reason against
it o f advancing th e P awn t h a t has no P awn opposing
it
T hus we b e g in b y
,
,
,
.
I
.
P — B 5, K — K
2
.
If P Kt 3 P B 6 ; and we have a Similar ending
to o ne o f those Shown above If 1 P — R 3 ; 2
,
.
—
Kt
P
2
.
5
.
.
.
—
K
K
5, K
—B
2
;
3
.
—
—
K
K
P
Kt 5
,
2
.
E ND IN GS
P AWN
18
It is g enerally advisa b le to advance the Pawn th at
free from opposition
is
.
I
—
P
Q
.
R 4
.
Black makes an advance o n the other side
Whi te conside r s whether o r not he Should
advance In this case either way wins but
the advance should b e stopped when the
King is far away
and now
stop the
generally
opposin g
,
,
.
.
2
P—
.
R 4 , K —B 3 ; 3 P — R 4 , K
Q
.
—K
3
.
If 3 K Kt 3 then Simple countin g will Show that
White g oes to the other Side with his King wins the
P at Q R 4 a nd the n Queens his Sin gle Pawn long
b efore Black can do the same
.
,
.
,
,
.
—
—
K
B
Kt 5
4 P
—
—
R
K
B
2
P
5
,
.
6
.
2
;
—
—
K
B 5, K
Kt
5
2
.
;
.
,
—
P
Kt
R 3; 7
If
6 and then the two
Pawns defend themselves and Wh ite can g o to the
other Side with his Kin g t o win the other Pawn
-
.
,
7
.
—
K
K 5
,
.
N ow it is time to go to the other s id e wi th the King
,
win the Black Pawn and Queen t h e single Pawn
This is typical o f all such endings and should b e worked
out by the student in this case and in Similar cases
which he can put up
.
,
S O M E WINNING POS I T I O N S
4
.
S OM E WINNING P O SITIO N S IN
19
T HE M I DDLE
GAM E
By the tim e the student has dig ested all that has
b een previously explained he no d o ubt is anx ious
to get to the actual game and play with all the pieces
However before considering the Ope n ings we Shall
devote a little time to some comb inatio ns that often
a rise durin g the game and which will give the reader
some idea o f the beauty o f the game once he b ecomes
b etter acquainted with it
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
.
Exam pl e 11
.
It is Black s move a n d thinkin g that White merely
th reatens to play Q R 6 a n d to mate at K Kt 7
Black plays I R K I th reaten ing mate by way
Of R K 8 White now uncovers hi s real and most
e ff ective thr eat viz
— K I ; 2 Q >< P ch K X Q ; 3 R — R 3 ch
K — K t I ; 4 R — R 8 mate
’
,
,
.
.
,
.
,
,
.
,
20
S O M E WINNING POS IT I O N S
This same typ e o f combination may come as the
result o f a somewhat more complicated position
.
is a piece b ehin d and un less he can
b ack quickl y he will lose ; he therefore plays
,
I
.
Kt
B — Kt 4
t
He cannot take the Kt b ecause White threatens mate
—
R
R 3 ch
by Q X P ch followed b y
.
2
.
Ag ain i f B X
King moves ;
Kt ;
R
Q
—R
Q
—
Q Q
~
Q
X Kt
>< P ch , K X Q ;
8
mate
R
—R
3
ch
,
.
E x R
R x
3
4
Kt — K 7 e h
7
and White wins o ne o f the two Bish ops remains
with a Q and a B against a R and B and Should
therefore win eas ily These two examples Show the
,
,
.
IN
T HE
MIDDL E GAM E
-
danger o f advancing the K Kt P
havin g Castled o n that Side
one
21
square afte r
,
.
This is another ve ry interesting typ e O f combina
tion Black has a R fo r a Kt and Shoul d therefore
win unless White is able to Obtain some compensa
tion immediately Wh ite in fact mates in a few
moves thus :
.
,
.
I
F orced
.
—
Kt
B
6
ch
otherwise Q X P mates
Q Kt 3 ch
,
3
.
B
X
,
,
P mate
P X Kt
.
K
RI
.
The same type o f combinat i on o c
curs in a more complicated form in the foll owin g
position
Exam pl e 14
.
.
.
22
S O ME
If B
fore
Kt
QXB
Kt ; Q B 3 th reaten s mate an d th ere
the Q which is al ready attacked
P X Kt
B 6 ch
2
Kt
I
.
x
.
B
WINNIN G POS I T I O N S
X
.
,
.
,
-
.
— K t 3 ch
3
.
R
4
.
B X P m at e
K— R
I
.
A very frequent type O f combin a
tion is shown in the followin g position
Exam fle 15
.
.
IN T H E
—
D
MI DLE GAM E
23
Here Wh ite is the exchange and a Pawn b ehind
b ut he can win quickly thus : I B x P ch K x B
—
—
—
R
If
I
2
K
R
P
K Kt 3 ;
;
(
Q
5
—
6
and
wins
R
)
Q
3
—
—
—
K
I
ch
K
t
K
2 Q
R 5
t
Kt 5 and Black
; 3
cann ot stop mate at K R 7 except by sac ri fi cing the
Queen by Q K 5 which wo ul d leave White with a
Q for a R
,
,
.
,
.
,
,
,
,
.
This same type Of comb ination is
seen in a more complica ted form in the following
position
16
.
.
proceeds as follows : I Kt Kt ch ( this
clears the line fo r the B ) ; B x Kt ( to stop the Kt
from moving to Kt 5 after the sacrifi ce Of the B ) ;
2 R X B
K t X R b est ; 3 E X P ch K X B
( If
.
,
,
—R I
—
—
P
h
B
c
K
K
t
R
P
X
4
,
;
;
Q
3 5
5,
K —Kt 2 ; 6 Q — R 7 ch , K — B 3 ; 7 P — K t 5 ch ,
K —K 3 ; 8 B >< P ch , R X B ; 9 Q — K 4 mate )
4
—
Q R
.
—
Kt I
ch
K
5
,
;
5
—
Kt
Kt
5,
R
—B
I
;
24
RE LAT IVE
VAL UE OF T HE
P IE CE S
ch K — B I ; 7 Q — R 8 ch Kt — Kt I
—
—
—
K 2 ; 9 R
K I ch K
R 7 ch K
8 Kt
Q 1;
I O Q x Kt mate
This combination is rather long and has many vari
therefo r e a begi nner will hardly be able to
a t io ns
fathom it ; but knowing the type o f combi nation
he might under similar circumstances u n dertake and
carry o u t a b r illiant attack which he would otherwise
never think Of It will be seen that all the comb ina
tions Shown have for a foundation the proper co ordi
natio n of the pieces which have all b een b rought to
b ear against a weak point
—
R 7
6 Q
,
,
-
,
,
.
,
,
,
.
-
,
.
5
.
I
R ELA T VE VA L UE O F T HE
P IE CE S
Be fore going o n to the general principles o f the
openings it is advisable to give the student an idea
o f the proper relative value Of the p l e c e s
Th ere is
no complete and accurate table fo r all Of them and
the only thin g to do is to compare the pieces se p
,
.
,
a r a t e ly
F or
.
general theoretical purposes the Bish op and
the Knight have to b e considered as O f the same value
though it is my Opinion that the Bishop will prove the
mo re valuable piece in most cases ; and it is well known
that two Bishops are almost always better than two
Knights
T h e Bishop will b e stronger against Pawns than
the Kn ight and in comb ination with Pawns will also
b e stron g er a g ai nst the Rook than the Knight
a ll
,
.
,
G ENERAL S T RATE GY
26
Exam ple 17
I
2
.
.
S uppose
.
we b eg in
P— K 4
—
P
K 4
—
Kt
K B 3
This is b oth an attacking and a developin g move
Black can now eithe r reply with the identical move o r
Play
.
Kt
Q
B 3
Th is d evelopin g move at the same time de fen d s
the King s Pawn
’
.
3
.
Kt
B
Kt
3
B
3
These moves are Of a purely developing nature
4
.
B
Kt
.
5
I t is genera lly advisa ble not t o br ing this B is h op
’
ou t u ntil on e Knigh t is ou t , preferably the King s
Knight The B ishop could also have been played
to B 4 b ut it is advisable whenever possible to combine
development and attack
.
,
.
4
B — Kt 5
.
B lack replies in the same manner threatenin g a pos
sible exchange o f Bishop fo r Knight with Kt P f t o
follow
,
.
5
.
0—0
an in di rect way o f preventin g 5 B X Kt whi ch
more experience o r study will Show to be bad At
the same time th e R ook is br ou gh t into a ction in th e
.
.
,
.
c entr e , a very
imp or t ant
p oint
.
OF THE OP E NING
0
O
5
27
Blac k foll ows the same line o f reasonin g
P Q3
6 P
Q3
These moves have a two fold object viZ : to pro
t e c t the King s Pawn and to open the di a g onal for the
development o f the Queen s Bishop
.
.
-
,
.
’
’
.
7
.
B — Kt 5
A very powerful move which brin gs us to the mi d dle
game stage as there is already in view a combin ation
to win quickly by K t Q 5 This threat makes it
impossible fo r Black to cont inue the same co u rse
(There is a long analysis sho w in g that Black sho ul d
lose if he also plays B Kt
He is no w forced t o
play 7 B X Kt as experience has shown thus
b r inging up to notice three thin gs
F irst the complete development Of the Open ing
has taken o nly seven moves (This varies up to ten
As
o r twelve moves in some very exceptional cases
a rule eight Sho u ld be enough ) S econd B lack h as
,
,
.
.
.
.
,
,
.
,
.
.
,
.
,
C ON T R O L
28
CE N TRE
OF T HE
been compelled to exchange a Bishop for a Kn ight
but as a compe n sation he has isolated White s Q R P
and doubled a Pawn (This at such an early stage o f
the game is rather an advan tage for White as the Pawn
is doubled towa r ds the centre Of the board ) Thi r d
White by the exchange brings up a Pawn to co n trol
the square Q 4 puts Black o n the defensive as e xpe ri
ence will Show and thus keeps th e initia tive an un q u e s
t io n ab le advantage
The st r ategical p r inciples expounded above are the
same fo r all the o penings o n ly their tactical appli
cation varies acco r din g t o the circumstances
Before proceeding further I wish t o lay s tress o n
the following po int which the studen t should bear in
mind
,
’
.
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
1
.
,
.
.
B ef or e developm ent h a s be en
on ce , u nless
be moved m or e t h a n
to
o bt a in e it h er
f
ac t ion
o
com
m a ter ia l
pl e t e d
it is
a dva n t a ge
or
no
piece
s h ou ld
ess en tia l
in
to
fr e edom
s ecu r e
or de r
.
The beginner would do well to remember this as
well as what h as already been stated : viz br ing
,
.
ou t
the K nigh ts bef or e br inging
7
.
C O NT R O L
ou t
O F T HE
t h e Bis h o ps
,
.
C ENT R E
The four squares K 4 and Q 4 o n each side re spe c
t ive ly are the cent r e squares and co n trol O f these
squar es is call ed control Of the centre The control of
N O viole n t attack
the c entr e is of gr ea t im p or t a nce
can succeed without co n t rolling at lea s t two O f these
,
,
,
.
.
1
Th e
u
va l e o f t h e
init ia t ive is
e xpla ine
d
in
se
ct ion
20,
p 77
.
.
C O N TR O L
OF THE
C EN TRE
29
squares and possibly three Many a manoeuvre in
the Opening has for its sole Object the control o f the
centre which invariably e nsures the initiative It is
well always to bear this in min d S ince it will Often be
the reaso n Of a series Of moves which could no t other
wise be properly understood As this book progresses
I shall dwell more f ully o n these different points At
present I shall devote some time to openings taken
at random a nd explain the moves according to general
principles The stude n t wi ll in that way train h is
mind in the proper di rection and will thus have less
trouble in fin d ing a way out when confronted with a
new and diffi cul t situation
.
,
,
.
,
.
.
.
,
.
K4
P K4
2
Kt
KB3
P
Q3
A timid move Black assumes a defen sive attitude
at once O n p r in ciple the move is wrong In the
ope nings whe neve r possible pieces s h ould be m oved in
I
.
P
.
.
.
.
,
,
pr efer enc e
t o P a wn s
.
Q4
White takes the Offensive immediately and strives
to control the centre so as to have ample room to
deploy his forces
2
Kt
Q
3
Black does not wish to relinquish the centre and also
—
prefe r s the text move to K t Q B 3 which w ould
be the more natural square for the Kt But o n prin
P
3
.
.
,
.
C ON T RO L
9
3
O F T HE
C ENTRE
the move is wron g b ecause it blocks the action
of the Queen s Bishop and instead of facilitatin g the
action Of Black s pieces te nds on the contrary to
cramp them
c iple
,
’
,
’
,
,
,
.
4
.
—
B
Q
—
P
K R
B 4
3
Black is forced to pay the penalty o f his previous
move S uch a move o n Black s part condemns by
itself any form O f Openi ng that makes it necessary
White th r eatened Kt Kt 5 an d Black could no t stop
it with
K 2 because O f 5 P X P K t >< P
—
6 Kt
6 Q
t
P t
Q
( if
;
n
a
R
d White wins a Pawn and has b esides a
7 Q
5
perfectly safe po sitio n
’
.
.
‘
-
,
,
,
,
5
6
7
.
.
.
Kt — B 3
B— K
3
— K
Q
K Kt — B 3
B— K 2
2
It shoul d be noticed that White does not Castle yet
The reason is that he wants to deploy his forces fir st
and through the last move force Black to play
—
to
make
room
for
the
Queen
as
P
B
Q
3
gWh it e
threatens R Q I to be followed by P X P B l ack s
other alternatives would fi nally force h im to play
P x P thus abando n ing the centre to Wh ite
.
,
’
.
,
,
.
7
8
9
P— B 3
.
.
.
—
R
Q
—
0
0
I
Q
—B
2
With this last move White completes his development
while Black is evidently somewhat hampered A Simple
examination will suffice to Show that White s position
,
.
’
C O NT R O L
i s un assailab le
OF T H E
CEN TRE
:
3
There are no weak Spots in his armour
and his pieces are ready for any manoeuvre that he
may wish to carry out in o rder to b e gin the attack o n
the enemy s p o sition The student Should carefully
study this example It will Show him that it is some
times co nvenient to delay Castling I have give n the
moves as they come to my mi n d without following
any standard b ook o n O pe ni ngs Wh ethe r t h e moves
given by me ag ree or no t with the standa rd works I
do not kn ow b ut at the prese n t stage o f this book
it is no t conve n ient to enter into discussions Of me r e
technicalities which the student will b e able t o under
stand when he has b ecome more pro fi cient
,
.
’
.
.
.
.
,
,
.
I
2
3
P
.
-
—
P
K
P—
K 4
—
Kt
K B 3
.
P—
.
Q
Q
4
3
B — Kt 5
4
A bad move which violates o ne o f the p r in ciples set
down accord ing to which at lea s t one Kn ight Shoul d
be developed b e fo r e the Bi s hop s are b ro ught o u t a n d
also b ecause it exchanges a Bishop for a Kn ight which
in the Opening is generally b ad u nless there is some
compensation
,
,
,
,
,
.
4
.
loses a Pawn
5
6
—
I f Kt B
.
.
3;
B X Kt
P >< P
Q
.
P >< P
>< B
— B
Q
3
B—
QB4
—
Q Q Kt
3
wins a Pawn
.
T RAP S
32
7
8
To
prevent
.
.
—
K
t
Q
Q
P—
Q Kt 3
P— Q B 3
3
—
B 3
Kt
Kt
Q
5
.
Black h owever has no pieces o u t except his Queen
a n d White with a Bishop and a Knight already devel
Oped has a chance of Obtai n ing a n advantage quickly
by playing Kt Q 5 anyway T he student is left
to wo rk o u t the many variations ari sing from this
position
These examples will Show t h e practical application
Of the p r inciples previously enu n ciated The student
is warned against playing Pawns in preference to pieces
—
n
at the beginni g Of the game especially P K R 3
and P Q R 3 which are moves very commonly in
d ulg e d in by b eginners
,
,
,
,
,
.
.
.
,
,
.
8
.
TR AP S
I shall now give a few positions o r traps to b e avoided
in the ope n i ngs a n d in which ( practice has Shown )
b eginners are Often caught
,
.
T RAP S
34
Black havin g the move S houl d play P —K 3 B ut
suppose he plays Kt K B 3 in stead then comes
,
,
.
,
I
.
B X P Ch
h
would
also
give
ite
the
advanta
g
e
the
W
5
threat b eing O f course i f B X Q ; 2 B X P mate No r
does B R 5 help matters because Of 2 Q x B I
B K 3 leaves Black with the i nferior position But
White s move in the text secures an immediate material
advanta ge and the b eginn er at any rate should never
miss such an oppo rtunity for the sake Of a speculative
a d vantage in position
I
KxB
Kt
2
K 5 ch
K moves
3 Kt X B
an d Wh ite has w o n a Pawn b esi des h avin g t h e b etter
position
There a re a good many other traps in fact there
is a book written o n traps o n the chess b oard ; b ut
the type g iven a b ove is the most common Of all
Kt
K
,
.
,
,
.
.
’
,
.
.
.
.
.
,
.
CHAPTER II
F UR T HE R
P
RIN C IP LE S
m END
-
GAM E P LA Y
WE shall now go back to the endings in search O f a
few more principles then again to the middl e game
and finally to the Openings o n ce more SO that the a d
vance may no t only be gradual but homogeneous In
this way the fou ndation o n which we expect to b uild
t h e structure wil l b e fi r m and solid
-
,
,
,
.
.
9
.
A CA R D INAL PRINCIP LE
pos i ti on sh own ab ove White can draw b y
playin g P Kt 4 accordin g to the g eneral rul e that
governs such cases i e to adva nce th e P a wn th at is
free from opp os ition But suppose that Wh ite either
b ecause he does not know this principle or because he
In
the
,
,
.
.
,
.
35
CARD INAL P RINCI P L E
A
6
3
does not in this case suffi ciently appreciate the va l ue
suppose we say that he plays
o f its application ;
I P Q R 4 Then Black can win b y playin g I
n
applyi
g
one
of
the
cardinal
rinciples
R
P
of
4
Q
p
the high strategy Of chess
,
,
,
,
.
.
,
A
u nit
t h a t h olds two
.
In
this case one Pawn would hold two o f the o p
n
n
Pawns
The
student
cannot
lay
too
much
o
e
t
s
p
stress o n this principle It can b e applied in many
ways and it constitutes o ne o f the prin cipal weapons
in the hands Of a master
’
.
.
,
.
Ex am pl e 22
cient proof
ation
The example given should b e sufh
We give a f ew moves o f the main vari
.
I
2
.
.
.
R4
P
QR4
—
K
K
Kt 2
B 5
( Best ; s e e why )
P Kt 4
PXP
Best
(
)
P Kt 6
P
R5
P
P
R6
Kt 7
P
.
3
.
.
4
5
6
7
8
.
.
.
.
P — Kt 8
P— R 7
P—R 8
( Q)
—
Q K 5 ch
Kx Q
( Q)
Qx Q
T his b rings the game to a position which is won b y
Black and which constitutes o ne o f the classical
endings Of King and Pawns I Shall t ry t o explain the
g ui din g i dea o f it to those not familiar with it
.
,
.
.
CLA SS ICAL
10
.
E ND IN G
A CLA SS I CA L
37
E ND IN G
this po s ition Wh ite s b est line
o f defence co n sists in keep ing his Pawn where it stands
at R 2 As soon as the Pawn is advan ced it becomes
easier for Black to win On the other hand Black s
plan to win ( supposing that White does no t advan ce
his Pawn ) may be divided into th r ee parts The first
part will be to get his King to K R 6 at the same time
keeping intact the position o f his Pawns (This is
all importan t sin ce in order to win the game it is
essential at the e nd that Black may be able t o advance
his rearmost Pawn one o r two squa res acco r din g t o
the position of the Wh ite Kin g )
23
-
.
’
In
.
’
,
.
.
,
.
,
,
,
.
I
2
If
2
.
.
K — Kt 3
K — Kt 2
K—K 6
-
K — Kt 4 , K — B 7 ; 3 P — R 4 , P — Kt 3 will
CLA SS ICAL
A
38
ENDIN G
K—B 5
—
K
Kt 5
K— R 5
K— R 6
z
3
.
4
5
part
K
~
B
2
K— fi
—
K
m
h as
2
1
b een completed
.
The second part will b e short and will consist
advancing the R P up the K
.
6
7
Th i s
—
K
R I
H— m 1
en d s the second part
.
CLA S S ICAL
A
E ND IN G
39
The th i rd
part will consist in timin g the a dvance of
the Kt P so as to play P Kt 6 when the White
King is at R I It now becomes evident how meces
sary it is to be able to move the Kt P either o ne o r
two squares accordin g to the position o f the White
King as indicated p reviously In this case as it is
White s move the Pawn will be advanced two squares
since the White King will be in the corner but if it
were now Black s move the Kt P should only b e a d
va nce d
o ne
square since the Wh i te Kin g is at
Kt I
.
1
.
,
,
’
,
,
’
.
8
.
9
m
II
If K
Kt I
g
I
.
—
K
Kt I
K—R I
.
P X P
.
P — Kt 7
,
12
K— R
.
.
.
—
K
Kt I
—
B
K
2
and wins
It is in this an alytical way that the student shoul d
try to learn He will thus train his mind t o follow a
logical sequence in reason ing o u t any position Thi s
example is excelle n t t r aining since it is easy to divide
it into three stag es and to exp lain the main point O f
each part
The next sub ject we shall study is the S imple oppo
.
.
.
,
.
1
Se e
p a ge
37
.
40
OB TAIN IN G
A
P A S S E D P AWN
b ut b e fore we d e vote
call attention to two thing s
Sit ion,
O BTAIN IN G
11
.
ou r
time
to
it
I wi sh t o
.
A PA SSE D PAWN
Wh en th ree o r more Pawn s are Oppose d to each
other in some such position as the o ne in Example 2 4
there i s always a chance for o ne Side o r the oth er O f
O b tainin g a passed Pawn
,
.
In the ab ove position the way o f
obtaining a passed Pawn i s to advance the centre
24
I
.
.
—
Kt 6
P
R PX P
—
R 6,
If B P X P ; P
2
3
.
P—B 6
.
P—R 6
PX B P
as in this case t h e Wh ite Pawn i s nearer t o
Queen than any o f the Black Pawns White wi ll
and
,
WH ICH P AWN
42
F IR ST
T he fi rst
T O QUEEN
thin g is to fin d o u t b y countin g whethe r
the opposing King can be in time to stop the passe d
Pawn from Queening When as in this case it cannot
be done the po int is to count whi ch Pawn comes in
In this case the time is the same but the Pawn
fi rst
that reaches the eighth square fi rst and b ecomes a
Queen is in a position t o capture the adversa ry s
Queen when he makes one Thus
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
.
’
.
I
2
3
.
—
P
R 4
—
P
R
.
—
P
Kt
.
—
P
KR 4
—
R
P
5
5
P >< P
6
Wh ite can capture
the Pawn but if he does so he will not when Queen
ing command the square where Black w il l also Queen
his Pawn Therefore instead O f taking he p l ays
N ow comes a little calculation
,
.
,
,
,
.
,
4
5
6
.
.
,
—
P
R 6
—
P
R
—
P
R 7
P— R 8
—
P
R 7
6
and
wins
Q
)
(
The student would do well t o acquain t him self
with various simple endings o f this sort so as to a c
qu ire the habit O f counting and thus be able to know
with ease when he can o r cannot get there fi rst O nce
again I must call attention to t h e fact that a b oo k
cannot by itself teach how to play I t can only serve
as a g uide and the rest must b e learne d b y exp eri ence
and if a teacher can b e had at the same time s o much
the f aster will the student b e ab le to learn
.
.
,
,
,
.
.
,
,
,
.
O PPOS I T I O N
T HE
13
.
T HE
43
O PP O S ITIO N
Wh en King s have to be moved a n d one player can
b y force b r ing his King into a position S im ilar to the
o ne Shown in the follo w in g dia g r am s o that his a dve r
sary is forced to move and make way for him the
player Ob ta inin g that advantage is sai d t o have the
,
,
,
,
,
o ppos it ion
.
S uppose
Exam pl e 26
.
in
the
a b ove position Whi te
lays
p
I
K
Q4
N ow Black h a s the option o f either opposing the
passage o f the Wh i te King b y playin g K Q 3
or if he pre fers he can p as s with his o w n Kin g
b y replying K B 4 N otice that the Kings are
directly oppo sed to each other an d the n u mber of
—
interven in g squares b etween them is odd one in
this case
The opposition can take the form sho wn ab ove
.
,
,
.
,
.
,
T HE
44
O PPOS I T I O N
which can b e called actual
or
or
close frontal opposi tion ;
this form
which can b e called actual o r close diagonal opposition
0 1 again th i s f orm
,
,
,
which can b e called actual o r close lateral opposition
In pract i ce they are all o ne and the same The
Kings are always o n squares o f the same colour there
is only o ne intervening square b etween the Kin g s
“
”
and the player who has moved last h as th e opp osition
.
.
,
,
.
T HE
OPPOS I T I O N
43
Now ,
i f the student will take the trouble o f moving
each Kin g backwards a s in a game in the same frontal
diagonal o r lateral line respectively shown in the dia
g rams we shall have what may be ca lled dis tant frontal
diago n al a nd lateral Opposition respectively
The matter of the Opposition is highly importan t
and takes at times somewhat complicated forms a ll
Of which c an be solved mathematically ; b ut fo r the
prese n t the stude n t Should o n ly co n sider the most
Simple forms ( An examination o f some of the examples
O f King a n d Paw n s end ings al r eady given will Sho w
several cases o f close Oppositio n )
In all simple fo r ms Of Oppositio n
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
.
.
,
wh en t h e K ings
f
o
in t er ve n ing
ar e
s qu a r e s
on
the
s am e
lin e
be tween t h e m is
wh o h as t h e m ove h a s t h e
o
pp os ition
a nd
even ,
t h e nu m ber
p lay e r
t he
.
The above position Shows to advan
tage the e no rm o us value O f the oppositio n The
27
.
O PP O S I T I O N
T HE
46
position is very simple Ve ry little is left on t h e
boa rd and the position to a beginn er probably looks
absolutely even It is no t the case however Wh o
N otice that the Kings are
ever h a s t h e move wins
dir ectly in fr on t of o ne another and that t h e number
Of intervening squares is even
N ow a s to the p r ocedure to win such a po sition
Th e proper way to b egin is to move straight up
Thus
.
,
,
,
.
,
.
.
,
.
.
’
.
I
.
2
.
3
.
—
K
K
2
K— K 3
—
K
K
4
White can exercise the option o f either playin g
n
f
K
and
thus
pass
i
n
g
with
his
Ki
g
or
playing
O
Q5
K
B 4 and prevent the Black Kin g from passin g
the r eb y keeping the opposition Mere counting will
Show that the fo rmer course wil l o n ly lead to a
draw the r efore White takes the latter course and
plays
NOW
,
,
.
,
4
If
.
—K
5
.
—
B
K
4
K
—
K
Kt 5 w il l
3; 5
K
K
5
K
Kt
win
3
.
Kt
2
N ow b y cou ntin g it will b e seen that Wh ite
wi
ns by
capturing B lack s Kn ight Pawn
The p rocess has been compa r atively simple in the
variation g iven above b ut Black h a s other lines O f
’
.
,
OPPOS I T I O N
T HE
de fence more diffi cul t to overcome
anew
47
Le t
.
us b e gin
.
1
No w if
z
—
K
K
.
—
K
Q
K— Q
2
—
K
3,
Q
2 , or
if
2
I
—
K
K
—
K
K 2,
3,
cases ( Wh en
and Black Ob t ains the opposition in both
the Kings are directly in f ro nt Of o n e a nother and the
num ber of intervening squares between the Kings
is odd the player who has moved last has the
oppositio n )
N ow in order to win the White Ki ng must advance
There is only o ne other square whe r e he can go B 3
and that is the right place Therefo r e it is seen that
in such cases when the Oppo n e n t makes a SO called
waiting move you must advance leaving a rank
Therefore we
or
file f r ee b etween the Kings
have
.
,
,
.
,
.
,
,
.
-
,
,
.
2
.
—
B 3
K
K—K
2
N ow i t wo ul d b e bad to advance ; because then Black
b y bringing up his Kin g in fro n t Of you r Kin g woul d
,
,
,
Obtain the opposition It is Wh ite s turn to play a
similar move to Black s fir st move viz :
’
.
’
,
3
.
.
—
K 3
K
which b rings the positio n b ack to the fi rst variation
sho w n The studen t would do well to familia rise him
self with the ha ndling O i the Kin g in all examples Of
opposition It often means the winning o r losin g o f
a game
.
.
.
O PPOS I T I O N
T HE
48
Exam ple 28
proof o f
defence
The following position is an excellent
the value o f the Opposition as a means o f
.
.
White is a Pawn b ehind and apparently lost y et
can manage to draw as follows
,
I
.
—
R
K
I
he
!
The position o f the Pawns does not permit White
to draw by means o f the actual or close opposition
he n ce he takes the distant opposition : in effect i f
1
K — B I ( actual o r close opposition ) K — Q 7 ;
2 K— B 2
K
Q 6 and Wh ite cannot continue t o
keep the lateral opposition essential to h is safety
because o f his o wn Pawn at B 3 O n the other hand
after the text move if
,
,
,
,
.
,
2
3
.
—
K
R
2
.
—
R
K
3!
,
RE LA T IVE
T HE
50
VAL U E
I
O F K NI GH T A N D BI S H O P
Before turning o u r attention to this matter it is
we ll to state n o w that two K nigh ts a lone cannot m ate
but under certai n co n ditions o f course they can do
so i f the opponent has o ne o r more Pawns
14
.
T HE R EL A T VE VAL U E
,
,
,
.
In the ab ove position Wh ite cannot
win although the Black Kin g is cornered but in the
followin g position in which B lack has a Pawn
Exam pl e 29
.
,
,
,
,
wins wi th o r without the move
I Kt Kt 6
P R
Th u s
.
.
5
OF KNIGH T AND B I S H OP
51
White ca nnot take the Pawn b ecause the game
be dra wn as expla ined before
will
.
,
2
3
4
5
.
.
.
.
Kt — K 5
—
B 6
Kt
Kt — Kt 5
Kt — B 7
—
R 6
P
—
P
R
7
—
P
R 8 ( Q)
mate
The reason for this peculiarity in chess is evi d ent
White with th e two Knigh ts can only stalem a te t he
.
King ,
u nle ss
B la ck h a s
Exam pl e 30
a
P a wn wh ich
ca n
be m ove d
.
—Although
he is a Bi s hop an d a Pawn
ahead the following position cannot be won b y
.
It is the greatest weakness o f the Bish op that when
the Rook s Pawn Queens o n a squa re of oppo site colour
and the oppos ing Kin g is in fro n t o f the Pawn the
Bishop is ab solutely worthless All that Black has t o
do is t o k eep moving his King close to the corner
square
,
’
,
.
.
T HE
52
RE LAT IVE
VAL U E
In the ab ove pos i t ion Wh ite wi th o r
move can win Take the most difii cult
31
.
wi thout t h e
variation
.
.
—
K t 4 ch
Kt
K—B I
K—B 2
Kt — K 3
Kt — B I
Kt
'
X P
mate
N ow that we have seen these exceptional cases we
,
can analyse the differen t merits and the relative
value of the Knight an d the Bishop
.
It is generally thought b y amateurs that t h e Kn ight
is the mo re valuable piece o f the two the chief reason
be ing that un like the Bishop the Kn ight c an c om m and
both Black and White squares However the fact is
g enerally overlooked that the Knight at any o ne time
,
‘
,
,
.
,
.
,
OF K NIGH T AND B I S H OP
53
the cho ice o f o ne colour only It takes much longer
to b ring a Kn ight from o ne wing to the other Al so
as shown in the followi ng Example a Bishop can
stalemate a Knight ; a compliment which the Kn ight
is unable to return
h as
.
.
,
,
.
Example 32
.
weaker the player the more terrible the Knight
is to him b ut as a playe r increases in strengt h the
value o f the Bishop becomes more evident to him and
of course there is o r should be a co r respo ndin g decrease
in his estimation Of the value Of the Kn ight as compared
to the Bishop In this respect as in ma ny othe r s the
masters o f to d ay are far ahead O f the masters Of fo rmer
generatio n s While not SO long ago some o f the very
best amon g st them l ike Pillsbury a nd T ch ig o rin pre
ferred Knights to Bishops the re is hardly a m a ste r o f
to day who would no t completely a g ree with the state
ments made above
Th e
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
-
.
,
,
,
-
.
T HE
54
RE LATIVE
VAL UE
This is a b out the only ca se wh e n the
Knig ht is more valuable than the Bishop
Exampl e 33
.
.
It is what is call ed a block p os ition and all the
Pawn s are o n o n e Side Of the boa rd ( If there were Pawns
o n both sides Of the board there would be no advantage
in having a Knight ) In such a position Black h as
excellen t chances Of w inning Of course there is an
extra source Of weakness fo r Whi te in having h is Pawns
o n the same colou r —
squares as his Bi s hop This is a
mi s take Often made b y p l ayers The proper way
generally in an end in g is to have your Pawn s o n
squares Of opposite colour t o that of your own Bishop
Whe n y o u have your Pawns o n squar es o f the same
colour the action o f your own Bisho p is limited by
them and consequently the value Of the Bi s hop is
diminished Since the value Of a piece can Often be
measured by the numb er Of squar es it comm ands
While o n this subject I Shall also call attention to the
,
.
.
.
,
.
.
,
.
9
,
.
,
,
.
,
OF KNIGHT AND B I S H O P
55
f act that it is g enerally preferable to keep your Pawns
o n squares of the same colour as that o f the oppo sin g
Bishop particularly if they are passed Pawns s up
ported by the King The principles might b e stated
thus :
Whe n the oppone nt ha s a Bis ho p k ee p your P a wns
,
.
,
on
s q ua r e s
Bis ho p
o
sa m e
colour
as
ou
r
y
o
pp one nt
s
.
Whe n ever
ha s
f
t he
o
’
ou
y
ha ve
a
Bis ho p , whe t her t he
o
ppone nt
k e e p you r P a wns on s qua re s
t h a t of you r own Bis ho p
a ls o on e or no t ,
pp os ite colou r to
N aturally these p r inciples have sometimes
o
f
t he
to
be
.
,
modified to suit the e xigencies
Exam pl e 34
of
the position
.
In the foll owing po s ition the Pawns
are o n one Side O f the boa rd a nd there is no advantage
in having either a Knight o r a Bishop The game
Should surely e nd in a d r aw
.
,
.
.
TH E
56
RELAT IVE
VAL UE
—
Now let us add three Pawns o n
Example 35
each side to the above position S O that there are
Pawns o n b oth sides of the board
.
,
.
It is now preferable to have the Bishop thou gh
the position if properly played o u t should end in a
d r aw The advantage o f havin g the Bishop lies as
much in i ts abi lity to command at long range b oth
Sides o f the b oar d fr om a central position as in its
ability to move quickly from one side o f the b oard
to the other
,
,
,
.
,
.
,
OF KNIGHT AND B I S H OP
VAL UE
8
5
Exam pl e 38
Again Black would have great
cul ty in drawin g this posit i on
.
.
student Should carefully consider these posi
tions I hope that the many examples will help him
to understand in the i r true value the relative merits
As t o the general method
o f the Knight and Bishop
Of procedure a teacher o r practical experience will
b e b est I might say generally however that the
proper course in these endi ngs as in all Similar end
ings is : Advance o f the King to the centre o f the
b oard o r towards the passed Pawns o r Pawns that
are susceptib le o f b eing attacked and rapid advance
o f the passed Pawn o r Pawns as f ar as is consistent
wi th their safety
E ach
T O g i ve a fix ed line of play would be foll y
endin g i s different an d requires different handlin g
accord ing to what the adversary proposes to do
Calculation by visualisin g the future positions is wh at
will count
Th e
.
,
,
.
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
.
,
,
.
.
MATE WI T H KNIGH T
15
.
HOW T O M A T E
B I S H OP
AND
WIT H A K N I GH T AN D A
B
59
I S HO P
N ow b efore going b ack again to the middl e game
-
,
and the openings let u s se e how to mate with Knight
and B ishop and then how to win with a Queen
again st a Rook
With a Knight and a Bishop th e m a te can only be
,
,
,
,
.
h
e
n
e
n
i
t
i
v
g
f
corners o
th e
s a m e colo u
r as
th e Bis h op
.
In this example we must mate either
at Q R I o r K R 8 The ending can be divided into
two parts Part o ne consists in drivin g the Black
King to the last lin e We might b egin as is generally
done in all such cases by advanc in g t h e Kin g t o the
centre o f the b oard :
I K K2
K
2
Q
B lack in order to make it more difficult goes towards
t h e wh i te squared corner
Exam fle 39
.
.
.
.
,
,
.
,
,
-
2
3
.
.
—
K
Q3
—
B 4
B
H OW
60
4
.
5
6
7
8
T O MATE WI TH
Kt — K 2
K —B 4
—
—
B
Kt
K
Kt 5
3
K —Q 4
K —R 4
.
.
K—B 5
—
B 6
K
.
.
9
Kt
.
—Q
K—R 3
—
K
R 2
K—R
5
The first part is now over ;
white squared corner
the
I
Black
Ki n g
In
t he
-
.
The second
Bla ck King
last part will consist in drivin g
an d
no w
f ro m
order to mate him
position
Q
R 8 to
II
12
I3
.
.
.
.
Kt
OI
I
K R 8 in
hi
R
I
wi
l
l
b
e
the
q
u
i
ckest
i
n
t
s
Q
.
.
10
Q
R
-
Kt 6
B—B 7
B — Kt 8
Kt — Q 5
—
R
K
ch
2
—
R 3
K
—
K
R 4
—
K
R 5
Black tries to make for K R I with his Kin g White
has two ways to prevent that o ne by 1 4 B K 5
.
,
,
,
A
—
Kt
K
KNIGH T AND
—
K
I 5 Kt
B I SHOP
61
and the other which I give
as the text and which I consider better for the student
t o learn because it is more methodical and more in
accord with the spirit Of all these endings by using
6;
3,
,
,
,
t he King
as
m uch
as
p ossible
.
—
14
B 5!
K
—
I5
Kt
Kt 4
—
B 4
16
B
17
B— K 5
18
K—B 4
19
B — B 7 ch
—
20
Kt
Q3
—
1
B
Kt 6
2
—
K t 2 ch
2
K
t
2
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
23
.
24
.
25
.
26
7
28
2
.
.
.
29
It
.
K— B 3
—
B 2
K
—
B
B
5
ch
—
Kt
Q3
B — Kt 4
K t — B I ch
—
B
B 3 mate
—
K
Kt 6
—
K
B 6
K — Kt 6
K—R 5
K—R 4
—
K
R 5
—
K
R 6
K— R 5
K— R 6
K—R 7
—
K
R 6
—
K
R 7
K— R 8
K—R 7
—
K
R 8
b e seen that the en din g i s rather lab ori ous
.
Th ere are two outstanding featu res : the close follow
ing by the King and the controll ing o f the squa r es o f
opposite colou r to the Bishop b y the comb ined action
O f the Knight and King
The student would do we ll
to exercise himself methodically in this end ing as it
gi ves a very good idea o f the actual power of the pieces
and it requires foresight in order to accomp lish the
,
.
,
,
QUEE N AGAIN S T R OO K
62
mate with in the
the rul es
fif ty
moves which are g ranted b y
.
16
.
Q UEE N AGAI N S T
R OO K
This is one O f the most d ifificu lt end in g s without
Pawns The resources o f the defence are many and
when used sk il q y only a very good player will prevail
within the limit O f fi fty moves allowed by the rules
The
rule
is
that
at
any
moment
you
may
dema
d
n
(
that your opponent mate y o u within fi fty moves
However every time a piece is exchanged o r a Pawn
a dvanced the count in g must b egin afresh )
.
,
.
.
,
.
T his i s
the standard positions
which Black can Often b ring ab out No w it is White s
move If it w ere Black s move it would b e Simple as
Exam ple 40
.
o ne o f
’
.
,
’
.
,
would have to move his Rook away from the Kin g
fi
n
( d o u t why ) and then the Rook would b e compara
he
,
QUEE N AGAIN ST R O OK
63
easy to win We deduce from the ab ove that
the main Object is to force the Black Rook away
from the defendin g King and that in order to compel
Black to do SO we must bring about the position in
the diagram with Black to move O nce we know
what is required the way to proceed b ecomes easier to
Thus :
fin d
t ive ly
.
,
,
,
.
,
.
— K
Q
5
ch
—
—
B
2
2
Kt 6
because
R
ch
K
6
No t
;
i
n
S talemate
The
b
e
g
ner
R — B 3 ch ; 3 K x R
(
will invariably fall into this trap )
—
I Q R
,
,
.
.
.
1
.
2
.
3
K tO R
I OI
K — Kt
—
Q R I Ch
—
Q R s
tO R
2
I
In a few moves we have accomplishe d o ur Ob ject
The fi rst part is concluded No w we come to the
second part The Rook can only g o t o a Wh ite square
otherwise the fi rst check with the Queen will win it
Therefore
R Kt 6
.
.
,
.
.
5
6
7
8
.
.
.
.
I
b es t
2
Q
— Kt
—
c
h
R I
K
Q
7
—
—
K
t
8
c
h
R
Kt I
Q
— R 2 m at e
Q
(The stu dent should
when
K—R
K— R
— K ch
Q
5
— R 8 ch
—K t
8;
fin d
4
ou t
b y himself how to w in
—
Q K 5
ch
,
K— R
QUEE N A G AIN S T R OO K
64
The procedure here is very Similar
The thin gs to bear in mind are that the Rook must
be prevented fr om interposing at Kt I because Of an
imme diate mate a nd in the same way the Kin g must
b e prevented from going either to R 3 or B I
41
.
.
,
.
We shall no w examine a more
cul t position
.
QUEE N AGAIN S T R OO K
66
and
w e have the position
to move
Let us g o b ack ag ain
Example 4 0
of
wi th Black
.
2
.
3
The b est
.
.
—
—
K
t
c
h
K
B
I
Q
5
—
—
h
K
K
8
c
t
z
Q
Q
—
—
R
B
K
t
6
K
5
place
the Rook away from the King
— R 2 ; 4 Q — Q 4 R — K t 2 ch ; 5 K — B 6
would lead to positions Similar t o those already seen
fo r
.
,
.
4
.
—
Q Q 4 ch
K—
5
m
K— B I
6
—
—
—
—
ch
K
K
t
2
6
K
6
K
B 1
;
Q
Q
5 ch
5 Q
Kt
6
would
also
win
the
Rook
The
text
move
K
7
however is given to Show the fi nesse o f such ending s
White now threatens mate at Q 8
,
,
.
,
,
.
.
5
6
7
R
.
.
K—B 6
R
.
K— K 6
R
White threatened mate
8
.
Q
B
and the Rook is lost
4
— Kt
—B
—K
KR
8
6
6
e
h
ch
R 6
.
ch
.
N ote in these examples that the check s at l on g
range along the diago n als have Often been the key to
,
all the winning man oeuvres
,
.
Also that the Queen and
QUEE N AGAIN S T R OO K
67
Kin g are O ften kept o n diff erent lines The student
Should carefully go over these po sitions and consider
all the possib ilities no t given in the text
He should once more go through everyth in g already
written b efore proceeding f urther with the b ook
.
.
.
CHA PTE R III
P LANNING
A
Wm m M m DLE
-
G AM E P LA Y
I SHA LL now g ive a few win n ing positions taken from
my o w n games I have selected those that I believe
can be considered as typ es i e positions that may
easily occur aga in in a somewhat Similar form A
knowledge O f such positions is Of great help ; in fact
It Often may help the
o n e cannot know t o o many
player to find with little e ffort the right move which
he might not b e able t o fin d at all without such
k n owled g e
.
,
.
.
.
,
.
,
,
,
.
17
.
A TTA C KIN G WI T H O U T
O F K N I GH T S
T HE AID
WI T H OUT KNIGHTS
ATTAC K IN G
—
It
43
69
is Black s move and as he is a
Kt and P beh ind he must win quickl y if at all He
plays :
Exam pl e
’
.
,
.
,
I
2
—
Q R Kt
.
.
R
—B
!
2
If Q >< Q R >< P ch ; K
follows in a few moves
,
I
R
,
1,
—
B
Q
4
and mate
.
2
.
3
.
4
.
—
K
B
I
R X P
ch
B—
5
B
—
R
Kt
Kt
—
44
ch
8 m at e
B lack s last move was P K 6
played with the object Of stopping what he thought
was White s threat viz r R — Q R 5 to which he
would have a n swe red Q B 5 ch a n d drawn the game
by perpetual check White howeve r has a more
forceful move and h e mates in thr ee moves as
follow s
’
.
,
i
’
,
.
,
.
,
,
,
ATT AC K ING WIT H O UT
0
7
I
.
2
.
3
.
R x P Ch
R
QR5
Wh i te mates
QXR
B lack moves
Wh ite h as a b eautiful position b ut
st ill he had b etter g ain some material if he can before
Black conso li dates his de fensive position He th ere
fore play s
1
R X Kt !
PXR
B X P ch
K
K2
2
45
.
,
,
,
.
.
.
If
Kt x B ; R X Kt and Black would b e h elpless
—
—
R 7 eh
K
K I
3 Q
.
.
—
K
Q
2
h
c
7
— K
Q
2
.
8
Q
.
R ><
ch
.
R X R
X K t Ch
Q
—
R
5 Q
—
B
B
6
4
.
.
7
8
In
Q
x
Q
K— K
I
Resigns
these few examples the attacking has b een done
b y Roo k s an d Bishops in comb ination with the Queen
,
.
OF KNIGHTS
T HE AID
1
7
T here
have b een no Knights to take part in the attack
We Sha ll now give some examples in which the Kn ights
play a prominent part as an attacking force
.
.
18
A TTA C KI NG WIT H K NI GH T S
P R O M I NE N T F O R C E
.
AS
—
46
A
White is two Pawns behind He
must there fore press o n his attack The game con
Exam pl e
.
.
.
t inu e s
I
Kt (B 5 )
.
X Kt P
Kt — B 4
Evi d ently
an error which made the winn in g easier
for White as he simply took the Rook with the Knight
and kept up the attac k Black should have played
I
Kt
Kt Then would have fo llowed : 2 Kt
B 6 ch K — Kt 3 ; 3 Kt X B P — B 3 (best ) ; 4 P
,
.
.
.
.
,
K 5 K—B
,
,
2
—
K
t
P
R
K
><
; 5
,
and Black should lose
ull s co re and no t e s
C apablanca ( G ame No
1
F
.
2
; 6 Kt
—K
4,
l
.
are
g ive n in M y
C hess C aree r, by
J R
.
.
ATTAC K IN G
2
7
WI TH
KNI G HT S
The student Should carefully ex
a m ine the position as the sacrifi ce o f the Bishop in
Similar situations is typical a n d the chance for it is
of frequent occurrence in actual play The game
continues
47
.
,
,
.
1
2
B est
If
.
if 2
attack
a nd
.
2
.
B >< P
.
Kt
.
.
.
ch
— K t 5 ch
K— R 3 ; 3
Kt
K
I
;
3
Kt X P ch wins the Queen
—
Q R 5 with an irresistible
,
,
.
3
4
Wh ite
1
.
— Kt 4
Q
— Kt
Q
3
fin ally w o n
t
This po si io n is
1
.
l b
t d u nde r Exam ple
e a o ra e
50
(p
WINNING
74
INDIRE C T ATTAC K
BY
consider this position and the subsequent moves It
is a very g ood example o f proper c o ordination in the
manag ement o f forces The g ame continues :
.
-
.
1
—
R
R
.
2
—
P
Q
.
I
R 4
Wh i te s b est move was P Q Kt 3 when would
f ollow Kt X B 3 Q X Kt R R 6 and Black would
ultimately wi n the Q R P always keeping a Slight
advantage in position The text move makes matters
easier
2
Kt X B
’
,
,
,
.
.
.
3
.
4
.
— B
Q
5
—
Kt
K R
X Kt
Q
—
K R
Q
I
I
Blac k co ul d have re g ained the Pawn b y playing
B X Kt b ut h e sees that there is more to be had
and therefore increases the pressure against W h ite s
Queen side He now th reatens amon g other thin g s
R X Kt P
,
,
’
,
.
.
5
.
—
K
Q
Th reatenin g to
6
7
.
.
w in
R
3
,
— Kt 5
the exch ang e b y
B
Q 5 ch
—
R
Kt 1
Q
Th is threatens t o w in the
to give up t h e exchan g e
Kt ,
and thus forces White
.
R x B
9
R
.
—Q
Q
—
Q B
x R
I
5
.
B—
— Kt
Q
5
K— R I
a
Q
N ow Black wi ll recover his Pawn
.
5
WINNING
IND IRE C T ATTAC K
BY
75
An examin ation O f this position
Show that Black s main weakness lies in the exposed
position o f his King and in the fact that his Q R
has not yet come into the game Indeed i f it were
Black s move we might conclude that he would have
the better game o n acco u nt Of havin g three Pawns to
two o n the Queen s side and his Bish op comm andin g
the long diagonal
49
.
’
,
.
,
’
,
,
’
,
.
It is however White s move and he has two courses
t o choose fr om
The Obvious move B — B 4 might
—
—
b e g ood enough since after I B B 4 Q R Q I ;
2 P
f
would
make
it
d
f
cult
But
Kt
i
fi
o r Black
4
Q
there is another move which completely upsets Black s
position a n d wins a Pawn b esides O b tain ing the
better position That move is Kt Q 4 ! The g ame
continues as follows
’
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
.
’
,
.
I
2
.
.
Kt — Q 4 !
R X B
WINNING BY IND IRE C T
76
T here
ATTAC K
is nothin g b etter as Wh ite threatened B
—
—
B
B
K
c
h
R
I
4
3
—
—
R
K
6
P
4
Q6
B
,
4
.
.
.
5
.
R >< P
Wh i te wi th
An d
,
the
b etter position i s a Pawn
,
ahead
These po sitions have b een g iven with the idea O f
acquaintin g the student with diff erent types of com
I hope they w ill also help t o develop his
b ina t io ns
imagination a very necessary quality in a good player
The student should note in all these middl e g ame
positions that
on ce t h e opp or tu nity is offer ed all t h e pieces ar e t hr own
”
“
into a ction e n m a ss e wh en necess ary; an d t h at a ll
.
.
,
.
-
,
,
!
,
t h e p ieces s m oot hly
l ik e pr e cis ion
c o- ordina t e
th eir
a ction
with m a chine
.
That at least is what the ideal middle game play
should b e if it is no t S O alto g ether in these examples
-
,
,
,
.
C HAPTER IV
G E NE RA L T HE O R Y
B E F O RE we revert to the technique o f the Openings
it w ill b e advisable to dwell a little o n general theory
SO that the Openings in the ir relation to the rest O f the
g ame may be better understood
,
.
I
T HE INIT IAT VE
20
.
As the pieces are se t o n the b oard b oth sides have
the same position and the same amount Of mate r ial
White however has the move and the move in this
case means th e initia t ive an d the initiative other
things b ein g equal is an advantage No w this a d
vantage must b e kept as long as possible an d should
only be given up if some other adva n tage material
o r positional is Obtained in its place
Wh ite accordin g
to the principles already laid down develops his pieces
as fast as possible but in s o doing he al s o t r ies to
hinder his opponent s development by applyin g pres
sure wherever possible He tries fi rst Of all to control
the centre and failing this to obtain some positional
.
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
’
,
.
,
nly relinquishes the
harassing
the
He
o
—
initiative when he gets for it so me material advantag e
u r ab le conditions as to make him feel
M
on
0
-‘ n
“
m.
A
D IRE C T
78
A TTAC KS
EN M AS S E
assured that he will in turn be able to withstand his
adver sary s t h rfIs t ; and fi nally throug h h is superi
once more resu me the initiative
o rit y o f material
which alone can give him the victory This last
assertion is self evident since in o der to win the
game the opposin g King must be driven to a position
where he is attacked without having any way Of escape
O nce the pieces have b een properly developed the
resul ting positions may vary in character It may
be that a direct attack against the King is in order ;
o r that it is a case Of improving a position already
advantag eous ; o r fi nally that some material can be
gained at the cost o f relinquishin g the initiative fo r
a more o r less prolonged period
,
,
’
,
,
,
.
r
-
,
,
,
.
.
,
,
.
21
.
D IR E C T A TT A C KS
E N M A SS E
In the fi rst case the attack must be carried on with
sufficient force to guarantee its success U nde r nO
consideration must a direct attack against the Kin g
be carried o n a ou trance unless there is absolute cer
tainty in one s o wn mind that it will succeed s ince
failure in such cases means disaster
z
.
’
,
.
A g ood example o f a success ful direct
attack against the Ki n g is Sho wn in the follow in g
diag ram :
Exam ple 50
.
In this position Wh ite could simply play B B 2
and still have the b etter position but instead he pre
fers an immediate attack o n the King s side with
,
’
,
DIRE C T A TT AC KS
EN M AS S E
the certainty in his mind that the attack
a
T h e game continues thus
79
lead
to
1
12
13
I4
.
.
.
B
x
P ch
—
Kt
Kt 5
KXB
K — Kt 3
ch
P— B 4
— Kt 4
Q
wo d have been immediately fata l
I 5 K t — K 6 ch
K— B 3;
—
—
—
K 5 ; I7 Q
16 P
B 4 ! P
K t 5 ch K X K t ;
—
—
—
2
1
K 5 ch K
18 Q
Q ; 9 K R
Q 1 ch K t
—
—
—
B
K
if
2
0
K
t
P
K
K
I
K
t
><
Q 6;
3 (
Q 6 ch
wins the Queen ) ; 2 1 R X Kt Q >< R ; 2 2 R — B 1 ch
—
—
—
2
mate
in
two
2
K t 3 ( if K
K
Q
) ; 3 Q B 7 ch
a n d mate in fi ve moves
Best
Thus :
.
K
P
ul
4
— K
4 ;
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
We gi ve f ro m no w o n ga mes a nd no t e s SO th a t t h e s tu de nt
m ay f a milia ri se h i ms e lf wi th t h e m a ny a nd va ri e d c o ns id e ra t i o ns
th a t co ns t antly a re b o rne in mi nd by t h e C h e ss M as t e r We mus t
t ak e i t for g ra nt e d th at t h e s tu d e nt h as alre a dy r e ach e d a s t age
w h e re w hil e no t b e in g able full y t o u nde rs t a nd e ve ry m ove y e t h e
ca n d e ri ve b e ne fi t f ro m a ny di s cu s s i o n wi th re g ar d t o th e m
1
,
,
,
.
,
,
.
DIRE C T A TTAC KS
—
I5
Q Kt 3
80
EN M ASS E
K— R 3
K — Kt 3
.
16
I
If
K x
7
—
Q R
.
ch
4
.
Kt ; Q >< Kt P ch
I
8
19
—
K
B
—
h
R
c
Q
7
and
mate in a few moves
P— K 4
.
.
21
.
22
23
R—
Q
Q
—
Q R 3
—
Q Kt 3
K R—K
.
.
.
K t — Kt 3
P X P
.
20
3
Kt — Q 6
Kt ( Q 6) — B 5
I
—
Q B
2
K t — K 7 ch
I
This b lunder loses at once b ut the game could not
b e saved in a ny case ; e g 2 3
B — K 3 ; 24 R x B
—
ch Kt >< R ; 2 5 K t Q 5 mate
,
.
.
.
.
.
,
24
5
26
2
27
28
R X Kt
.
—R
.
Kt
.
R P X
Q
7
.
—
P
B
.
Q
51
.
4
An oth er
Q
K— B
R— R
ch
—
Kt 5
Kt
X
ch
2
I
K—B 3
Resigns
example
of
this
F O RC E OF T HE
T HE
82
and that O ften as in some o f the variations pointe d
it is the comin g into action o f the last available
o ut
fi
iece
that
nally
overthrows
the
enem
y
It
demon
p
strates the prin ciple already stated
,
,
.
a nd viole nt a t t a ck s
D irect
ca rr ied
Th e
en masse
be br ok en
T HE
22
.
wit h
fu ll for ce
m u s t be
pp os it ion
o
ca nnot
,
f
o
,
a g a ins t
,
to
th e
King mus t be
t h eir
e ns ur e
over com e a t a ll cos t ;
s ince
in
a ll s u ch cas es
s ucces s
th e
.
a t t a ck
t ha t m ea ns
F OR C E
O F T HE T H REATE NE D
A TTA C K
F ai ling
an Opportunity in the second case fo r
di rect attack o ne must attempt to increase whatever
weakness there may b e in the opponent s position ;
It
o r if there is none o ne o r more must be created
is always an advantage to threaten somethin g b ut
such threats must be carried into effect only if some
thing i s to b e gained immediately F or holding the
threat in hand forces the opponent to pro vide against
its execution a n d to keep material in readin ess to meet
it Thus he may more easily overlook o r b e unable
to parry a thrust at another point But once the
threat is carried into e ff ect it exists no longer and
your oppo nent can devote his atten tion to his o wn
schemes O ne o f the b est and most successful ma
moeuvres in this type of game is to make a demon
s t r a t io n o n o ne side SO as to d raw the forces O f your
O pponent to that Side then through the greater
mobility o f your pieces to Shift your forces quickly
,
,
,
’
,
,
.
,
-
.
,
,
,
.
.
,
,
.
,
,
,
T HRE ATE NE D AT TAC K
83
to the other side a n d break through before your
opponent has had the t ime to brin g over the ne ce s
sary forces for the defence
A good example of positional play is Sho wn in the
followin g g ame
,
.
Exam pl e
t io na l
Played at the Havana Int e m a
Masters Tournament 1 9 1 3 ( F rench Defence )
J R Capab lanca Black : R Blanco
52
.
,
.
.
.
.
P— K 3
P— Q 4
—
P
Q4
—
Kt
QB
.
.
.
P— K 4
.
.
3
K t >< P
Kt — K B 3
K t X Kt ch
P X P
Kt
—Q
K Kt
-
2
B 3
Kt X Kt
—
Kt
K 5
Th i s
move was fir st shown to me by the talented
Venezuelan amateur M Ayala The Object is t o
,
.
.
T HE
84
F O RC E OF T H E
prevent the development Of Black s Queen s B i shop
via Q Kt 2 after P
Q Kt 3 which is Black s u sual
development in this variation G enerally it is bad
to move the same piece twice in an Opening b efore
the other pieces are o u t an d the violation o f that
principle is the only Objection that can b e made t o
this move which otherwise has everything to re co m
mend it
’
’
’
,
,
.
,
,
.
7
8
B—
Q
s
— B
Q
3
.
B K Kt 5 migh t b e b etter The text move g ives
Black an opportunity of which he does not avail
himself
.
—
B
P
3
B 4 wa s the righ t move It woul d h ave le d t o
complications in which Black might have held h is
o wn ;
at least White s play would be very diffi cult
Th e text move accomplishes nothin g and puts Blac k
P
.
,
’
,
.
,
T HRE ATENE D A TTAC K
in an alto gether defensive position
B
x
Kt ; followed by
9
10
.
.
— R
Q
P— B 3
B — K Kt
85
The veil ed threa t
ch ; is easil y met
4
.
.
—
0
0
—
B
K
5
2
The f act
that Black has now to move his Bishop
b ac k clearly demonstrates that Black s plan Of devel
He has lost too much time and
o pm e n t is f a ul ty
White b rin gs his pieces into their most attack ing
position without hi ndr ance Of any sort
’
.
,
.
II
.
B—
Q
Kt — K
3
I
The alte rnative was
O therwi se White
Q 4
—
would play Q R 3 and Black would be forced to
play P — K Kt 3 (no t P — K R 3 because of the
sacrifi ce B x P ) seriously weake n ing his King s Side
Kt —
.
,
,
’
,
.
.
—
Q R
—
P
K
3
B 4
Wh ite has no lo nger an attack but he has compelled
Black to create a ma rked weakness N ow Wh ite s
whole plan wil l be to exploit this weakness ( the weak
K P ) a nd the student can now see how the principles
expo un ded previou s ly a re applied in this game Eve ry
move is di rected to make the weak Ki ng s Pawn u n
te n able o r to pro fi t b y the inactivity O f the Black
r der to improve the
iece
s defe n di n g the Pawn
in
o
p
osition
O
f
hite
at
other
points
W
p
,
’
.
,
.
’
~
,
,
.
—
13
.
B >< B
Q
14
.
—
0
0
.
K R—K
R— B 3
.
R
5
16
1
—K
2
I
X B
Kt
—Q
B —Q
2
3
T HE F O RC E OF T HE
86
At last the Bishop comes o u t not as an active attack
ing piece b ut merely to make way for the Rook
,
,
.
17
8
I
.
.
—
K I
QR
—
P
QB4
—K I
Kt — B 2
R
A very clever move tendin g to prevent P — B 5
and temptin g White to play Kt x B followed b y
B x P which would b e bad as the following varia
tion shows : 1 9 K t >< B Q x Kt ; 2 0 B x P Kt
Kt 4 ; 2 1 Q — Kt 4 R X B ; 2 2 P
K R 4 P
K R 4 ; 23
2 4 R >< R c h K
R 2 ;
2 5 P x Kt
Q x P But it always happens in such
cases that if o ne line o f attack is anticipated there
is anoth er ; and this is no exception to the rule as
b e seen
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
-
,
.
,
,
,
“
,
.
19
.
P—
Q
!
5
Kt X K t
Apparently the b est way to meet t h e man ifold threats
of White B P X P would make matters worse a s
the Whi te B ishop would finally b ear o n t h e weak
Kin g s Pawn via Q B 4
.
,
’
.
T HRE A TE N E D A TT AC K
20
21
m
F orced ,
.
.
.
P — K Kt 3
R t
—
Q R
—
Q Q
87
K — Kt
4
—
B
P
4
2
4
as White threatened P X K P and also Q X P
,
23
.
—
:Q B
P — Kt 3
3
w
was
better
But
Black
ants to tempt
Q Q 3
White to play P x P thin kin g that he will soon after
regain his Pawn with a safe position S uch however
is not the case as White quickly demonstrates I
must add that in any case B lack s position is in my
Opinion untenable Since a ll his pieces are tied up for
the defence o f a Pawn while White s pieces are f ree
t o act
.
,
.
,
,
.
,
’
,
,
,
’
,
.
24
25
.
.
B—B
PX P
—
B
K
2
I
!
The deciding and timely manoeuvre All the Black
pieces are useless after this Bishop reaches Q 5
.
.
F O RC E OF THRE A TE NE D
88
25
2
B X P
.
26
.
—
B
B
—
B
Q
7
ATTAC K
—
K
B 2
—
Q QS
3
s
it is evident that all the Black pieces are tie d
up and it only remains for White to find the quickest
way to force the issue White will now try to place
his Queen at K R 6 and then advance the K R P
to R 5 in order to break up the B lack Pawns defend
ing the King
K2
28
R
Q K3
—
—
2
K
R 3 P K R 4;
If
B 5; 9 Q
No w
,
.
,
.
.
30
32
—
Q R 4
—
K R
P
,
R
4,
—K
Q
—
,
2
;
Q
1
3
2
;
— Kt
—
Kt
Q
5, K
P — K Kt
2
;
33
B 4 and Black will soon be helpless as he has
to mark time wi th his pieces while White prepares
to advance P R 5 and fi nally at the proper time
to play R x B winning
34 P
,
,
,
,
29
30
.
.
1
3
.
2
3
.
.
—
Q R
—
K
Kt
6
r
—
P
K R 4
—
R
P
P—R 5
P— B 5
P X P
P >< P
3
Resigns
33 R X B
Comm enting o n White s play in this game Dr E
Lasker said at the time that if White s play we r e
properly analysed it might be found that there was
no way to im prove upon it
These appa r ently simple games are Often of the most
difficult nature Perfection in such cases is much
more diffi cul t t o Ob tain than in those positions calling
.
.
’
,
’
.
.
.
.
RELIN QU I S HIN G
0
9
INI T IATIVE
T HE
Black O ff ers the exchange in order to g ain time an d
to obtain an attack Without co n siderin g at all
whether o r not such a course w as justifi ed on the part
O f Black it is evident that a s far as White is concerned
there is o n ly o ne thing to do viz to win the exchan g e
and then prepare to weather the storm Then once
it is passed to act quickly with a ll forces to d er ive
the b enefi t o f numerical superiority
13
B —R 6
K t —B 4
.
,
,
.
.
,
,
.
.
14
.
5
.
I
R
—Q
—Kt
R —K t
R
2
—
Kt
Q
I
I
5
force White to play P Q B 4 and thus create a
hole at Q 5 fo r his Knight S uch grand tactics Show
the hand Of a master
16
P QB4
17
BXR
18
K3
Kt
K B 3 was b etter
Kt
I8
Kt Q 5
19
P QB4
Q Q I
In order to prevent R X Kt giving b ack the exchang e
but win n ing a Pawn and relieving the position
TO
,
1
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
,
20
.
P
—Q
In order to play B
Kt 3
Kt
2
R
.
—K t
r
without b locking
h is
Rook
.
hole in ch e ss pa rlance h as co me t o me an a d e fe ct in P awn
form a t i o n w hi c h allo w s t h e o ppo ne nt t o e s t ablis h h is fo r ce s in we dge
f orm a t ion o r o th e rwi se wi th o ut t h e poss ibil i t y o f di slo d ging him
b y P a wn move s Thu s in t h e fo ll o wi ng di a gra m B la ck h as t wo
h ol es at K B 3 a nd K R 3 w h e re Wh i t e fo r ce s e g a Kt o r B
co uld es t abli sh th e m se lve s s u ppo rt e d by pi e ces o r P awns
l
A
“
.
,
,
”
,
,
,
.
,
.
.
RE LINQU ISH ING T H E
INIT IAT IVE
I
9
Black s man oeuvr ing for positional advantage is a d
mirable th roughout this game and if he loses it is
due ent irely to the fact that the sacri fi ce of the exchan g e
w ithout even a Pawn for it could not succee d against
sound d e fensive play
’
,
,
,
.
21
.
22
.
—B
PXP
Kt
3
The position b egins to look really dangerous for White
In reality Black s attack is reaching its maximum
force Very soon it will reach the apex a nd then
.
’
.
,
RELIN QU I S HIN G T HE
92
INIT IATIVE
Wh ite who is well prepared will begin his counter
action and through his superiority in material o b tain
an undoubted advantage
,
,
,
.
23
.
Kt
24
.
Kt
25
26
.
.
—B
—
P
B
I
5
B P X Kt
t
—
Q R
5
B
R
I
P— B 4
—K
— Kt
2
He co ul d not play R K I b ecause o f R X Q P Be
sides he wants to b e ready to play P K 5 At pres
ent White cannot with safety play R x K P b ut
Then by giving
h e w ill soon prepare the way fo r it
up a Rook for a Bishop and a Pawn he will completely
upset B lack s attack and come o u t a Pawn ahead
It is o n this b asis that White s whole defensive ma
noeu vre is founded
27
P—B 3
R —K I
.
,
.
,
.
,
,
’
.
’
.
.
28
.
R
(Q
2
—
) K
2
R
—K 3
the Black Rook enters into the game but White
is prepared It is now time to give back the exchange
Now
,
.
.
C UTT IN G
94
P
OFF P IE CE S F R O M
—Q Kt 4 !
R >< P
—K
R 3
R X P ch
R
R >< P
—
B
K
R
R
-
3
ch
R 5
—R
4
R x P
P —R 4
ch
R
ch
P
—B
—Kt
5
4
I h ave
passe d over t h e g ame lightly b ecause o f
it s diffi cul t nature and b ecause we are at present
concerned more with the opening and the middle
game than we are wi th the endin g s which will b e
treated separately
,
,
.
24
.
C U TTING
O FF P IE C E S F R O M THE
O F A C T IO N
S C E NE
Very Often in a game a master only plays to cut
o ff SO to speak
o ne of the pieces from the scene O f
actual conflict O ften a Bishop o r a Knight is com
In such cases we might
ple t e ly put o u t Of action
say that from that moment the game is wo n because
for all practical purposes there will be o ne more piece
A very good illustration
o n o ne side than o n the other
is furnished by the fo ll owin g game
,
,
.
.
,
.
.
S C E N E OF AC T I O N
T HE
Ex am pl e
95
Played at the Hastings
Tournament 1 9 1 9
( Four Kni g hts )
Winter Black : J R Capablanca
54
-
.
.
,
.
.
.
.
P —K 4
1
.
2
.
Kt
3
.
Kt
4
.
B
5
.
—
0
0
6
.
—K
Kt
B 3
—B 3
— Kt
—K 4
P
Kt
—Q B 3
—B 3
— Kt
—
0
0
B
5
5
B X Kt
.
variation which I have played suc
ce ss full y in many a game
It g ives White a very solid
g ame Nie m z owit ch s idea is that White will in due
time be able to play P K B 4 openin g a line fo r h is
Rooks which in comb ination with the posting O f a
Knight at K B 5 Sho ul d be s uffi cient to win He
thinks that Should Black attempt to stop the Kn ight
from going to K B 5 he will have to weaken his game
in some other way Whether this is true o r not r emains
to be proved but in my op inion the move is perfectly
good O n the other hand there is no question that
Black ca n easily develop his pieces But it must b e
considered that in this variation White does not
attempt to hin der Black s developme n t he Sim ply
attempts to b uild up a position which he conside r s
im pregnab le and from which he can start an attack
in d ue course
Nie m z o wit ch
’
s
,
.
’
.
,
,
,
.
,
,
.
,
.
,
.
’
,
.
Q
P x B
OFF P IE C E S F R O M
C UTT IN G
96
The alternative Kt P x B ; g ives Wh ite the b est
the g ame without doub t
,
of
1
.
,
P
7
—Q s
—Q 3
B
Thi s move is not at all in accordance with the nature
O f this variation
The general strategical plan fo r
White is to play P K R 3 to be followed in time
by the advance o f the K Kt P to Kt 4 and the bringing
.
,
,
Of
Q Kt
the
K B 5 via K
if possi ble , the
tO
2 a nd
K Kt 3
Q
or
I a nd
K 3 Then
K Kt is linked with the
other Kt by placing it at either K R 4 K Kt 3 o r K 3
as the occasion deman ds The White King sometim es
remains at Kt I a n d other times it is placed at K Kt 2
but mostly at K R I F inally in most cases comes
P
K B 4 and the n the real attack begins S ome
times it is a direct assault again st the Ki ng and at
other times it comes simply to fi ne ss ing for positional
advantage in the e n d game after most Of the pieces
have b een exchanged
.
,
,
,
.
,
,
.
,
.
,
2
,
-
,
3
.
8
9
.
.
B
—R
P —K R 3
P
4
-
B 4
ga me C a p ablan ca Kupchi ck f ro m H ava na Int e rna t ional
M as t e rs To u rna me n t B o o k 1 9 1 3 by J R C ap a bla nca ; o r a ga me
in t h e C a rl sb a d T o u rn a m e n t o f 1 9 1 1 Vid m a r pl a yi ng B l a c k a ga i ns t
1
Se e
-
,
,
.
,
.
,
Al e c hin
.
g a me in t h e All R u ssi an M a s t e rs To u m a
m e nt 1 9 1 4 a t St P e t e rs b u rg a gai ns t Le vit z ki I b e li e ve
3
Se e C a p a bl anc a J a no w s ki g a m e Ne w Y o r k M as t e rs To u rna
2
Se e Nie m z o wit ch
,
,
.
’
s
,
,
-
,
m e nt ,
1 913
.
.
C UTT ING
98
OFF P IE C E S F R O M
Af ter this move White s game is lost Wh ite cannot
play Kt X Kt P because Kt x Kt will win a piece
Therefore he must play B Kt 3 either b efore o r
after Kt Kt with disastrous results in either case
as
b e seen
’
.
,
.
,
,
,
.
Kt
t
ch
B — Kt 3
K R 3
P
—
Q
>< B
P ><
Q
A Simple examination will Show that Wh ite is minus
a Bishop for all p r actical purposes He can only free
it b y sacrifi cing o ne Pawn and possibly not even
then At least it would lose time besides the Pawn
Black now devotes all his energy to the Queen s Side
and havin g practically a Bishop more the result
cannot b e in doubt The rest o f the game is given
s o that the student may s e e how simple it is to win
such a game
.
,
.
.
’
,
,
,
.
.
,
T HE
I6
17
.
.
I8
.
19
.
S CE N E OF AC T I O N
K — Kt
P—
2
K —B
P —Q R 4
R —R
Q
R 4
2
K —K 3
—
R
K
Q Kt
I
P —R 4
99
I
There is no necessity to pay any atte n tion to the
King s Side b ecause White gains nothing b y e xch ang
in g Pawn s a nd opening the Kin g s Rook fil e
’
,
’
.
20
21
22
23
.
.
.
.
R P >< P
P >< P
P — Kt 3
R
QR
—
—
K R
R
P
—B 3
P — Kt 4
2
P—B 5
I
I f White takes the pro ffered Pawn Black re g a ins i t
immediately by R Kt 5 after P x B P
,
.
,
24
5
26
2
2
7
28
29
.
R P X P
P X P ( Kt 6)
.
B P >< P
R >< P
.
R
R X P
.
P
.
R
.
R X B P
—R
4
—Q 4
—B
4
R
R
— Kt
—K t
4
5
R X P
Resigns
25
A P L AY ER S M O TIVE S C R ITI C I S E D IN A
S P E C IM E N GA M E
’
.
N ow that a few of my games wi th my own notes
have been given I o ff er for close perusal and stu dy
a very fin e game played b y S ir G eorge Thomas one
O f E ngland s foremost players against Mr F F L
,
,
’
.
,
.
.
.
Alexander in the championship o f the City O f London
—
Chess Club in the winter o f 1 9 1 9 1 92 0 It has the
,
.
A P LAYE R S M O TIVE S CRI T ICI S ED
’
1 00
interesting feature
the student that S ir G eorg e
Thomas kindly wrote the notes t o the g ame for me at
my request and with the understanding that I would
make the comm ents o n them that I co n side red ap
i
G
eo
r ge Thomas
notes
a
r e in brackets
i
r
r
a
t
e
r
o
S
p p
and thus will b e distinguished fr om my o wn comments
fo r
,
’
.
.
55
Exam pl e
.
.
G amb it
Declined
F F
.
.
.
I
2
-
.
3
4
.
6
.
( Th e
)
.
.
5
( One
.
Wh ite
L Al exander Black : S ir G eorge Th omas
wit h in br a ck e ts by S ir Ge or g e Th om as
not es
Mr
Queen s
’
.
.
P
-
Q
P —Q 4
4
Kt — K B
P —B 4
.
—
Kt
K
3
P
Kt —B 3
—K
B 3
3
—
Q Kt
Q
B — Kt 5
P -K 3
P
—B 3
—
Q R
2
4
the O b jects o f Black s method o f d e fence is
to attack White s Q Kt doubly b y Kt K 5 followed
b y P x P But 7 Kt
Q 2 is probably a stron g way
’
Of
’
,
.
10 2
A
P LAYE R
’
S
M OT IVE S CRI T ICI S ED
violent attack against the King This is a turnin g
point in the g ame and it is in such positions that
the temperament and style o f the player decide the
course o f the g ame
.
,
.
13
.
14
.
I
5
.
P —K 4
—
P
Q
5
15 K R
ite
might
play
W
h
Q I k eepin g the Option
(
I wanted him
o f b rea k in g up the centre later o n
to advan ce this P as there is now a fine post fo r my
By this move White shows that he does
B at Q B
not un derstand the t rue value o f his position His
only advanta g e consisted in the undeveloped condition
He should there fore have made a
o f Black s Q B
plan to prevent the B f rom coming o u t o r if that
were not possib le then he shoul d try to force Black
to weaken h is Pawn position in order t o come o u t with
the B There were three moves t o consider : fi rst
,
.
.
’
.
,
,
.
,
I N A SPE CIM E N G AM E
1 03
Q R 4 in order to maintain the White B in the
dominating position that it now occupies This
would have b een met b y Q B 2 ; seco nd either O f
the Rooks to Q I in order to threaten 1 6 P x P B x P
1
x
Kt
8 B X P ch
This woul d have
1 7 Kt X B
;
Q
b een met by B Kt 5 ; a n d third P K R 3 to p re
vent B Kt 5 and by playing either R to Q I followed
up as previ ously stated to force Black t o play
P
Q Kt 4 which woul d weaken his Quee n s Side
Pawns Thus b y playing P — K R 3 White would
have attained the desir ed Object The text move
blocks the action o f the White B a n d facili tates Black s
developme n t Hereafter White will act on the de fe n
sive and the interest throughout the rest o f the game
wi ll centre mainly o n Black s play and the manner in
which he carries o u t the attack
P
,
.
,
,
.
,
,
,
’
,
.
.
’
.
,
’
.
15
16
.
—Q 3
B
.
—
Q B
2
T
is
seems
wrong
as
it
makes
the
development
O
f
h
(
Black s Queen wing easier At p rese n t he ca nn ot
play P Q Kt 3 because O f the reply P x P followed
,
’
.
by B
—Q
,
s)
.
I6
I
7
I8
.
P — Q Kt 3
B — Kt 2
—B 4
.
P
.
K R
—B
1
P —B 5
f
R
Kt
I
and
o
ith
the
idea
W
Q
(
only compels Black to bring h is B to Q B
would do in any case )
.
4,
But it
which he
.
A P LAYER S M OT IVE S CRI T ICI S E D
’
1 04
18
.
19
20
R
.
—B
z
—
Q Kt
.
—K 2
B —B 4
B
P —B 3
a
( It wo ul d have been better
pro b ably to play
K I wit h the idea o f P B 4 presently )
20
K R
Black s play hereabout is weak ; it lacks force and
there seems to be no well de fin e d plan o f attack It
is true that these are the most d ifiic u l t positions to
han dle in a game In such cases a player must co n ceive
a plan o n a la rge scale which promises chances Of
success an d with it all it must b e a plan that can be
carried o u t with the means at his disposal F r om
the lo ok of the positio n it seems that Black s best
cha n ce would be to mass his forces for an attack
against White s centre to b e followed by a direct
attack again st the Ki ng He should therefore play
Q R K I thr eatening P K B 4 If White is able
to defeat this plan o r rather to preven t it then o n ce
he has fi xed some Of the White pieces on the King s
Side he Should quickly shift his attack to the Queen s
side a n d ope n a line for his Rooks which o n ce they
e n ter in action should produce a n adva n tage on a c
coun t O f the great power Of the two Bishops
—
—
K
R
2L Q R
M
Q
Q I
,
,
.
.
,
.
’
,
-
.
.
,
,
,
.
’
’
,
.
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
’
’
,
,
,
,
,
'
.
n
.
R
—Q R
4
B—R 3
R
Q1
( White has clearly lost time with his Rook s moves
23
K R
K I
24
Q Kt 3
23
.
’
.
.
106
A P LAYE R S M OTIVE S CRI T ICI S E D
’
posted Kn ig ht and o n the fact that in such pos i
tions as the above the Bishop is invariably stronger
than the Knight He could and Sho ul d have pre
vented all that b y playing B B I as had White
then rep lied with Q Kt 3 he could then play
P X P and White would not have b een able to retake
w ith the B P on account O f B X P ch winning the
exchan g e
,
,
~
.
,
,
,
,
,
.
.
w
KPX P
28
.
P
—Kt
3
I do not lik e this move It wou l d have b een b etter
to hold it in reserve and to have playe d P B 4 t o
b e followed in due time by P K Kt 4 and P B 5
after having placed the Q at Q 2 K B 2 o r some other
square as the occasion demanded Th e text m o ve
blocks the action O f the power ful B at Q B 4 an d
tends to make White s position safer than it Shoul d
have b een The move in itself is a very strong attack
ing move b ut it is isolated and there is no effective
continuation
S uch advan ces as a rule Should only
be made when they can b e followed b y a concerte d
action o f the pieces
.
,
,
,
,
i
.
,
’
.
,
,
.
.
B —B
B
R
—B 4
—K
—
Q B
P
I
5
I
—K Kt 4
IN A
SP E CIM E N GAM E
—
B
B
4
3,
3
P
I
f
now
>< P ;
(
with a winning attack )
7
19
3 5 B X R , B >< B
ch
,
.
35
R
.
—K B
P — Kt 5
I
—
R
R
n
was
the
alter
ative Wh ite s only move
3
would have been K R I The position no w is evi
de nt ly wo n for Black a nd it is o n ly a question of
The fin al attack is now
findi ng the right cou r se
carri ed o n b y S ir G eorge Thomas in an irreproachable
manner
’
.
.
,
.
w
B—Q s
37
Kt
-
.
—K
( Again preventing B
2
R b y the masked attack
o n White s Rook
White the refo re p rotects his Rook )
—
If Kt B 4 P — K
R X Kt ch ;
39 Kt >< P
—
B
R
0
R
K 5
><
4 1 B X B best R X R and
4
Wh ite is lost If howeve r agai n st 3 8 Kt B 4 Black
plays Q R 3 and White 39 Q B 2 I take pleasure
x
,
’
.
.
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
A P LAYE R S M O T IVE S CRI T ICI S E D
’
108
in O ff ering the positio n to my readers as a most be au
tiful and extrao r din ary win for Black b eginnin g with
—
ch
I
leave
the
var
i
tions
for
the
R
6
a
Q
39
student t o work o u t
—
—
K
1
K
2
t
R
t
R
8
)
Q
(
3
3
,
.
.
.
.
39
Q
.
-
B
2
( Making a double attack
on
—
the Rook which still
—
taken a n d
cannot be
preparing to defend the K R P )
If either the Rook o r Bishop are taken Wh ite would
be mated in a few moves
.
.
39
.
40
.
K
—R
—
Q R
6
ch
R X P '!
I
—
R
If
1
K
K t 1 Q >< K t P ; 4 2 Q
t
(
3; 4
K Kt 2 Black therefore tries to get the Queen away
from the defence ) A very beautiful move and the
best way to car ry o n the attack
-
,
.
,
.
.
“
.
Q
X R
C HA P TE R
V
END -GAM E S TRA TE GY
WE must now revert once more to the endings Their
importance will have become evident to the student
who has taken the troub le to study my game with
Janowski ( Example
After an uneventful openin g
—
a Ruy Lopez in o ne o f its normal variations
my opponent suddenly made things interesting b y
O ffering the exchange ; an o ffer which Of course I
accepted Then foll owed a very hard arduous struggle
in which I had to defend myself against a very dan g er
o u s attack made possible by the excellent m a n oeu
F inally there came the t ime
vring o f my adversary
when I could give back the material and change O ff
most of the pieces and come to an ending in which
I clearly had the advantage B ut yet the e n din g
itself was not as Sim ple as it at fi rst appeared and
perhaps through o ne weak move o n my part
fi nall y
it b ecame a very diffi cul t matter to fin d a win
Had I b een a weak end g ame player the game would
pro b ab ly have ended in a draw and all my previous
efforts would have been in vain Unfortun ately that
is very Often the case among the large majority o f
players ; they are weak in the e n dings ; a failing from
which masters o f the fi rst rank are at times not free
.
,
,
.
,
,
.
,
,
,
.
,
.
-
,
.
,
.
1 10
—
END GAM E ST RA TE G Y
Incidentally
1
I1
I might call attention to the fact that
all the world s champions o f the last sixty y ears have
been exceedin g ly stron g in the endings : Mo rphy
S teinitz and Dr Lasker had no superiors in this
departmen t O f the game while they held their titles
,
’
,
.
,
.
26
.
T HE
S UDD EN A TT A C K F R O M A
D IFFE R EN T S ID E
I have previously stated when speakin g ab out
g eneral theory that at times the way to win consists
in attacking fi rst o n o ne Side then granted greater
mo b ility of the pieces to transfer the attack quickly
from o ne side to the other breaking through before
your O ppone n t has been able to brin g up s uffi cient
forces to withstand the attack This principle Of the
middl e game can somet imes b e applied in the en din g s
in somewhat s imilar ma nner
,
,
,
,
,
.
-
.
Exam ple 5 6
.
,
THE
112
S U DD E N ATT AC K
In the a b ove position I with the Black
la
y
ed
:
p
,
I
2
3
—K 5
R
.
.
R
—K
2
R
.
R
—R
2
P
—Q R
—K R
ieces
p
,
ch
5
4
The idea as wi ll be seen very soon is to play P R 5
in order to fix White s King s side Pawns with a view
to the futur e It is evident to Black that Wh ite
wants to brin g his Kin g to Q Kt 3 to support his
t w o wea k isolated Pawns a n d thus to free his Rooks
B lack therefore makes a plan to Shift the attack t o
the King s Side at the proper tim e in order to Obtain
some advantag e from the greater mobility o f his
Rooks
,
,
’
’
.
.
,
,
,
’
,
.
4
.
R
—Q
R
I
in order to force the Rook
b oth Rooks tied up
to
(Q 4 )
-
Q
R 4
Rook s square keeping
’
,
.
5
6
7
.
R
.
K
.
K
(Q )
-
I
Q
B
R
P
I
2
K
2
R
—R
5
Kt 2
K Kt
4
Bla ck begins to transfer his attack to the King s Side
K Kt I
8 R
A serious mi stake which loses qui ckly Wh ite should
have p l aye d 8 K Kt 3 when Black would have
—
P
B 3 and Black
R
answered 8 R ( R 5)
4 ; 9
woul d have Ob tained an Opening at K Kt 6 for his
Kin g which in the end might gi ve him t h e vi ctory
’
.
.
.
,
,
-
.
,
.
.
,
R —K B 5
SUDD E N A TTAC K
T HE
1 14
proper course as in the previous endin g is t o b rin g
the Rooks forward s o that at least o ne Of them may
be able to shift from o ne Side Of the b oard to the
other and thus keep B lack s Rooks from moving
freely What this means in gene r al theory has been
stated already ; it really means : k ee p h arassing th e
,
,
,
’
,
.
e ne my;
for ce h im
If h e h as
a noth er
c oll a
ca n
pse
a
,
his big
s om ewh er e
s oon er or
l a t er
it , m a k e
s om ewh er e
e ls e
t o defend P a wns
p ieces
tr y t o m a k e it wea k er ,
we a kne ss
f
F rom
us e
p oin t
wea k
t
r
e
id o
g
n ess
to
a nd
e ls e
If h e h a s
.
su r e
t h a t you
a
his
.
or cr e a t e
p osition
wea k nes s ,
will
a nd
cr ea te a not h er
he
we a k
.
the position in question the g ame continued
thus
I
.
R
—K
—K
K R
4
I
with the O b ject O f repeating Wh ite s manoeuvre and
also not to allow Whi te the control o f the Open fil e
’
,
2
.
3
.
4
.
Q
Q
I
R
—K
R —K 3
R
(B I
R—K
K—B
3
)
K —B
I
—K
I
I
Black wants to bring his King to the centre o f the
board in order to b é nearer to whatever point White
decides to attack The move is justifi ed at least o n
the general rule that in such endin g s the King Should
be in the middle o f the b oard He does nothing after
all but follow Wh ite s footsteps Besides it is hard
to po int o u t anything b etter I f 4 P Q 4 ; 5 R
Kt 4 ch f ollowed by K
K 2 would leave Black in
a ve ry disagreeable position If 4 P K B 4 ; 5 R
'
.
.
’
,
.
.
,
.
,
.
.
.
.
FROM
Q
A DI FFE RE N T S ID E
4 ! R X R? 6 P X R, R X P ;
—Q R
—
K
B
7
P , which
2,
11
R
—K
5
2
;
winnin g the Q R
would prac
tically leave White with a passed Pawn ahead on the
Queen s side as the three Pawns Of Black on the
King s side would be held by the two of White
8 R
4,
’
,
’
.
5
K—K 2
R—Q R 4
.
6
.
K—K 2
R —Q R
I
The studen t should note that through the same ma
n oe u vr e Black is fo r ced into a position S imilar to the
o ne Shown in the p r evious e n din g
~
.
7
R —R 5 !
.
This move has a manifold Object It practicall y fix es
all o f Black s Pawn s except the Q P which is the onl y
one that can advance two squa res It specially p re
ve n ts the advance o f Black s K B Pawn s and at the
s ame time th r eate n s the adva n ce of Wh ite s K B
Pawn s to B 4 a nd B 5 By this th reat it p r actically
forces Black to play P Q 4 which is a ll White desires
for reasons that will soo n become evident
.
’
,
.
’
,
’
.
,
,
.
P —Q 4
r
8
P
.
Evidently
—Q
K —Q 3
B 4 !
forced as the o nly other move to save a
Paw n would have been P X P which would have left
all Black s Pawn s isolated and weak I f 8 P Q 5
—
—
—
—
K
R
K
I
O
P
!
Kt
R
K 4;
4
9
Q 3;
4
Q
I I R R 6 and Black s g ame is hopeless
,
,
’
.
.
,
’
,
.
9
m
.
.
P —B 5
P —Q 4
ch
K—Q
2
P —B 4
.
SUDD E N ATTAC K
T HE
I 16
Apparently ve ry strong si n ce it forces the exchan ge
R 3 b ut in reality
o f Rooks because o f the threat R
it leads to nothing The b est chance was to play
,
.
R —K K
I
.
I I
.
m
.
R X R
P X R
P—B 4
Up to now White had played with
fi nesse ,
but this
last move is weak R R 6 was the prope r way to
contin ue SO as to force Black to give up hi s Q R P
or Q B P
.
,
.
12
K —B
.
m
.
K —Q
I
2
—R
Again a b ad move
3 was the proper c o n
R —K t I ; 1 4 P — K t 3
t inu a t io n a n d if then 1 3
K —K t 2 ; I 5 P —K t 4 K —R 1 ; I 6 R — Q Kt 3
with excell ent winning chances ; in fact I b elieve a
w on g ame
.
I3 R
,
.
T
.
,
,
,
,
,
.
K
13
Black misses his only chance
.
R
Kt
Kt
2
1
would have
1 18
TH E
28
SU DD E N ATT AC K
P — Kt 5
.
A weak move which gives Black a fighting chance
In t hi s end ing as is O f ten the case with most players
Wh i te plays the b est moves whenever the Situation
i s difficult and requires careful han dl ing b ut once
hi s position seems to be overwhelmin g he relaxes hi s
eff orts and the result is nothi ng t o be proud of Th e
ri g ht move was 2 8 R — Kt 7
,
.
,
,
,
.
.
R PX P
28
”
.
0
3
.
1
3
.
2
3
.
33
.
34
.
35
.
36
.
P X P
R — Kt 7
K — Kt 4
KX P
P—B 6
—B
R —R
R
I
!
I c
h
P X P
—R 7
K — Kt I
R
ch
R X R P
R — K t 7 ch
K—R 5
K — Kt 4
R —R 7
ch
R X P
Black misses his last chance : R Kt 7 ch forcing
the King to B 3 in order t o avoid the perpetual
,
,
,
FROM A
woul d probably draw
DI FF ERE N T S ID E
1 19
The reader must b ear in m ind
that my oppo nent was then a very young and in e x
e
e
n
d
e
c
r
i
player and consequently deserves a g reat
p
deal of cre di t for the fig ht he put up
.
,
.
y
Kt
chances
R
7
.
R
—K
R X P
7
ch ; fo llowed b y
R —K
R
7,
P—R 6 !
R X P
ch
K — Kt 5
R
.
—Q
8
P —R 7
K—B 5
R —B 8
m
K—Q
R—Q 8
ch
K —K 5
K—B 6
R —K 8
m
R — K 8 ch
K—R
P—R 8
R ><
R — Kt 8
4
( Q)
2
Q
K — Kt 3
K >< P
K —B 4
K >< P
K X P
K—K
ch
R —K R S
R X R
Th i s
and
o ff ered b etter
Resign s
5
.
e n ding shows how easy it is to make weak moves
how Often even in master play mistakes a re
made and Opportunities are lost It shows that SO
lon g as there is no great advant age o f material even
with a good po s it io n a player no matter how strong
cannot a fford to relax h i s attention even fo r o ne
move
-
,
,
,
.
,
,
.
,
,
DANG E R
T HE
1 20
27
.
THE
D ANGER
OF
A S A F E P O S IT I O N
OF
o f the previous state
A
g
ood
proof
m
ment is Shown in the fo llowin g ending between Mar
shall and K u pch ick in o ne o f their t wo g ames in t h e
same Tournament ( Havana
Exam
e
58
.
,
It is evident that Marshall ( Whi te) is under great
d ifficulties in the above position N ot only is he
bound to lose a Pawn b ut his position is rather poor
The best he coul d hope for was a draw unless some
thing altogether unexpected happened as it did N O
reason can be give n for Black s loss of the game except
that he felt SO certain of having the b est O f it with a
Pawn more and what he considered a safe position
that he became exceedingly careless and did not con
sider the dan g er that actually existed Let us se e
how it happened
.
,
.
!
,
.
’
,
.
.
1
.
P —Kt 4
R X R P
WIT H
END IN G S
122
R X P ; 8 R X R, K X R ; 9 R
10
P —R 5
28
E ND
.
mate
IN G S
ONE
—R
8
Ch ,
K —Kt 3 ;
.
W IT H O N E
R OO K
A N D PAWN S
The reader has probably realised by this time that
en dings o f t wo Rooks and Pawns are very diffi cul t
and that the same holds true for endings o f one Rook
and Pawns E ndin g s o f two Rooks and Pawns are
not very comm on in actual play ; but endin g s of o ne
Rook and Pawns are about the most common sort
Of en d ings arising o n the chess board Yet thoug h
they do occur so often few have mastered them thor
oughly They are Often Of a very diffi cult nature and
sometim es while apparently very Simple they are in
reality extremely intricate Here is an example fro m
a g ame b etween Marshall and Rosenthal in the Man
hattan Chess Club Championship Tour nament of
,
.
.
,
,
.
.
1 90 9- 1 9 1 0
.
Exam ple 59
.
R OO K AND P AWN S
1 23
In
this position Marshall had a simple Win by
—
—
B 6 and thereby gave
ch
but
played
P
B 7
R
Black a chance to dr aw Luckily for him Black did
not s e e the drawing move played poorly and lost
Had Black b een up to the situation he wo uld have
drawn by playing R Q 3
,
,
.
.
,
,
.
1
P —B
.
R
6
—Q
3!
N O W White has two continuations either ( a )
or ( b) R — B 7 ch We have therefore
,
P
B
7,
.
( )
a
2
3
R—Q
P—B 7
.
R
.
_R 5
m
I
!
K—B 5
and White will fi nally have to sac rifi ce the Roo k
Black s Pawn 01
fo r
’
.
( b)
2
3
.
R
.
P
—B
—B
7
K—Q 5 !
R — Kt 3
ch
7
a ve ry important move as against R
wins
K
B I
4
R
Kt
5
7
ch
KB
,
!
3,
R
K
7
.
.
.
and White will finall y have to sacri fi ce the Rook
for the Pawn o r d raw by perpetual check
If there we re nothi ng mo re in the e ndi ng it woul d
not be of a ny g reat value but there are other
very int e r e St ing features Now suppose that after
I P — B 6 R — Q 3 ; 2 P — B 7 Black did not
realise that R — Q 1 was the only move to draw
,
.
,
.
,
,
.
ENDIN GS
1 24
WI T H
O NE
We would th en have the following position
N ow th ere
( )
a
R
them
—Kt
woul d b e t wo other moves t o try : eithe r
ch
Let
us exa m ine
o
r ( b) R —K B 3
3
.
,
.
( )
a
1
.
2
.
3
.
K —B 3
K —K 3
R
— Kt
R
—B
R
—K
3
ch
3
ch
3
ch
I f P — Kt 6 ; R —R 5 ch wins b ecause if the Kin g
goes back then R R 6 and if the King goes up then
—
—
K B 4 w ins
ch
followed
b
y
R
R
R 4
,
,
,
,
.
,
4
I f R —Q 3
.
ch ;
5
6
( b)
K —Q 3
I
2
.
R
.
R
R
K —K 4
B 3
wins
R 5 ch
K moves
R 6 wins
-
.
—B 3
K —B 5
R
.
.
—K
R
-
Kt 7 !
I f P K t 6 ; R Kt 3 and White will either capture
the Pawn 01 g o t o K B 3 and come out with a winnin g
endin g
,
,
.
END ING S
1 26
WIT H
ONE
If K — B 5 ; both P —R 4 and K —K 3
the last named move particul arly would
with ease
Best
.
wi ll
-
.
R
—K
3
Q Kt
R
P — Kt 7 ( b e st )
RXP
3
R
R X P
—Q 2
K —K 3
R
2
R X P
R
.
—K
position we have arri ved at is won by
b ecause there are two fi les between the opposing
Kin g and the Pawn from whi ch the Kin g is cut O ff
by the Rook and besides the Pawn can advance to
the fourth rank b efore the opponent s Rook can b e g in
to check o n the file Th i s l ast condition is very im
portan t b ecause i f i n stead O f t h e position o n the
diagram the Black Roo k were at K R I and Black
had the move h e could d raw b y preventin g the a d
,
,
’
.
,
,
,
,
,
R OOK
AND
P AWN S
127
vance o f t h e Pawn either through constant checks
o r by playin g R
K B I at t h e proper time
N ow that we have explained the reasons why this
osition
is
w
o
n
we
leave
it
to
the
student
to
work
p
o u t the correct solution
The fact that o u t o f o ne apparently simple ending
we have been able to work o u t several most unusual
and ( llfil CU lt endings Should be suff i cient to im press
upon the student s mind the necessity Of becoming
well acqua inted with a ll kinds o f e n dings and espe
c ia lly with endings of Rook and Pawns
,
.
,
.
’
,
.
A D IFF I C UL T E ND IN G :
R OO KS A N D PAWN S
29
.
F oll owing
T WO
idea that the b est way to learn end
in g s as well as Ope n ings is to study the games o f the
masters we give two more endings o f two Rooks and
Pawns These endings as already stated are not
very common and the author is fort u nate in having
himself played more o f these endings than is gene rall y
the case By carefull y compa ri ng and studying the
e n dings alr eady given ( Examples 5 6 a nd 5 7) with
the followi ng the student no doubt can Obtain an idea
of the proper method to be followed in such cases
The way o f procedure is somewhat s imilar in all O f
them
ou r
,
.
,
,
,
.
,
.
.
a g ame Capab lanca Kre ym
b org in the N ew York S tate Championship Tourna
ment o f 1 9 1 0
Exampl e 60
.
,
.
F rom
-
,
A D I FF IC UL T
1 28
It
E ND ING :
is Black s move and no doub t thinki n g th at
drawing such a position ( that w a s a ll B lack played
for) wo u ld b e easy he conte n ted himself with a waiting
policy S uch conduct must always be c r iticised It
often leads to disaster Th e bes t way to defend s uch
’
,
,
.
.
.
p os it ions is to ass um e
on t h e defe ns ive
t h e initia tive
k ee p th e
a nd
pp onent
o
.
Q
T h e fi rst
R—K
I
move is already wron g T here is nothing
to g ain b y this move Black Should play P Q R 4 ;
to be fo llowed b y P Q R 5 ; unless White plays
P
Q Kt 3 That would fix the Queen s Side After
that he co ul d decide what demonstratio n he could
make with his Rooks to keep the opponent s Rooks
at b ay
.
.
’
.
.
’
.
2
.
R
—Q
4
move not only prevents P B 5 wh ich Black
intended b ut threatens P Kt 3 fo llowed after
T his
,
,
,
A D I FF I C ULT
1 30
E NDIN G :
left his g ame completely paralysed Black now finally
awakens to the danger and tries to save the day by
the counter—demonst r atio n o n the King s side which
he Sho ul d have sta r ted before O f course Wh i te
ca nn ot play R X R P because o f R X R fo ll owed
b y R — R 3 recovering the Pawn with advantage
.
(
,
’
,
,
.
,
,
.
,
9
.
P—K R 4 !
P — Kt 5
B lack
is now in a very disagreeab le position I f he
played
X P ; I O R X P wo ul d leave him in a
very awkwar d Situatio n as he could not go b ack
with the King no r coul d he do much with either
Rook He p r acticall y wo ul d have t o play 1 0 P
K R 3 when White would an s wer 1 1 P Kt 4 threat
if that were
or
e n in g to w in a Pawn by P — K t 5
not enough he might play K Q 4 to be foll owe d
by the en try Of the King at B 5 o r K 5
.
,
,
.
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
m
.
K—K
2
.
T WO
R OOKS
P AWN S
AND
P X P
131
ch
A g ain he cannot play P K R 4 because P K B 4
wo ul d leave h im pa raly sed The advance o f his K R P
woul d make Whi te s K R P safe and co n s equently
his K R wo uld h ave to retire to K B 2 to defend the
i
l
R
P
That
wou
d
make
it
mpossible fo r his Kin g
Q
to g o t o Q 2 because O f the Q R P n o r could he advance
a Single o ne o f his Pawns O n the othe r hand Wh ite
woul d play P Kt 4 threate n ing to win a Pawn by
P — K t 5 or he might fi rst play K — Q 4 a n d then
at t h e proper t ime P Kt 5 i f there was nothing better
Black meanwhil e co ul d rea lly do nothi ng but mark
time with o ne o f his Rooks Compa r e this bottling
u p system with the e n din g in E xample 5 7
and it
wil l b e seen that it is very Similar
,
.
’
,
‘
.
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
.
.
,
.
II
.
m
.
K X P
K—K
R
B
( 3)
-
B
2
2
Probably wrong P — Kt 4 at once was the ri ght
move The text move g ives Black good chances o f
dr awin g
.
.
.
12
I3
.
—Q 3
R — Q Kt
K
.
P — Kt 4
2
co ul d n ever have happened had Wh i te played
12 P
Kt 4 as h e could have followe d it up by
P — K t 5 a fter B l ac k s K — Q 3
This
,
’
°
m
.
P —R S
Not good P — K B 4 o ffered the b est chances o f
— Kt 2 ; 1 5 P
winning by force If then
.
.
A DI FF IC UL T
132
E NDIN G
'
R 5 , R —K t 7 c h ; I 6 K — Q 3 , R — K R 7 ; 1 7 R X P ,
R X R ; 1 8 R X R , R X P ; 1 9 R — R 6, wit h winning
chances
.
P —R 3
Black misses his last chan ce P — B 5 would d raw
If then 1 5 P X P R ( Kt 2 ) — K 2 ch ! ; 1 6 K —B I
.
,
R X P;
I
5
I6
I
1
7
18
19
.
.
.
.
.
P
R
R
X
,
7
—K 6!
P —K B 4
K —Q 3
R—R I
K —Q 4
R
—
6
R
(
) R
2
R
— Kt
R
(K Kt
2
R
— Kt
7
R
K
( t
)
2
)
-
— Kt
K
2
2
R ( Kt 7) Kt 2 would have o ffered greater resistance
but the position is lost in any case ( I leave the st u
dent t o w or k this o u t )
.
.
m
.
fl
.
K —Q 3 !
R X R
,
2
R — Kt
2
.
,
A
1 34
D I FF IC UL T
E NDIN G :
advance b ecause as soon as Black plays P Q K t 3
Whi te replies P Q Kt 4 It is o n this fact that
White builds his plans He will stop B lack s Queen s
side Pawns from advancin g and will then bring his
Then in due time he will play
o wn King to K 3
—
—
—
P
K
and
ally
fi
n
o
r
P
P
K Kt 5 thus
Q 4
5
forcin g an exchan g e Of Pawns and Obtain ing in that
way a clear passed Pawn on the King s fil e It will
be seen that this plan was carried o u t during the course
a n d that White Obtained his winning
o f the g ame
advantage in that way The play w as based through
o u t o n the cha n ce of Obtaining a passed Paw n o n the
Ki ng s fil e with which Wh ite exp ected to win
,
,
,
.
’
’
.
,
.
,
,
,
’
.
,
.
’
.
,
1
.
P — K Kt 4
already preparin g to play P
comes
K Kt
5
when the t ime
.
Black wants to play
p r events it
P
QB
P
4,
Q Kt
3
b ut White
,
of
course
,
.
2
P —Kt
.
K — Kt
4 !
This King Should come to
danger lurks
the
2
Ki ng s side where the
’
,
.
3
.
K—B
2
P —Q Kt 4
With the Ob ject o f playing K Kt 3 and P Q R 4
foll owed b y P X P a n d thus have an O pen file for
his Rook and b e able to make a counter demonstration
,
,
-
T wo
RO OKS
AND
P AWN S
13 5
the Queen s side in order to stop Wh ite s advance
on the right White however also prevents this
’
’
on
4
.
P —Q
.
,
,
.
R
R 4 !
—Q
s
Of
course if P X P ; Black will have all his Pawns on
the Queen s side dis rupted and isolated and White
can easily regain the lost Pawn by playin g either
Rook o n t h e Q R fil e
’
,
.
5
R
.
—Q Kt
I
R
—K 4
He stil l wants to play P — Q B 4 but as it is easy
to foresee that White will again p r eve n t it the text
move is really a serious loss o f time Black sho ul d
bring his King over to the other side immediately
,
,
.
.
6
7
.
.
K —K 3
P —R 5
R —Q
2
The fi rst part o f White s strategic plan is now acco m
li
h
e
s
d
Black s Pawns o n the Queen s Si d e are fixed
p
for all practical purposes
’
’
’
.
.
R—K 3
If R X R ; Kt P X R wo u ld have gi ven White a very
powerful centre Yet it might have b ee n the b est
chance for Black
.
.
8
9
10
.
.
.
R
( Kt )
—K B
P —K t 5
R X P
1
R
—
(Q ) K
2
PX P
2
DI FF IC UL T
A
136
E NDIN G :
The second part o f Wh ite s strategical plan is no w
accomplished It remain s to fin d o u t if the advantage
obtained is sufficient to win White no t only has a
passed Pawn but his Kin g is In a commanding position
in the centre o f the b oard ready to support the advance
o f White s Pawns o r i f necessary to go to Q B 5 o r
to move to the right wing in case Of danger Besides
White holds the Open file with o ne Of his Rooks Al
together Wh ite s position is superior and his chances
o f winning are excellent
’
.
.
!
,
’
,
,
,
,
.
,
.
’
.
m
.
11
.
R—R 3
R (R 3) — K 3
R — Kt 3
to prevent P Q 4 Also Black fears t o
Rook in fr ont o f his two King s Side Pawns
may want to utilise later
.
’
.
12
13
.
.
P —R 4
R —K t 5
P —K t 3
P —R 3
R OOK B I S H OP AN D P AWN S
138
v
.
,
m
.
2
2
I QP X P
f
fi
K —Q
.
P
—Q 5
The winning tactics in all these endings have m erely
consisted in keeping the opponent s Rooks tied to the
defence o f o ne o r mo r e Pawn s leavi ng my o wn Rooks
f ree fo r actio n This is a ge n eral principle which
can be equally applied to any par t of the game It
means in general terms
’
,
.
.
K ee p fr e e dom
o
pp onent
f
o
ma noeu vr e wh ile h a mp ering your
.
There is o ne mo r e thing Of great importance an d
that is that the winnin g Side has always had a gen eral
strategical plan capable o f being carr ied o u t with the
means at his di sposal whil e o f ten the lo sing side had
no plan at all b ut Simply moved accord ing t o the
needs o f the moment
,
,
,
.
30
.
R OO K , B S H O P
I
AN D
K NI GH T A N D
PAWN S
PAWN S
v
.
R OO K ,
We shall now examine an ending of Rook Bishop
and Pa wns against Rook Knight and Pawns where
it will b e seen that the Rook at times is used in the
same way as in the end ings alrea dy g iven
,
,
,
.
the fi rst game o f
Marshall Ch ampionship Match in 1 90 7
Exam pl e 62
.
F rom
.
the
Lask er
R O OK KNI G H T AN D P AWN S
1 39
,
In this po s iti o n it is Black s move To a b eginn er
the po s itio n may look lik e a dr aw but the advanced
player wi ll reali s e immediately that there a re g reat
possibili ties for Black to win no t o nly because he has
but beca use of White s un developed
t h e initiative
Quee n s s ide a nd the fact that a Bishop in such a posi
tio n is bette r than a Knight ( see S ectio n
It wil l
take so me time fo r White to brin g h is Ro ok and Kn ight
i n to the fray a nd Black c an util ise it to Obtain a n
adva n tage The re a re two cou r ses Ope n t o h im The
most evide n t a nd the o ne that mo s t playe r s wo ul d
take is t o advan ce the Pawn to Q B 4 a nd Q B 5
imme di ately in co njun cti o n with the Bi s hop check
at R 3 a nd a ny o the r mo ve that might be n ece s s a ry
with the Black Ro ok The o the r a n d m o re s u btle
course was taken by Black It co ns i s ts in ut ili s ing
his Roo k in the same w ay as Shown in the previous
end ings forcin g Wh ite to defen d somethin g a ll the
t ime restricting the action o f White s Knig ht and
’
.
,
,
’
,
’
,
.
.
,
,
.
,
,
.
,
’
,
R OOK B I S H OP
140
,
AND
P AWN S
2
.
Wh i te s Roo k whil e at the same time keep ing freedom
o f act i on for his o wn Rook and Bishop
’
,
.
R
Th is forces P Q Kt
for the White Knight
3,
— Kt
I
which blocks th at s quare
.
2
P — Kt 3
.
— Kt
R
4
b ringing the Rook to attack the King s Side Pawn s
s o as to force the King to that Side t o de fen d them
’
,
and thus indirectly making more secure the position
o f B l ac k s Queen s s id e Pawns
’
’
.
3
.
4
.
P —B 4
K — Kt
R
—K R
P —B 4
I
4
Wh ite Kn ight s Sphere o f act ion is
very limited an d th at a f ter Kt Q 2 Whi te s own
Pawns are in his way
N ote that
’
the
’
,
.
5
6
.
Kt
.
R
—Q
—B
1
K —B
2
2
ch
This check accomp lishes nothin g I t merely d ri ves
Black s King where it wants to go Consequently
it is a very bad move P Q R 3 at once w as the
best move
.
’
.
.
.
6
7
K—K
.
.
P—Q R 3
2
R —R 3
G ettin g
rea dy to shi f t t h e attack t o t h e Queen s side
where h e h as t h e a dvantag e in materi al and positio n
’
,
8
.
P —K R 4
R
—R
3
.
14 2
R OO K B I S H O P
AND
,
25
26
2
7
28
.
Kt — R 4
Kt X P
.
Kt
—K
way
to
.
.
29
.
0
3
.
1
3
.
2
3
.
P —B 5
P —B 6
’
4
P AWN S
eh
win
.
K —B 5
Wh ite sho ul d
Kt — Q 6
P —B 4
P — Kt 4
P x P
P —B 5
P — Kt 6
Kt
—B
~
4
Kt — K 3
A very good example
duct such an endin g
.
on
K — Kt 6
P — Kt 7
B l ack
’
s part
of
h ow t o
co n
CHAP TER V I
F UR THE R
O PE NING S
AND
M m D LE
-
GAM ES
S O M E S ALIE N T P O IN T S ABO UT PAWN S
31
.
B EF ORE goin g back
the di scussion O f Openin g s and
middle game po sitions it mi ght be well to bear in
mind a few facts concerning Pawn positions which
will no doubt help to understand ce r tain moves and
sometim es even the Object o f certain va riations in
the O pen ings and o f some manoeuvres in the middl e
g ames
to
-
,
,
,
.
Exam pl e 63
the position o f the diag ram we
h ave an exceedingly bad Pawn formation o n B lack s
side Black s Q B P is altogether bac kward and
White coul d by means o f the Open file concentrate
-
.
In
’
’
.
,
1 43
S O M E S ALIE N T PO INT S
1 44
There is also the
square at White s Q B 5 which is controlled by White
and from where a Wh ite piece once established could
In order to get rid O f it Black
no t b e dislodged
would have to exchange it which is not always an
easy matter a nd Often when possib le not at all co n
The same holds true with regard to B lack s
ve nie nt
K P K B P and K Kt P which create what is called
“
a hole at Black s K B 3 S uch Pawn formations
invariably lead to disaster and consequently must
b e avoided
h is
forces against that weak point
.
’
,
,
,
.
,
,
’
.
,
,
’
.
,
.
In this position we might say that
the Wh ite ce n tre Pawns have the attacking position
while the Black centre Pawns have the de fensive
position S uch a formation o f Pawn occurs in the
F rench Defence
In such positions White most Often
attempts b y means Of P K B 4 and K B 5 to Obtain
a crushing attack against Black s King which is gen
e rally Castled o n the Kin g s Side
To prevent that
64
.
,
.
.
,
,
’
,
’
.
,
S O M E POSS IB LE D EVEL OP M ENT S
146
Having all this clear in mind we will now revert
t o the open ings a n d mi ddle game
We will analyse
g ames caref ull y from beginning to end accordin g to
g eneral principles
I Shall whenever possible u se
my o wn g ames not because they will better illustrate
the po int b ut b ecause kno wing them thoroughly I
shall be able to explain them more authoritatively
than the games o f others
,
-
.
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
32
.
P O SS IBLE D EVELO P M ENT S FR O M
A R UY L O PEZ
SO M E
That some Of the variations in the openings and
the man oeuvres in the middl e game are often based
on some o f the elementary p r inciples just expounded
ca n b e easily seen in the following case
-
.
.
P—K 4
I fi— K B 3
B — Ki 5
B—R 4
—
O
O
.
P—Q 4
B — K ug
.
P X P
P —B 3
.
.
.
—K I
B —B 2
—
K
L
Q
Q
R
Kt — K t 3
z
Kt — K 3
F R O M A R UY
L OPEZ
14 7
a very well —
kn own variation o f the Ruy
Lopez In fact they are the moves o f the Ja nowski
Lasker game in Paris 1 9 1 2
P Kt 3
14
Q Q3
Let us suppose the game went o n a nd that in some
wa y White by playing o ne o f the Knights to Q 4
at the p roper time forced the excha nge o f both Knights
and then after wards both the Bishops were exchanged
and we arr ived at some such position as shown in the
following diag ram ( I Obtai ned such a position in a
very Similar way once at Lodz in Poland I w as play
in g the White pieces against a consult in g team heade d
b y S alwe )
S O far
,
.
.
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
.
.
.
we wo ul d have here the case o f the b ackwar d
Q B P which will in no way be able to advance to
Q B 4 S uch a position may be said to be theoreticall y
lost and in practice a fi rs t class master will invariably
win it from Black (If I may be excused the reference
I will say that I won the game above re ferred to )
After a few moves the position may b e easily thus
Now
,
.
-
,
,
.
.
148
S O M E P OSS I B L E D EVEL O P M EN T S
Black pieces can b e said to b e fixed I f White
plays Q Q B 3 Black must answer Q Q 2 other
wise he will lose a Pawn and if Wh ite returns with
the Queen to Q R 3 Black wi ll have again to return
to Q Kt 2 with the Queen o r lose a Pawn Thus Black
can onl y move accordin g to White s lead and under
such conditions White can easily advance with his
Pawns to K B 4 and K Kt 4 until Black will b e forced
to stop P B 5 by playin g P K B 4 an d we mi ght
fin all y have some such position as this
T he
.
,
,
,
.
’
,
,
,
Ex am pl e 66
.
1 50
S O M E P O SS I B L E D E VE L OP M EN T S
Black would now be forced to play R B I an d
White could then play Q B 2 and foll ow it up with
K B 3 an d thus fo r ce Black to play P X P which
would give Whi te a gr eater advan tag e
A care ful exam ination o f all these positions will
reveal that b esides the advan tage o f fr eedom o f
man oeuvre on White s part the power o f the Pawn
at K 5 is en ormous a n d that it is the comman ding
position O f t hi s Pawn and the f act that it is free t o
a dvance once all the pieces are exchan g e d th at con
s t it u t e the pivot o f a ll White s manoeuvres
I have purposely given positio n s without t h e moves
whi ch lead to them s o that the student may b ecome
accustomed to b uild up in his o w n mind possible
positions that may arise ( o u t of any given situation )
Thus he will learn to make strategical plan s and be o n
his way to the master class The s tuden t can derive
enormous b en efi t by further practice of this k ind
,
,
,
,
.
,
’
,
,
,
,
,
’
.
.
.
.
33
.
T HE
IN F L U E N C E O F
A
H O LE
The in fluence o f a s o called hole in a g ame has
already been illustrated in my game against Blanco
where has been Shown the i nfluen ce e x e r
( page
c is e d by the different pieces posted in the hole created
at Wh i te s K 5
-
’
.
IN FL UENCE
TH E
Example 67
A
OF
“
HO LE
”
151
— In order to further illustrate this
.
o
w
oint
I
n
give
a
g
am
e
played
the
Havana
Inter
i
n
p
national Masters Tournament o f 1 9 1 3 ( Queen s
G amb it Declined )
Wh i te : D Janows ki B lack
A Kupchick
,
’
.
.
.
.
.
.
1
2
.
3
.
4
.
5
6
7
P—
—
P
Q
B — Kt 5
P— K 3
—
Kt
K B 3
B— K 2
Q4
P— Q B 4
Kt — Q B 3
.
—
P
K 3
—
B
Q
.
Q
Q
—
Kt
Kt
B X P
.
Kt —
2
P X P
3
.
4
3
Of
course the idea is to post a Kn ight at Q 4 b ut as
it is the other Knight which will be posted the r e t h is
man oeuvre does not seem log ical The Knight at
Kt 3 does nothin g except to preve n t the development
The normal cou r se 0 0 followed
o f his own Q B
—
by P Q B 4 is mo r e reasonab le F or a beautiful
ill ustration o f how to play White in that va r iation
Peters
s e e the Ja n owski Rubinstein game o f the S t
burg Tournament O f 1 9 1 4
8 B
Q3
B Kt 3 has some poi n ts in its favour in this position
the most important b ein g t h e possibility o f adva ncing
the King s Pawn imm ediately a f ter 8 K Kt Q 4 ;
,
.
.
,
.
,
,
-
.
.
.
,
’
.
B
B
><
,
9
Q
x B
8
9
10
.
.
—
K Kt
Q
.
.
BX B
.
Kt
—B 3
Q
X B
4
1 52
INF L UE NC E
TH E
OF
HO LE
A
Had White s Bishop been at Q Kt 3 he coul d now play
P
K 4 as indicated in the previous note a move
which h e cannot make in the present position b ecause
—
f
t
K B 5 threatening no t o n ly the K Kt P
o
K
b ut also Kt X B ch As White s King s Bishop should
never be exchanged in this Open ing without a very
g ood reason White therefore cann ot play P K 4
’
,
,
,
,
’
’
.
.
m
n
m
O—O
.
.
—
O
O
.
—
B
R
—
B
Q
2
I
i s perfectly developed and now threatens t o
win a Pawn as follows : K t X Kt Kt X Kt ; P —K 4
followed b y R X P
,
,
,
.
P QB3
The fact that Black is practically f orced to make
this m o ve i n order to avoid the loss O f a Pawn is suffi
cient reason in itsel f to condemn the whole system
of development on Black s part In e ffect he plays
B
Q 2 and now he has to shut o ff the action of h is
12
.
’
.
,
,
1 54
T HE
IN F L UE NCE
15
OF A
H OLE
— Kt
R
.
“
”
I
There is no O b ject in this move unless it is to b e fol
owed by K t Q 2 As that is not the case he might
have gone with the Rook to B 1 as he does later
,
,
.
.
,
.
—B
R—R
.
R
—K I
—
I7
Q B3
—
18
Q Kt 3
16
.
threatened to
—
either Kt B
19
.
20
.
21
.
R
R
7
or
win
Kt
—B
3
3
I
the exchan g e b y p l ayin g
— Kt
4
.
P—B 3
—
P
Q
P—R
R 3
3
Perh aps
all these precaut ions are unnecessary b ut
White feels that he has more than enough time to
prepare his attack and wants to b e secure in every
way b efore he b e gins
,
,
.
T HE
21
.
22
.
23
He
on
IN F L U ENC E
P —K 4
—
Q B
.
2
A HOL E
P — Kt 4
OF
1 55
P—B 5
Kt — K 6
b etter have played Kt
B 3 an d tri e d later
to g et rid o f Whi te s Kni ghts b y means of K t Q 2
h ad
’
.
24
R
.
X Kt
with this sacr ifi ce o f the Rook for a Kn ight and Pa wn
Wh ite Obtains an overwhelmin g position
.
R
K
t
P
B
I
25
X
Q
o ne O f the
was
b
etter
in
order
to
get
rid
Of
2
Kt
Q
two White Knights There were however any number
among them the following
o f good replies to it
—
B
ch
t
K
Kt ( B 5 ) X K t B X Kt ;
7
Q;
K — K t 2 ; K t X Q and with two Pawns for the
exchange and the position s o much in his favour
White should have no trouble in winnin g
24
P
.
X
.
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
IN F L UENC E
TH E
1 56
OF A
H OLE
—
Kt 3
26
4
Kt 2
R
P
K5
27
B
B2
B B4
28
All these moves are practically forced and as it is
easily seen they tie up B lack s pos i t ion more and
more White s man oeuvres from move 2 4 onwards
are highly instructive
—
Kt
Kt
.
R
.
.
,
’
’
.
.
29
.
Kt
—B
Kt
6
— Kt
3
This wanderin g Knight has done nothin g through out
the g ame
—
—
0
Kt
B
K
P
K R 3
4
( 5)
3
.
.
If P X P ;
31
.
32
.
33
.
Kt
—
Q Q
—
R
Kt
34
35
.
2
3
and Black would b e helpless
2,
P —B 4
P
4
—
Q B I
PXP
—
K
B
.
—Q
P— K R 4
— K Kt
Kt
4
—K
PXP
Resigns
.
2
PXP
There is nothing t o b e done If B — Kt I ; Q — R 2 ch
K
Kt 2 ; B X P
The student Should notice that apart f rom other
things White throughout the game has had control
o f the Black squares
principally those at K 5 and
36
.
.
.
,
.
,
,
,
Q
B S
:
F rom
en d o f t h e b oo k I shall g ive a
collection o f my games b oth lost an d wo n chosen so
as to serve as illustrat i ons o f t h e genera l principles
lai d d o wn in the fore goin g pages
no w o n
to the
,
.
PA RT
GAM E
1
.
.
Q UE EN S GAM BIT D E CL INE D
Marshal
l
J
.
1
2
3
4
5
.
.
.
.
.
II
’
Match
(
F
‘
,
)
1 90 9
Black : J R Capab lanca
.
.
.
P —
Q4
—
P
QB4
Kt — Q B 3
B — Kt 5
P— K 3
P—
Q
.
4
—
K 3
P
Kt — K B
B—K
3
2
Kt — K 5
I had played this defence twice before in the match
with good resul ts and although I lost this game I
still played it until the very last game when I changed
my tactics The r eason was my total lack o f kn owl
edge O f the diffe rent variations in this Openin g coupled
with the fact that I knew that D r E Lasker had b een
successfu l with it aga inst Marshall him self in 1 90 7
I thought that since Dr Lasker had played it SO O ften
it should be good The O b ject is to exchange a couple
of pieces and at the same time to b ring ab out a position
full Of possib il ities and wi th promis ing chances o f
success once the end game stage is reached O n
general principles it Should be wrong because the
,
,
.
,
.
.
.
,
.
.
-
.
,
159
G AM E
1 60
1
same Kni ght is moved th ree times in t h e o pen in g
although it involves the ex c hange o f two pieces In
reality the diffi cul ty in thi s va riation as well as in
nearly all the variations O f the Queen s g ambit lies
in the slow development o f Black s Queen Bishop
However whether this variatio n can or cannot be
safely played is a question still to be decided and it
is outside the scope o f this book I may add that at
present my preference is for a d ifferent system of devel
O pm e n t
but it is not unlikely that I Shoul d some
t ime come back to this variation
,
.
,
’
,
’
.
,
,
.
,
.
6
.
r
B >< B
B—
Q
P X P is preferab le
s
fo r
reasons that we shall soon
se e
.
K t X Kt
—Q
Kt
2
N ow P X P would be a b etter way to d evelop the
g ame The idea is that after 8 P X P ; 9 B X B P
P Q Kt 3 fo llowed b y B Kt 2 woul d g ive Black s
.
.
,
.
’
,
,
Bishop a powerful range Fo r this variation see the
eleventh game of the match
.
.
Kt — B 3
—
O
O
'
9
.
N O longer would 9
b e good because 1 1 B
.
.
P
,
on
account Of
Kt
K
X P ; 1 0 B X P P — Q Kt 3
Kt 5 would prevent B Kt 2
,
5
.
GAM E
1 62
B l ac k
1
s posi t i on was b ad and perhaps lost in
Ca se b ut t h e text move makes matters worse As a
matter o f fact I never s aw White s reply B — B 5
It never even passed through my mind that this was
threatened Black s best move would have b een
16
K R
Kt 1 If that loses then any other move
wo ul d lose as well
KR B 1
17
B B 5
F rom b ad to worse
Kt
B 3 Offered the only hope
’
.
,
’
.
’
.
.
.
.
,
.
.
.
.
BX
19
P
P
20
21
QX
T he g ame was lost
18
.
.
.
.
.
22
23
24
25
.
.
.
.
Kt
QXB
R6
B B3
P
PxP
P
Q R Kt I
O ne move was as g ood a s another
RXR
Kt — K 5
P— K B 4
Q
X
R!
RXR
—
Q B
4
R — Kt 3
Resigns
.
.
QUEE N S G AM B I T D E CLIN ED
'
’
1 63
—
K t 8 ch would have
Of course if 2 5 Kt X B
drawn The text move is pretty a n d fi nishes quickly
A well played game on Marshall s part
,
,
R
.
.
’
-
.
GA M E
2
Q UEE N
.
’
S
GA M BIT D E C L IN ED
n
n
S
ebastia
a
S
,
(
A K Rubinstein
.
.
1
.
2
.
P—
Q
.
4
.
P ><
5
.
3
6
.
.
P—
Q
P— Q
4
.
4
.
4
B 4
—
P
K 3
K P >< P
Kt —
B
QP
Kt — B 3
Q
3
B— K 3
K Kt 3
P
)
Black : J R Capablanca
.
Kt — K B 3
P—B
1 91 1
Kt B 3 is the normal move in this va r iation White s
development was fi rst in t roduced by S chlechter a nd
elabo rated later o n by Rubin stein It aims at the
isolation o f Black s Q P against which the White
pieces are gradually co n cent r ated In makin g the
text move I w a s t rying to avoid the beate n t r ack
Bei ng a developing move there should be no Objection
to it in the way O f ge ne ral prin ciples except that the
Knights ought to come o u t before the B ishops
’
.
.
’
,
.
.
,
.
7
8
In
.
B — Kt
.
—
0
0
pursuan ce
of
2
the idea
B— K
2
R— B
I
i
of
chan ging the norm al
GAM E
1 64
2
cour se o f th i s vari ation b ut with very poor success
The move in theory ought t o b e unso un d Since Black s
K Kt is yet undeveloped I had not yet learned o f
the attack founde d o n K t Kt 5 and the exchan g e
—
—
E ither K t
B 3 or P
K R 3;
o f the B at K 3
to prevent either B o r Kt K Kt 5 was right
.
,
’
,
.
.
.
,
P >< P
— K Kt 5
.
Kt
.
Kt X B
.
—
R
B
3
—
B
Kt 5
a mistake The right move was R Q 1 in
order to get the Rook away from the line o f the B ishop
at R 3 and at the same time to support the Q P Inci
dentally it shows that Wh ite failed to take proper
advantage O f Black s weak openin g moves Against
the text move White makes a very fine comb ination
Th is i s
.
.
’
.
GAME
1 66
16
—
Kt
K
.
2
2
!
is the move which I had not cons i dere d I thought
that Rubinstein wo ul d have to play B Kt 2 w hen
I had in mind the followin g winning combination :
—
—
—
—
I
K
!
K
t
B
t
Kt 2 K
B 1
16 B
4
4 (if R
7
—
P
B
ch
wins
K
t
K
t
R
X
X
X
Q
)
Q
Q
5;
—
—
R 3 B X P ch wi n s the ex
K R 3 ( i f Kt
18 P
change ) K t X P ; 1 9 R X Kt B X R ch ; 2 0 K X B
K Kt 4 and B lack Should w in It is curious that
P
this combination has been overlooked It has b een
taken for granted that I did no t s e e the 1 7 th
move Q B 1
Th is
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
.
.
—
QR Q
I
After White s last move there was nothing for me
do but submit t o the inevitab le
’
to
.
— B
Q
.
Q
!
I
x B
—
K
t
Q
.
.
—
Q Q
P x
s
s
Q
B — Kt 4
This gives Black a chance He should have played
K R— K I
I f then Kt — B 7 ; R X R ch R X R ;
.
,
.
—
—
—
—
—
R
Q7;
Q B I R K 7 ; K B I Kt
Q 5 ( if R
—
B — K 6 ch K
i
n
R
l
w
B 8 ch
B I ; B X P w ou d
);
K — B 2 ; R — B 7 ch R — K 2 ; R —B 5 wi ns
,
,
-
,
,
,
.
QUEEN S GAM B IT D E CL INED
’
—
K R
K
—
R
Q
I
.
B—K 6
.
—
B
B— B
R X R
R x P
5
R X P
R
3
—
R
Q Kt 3
R X R
—
K
R
1 67
ch
ch
5
7 ch
—
Kt
B 3
—
B I
K
K— K
K—
Q
I
2
B— B 4
P —Q R 3
A b ad move which g ives away any legitim ate
chance Black had to draw It loses a very importa n t
move In fact as the course o f the game wil l Show
it loses several moves The proper way was to play
K— Q 3
I f then R — Q Kt 5 R X R ; B X R
Kt — Q 5 ; followed b y P — Q Kt 4 ; and White
would have an exceedingly difli cult game to draw o n
acco unt o f the dominatin g position of the Knight at
,
.
.
,
,
.
.
,
,
GAM E
1 68
2
in
conjunction
with
the
extra
Pawn
the
Queen
s
o
n
Q5
side and the awkward position o f White s
( S ee
how this is so )
— B
—
1
R
ch
K
7
3
Q3
’
’
.
.
P — Kt 4
2
3
.
R X K Kt P
33
.
B — Kt 8
—
P
QR 4
34
.
P
35
.
RXP
R4
P
36
37
.
.
—
R
R
R5
Kt 5
P
6
eh
R— R 5
ch
—
K
B 4
K — Kt 3
B—
Q s
N
With these last three moves White again gives Black
a chan ce Even before the last move B B 4 would
have won with comparative ease but the text move
is a downright b lunder Of which fortunately for h im
Black does not avail himself
.
.
,
,
,
,
.
8
3
.
P — Kt 6
X P would make it practically impossib le for
White to win if he can win at all White s b est con
R
’
,
.
G AM E
1 70
3
At last Black is on his way to o b tain f ull develop
ment The idea o f this irr egul ar Openin g is mainly
to thr ow White o n his o wn resources At the time
the g ame was played the system o f defence was no t
as well known as the re g ul ar forms of the Queen s
Pawn ope n ings Whether it is sound o r no t remains
yet to be proved Its good featu res are that it keeps
the centre intact without creating any particular weak
ness a nd that it gives plenty O f opportunity fo r deep
and concealed man oeuvring The drawback is the
lo ng time it takes Black to develop his game It is
natural t o suppose that Wh ite will employ that time
to prepare a we ll conceived attack o r that he will use
the advantage o f his developmen t actually t o prevent
Black s complete developme n t o r failing that t o
O b tain some defin ite mate r ial advantage
.
.
,
’
.
.
,
.
.
-
,
’
,
,
.
P— K R 3
B— R 4
.
P X P
P X P
.
Kt
Io
.
11
12
—K 4
IRRE GUL AR D E FE NC E
1 71
Kt X Kt
A very serious mistake I considered castlin g which
was the right move but desisted because I was afraid
that by playin g 1 3 B X Kt P X B ; 1 4 K t — Kt 3
B — K t 3 ; I 5 K t — B 5 White would obtain a win
ning position for the end game Wh ether right o r
wrong this Shows how closely related are all parts of
the game and consequently how one will in fluence
the other
.
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
.
13
14
N ot good
.
B X B
.
B X Kt
The natural and proper move woul d have
b een Kt
K 3 in order to b r ing all the Black pieces
into play B X Kt at once was also good as it woul d
have re lieved the pressure against Black s King s Pawn
and at the same t ime have Simplifi ed the game
Here it is see n how fa ilure to comply with the ele
mentary logical reasons that govern any given posi
tio n Often brings the player into trouble I was no
doubt influenced in my choice O f moves by the fear
of B — B 5
which was a very threatening move
.
,
.
,
’
’
,
.
,
.
,
.
,
15
—
Q B
4
16
P—
Kt 4
1
7
Q
B X B
—
K 3
Kt
— B 2
Q
R P X B
GAM E
1 72
19
.
3
R—Q 3
P K R 4 to be followed b y P Kt 4 might have
been a more vigorous way t o carry o n the attack
Black s weak point is unquestionably the Pawn at
K 4 which he is compelled to defend with the Kin g
The text move aims at doublin g the Rooks with the
ultimate Object O f placing o ne o f them at Q 6 sup
ported by a Pawn at Q B 5 Black could only stop
“
this by playing P B 4 which would create a hole
at Q 5 ; or by playing P Kt 3 which would tie the
Black Queen t o the defence o f the Q B P as well as
the K P which sh e already de fends B lack h ow
ever can meet all this by o fferin g the exchange Of
Rooks which destroys Wh ite s plans F or th i s reason
P
K R 4 appears the proper way to carry o n the
attack
,
,
.
’
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
’
,
.
.
19
20
Th i s
Q
.
.
—
QR Q
I
move is preparatory to P
R
—Q
I
—
K Kt
P
K Kt
3
,
4
which woul d
G AM E
1 74
P X P
24
25
26
27
28
.
.
.
.
1
3
Q
— Kt
Q
— Kt
Q
QXP
K —K 3
K —B 3
X P ch
4
5
ch
—
K
K 3
—
Q Q3
—
Q Q4
—
Q Q 8 ch
ch
P— B S
29
30
.
.
—
P
K
K—R
4 !
2
32
.
33
.
— Kt 4 c h !
Q
Kt X P
34
.
Kt X
35
.
36
4
.
Q
—
P
B 3
—
K
K 2
Q
Q
Kt — K
X
—
P
K 5
P X P
Kt X P
Kt
—Q
3
5
game went o n for a few more moves and
there b ein g no way to counteract the advance o f
Wh ite s two passed Pawns Black resigned
Th e
,
,
’
,
GAM E
4
.
F R EN C H D E F E N C E
.
( S t Petersbu r g
.
,
1 91 3
White : J R Capablanca Black : E A
.
I
2
3
4
Th is
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
—
P
Q
4
—Q B
B — Kt 5
SnO Sk O
-
Borovski
.
P— K 3
P—
P— K 4
Kt
.
)
3
Q4
Kt — K B
3
B — Kt 5
constitutes the M cCu tche on Varia tion
at takin g the initiative away from White
.
.
It aims
Instead
F RE NCH
D E FENCE
1 75
defending Black makes a counter demonstration
I t leads to hi ghl y interest ing
o n the Queen s Side
games
5 P X P
of
,
’
.
.
.
At the time this g ame w as played the variation 5 P
K 5 was in vogue b ut I considered then a s I do now
the text move to be the stron g er
,
,
,
.
Q
X P
This is considered superior to P X P It has for it s
object as I said before to take the initiative away
from Wh ite by disrupt ing White s Quee n s side Wh ite
however has more than ample compensation through
his breaking up Black s Kin g s side It might be
laid down as a principle o f the Opening that t he br ea king
.
,
,
’
’
.
,
,
’
’
.
u
p f
l ar
o
t h e K ing s
’
occu rre n ce on
6
7
8
s id e
f
is
o
u een s s id e
.
.
B X Kt
B X Kt
.
P X B
P X B
Kt — B 3
P—
.
a s im i
’
Q
t he
m or e im p or ta nc e t h a n
Ch
Q Kt
3
The plan o f Black in this variatio n is to post his
Bishop on the lo n g diago n al s o as to be able later on
in co njunctio n with the action of his Rooks along
the Open K K t s file to make a violent attack against
White s Ki ng It is Of course expected that White
will Castle o n the Ki ng s side because o f the broken up
con di tion of his Quee n s Side Pawns
,
’
,
’
.
,
,
’
-
’
.
GAM E
1 76
9
—
Q Q
z
IO
.
—
B
K
2
.
—
P
B
4
11
4
—0—0
An original idea I believe played for the first t ime
in a sim ilar position in a game against Mr Walter
Penn S hipley o f Ph iladelphia My idea is that
as there is no Black Bishop and because Black s
pieces have been developed with a view to an attack
o n the Ki n g s Side it wi ll be impossible for B lack to
take advan tage O f the appare n tly unprotected posi
tio n of White s King Two possibilities must be con
F i r stly : If Black Castles on the Queen s
s id e r e d
side as in this game it is evident that there is no danger
Of an attack S eco n dly : If Black Castles on the Kin g s
side Whi te begin s the attack fi rst taking advantage o f
the awkward position O f Black s Queen In addition
to the attacking p robabilities of the text move White
in o ne move b r ings his King into safety a nd b r ings
Thus he gains several
o n e Of hi s Rooks into play
“
moves tempi as they are called which will serve
him to develop whatever plan he may wish to
evolve
,
,
.
.
,
’
’
,
’
.
’
.
,
,
’
.
,
,
’
.
,
.
”
,
,
.
—
—
O
O
O
—
K R
Kt
Q
—
Q
r
R 4
Unquestionably a mistake ove r looking Wh ite s
’
,
G AM E
1 78
4
such positions it is generally very advant ageou s
to get rid o f the B lack Bishop controlling his Q R 3
“
and Q B 3 which form holes for White s pieces
The Bishop in such positions is of very great defensive
value hence the advantag e o f g ett ing rid o f it
In
”
’
.
,
.
,
19
20
21
K R—K
.
.
B X B
K X B
.
—
P
—
P
B
White threatene d
22
.
Q
P
B 5!
—B
ch
6
3
.
—
Q B
Kt — B 3
I
1
To prevent the Knight fro m moving t o Q 6 via Q 2
and K 4 o r Q B 4 It is self evident that White has a
g reat advantage Of position
-
.
.
23
.
Kt
Q
2?
I had considered R Kt 3 which was the right
move but gave it up because it seemed too Slow an d
,
,
,
F RE NCH
D E F ENC E
1 79
that in such a position there had to be some quicker
way o f winning
.
—
K
Kt
—
or Kt Kt
would have brought a b out
an ending advantageous to White
4
3
.
24
.
25
If
R — Kt
7
1
P w ould win
Kt — R 5 ch
.
26
2
K t — Kt 3
K— R I
—
Kt
Q4
—
R
B 1
P X P
.
—
Q Q
.
28
;
4
Kt X P ,
R ( Kt 1 ) —B
1
;
29
Kt X
.
28
—
B
P
.
4
Kt B 4 was the right move I was however st ill
“
lookin g fo r the grand com b ination and thought
that the Pawn I would later on have at Q 6 would
Win the game Black deserves great credit for the
way in which he conducted this exc e edingly diffi cul t
.
,
”
,
.
,
GAM E
1 80
4
defence He could ea sily have gone wron g any num
b er o f times but from move 2 2 on wards he always
play ed the best move
.
,
.
—
Q Kt
I
P X Kt
P—
Q
P—Q
6
r
K — Kt
Kt
35
.
— Kt
I
3
R X P
The position is most interesting I b elieve I lost
h ere my last chance t o win the game and if that is
true it would vi ndicate my judgment when on move
2 8 I played P
B 4 The student can find out what
would happen if White plays Q — Q 4 ! at once I
have gone over the followi ng variations : 3 5 Q Q 4
R X K R P ( of course if R X B P P — Q 8 wins) ;
.
,
,
,
.
.
,
,
G AM E
182
5
has four Pawns t o three o n the Kin g s side while
Black s supe r iority o f Pawns o n the other Side is
somewh at b alanced by the fact that o ne o f B lack s
Pawn s is doubled O n the other hand Black h as
the a dvantage o f r emainin g with t wo B i shops wh il e
Wh ite has o n ly one
’
,
’
’
.
.
4
5
Q
.
.
P—
o
7
.
Q
P X P
4
Q
Q
—
B
Q
P
Kt X
P X B
Q
X
3
Black s idea is to Castle o n the Kin g s Side His
reaso n is that the King ought to remain on the weaker
side to oppose later the advan ce o f White s Pawns
Theoretically the r e is very much to be said in favour
of this reasoning but whethe r in p r actice that would
be the best system would be rather diffi cult to prove
The student should n o tice that if n o w all the pieces
we r e exchanged Wh ite would p r actically be a Pawn
and would therefore have a won ending
ah ead
’
’
.
’
.
,
.
.
,
8
.
—
Kt
QB 3
—
Kt
K
2
A per fectly so u nd form Of development In an y other
form adopted the Black Kt could not be developed
either as quickly o r a s well K 2 is the natural position
fo r the Black Kt in this variation in order not to
obstruct Black s Pawns and also in some event
in order to g o t o K Kt 3 There is
u a lit ie s
.
.
,
’
,
,
,
.
R UY
L O P EZ
1 83
also the possib ility of its g oin g to Q
P QB4
5
Via
QB
after
3
.
9
10
.
.
O
O
P
B
O
O
4
This move I considered weak at the time and I do
It leaves the K P weak unless it advances to
s till
K 5 and it also makes it possible for Black to pin the
Kt by B Q B 4
R —K I
,
,
.
,
.
—
It threatens B B
Best
It also prevents B
.
11
.
K
—
Kt
Kt
—
B
K 3 , Kt
4 ;
f
K
because
o
t
Q4
3
—
P
B
3
—Q
4
.
B
4
.
or
3
Preparatory to P Q Kt 3 followed b y P — Q B 4
and B Kt 2 in co n junction with Kt Kt 3 which
would put White in great diflicul t ie s to meet the
comb ined attack against the two centre Pawn s
—
B 5
P
12
,
,
.
.
G AM E
1 84
5
It has b een wrongly claimed that thi s wins the g ame
b ut I woul d lik e nothin g better than to have s uch a
position a g ain It required several mistakes on my
part finally to Obtain a lost position
,
.
.
12
13
P — Q Kt 3
.
B —B 4
.
B — Kt
2
Playe d a g ain st my b etter ju dgment The right move
o f course was B X B
D r Lasker gives the follow
—
ing variation :
P
B 4 ;
1
X B; 4 RX B
15 Q R — Q I
B — Kt 2 ; I 6 R — B 2 Q R — Q 1 ;
.
.
.
,
,
17
R X R, R X R ;
,
I8
R
—Q
2,
R X R ;
19
Kt X R ,
and he claims that Wh ite has the b est o f it But
as Nie m z o vit ch pointed ou t immediately after the
game
R — Q 1 given in Dr La sk e r s var ia
tion is not the b est If
then
R—B I !
Wh i te will h ave g reat diffi cul ty in drawin g the game
.
,
’
,
,
.
.
,
G AM E
1 86
5
the point o f playing P — B 4 t o b e
followed by P Q 4 which I thought would give me
a draw but sudden ly I became ambitious an d thou ght
that I could play the text move 1 7 Kt B 1
and later o n sacrifi ce the exchange fo r the Knight
at K 6 wi nning a Pawn for it and leaving White s
K P still weaker I intended to carry this plan either
before o r afte r playing P K Kt 4 as the circumstances
—
demanded N ow let us analyse : 1 7 P B 4 If
—
—
1 8 Kt
Q 5 B X Kt ; 1 9 P X B P Q Kt 4 ; and a
careful analysis will show that Black has nothing to
fear Black s plan in this case would b e to wo r k his
Kt around to K 4 via Q B 1 Q Kt 3 and Q B 5 o r
—
—
—
B
2
P
R
1
8
Again
B
2
Q 4;
4
;
Q
1 9 P X P B X P ; 2 O K t >< B ( best s in c e if R ( B 2 )
B
X
Kt
give
Black
the
advantage
R
X
Kt
2
;
)
Q
Kt X R ; an d there is no good reason why
21 R X R
Black should lose
Kt
B I
17
I
no w
was
on
,
,
,
,
.
,
.
’
,
,
.
.
.
.
.
,
,
’
.
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
.
18
.
—
R
B
2
P—
Q Kt
4
RUY
19
20
21
L OPEZ
—
KR
Q2
P — Q Kt 4
P—Q R 3
.
.
.
R
18 7
—
(Q ) K 2
2
K— B
2
—
B
R
I
O nce
more chan g in g my plan and this time without
any good reason Ha d I now played R X Kt ; P X R ch
R X P ; as I inte n ded to do when I went b ack with
the Knight to B 1 I doub t very much if White woul d
have b een able to win the game At least it woul d
have been extremely diffi cult
.
,
,
.
.
K—B 2
P — Kt 4
.
—
R
Q
—R 2
P—R 3
P— Q R
R
3
—
P
K R 4
PX P
P X P
R
(R
2
4
—
) K
2
This of course has no o b ject now Black with a
b ad g ame flo un de rs aroun d for a move It wo uld
have been b etter t o play R — R 6 to keep the Open
fil e and at the same time to threaten to come o u t
with the Kn ight at Kt 3 and B 5
,
.
,
,
,
.
,
.
27
28
K—B 3
—
B 4
K
.
.
R — Kt
I
—
Kt
P
3
Again bad White s last two moves were weak s ince
the White Ki ng does n othing he re He should have
playe d h is Rook to Kt 3 o n the 2 7t h move Black
now should have played P Kt 4 ch Af ter missin g
this chance White has it all his o wn way and fin ishes
the g ame most accurately and Black becomes more
’
.
,
.
.
.
,
,
G AME
1 88
5
helpless wi th ea ch move The g ame needs no furt h e r
comment exceptin g that my p l ay throug hout w as o f
an alto g ether irresolute character When a plan is
made it must be ca rr ied o u t if at all possible Reg ard
in g the play O f Wh ite I consider his 1 0 t h and 1 2 th
moves were very weak ; he played well after that up
to the 2 7t h move which was b ad as well as his 2 8t h
move The rest o f h is play was g ood pro b ably
perf ect
.
,
.
.
,
,
,
,
,
.
.
P — Kt 4
R — Kt 3
K —B
—
Kt
Kt 3
3
P X P
R P X P
R—R
—
R
Q
3
—
Kt 3 !
K
R— K R
Q
I
—
K
Kt
Kt —
4
—B 5
I
B — Kt
Q
Kt ( K 6)
2
—
K
K
P—K 5
2
P X P
Q
B— B
4
I
Kt X R
B X Kt
—
R
R
7
R— B
I
I
—
K
Q
I
8
B—B
I
R—R
—
R
R
Kt
B
ch
ch
5
Resig ns
.
GAM E
1 90
9
—
B
B
.
6
P —Q B 4
I
Threatenin g Q R 4 and stoppin g there by Wh ite s
threat o f B — R 3 It demonstrates that White s
last move was a complete loss o f time and merely
weakened his position
’
’
.
.
.
B—
.
—
Kt
K
—
O
O
Q
3
2
B X Kt
Q
X P
Black has come o ut O f the opening with a Pawn
to the good His development however has suffered
somewhat and there are B ishops o f Opposite colour
SO that it cannot b e sai d as yet th at Black has a
wo n game ; b ut he has certainly the b est o f the posi
tion b ecause besides being a Pawn to the good he
threatens White s K P which must o f course b e de
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
’
,
F RE NCH
D E FE NC E
1 91
fended and this in turn will g ive him the O pportuni ty
to post his Kni ght at Q 4 Via K 2 When the Black
Knig ht is posted at Q 4 the Bishop wi ll be developed to
B 3 vi a Q 2 as soon as the Opportunity presents itself
,
.
,
,
,
and it will be Black that will then have the initiative
and can consequently decide the course o f the game
15
.
R
—Q
,
.
1
prevent K t K 2 ; which wo uld b e answered b y
Kt X P o r still b etter b y B R 3 The move how
ever is strategically wrong Since by bringing his
pieces to the Queen s Side Whi te loses any chance
he might have o f makin g a dete r mined attack on the
King s side before Black is thoroughly prepared for it
TO
.
,
,
,
,
’
,
’
.
15
.
16
I
7
P— B 4
.
P — K Kt 3
K — Kt
z
B—K 3
.
B etter would have been P Q R 4 in order to play
B R 3 The White B would b e much better posted
o n the ope n diagonal than here
where it acts purely
o n the defensive
,
.
,
.
1
7
18
.
—K z
Kt — Q 4
Kt
.
B—B
2
This Kn ight completely paralyses the attack as it
dominates the whole situation and there is no way
to dislodg e it Beh ind it Black can quietly develop
his pieces The game can now b e said to b e won
fo r Blac k strategically
,
,
.
.
.
GAM E
1 92
19
.
20
.
21
.
22
23
R
6
—Q 3
B —Q
—Q 4
R — Kt 3
—
Q
QB
K —R 2
Kt
R
K R — Kt
— Kt
Q
5
—
P
KR 4
.
—
R 5
P
.
2
I
I
In
order to pin the Knight and b e ready to come back
to either K 2 o r B I Also to prevent Q R — Kt 1
In reality near ly all these precautions are un n ecessary
Since White s attack amoun ts to nothing Probably
Black Should have left aside all these considerations
R 5 now in order to follow it up with
a n d played Q
P B 4 as he did later but under less favourable
c ircumstances
.
.
,
’
.
,
,
,
,
.
24
—
R
R
.
24
3
—
B
P
.
4
White will soon prove Q B 1
would have avoided e verything but Black wants to
assume the initi ative at once and plunges into co m
No t
the
b est
,
as
.
,
G AM E
1 94
6
The position looks most interest ing I t h ough t i t
would b e possib le to get up such an attack ag ainst
the White King as t o make it impossib le for him t o
hold o ut much longer b ut I was wron g unless i t
could have b een done b y playin g B B 3 fi rst forcin g
I followed a
P — Kt 3 and then playing K — R 4
similar plan b ut lost a very important move b y play
K Kt 1 ; which g ave White time to play
in g Q R
—
—
I
am
convinced
however
that
B
B
1
R
Q
3
at once was the right move White would b e forced
to play P Kt 3 and Black would reply with either
K
R 4 ; as already indicated which looks the b est
R
1
the
plan
course
is
play
K
R
and fo llow
f
t
o
o
(
it up wi th K Kt 5 ; threatenin g mate o r some
other move according to circumstances In some
ca ses o f course i t wi ll b e b etter fi rst to play K Kt
Kt K 5 which wi ll at least g ive h im a
or
draw There are s o many possibilities in this posi
tion that i t would b e impossible to g ive them
all It will b e worth the reader s time to g o
care fu lly through the lines o f play indicated ab ove
.
,
,
,
.
,
,
.
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
.
’
.
.
29
AS
QR
.
stated B
The
0
3
.
1
3
.
B
3 was
the b est move
I
.
B—B 3
P — Kt 3
R —Q
K Kt
-
—
K
R
I
4
plan o f course as explained ab ove is to go to
K t 5 in due time an d th reaten mate at K R 8 b ut
i t i s no w t oo l ate the White Roo k h avin g come in
,
,
,
,
,
F R ENCH
D E F ENC E
1 95
t ime to prevent the manoeuvre Instead o f the text
move therefore Black Should have played Kt K 5 ;
which wo uld have given him a draw at the very least
Af ter the text moves the tables are turned It is now
Wh ite who has the upper hand and Black who has
t o fight for a draw
.
,
,
.
.
,
.
2
3
.
R—Q
—
B
K 5
6
K 5 was still the right move and prob ab ly
the last chance Black had to draw against White s
b est play
Kt
,
’
.
33
.
34
.
Q
X B P
—
Kt
Q4
K X R
R X R
Kt X Q ; R X R Kt X P was no better
,
35
.
36
37
38
39
m
4
1
.
.
.
.
.
42
.
44
.
.
46
47
48
49
50
—
Q Kt
K—B
.
.
.
.
.
5
2
—
Q Kt 6
K —K I
Q
43
45
—
Q K 5
P—B 4
—
Q Kt 2
—
B
Q4
—
Q
6
—
P
Kt 4
—
P
K B 5
K— Q 2
P— B 6
—
Q K
B
-
6 ch
K 3
—
R
B
6 ch
.
K—B
2
—K
I
R
—
Kt
B 3
—
R
K R I
R — R 8 ch
P—R 3
R— R 7
Kt — Q
—
B
B
Ch
2
S
P X P
—
R 8 ch
R
—
K
K
R
-
I
R
K— B
—
R
B
2
I
2
—
K
Kt
I
GAM E
1 96
6
Most players wi ll b e wondering as the spectators
did why I did no t resig n The reason is that while
I knew the g ame to be lost I was hoping for the fo l
lowing variation which Ch aj e s came very near playin g
—
—
2
2
R
R
P
R
B
ch
K
P
1
X
X
;
Q
5
;
5
53
5 Q
—
K t 2 ; 5 4 B X R ch K X B ; and wh ile
K t 5 ch K
White has a won game it is by no means easy If
the reader does not believe it let him take the White
pieces against a master and see what happens My
O ppo n e n t who decided t o take no chances played
—
1
B
Kt 7 and fi nally won a s shown b elow
5
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
.
,
,
.
,
1
5
.
2
5
53
54
58
59
60
.
—
K
B
.
56
57
.
—
K
K
.
55
B — Kt 7
.
.
.
.
.
2
2
—
Q Kt
4
K — Kt
P— R 4
—
Q R
r
X P
P — Kt 7
—
Kt
R I
Kt — Q 2
P—R 4
B X P
3
R X P
Kt X B
E X R
Q
Q
P — Kt 6
ch
—
K
B
I
X P
and after a very few more moves Black resigne d
A ve ry fi ne game o n Ch a je s part from move 2 5
on
for while B lack having the b est o f the position
missed several chances White o n the other hand
missed none
.
’
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
G AM E
1 98
7
it is no t so e ffective b ecause Wh ite s Q B i s o ut
and the Kni ght in g oin g to K 3 t o defend the square
B
does
not
b
loc
k
the
B
Q
4
Q
—
—
K
R
K
I
Kt
13
3
—
—
0
14
0
Q K2
No w
’
,
,
,
.
,
.
.
Th i s i s b a d
Black s game w as already not good
He pro b ab ly had no choice b ut to take the Knight
with the Bishop b e fore making this move
’
.
.
.
Kt
B
X
Kt
Q5
Kt
PXB
Kt 1
16
in order t o bring it to Q 2 t o support the other Kni g ht
and also his Kin g s Pawn Wh ite however does no t
all ow time fo r this and b y taking advantag e o f h is
superior position is ab le to wi n a Pawn
—
—
t
K
P
R
17
P
s
4
Q
15
.
.
,
’
.
,
,
,
.
.
S ince
he had no way t o prevent the loss of a Pawn
he Sho ul d have given it up where it is and played
in
order
to
make
h
i
s
position
more
so
li
d
K
2
t
!
Q
Q
,
,
.
,
R UY L OP EZ
1 99
text move not only loses a Pawn
B lack s g ame very much weakened
Th e
l eaves
,
’
.
18
19
20
21
.
P X P
E X P
.
B X Kt
Q
.
.
—
K
Q
Q
X P
X B
B—
4
Q
K—B
Ch
3
I
With a Pawn more and all his pieces ready for action
while Black is still backward in development it only
remains for White to drive home his advan tage b efore
Black can come o u t with his pieces in which case
b y usin g the Open K R fil e Black might be able to
start a strong attack against Wh ite s Kin g Wh ite
is able by his next move to eliminate all dang er
,
,
,
,
,
’
.
.
22
.
Kt — R 4
— R
Q
3
This is practically forced Black could not play
P — Kt 3 b ecause o f B X P and White meanwh ile
threatened Q — R 8 ch followed b y Kt — B 5 ch an d
.
,
Q
X P
.
GAM E
200
23
.
24
.
25
26
27
.
29
0
3
.
.
28
QXQ
Kt — B 5
—
I
B
Q
Kt
B X P
Kt
PX
:
.
.
.
7
—
K 2
B
K R—Q
B—B 4
P—R 4
Q
P —K R 4
—Q
2
—B 3
Kt X P
Kt — B 5
K R— Q
I
—R
P
~
I
4
Black must lose time assurin g the safety Of this Pawn
31
.
32
.
33
.
34
.
—K
P — K Kt 3
B X Kt
P X B
—
Kt
K 3
—
Kt
B 4
—
K R
Kt
—
K
K 2
Kt
.
3
I
Black fights a hopeless b attle He is two Pawns down
for a ll practical purposes a nd the Pawn s he has are
isolated a nd have t o be defended by pieces
.
,
.
35
.
Q
R— B
R
1
—R
2
—
threatened Kt X B foll owed b y R B
,
36
37
38
If
.
.
.
R
39
40
4
1
42
.
.
.
1
P — Kt 4
R
X
K— B 3
R — Kt 5
R— R
,
R— K 4
R X R P ; Kt
.
—K
7
3
B of course would win a piece
—B
B—B 4
3
R — B 3 ch
—
Kt 3
P
K — Kt
z
K — Kt z
B— Q 5
—
R I
R
Ch
.
GAM E
20 2
8
—
Q B
3
Wh ite s threat to regain the Pawn was merely with
the idea o f gaining time to develop his pieces Black
could have played P Q 3 ; Opening the way fo r his
Q B when would have followed 1 1 B Q 3 R K I ;
1 2 Kt
B 3 and White woul d soon start a powerful
direct attack a g ainst Black s King With the text move
Black aims at takin g the initiative away from White
in accordance with the principles lai d d o wn in this
b ook
11
Kt R 3
’
.
,
,
,
,
’
.
.
.
If B X P
Q 3 ; an d White s Bish op woul d b e
completely shut o ff and coul d only b e extricated
if at all with se rious l oss o f position
Th e text
move a ims at qu i ck development t o k eep t h e i ni ti at ive
P —Q 3
,
P—
’
,
,
,
.
.
This
now is not only a developin g move b ut i t a l so
threatens to win a piece b y B X Kt
,
.
C EN T RE GAM E
12
.
B
Kt
Q3
203
Q
5
compli cates the g ame unnecessarily
s impl e an d perfectly safe
—
K 3
B
13
.
.
,
.
13
B — Kt 5
.
Th i s i s
a serious mistake The position was most
interesting and though in appearance dangerous for
Black not SO in reality The right move wo ul d have
been 1 3 R Kt 5 when we would have 1 4 B X Kt
.
,
.
,
.
R X B;
.
15
,
P
-
QB
3, B X P ;
16
P X B,
—
R
K Kt
,
5;
—
—
b
est
P
ch
1
B
B
2
K 3 (
8
I7 Q
X
Q
QX Q;
;
)
1 9 P X Q R X P and Black has the best Of the game
with fo u r Pawns for a Kn ight besides the fact that
all the Wh ite Pawns are isolated
,
,
,
,
,
.
14
T h ere
.
—
Kt
Kt
5!
was nothing better
15
.
Q
X B
!
R X B
.
Kt — K 7 ch
GAME
2 04
B X Kt !
Kt
—K
8
R X B
R X Kt
4 !
—
Q Kt
4
P— K B 4
—
Q Kt
4
P—B 3
B—B 4
—
K R
K
R—Q S
—
Q B
Q
X R
I
ch
3
Q X Q wo ul d h ave given Wh ite a decided a dvan
tage enou gh to win with proper play Mieses however
feared the difficulties of an ending where while h aving
the exchan g e he would b e a Pawn minus He pre
ferred to keep the Queens on the b oard and keep up
the attack At fi rst si ght and even after careful
though t there seems to b e no o b jection to his plan ;
but in truth such is no t t h e case F rom t h is point
the g ame will g radually improve in Black s favour
un til with the exch an g e a h ead Whi te is lost
.
,
,
,
,
.
,
.
,
,
.
’
,
,
.
G AM E
206
8
prevent P K R 4 whi ch I woul d answer wi th
—
It can now be
K Kt 3 winning the Queen
P
considered that my Kin g is safe from attack Wh ite
will have to withdraw his Queen via R 3 and Black
can use the t ime to be g in his advance on the Queen s
side
R
Kt 1
29
K
Q1
To
,
.
,
.
,
’
.
.
30
.
—
R
Q
P—B 4
I
assuming the defensive Wh ite has
placed his Rooks correctly from the point o f view o f
strate gy They are both o n white squares free fro m
the possib le attack o f the Black Bishop
N otice that
on
,
,
.
.
1
3
.
—
Q R s
— R
Q
3
Th i s g ain s time b y attacking the Roo k and holdin g
the White Q at R 3 for the moment on account o f
the K Kt P Besides the Queen must b e in the middle
O f the fray no w that the attac k has to b e brou g ht
home Wh ite has actually more value in material
and therefore Black must utilise everythin g at his
command in order to succee d
,
.
,
,
.
.
(K
2
3
.
R
33
.
K— R
2
)
—
Q
—
Q K 5 ch
—
P
Q Kt 4
2
I
th reatenin g P Kt 5 ; which would open the line
of action o f the Bishop and also secure a passed Pawn
.
34
.
—
Q Kt
— R
Q
S
2
in directly de fending the Q P which Wh i te cannot
take o n account O f Q X R ch
,
.
C EN T RE GAM E
35
—
K
Kt
.
207
P — Kt 5
I
The
attack increases in force as it is graduall y b rou gh t
home directly a g ainst the King The position now
is most interestin g and extremely diffi cult It i s
doubtful if there is any valid defence against Black s
b est play The variations are num erous and d iffi cult
.
.
’
.
.
36
P X P
.
Q
X P
Black h as now a passed Pawn and his Bishop exert s
g reat pressure Whi te cann ot very well play now
R
R
8
B
R
because
O
f
R
P
P
R
X
X
X
X
;
;
3
7
3
an d Wh ite coul d not ta k e the Bishop because Q
K 5 ch woul d win the Roo k leaving Black a clear
passed Pawn ahead
,
.
,
,
.
37
8
3
39
40
M
.
.
.
.
.
R X P
—
Q R S!
R — Q Kt
R
P
—
P
Q
R 3
—
I
(Q ) Q
— Kt
Q
3
Q
~
Q
6
2
-
B s
—
Kt 6
R
I
G AM E
20 8
8
—
B
P
6
B X P woul d also win which shows that Wh ite s
game is altogether g one In these cases however
it is not the prettiest move that should b e played
but the most effective o ne the move that will make
your Opponent resign soonest
’
,
,
.
,
,
,
.
42
43
M
.
.
.
—Q
R—Q
R*Q
R
B
2
s
I
Resi gns
course Wh i te must p lay Q
plays R X P
Of
.
Q
2,
an d
B l ack th en
G AM E
2 10
9
text move is that it leaves Black s Q P i solate d
consequently weak and subject t o attack
’
,
and
.
14
—
K R
Q
.
Kt X B
I
Th e alternative would have b een
—
—
—
1
P
K
t
6
K
t
2
B
15 B
Q R
5;
,
K 5
.
15
16
17
.
4,
.
Kt X Kt
P — Kt 4
.
R X R
Qx R
—
Q B5
—
Kt
B 3
.
—
P
Kt
4 ;
Kt ( B 4 )
Black aims at the exchan g e o f Queens in order t o
remain with t wo Bishops for the ending b ut in this
position such a course is a mistake b ecause the Bishop
at Kt 2 is inactive and cannot come into the game
by an y means unless Black gives up the isolated
Queen s Pawn which the B ishop must defend
,
,
,
’
.
18
No t ,
R
R
Kt —
.
Q
4
o f course R Q 4 b ecause o f Q X Q ; Kt X Q
B I and there would b e no good way t o p revent
B 7
,
,
,
.
18
19
Notice t h e
.
.
Kt (B 3) X Q !
or dination o f the Kni g hts moves
Th ey are man oeuvre d chain l ik e s o to Speak in order
to ma inta in one o f them either at Q 4 o r ready to g o
there Now Wh i te threatens t o tak e t h e open fil e
and therefore forces Black s next move
—
B I
R
’
co -
.
-
,
,
,
,
.
’
.
QUEEN S GAM B I T D E CLIN ED
’
211
The student should examine this position care fully
There seems to b e no particular danger yet as Wh ite
will demonstrate Black may be said to be lost If
the game is not altogether lost the defence is at least
o f the most diffi cult kind ;
i n deed I must confess
that I can se e no adequate defence against White s
next move
.
,
,
.
,
,
,
’
.
20
Kt
.
—Q
R X Kt ;
—
R
Q
5
1
;
—B 5!
21
I
—
—
B
Kt
6
R
Q ,
B X Kt , B X B ;
23
K—B
24
2
;
22
R X P, R
Kt X B ,
—B
2
;
and White is a Pawn ahead If 2 0 B
moves anywhere else then B X Kt doub ling the
K B P and isolating all o f Black s King s side Pawns
2
2,
.
,
.
.
,
’
’
.
21
.
22
.
Kt X B
Kt
—Q
K X Kt
P — Kt 3
4
This is practically forced a s White threatened K t
B 5 ch N otice that the Black Knight is p inned in
such a way that no relief can be a ff orded except b y
g i vin g up the K R P o r abandoning the open fil e
,
.
GAM E
212
9
with t h e Rook which would b e di sastrous as Wh i te
wo uld immediately sieze it
,
,
.
%
.
—
B
P
3!
—
R
P
3
Black could do nothin g else except mark tim e wi th
h is Rook along the open fi le sin ce as soon a s he moved
away White would take it Wh ite o n the other
hand threatens to ma r ch up with his Kin g t o K 5
via K B 2 K Kt 3 K B 4 after havin g o f course
prepared the way Hence Black s best chance was
to g i ve up a Pawn a s in the text in order to free his
Kn ight
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
’
.
,
,
,
.
24
.
B X P
—
25
P
K R4
26
B— B 4
.
.
B lac k
—
Kt
Q
Kt
B
-
2
4
Kt — K 3
exchang es Knights to remain with B i shops
of
G AM E
31
31
.
—
B
K
9
2
—
P
Q
.
5
Practically forced O therwise the White Kin g would
march up to Q 4 and then to B 5 and win Black s
Queen s side Pawns If Black attempted to stop
this b y putt in g his Kin g at Q B 3 then the White Kin g
would enter through K 5 into Black s King s Side
and win just as easil y
.
’
’
.
’
’
.
2
3
.
33
.
34
.
35
.
36
37
.
.
P X P
K— K 3
K—Q 3
P—
Q
R 3
—
K
K 3
B—R 6
K— Q 4
—
B
K 3
—
K
B s
—
B
B 5 ch
—
B
K3
It is b etter not to hurry P K Kt 4 b ecause O f P B 4
for although White could win in any case it would
take longer Now the White Ki ng threatens to help
b y g oin g in through K B 4 after postin g the Bishop
,
.
QUEE N S GAM B I T D E CLIN ED
’
at Kt
re c t ly
2 15
P
b
ut
in
i
d
where
it
not
only
protects
the
Q
7
also the Q Kt P
,
,
.
38
.
B
Kt
Resig ns
7
.
The student ought to have realised b y this time
the enormous impo r tance of playing we ll every kind
O f en din g
In this game again practica lly from the
Opening White aimed at nothing but the isolation
Of Black s Q P Once he Obtained that he tried for
and obtained fortunately another advantage O f posi
tion elsewhere which translated itself into the ma
Then by accurate playing
t e ria l advantage o f a Pawn
in the en ding he gradually forced home his advantage
This ending has the merit of having been played a g ainst
o ne o f the fi nest players in the wo r ld
,
.
,
’
.
,
,
,
.
.
GA M E
P ET R O FF D E F E N C E
10
.
( S t Petersburg
.
R
Capablanca
J
.
.
1
.
2
.
3
.
4
.
)
Black :
F
.
Marshall
J
P— K 4
Kt — K B 3
Kt — K B 3
Kt X P
P—
—
Kt
KB 3
Kt X P
—
K 2
5 Q
—
P
6
Q3
.
.
1 91 4
P— K 4
.
7
.
,
—
B
Kt
5
Q
—
Q K
3
2
—
Kt
KB 3
.
.
GAM E
2 16
10
Played b y Morphy and a ve ry fine move T he po int
is that Should Black exchange Queens he will be a
move behind in development and consequently wil l
g et a cramped game if Wh ite plays accurately
,
.
.
B—K 3
Marshall thought at the time that this was the b est
move and consequently played it in preference t o
Q X Q ch
Kt
B3
B X Kt
.
-
P—
Q
B
Q
4
Kt 5
!
Q3
It is
now t ime to examine t h e resu l t o f t h e openin g
O n White s Side we fin d the minor pieces well posted
and the Queen o u t in a somewhat o dd place it is true
b ut safe from attack and actually attackin g a Pawn
.
’
,
,
.
GAM E
2 18
14
.
5
16
I
.
.
Q
—
Q
10
— Kt
I
Q
—
Q Kt z
P— Q B 4
X P
R
K 4
—
P
Q Kt 3
In order to break up Wh ite s centre and brin g his
Knig ht to B 4 and thus lay the fou n dation for a violent
attack against White s King The plan however
fails as it always must in such cases because Black s
development is backward and consequently his pieces
are not prope r ly placed
’
’
.
,
,
’
,
,
,
.
1
7
18
.
.
O
—O
Kt —
P X P
Q 5!
A simple move which destroys Black s plan utterly
Black will no w have no concerted action of his pieces
and as his Pawns are all weak he will sooner o r later
lo se them
’
,
,
,
,
,
.
P ET R O F F D E FENC E
2 19
T he fact
that he has to exchan g e Queens when he
a Pawn be h ind shows that Black s g ame is lost
’
,
2L
Kt
B X Kt
22
B X B
B— B 3
B X Kt
23
.
.
—
Q
QR
I
The Knight was t o o threatening But now the
ending brought ab out is o ne in whi ch the Bishop
i s stron ger than the Knight ; whi ch makes Black s
plight a desperate one The ga me has no further
i n terest and it is o nly b ecause Of its value as a study
o f thi s variation o f the Petro ff that I have given it
B lack was able to fi ght it o u t until the Sixtieth move
The
o n accou n t o f some poor play o n White s part
rest o f the moves are given merely as a matter of fo rm
.
’
.
,
.
’
.
.
.
R— K
.
—
B
P
4
K — Kt 2
R — Kt 3
K—B 3
—
Kt
K
.
P X P
ch
P X P
29
.
R
0
3
.
24
5
26
2
27
28
.
.
R X B
B— B 4
I
3
— B I ch
R — Kt 4
R—B 5
P— K R 4
K— K
2
R — K Kt
I
1
3
.
2
3
.
33
.
P X P
—
R
B 3
—
K R
QB
—
B 4
R
34
.
B X Kt
P X B
35
.
R X R
R X R
—
Kt
P
—
K
B
36
M
.
R —
Q
6
B 4
R
—Q
I
R 4
I
GAM E
2 20
—
K
K
P Kt
5
5
P — Kt 6
K X P
P — Kt 7
—
R
P
’
K
-
IO
K
K
K
K
Q
2
K
2
B
1
K
1
R X P
7
—
Kt
R
Bj 5
Resigns
3
.
ch
GAM E
222
11
Kt
—R 3
The prob lem for White no w is to advance his Q Kt P
to Kt 5 as fast as he c an If he plays P — Q Kt 4
at once Black Simply takes it If he plays fi rst P
Q R 3 and then P
Q Kt 4 he will still have to protect
his Q Kt P before he can go o n and play P Q R 4
a n d P — Kt 5
As a matter o f fact White played a
rather unusual move but o ne which under the cir
cu m s t an ce s
was the best Since after it he could at
once play P — Q Kt 4 and then P — Q R 4 and P
Kt 5
.
.
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
.
11
.
12
.
13
.
P — Kt 4
P—B 3
Kt — B 2
P—
B X Kt
R
— Kt
Q
I
!
R 4
He Simpli fies h O ping to lighten White s attack which
will have t o be conducted practically with onl y the
heavy pieces o n the board He may have also d one
it in order to play Kt Kt 4 and K 3
’
,
,
.
.
R UY
14
L OP EZ
2 23
RXB
.
T a k ing
b ilit y
with the Pawn would have opened a possi
for a co unter attack
.
P—
Q Kt
3
He is forced to this in o rder to avoid the b reaking up
Of his Queen s side Pawn s The only alte rnative
would have b ee n P Q Kt 4 ; which o n the face o f
it looks b ad
P
Kt 5
BPXP
15
’
.
.
.
16
17
18
.
P X P
P—
.
Kt —
.
—
B
P
—
Q B
Q
5
Q
R 4
4
The White Kn ight is no w a t o we r o f strength Be
hind it White will be able to p repa r e an attack
whi ch will b egi n with P — Q 4 to d r ive away the
Black Queen and thus leave him self free to play P
B 5 There is only o ne thing to take care of an d that
.
,
,
.
GAM E
2 24
11
is to prevent B l ack from sacrifi cin g
Knight and a Pawn
Roo k
the
fo r t h e
.
18
—
Kt
Kt
.
19
.
20
.
R— B
Kt
2
-
R—
— B
Q
3
4
K 3
Q
2
Ha d Wh i te o n h is 1 9t h move play ed K R B I in
stead o f R B 2 Black coul d h ave p layed
instead of the text move R X Kt ; K P X R Q X P ch ;
foll owed b y Kt B 4 with a winnin g game
,
,
,
.
21
.
R—
Q
K — Kt
I
2
It would h ave b een b etter fo r Black to p l ay
The text move loses very rapi dl y
.
23
.
—
P
Q4
R— B 2
24
.
P X P
22
.
25
26
7
28
2
.
P
—B
—
Q Qs
P X P
Kt — B 5
K t X Kt
5
.
P X Kt
Q
.
P—
—
Kt
K
.
P x R
29
.
30
.
1
3
.
B
—
P
Q
—
P
Q
—
Q B
6
ch
X
Q
P
—
R
K
5
6
P X P
6
Resigns
I
I
.
K
Q
1.
G AM E
2 26
12
2
K
Q
This is played t o prevent P Q Kt 3 follo we d b y
Kt 2 which is the general form of development
B
for Black in this variation If Black now plays 8 P
—
—
—
1
2
0
K
t
K
B
and
ch
K
t
B
Kt
;
Q
5
5
Q
3; 9
White O b tains a considerable advantag e in position
8
.
,
,
.
.
.
,
.
8
9
O
.
B—K
.
O
—
K
P
Kt 5
R 3
course B lack could not play P Q Kt
o f B X Kt followed by Q
K4
10
B X Kt
BXB
Of
3
b eca use
.
,
.
11
.
— K
Q
—
P
K Kt
4
This weakens Black s King s Side
the right move
—
12
P
K R 4
’
’
.
R
3
K I w as
.
.
12
Thi s
ou t
P
.
—K 4
is merely giving up a Pawn in order to come
quickly with his Q B But as he does not Obtain
.
F RE NCH
D E FE NC E
227
any compensation for his Pawn the move is bad
He Should have played Q — Q 4 and t ried to fight
the g ame o u t that way It might have cont inued
—
—
B
Kt 2 ; 1 4 Q X B P B X P ;
thus : I 3 Q B 4
O
O with considerable
1 5 Kt X B Q X Kt ; 1 6 O
advantage O f position for White The text move
mi ght be considered a mild form of suicide
,
.
.
,
,
,
.
.
In order to keep the Black Queen from coming
the game
17
QR Q1
18
KR Q1
.
.
.
A b etter plan would have b een to play
threaten ing P K 6
R
—K
1,
.
fi
19
20
R X R
.
.
.
R X R
R— K
P— B 3
P—
Of
Q
I
B 3
course if B X P ; Kt
Q X Kt ; R
Black with a Pawn minus fights very hard
,
K 3
.
.
21
.
R
—K
3
The Pawn had now to b e defended after Black s
last move beca use after B X P ; Kt X B Q X Kt ;
’
,
,
GAM E
2 28
12
— K 3 Black coul d now play Q — K t
the Rook
R
,
1
de fen din g
.
M
P—
.
22
.
23
.
—
K
B 2
P —R 4
Q
B 4
P — Kt 3
Whi te s plan now is to fi x the Queen s Side in or der
to b e able to manoeuvre freely o n the other Side where
he has the advanta g e o f material
’
’
,
.
23
24
.
.
—
R
Q
3
m
—
Q K4
—
R
27
P —B 4
2
5
.
.
.
Q
5
Blac k sees that he now stands in his best defensive
position and therefore waits for White to Show how
he intends to break through He notices Of course
that the White Knight is in the way o f the K B P
which cannot advan ce to K B 4 to defend o r support
rather the Pawn at K 5
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
.
G AM E
2 30
No w
12
that h e has completed his march wi th
i s ready to advance
the
Ki n g ,
.
39
.
P —K R 5
’
P X P
B
K Kt 4 would b e answered b y Q
with a winnin g g ame
5,
.
40
.
—
Q K
P X P
2
A g ainst K Kt 1 White would play Q K t 4
practically forcing the exchange o f Queens a fter
which White would have little trouble in winning the
ending si n ce Black s B ishop could not do much d amage
in the resul ting position
,
,
’
,
.
41
.
—
Q B5
—
Kt
K
I
B l ack
overlooks the force O f 4 2 R Q 7 H i s b est
d efence was R Q 1 ; ag ainst which Wh ite could
—
h
e i t er advance the Kin g or play Kt R 4 t h reaten
i n g Kt
Kt 6 ch
.
,
.
42
.
—
R
Q7
B X P ch
F RE NCH
D E FENC E
231
This loses a piece b ut B lack s position
ho peless
Kt 4
43 K
Q B 3
’
w as
,
alto gether
.
.
44
.
Kt X B
45
.
K
B
— Kt
Q
Resig ns
4
2 ch
.
The interest o f this g ame centres mainly o n the
opening and o n the march o f the White King during
the final stage o f the game It is an instance o f the
King becoming a fig htin g piece even while the Queens
are still o n the b oard
.
,
.
GAM E
13
.
N
ew
York
(
Wh i te : J
.
S
Morrison
.
.
—
P
K
.
—
K
Kt
3
.
B — Kt
4
.
5
.
1
2
6
.
L O P EZ
R UY
,
1 918
)
B lack :
.
J R
.
C apa b lanca
.
.
P —K 4
4
—Q
B 3
Kt
5
Q3
B— Q 2
—
B 3
Kt
—
P
Q4
P—
B3
P X P
—
K
P
Kt X P
Kt 3
In
th i s form o f defence O f the Ruy Lopez the devel
O pm e nt o f the K B via Kt 2 is I think o f great im
portance The Bishop at Kt 2 exerts great pressure
alon g the lon g diagonal At the same tim e the posi
tion of the B ishop and Pawns in front o f the King
once it is Castled is o ne o f great defensive strength
There fore in t h is fo rm o f development t h e Bi shop
,
,
.
.
,
.
,
,
,
,
G AM E
2 32
13
we mi ght say exerts it s maxim um stren g th ( Compare
this note with the o ne in the Capablanca Burn g ame
at S an S ebastian pag e
,
-
,
7
8
—
B
Kt
.
3
B — Kt 5
.
—
2 ;
because
Of
Q 5
The alternative would have b een P
B 3 ; to b e
fo llowed by K Kt K 2 ; b ut in this position it is
preferab le to have the Kt at K B 3
—
course not K Kt K
o f Kt
.
.
9
10
—
Q Q
B —K
.
.
—
KR
P
2
3
R 4
An error o f judgment Wh ite wants to keep the
Kn ight pinned but it was more important to prevent
Black from Castlin g immediately B K B 4 would
have done this
.
,
.
.
10
.
11
.
—
0
0
O
O
0
Bold play b ut again faulty jud gment un less he in
tended to play to win o r lose throwing safety t o
the winds The Black Bishop at Kt 2 becomes a
very powerful attacking piece The strateg ical dis
position Of the Black pieces is now far superior t o
White s therefore it will b e Black wh o wi ll take t h e
Offensive
,
,
,
.
.
’
,
.
11
.
—
R
K
I
GAM E
2 34
15
—
B
Q
.
13
—
B
K
3
3
Preparin g the onslaught Black s pieces
a g ainst the Kin g s position
’
.
’
.
16
P
.
—B 3
With the last move Wh ite no t only b locks the action
o f Black s K B but he also aim s at placing his Bishop
at Q Kt 1 and his Queen at Q B 2 and then advancing
his K P t o check at K R 7
’
,
,
,
.
I6
P— B 4 !
.
In itiating
an attack t o wh ich there is no reply and
which has for its ultimate Object either the winning
o f the Wh ite Q B o r cuttin g it O ff f r o m the game
( Compare this game with the Winter Capablanca
g ame at Hastin g s )
,
.
-
.
1
7
.
P—K R 4
P—B 5
The B ishop is now o u t o f action White naturally
coun ter attacks violently ag ainst the see mingly ex
.
R UY
L OP EZ
2 35
posed positio n o f the Black King and with very g oo d
judgment even Offers the Bishop
,
,
.
,
w
.
P X P!
PX P!
Taking the Bishop would be dange r ous if not actually
b ad while the text move accomplishes B lack s Object
which is to put the B ishop o u t o f action
,
’
,
,
.
19
20
.
R— R
.
K — Kt
B—B
I
2
I
This move unquestionably loses time S ince he wo uld
have to retire his B ishop to R 2 sooner o r late r he
might have done it imm ediately It is doubtful how
ever if at this stage o f the game it would b e possible
fo r White to save the game
.
,
,
.
,
.
20
21
It w as
—
K
Kt
.
.
Kt X Kt
diffi cul t
R
x
4
Kt
to decide which way to retake
.
l
G AM E
2 36
13
took with the Rook in order t o have i t prepare d
a possible attack against the Kin g
for
.
22
B—R
.
—
B
Kt
2
3
N ow that the Wh ite B ishop has b een driven b ack
Black wants to get rid o f White s strongly posted
Knight at Q 5 which b locks the attack o f the Bishop
at B 2 It may be said that the Kn i ght at Q 5 i s
the key t o White s defence
,
’
,
.
’
.
23
—
P
K Kt
.
3
strives not only to have play for his Bishop
b ut also he wants to break up Black s Pawns in order
to counter attack The alternative would have b een
2 3 Kt X Kt ch
Q X Kt ; and Black would b e threat
R 4 and also Q K 3 The stu d ent sh ould
e ning R
notice that B lack s drawb ack in all this is the f act
that he is playing minus the services o f his Q R It
is this fact that makes it possib le fo r White t o h o ld
o u t lon g er
,
’
-
.
,
,
.
’
.
.
G AM E
2 38
14
R
1
3
32
33
w
— K 8 ch
R X R
R X R
ch
—
K
R 2
—
Kt s
K
—
B
B
2
P—
4
Q
quickest way to fi nish the game
the
35
37
38
P X P
K — Kt 4
P
.
P X P
—
R
K
5
.
—
B
P
R X P
Ch
.
4
K—R 5
39
.
40
.
R
.
R
41
—Q
8
—Q
-
B 6
ch
R X B
eh
7
Resigns
game
A very
ch
B X P
.
6
3
.
—
R
K
2
B
3
—K
.
.
GA M E
Q UEE N S GA M BIT D E CLI N ED
’
14
.
( N ew York
F
Marshal
l
J
.
.
P
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
.
.
.
.
.
.
—Q
.
,
1 91 8
)
Black : J R Capab lanca
.
.
.
P—
Q4
Kt — K B
4
—
Kt
K B 3
—
P
B 4
P—K 3
—
Q
Q Kt
Kt — B 3
B — Kt 5
3
z
—
K 2
B
—
0
0
—
P
B 3
P—K 3
R —
B I
This
is one of the oldest systems o f d e fence a g a inst
the Queen s G ambit I had played it before in this
Tournament against Kostic and no dou b t Marshall
expecte d it
At times I chan g e my defences
’
.
,
.
,
QUEEN S GAM B I T D E CLIN E D
’
2 39
rather systems O f defence ; o n the other hand
durin g a Tournament if o n e o f them has given me
g ood results I generally play it all the time
or
,
,
.
,
8
.
9
10
11
12
— B
Q
P X P
2
.
B X P
—
Kt
Q4
.
B X B
Q
.
.
—
0
0
Q
X B
Kt X Kt
—
P
Q Kt
X Kt
3
This is the key to this system Of defence Having
Simplified the game considerably by a series o f ex
changes Black will no w develop his Q B along the
long diagonal without havin g created a ny apparent
weakness The proper development o f the Q B is
Black s greatest problem in the Queen s G amb it
B Kt 2
13
P
K4
.
,
.
’
’
.
.
14
Th e
K R
.
—K
I
K R
—Q
I
d eve lopin g stage can now b e said to b e complete
b oth sides The opening is over and the middle
g ame be g ins White as is g enerally the case has
on
.
.
,
,
G AM E
2 40
O b ta ine d t h e
14
centre Black o n the oth er h an d i s
entrenched in hi s fi rst three ranks and if g iven time
will post his Q R at Q B I and his Knight at K B 3
—
and fi nally play P Q B 4 in order to break up
Whi te s centre and give full action t o the Black Bishop
posted at Q Kt 2 In this g ame White attempts t o
anticipate that plan by initiatin g an advance on the
centre which when carefully a n alysed is truly an
attac k against Black s K P
.
,
,
,
,
,
’
.
,
,
,
’
.
15
.
P—
Q
Kt
5
—B
4 !
Against Kostic in a previous game I had playe d
B 1 It was carelessness o n my part but Mar
Kt
shall b elieved d iffere n tly otherwise he would not have
played this va r iation since had he analysed this move
he would I think have realised that Black would
O b tain an excellent game
B lack now threatens no t
only B P X P ; b ut also Kt X P followed by B P X P
T he position is ve ry interestin g and full o f possi b ilities
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
.
.
GAM E
24 2
14
A very serious error o f jud gment White i s un der
the impression that he h as the b etter g ame b ecause
he is a Pawn ahead but that is not so The power
ful position o f the Black Rook at Q 7 fully com
Besides the
pe ns a t e s B lack fo r the Pawn minus
B ishop is b etter with Rooks than the Knight ( see page s
4 8 5 6 where the relative values o f the Knight and
B ishop are compared) a n d as already stated with
Pawns o n b oth sides of the b oard the Bishop is superior
because Of its long range Incidentall y this end
ing will demonstrate the great power of the B ishop
White s best chance was to take a draw at once thus
—
—
—
—
B I ; 22 R
B 7 R
K I
K 7 ch K
2 1 Kt
—
B
would
give
hite
the
P
not
B
X
P
because
W
3
;
(
b est Of it ) ; 2 3 R X B ( best ; not Kt
Kt 6 ch b e
cause O f B P X Kt ; followed b y R X K P ) R X Kt ;
—
24 R
K 1 ; 2 5 R X R ch K X R
K t 8 ch R
and with proper play White will draw
I t is curious that although a Pawn ahead White
is the o ne wh o is always in d an ger It is onl y now
a f ter seeing this analysis that the value o f Black s
K 4 can b e fully appreciated
1 8 t h move Q
.
,
,
.
.
,
-
,
,
,
,
,
.
.
’
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
.
’
,
.
R
K
1
With this powerful move Black be g ins aga inst Wh ite s
centre an assault wh ich will soon b e Shifted against
’
,
,
QUEEN
’
GAMB IT D E CLIN ED
S
the Kin g itself White is afraid to play 2 2
b ecause o f P B 4
—
22
P —K 5
P
K Kt 4
.
24
3
P —B 3
.
.
B 4 The White Kn ight is practically
pinned because he does not dare move o n acco unt
Of R X K P
TO prevent P
.
,
.
23
.
—
P
KR
4
is a sequel to the previous move Wh ite expects
to di srupt Black s Pawns and thus make them weak
.
’
.
,
P X P
23
Th ough doub led
and i solated this Pawn exercises
—
enormous pressure Black now threatens R K 3 ;
—
—
and
R 6 and R 7 at
P
to b e followed by R Kt 3
the proper time
.
.
24
.
R
-
K
1
Wh i te cannot stand the slow death any lon ger
GAM E
2 44
14
He sees dan ger everywhere an d wants t o ave rt i t
b y givin g up his Queen s side Pawns exp ecting t o
regain his fo r tunes later o n b y taking the initiative
o n the Kin g s side
,
’
,
’
.
24
—
K
R
.
3!
Much better than takin g Pawns This forces Wh ite
to defend the Knight with the Rook a t K 1 b ecause
—
Kt 3
O f the threat R
.
,
,
.
25
.
R
(K
I
)
—
Q
B
1
K — Kt
2
Preparatory to R Kt 3 The g ame is going to b e
decided o n the King s side and it is the isolated doub le
Pawn that will supply the finishing touch
.
’
,
.
26
.
P—
Q
Kt 4
prevent P Kt
e ra t ing the Rooks
To
.
fi
.
—
R 3
P
K—B 1
5,
P — Kt 4
de fendin g the Kni ght an d
G AM E
246
14
R
—
K 7
Kt
—
Kt
B 5 ch
Kt — R 4
—
Kt
B 5
K—B I
—
P
B
4
ch
R
Q3
—
( Q 3) Q 7
K
B 3
—
K
Kt
R — Kt
4
7
KX BP
ve ry care fu l stu dy
.
ch
Uni ve rs it y o f Ca lifo rnia
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.