Chess and Checkers: The Way to Mastership by Edward Lasker (reading fiction .txt) 📖

Black. The attack which White obtains after creating a weakness on f6 by the removal of the Pawn g7 cannot be effectively countered. The question arises, whether Black was at fault when disregarding White’s threat to place his Knight on d5 and developing his Queen’s Bishop or whether he had a chance to improve on one of the two following moves which led to the position of Diagram 47. Indeed, it lies near to try the same attack which White threatens to initiate by Q-d2 one move earlier by playing Q-d7 instead of B-c5. The fact, however, that this Bishop is not cooperating with the pieces on the King’s wing makes a big difference and the most Black can obtain is apparently a draw. The continuation could be: (1) Ktxf6+, Pxf6; (2) Bxf6, P-h6; (3) P-c3, Ktxf3+, (4) Pxf3, B-h5; (5) K-h1, K-h7; (6) R-g1, R-g8; (7) R-g3. If Black’s Bishop were on c5 instead of b4, White could not play R-g3 on account of Bxf2. He would have to make the preparatory move Q-e2 and he would be lost after R-g6, just in the same manner which was demonstrated in one of the above variations with attack and defense reversed. As it is Black cannot enter on h3 with his Queen without exchanging Rooks and so he is unable to take advantage of the weakness on f3. After (7) …, R-g6, (8) B-h4, B-a5 or c5, (9) P-d4 and Q-d3 the game probably ends in a draw as it is unlikely that White can realize an advantage from the doubled Pawn which he is ahead.

To the beginner the lines of play discussed in connection with Diagrams 47 and 48 will have appeared rather complicated. This they are, indeed, even for the experienced player; but it is by no means necessary to memorize any of the variations. The important thing to realize is the fact that in a position where both players have castled on the King’s side, a dangerous weakness is created if the g-Pawn is forced to move, and if pressure can be brought to bear upon the two squares which through the move of the g-Pawn have lost their protection; moreover, that a method to create such a weakness is the pinning of the hostile King’s Knight and the advance of the Queen’s Knight in the center.

Another important point that the variations discussed will bring out to the observant reader is the order in which the different pieces take their turn in the battle. First come the minor pieces, then the Queen and then the Rooks. This, of course, is not a rule that has to be adhered to under all circumstances, but in most games it is a good rule to follow. The reason is obvious. The Rooks have no opportunity of making themselves useful until a file has been opened, while the Queen often finds an occasion to enter the battlefield on a diagonal. Only in such games can the Rooks be made to work at a comparatively early stage of the game, in which the players have not castled on the same sides of the board. For then the advance of the Pawns in front of the Rooks does not create weakness which endangers their own King.

The following middle game from a match of two masters furnishes an example. After White’s seventh move the position of Diagram 49 was reached, in which Black continued with P-b5 with the view to playing B-g4 and Kt-d4. White replied (8) B-b3, B-g4; (9) Kt-e2. Better would surely have been B-e3, which develops a new piece. To allow the exchange of f3 which forces the g-Pawn out is dangerous because Black may castle on the Queen’s side and storm with the Pawns of his King’s wing.

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8 | #R | | #B | #Q | #K | | | #R |

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7 | | #P | #P | | | #P | #P | #P |

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6 | #P | | #Kt| #P | | #Kt| | |

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5 | | | #B | | #P | | | |

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4 | ^B | | | | ^P | | | |

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3 | | | ^Kt| ^P | | ^Kt| | |

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2 | ^P | ^P | ^P | | | ^P | ^P | ^P |

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1 | ^R | | ^B | ^Q | | ^R | ^K | |

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a b c d e f g h

DIAGRAM 49.

From Black’s next move, Q-d7, it is indeed apparent that he has decided on a maneuver of this kind. The game continued: (10) P-c3, Bxf3; (11) Pxf3, Q-h3; (12) Kt-g3, P-h5; (13) B-e3. He cannot play R-e1 on account of Bxf2+ followed by Qxh2+ and Qxg3. (13) …, P-h4; (14) Kt-h1, R-h6 and wins, for if White takes the Rook, Pxh6 opens the g-file and the other Rook occupies it with deadly effect.

In the last example it was easy for the Rooks to take an active part in the battle because a file was open which enabled them to bear down on the opposing King.

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8 | #R | | #B | #Q | | #R | #K | |

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7 | | #P | | #P | #Kt| #P | #B | #P |

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6 | #P | | #Kt| | #P | | #P | |

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5 | | | #P | | | | ^B | |

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4 | | | ^B | | ^P | | | |

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3 | | | ^Kt| ^P | | ^Kt| | |

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2 | ^P | ^P | ^P | ^Q | | ^P | ^P | ^P |

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1 | | | ^K | ^R | | | | ^R |

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a b c d e f g h

DIAGRAM 50.

In the majority of cases no open file is available on the wing and the attack with the Rooks is then much more difficult. There is little use in advancing the Pawns on the wing on which the hostile King has castled unless one of them can be exchanged so that a line is opened which the Rooks can occupy. As a rule such an exchange is only possible in case one of the Pawns in front of the King has moved. In the position of Diagram 50 for instance, White is able to open the h-file by advancing the h-Pawn and exchanging it against Black’s g-Pawn, while Black, who would like to use his Rooks in an attack on the Queen’s wing, has little hope to open a file on that side of the board. If Black’s g-Pawn were still on his original square, the advance of White’s h-Pawn would be of no avail. Black would simply wait until the Pawn has advanced to h6 and then he would play P-g6 so that White’s own Pawn would block the h-file for the Rook. In the above position, which occurred in one of six simultaneous games played by the author in a blindfold-exhibition, the attack developed as follows:

 

(1) P-h4 P-b5

(2) B-b3 Kt-a5

(3) P-h5 Ktxb3

(4) Pa2xb3 Q-a5

Black has succeeded in opening a line also, but he cannot get his Rooks working in it. His last move threatens mate in two moves by Q-a1; Kt-b1, Bxb2; but White simply defends himself first against this threat and then proceeds with his attack on the King’s wing which is irresistible.

 

(5) K-b1 Kt-c6

(6) Pxg6 Pf7xg6

(7) B-h6 R-f7

(8) Bxg7 Rxg7

With this exchange White has weakened the defense around Black’s King who has now only the Rook and himself to rely on for protection.

 

(9) Kt-g5 P-d5

Black opens the seventh rank in the hope that it will enable his Queen’s Rook or his Queen to come to assistance. But so great is the advantage afforded White by the open h-file that he can sacrifice his Knight to break through Black’s chain of defense and force the mate before Black has a chance to touch his Queen or his Rook.

 

(10) Ktxh7 Rxh7

If Q-c7 or Ra8-a7, White continues (11) Q-h6! Rxh7?; (12) Qxg6+, K-h8; (13) Q-e8+, K-g7; (14) Rxh7+, Kxh7; (15) R-h1+, etc.

 

(11) Rxh7 Kxh7

(12) R-h1+ K-g7

(13) Q-h6+ K-f7

(14) Q-h7+ K-f6

(15) Q-h8+ K-e7

(16) R-h7+ K-d6

(17) Q-f8+ K-e5

(18) P-f4+ K-d4

(19) Q-f6+ K-e3

(20) R-h3+ K-d2

(21) Q-h4

and Black resigns as there is no defense against Q-f2.

Diagram 51 shows a similar example, the only difference being that it is not the advance of the Black Knight’s Pawn but that of the Rook’s Pawn which gives White an opportunity of opening a file for his Rooks. He will accomplish this by advancing his Knight’s Pawn to g5 and exchanging him against Black’s Rook’s Pawn. If he does not want to play P-g4 on the first move, because Black could take the Pawn with his Knight, he can prepare the advance by R-g1. But he need not really fear the loss of the Pawn, because in taking him Black would himself open the g-file for White’s Rook and White is sure to obtain an overwhelming attack. It would, of course, be futile for Black to try and stop the advance of White’s g-Pawn by P-g5, as White would then simply open the Rook’s file by P-h4 and Pxg5, quite apart from the fact that he could sacrifice his Bishop e3 for two Pawns, thereby depriving Black’s King of all protection.

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8 | #R | | #B | #Q | | #R | #K | |

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7 | #P | #P | | #Kt| #B | #P | #P | |

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6 | | | #P | | | #Kt| | #P |

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5 | | | | #P | | | | |

|–––––––––––––|

4 | | | | ^P | | | | |

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3 | | | ^Kt| ^B | ^B | ^Kt| | |

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2 | ^P | ^P | ^P | ^Q | | ^P | ^P | ^P |

|–––––––––––––|

1 | | | ^K | ^R | | | | ^R |

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a b c d e f g h

DIAGRAM 51.

The play might proceed like this: (1) P-g4, P-g5; (2) Bxg5, Pxg5; (3) Qxg5+, K-h8; (4) Q-h6+, K-g8; (5) P-g5, Kt-e4; (6) Ktxe4, Pxe4; (7) P-g6, Pxg6; (8) Qxg6+, K-h8; (9) R-g1, etc.

Ordinarily both players castle on the same side of the board so that neither of them can advance his Pawns in an attack against the opposing King without weakening his own King’s position. Only if a player holds more territory and has a greater number of pieces on the King’s wing than the opponent he can embark on an attack which involves an advance of the Pawns in front of his King. Diagram 52 offers a typical example.

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8 | #R | | | | | #R | #K | |

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7 | | | #Q | #B | #B | #P | #P | #P |

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6 | #P | | | #P | | #Kt| | |

|–––––––––––––|

5 | #Kt| | #P | ^P | #P | | | |

|–––––––––––––|

4 | | #P | | | ^P | | | |

|–––––––––––––|

3 | | | ^P | | ^B |^Kt | | ^P |

|–––––––––––––|

2 | ^P | ^P | ^B | | | ^P | ^P | |

|–––––––––––––|

1 | ^R | | | ^Q | ^R | ^Kt| ^K | |

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a b c d e f g h

DIAGRAM 52.

Black has a preponderance on the Queen’s side, while White has more mobility for his pieces on the King’s side. Considering that Black cannot