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http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924014756724

BY JOSE

R.

CAPABLANCA

A PRIMES OF CHESS

JOSE

R.

CAPABLANCA

CHESS

FUNDAMENTALS
BY

JOSfi

R.

C^PABLANCA

CHESS CHAMPION OF THE WORLD

NEW YORK

HARCOURT, BRACE AND COMPANY


LONDON: G. BELL AND SON^, LTD,

URIS LIBRARY

COPYRIGHT, I921, BY
HARCOUKT, BRACE AND COMPANY, INC.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by
mimeograph or any other means, without permission in writing from the publisher.

PKINIED IN THE

D. S. A.

PREFACE
Chess Fundamentals was
ago.

first

published thirteen years

Siace then there have appeared at different times

a number of

articles dealing

with the so-called Hyper-

modem Theory. Those who have read the


may well have thought that something new,
The

importance, had been discovered.

'Hypermodem Theory

is

fact

is

articles

of vital

that the

merely the application, during

the opening stages generally, of the same old principles

through the medium of somewhat new

There

tactics.

has been no change in the fundamentals.

The change

has been only a change of form, and not always for the
best at that.

In chess the tactics

may

change but the strategic

fimdamental principles are always the same, so that


Chess Fundamentals

is

It will be as

years ago.

as good

as long in fact as the laws

what they are

now

as

it

was

thirteen

good a hundred years from now;

and

at present.

rules of the

The

reader

game remain

may

therefore

go over the contents of the book with the assurance


that there
is

is

in it everything

he needs, and that there

nothing to be added and nothing to be changed.

Chess Fundamentals was the one standard work of

its

kind thirteen years ago and the author firmly believes


that

it is

the one standard work of

its
J.

New

York

Sept. I, ig34

kind now.
R.

CAPABLANCA

LIST OF

CONTENTS

PART

CHAPTER

First Principjles: Endings, Middle-game and Openings


PAGE

2.

Some Simple Mates


Pawn Promotion

3.

Pawn Endings-

1.

4.
5.

6.
7.

8.

9
13

Some Winning Positions in the Middle-game


Relative Value of the Pieces
General Strategy of the Opening
Control of the Centre
Traps

CHAPTER

....

19
24
25
28

32

Further Principles in End-game Play


9.

10.
11.
12.

A
A

Cardinal Principle
Classical Ending
Obtaining a Passed Pawn
How TO find out which
to Queen

13.

The Opposition

14.

TfEE Relative

15.

How

16.

Queen against Rook

35

37

40

Pawn will be the

first

41
43

Value of Knight and Bishop


TO Mate with Knight and Bishop

CHAPTER

....

50
59
62

Planning a Win in Middle-game Play


17.
18.
19.

Attacking without the aid of Knights


Attacking with Knights as a Prominent Force.
WiNNiNO BY Indirect Attack

68
.

71

73

LIST OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER IV
General Theory
FAQE
20.

The

21.

Direct Attacks bn masse


The Force of the Threatened Attack
Relinquishing the Initiative
Cutting off Pieces from the Scene of Action ...
A Player's Motives Criticised in a Specimen Game

22.
23.
24.

25.

Initiative

77

7*
82

89
94
99

CHAPTER V
End-game Strategy
26.
27.
28.

29.

30.

The Sudden Attack from a Different Side


The Danger of a Safe Position
Endings with one Rook and Pawns
A Difficult Ending: Two Rooks and Pawns ....
Rook, Bishop and Pawns v. Rook, Knight and Pawns
(A Final Example

of preserving

Freedom

11

120
122
127

138

whilst

imposing restraint.)

CHAPTER

VI

Further Openings and Middle-games


31.

32.

Some Sauent Points about Pawns


Some Possible Developments from a Ruy Lopez
(showing the weakness of a backward

33.

The

a Pawn at
s, etc.)
Influence of a "Hole"

power

of

Q B

P;

143

the
146

150

XIST OF CONTENTS

PART

II

ILLUSTRATIVE GAMES
GAME
1.

PAGE

Queen's Gambit Declined


White: F.

2.

J.

Marshall.

Match,

Black:

J.

1909)
R. Capablanca.

159

Queen's Gambit Declined (San Sebastian, 1911).


White: A. K. Rubinstein. Black: J. R. Capablanca.

163

Irregular Defence (Havana, 1913)


White: D. Janowski. Black: J. R. Capablanca.

169

4.

French Defence

174

5.

RuY Lopez

3.

(St. Petersburg, 1913)


White: J. R. Capablania. Black: E. A. Snosko-Borovski.
(St.

Petersburg,

White: Dr.E. Lasker.


6.

RuY Lopez (San


White:

8.

Sebastian, 1911)
Black: A.

J. Mieses.

J.

White:
12.

R. Capablanca.

J.

209

Black: R. Teichmann.

Black: F.

(St.

Petersburg,

J.

215

Marshall.

1914)

221

Black: D. Janowski.

R. Capablanca.

J.

Queen's

J. S. Morrison.

1918)

J. Marshall.

231

Black: J. R. Capablanca.

Gambit Declined

White: F.

225

Black: 0. Chajes.

R. Capablanca.

RuY Lopez (New York,


White:

14.

201

Black: J. R. Capablanca.

French Defence (New York, 1918)


White:

13.

197

Bum.

Petrofp Defence (St. Petersburg, 1914)

RuY Lopez

189

R. Capablanca.

R. Capablanca.

White: J. R. Capablanca.
11.

J.

Queen's Gambit Declined (Berlin, 1913)


White:

10.

J.

Black:

Centre Game (Berlin, 1913)


White:

9.

181

French Defence ( Rice Memorial Tournament, 1916 )


White: O. Chajes.

7.

1914)

Black: J.R. Capablanca.

(New York,

1918).

Black: J. R. Capablanca.

238

CHESS FUNDAMENTALS

CHESS FUNDAMENTALS
PART

CHAPTER

First Principles: Endings, Middle-Game

AND Openings

The

first

thing a student should do,

himseK with the power of the


best be done

some

by

learning

how

is

to famiUarise

pieces.

This can

to accomplish quickly

of the simple mates.


1.

Example

1.

SOME SIMPLE MATES

The

ending Rook and King against

King.

The principle
last line

is to drive the

on any side of

opposing King

the board.

to

the

SOME SIMPLE MATES

In this position the power of the Rook is demonR 7, which immediately


strated by the first move,

confines the Black

King to the

mate

accomplished

quickly

is

K Kt

K Kt

i; 2

The

combined

last rank,

by:

and the

iR R

7>

2.

action

and Rook

King

of

is

needed to arrive at a position in which mate can be

The

forced.

foUow

beginner

to

to

is

keep his

much as

King as

rank, or, as in this case,

When,

file,

in this case, the

the sixth rank,


file,

for

general principle

it is

possible

on the same

as the opposing King.

King has been brought to

better to place

but on the one next to

not on the same

it,

towards the centre.

it

K B K K i; 4 K K 4,
K-Qi; sK-Qs, K-B
6 K-Q
Not K B
because then the Black King will
2...K B

i; 3

3,

6.

6,

go back to
If

now

and

it

will take

much

longer to mate.

R R 8 mates

the King moves back to

i,

at once.

6...K Kti;

K Kt

7R QB7,K Ri; 8K B6,

K Kt K R
6,

10

R B 8 mate.

moves to mate from the


On move 5 Black could have played

It has taken exactly ten


original position.

K K

I,

and, according to principle. White would

have continued
will ultimately

King

and

K Kt
K Kt

i;

be
8

i; 10

6K Q6, K Bi

(the

Black King

be forced to move in front of the White

mated

K B
R R

by
6,

R R8); 7K K6,
i;
9 K Kt 6,

K R

8 mate.

.;

SOME SIMPLE MATES


Example

2.

/A

/.
!^/<e^

^.

i^
^^:
King

Since the Black

the best

thus:

way

in the centre of the board,

is

to proceed

to

is

advance your own King

K K,2, K Q4;

Rook has not

K K

yet come into play,

As

3.

it

is

the

better to

advance the King straight into the centre of the board,


not in front, but to one side of the other King.

now
it

the Black King

back by

R R

move

5 ch.

to

On

Rook

the

4,

the other hand,

K B 5 instead, then also 3 R R 5. If


K Kt s, there follows 4 K Q 3; but
3...K

6;

then 4

R R

4,

Should
drives
if

2.

now

3.

if

instead

keeping the King

confined to as few squares as possible.

Now
5
7

the

ending

may

continue

K B
K-Kt
.

R-B 4 ch, K-Kt 6; 6 K-Q


R Kt 4 ch, K R 6; 8 K B K R

should be noticed

3,

3,

how often

the White King has

next to the Rook, not only to defend

it,

7.

7;
It

moved

but also to

reduce the mobihty of the opposing King.

Now

SOME SIMPLE MATES

R 4
White mates in three moves thus: 9
Rook's
the
on
any square
Kt 8; 10

K B 8;

forcing the Black King in front of the White,


II

RR

mate.

It has taken eleven

and, imder any conditions, I beheve


in under twenty.
is

While

may

it

it

ch,
file,

moves

to mate,

should be done

be monotonous,

it

worth while for the beginner to practice such

things, as it will teach

him the proper handling

of

his pieces.

Example 3.
Now we come
King against King.

Since the Black

play
3

iB Q3,

BB

s,

from the

is

B K Kt

had been

If the

and

White can

in the comer,

and already the Black Eang

to a few squares.
position,

King

K Kt 2;

to two Bishops

5,

K B

is

confined

Black King, in the origmal

in the centre of the board, or

away

row, White should have advanced his


King, and then, with the aid of his Bishops, restricted
last

SOME SIMPLE MATES

the Black King's movements to as few squares as


possible.

We might now continue:

3.

.K

Kt 2

4K B

2.

In this ending the Black King must not only be driven


to the edge of the board, but he
into a corner, and, before a

same time,

case either

and

Kt

in

also be forced

mate can be given, the

White King must be brought


at the

must

to the sixth rank and,

one of the

K R 6, K Kt 6, K B

two

last
7,

files;

in this

K B 8, and as K R 6

6 are the nearest squares,

to either of

it is

these squares that the King ought to go.

4.

.K

K Kt K Kt 2; 6 K R K B 2;
K R K Kt 2; 8 B Kt K Kt i;
9K R6, K Bi. White must now mark time and

2;

4,

3,

6,

s,

move one

of the Bishops, so as to force the Black

King to go back

K R

Now

I.

loB Rs,

to
ch,

It has taken

and,

any

in

Kt

i.

K R

12
i;

when

the

Black

it

King

B K Kt 4, K Kt
14 B B 6 mate.'

fourteen moves to force the

position,

up a

can give check next move

it

along the White diagonal,

13B K6

iiB K7,

the White Bishop must take

position from which

moves back

K Kti;

i;

mate

should be done in imder

thirty.

In

all

not to

endings of this kind, care must be taken

drift

into a stale mate.

In this particular ending one should remember that


the King must not only be driven to the edge of the
board, but also into a comer.

however,

it is

In

all

such endings,

immaterial whether the King

is

forced

SOME SIMPLE MATES

8
on to the
4,

Example

4.

Q R

or

Rook and

or

We
As

against King.

the

an outside

last rank, or to

file,

e.g.

KR

8.

now come

to Queen and King


Queen combines the power of

the

the Bishop,

it is

the easiest mate of all

and should always be accompUshed in under ten moves.

Take the

following position:

good way to begin

make

to

is

the

first

move with

the Queen, trying to Ihnit the Black King's mobility


as

much

K Q

Q Q

Thus:

as possible.

Q B

6,

K Q

5;

Already the Black King has only one


available square 2...K
B 4;
4; 3
3,
2.

6,

K Kt

4.

Q-Kt 6 ch)
K R 4, K B

then

Q-K

Kt

6,

KK

(Should Black play


5

K R

Q-K
and
6;

6,

mate

K B

K Kt

KR
next
3,

5,
(if

move);
moves;

mates.

In this ending, as in the case of the Rook, the Black


Kmg must be forced to the edge of the board; only

PAWN PROMOTION
the Queeii being so

Rook, the process

much more powerful than

is

far easier

and

are the three elementary endings

the principle
tion of the

is

and

the

These

shorter.

in all of these

In each case the co-opera-

the same.

is

King

needed.

In order to force a mate

without the aid of the King, at least two Rooks are


required.

PAWN PROMOTION

2.

The gain of a Pawn is the smallest material advantage


game and it often is sufficient
to win, even when the Pawn is the only remaining

that can be obtained in a

unit, apart

from the Kings.

It is essential, speaking

generally, that
the

King should

be in front of his

Pawn, with

at least

one intervening square.


If the

opposing King

is

directly in front of the

then the game cannot be won.


plained

by the

Example

6.

Pawn,

This can best be ex-

following examples.

PAWN PROMOTION

lo

The

position

is

drawn, and the

way

to proceed

is

Black to keep the King always directly in front


for inof the Pawn, and when it cannot be done, as
King,
stance in this position because of the White
for

the
then the Black King must be kept in front of
3,
White King. The play would proceed thus i P

K-K

4;

K-Q

K-.Q

3,

4.

This

is

Any other move would

important move.

a very
lose,

as

As the Black Kmg cannot be


kept close up to the Pawn, it must be brought as far
forward as possible and, at the same time, m front
will

be shown

of the

later.

White King.

PK

K B

4 ch,

K K

4;

K K

K B

3,

K K

3;

As the

Again the same


3.
Black King must be kept
the
comes
up,
White King
in front of it, since it cannot be brought up to the
5

4,

case.

Pawn.

7K K4, K-K2;
K Q 2; 9 P K 6 ch, K K 2;
8 K Q
loK Ks, K Ki; II K Q6, K Qi. If now
6

PK

ch,

K-K

3;

s,

White advances the Pawn, the Black King gets in


front of it and White must either give up the Pawn
or play

K K 6,

and a

stale

mate

results.

If instead

Pawn White withdraws his King,


Black brings his King up to the Pawn and, when
forced to go back, he moves to K in front of the Pawn
ready to come up again or to move in front of the
of advancing the

White King, as

before, should the latter advance.

The whole mode

of procedure is very important

and the student should become thoroughly conversant

PAWN PROMOTION
with

up

for it involves principles to

its details;

later on,

be taken

and because many a beginner has

lost

from lack of proper knowledge.

At

identical positions
this stage of the
its

II

book I cannot lay too much

stress

on

importance.

Example
King

is

6.

In

in front of his

this position

White wins, as the

Pawn and there is one intervening

square.

The method

to follow

is

advance the King as far as


of the

Pawn and

is

compatible with the safety

never to advance the

own

essential to its

to

K K

4,

K K

Black does not allow the White

to

it is

3.

Kmg

to advance,

now compelled to advance his Pawn


as to force Black to move away. He is then able
advance his own King.

therefore
so

until

safety.

Thus:
I.

Pawn

2.

White

is

P-K3,K-B3;

3.

K-Qs,K-K2.

PAWN PROMOTION
If Black had played 3. .K B 4, then White would
be forced to advance the Pawn to K 4, smce he could
12

not advance his King without leaving Black the


opportunity to play

K K

Since he has not done so,


to advance the

not require

yet, since its

White not

own

safety does
still

fur-

Thus:

K-K5,K-Q2;

4.

winning the Pawn.


better for

but to try to brmg the King

it,

ther forward.

Now

Pawn

5,

it is

the White

Pawn

5.

K-B6,K-Ki.

too far back and

is

it

may

be

brought up within protection of the King.


6.

Now

would not do
Black would play
Q
it

to bring back his


fore he

King
must continue.
7.

Had

he

K Q2.
to play K B

P K4,

to

7,

because

3, and White would have


protect the Pawn. There-

P-Ks,K-Ki.

moved anywhere

else,

White could have played

K B 7, followed by the advance of the Pawn to


K 6, K 7, K 8 all these squares being protected by
;

As Black tries to prevent that, White must


him to move away, at the same time always
keeping the King in front of the Pawn.
Thus
the King.

now

force

8.

P- K
play

K K6:'

6 would

K B,

make it a draw, as Black would then


and we would have a position
similar

to the one explained in connection


with

8...K-B

i;

9K-Q7.

Example

5.

PAWN ENDINGS

13

King moves and the White Pawn advances


becomes a Queen, and it is all over.
This ending

is

to

8,

Uke the previous one, and for the

same reasons should be thoroughly imderstood before


proceeding any further.
3.

I shall

Pawns
reader

may

see

how they can be won. Fewer

be given, as

it is

out for himself.

how

learn

book

give a couple of simple endings of two

against one, or three against two, that the

tions will

things

now

PAWN ENDINGS

it

to play

up

explana-

to the student to

work

Furthermore, nobody can

weU merely from

the study of

can only serve as a guide and the rest must

be done by the teacher,


not, the student

must

if

the student has one;

realise

by long and

perience the practical appUcation of the

explained in the book.

Example

7.

^
i

if

bitter ex-

many

things

PAWN ENDINGS

14

In this
1

PB

would

WMte

position
6,

lose,

cannot

because Black plays, not

but

i.

.K Kt

i,

by playing

win

and

if

PX

P, which

then 2

PX

P,

K X P,
2P

and draws, as shown in a previous case. If


B I, and White will never be
B 7 ch,

able to Queen
2

K K

7,

Pawn

his

PXP

without

K X P, K B

losing
I,

it.

If

and draws.

White, however, can win the position given in the

diagram by playing:

K Q K Kt i; 2 K K K-R i;

3P B6,PXP. If 3...K Kt i; 4 P B 7ch,


K R i; s P B 8 (Q) mate.
P B 4; S P Kt 7 ch, K R 2;
4 K B
6 P Kt 8 (Q) ch, K R 3; 7 Q Kt 6 mate.
I

7,

7,

7,

Example

In the above

White can't win


by I
5. Black's best answer would be P
Kt 3
(The student should work this out.) He
draws.
Kt 5, because P
cannot win by i P
Kt 3 draws.

PB

8.

position

(This, because of the principle of the "opposition"

PAWN ENDINGS
which governs

15

this ending as well as

aU the Pawn-

endings already given, and which wiU be explained

more

fully later on.)

White can win, however, by playing:


K K 4,
K-K3. (If i...P-Kt3; 2K-Q4,K-K3;
3K-Bs,K-B3;4K-Q6,K-B2;5P-Kt5,
K Kt 2; 6 K K 7, K Kt 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.
i

Pawn

(If this

kept back we arrive at the ending

is

in Example 7.)
4 P Kt 5 ch, K B 2;

P
B
K
K
K 4, K B 2 7 K K 5,
6,
5
3 6 K
K B I. White cannot force his Bishop's Pawn

shown

into

out why), but by giving his

(find

can win the other

Pawn and

Pawn up he
Thus:

the game.

8P B7, KxP;9K Q6, K B i;ioK K6,


K Kt 2; II K K K Kt i; 12 K B 6,
K R2; 13 K B7, K R i; 14 K X P,
7,

K Kti.
There
In

fact,

is

still

some

the only

way

resistance in Black's position.

to

win

is

the one given here,

as will easily be seen by experiment.

to

K R

18

K R

in order

win White must get back to the actual

position,

as against 16

16

K B

and

15

P Kt
K R

(if

P Kt

6 ch,

6,

K R

2;

draws),

6,

K Kt

7,

and White queens the

i;

17

P Kt

7,

K R

K B

2;

Pawn and

wins.

This ending, apparently so simple, should show the


student the enormous

difficulties to

be surmounted.

PAWN ENDINGS

i6

even when there are hardly any pieces


playing against an adversary

left,

who knows how

the resources at his disposal, and

it

when
to use

should show the

student, also, the necessity of paying strict attention


to these elementary things which form the basis of

true mastership in Chess.

Example

9.

In

this

ending

White can win by advancing any of the three Pawns


on the

first

move, but

it is

general rule, whenever there


it,
it.

Thus we begin
I.

If

Pawn

of advancing the

P Kt

to one of

P-Kt
2.

by

PB

P B

convenient to follow the


is

no good reason against

that has

5,

no

Pawn

opposing

K K2.

and we have a similar ending


those shown above.
If i...P
R 3; 2

3,

s.

K-Ks,K-B2;

3.

P-Kt 5, K-K 2.

PAWN ENDINGS

17

3...P-Kt 3; 4 P-B 6, and if 3-.P-R 3',


4 P Kt 6 ch, and in either case we have a similar
If

ending to one of those already shown.


4.

and by following

P-R5,

up with P

it

Kt

same ending previously shown.

4...P Kt

3,

with the same

R PX

then

on one

we have the

PxP; P B

6 ch

result.

when the Pawns are


the board we shall now examine
are Pawns on both sides of the

Having now seen the


all

P,

Should Black play

side of

a case when there

cases

board.

Example

10.

In

these cases the general rule

is

to act immediately on the side where you have the su-

perior forces.

Thus we have
I.

P KKt4.

PAWN ENDINGS

i8

It is generally advisable to

Pawn

advance the

that

is

from opposition.

free

P-QR4.

Black makes an advance on the other side, and now


White considers whether or not he should stop the
In this case either

advance.

way

the advance should be stopped

King

is

far

wins, but generally

when the opposing

away.

2.P-QR4,K-B3; 3.P-R4,K-K3.
If 3.

.K

Kt

3,

then simple coimting will show that

White goes to the other

at

Q R

4,

side with his King, wins the

and then Queens

before Black can

his single

long

do the same.

P Kt K B 2; S-'K B
K B
6.P R
If 6...P R 3; 7 P Kt 6, and
4.

Pawn

s,

s,

K Kt

2;

2.

s,

then the two

Pawns defend themselves and White can go to the


other side with his King, to win the other Pawn.
7.

K-Ks.
I

Now

it is

time to go to the other side with the King,

win the Black Pawn and Queen the


This
out

is

typical of all such endings

by the student

in this

which he can put up.

single

Pawn.

and should be worked


case and in similar cases

SOME WINNING POSITIONS


4.

19

SOME WINNING POSITIONS IN THE MIDDLE-

GAME
By

the time the student has digested

been previously explained, he, no doubt,


to get to the actual

game and play with

that has

all

all

is

anxious

the pieces.

However, before considering the openings, we


devote a

time to some combinations that often

little

game, and which

arise during the

some idea

better acquainted with

it.

move, and thinking that White merely

threatens to play

Black plays

R K

becomes

11.

It is Black's

of

will give the reader

of the beauty of the game, once he

Example

shall

8.

Q R

K i, threatening
.R
White now uncovers his

i.

Kt 7,
mate by way

6 and to mate at

real

and most

effective threat, viz.

I...R Ki;

K Kt

i;

2QxPch,KxQ; 3R Rsch,

4 R R 8 mate.

SOME WINNING POSITIONS

20

This same type of combination

a somewhat more

result of

may come

as the

complicated position.

Example

12.

White

a piece behind, and miless he can win

is

back quickly he wiU lose


I.

He

B Kt4

KtX Kt

cannot take the

Kt

because White threatens mate

R R 3 ch.
Kt K7ch
Qx Kt
Again
B x Kt; Q X P ch, K X Q; R R
King moves; R R 8 mate.
by

QXP

it

he therefore plays

ch followed by
2.^

if

3.

RxQ

4.

Q-Q7

3 ch,

BxR

and White wins one of the two Bishops, remains


with a Q and a B against a R and B, and should
therefore

win

easily.

These two examples show the

IN THE MroDLE-GAME

danger of advancing the


having Castled on that

Example

This
tion.

is

Kt P one

21

square, after

side.

13.

another very interesting type of combina-

Black has a

win, imless White

R
is

tion immediately.

Kt and

should therefore

able to obtain

some compensa-

for

White, in

fact,

mates in a few

moves thus:
1.

Kt B

Forced, otherwise

Example
curs in a
position.

6ch

QXP

mates.

2.

Q Kt3 ch

3.

BXP

14.

PxKt

K Ri

mate.

The

same t)^e

of combination oc-

more complicated form

in

the following

22

SOME WINNING POSITIONS

B X Kt
If...BxKt; Q B

QX

1.

fore wins the Q,

which

threatens mate,

3.
4.

BXP

and

there-

already attacked.

is

Kt B6ch
R Kt3ch

2.

B.

PxKt

K Ri

mate.

Example 15.
A very frequent type
tion is shown in the following position.

of combina-

IN THE MIDDLE-GAME
Here White

is

the exchange

but he can win quickly thus

I...K-R

(If

Q R
2

6,

Q R

i;

and

for a

Q-K

and a Pawn behind,


i

BXP

ch,

K X B.

P-KKta;

5,

wins.)

5 ch,

K Kt

cannot stop mate at

Queen by

23

Q K

i;

KR

Kt Kt

except

by

5,

and Black

sacrificing the

which woidd leave White with a

5,

R.

Example

16.

This

same type

of combination

is

seen in a more complicated form in the following


position.

Kt X Kt ch (this
B X Kt (to stop the Kt

White proceeds as follows


clears the line for the

from moving to Kt
2

RxB, KtxR

3...K-R1;

B)

5 after the sacrifice of the

best;

BxP

ch,

K X B.

B)
(If

4Q-RS,P-KKt3; sBxPch,

K Kt 2; 6 Q R ch, K B 3; P Kt ch,
K K3; SBxPch, RxB; 9 Q K 4 mate.)
R B i;
4 Q R 5 ch, K Kt i; 5 Kt Kt
7

5,

RELATIVE VALUE OF THE PIECES

24

Q R 7 ch, K B i; 7 Q R 8
Kt R 7 ch, K K 2; 9 R K

6
8

Q X Kt

10

ch,
i

Kt Kt

i;

K Q

i;

ch,

mate.

This combination

is

rather long

and has many

vari-

ations,

therefore a beginner will hardly be able to

fathom

it;

but,

knowing the type of combination,

he might imder similar circumstances undertake and


carry out a brilliant attack which he would otherwise

never think
tions

It will

of.

shown have

for

be seen that

all

the combina-

a foundation the proper co-ordi-

nation of the pieces, which have aU been brought to

bear against a weak point.

5.

RELATIVE VALUE OF THE PIECES

Before going on to the general principles of the


openings,

it is

advisable to give the student an idea

of the proper relative value of the pieces.

no complete and accurate table


the only thing to do

is

to

for all of

There

is

them, and

compare the pieces sep-

arately.

For

all

general theoretical purposes the Bishop

the Knight have to be considered as of the

though

it is

my

and

same value,

opinion that the Bishop will prove the

more valuable piece

in

most cases

and

it is

well

known

that two Bishops are ahnost always better than two

Knights.

The Bishop

will

be stronger against Pawns than

the Knight, and in combination with

be stronger
will be.

against

the

Pawns

Rook than

the

will also

Knight

RELATIVE VALUE OF THE PIECES

25

A Bishop and a Rook are also stronger than a Ejiight


and a Rook, but a Queen and a Knight may be stronger
than a Queen and a Bishop.

A Bishop will often be worth more than three Pawns,


but a Knight very seldom

so,

and may even not be

worth so much.

A Rook

will

be worth a Knight and two Pawns,

or a Bishop and two Pawns, but, as said before, the

Bishop

will

be a better piece against the Rook.

Two Rooks
They

are sUghtly stronger than a Queen.

are slightly weaker than

two Knights and a

Bishop, and a Uttle more so than two Bishops and

The power

a Knight.

the pieces are changed

on the contrary,

of the Knight decreases as

The power

off.

of the

increases.

The King, a purely

defensive piece throughout the

middle-game, becomes an offensive piece once


pieces are off the board,

becomes

the end-game stage


6.

is

of

the

The handling

left.

paramount importance once

reached.

GENERAL STRATEGY OF THE OPENING

The main thing


Get them into play

From the
open up

is

to develop

as fast as

lines for

the

you

pieces

quickly.

can.

two moves, iP K4oriP


Q4,
the Queen and a Bishop. Therefore,

outset

theoretically

one

of

the best, as no other

much.

all

and sometimes even when

there are one or two minor pieces


of the ELing

Rook,

these
first

two

moves must be

move accompUshes

so

GENERAL STRATEGY

26

Example

17.
1.

2.

This

is

Suppose

we

begin:

P K4

P K4
Kt KB3

both an attacking and a developing move.

Black can now either reply with the identical

move

or

play

Kt-QBs

This developing move at the same time defends


the King's Pawn.
3.

Kt-B3

Kt-B3

These moves are of a purely developing nature.


4.

It

B Kts

generally

is

advisable

not to

out until

one Knight

Knight.

The Bishop could

to

4,

but

it is

is

bring this Bishop

preferably the King's

out,

also

have been played

advisable whenever possible to combine

development and attack.

B Kt

Black
sible

replies in the

same manner, threatening a pos-

exchange of Bishop for Knight with

Kt X P

to

foUow.
S-

an

indirect

more

0-0
way

of

the same time the Rook


centre,

s...BxKt, which
show to be bad. At

preventing

e:q)erience or study will


is

brought into action in the

a very important point.

OF THE OPENING

0-0

Black follows the same


6.

27

line of reasoning.

P-Q3

P-Q3

These moves have a two-fold object,


tect the King's

Pawn and

viz.

open the diagonal

to

to profor the

development of the Queen's Bishop.


7-

B-Kts

A very powerful move, which brings us to the middlegame

stage, as there is already in

to win quickly

by Kt

impossible for Black to

(There
lose

play

if

is

bringing
First,

This threat makes

5.

it

continue the same course.

a long analysis showing that Black should

he also plays
7 ...

view a combination

BX

up

Kt,

B Kt
as

5.)

He

is

experience has

now

forced to

shown,

thus

to notice three things.

the complete development of the opening

has taken only seven moves.


or twelve

moves

in

(This varies

some very exceptional

a rule, eight should be enough.)

up

to ten

cases.

As

Second, Black has

CONTROL OF THE CENTRE

28

been compelled to exchange a Bishop for a Knight,


but as a compensation he has isolated White's

and doubled a Pawn.


the game,
is

is

(This, at such

QRP

an early stage of

rather an advantage for White, as the

doubled towards the centre of the board.)

Pawn

Third,

White by the exchange brings up a Pawn to control


the square

4,

puts Black on the defensive, as experi-

ence will show, and thus keeps the

initiative,

an xmques-

tionable advantage.^

The
same

strategical principles

for all the openings,

expounded above are the


only their tactical appli-

cation varies according to the circumstances.

Before proceeding further I wish to lay stress on


the following point which the student should bear in

mind.
Before development has been completed no piece should
be

moved more than once, unless

to obtain either

it is

essential in order

material advantage or to secure freedom

of action.

The beginner would do


well as

well to remember this, as


what has already been stated
viz., bring
:

out the Knights before bringing out the Bishops.


7.

The

CONTROL OF THE CENTRE

four squares,

tively, are the

squares

is

4 and

centre squares,

4 on each side respec-

and control

called control of the centre.

the centre is of great importance.

No

The

of these
control of

violent attack

can succeed without controlling at least two of these


*

The value

of the initiative is explaiaed in section 20, p. 77.

CONTROL OF THE CENTRE


squares,

and possibly

the opening has for

three.

its sole

Many

29

a manoeuvre in

object the control of the

which invariably ensures the initiative. It is


weU always to bear this in mind, since it will often be
centre,

the reason of a series of moves which could not otherwise be properly understood. As this book progresses
I shall dwell

more

fully

on these

diEferent points.

At

present I shall devote some time to openings taken

random and explain the moves according to general


principles.
The student will in that way train his
mind in the proper direction, and will thus- have less
at

trouble in finding a

new and

18.
1.

2.

On

P K4

P K4
Kt KB3

timid move.

at once.

confronted with a

difficult situation.

Example

way out when

P Q3

Black assumes a defensive attitude

principle the

move

is

wrong.

In the

openings, whenever possible, pieces should be moved in


preference to Pawns.
3.

P-Q4

White takes the

offensive

inunediately and strives

to control the centre so as to have ample

room

to

deploy his forces.

Kt-Q2

Black does not wish to relinquish the centre and also


prefers the text

move

to

Kt Q B

be the more natural square

3,

for the Kt.

which would

But on

prin-

30

CONTROL OF THE CENTRE

ciple the

move

is

wrong, because

of the Queen's Bishop,

it

blocks the action

and instead of

facilitating the

action of Black's pieces, tends, on the contrary, to

cramp them.

B QB4

4.

Black

move.
itself

is

forced to

pay the penalty

of his previous

Such a move on Black's part condemns by

any form

of opening that

White threatened Kt
it

P KR3

Kt

makes

it

necessary.

and Black could not stop

K because of 5 P X P, Kt X P
S-PXP, 6 Q-Q 5); 6 KtxKt, PxKt;
Q R and White wins a Pawn and has besides a
with 4.

.B

2,

(if

5,

perfectly safe position.

Kt-B3
B K3

5.

6.

B K2

Q-K2

7.

It should

KKt-Bs

be noticed that White does not Castle yet.


is that he wants to deploy his forces first,

The reason

move force Black to play


3 to make room for the Queen as |White
threatens
Q i, to be followed by P x P. Black's
other alternatives would finally force him to play
and through the

last

P Q B

PX

P, thus abandoning the centre to White.


7

With

8.

R Qi

9.

O -O

this last

while Black

is

P-B3
Q-B 2

move White completes

his development,

evidently somewhat hampered.

examination will

suffice to

A simple

show that White's position

CONTROL OF THE CENTRE


There are no weak spots

is unassailable.

31

in his armour,

and

his pieces are ready for

may

wish to carry out in order to begin the attack on

the enemy's position.

study this example.

It

any manoeuvre that he

The student should carefully


will show him that it is some-

times convenient to delay Castling.

have given the

moves as they come to my mind without following


any standard book on openings. Whether the moves
given by

me

agree or not with the standard works, I

do not know, but at the present stage


it is

of this

book

not convenient to enter into discussions of mere

technicalities

which the student

will

be able to imder-

stand when he has become more proficient.

Example

19.
1.

P K4

2.

Kt KB3

P K4
P Q3

3.

P-Q4

B-Kt5

bad move, which

violates one of the principles set

down, according to which at

least

one Knight should

be developed before the Bishops are brought out, and


also because

exchanges a Bishop for a Knight, which

it

in the opening

is

generally bad, unless there

compensation.
4.

PxP

is

some

TRAPS

32
7.

8.

To prevent

Q-QKt3
Kt-B3

Kt Q

P-QKt3

P-QB3

5.

Black, however, has no pieces out except his Queen,

and White, with a Bishop and a Knight ahready developed, has a chance of obtaining an advantage quickly

by playing Kt
Q 5 anyway. The student is
to work out the many variations arising from

left

this

position.

These examples

will

show the

practical application

of the principles previously enunciated.


is

warned against playing Pawns

at the beginning of the game, especially

and P Q R

3,

The student

in preference to pieces

P K R

which are moves very commonly

in-

dulged in by beginners.
8.

I shall

now give

in the openings,

TRAPS

a few positions or traps to be avoided

and

in

which (practice has shown)

beginners are often caught.

TRAPS

33

Example 20.

White plays:
1.

PXP

Kt X P

Black should have recaptured with the Pawn.

BXQ

Kt

2.

Kt

3.

BxPch

4.

Kt Q

K K2

5 mate.

Example 21.

J
'h

TRAPS

34

Black, having the move, should play

suppose he plays
1.

Kt K

Kt KB

P K

3 instead,

But
then comes
3.

BxPch

would

also give

White the advantage, the

ifBxQ; aBxP mate.

does B
R 5 help matters, because of 2 Q X B,
B K 3 leaves Black with the inferior position.
threat being of course

White's

move

in the text secures

Nor
i

But

an immediate material

advantage, and the beginner at any rate should never


miss such an opportunity for the sake of a speculative

advantage in position.
I
2.

3.

Kt K 5 ch
KtxB

KxB
K moves

and White has won a Pawn besides having the better


position.

There are a good


is

many

other traps

in

fact, there

a book written on traps on the chess board; but

the type given above

is

the most

common

of

all.

CHAPTER

II

Further Prtnciples in End-Game Play

We

shall

few more

and

now go back
principles,

finally to the

to the endings in search of a

then again to the middle-game,

openings once more, so that the ad-

may not only be gradual but homogeneous. In


way the foundation on which we expect to build

vance
this

the structure will be firm and solid.

9.

A CARDINAL PRINCIPLE

^ ^ #*
V y
W

^^

Z _/">

m^

l1

k fm

In the position shown above, White can draw by


playing

P Kt

4 according to the general rule that

governs such cases,


free

from

opposition.

because he does not

i.e.

to

advance the

Pawn

But suppose that White,

know

that is

either

this principle or because


35

he

A CARDINAL PRINCIPLE

36

does not, in this case, sufficiently appreciate the value


suppose, we say, that he plays
Then Black can win by playing i

of its application;

P Q R
P Q R
I

4.

applying one of the cardinal principles of

4,

the high strategy of chess

this principle.

ways, and
in the

it

It

lay too

can be applied in

constitutes one of the principal

22.

cient proof.
:

hold two of the op-

much
many

weapons

hands of a master.

Example
ation

Pawn would

The student cannot

ponent's Pawns.

on

unit that holds two.

In this case one

stress

1.

The example given

We

give a few

P R4

2.

K Kt 2

3.

P Kt4

(Best

moves

should be

suffi-

main

vari-

of the

P QR4
K B 5

see why.)

PXP

(Best.)
4.
5.

6.

P Rs
P R6
P R7

P Kt6
P Kt 7
P Kt8(Q)

7.

P-R8(Q) Q^Ksch

8.

QxQ

KxQ

This brings the game to a position which


Black,

and which

constitutes

endings of King and Pawns.


guiding idea of

it

is

one of the

won by
classical

I shall try to explain the

to those not familiar with

it.

A CLASSICAL ENDING
A CLASSICAL ENDING

10.

Example

23.

In

2.

easier for

As soon

White's best line

this position

of defence consists in keeping his

at

37

as the

Black to win.

Pawn where

it

stands

Pawn is advanced it becomes


On the other hand, Black's

plan to win (supposing that White does not advance

Pawn) may be divided into three


part will be to get his King to K R 6,
his

parts.

at the

keeping intact the position of his Pawns.


all

The

same time
(This

important, since, in order to win the game,

essential at the
his rearmost

end that Black

Pawn one

may

first

is

it is

be able to advance

or two squares according to

the position of the White King.)

K K6

K-Kt3
If 2

win.

K Kt

K Kt2
K B 7;

4,

PR

4,

P Kt

3 wiU

A CLASSICAL ENDING

38
t

A CLASSICAL ENDING
The third part
the Kt P so as

will consist in

39

timing the advance of

P Kt

when the White


Ejng is at R I. It now becomes evident how necessary it is to be able to move the Kt P either one or
to play

two squares according to the position


King, as indicated previously.^

White's move, the

smce the White


were

now

vanced

Kt

Black's

one

Pawn

Kmg

move

square

the

K Ri

White

In this case, as

it is

be advanced two squares

be

since

I.

8.

will

will

of the

the comer, but

Kt P
the

if,

it

should only be ad^

White King

is

at

OBTAINING A PASSED PAWN

40
sition,

but before we devote our time to

call attention to

11.

When

two

it

I wish to

things.

OBTAINING A PASSED PAWN

three or

more Pawns are opposed to each

other in some such position as the one in Example 24,


there

is

always a chance for one side or the other of

obtaining a passed Pawn.

:/y.

iT

/A

<^*

^f

y^^

'>''
..

^/

.../.^y.

'/.

>>

Example

24.

In the

obtaining a passed

above position the way of

Pawn

is

to advance the centre

Pawn.
1.

If

PxP;
2.

3-

and as

P Kt6

RPxP

P-R
P B6
P-R6

PxBP

6,

in this case the

Queen than any

of the

White Pawn

is

nearer

Black Pawns, White

to
will

WHICH PAWN FIRST TO QUEEN


win.

Now

if it

41

had been Black's move Black could

play

P-Kt3

BPxP

2.

BPxP

would not be advisable to try to obtain a passed


Pawn because the White Pawns would be nearer to
It

Queen than the


3-

single

Black Pawn.

PXP

PxP

and the game properly played would be a draw.


student should work this out for himself.

12.

The

HOW TO

FIND OUT WHICH PAWN WILL


BE FIRST TO QUEEN

When two Pawns

are free, or will be free, to ad-

vance to Queen, you can find out, by counting, which

Pawn

will

be the

Example
wins.

25.

first

In

to succeed.

this position

whoever moves

first

WHICH PAWN FIRST TO QUEEN

42

The

first

thing

is

by counting, whether

to find out,

King can be in time to stop the passed


Pawn from Queening. When, as in this case, it cannot
be done, the pomt is to coimt which Pawn comes in
the opposing

In

first.

tune

this case the

is

the same, but the

that reaches the eighth square

Queen

is

m
1.

2.

3.

comes a

the Pawn, but


ing,

his

command
Pawn.

and becomes a

a position to capture the adversary's

Queen when he makes one.

Now

first

Pawn

Thus

P KR4

P R4

P-R5
PxP

P-Rs
P Kt6
little
if

calculation.

he does

so,

he

White can capture

will not,

when Queen-

the square where Black will also Queen

Therefore, instead of taking, he plays:


4.
5.

6.

P R6

P R6

P-R7
P-R7
P R8 (Q), andwms.

The student would do weU

to

acquaint himself

with various simple endings of this

sort, so as to ac-

quire the habit of coimting,

and thus be able to know

with ease when he can or caimot get there

first.

Once

again I must call attention to the fact that a book

cannot by
as a guide,

and

if

itself

teach

and the

how

rest

to play.

It can only serve

must be learned by experience,

a teacher can be had at the same time, so

the faster will the student be able to learn.

much

THE OPPOSITION
THE OPPOSITION

13.

When
by

43

Kings have to be moved, and one player can,

force, bring his

King

into a position similar to the

one shown in the following diagram, so that his adversary

is

forced to

move and make way

player obtaining that advantage

is

for him, the

said to

have

the

oj)i)osition.

^ample

26.

Suppose in the above position White

plays
I.

Now

K-Q4

Black has the option of either opposing the

passage of the White

King by playing

K Q

he prefers, he can pass with his own

or,

if

by

replying

K B

4.

King

Notice that the Kings are

directly opposed to each other,

and the nimiber of

intervening squares between them

is

odd

one

in

this case.

The

opposition can take the form

shown above,

THE OPPOSITION

44

which can be called actual or

close frontal opposition;

or this form:

which can be called actual or close diagonal opposition,


or, again, this

form

which can be called actual or close lateral opposition.


In practice they are

all

one and the same.

The

Kings are always on squares of the same colour, there


is

only one intervening square between the

and the player who has moved

last

"has

Kings,

the opposition.^'

THE OPPOSITION
Now,

45

the student will take the trouble of moving

if

each King backwards as in a game in the same frontal,


diagonal or lateral line respectively shown in the dia-

grams,

we

shall

have what

may be caUed distant frontal,

diagonal and lateral opposition respectively.

The matter

of the opposition

is

highly important,

and takes at times somewhat complicated forms,


of which can be solved mathematically; but,

present, the student should only consider the

simple forms.
of

(An examination of some

all

for the

most

of the examples

King and Pawns endings aheady given

will

show

several cases of close opposition.)

In

when

simple forms of opposition,

all

the

Kings are on

the

same

line

and

the

number

of intervening squares between them is even, the player

who has

the

Example
tage

the

move has

27.

the opposition.

The above position shows to advan-

enormous value of the opposition.

The

THE OPPOSITION

4b
position

Very

very simple.

is

little

is

left

on the

board, and the position, to a beginner, probably looks


absolutely even.
ever has the

It is not the case,

move wins.

Now

Who-

Notice that the Kings are

directly in front of one another,

of intervening squares

however.

and that the number

is even.

as to the procedure to win such a position.

The proper way

to begin

Thus:
I.

K K2

is

to

move

straight up.

defence more

THE OPPOSITION

47

to overcome.

Let us begin

difi&cult

anew.

K K2
K Q K Q
I.

Now if

3,

2,

or

if

and Black obtains the opposition

K Qi
2 K K
K K
3,

in both cases.

2,

(When

the Kings are directly in front of one another, and the

number
is

intervening

of

the

odd,

player

squares between the Kings

who has moved

last

has the

opposition.)

Now
There

in order to win, the

is

and that

White King must advance.

only one other square where he can go,


is

the right place;

Therefore

it is

3,

seen that

when the opponent makes a so-called


waiting move, you must advance, leaving a rank
Therefore we
or file free between the Kings.
in such cases

have

2.

K K2

K B3

Now, it would be bad to advance, because then Black,


by bringing up his King in front of your King, would
obtain the opposition.
simila r

move
3-

It is White's turn to play a

to Black's first

move,

viz.

K-K3

which brings the position back to the first variation


shown. The student would do weU to famiharise himself with the handling of the King in all examples of
opposition.

a game.

It often

means the winning or

losing of

THE OPPOSITION

48

Example

The following position

28.

is

proof of the value of the opposition as

an

excellent

a means of

defence.

White

is

Pawn behind and

apparently

lost,

yet he

can manage to draw as follows

K Ri!

I.

The position of the Pawns does not permit White


to draw by means of the actual or close opposition,
hence he takes the distant opposition
1

K B

K B

keep the

(actual or

I
2,

K Q

lateral

if

K Q

7;

opposition),

opposition essential to his safety,

own Pawn

after the text

move,
.

in effect

6 and White cannot continue to

because of his

1.

close

at

3.

On

the other hand,

if

2.

K-

R2

3.

K-

R3!

K-Q7
K-Q6
K K7

THE OPPOSITION
4.

K-^Kt2

5.

K-Kt3

6.

K Kt4

K K

K K6
K-Q5

Pawn and

attacking the

49

forcing Black to play 6...

when he can go back

to

Kt

3 as already

shown, and always keep the opposition.

Going back to the


1.

original position,

K Ri

White does not play

if

P Kts
PX

P, because

P K

will

win, but plays


2.

If

2...PXP

K Kt2
ch;

K Q7

KxP,

foUowed by

K K

4,

win draw.
3.

PxP

and mere counting

P K5

will

show that both

sides

Queen,

drawing the game.


If the student

wiU now take the trouble to go back

to the examples of

King and Pawns which

given in this book,^ he wiU realise that in


the matter of the opposition

tance

as, in fact, it is in

and Pawns, except

is

of

nearly

in such cases

position in itself ensures the win.


1

See page 13.

have

all of

them

paramount imporall

endings of King

where the Pawn-

THE RELATIVE VALUE

so
14.

THE RELATIVE VALUE OF KNIGHT AND BISHOP

Before turning our attention to this matter


well to state

now

it

but, under certain conditions of course, they can


so

if

is

that two Knights alone cannot mate,

do

the opponent has one or more Pawns.

Example

29.

In the above position White cannot

win, although the Black

King

is

cornered, but in the

following position, in which Black has

a Pawn,

White wins with or without the move.

Thus

I.

Kt Kt6

P R5

OF KNIGHT AND BISHOP

SI

White cannot take the Pawn because the game

will

be drawn, as explained before.

4-

Kt K5
Kt B6
Kt Kts

5-

Kt B

2.

3-

P R6
P R7
P R8(Q)

mate

The reason

for this pecuUarity in chess is eviaent.

White with

the two

Knights can only stalemate

King, unless Black has a

Example

30.

Pawn

Although he

the

which can be moved.

a Bishop and a

is

Pawn

ahead the following position cannot be won by White.

It is the greatest

the Rook's

weakness of the Bishop, that when

Pawn Queens on a

and the opposing King


Bishop

do

is

is

in front of the

absolutely worthless.

to keep

square.

is

square of opposite colour

moving

his

AH

King

Pawn, the

that Black has to

close to the

comer

THE RELATIVE VALUE

52

Example

31.

without the
variation.

In the above position White with or

move can

win.

Take the most

difficult

OF KNIGHT AND BISHOP


has the choice of one colour only.
to bring a Knight from one

as

shown

much longer

wing to the other.

Also,

in the following Example, a Bishop can

stalemate a Knight
is

It takes

53

a compliment which the Knight

unable to return.

Example 32.

The weaker the player the more


is

terrible the

Knight

to him, but as a player increases in strength the

value of the Bishop becomes more evident to him, and


of course there

is,

or should be, a corresponding decrease

in his estimation of the value of the

to the Bishop.

In

Knight as compared

this respect, as in

many

others, the

masters of to-day are far ahead of the masters of former


generations.

While not so long ago some of the very

best amongst them, like Pillsbury and Tchigorin, preferred Knights to Bishops, there

who would not


ments made above.
to-day

is

hardly a master of

completely agree with the state-

THE RELATIVE VALUE

54

This is about the only case when the


Example 33.
Knight is more valuable than the Bishop.

It is what is called a "block position," and aD. the


Pawns are on one side of the board. (If there were Pawns

on both

sides of the

board there would be no advantage

in having a Knight.)

In such a position Black has

excellent chances of winning.

extra source of weakness for

White

on the same colour-squares as


mistake often
generally, in

made by
an ending,

Of course, there

is

to

having his Pawns

in

his Bishop.

players.

an

is

This

is

The proper way,

have your Pa\ras on

own Bishop.
When you have your Pawns on squares of the same
colour the action of your own Bishop is limited by
squares of opposite colour to that of your

them, and consequently the value of the Bishop

is

diminished, since the value of a piece can often be

measured by the number of squares


While on

it

commands.

this subject, I shall also call attention to the

OF KNIGHT AND BISHOP


fact that

it is

on squares

55

generally preferable to keep your

of the

same colour as that

Bishop, particularly

ported by the King.

if

Pawns

of the opposing

they are passed Pawns sup-

The

principles

might be stated

thus

When

the

opponent has a Bishop, keep your

on sqiMres of

the

same colour

as

your

Pawns

opponent's

Bishop.

Whenever you have a Bishop, whether

the

opponent

Pawns on squares
your own Bishop.

has also one or not, keep your


opposite colour to that of

of the

Naturally, these principles have sometimes to be

modified to suit the exigencies of the position.

Example 34.
are on one side

In the following position the Pawns


of the board,

in having either a

and there

is

no advantage

Knight or a Bishop,

should surely end in a draw.

The game

THE RELATIVE VALUE

S6

Example

35.

Now

let

us add three

Pawns on

each side to the above position, so that there are

Pawns on both

It is

now

the position,

draw.

much

sides of the board.

preferable to have the Bishop, though


if

properly played out, should end in a

The advantage
in its ability to

sides of the
ability to

Bishop

lies

as

at long range, both

board from a central position as in

move

to the other.

of having the

command,

its

quickly from one side of the board

OF KNIGHT AND BISHOP

In

Example 36

57

above position

the

it

is

un-

questionably an advantage to have the Bishop, because,

although each player has the same number of Pawns,


they are not balanced on each side of the board.

on the King's
Queen's

the

two.
in

White has three

side.

side

is

it

Black

Thus,

to two, while

that

has

three

on
to

with proper play, the game should end

Still,

White

though

draw,

somewhat better

has

chances.

Example

Here

37.

have the Bishop

is

a position in which to

a decided advantage, since not

is

/;;

i*'

/ i

i
4,

/^
/A

41 h

^ J

only are there Pawns on both sides of the board,

but there

Q R P

is

for

difl&culty in

at

all.

a passed
Black).

drawing

Pawn (K

Black

R P

should

this position,

if

for

have

White,

extreme

he can do

it

S8

VALUE OF KNIGHT AND BISHOP

Example

38.

Again Black would have great

diffi-

culty in drawing this position.

The student should


I

tions.

carefully consider these posi-

hope that the many examples wiU help him

to understand, in their true value, the relative merits

Knight and Bishop.

of the

As

of procedure, a teacher, or practical

be best.

I might say generally, however, that the

proper course in these endings, as in


ings, is:

method
experience, wiU

to the general

Advance

of the

all

similar end-

King to the centre

of the

board or towards the passed Pawns, or Pawns that


are susceptible of being attacked,
of the passed

Pawn

or

Pawns

and rapid advance

as far as

is

consistent

with their safety.

To

give a fixed line of play would be foUy.

ending

is

different,

according to
Calculation
will count.

by

and

reqtiires

Each

different handling,

what the adversary proposes to


visualising the future positions is

do.

what

MATE WITH KNIGHT AND BISHOP


15.

59

HOW TO MATE WITH A KNIGHT AND A BISHOP

Now,

before going back again to the middle-game

and the openings,

how to mate with Knight


how to wia with a Queen

us see

let

and Bishop, and, thpn,


against a Rook.

With a

Kjiight

and a Bishop

the

mate can only he

given in the corners of the same colour as the Bishop.

Example
at

QR

two

39.

In

KR

or

this

8.

example we must mate either

The ending can be divided

into

Part one consists in driving the Black

parts.

King

to the last liue.

done

in

aU such

We

cases,

might begin, as

is

generally

by advancing the King

to the

centre of the board


I.

K K2

Black, in order to

make

K Q2
it

more

difl&cult,

the white-squared comer:


2.

3.

K-Q3
B-B4

K-B3
K-Q4

goes towards

HOW TO MATE WITH

6o
4.

A KNIGHT AND BISHOP

K Kt

IS

Kt K

3,

6i

and the other which

I give

as the text, and which I consider better for the student


to learn, because

accord with the


the

it is

King as much as
14.

more methodical and more

spirit of all these endings,

possible.

in

6y using

QUEEN AGAINST ROOK

62

mate within the

fifty

moves which are granted by

the rules.

16.

This

Pawns.

is

QUEEN AGAINST ROOK

one of the most

The

when used

difficult

endings without

resources of the defence are

skilfully

many, and

only a very good player wiU prevail

within the limit of fifty moves allowed

(The rule

is

that at any

by the rules.
moment you may demand

that your opponent mate you within fifty moves.

However, every time a piece

is

exchanged or a Pawn

advanced the counting must begin

Example

40.

This

is

one of the standard positions

which Black can often bring about.


move.

If it

afresh.)

were Black's move

it

Now,

it is

White's

would be simple, as

he would have to move his Rook away from the King


(find

out why), and then the

Rook would be compara-

QUEEN AGAINST ROOK


to win. We deduce from the

tively easy

the

main object

is

to force the Black

63

above that

Rook away

from the defending King, and that, in order to compel


Black to do

so,

we must

bring about the position in

Once we know

the diagram with Black to move.

what

is

required, the

way

to proceed

becomes

easier to

Thus:

find.

I.

Q Ksch

Q R because R B ch; 2 K Kt

R B3ch; 3KXR. Stalemate. (The beginner


Not

6,

6,

will invariably fall into this trap.)

I
2.

3-

Q Ri ch
Q-Rs

K to R

K Kt

or to

R2

we have accomplished our


The first part is concluded. Now we come
second part. The Rook can only go to a White
In a few moves

otherwise the

Therefore
^.

first

object.

to the

square,

check with the Queen wiU win

it.

64

QUEEN AGAINST ROOK

^Mr

^^
/

K
Example
The things

41.

y^y/.

?^

^_
y

The procedure here

to bear in

mind

is

very similar.

Rook must
Kt i because of an
same way the King must
are that the

be prevented from interposing at


immediate mate, and in the

be prevented from going either to

Example

42.

cult position.

We

shall

3 or

i.

now examine a more

diffi-

QUEEN AGAINST ROOK


Many

cannot play 3

K B

very

it

Q K

6,

difficult for

6 because of 3

R Kt

6,

by

K B

Thus

defence, but, unfortvinately, a very effective

one, which maikes

quickly

this position.

not the best.

2.

The only

is

Q Ksch K B
K Kt6 R Q2

1.

by

players would be deceived

The most likely looking move


suppose we begin

65

White, since he
.

.R

Kt

2 ch

Nor can he win


3 ch draws.
i,
B 5 ch because 3...K

Q Q
R Q 3

ch!

driving back the White

King.

Now

that

we have

tion let us go back.

seen the

difficxilties

The

move

best

of the situa-

is

Q Kt sch! K Ri
IfK R2; 2Q Kt6ch, K Ri; 3K R6!
Q Ksch! K Rabest
K Kts R R2!best
1.

2.

3.

If 3

.R Kt

similar to those in

'4.

ch

K B

6 leads to a position

Examples 40 and

41.

QUEEN AGAINST ROOK

66

and we have the position of Example 40 with Black


to move.
Let us go back again.
1.

2.
3.

The

Q Ktsch K B
Q Q8ch K Kt2
K Kts R B6
I

best place for the

3...K R2;
would

Q Q

Rook away from the


Kt 2 ch; 5 K
4,

King.

lead to positions similar to those already seen.

Q Q4ch K B
K Kt6
5 Q Q 6 ch, K Kt 2; 6Q Ks ch, K B i;
K Kt 6 would also win the Rook. The text move,
I

4.
5.

however,

is

given to show the finesse of such endings.

White now threatens mate at


5-

6.

8.

QUEEN AGAINST ROOK


King are often kept on

different lines.

67

The student

should carefully go over these positions and consider

aU the

He

possibilities

not given in the text.

should once more go through everything already

written before proceeding further with the book.

CHAPTER

III

Planning a Win in Middle-Game Play


I

SHALL now give a few winning positions taken from

my own

games.

have selected those that I believe

can be considered as

types,

easily occur again in

a somewhat similar form.

knowledge of such positions


one cannot know too many.
player to find,

with

i.e.

positions that

of great help;

is

It often

little effort,

may

may

in fact,

help the

the right move, which

he might not be able to find at aU without such


knowledge.

17.

ATTACKING WITHOUT THE AID


OF KNIGHTS

ATTACKING WITHOUT KNIGHTS

69

Example 43.
It is Black's move, and as he is a
Kt and P behind he must win quickly, if at all. He
plays

QR Kt i!

2.

If,

QX

Q,

R B 2

RXP

ch

K R

i,

B Q

4 and mate

follows in a few moves.

RXP

Example

3.

K B

4.

KtxB

44.

ch

B B s ch
R KtSmate

Black's

last

move was P

6,

played with the object of stopping what he thought

was White's

threat, viz.

would have answered

by perpetual
forceful

follows

check.

:R Q R

Q B

5,

to which he

ch and drawn the game

White, however, has a more

move, and he

mates

in

three

moves as

ATTACKING WITHOUT

70
1.

RxPch

QxR

2.

R-QRs

Black moves

3.

White mates

Example
still he had

45.

White has a beautiful


some material,

better gaia

if

position,

but

he can, before

Black consolidates his defensive position.

He

there-

fore plays:

If

Kt X B

1.

RxKt!

2.

BxPch
Rx

Kt and Black would be

3.

Q R7ch

4.

Q X Kt

5.

ch

Q-R7ch

7.

B B8
R X Q ch

8.

RxR

6.

PxR
K K2
helpless.

K Ki
K Q2
Q K2
QXQ

K Ki
Resigns

In these few examples the attacking has been done

by Rooks and Bishops

in combination

with the Queen.

Am

THE

OF KNIGHTS

There have been no Knights to take part

We

shall

now give some examples

in

71

in the attack.

which the Knights

play a prominent part as an attacking force.

18.

ATTACKING WITH KNIGHTS AS A


PROMINENT FORCE

Example 46.
White is two Pawns behind.
must therefore press on his attack. The game
tinues

He
con-

I.

Kt

(B

s)

Evidently an error which


for White, as

Kt B 4

X Kt P
made

the winning easier

he simply took the Rook with the Knight

and kept up the

attack.

Black should have played:

i...KtxKt. Then would have followed: 2 Kt


B 6ch,
Kt3; 3 Kt X B, P B 3 (best) 4 P
B 2 s Kt X P, R K 2 6 Kt K 4,
K 5,

K
K

Full score

and Black should

lose.^

and notes are given in

Capablanca (Game No. ii).

My

Chess Career, by

J.

R.

ATTACKING WITH KNIGHTS

72

mm ^mim

J^

%/
/

Example

47.

amine the

2*

The

student

should

carefully

position, as the sacrifice of the

similar situations is tj^pical,

of frequent occurrence

Bishop in

and the chance

for it is

The game

actual play.

in

ex-

continues

If 2.

and

BxPch

KxB

2.

Kt Kt sch

K-Kt3

.K R 3
.K Kt i

Best.
if

1.

Kt X P ch wins

Q R

5,

with an

the Queen,
irresistible

cLLLclCiv.*

3.
4.

White

Q-Kt4
Q-Kt3

P-B4
K-R3

finally won.'

This position

is

elaborated under

Example 50

(p 80.).

WINNING BY INDIRECT ATTACK


WINNING BY INDIRECT ATTACK

19.

We

73

have so far given positions where the attacks

were of a violent nature and directed against the

Very

King's position.

game

attacks are

pieces, or

often, however, in the middle-

made

against a position or against

even Pawns.

The winning of a Pawn among good players of even


means the winning of the game.

strength often

Hence the study


portance.

We

of such positions

of great im-

is

give below two positions in which the

attack airns at the gain of a mere

Pawn

as a

means

of

ultimately winning the game.

Example

48.

Black

is

a Pawn behind, and there

no violent direct attack against White's King.


Black's pieces, however, are very well placed and free
is

to act,

he

is

and by co-ordinating the action

of

soon able not only to regain the

obtain the better game.

The

aU

his pieces

Pawn but

to

student should carefully

WINNING BY INDIRECT ATTACK

74

consider this position


is

and the subsequent moves.

It

a very good example of proper co-ordination in the

management

The game

of forces.

R Ri

P-QR4

2.

White's best
follow

continues:

Kt X B

Q Kt when would
3 Q X Kt, R R 6 and Black would

move was P

ultimately win the

Q R

P, always keeping a slight

The

advantage in position.

3,

text

move makes matters

easier.

Kt X B

2
3.

QxKt

4.

KR Qi

Q-Bs

KR Kt

Black could have regained the

Pawn by

playing

BX

Kt, but he sees that there

and

therefore increases the pressure against White's

Queen

side.

R X Kt

He now

threatens,

is

more

to be had,

among other

things,

P.
5.

Q-K3

R-Kts

Threatening to win the exchange by


6.
7.

Q Kts
K Ri

BQ

5.

B Qsch

QR Kt

This threatens to win the Kt, and thus forces White


to give

Now

up the exchange.
8.

RxB

QXR

9.

R-Qi

Q-Bs

Black

will recover his

Pawn.

WINNING BY INDIRECT ATTACK

75

Example 49.
An examination of this position will
show that Black's main weakness lies in the exposed
position of his King, and in the fact that his Q R
has not yet come into the game. Indeed, if it were
Black's move, we might conclude that he would have
the better game, on accoimt of having three Pawns to
two on the Queen's side, and his Bishop commanding
the long diagonal.
It

is,

however. White's move, and he has two courses

to choose from.

be good
2

P Q Kt

there

is

The obvious move, B

enough, since after

4 would make

another

BB

it difi&cult

move which

4,

4,

might

QR Q

for Black.

i;

But

completely upsets Black's

and wins a Pawn, besides obtaining the


better position. That move is Kt
Q 4 The game

position

continues as follows:
1.

Kt Q4!

PxKt

2.

RxB

Kt Kts

76

WINNING BY INDIRECT ATTACK

There is nothing better, as White threatened B


3-

4.

CHAPTER

IV

Geneeal Theory
Before we
it will

revert to the technique of the openings

be advisable to dwell a Httle on general theory,

so that the openings in their relation to the rest of the

game may be

better understood.

THE INITIATIVE

20.

As the
the same

pieces are set

position

on the board both

and the same amoimt

sides

have

of material.

White, however, has the move, and the move in this


case

means

the

and the

initiative,

things being equal,

is

initiative,

Now

an advantage.

other

this ad-

vantage must be kept as long as possible, and should


only be given up
or positional,

is

if

some other advantage, material

obtained in

its place.

White, according

to the principles already laid down, develops his pieces

as fast as possible, but in so doing he also tries to

hinder his opponent's development,


sure wherever possible.

He

by

applyirig pres-

tries first of

aU

to control

the centre, and failing this to obtain some positional

advantage that wiU make

it

He

on harassing the enemy.


initiative

when he

gets for

possible for

it

him

to keep

only relinquishes the

some material advantage

under such favoxirable conditions as to make him


77

feel

DIRECT ATTACKS EN MASSE

78

assured that he

will, in turn,

and

adversary's thrust;

be able to withstand his


through his superi-

finally,

more resvune the

ority of material, once

initiative,

which alone can give him the victory.


assertion

is

self-evident,

since,

This

last

order to win the

xa.

game, the opposing King must be driven to a position

where he

attacked without having any

is

way

of escape.

Once the pieces have been properly developed the


resulting positions

may

vary in character.

be that a direct attack against the King


or that

it is

is

It

may

in order;

a case of improving a position already

advantageous;

or, finally,

that some material can be

gained at the cost of relinquishing the initiative for

a more or

less

DIRECT ATTACKS EN MASSE

21.

In the

prolonged period.

first

case the attack

force to guarantee

sufficient

consideration

must a

must be

tainty in one's

on with

Under no
King

its success.

direct attack against the

be carried on a outrance imless there

failure in

carried

own mind

that

it

is

absolute cer-

will succeed, since

such cases means disaster.

Example

50.

A good example of a successful

attack against the King

is

shown

direct

in the following

diagram
In this position White could simply play

and

still

fers

an immediate attack on the King's

have the better

position,

BB

but instead he preside,

with

DIRECT ATTACKS EN MASSE

79

the certainty in his mind that the attack will lead to


a win. The game continues thus: ^

BXP

13.

Kt Kt

14.

Q Kt4

P K

Best.

16

P B

18

Q K
20

4!

We

(if

21

K Q 2

6 ch,

fatal.

K B

3;

Q Kt 5 ch, KxKt;
ch, Kt
19 K R Q
i

(if

Kt,

mate

K K

QXR

in two)

i,

Kt Q6ch

R B
23 Q B

22

i ch,

ch

in five moves.

give,

from now on, games and

familiarise himself

it

17

s;

Rx

with the

that constantly are borne in

take

Kt K

15

5 ch,

K Kt 3
1

P B4

K Q 2;
KtxP, K B 3

and mate

K-Kt3

5ch

4;

PK

wins the Queen)

may

KxB

ch

4 would have been immediately

14...P K

Thus:

Q6;

12.

notes, so that the student

many and

varied considerations

mind by the Chess Master.

We

must

for granted that the student has already reached a stage

where, while not being able fuUy to understand every move, yet he

can derive benefit from any discussion with regard to them.

DIRECT ATTACKS EN MASSE

8o

Q R4ch
Q R ch

16.

17.
If

K-R3
K Kt3
K B3

Q-Kt3

15.

K X Kt Q X
;

Kt P ch and mate

in

a few moves.

Kt - Kt

19.

P K4
PxP

20.

QR Qi

Kt Q6
Kt(Q6)-Bs

18.

22.

Q-R3
Q Kt3

23.

KR Ki

21.

PxP

Q B

Kt K7ch

This blmider loses at once, but the game could not

be saved in any case


ch,

Kt X R;

e.g. 23.

..B

K3; 24RXB

Kt Q 5 mate.
R X Kt
QxQ
Kt R 7 ch
K B2
RPXQ
R Ri

25

24.

25.
26.

Example

Kt sch

27.

Kt

28.

PB

51.

Another

K-B3
Resigns

example of

this kind;

DIRECT ATTACKS EN MASSE

8i

In the above position the simple move Kt X P


would win, but White looks for compHcations and
their beauties.
Such a course is highly risky imtil a
wide experience of actual master-play has developed
a sufficient insight into all the possibilities of a position.
This game, which

won

the

brilliancy prize

Petersburg in 1914, continued as follows

at

St.

THE FORCE OF THE

82

and that

often, as in

out,

the coming into action of the last available

it is

some

of the variations pointed

piece that finally overthrows the enemy. It

demon-

strates the principle already stated:

and

Direct
carried

King must

violent attacks against the

en masse, with full force,

to

be

ensure their success.

The opposition must be overcome

at all cost;

cannot be broken of, since in

suh cases that means

all

the attack

defeat.

THE FORCE OF THE THREATENED


ATTACK

22.

Failing

an opportunity,

direct attack, one

weakness there

may

or, if there is none,


is

in

the

second case, for

must attempt to increase whatever


be in the opponent's position;

one or more must be created.

It

always an advantage to threaten something, but

such threats must be carried into effect only


thing

to be gained immediately.

is

if

some-

For, holding the

threat in hand, forces the opponent to provide against


its
it.

execution and to keep material in readiness to meet

Thus he may more

easily overlook, or

to parry, a thrust at another point.

threat

is

carried into effect,

it

exists

be xmable

But once the


no longer, and

your opponent can devote his attention to his own


schemes.

One

of the best

and most

successful

ma-

game is to make a demonas to draw the forces of your

noeuvres in this type of


stration

on one

side, so

opponent to that

side,

then through

the

greater

mobility of your pieces to shift your forces quickly

THREATENED ATTACK
to the other side

83

and break through, before your

opponent has had the tune to bring over the necessary forces for the defence.

good example of positional play

following

tional Masters
:

shown

in the

game:

Example 52. Played


White

is

J.

R. Capablanca.
I.

at

Havana

the

Interna-

Tournament, 1913. (French Defence.)


Black

R. Blanco.

THE FORCE OF THE

84

prevent the development of Black's Queen's Bishop


Q Kt 3, which is Black's usual
vid Q Kt 2, after P

development in
to

move

this variation.

Generally

it

is

bad

the same piece twice in an opening before

the other pieces are out, and the violation of that


principle is the only objection that can
this

be made to

move, which otherwise has everything to recom-

mend

it.

B-Q3

B K Kt

8.

Q-B3

might be

better.

The

text

move

gives

Black an opportimity of which he does not avail


himself

P-B3

P B

4 was the right move.

It

would have led to

complications, in which Black might have

held his

own;

difficult.

The

at least. White's play

text

move accomplishes

would be very

nothing, and puts Black

THREATENED ATTACK
in

an altogether defensive

B X Kt;

9.

10.

The

P B

4 ch;

is

veiled threat
easily met.

00
B K2

B KKts

fact that

The

position.

Q R

by

followed

85

Black has now to move his Bishop

back clearly demonstrates that Black's plan of devel-

opment is faulty.
White brings his

He

has

pieces

into

position without hindrance of


11.

The

woidd play

Q R

12.

any

3,

time,

and

most attacking

sort.

Kt Ki

was Kt

P K Kt
sacrifice B X P),

play

their

B Q3

alternative

much

lost too

4.

Otherwise White

and Black would be forced to

(not

P K R

seriously

3,

because of the

weakening his King's

P KB

Q R3

side.

White has no longer an attack, but he has compelled


Black to create a marked weakness.
whole plan

K P),

will

and the student can now

see

expounded previously are applied

move

is

Now

White's

be to exploit this weakness (the weak

how

in this

the principles

game.

Every

make the weak King's Pawn improfit by the inactivity of the Black

directed to

tenable, or to

pieces defending the

position of

Pawn,

White at other

14.

BxB
00

15.

KR Ki

16.

R K2

13.

in order to

points.

QxB
R B3
Kt Q3

B Q2

improve the

THE FORCE OF THE

86

At

Bishop comes out, not as an active attack-

last the

make way

ing piece, but merely to


17.

18.

R Ki
Kt B 2

QR Ki
P QB 4

very clever move, tending to prevent

and tempting White to play Kt

B X

Rook.

for the

PB

P, which would be bad, as the following varia-

Kt X B, Q X Kt; 20 B X P, Kt
Q Kt 4, R X B 22 P K R 4, P

tion shows:

Kt 4

21

19

KR4; 23QxR,PxQ; 24RxRch,K R


25

PX

QX

Kt,

cases that,
is

and

But

P.

one

if

another;

will

5,

B, followed by

it

2;

always happens in such

line of attack is anticipated, there

this is

no exception to the

rule, as

be seen.

19.

P Qs!

Apparently the best


of White.

way

KtxKt
to

B P X P would make

the White Bishop would

King's

meet the manifold threats

Pawn

vid

QB

4.

finally

matters worse, as
bear on the weak

THREATENED ATTACK
20.

21.
22.

RX

P KKt3
K Kta

Kt

Q R4
Q-Q4

P B4

Forced, as White threatened


23.

Q Q

was

Q-B3
better.

87

K P, and also Q X P
P-Kt3

Px

But Black wants

to

tempt

P X P, thinking that he will soon after


Pawn with a safe position. Such, however,

White to play
regain his
is

not the case, as White quickly demonstrates.

must add that

in

any case Black's position

is,

opinion, untenable, since all his pieces are tied

in

my

up

for

the defence of a Pawn, while White's pieces are free


to act.

The

24.

PXP

25-

B K2!

BB

deciding and timely manoeuvre.

All the Black

pieces are useless after this Bishop reaches

5.

FORCE OF THREATENED ATTACK

88

BxP

25

Now

his

to

it

B B3

K B 2

27-

B-Q5

Q-Q3

evident that

it is

up, and

way

26.

all

only remains for White to find the quickest

White

to force the issue.

Queen at

the Black pieces are tied

K R

5 in order to

6,

will

now

try to place

and then advance the

KRP

break up the Black Pawns defend-

ing the King.

If

28...P

R K2

Q K3

28.

s;

29

Q K

3,

K R

4;

Q-R R-K 2; 31 Q-Kt K-Kt 2;


P-K R Q-Q 2; 33P-K Kt 3,PXP;
and Black will soon be helpless, as he has
34 P B
30

4,

32

5,

4,

4,

to

mark time with

P R 5, and
R X B, winniug.

to advance
to play

his pieces while

29.

White prepares

finally at the

proper time

RELINQUISHING THE INITIATIVE

89

for a brilliant direct attack agaiast the King, involving


sacrifices of pieces.

23.

RELINQUISHING THE INITIATIVE

In the third case, there


material advantage

is

is

nothing to do, once the

obtained, but to submit to the

opponent's attack for a while, and once


repulsed to act quickly with

on material.
is

has been

your forces and win

good example of

this

type of game

given below.

Example

53.

From

the

Masters Tournament, 1913.


J,

all

it

R. Capablanca.

PXP

Black: D. Janowski.

1.

P-K4

P-K4

2.

Kt KB3

Kt-QB3

3.

B-Kts

Kt-B3

4.

0-0

P-Q3

5.

B X Kt

6.

P Q4

7.

Kt-B3

might be

fa mili ar

Havana International
(Ruy Lopez.) White:

ch

better,

PXB
B K2

but at the tune I was not

with that variation, and therefore I played

what I knew to be good.


7.

8.

RELINQUISHING THE INITIATIVE

90
Black
to

offers the

obtain

exchange in order to gain time and

Without considering at

an attack.

whether or not such a course was


of Black,

there

is

it is

justified

evident that as far as White

only one thing to do,

viz., to

is

concerned

win the exchange


Then, once

and then prepare to weather the storm.


it is

all

on the part

passed, to act quickly with all forces to derive

the benefit of munerical superiority.


13.
14.

15.

To

force

hole at

the

hand

R Q2
Kt Qi

White to play

Kt B4
R Kt I
R Kt 5

B R6

PQ B

5 for his Knight.^

of a master.

4,

and thus create a

Such grand

tactics

show

RELINQUISHING THE INITIATIVE


Black's manceuvring for positional advantage

mirable throughout this game, and

due entirely to the


without even a

if

91
is

he loses

adit

is

fact that the sacrifice of the exchange,

Pawn

for

it,

could not succeed against

sound defensive play.

The

21.

Kt B

22.

PXP

position begins to look really dangerous for White.

In reality Black's attack


force.

Very soon

it

is

reaching

its

maximimi

wiU reach the apex, and then

RELINQUISHING THE INITIATIVE

92

White,

who

action,

and through

is

weU

prepared, wiU begin his counter


his superiority in material obtain

an undoubted advantage.

24.

Kt B I
Kt X Kt

25.

Q Rs

23.

R-Ki
He could not play R K

PB 5
B P X Kt
B Kt2
P B4

26.

R X Q P. Besides, he wants to be ready to play P K 5. At present White cannot with safety play R X K P, but
he

will

soon prepare the

because of

way

for

it.

Then, by giving

up a Rook for a Bishop and a Pawn, he will completely


upset Black's attack and come out a Pawn ahead.
It is on this basis that White's whole defensive manoeuvre

Now
is

is

foimded.

R-Ki

K2
R
K3
(Q2)

27.

P B3

28.

the Black

prepared.

Rook enters into the game, but White


now time to give back the exchange.

It is

RELINQUISHING THE INITIATIVE

31-

33345

R KR3

QXQ
K B 2
R-QB3

RxQch
R K5
Kt-Q2

32-

RB

BxR

RXP
RXB
Q-K8

29.

30-

93

The

ch might have been better.

text

move

did not prove as strong as anticipated.

K B3
R K3
K K2

34

R Qs

35.

Kt

36.

RX

Kt would
37.

Very
of

lose easily

RxBP

White cannot play

fine.

K Q

K4ch

38.
39.
40.

RX

RX

B,

KB

ch because

Kt wmning.
B X Kt

PXB
R Qs

The ending is very


White had to make
was adjourned.

P-Q6!
R B7

RxP
R K6

difficult to win.

the last

move

At

this point

before the

game

94

CUTTING OFF PIECES FROM


41.

THE SCENE OF ACTION


Example

54.

Tournament,
Winter.

1919.

Black:

I.

Played
J.

at

the

Hastings

(Four Knights.)

R. Capablanca.

95
Victory

White:

W.

CUTTING OFF PIECES FROM

96

The

alternative,

Kt P x B

gives

White the best

of

the game, without doubt.^


7.

P-Q3

8.

B Kts

This move

is

not at

B-Qs

all in

The

of this variation.

accordance with the nature

general strategical plan for

P K R 3, to be followed in time
by the advance of the K Kt P to Kt 4, and the bringing
of the Q Kt to K B s via K 2 and K Kt 3 or Q i and
K 3. Then, if possible, the K Kt is linked with the
other Kt by placing it at either K R 4, K Kt 3, or K 3
White

as.

is

to play

the occasion demands.

remains at

Kt

but mostly at

P KB
times

and other

KR

Finally, in

i.

and then the

4,

it is

i,

The White King sometimes


times it is placed at K Kt 2,
most cases comes

real attack begins.

Some-

a direct assault against the King,^ and at

other times

it

comes simply to finessing

for positional

advantage in the end-game, after most of the pieces

have been exchanged.'

P KR3
P B4

8
9.

B R4

See
game Capablanca-Kupchick, from Havana International
Masters Tournament Book, 1913, by J. R. Capablanca; or a game

in the Carlsbad

Tournament

of 191 1,

Vidmar playing Black

against

Alechin.
'

See Niemzowitch's

game

in the All Russian Masters Tourna-

ment, 1914, at St. Petersburg, against Levitzki, I believe.


' See Capablanca-Janowski game, New York Masters Tournament, 1913.

THE SCENE OF ACTION

97

To prevent P Q 4 and to draw White into playing


Kt Q 5, which woxild prove fatal. Black's plan is
to play P K Kt 4, as soon as the circumstances
permit, in order to free his Queen and Knight from
the pin by the Bishop.
10.

Kt-Qs

White falls into the trap. Only lack of experience


can account for this move. White should have considered that a player of my experience and strength
could never allow such a move if it were good.
10.

P-KKt4

CUTTING OFF PIECES FROM

98

move White's game is lost. White camiot


play Kt X Kt P, because Kt x Kt will win a piece.
Kt 3, either before or
Therefore he must play B
after Kt X Kt, with disastrous results in either case,
After this

as will be seen.
II.

Kt X Kt ch

12.

B-Kt3

13-

P-KR3

QxKt
B-Kt5
BxKt

QXB
PXQ

QXQ
P-KB3

14.
IS-

A simple examination will


a Bishop for
it

by

then.

all

sacrificing

At

Black now

show that White

He

practical purposes.

minus
free

one Pawn, and possibly not even

least it

would

devotes

lose

time besides the Pawn.

energy to the Queen's

all his

and, having practically a Bishop

cannot be in doubt.
so that the student

such a game.

is

can only

The

may

more, the

rest of the

see

how

game

simple

is

it is

side,

resiilt

given,

to win

THE SCENE OF ACTION


16.

99

A PLAYER'S MOTIVES CRITICISED

100

interesting feature for the student that Sir George

Thomas

my

kindly wrote the notes to the

request,

game

for

and with the imderstanding that

me

at

would

make

the conunents on them that I considered appropriate. Sir George Thomas' notes are in brackets
and thus wiU be distinguished from my own comments.

Example

55.

Queen's

Gambit Declined.

notes within brackets by Sir George Thomas.)

Mr. F. F. L. Alexander.
I.

{The

White

Black: Sir George Thomas.

IN A SPECIMEN
There

of meeting this threat.)

GAME

much played

as

and consequently not


it

leaves Black with

some

two good

are, besides,

reasons for this method of defence;

not as

loi

first,

that

it

is

of the other defences

known, and second that

so well

two Bishops against

and Kt,

which, in a general way, constitutes an advantage.


7.

8.
9.

This

is

B X Kt

Kt X B

P-QR3
Q Kt3

Kt-K5

not the logical place for the

have been posted at


great importance,

and

B-K2
B which

should

In the opening, time

3.

is

of

therefore the player should be

extremely careful in his development and

make

sure

from

that he posts his pieces in the right places.

11.

BQ 3
P X Kt

12.

BxBP

10.

(I

Kt X Kt

did not want White's

PXP
B B3
Kt

my K

P.)

complished by playing
out

my

and

Incidentally

3.

previous statement that the

13.

alternative

to

5,

it

BQ

been originally played to

The

come

K B 3 without
by P
same
result
could be acThe

where I could not dislodge


weakening

to

it

bears

should have

3.

0-0
was P

then O 0.

4,

followed

by P

5,

White would thereby assmne the

Pawn

initiative

but would weaken his

siderably,

and might be compelled to stake aU on a

position con-

102

A PLAYER'S MOTIVES CRITICISED

violent attack against the King.

point in the game, and


the temperament

and

it

is

This

is

a tiiming

in such positions that

style of the player decide the

course of the game.


13

P K4

14.

0-0
P K4

'y//

////

k
'A

IS.

P-Qs

(White might play 15


of breaking

up

K R Q

P as there is now
By this move White

to advance this

at

QB

4.)

i,

keeping the option

the centre later on.

wanted him

fine post for

my

shows that he does

not understand the true value of his position.

His

only advantage consisted in the imdeveloped condition


of Black's

B.

He

plan to prevent the

should therefore have

from coming out, or

made a
if

that

were not possible, then he should try to force Black


to

weaken

the B.

his

Pawn

position in order to

come out with

There were three moves to consider:

first,

GAME

IN A SPECIMEN

PQ R

4, in

dominating

that

would have been met by

now

it

QB

Kt X B,

vent

Q i in order to threaten
Q X Kt 18 B X P ch.
B Kt
5

and

third,

and by playing

Pawns.

4,

have attained the desired

'P

and the

3 to pre-

R to Q i, followed
Black

force

K R
B and

play

to

side

White would

The

text

move

facilitates Black's

Hereafter White wiU act on the defen-

game
manner in

interest throughout the rest of the

wiU centre mainly on Black's play and the


which he

BxP

This would have

object.

blocks the action of the White

sive,

P,

which would weaken his Queen's

Thus by playing

development.

PX

PK

either

up as previously stated to

P Q Kt

This

16

B Kt

in the

second, either of

the Rooks to
17

occupies.

order to maintain the White

position

been met by

103

carries out the attack.

Q B

IS
16.

B-Q3

makes the development of


At present he cannot
Black's Queen wing easier.
(This seems wrong, as

play

it

P Q Kt 3, because of the reply P X P followed

byB-Qs.)
16

A PLAYER'S MOTIVES CRITICISED

I04

B-K2
B B4
P B3

i8
19.

20.

would

(It

20

R B 2
Q Kt2
been

have

K R K I, with

probably,

better,

the idea of

Black's play hereabout

weak;

is

P B
it

play

to

4 presently.)

and

lacks force,

there seems to be no weU-defined plan of attack.


is

most

true that these are the

a plan on a large
success,

and with

difficult positions to

In such cases a player

handle in a game.

it

It

must conceive

which promises chances of

scale,

it must be a plan that can be


means at his disposal. From

aU,

carried out with the

the look of the position

it

seems that Black's best

chance would be to mass his forces for an attack


against White's centre, to be followed

He

attack against the King.

Q R K

I,

threatening

by a

direct

should, therefore, play

P K B

4. If

to defeat this plan, or rather to prevent

White
it,

is

able

then, once

he has fixed some of the White pieces on the EJng's


side,
side,

he should quickly

and open a

shift his

line for his

attack to the Queen's

Rooks, which, once they

enter in action, should produce an advantage

on

ac-

count of the great power of the two Bishops.


21.

QR Kt

22.

P QR4

23.

R-Qi

(White has clearly

lost

time with his Rook's moves.)

KR Ki

23
24.

QR Qi
B R3

Q-Kt3

GAME

IN A SPECIMEN

105

R 4 and B K2.)
R-Q3

(To bring his Queen across after Kt


24
25.

Kt

26.

B K2

P-Kt3

PxP

26.

(I

R4

thought this exchange necessary here, as White

is

threatening to play his Bishop via

If

he retook with the Bishop's

Pawn

Kt 4

to

6.

I intended to

exchange Bishops and rely on the two Pawns to one

on the Queen's wing.


it

I did not expect

him

to retake

with the King's Pawn, which seemed to expose

him to a violent King's side attack.) Black's judgment in this instance I beUeve to be faulty. Had
White retaken with the B P, as he expected, he would
have had the worst of the Pawn position, as White
would have" had a passed Pawn well supported on the
Queen's

side.

His only advantage would he in his

having a very well posted Bishop against a badly

io6

A PLAYER'S MOTIVES CRITICISED

posted Knight, and on the fact that in such positions as the above, the Bishop

He

than the Knight.


vented

invariably stronger

could and should have pre^

by playing B B i, as, had White


with
Kt 3, he could then play

all that,

then replied

PX

is

P, and White would not have been able to retake

with the

B P on

account of

BXP

ch winmng the

exchange.

do not

27.

KPxP

P K5

28.

P Kt3

P K6

like this

move.

It

would have been better

be followed in due time by

P B 4, to
and P 65^

after having placed the

or some other

to hold

it

in reserve

and

to have played

P K Kt 4
Q at Q 2, K B 2,

The

square as the occasion demanded.


blocks the action of the powerful

at

text

Q B

move
4,

and

make White's position safer than it should


have been. The move in itself is a very strong attacktends to

ing move, but


continuation.

it is isolated,

and there

Such advances as a

is

no

effective

rule should only

be made when they can be followed by a concerted


action of the pieces.

P B4
Kt B 3

B Bi
B B4

32.

R Kt2
K Kt2

R Ks
Q B

33.

Kt Kt

29.

30.
31.

P KKt4

IN A SPECIMEN

B-B

(If now 34
3,
with a winning attack.)

R R

35

PxP

PxP

35.

R-KBi

P-Kts

was the

won

White's only

alternative.

K R

i.

and

for Black,

The
it

107

BXR, BXB

34.

would have been


dently

PXP;

GAME

is

position

now

ch,

move
is

evi-

only a question of

The final attack is now


George Thomas in an irreproachable

finding the right course.

carried

on by

Sir

manner.
36.
37.

(Again preventing

on White's Rook.

If

Kt

40

RX

R,

4,

R-KB3

B-Q3
Kt K2

BX

R, by the masked attack

White therefore protects

P-K

BK

Q B

ch

KtxP, RxKt
B X B, best, R X R

7!; 39
!
!

41

his Rook.)

ch;

and

White
lost.
however, against 38 Kt B 4, Black
plays Q R 3, and White 39 Q B
I take pleasure
is

If,

2,

A PLAYER'S MOTIVES CRITICISED

io8

in offering the position to


tiful

my

and extraordinary win

39... Q R

readers as a most beau-

for Black, beginning with

I leave the variations for the

6 ch!!!

student to work out.


38.

R(Kt2)-Kti

39-

Q-B2

Q-R3

(Making a double attack on the Rook


cannot be taken
If either the

which

still

and preparing to defend the K R P.)

Rook

or Bishop are taken White would

be mated in a few moves.

Q R6ch
RXP!!

3940.

K-Ri
^

/^*^

^
^..y ^5^1

\%

^^^^/
(If

40...R-R3;

K Kt

2.

way
41.

Kt Kt

Black therefore

from the defence.)


best

41

to carry

QxR

I,

QxKtP;

tries to get

42

the Queen

away

very beautiful move, and the

on the attack.

IN A SPECIMEN
(The best defence was 41

RX

GAME

109

B, but Black would

emerge with Queen agamst Rook and Knight.)

BxB
because of P Q 6

41
(Again, not

(If

42

QX

R K R 3
42. R X R
B, then, at

last,

Kt B4

(The Queen has no


to take

escape,,

P K7!

but White has no time

it.)

44.

White

3 wins.)

BXQ

42
43.

R R

resigns.

dis. ch.)

R KKti
A

very

Q-B8

fine finish.

CHAPTER V
EnD-GAME STRATEGy

We must now revert once more to

the endings.

Their

importance will have become evident to the student

who has taken

Janowski (Example

a
my

my game

the trouble to study

Ruy Lopez

53).

in

with

After an uneventful opening

one of

its

normal variations,

opponent suddenly made things interesting by

offering the exchange;

an

offer which, of course, I

Then followed a very hard, arduous struggle,


had to defend myself against a very dangerous attack made possible by the excellent manoeuvring of my adversary. Finally, there came the time
when I could give back the material and change off
most of the pieces, and come to an ending in which
I clearly had the advantage.
But yet the ending
accepted.

in

which

itself

was not as simple as

finally

it

Had

it

at

perhaps through one weak move on my part

became a very

difficult

matter to find a win.

I been a weak end-game player the game would

probably have ended in a draw, and


efforts
is

appeared, and

first

would have been

in vain.

all

my

previous

Unfortunately, that

very often the case among the large majority of

players

they are weak in the endings

which masters of the

first

failing

from

rank are at times not

free.

END-GAME STRATEGY

III

Incidentally, I might call attention to the fact that

the world's champions of the last sixty years have

all

been exceedingly strong in the endings:

Morphy,

Steinitz, and Dr. Lasker had no superiors in this

department of the game while they held their

titles.

THE SUDDEN ATTACK FROM A

26.

DIFFERENT SIDE
I

have previously stated, when speaking about

general theory, that at times the


in attacking first

on one

way

side, then,

to

win consists

granted greater

mobility of the pieces, to transfer the attack quickly

from one

side to the other, breaking through before

your opponent has been able to bring up


forces to withstand the attack.

sufficient

This principle of the

middle-game can sometimes be applied in the endings


in

somewhat

Example

similar

56.

manner.

THE SUDDEN ATTACK

112

In the above position

I,

with the Black pieces,

played

R Ksch
R QR5
P-KR4

I
2.

3.

The

R K2
R R2

idea, as will

be seen very soon,

in order to fix White's King's side

to the future.

It

wants to bring

his

two weak

is

is

to play

PR

Pawns with a view

evident to Black that White

King

to

Q Kt

3 to support his

isolated Pawns, and thus to free his Rooks.

Black, therefore, makes a plan to shift the attack to

the King's side at the proper time, in order to obtain

some advantage from the greater mobility

of

his

Rooks,
4.

R-Qi

R(Q4)-QR4
Rook

in order to force the

to Rook's square, keeping

both Rooks tied up.


5.

6.
7.

R(Qi)-Ri

P-Rs

K Q2
K-B2

K Kt

R-KKt4

Black begins to transfer his attack to the Eing's


8.

R KKt

serious mistake,

side.

which

K Kt

loses quickly.

White should

when Black would have


answered 8...R(R5) R4; 9P
B3, and Black

have played 8

3,

would have obtained an opening at


ELing,

Kt

6 for his

which in the end might give him the victory.


8

R-KBs

FROM A DIFFERENT SIDE


Now

the King cannot go to

Kt 4

ch.
9.

10.

If

P X R,

because of

R K R
RXRP

followed

10

and Black won

3,

R B6ch

K Q3
K K2
RXR

Kt

113

after a

by

8 winning,

few moves.

Example 57.
Another good example, in which
is shown the advantage of the greater mobiUty of
the pieces in an ending, is the following from a game
Capablanca-Kupchick played at the Havana Masters

Tournament, 1913. The fuU score and notes of the


game can be fovmd in the book of the tournament.

White's only advantage in the above position

he possesses the open

wiU secure him the

file

is

that

and has the move, which

initiative.

There

is

also the shght

advantage of having his Pawns on the Queen's side


imited, while Black has

an

isolated

Q R

P.

The

THE SUDDEN ATTACK

114

proper course, as in the previous ending,


the

Rooks forward,

be able to
other,

so that at least one of

to bring

them may

from one side of the board to the

shift

and thus keep Black's Rooks from moving

What

freely.

means

this

stated already;

really

it

enemy; force him

to

in general theory has

means: keep harassing

to

make

collapse sooner or later.


it,

ness somewhere

From

make

it

and

another weakness somewhere else

get rid of

been
the

use his big pieces to defend Pawns.

If he has a weak point, try

can

is

weaker, or create
his position will

If he has a weakness, and he

sure that you create another weak-

else.

the position in question the

game continued

thus:
1.

R-K4

KR-Ki

with the object of repeating White's manoeuvre, and


also not to

aUow White the


2.

3.
4.

QR-Ki
QR-K3
K-B
I

control of the open

file..

R-K3
R(Bi)-Ki

K-B

Black wants to bring his King to the centre of the


board in order to be nearer to whatever point White
decides to attack.

The move

is

justified at least

on

the general rule that in such endings the King should

He

be in the middle of the board.


all

but follow White's footsteps.

to point out anything better.

Kt 4

ch, followed

by

K K

a very disagreeable position.

does nothing after


Besides,

it is

If4...P Q4;
2,

hard

sR

would leave Black

If 4.

..P

KB

4;

in

sR

FROM A DIFFERENT
Q4!
8

SIDE

115

RxR? 6PxR,RxP; 7K-B2,R-K2;

R Q R

P, which would prac-

White with a passed Pawn ahead on the

tically leave

Queen's

QR

winning the

4,

Pawns of Black on the


by the two of White.

as the three

side,

King's side woidd be held

K-K2
R-QR4

5.

6.

K-K2
R-QRi

The student should note


noeuvre Black

is

that through the same

ma-

forced into a position similar to the

one shown in the previous ending.

R-Rs!

7.

This move has a manifold object.

aU of Black's Pawns except the

It practically fixes

P, which

one that can advance two squares.


vents the advance of Black's

KB

is

the only

It specially pre-

Pawns, and at the

of White's K B
B 5. By this threat it practically
forces Black to play P Q 4, which is aU White desires,

same time threatens the advance

Pawns

to

4 and

for reasons that will soon

become evident.

P-Q4
K-Q3

P-QB4!

8.

Evidently forced, as the only other move to save a

Pawn would have been P X


aU Black's Pawns

isolated

P, which would have

and weak.

If

R-K

11

R R 6, and Black's game is hopeless.

4,

K-Q
9.

10.

3;

10

P-B sch
P-Q4

P-Q

Kt

4!

K-Q2
P-B4

left

PQ

R-K

4;

THE SUDDEN ATTACK

ii6

Apparently very strong, since


of

Rooks because

it

leads to nothing.

R-K K

of the threat

The

it

forces the exchange

R R 3

but in

best chance

reality

was to play

I.

11.

RXR

12.

P-B

PxR
4

now White had played with finesse, but this


Up
R ^ R 6 was the proper way to
last move is weak.
to

up

continue, so as to force Black to give

or

Q B

K-B

12
13.

QRP

tinuation,

and

2;

IS

K-Q2

Again a bad move.

K-Kt

his

P.

if

13

R R

then 13.

P-Kt

4,

was the proper con-

.R Kt

K-R

i;

with excellent winning chances; in

16

14

P Kt

R-Q

Kt

fact, I beUeve,

3,

3,

won game.

13

Black misses his only chance.

drawn.

K-Kt 2
R Kt

would have

FROM A DIFFERENT
14.

SIDE

117

THE SUDDEN ATTACK

Ii8

28.

P - Kt

weak move, which

In

this endiag, as is often the case

gives Black a fighting chance.

with most players,

White plays the best moves whenever the


is

difficult

and

requires careftd handling,

his position seems to


efforts

right

and the

08

28

but once

be overwhelming he relaxes his

result is nothing to

move was

situation

R Kt

7.

be proud

of.

The

FROM A DIFFERENT SIDE


would probably draw.
that

my

The reader must bear

iig
in

mind

opponent was then a very yoimg and inex-

perienced player, and consequently deserves a great


deal of credit for the fight he put up.

R Kt

37.

R-K7

7 ch;

followed

RxP
by

R K R

7,

offered better

chances.
38.
39.
40.

41.
42.

P-R6!
K-Kt5

P-R7
K-B s
K-Q4

R-B Sch
R-Q8ch
R-K8ch

4445.

R-K8ch

K-R2

46.

P-R8(Q)

RxQ
K-Kt3

KxP

49.

RxR
KxP
KxP

50.

K K 5

Resigns.

47.
48.

This ending shows

made and

R-KtSch

K-Ks
K-B6

43.

and how

RxPch

R-Q8

often,

how

R-KR8

K-B 4
easy

it is

to

opportimities are lost.

long as there

is

make weak moves,

even in master-play, mistakes are


It

shows that, so

no great advantage of material, even

with a good position, a player, no matter

how

strong,

cannot afford to relax his attention even for one

move.

THE DANGER OF

I20

27.

THE DANGER OF A SAFE POSITION

A good proof of the previous stateExample 58.


ment is shown in the following ending between Marshall and Kupchick in one of their two games in the
same Tournament (Havana, 1913).

It

evident that Marshall (White)

is

difl&culties in the above position.

bound

The

to lose a

Pawn, but

Not only

his position

best he could hope for

imder great

is

was a draw

that he

felt so certain of

it

did.

game

having the best of

Pawn more and what he

he

unless some-

thing altogether unexpected happened, as

reason can be given for Black's loss of the

is

rather poor.

is

it

No

except

with a

considered a safe position,

that he became exceedingly careless and did not consider the danger that actually existed.

how

it

happened.
I.

P-Kt4

RXRP

Let us see

A SAFE POSITION
The mistakes

This

begin.

that he can take a

Pawn

is

the

i2i

Black sees

first.

without any danger, and

does not stop to think whether there

is

anything

R B 7 ch was the right move. If then


K- Kt 3, R X P. If instead White played K- K 4,
then R- K 4 ch followed by R X R P.
2. R-Qi
R-Rsch
better.

Mistake nmnber two, and

this

time such a serious

The proper move


was to play P B 4 in order to break up White's
Pawns and at the same time make room for the Black
one as to almost lose the game.

King, which

is

actually in danger, as will soon be seen.

R-Q4

3.

R(Rs)-R4

Mistake number three and

move was
is

(Kt

no defence.

this time fatal.

4) R 4.

Black's

After the text

game

His best

move

there

This shows that

is lost.

even an apparently simple ending has to be played


with care.

From a

practically

finds himself with a lost

won

game, and

it

position Black

has only taken

three moves.
4.

R-Kt2

R(Q4)-Q8

If4...P-B4; sR-R8ch, K-Kt3; 6R(B8)Kt Sch, K- B 3 7 R X P ch, R- Kt 3 8P- Kt 5 ch,


K-K2; 9 R (R 6)xR, PxR; 10 R-Kt 7 ch,
K K I II R X Kt P, and wins easily.
;

The reason

5.

P-R4

P-R4

6.

R-R8ch

Resigns.

is

evident.

If 6.

.K Kt 3

PxP

ch,

ENDINGS WITH ONE

122

RxP; 8RxR, KxR;


10 P R 5 mate.
28.

The

R-R 8

ch,

K-Kt

3;

ENDINGS WITH ONE ROOK AND PAWNS


reader has probably realised

endings of two Rooks and

Pawns

and that the same holds true


and Pawns.

by

this

time that

are very dif&cult,

for endings of

one Rook

Endings of two Rooks and Pawns are

common
Rook and Pawns
not very

of endings arising

in actual play

are about the

but endings of one

most common

on the chess board.

sort

Yet though

they do occur so often, few have mastered them thoroughly.

They

are often of a very difl&cult nature,

and

sometimes while apparently very simple they are in


reality extremely intricate.

Here

is

an example from

game between Marshall and Rosenthal in the Manhattan Chess Club Championship Tournament of

1909-1910.

Example

59.

ROOK AND PAWNS


In

this

RB

position

Marshall

had a simple win by

PB

but played

7 ch,

123

6,

and thereby gave

Luckily for him Black did

Black a chance to draw.

not see the drawing move, played poorly, and

Had

R Q
P-B6

drawn by playing
I.

Now

lost.

Black been up to the situation he would have


3.

R-Q3!

White has two continuations,

or (6)

R B
(a)

3.

will finally

Black's Pawn.
(b)

2.

3.

Or

PB

7,

have therefore

P-B 7
R-Rsch

2.

and White

We

7 ch.

either (a)

R-Qi!

K-Bs

have to

R-B 7ch
P-B 7

sacrifice the

Rook

for

K-Qs!

R Kt3ch!

a very important move, as against

R KB3, R K7

wins.

R-KB 3

4.

K-B

5.

R-Kt7

K-B 6

and White will finally have to sacrifice the Rook


for the Pawn, or draw by perpetual check.
If there were nothing more in the ending it would
not be of any great value, but there are other
very interesting features.
I

P-B

6,

realise that

R-Q
R Q

3;
i

Now

P-B

suppose that after


7,

Black did not

was the only move to draw,

ENDINGS WITH ONE

124

We would

Now

then have the following position

there would be twojpther

R Kt

(o)

3 ch, or (b)

moves

R K B

3.

to try

either

Let us examine

them.
(a)

R-Kt3ch

I
2.

3.

IfP Kt6;

K-B 3
K-K3
R Rs

goes back, then

R R

R-Q

6.

(&)

P - Kt

if

the King

the King goes up, then

4 wins.

R-KB3

K-K

4 wins.

K moves
R Rsch

R R 6 wins
R-Kt7!
R - Kt 3, and

Pawn or go

ending.

if

R K

I
2.

the

R R 6, and

K-Q3

3 ch;
5.

If

ch wins, because

4 ch, followed by
4.

If

R-B3ch
R-K3ch

to

KB

3,

R-B3
K-B 5
White

will either capture

and come out with a winning

4.

ROOK AND PAWNS


P-R4
P-Kt6
R Kt 4 ch K moves

5-

R-Kt3

3.

and White

KB

will either capture the

Pawn

I2S

or play

according to the circumstances, and come out

3,

with a winning ending.

Now, going back


suppose that after

to the position

Black did not reaUse that


to draw,

K Kt

3 instead,

the following position:

the best continuation would be


1.

P-B

2.

K-B

3.

R-K7!

R- Kt 3 ch (best)

R-KB3
K-B 4 (best)

White threatened to check with the Rook at


4.

K-K2

122,

K Q 5 was the only move

and consequently played

we would then have

Now

shown on page

iP B6, R Q3; 2R B7ch,

P-Kt6

K 6.

ENDINGS WITH ONE

126
Best.

win;

If

K-B

5;

P-R

both

the last-named

move

4 and

K-K

particularly

3 will

would win

with ease.
5-

R-K3

P-Kt

6.

R-QKt3

7.

RxP

RxP
R-KR2
RxP

8.

9.

R-Q2
K-K3

This position we have arrived at


because there are two

files

7 (best)

is

won by White,

between the opposing

King and the Pawn from which the King^

by the Rook, and

besides, the

is

cut off

Pawn can advance to


Rook can begin

the fourth rank before the opponent's


to check

on the

portant, because

file.
if,

This

last condition is

very im-

instead of the position

on the

Rook were at K R x, and Black


had the move, he could draw by preventing the addiagram, the Black

ROOK AND PAWNS

127

vance of the Pawn, either through constant checks

by playing R K B i at the proper time.


Now that we have explained the reasons why this
position is won, we leave it to the student to work
or

out the correct solution.

The fact that out of one apparently simple ending


we have been able to work out several most unusual
and

difficult

endings should be sufficient to impress

upon the student's mind the

necessity of becoming

well acquainted with all kinds of endings,


cially

and espe-

with endings of Rook and Pawns.

29.

A DIFFICULT ENDING: TWO


ROOKS AND PAWNS

Following our idea that the best


ings as well as openings

masters,

we

Pawns.

give two

is

way

to study the

more endings

of

to learn end-

games

of the

two Rooks and

These endings, as already stated, are not

very common, and the author

is

fortimate in having

himself played more of these endings than

By

the case.

is

generally

comparing and studying the

carefully

(Examples 56 and 57) with


the following, the student no doubt can obtain an idea

endings aheady given

of the proper

The way

method

to be followed in such cases.

of procedure

is

somewhat

similar in all of

them.

Example
borg, in the

ment

60.

From a game,

New York

of 1910.

Capablanca-Kreym-

State Championship Tourna-

A DIFFICULT ENDING:

128

It is Black's

move, and no doubt thinking that

drawing such a position (that was


for)

would be easy, he contented himself with a waiting

poUcy.

Such conduct must always be

often leads to disaster.


positions is to

on

Black played

all

assume

The

best

the initiative

way

criticised.
to

and keep

It

defend such
the

opponent

the defensive,

QR-Ki

move is already wrong. There is nothing


to gain by this move. Black should play P Q R 4
to be followed by P Q R s; unless White plays
P Q Kt 3. That would fix the Queen's side. After

The

first

that he could decide what demonstration he could

make with

his

Rooks

to keep the opponent's

Rooks

at bay.
2.

R-Q4

This move not only prevents


intended,

but threatens

PB

P Kt

3,

which Black

followed,

after

TWO ROOKS AND PAWNS


PXP

129

by the attack with one or both Rooks

ch,

Q R

against Black's

P.

R-B3

probably with the idea of a demonstration on the

3.
4.
5-

R Q R
force

R- Kt

by

King's side

and Kt

7.

P-Kt3

PxPch

PXP
K-Q3

K-B2

should have been played now,

Black to defend with

RK

order to

White, however,

2.

does not want to disclose his plan at once, and thus

awaken Black to the danger of his position, hence


this move, which seems to aim at the disruption of
Black's Queen's side Pawns.

R-K2
K-K3

R-QRi

6.

This

is

a mistake.

He

his position.

RR

Black

is

unaware

should have played

of the danger of

P Kt

4 threatdemonstration
;

3,

and,

by making

against White's

KR

P, stop the attack against his

ening

Queen's side Pawns, which will

He

could not play

win at

move

K Q

a Pawn.

least

K K

3,

now

develop.

R-QB 2

R-R6

7.

this

3,

because

This in

itself

PQ B

4 would

condemns

his last

which has done nothing but make

his

situation practically hopeless.


8.

Now

forced,

play 8.

.K

R(Q4)-QR4 P-KKt4

but

it is

RB

2,

little

because

too late.

He

PK B

4 would have

could not

A DIFFICULT ENDING:

130
left his

game completely

awakens

to the danger,

Black now

paralysed.

and

tries to

finally

save the day by

the coimter-demonstration on the King's side, which

he should have started before.


cannot play

by

RR

RxR

3,

Black

is

now

played 9.

.P

R X R,

P, because of

recovering the

Pawn with

P-KR4!

9.

Of course, White

P-Kt

followed

advantage.

in a very disagreeable position.

XP

RXP

10

If

would leave him

he

in a

very awkward situation, as he could not go back

much with

with the King, nor could he do

Rook.

He

practically

would have to play

K R 3, when White would answer


ening to win a

Pawn by P Kt

not enough, he might play


finally

by the entry
10.

11

of the

K-K2

5,

K Q

King at

.P

P Kt

4, threat-

or, if

that were

4, to

10.

either

5 or

be followed

5.

TWO ROOKS AND PAWNS


131
10
PxPch
Again he cannot play P K R 4, because P K B
4
woxild leave him paralysed. The advance of his K R P
would make White's K R P safe, and consequently
his K R would have to retire to K B 2 to defend the
QR

That would make

P.

to go to

2,

because of the

Q R P, nor could he advance

a single one of his Pawns.

P Kt

would play

P Kt

5,

On

the other hand, White

threatening to win a

4,

or he might

at the proper time

impossible for his King

it

play

first

P Kt

5, if

Pawn by

K Q

there

4, and then
was nothing better.

Black meanwhile could really do nothing but mark

Compare this bottlingExample 57, and it

time with one of his Rooks.

up system with the ending


will

be seen that
11.
12.

The

very similar.

KxP
K-K2

Probably wrong.

move.

it is

text

in

R(B3)-B

P Kt
move

4 at once was the right

gives Black good chances of

drawing.

K-Qs

12
13.

P-Kt4

R-QKt2

This could never have happened had White played


12

P Kt

P-Kt

4,

5 after Black's
14.

Not

as he could have followed

good.

winning by

K-Q

it

up by

3.

P-Rs

PK B
force.

If

4 offered the best chances of

then

14...R Kt

2;

15

P-

A DIFFICULT ENDING:

132

RS,R-Kt7ch; i6 K-Q 3, R-K R 7; 17 R X P,


,RxR; i8RxR,RxP; 19 R - R 6, with winning
chances.

P-R3

14.

Black misses his


If

then IS

RXP;

17

P X

last chance.

P,

RXP,

(Kt

2)

R-K

(Kt

7)

Kt

2 ch!

5
;

would draw.
16

KB

i,

6!

R-Kt2
R (K Kt 2) - K 2
R-Kt2
R-Kt 7
R (Kt 2) - Kt 2

IS-

PB

but the position

would have
is lost

in

dent to work this out.)

offered greater resistance,

any

case.

(I leave

the stu-

TWO ROOKS AND PAWNS

R-R 6
ch; 23 K-B 2, R-K R 8; 24 P-Kt 5,
26 R- Q R 6, and
25 R X P ch, K- Q 2

Nothing would

R-Q
RXP
White

8
;

133

will

avail.

If 21

.R - Kt 8 22
;

win

easily.

22.

R-KKt2

23.

R-Kt7

R-K 3

A DIFFICULT ENDING:

134

P Q Kt

advance, because as soon as Black plays

White

replies

White builds

P Q Kt
his plans.

side Pawns from


own King to K

P-Q
forcing

way a

4,

It is

4.

He

on

will stop Black's

Queen's

advancing, and will then bring his

Then

3.

and finaUy

due time he

in

P-K

5,

or

P-K

will play

Kt

5,

thus

an exchange of Pawns and obtaining in that


clear passed

be seen that

Pawn on

this plan

of the game,

was

the King's

It will

file.

carried out during the course

and that White obtained

advantage in that way.

his winning

The play was based through-

out on the chance of obtaining a passed


King's

3,

this fact that

Pawn on

the

with which White expected to win.

file,

1.

P-KKt4

already preparing to play

P K Kt

when

the time

comes.

P-QKt3

Black wants to play


prevents

PQ B

4,

but White, of course,

it.

2.

P-Kt4!

K-Kt2

This King should come to the King's

side,

where the

danger lurks.
3.

With the

object of playing

P-QKt4

K Kt 3

and

PQ

4,

by P X P, and thus have an open file for


Rook and be able to make a coiuiter-demonstration

followed
his

K-B

TWO ROOKS AND PAWNS


on the Queen's
on the

Of course

side in order to stop White's

P-QR4!

PXP

if

advance

White, however, also prevents

right.

4.

135

R-Qs

Black

will

have

lost

Pawns on
and White

all his

the Queen's side disrupted and isolated,

can easily regain the

this.

Pawn by

playing either

Rook on the QR file.


5.

He

still

R-Q

wants to play

to foresee that

move

is

Kt

R-K4

P Q B

4,

but as

White wiU again prevent

really a serious loss of time.

it is

it,

easy

the text

Black should

bring his King over to the other side immediately.

The

first

plished.
for

6.

K-K3

7-

P-RS

R-Q2

part of White's strategic plan


Black's

Pawns on

now accom-

aU practical pxuposes.

R-R3

If

is

the Queen's side are fixed

RXR

Kt P X

powerful centre.

would have given White a very

Yet

it

might have been the best

chance for Black.


8.

9.

10.

R(Kt)-KBi
P-Kts

RXP

R(Q2)-K2

PxP

136

A DIFFICULT ENDING:

TWO ROOKS AND PAWNS


White threatens P R

which would

5,

137

finally force

Black to take, and then White would double his

Rooks against
tie

the isolated

Pawn and win

up Black's Rooks completely.

however, only helps White;


nothing

R K

than

better

4 would not

simply answer

RB

help
8,

therefore

hold

to

The
tight

text

it,

or

move,

Black

and

had
wait.

much, as White would

R-K

i;

(Kt

5)

X R,

and whichever Rook Black took. White would have


an easy game. (The student should carefully study
these variations.)

14.

ROOK, BISHOP AND PAWNS

138

27.

K-Q2
KtPxP

28.

PQ

26.

The winning

P-B4

R-QR6
Resigns.

tactics in all these endings

consisted in keeping the opponent's

defence of one or
free

is

have merely

Rooks

tied to the

my own

more Pawns, leaving


This

for action.

v.

Rooks

a general principle which

can be equally appUed to any part of the game.

means

in general terins

Keep freedom

of manoeuvre

It

while hampering your

opponent.

There
that

is

is

one more thing of great importance, and

that the winning side has always

had a general

strategical plan capable of being carried out with the

means at

his disposal, while often the losing side

had

no plan at aU, but simply moved according to the


needs of the moment.

30.

ROOK, BISHOP AND PAWNS

v.

ROOK,

KNIGHT AND PAWNS

We

shall

now examine an ending

of

Rook, Bishop

and Pawns against Rook, Knight and Pawns, where


it

will

be seen that the Rook at times

same way as

Example

is

used in the

in the endings already given.

62.

From the

first

game

of the Lasker-

Marshall Championship Match in 1907.

ROOK, KNIGHT AND PAWNS

In this position
the position

may

it is

Black's move.

139

Tct a beginner

look like a draw, but the advanced

player will realise immediately that there are great


possibilities for

Black to win, not only because he has

the initiative, but because of White's undeveloped

Queen's side and the fact that a Bishop in such a position is better than a

Knight

(see Section 14).

take some time for White to bring his


into the fray,

advantage.

and Black can

It will

Rook and Knight

utilise it to

obtain an

There are two courses open to him.

The

most evident, and the one that most players would


take,

is

to advance the

Pawn

to

Q B

4 and

Q B

immediately in conjimction with the Bishop check

and any other move that might be necessary


with the Black Rook. The other, and more subtle,
at

was taken by Black. It consists in utilising


Rook in the same way as shown in the previous

course
his

endings, forcing

White

to

defend sbmethrng

all

time, restricting the action of White's Knight

the

and

I40

ROOK, BISHOP AND PAWNS

v.

White's Rook, while at the same time keeping freedom


of action for his

own Rook and

R-Kt

This forces
for the

Bishop.

P Q Kt

3,

which blocks that square

White Knight.
2.

bringing the

Rook

so as to force the

and thus

R-Kt 4

P-Kt3

to attack the King's side

King to that

indirectly

making more secure the

of Black's Queen's side

Pawns.

Pawns

side to defend them,

position

ROOK, KNIGHT AND PAWNS


Notice

how

141

similar are the manoeuvres with this

Rook

to those seen in the previous endings.

R-Ri

9.

B-Kts

Paralysing the action of the Knight and fixing the

whole King's
ID.

side.

White cannot answer Kt


followed

by

the check at

K-K3

K-B2
B

3,

because

B X Kt

K K

4 wUl win a Pawn, on account of

KB

which cannot be stopped.

II.

142

ROOK, BISHOP AND PAWNS


25.

Kt-R4

CHAPTER VI
Further Openings and Middle-Games
31.

SOME SALIENT POINTS ABOUT PAWNS

Before going back

to the discussion of openings

middle-game positions,

mind a few
will

and

might be well to bear

it

facts concerning

Pawn

in

positions which

no doubt help to understand certain moves, and

sometimes even the object of certain variations in


the openings, and of some manoeuvres in the middle-

games.

Example

63.

In

the position of the diagram

have an exceedingly bad Pawn


side.

Black's

Q B P

is

we

formation on Black's

altogether backward, and

White could by means of the open


143

file

concentrate

SOME SALIENT POINTS

144

weak

his forces against that

square at White's

QB

5,

point.

which

is

There

controlled

also the

is

by White,

and from where a White piece once established could


not be dislodged. In order to get rid of it, Black
would have to exchange

it,

which

is

not always an

easy matter, and often when possible not at


venient.

The same holds

K P, K B

P and

Kt

a "hole" at Black's

P, which create what

KB

all

con-

true with regard to Black's


called

Such Pawn formations

3.

invariably lead to disaster,

is

and consequently must

be avoided.

In this position we might say that


Example 64.
the White centre Pawns have the attacking position,
while the Black
position.

French Defence.
attempts,

centre

Pawns have the

defensive

Such a formation of Pawn occurs

in the

In such positions White most often

by means

PKB

KB

4 and
5, to obtain
a crushing attack against Black's King, which is gen-

erally Castled

of

on the King's

side.

To

prevent that,

ABOUT PAWNS
and

assume the

also to

145

initiative or obtain material

advantage, Black makes a counter-demonstration by

P-Q B
the

4,

followed

Pawn by P Q

by P X P (when White defends


B 3), and the concentrating of

Black's pieces against the White

Pawn

at

This

4.

in substance might be said to be a determined attack

against White's centre in order to paralyse the direct

attack of White against Black's King.

It

remembered that at the beginning

book

of the

must be
it

was

stated that control of the centre was an essential condition to

a successful attack against

Pawns

that two or more

are strongest

Thus the

next to one another.

King.

the

way we may say


when they are

In an abstract

in the

same rank

Pawns are
when placed at

centre

strongest in themselves, so to speak,

4 and Q 4 respectively, hence the question of advancing either the one or the other to the fifth rank
is

one that must be most carefully considered.

advance of either
the

game

Pawn

will follow.

Another thing to be considered


or more passed

We

either very

the matter of one

is

Pawns when they

singly or in pairs.
is

The

often determines the course

are isolated either

might say that a passed Pawn

weak or very strong, and that its weakness

or strength, whichever happens to be in the case to

be considered, increases as

same time

it

advances, and

in direct relation to the

on the board. In

this last respect it

number

Pawn

number of

the board diminishes.

on

at the

of pieces

might be generally

said that a passed


pieces

is

increases in strength as the

SOME POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENTS

146

Having

all this clear

in

mind we

will

We

now

revert

to the openings

and middle-game.

games

from beginning to end according to

carefully

general principles.

my own

shall,

whenever

possible,

games, not because they will better

the point, but because, knowing


shall

will analyse

use

illustrate

them thoroughly,

be able to explain them more authoritatively

than the games of others.

32.

SOME POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENTS FROM


A RUY LOPEZ

That some

of the variations in the openings

and

the manoeuvres in the middle-game are often based

on some of the elementary

principles just

can be easily seen in the following case:

Example

65.

expounded

FROM A RUY LOPEZ


So

far

a very well-known variation of the

In

Lopez.

147

fact,

Ruy

they are the moves of the Janowski-

Lasker game in Paris, 1912.


14.

P-Kt3

Q-Q3

Let us suppose the game went on, and that in some

way White, by

playing one of the Knights to

Q 4
the
exchange of both Knights,
at the proper time, forced
and then afterwards both the Bishops were exchanged,
and we arrived at some such position as shown
following diagram.

very similar

(I

way once

obtained such a position in a


at

Lodz

in Poland.

ing the White pieces against a consulting

by

in the

was play-

team headed

Salwe.)

Now we would have here the case of the backward


Q B P, which will in no way be able to advance to
Q B 4. Such a position may be said to be theoretically
lost,

win

and
it

in practice a first-class master will invariably

from Black.

I will say that I

(If

won

may be

the

excused the reference,

game above

After a few moves the position

may

referred to.)

be easily thus

SOME POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENTS

148

The Black
plays

pieces can be said to be fixed.

Q QB

3,

Black must answer

wise he wiU lose a Pawn, and


the Queen to
to

Q Kt

Q R

3 Black

if

Q Q

If

White

2,

other-

White returns with

wiU have again to return

with the Queen or lose a Pawn.

Thus Black

can only move according to White's lead, and under


such conditions White can easily advance with

his

K Kt 4, until Black wiU be forced


to stop P B 5 by playing P K B 4, and we might
KB

Pawns

to

finally

have some such .position as

Example

66.

4 and

this:

FROM A RUY LOPEZ

149

In this situation the game might go on as follows:

P;

White threatened

to

I.

PX

P,

could not play

would
3.
5.

6.

8.

also

2.

Q- KB

2.

win a Pawn by

.R

KB

win a Pawn at

Now

II.

QX

P, and Black

RX B P

because 3

i,

least.

R(Bs)-B2,R-Kt3;
R (B i) - K Kt I,
Q - R 5, R X R;
K X R, Q - Kt 2 ch;

lo.QXQ, PXQ;

Q- Q

3,

4.

R-Kt2,K-Ri;
R(Bi) - KKti;

RX

4,

and White wins.

R X R;
K-R2, Q-Kt3;

9.

P-

7.

Kt

R,

suppose that in the position in the preceding

diagram it were Black's move, and he played R

White would then simply defend

move

like

Q K B

3,

KB i

K B P by some
R X Q B P, and

his

threatening

then he would bring his King up to

Kt

3,

and when

the time came, break through, as in the previous case.

White might even be able


position:

to obtain the following

SOME POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENTS


Black would now be forced to play R B i, and
White could then play Q B 2, and foUow it up with
ISO

KB

and thus force Black to play

3,

PX

P, which

would give White a greater advantage.

careful

reveal

examination of

these positions wiU

the advantage

besides

that,

all

freedom of

of

manoeuvre on White's part, the power of the Pawn

at

5 is

enormous, and that

position of this

it is

Pawn, and the

the

commanding

fact that it is free to

advance, once aU the pieces are exchanged, that constitute the pivot of all

White's manoeuvres.

I have purposely given positions without the

which lead to them so that the student

moves

may become

accustomed to build up in his own mind possible


positions that

Thus he
his

way

may

arise (out of

will learn to

make

any given

strategical plans

to the master class.

The

and be on

The student can

enormous benefit by further practice of


33.

situation).

derive

this kind.

THE INFLUENCE OF A "HOLE"

influence of a so-called "hole" in a

already been illustrated in

my game

game has

against Blanco

(page 81), where has been shown the influence exercised

by the

at White's

different pieces posted in the hole created

K 5.

THE INFLUENCE OF A "HOLE"


Example
point, I

national

67.

now

In

order to further illustrate this

game played
Masters Tournament
give a

151

in the

of

Havana

1913.

Inter-

152

THE INFLUENCE OF A "HOLE"

Had WMte's Bishop been

P K

at

Q Kt 3 he

4 as indicated in the previous

which he cannot make

now play
note, a move

could

in the present position, because

KB

Kt
s threatening, not only the K Kt P,
but also Kt X B ch. As White's King's Bishop should
of

never be exchanged in this opening without a very-

good reason White therefore cannot play

12.

4.

B Q2

10
11.

P K

R B

4ll

iz

//

fi

White

is

perfectly developed,

win a Pawn as follows


followed

by

RX

12

wsm

and now threatens to

Kt X Kt, Kt x Kt

PK

4,

P.

P-QB3

The fact that Black is practically forced to make


this move in order to avoid the loss of a Pawn is sufficient reason in itself to condemn the whole system
of

development on Black's part.

BQ

2,

and now he has to shut

In
off

effect,

he plays

the action of his

THE INFLUENCE OF A "HOLE"

153

own Bishop, which thereby becomes little more than


a Pawn for a while. In fact, it is hard to see how this
be able to attack anything.

will ever

Bishop
it

can be easily seen that White

two Knights at

QB

and

will

Besides,

soon post his

and that

5 respectively,

Black win not be able to dislodge them without seriously

weakening his game,


these reasons

it

if

he can do

it

can be gathered that

at
it

have been better for Black to play Kt


get rid of one of the

number

the

all

X Kt and

thus

two White Knights before assum-

ing such a defensive position.


less

From

all.

would probably

In such

cases,

the

on the board, the better

of pieces

chances there are to escape.


13.

P KB4

Kt K4

This practically amounts to committing suicide, since


it
it

creates a hole at
will

K 5 for White's Knight, from where

be practically impossible to dislodge him.

If

Black intended to make such a move he should have

done

before,

it

when

at least there

would have been an

object in preventing the White Knight from reach-

ing

The
at

5.

14.

Kt B

15.

Kt-Ks

B Ki

position of White's Knights, especially the one


5,

might be said to be

ideal,

shows how they dominate the


henceforth wiU be
full

This

benefit

we

how

is

and a

position.

single glance

The

White going to derive the

from such an advantageous

shall soon see.

question

situation.

154

THE INFJ.UENCE OF A "HOLE"

R Kti

IS-

There

is

no object in

owed by Kt

2.

this

move, unless

As that

have gone with the Rook to


16.

is

it is

to be fol-

not the case, he might


i,

as he does later.

THE INFLUENCE OF A "HOLE"


P Kt4

21
22.
23.

He had

P K4
Q B 2

P-Bs
Kt K6

better have played

on to get

rid of White's

24.

with this

Kt B

and

tried later

Knights by means of

Kt Q 2.

sacrifice of the

Rook

for a

QxP

was better

Knight and Pawn

position.

PXR
Kt B

24
25.

R X Kt

White obtains an overwhelming

Kt Q

I5S

in order to get rid of

one of the

two White Knights. There were, however, any number


of good

repUes to

it,

among them

the following:

Kt(Bs)xKt,BxKt; QxP,QxQ; Kt B7ch,

K Kt

2;

Kt X

Q, and with two

exchange, and the position so

White should have no trouble

much

Pawns

for the

in his favour,

in winning.

THE INFLUENCE OF A "HOLE"

156

26.
27.
28.

Kt4
P-K5
B B4

moves

All these

R-Kt2
B B2

up Black's

it is

more and

position

move 24 onwards

White's manoeuvres from

more.

and as

are practically forced,

seen they tie

easily

R Kt3

Kt

are highly instructive.


29.

Kt B

Kt

Kt3

This wandering Knight has done nothing throughout


the game.
30.

31.
32.
33.
If

P X P;

K B

is

K Kt

2,

PxP

36.

PxP

Resigns.

nothing to be done.

helpless.

Kt K2

35.

If

B Kt

Q R 2 ch,

B xP.

2;

The student should


things,

and Black would be

P B 4
P KKt4

34.

There

Kt(B5)-K4P-KR3
Kt-Q4
R-Kt3
Q-Q2
Q-Bi
PXP

P-KR4

notice that, apart

from other

White throughout the game has had control

of the Black squares, principally those at

and

QBs.
From now on
collection of

my

to the end of the

games both

lost

book I

shall give

and won, chosen so

as to serve as illustrations of the general principles


laid

down

in the foregoing pages.

PART

II

PART
GAME

White

1.

II

QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLINED

GAME

i6o

same Knight
although

is

moved

three times in the opening,

involves the exchange of

it

two

pieces.

In

reality the difficulty in this variation, as well as in

neariy aU the variations of the Queen's gambit, Ues

development of Black's Queen Bishop.

in the slow

However, whether

variation can or cannot be

this

safely played is a question


is

to be decided,

still

outside the scope of this book.

present

may add

and

it

that at

my preference is for a different system of devel-

opment, but

it

not imlikely that I shoidd some

is

time come back to this variation.

BxB
B-Q3

6.
7-

PXP

is

QxB

preferable for reasons that

Px

Now P X P
game.

Kt

would be a better way to develop the

The

P Q kt

idea

3,

is

that after

foUowed by

game
9.

No

For

2,

gBxBP,

would give Black's

this variation see the

of the match.

00

Kt B3

longer would 9.

be good, because 11

on accoimt

8...PxP;

B Kt

Bishop a powerful range.


eleventh

shall soon see.

Kt X Kt
Kt Q2

7
8.

we

.P

XP

B Kt

of Kt K

5.

10

BX

P,

P Q Kt

would prevent

B Kt

3
2

QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLINED


10.

PxP

PxP

11.

Q-Kt3

Kt-B3
Kt-

12.

P QR4

PB

i6i

Played with the intention of obtaining the majority

Pawns on the Queen's side. Yet it is doubtful


whether this move is good, since it leaves Black's
Queen's-side Pawns disrupted in a way.
The safer

of

P B

course would have been to play


13-

Q-R3

3.

P-QKt3

This exposes Black to further attack by

without any compensation for


this position

R K
and
If,

I.

nowadays

Then

after 14

I believe that

instead.

it.

If I

QX

P,

QXQ

to play

would simply play 13


would

follow,

Black would regain the Pawn.

White played 14

PXP

then

would give Black an excellent game.

P Rs

15.

00

B Kt2
Q B 2

16.

KR Kti

Kt Q2

14.

had

PR

B Kt

GAME

l62

Black's position was bad and perhaps lost in any


case,

but the text move makes matters worse.

matter of fact I never saw White's reply


It never

.K

would

BB

5.

my mind that this was


move would have been
loses, then any other move

even passed through

threatened.
16.

As a

Black's

R Kt

I.

If

best

that

lose as well.
17.

From bad

BB

to worse.
18.

Kt B

KR B

3 offered the only hope.

QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLINED

163

Kt X B, R Kt 8 ch would have
drawn. The text move is pretty and finishes quickly.
A well-played game on Marshall's part.
Of course,

if

GAME

25

2.

QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLINED


(San Sebastian, 191 1)

White

A. K. Rubinstein.
I.

Black

J.

R. Capablanca.

GAME

164

course of this variation, but with very poor success.

The move in theory ought to be unsound, since Black's


K Kt is yet undeveloped. I had not yet learned of
Kt 5 and the exchange
the attack founded on Kt
Either Kt B 3 or P K R 3;
of the B at K 3.
K Kt 5, was right.
to prevent either B or Kt

9-

QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLINED

165

which I had seen, but which I thought could be


defeated.
14.

I considered

QxB

BxKt

PX

B, which

it

seemed would give

me

a playable game, but I thought White's combination

imsound and therefore

let

him play

it,

regret.

15.

KtxPI

Q-R3

to

my

lasting

GAME

i66
i6.

K Kta!

move which I had not considered. I thought


B Kt 2, when
I had in mind the following winning combination:
Kt 2, Kt K 4! 17 Kt B 4 (if R B i,
16 B
wins), Kt
Kt 5
QXR!! QXQ,
18 P
K R 3 (if Kt R 3, B X P ch wins the ex20 K X B,
change), Kt X P
19 R X Kt, B X R ch
P K Kt 4, and Black should win. It is curious that
This

is

the

that Rubinstein would have to play

BxPch

this

combination has been overlooked.

taken for

move

granted

Q B

that

did

It has been

not see the 17th

i.

QR Qi

16
After White's last

move

do but submit to the


17-

there

was nothing

inevitable.

for

me

to

QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLINED


??

167

GAME

i68

Q 5 in conjunction with the extra Pawn on the Queen's


side

and the awkward position

how

this is so.)
31.

R-B7ch

32.

RxKKtP

33.

B-Kt8

36.

RXP
P-R4
R R6ch

37.

R-Rsch

38-

B-Q5

34.
35.

With

these last three

a chance.

Even

(See

K-Q3
P Kt4
P-QR4
P-Rs
P-Kt5
K B4
K-Kt3

moves White again

before the last

have won with comparative


is

of White's King.

move B

ease,

gives Black

4 would

but the text move

a downright blunder, of which, fortunately for him,

Black does not avail himself.

P Kt6

38

RXP

would make

White to win,

if

it

practically

he can win at

all.

impossible for

White's best con-

QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLINED

169

42

B B4, R B7;
R Kt 5 ch, K B 2; 41 B Kt 8, P R 6;
P R 5, P R 7 43 B X P, R X B, and if there

is

a win

tinuation then would have been

40

39

it

44 P R

6,

very

is

R R

difficult

to

find

it,

as against

3! offers excellent chances for a

draw.

If

40...P

42

R Kt

39.

PxP

40.

B X Kt

7;

41

P R6
R X Kt P

R Kt

ch,

K R

3;

8.

41.
42.

B-Qs
R R 6 ch

P-R7
Resigns.

As an end game, this is rather a sad exhibition for


two masters. The redeeming feature of the game is
Rubinstein's fine combination in the middle game,

beginning with 14

BX

Kt.

GAME 3. IRREGXJLAR DEFENCE


(Havana, 1913)

White

D. Janowski.
I.

Black

J.

R. Capablanca.

GAME

I70

At

last

ment.

to throw

the
as

Black

The

is

on

his

way

to obtain full develop-

idea of this irregular opening

White on

his

own

resources.

mainly

is

At the time

game was played, the system of defence was not


well known as the regular forms of the Queen's

Pawn

openings.

yet to be proved.

Whether
Its

soimd or not remains

it is

good features are that

it

keeps

the centre intact without creating any particular weakness,

and that

it

gives plenty of opportunity for deep

and concealed manoeuvring.


long time

it

The drawback

takes Black to develop his game.

the

is

It is

natural to suppose that White wiU employ that time


to prepare a well-conceived attack, or that he wiU use

the advantage of his development actually to prevent


Black's

complete

development,

or

failing

obtain some definite material advantage.


lO.

P-KR3

B R4

II.

PXP

PxP

12.

Kt K4

that,

to

IRREGULAR DEFENCE
Kt X Kt

12

very serious mistake.

was the
that

15

3;

I considered castling,

B x Kt, P x B 14 Kt Kt 3,
Kt B s. White would obtain a win13

ning position for the end game.

wrong

this

which

move, but desisted because I was afraid

right

by playing

B Kt

171

Whether

shows how closely related are

the game, and consequently

all

how one wiU

right or

parts of
influence

the other.
13.

BxB

14.

B X Kt

The

Not good.
been

Kt K

into play.

KxB
B Kt 3

natural and proper

3, in

B X Kt

move would have

order to bring aU the Black pieces


at once

was

also good, as

it

would

have reUeved the pressure against Black's King's Pawn,

and at the same time have


Here

it is

mentary

seen

how

simplified the

failure to

logical reasons, that

game.

comply with the

govern any given posi-

tion, often brings the player into trouble.

doubt influenced in
of

BB

5,

my

ele-

choice of

was no

moves by the

fear

which was a very threatening move.

15.
16.
17.
18.

Q B4
P QKt4
BxB
Q K4

Kt K3

Q B

RPxB
K-B3

GAME

172

19.

PK R

4, to

R-Q3
be followed by

way

been a more vigorous


Black's

4,

The

weak point

which he
text

is

P Kt

to carry

on the

imquestionably the

is

attack.

Pawn

at

compelled to defend with the King.

move aims

at doubling the Rooks, with the

ultimate object of placing one of

ported by a

might have

4,

Pawn

at

Q B

5,

them

at

6,

sup-

Black could only stop

by playing P
B 4, which would create a "hole"
a^t Q S
or by playing P
Kt 3, which would tie the
Black Queen to the defence of the Q B P as well as
this

the

P, which she already defends.

ever, can

meet aU

this

by

offering the exchange of

Rooks, which destroys White's plans.

PK

Black, how-

For

this reason

4 appears the proper way to carry on the

attack.

QR Qi
20. QR Qi
P KKt4
This move
preparatory to P K Kt
which would
19

is

3,

IRREGULAR DEFENCE

173

make Black's position secure. Unfortunately for Black,


he did not carry out his original plan.
21.

P K Kt
safe

RXR

would have

left

Black with a perfectly

game.
22.

PB

RxR

R Qi

very serious mistake, which loses a Pawn.

K Kt 3 was the right move, and would have left Black


with a very good game.

In

fact, if it

should come to

a simple ending, the position of the Black King would


be an advantage.
23.

RxR

24.

P KR4

This wins a Pawn, as


reply 24...Kt

26

Q R 4

KtxR

will

soon be seen.

because 25

wins the Knight.

PXP

Black cannot
ch,

Kt X P;

GAME

174
24.
25-

FRENCH DEFENCE

makes a counter demonstration

of defending, Black

on the Queen's

175

It leads to highly interesting

side.

games.

PxP

5.

At the time

was

this

is

do now,

to be the stronger.

QxP

This

variation 5

in vogue, but I considered then, as I

move

the text

game was played the

PX

considered superior to

It has for its

P.

object, as I said before, to take the initiative

from White by disrupting White's Queen's

side.

away

White,

however, has more than ample compensation through


his breaking
laid

up

down

up Black's King's

might be

It

side.

as a principle of the opening that the breaking

of the King's side is of more importance than a simi-

lar occurrence

the

Queen's

side.

6.

B X Kt

B X Kt

7.

PxB

PxB
P QKt3

8.

The plan

on

Kt B3

of Black

ch

in this variation

is

to post his

Bishop on the long diagonal so as to be able


in conjxmction with the action of his

the open

K Kt's

White's King.

file,

It

to

is,

make a

later on,

Rooks along

violent attack against

of course, expected that

wiU Castle on the King's

side because of the

condition of his Queen's side

Pawns.

White

broken-up

GAME

176

11.
12.

000

10.

An

B Kt2

Q Q2
B K2
P B4

9.

Q2
Q KB4
Kt

original idea, I believe, played for the first time

in a similar position in a

Penn

Shipley,

there

as

is

game

Philadelphia.

of

against Mr. Walter

My

idea

is

that

no Black Bishop and because Black's

pieces have been developed with a view to

on the King's

side, it will

an attack

be impossible for Black to

take advantage of the apparently miprotected position of White's King.


Firstly:

sidered.

side, as in this

of

an

side,

the

attack.

If

game,

Two

evident that there

If

is

no danger

Black Castles on the King's

White begins the attack

awkward

must be con-

Black Castles on the Queen's

it is

Secondly

possibilities

first,

taking advantage of

In addition

position of Black's Queen.

to the attacking probabilities of the text move, White


in one

move

brings his

King

one of his Rooks into play.


moves, "tempi" as they are

him

to

develop

and brings

into safety

Thus he
called,

gains several

which

whatever plan he

may

will serve

wish to

evolve.

12
13.

Q K3

14.

P-Kt3

Unquestionably

'a,

000
KR Kt
Q-QR4

mistake, overlooking White's fine

FRENCH DEFENCE
reply,

but a careful examination

will

177

show that White

already has the better position.


15.

R-Q3!

K-Kti

16.

KR Qi

Q KB4

17.

Kt R4

This move has been criticised because

Knight out
ing

of the

Q K Kt

with

P B

4,

way

for a

few moves.

for the

puts the
forc-

White gains a very important move

which not only consoUdates

but also drives the Queen away, putting

game

it

But by

moment.

his position,
it

out of the

Certainly the Queen

is

far

more valuable than the Knight, to say nothing of the


time gained and the freedom of action obtained thereby
for White's

more important
17
18.

P B4

19.

B-B3

pieces.

Q-KKt4
Q Kt2

GAME

178
In such positions
to get rid of the

and

Q B

3,

The Bishop

is

it

generally very advantageous

Black Bishop controlling his

which form "holes"

in such positions is of very great defensive

20.

21.

KxB

BXB
P QB5!

White threatened P
22.

it.

KR Ki

19

and

for White's pieces.

value, hence the advantage of getting rid of

To

QR

P-B3
6 ch.

Kt B3

Q-Bi

prevent the Knight from moving to

K 4 or Q B

It is self-evident that

4.

6 via

White has a

great advantage of position.

23.

Kt Q2?

had considered

move, but gave

it

R Kt

up because

3,
it

which was the right

seemed too slow, and

FRENCH DEFENCE
that in such a position there had to

way

179

some quicker

be,

of wiiming.

PxP

23

Kt B4

24.

Kt K

4 or

Kt Kt

would have brought about

an ending advantageous to White.

Kt Kt3
K Ri
Kt Q4

24

Kt Rsch

25.

PxP
Q-Q4

26.
27If

R Kt

P would

28

Kt X

P,

R-Bi
R (Kt i) B

'^

** -Ira

/i

i i

-fc

^/^ i

4.

1^

S^y

Kt B 4 was

Kt X

Pawn

Win the game.

/
/

the right move.

I was, however,

still

"grand combination," and thought

looking for the

in

29

P B4

28.

way

win.

that the

would

later

on have at

6 would

Black deserves great credit for the

which he conducted

this exceedingly difficult

GAME

i8o
defence.

He

could easily have gone wrong any

ber of times, but from

played the best move.


-'8

move

num-

22 onwards he always

FRENCH DEFENCE

i8i

36QXQP! R Q i; 37 Q R6, K Kt I best


Q Q S ch K R I, K Kt i R Q Kt i wins)
(if

38

Q X B P and White

Q-Q4
Q-R4
Q-R6

37

38

There
since

is

have a draw.

R K7
R Qi
Q-K5
K Kti

35

36

will at least

nothing to be done against this simple move,

White cannot play Kt

4,

because

Q R

mates.
39.

K-Bi

40.

Kt-Q4

RxQP
R K8ch

Resigns.

A very

interesting battle.

GAME
(St.

White

The
a

5.

RUY LOPEZ

Petersburg, 1914)

Dr. E. Lasker.

Black

J.

R. Capablanca.

1.

P K4

P K4

2.

Kt KB3

Kt QB3

3.

B-Kts

P-QR3

4.

B X Kt

object of this

middle-game

move

without

is

to bring about speedily

Queens, in

which

White

GAME

i82

has four Pawns to three on the King's


Black's

superiority of

Pawns on the other

somewhat balanced by the

Pawns

is

doubled.

On

side,

fact that

while

side is

one of Black's

the other hand, Black has

the advantage of remaining with two Bishops while

White has only one.

45-

RUY LOPEZ
also the possibility of its going to

183
5 via

QB

3 after

P-QB4.

0-0

9.

0-0

P B 4

ID.

This move I considered weak at the time, and I do


still.

5,

It leaves the

and

it

also

Kt by B Q B

KP

makes

it

weak, unless

it

advances to

possible for Black to pin the

4.

R Ki
Best.
It threatens B B4; B K3, Kt Q4.
It also prevents B K 3 because of Kt Q 4 or B
Kt Kt3
PB 3
Preparatory to P Q Kt
followed by P Q B 4

and B
Kt in conjimction with Kt^-Kt
which
10.

4.

11.

3,

3,

would put White

difficulties to meet the


combined attack against the two centre Pawns.

12.

great

in

PB

GAME

i84
It

has been wrongly claimed that this wins the game,

but I would

like

position again.

nothing better than to have such a


It required several mistakes

my

on

part finally to obtain a lost position.

P-QKt3

12
13.

B-B4

B Kt

13-

Played against

my

was

Bx

of course

ing
15

variation:

Q R Q

I,

better judgment.

The

right

move

Dr. Lasker gives the follow-

B.

13.

.B

B Kt

XB
2;

16

RX

14

R B

PB

B,
2,

17RXR, RxR; 18R Q'2, RxR;


and he claims that White has the best

R Q

19
of

4;
i;

Kt x R,
it.

But,

as Niemzovitch pointed out immediately after the

game, 16.
tion,

is

White

.Q

R Q

not the best.

will

have great

given in Dr. Lasker 's variaIf

16...

Q R B

difficulty in

i!

then

drawing the game,


RUY LOPEZ

no good way to stop Black from playing

since there

is

Kt B

followed

i8S

K 4, threatening Kt
by Kt
And should White attempt to meet this ma-

5.

3,

nceuvre by withdrawing the

Kt

Black Knight can go to

and the White Pawn at

5,

Kt

at

then the

Taking Dr.

4 will be the object of the attack.

Lasker's variation, however, whatever advantage there

might be disappears at once

Kt Kt

3,

of

which can be stopped.

5,

threatening

Kt Q

after 19.

that

it is

loss of

It is

5 for

.Kt

Black

Black plays 19.

if

and
If

Kt

also

.Kt

draw.

will at least

neither

5,

White answers 20 Kt
In

many

3 Black threatens so

dif&cult to see

fact,

things

how White can prevent

the

one or more Pawns.

14.

BxB

15.

Kt-Q4

PxB

a curious but true fact that I did not see this

move when

played 13

...

B Kt

have played the right move 13

is

yet far from

lost,

of the Knight, Black can later

lowed

2,

.B

otherwise I would

B.

QR-Qi

15

The game

by P Q

as against the entry

on play

4.

16.

Kt K6

17.

QR-Qi

R Q2

PB

4, fol-

GAME

i86

-i^;^ I
& ^f.
_1 ^

fi

*k

^
vm^-m
I

now was on

the point of plajdng

by P Q

followed

4,

PB

be

4, to

which I thought would give

me

a draw, but suddenly I became ambitious and thought


that I could

and
at

KP

later
6,

on

play the text move, ly.-.Kt


sacrifice

still

the exchange

Pawn

wiiming a

for

for the

i,

Knight

and leaving White's

it,

I intended to carry this plan either

weaker.

P K Kt 4 as the circmnstances
demanded. Now let us analyse: 17...P B 4. If
18 Kt Q 5, Bx Kt; 19 P x B, P Q Kt 4; and a

before or after playing

show that Black has nothing to


fear.
Black's plan in this case would be to work his
Kt around to K 4, via Q B i, Q Kt 3, and Q B s or
careful analysis will

2.

Again, 17...P

4; 18

R B

2,

-Q

4;

P X P, B X P 20
Q 2, B X Kt give Black the advantage), RxKt;
21 R X R, Kt X R; and there is no good reason why
19

Black should

(best, since if

lose.

Kt

17
18.

Kt X B

R B2

Bi

P QKt4

(B

2)

GAME

i88
helpless with each

move.

comment, excepting that

an altogether
made,

it

The game needs no

my

play throughout was of

irresolute character.

must be

carried out

if

further

at

aU

When a
possible.

plan

is

Regard-

ing the play of White, I consider his loth and 12th

moves were very weak

to the 27th move, which

The

move.
perfect.

29.

rest

of his

he played well after that up

was bad, as well as


play

was good,

his 28th

probably

FRENCH DEFENCE
GAME

6.

189

FRENCH DEFENCE

(Rice Memorial Tournament, 1916)

White

1.

2.

3.
4.

P K4

P-Q4
Kt-QBs
B Kt 5

Of aU the variations
this

best,

Black

O. Chajes.

because

it

of the

J.

R. Capablanca.

P K3

P-Q4
Kt-KB3
B Kts
French Defence I

gives Black

more chances

like

to

obtain the initiative.


5.

Though

P-Ks

I consider

PXP

the best move, there

is

much

to be said ia favour of this move, but not of the vari-

ation as a whole, which


5-

White adopted

in this

game.

GAME

iQO

BB

9.

Threatening
threat of
last

Q R

BR

P QB4

4 and stopping thereby White's

3.

It

demonstrates that White's

move was a complete

weakened

his position.

10.

loss of

time and merely

FRENCH DEFENCE
fended, and this in turn wUl give
to post his Knight at

EJiight

3 via

and

posted at

is

2,

him the opportunity

When

2.

the Black

Q 4, the Bishop will be developed to

as soon as the opportunity presents

be Black that

it will

4 via

191

then have the

will

and can consequently decide the course

itself,

initiative,

of the game.

R-Qi
Kt K 2 which would be answered by
The move, howbetter by B R

15-

To prevent
Kt X P, or still
ever,

is

3.

strategically

wrong,

pieces to the Queen's side.

since

White

by bringing his
any chance

loses

he might have of making a determined attack on the


King's side before Black

is

16.

P B4

17.

B-K3

Better would have been

K Kt2
P Q

4, in

The White B would be much

3.

on the open diagonal than


on the defensive.

BB

here,

where

Kt
Kt

17
18.

order to play
better posted
it

acts purely

K2
Q4

This Kjiight completely paralyses the attack, as


dominates the whole situation, and there
to dislodge
his pieces.
for

Black

it.

it.

P-KKt3

IS

BR

thoroughly prepared for

Behind

it

no way

Black can quietly develop

The game can now be

strategically.

is

it

said to be

won

192

FRENCH DEFENCE
plications.
is

However, as

will

soon be seen, the move

not a losing one by any means.


25.

PXP

26.

PxPch

27.

RxP ch

e.p.

Kt X P

RxP

This wins the Queen.

KxR

27
28.

Kt B 5ch

29.

(^XQ

193

PxKt

(B 3)

GAME

194

The

most

position looks

6
I thought

interesting.

it

would be possible to get up such an attack against

make

the White King as to

much

hold out

longer,

him

to

but I was wrong, unless

it

it

impossible for

BB 3

K R
I

could have been done by plajdng

P Kt

3 and then playing

first,

ing

Q R K Kt

R Q

at once

was the

to play

P Kt

K R 4;

am

I.

move

Kt
that

tion

It

all.

is

White would be forced

move.

either

K
it

wUl

to play
5

R K R i

and foUow

threatening mate, or some

according to circumstances.

In some

wiU be better first to play

K Kt 5),

it

which

5,

There are so

draw.

BB

and Black would reply with

K Kt

cases, of course,

or

which gave White time to play

right
3,

play-

as already indicated, which looks the best

up with

other

move by

convinced, however, that

(the plan, of course,


it

followed a

4.

similar plan, but lost a very important

forcing

wiU

many

would be
be worth

at

give

least

him a

possibilities in this posi-

impossible

the

to

reader's

give

time

them
go

to

carefully through the lines of play indicated above.

QR KKti

29

As stated

The

Kt

BB

was the best move.

30.

P-Kt3

B-B3

31.

R Qi

K R4

plan, of course, as explained above,


s in

it is

due time and threaten mate at

now

too late, the White

is

to go to

KR

8,

but

Rook having come

in

FRENCH DEFENCE
time to prevent the manoeuvre.

move,

therefore,

195

Instead of the text

Black should have played Kt

which would have given him a draw at the very


After the text moves the tables are turned.

White who

least.

It is

now

has the upper hand, and Black who has

to fight for a draw.


32.

Kt

R-Q6

was

B-K5

the right move, and probably

stiU

the last chance Black had to draw against White's


best play.
33.
34.

Kt X Q

RX
35-

Q'xBP

Kt-Q4

RxR

KxR

R, Kt

X P was no

better.

GAME

196

Most
did,
I

players will be wondering, as the spectators

why

knew

The

I did not resign.

the

game

lowing variation,

reason

is

that while

was hoping for the folwhich Chajes came very near playing
to be lost, I

5iQxPch,K-R2; S2Q-Rs,RxP; 53 BKt 5 ch, K Kt 2 54 B X R ch, K X B; and while


;

White has a won game

it

the reader does not believe


pieces against a master

opponent,
51

B Kt

who
7,

SI-

decided

and

is
it,

and

by no means easy. If
let him take the White

see

what happens.

My

to take no chances, played

finally

won

as

shown below.

RUY LOPEZ
GAME

7.

197

RUY LOPEZ

(San Sebastian, 191 1)

White:

J.

R. Capablanca.

is

much

A.

1.

P K4

P K4

2.

Kt KB3

Kt QB3

4.

B-Kts
B R4

P-QR3
Kt B3

S-

P-Q3

3.

This

Black:

Bum

a very solid development, to which I was

addicted at the time, because of

my

ignorance

of the multiple variations of the openings.

P-Q3

s
6.

In this variation there


this

Bishop via Kt
7.

8.
9.

10.
11.

B K2

P B3
2,

is

the alternative of developing

after

P K Kt

QKt Q2
Kt B I
BB 2

Q K2
PxP

3.

P QKt4
P Q4
PxP
B QB4

Evidently to make room for the Queen at


I

do not think the move advisable at

K3

is

this stage.

a more natural and effective move.

a piece and threatens

BB

5,

B Kt

2,

but

It develops

which would have

to be stopped.
12.

B K3

GAME

198

Now

it is

not so effective, because White's

and the Knight,

QB

4,

14.

He

in going to

is

QB

is

out,

to defend the square

R Ki
Q K2

Kt K3
00

game was already not

Black's

bad.

K3

Q B.

does not block the


13.

This

good.

probably had no choice but to take the Knight

with the Bishop before making this move.

Qs

15.

Kt

16.

PxB

in order to bring it to

and

also his King's

17.

Since he

is

2,

White, however, does not

by taking advantage

able to win a

P QR4

he shotdd have given

to support the other Knight

Pawn.

had no way

Q Kt Q

Kt Kt

2,

allow time for this, and


superior position

BxKt

Pawn.

P Kt

to prevent the loss of a


it

in order to

of his

Pawn,

up where it is, and played


make his position more solid.

RUY LOPEZ
The

move not only loses a Pawn, but


game very much weakened.

text

Black's

18.

199
leaves

200

CENTRE GAME
43-

201

GAME

202

Q-B3

lo

White's threat to regain the

Pawn was merely

the idea of gaining time to develop his pieces.

could have played

PQ

opening the

way

with

Black
for his

Q B, when would have followed, iiB Q3, R Ki;


12 Kt B 3, and White would soon start a powerful
With the text move
Black aims at taking the initiative away from White
in accordance with the principles laid down in this
direct attack against Black's King.

book.
II.

If

BX

P,

Kt R3

P Q

completely shut
if

at

all,

move aims

3;
off,

and White's Bishop would be

and could only be

with serious

now

of position.

The

text

at quick development to keep the initiative.

"
This

loss

extricated,

is

P-Q3

not only a developing move, but

threatens to win a piece

by B X Kt.

it

also

CENTRE GAME
12.

B-Q3

Kt-Qs

This complicates the game unnecessarily.

was

simple,

and

13.

is

B-K3

B-Kts

a serious mistake.

interesting,

R K

perfectly safe.

13-

This

203

and though

The

position

was most

in appearance dangerous for

The right move would have


when we would have 14 B X Kt,

Black, not so in reality.

been 13.

.R

Kt

5,

RXB; isP QB3,BxP; 16P x B,R KKt 5;


17 Q K 3 (best), QxP ch; 18B B2, QxQ;
19 P X Q, R X P, and Black has the best of the game
with four Pawns for a Kjiight, besides the fact that
all

the White
14.

Pawns

Kt Kt

There was nothing


15.

are isolated.
s!

RxB

better.

QXB!

Kt Kych

GAME

204

i6.

??

GAME

2o6

To prevent P K R 4, which I woxild answer with


P K Kt 3, winning the Queen. It can now be

my

considered that

King

have to withdraw

will

is

his

safe

from attack.

Queen via

3,

White
and Black

can use the time to begin his advance on the Queen's


side.

29.

30.

K Kt
R Qi

R Qi

P B4

Notice that, on assuming the defensive, White has


placed his Rooks correctly from the point of view of
strategy.

They

are both on white squares free from

the possible attack of the Black Bishop.


31.

Q-R3

Q-Rs

This gains time by attacking the


the White
the

K Kt P.

of the fray

home.

and

at

now

Queen must be

White has actually more value

32.

of

in the middle

that the attack has to be brought

therefore Black

command

holding

moment, on account

3 for the

Besides, the

Rook and

must

utilise

in material,

everything at his

in order to succeed.

R(K2) Q2

K-Ri
threatenmg P Kt

Q Ksch
P-QKt4

33.

5;

of action of the Bishop

34.

which would open the

and

also secure a passed

take on account of

Pawn.

Q-R5

Q-Kt2

indirectly defending the

line

QXR

P, which White cannot

ch.

CENTRE GAME
35.

K-Kti

The attack increases in


home directly against
is

doubtful

if

force as

gradually brought

it is

The

the King.

Black has

now a passed Pawn, and

his Bishop exerts

White cannot very well play now

because of

5 ch woxild

passed

Pawn

RXR

38

Rx

R,

BxP

win the Rook, leaving Black a

ahead.

P-QR3
RXP
R(Qi) Q2

R-QKti

40.

Q-Kt3

R-Kt6

41.

Q-Q6

37-

38.
39-

is

QxP

and White could not take the Bishop because

now
It

is

PxP

great pressure.

RXP

position

difficult.

any vahd defence against Black's


The variations are nxunerous and difficult.
there

36.

37

P-Kts

most interesting and extremely

best play.

207

Q-Rs!
P B5

Q
clear

GAME

208

P B6

41.

BXP
game
it

is

would
is

also

win, which, shows that White's

altogether gone.

not the prettiest

In these cases, however,

move

that should be played,

but the most effective one, the move that wiU make

your opponent resign soonest.


42.

QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLINED

GAME

9.

209

QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLINED


(Berlin, 1913)

Wliite: J. R. Capablanca.
I.

Black: R. Teichmann.

GAME

2IO
text

move

that

is

it

QP

leaves Black's

isolated,

and

consequently weak and subject to attack.

KR Qi

14.

The
15

alternative

BB

2,

KtxB

would have been

P Kt

16

s;

14.

Kt QR

4,

15.

KtxKt

P Kt4

16.

RxR

QxR

17.

Kt-B3

Q-B5

Kt4;
Kt (B 4)
.P

Black aims at the exchange of Queens in order to


remain with two Bishops for the ending, but in this
position such a course

at

Kt

2 is inactive

is

a mistake, because the Bishop

and cannot come into the game

by any means, unless Black gives up the isolated

Pawn which

Queen's

Kt Q4

18.

Not, of course,

R B

R B

7.

the Bishop must defend.

R Q

and there

because of

QxQ

18
19.

QX

Q; Kt X Q,
would be no good way to prevent
4,

Kt(B3)xQ!

Notice the co-ordmation of the

They

are manoeuvred chain-like, so to speak, in order

and

Now

therefore forces Black's next

19

4 or ready to go
White threatens to take the open file,

to maintain one of them, either at


there.

Knights' moves.

move.

R B

QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLINED

The student

examine

sholild

211

this position carefully.

There seems to be no particular danger, yet, as White

may

win demonstrate. Black


the

game

not altogether

is

most

of the

lost,

kind;

difficult

be said to be
the defence

indeed, I

If

lost.

is

at least

must confess

that I can see no adequate defence against White's

next move.

Kt B

20.

If2o...B

R X Kt
25 R Q
;

Qi;
BX

23
2,

P and

22.

Kt,

R B 2; 22 Kt X
B X B 24 R X P, R B

else,

is

then

5 ch.

Pawn

B X

If 20.

ahead.

Kt, doubling

way

giving

up the

that no

KR

relief

the

Pawns.

White threatened Kt

Notice that the Black Knight

such a

.B

K X Kt
P Kt3

Kt X B
Kt Q4

practically forced, as

is

B,

isolating all of Black's King's side


21.

This

Kt Q6,

and White

moves anywhere

KB

21

K B

s!

is

pinned in

can be afforded except by

or abandoning

the open

file

GAME

212

with the Rook, which would be disastrous, as White

would immediately
23.

sieze

it.

P-B3!

P-R3

23-

else except mark time with


Rook along the open file, since as soon as he moved
away White would take it. White, on the other
hand, threatens to march up with his King to K 5
via K B 2, K Kt 3, K B 4, after having, of course,

Black could do nothing


his

prepared the way.


to give

Hence, Black's best chance was

up a Pawn, as

in the text, in order to free his

Knight.
24.
25.

26.

BXP
P KR4
BB 4

Kt Q

Kt B 4
Kt K3

Black exchanges Knights to remain with Bishops of

QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLINED


opposite colours, which gives

him the

273

best chance to

draw.
27.

27.

.P

Kt X Kt

KX

Kt

X Kt would

be able to post his


28.

be worse, as White would then


Bishop at
5.

K
R KRi

R Q2

B Kt3. P KKt3 would


on account of P Q 5 which would

Black wants to force


be

bad,

get the Black Bishop into the game, even though

White could answer

P K

4.

The

however, weak, as will soon be seen.

was

to play

and B
and

R
5,

P Kt
3.

text

move

is,

lEs best chance

R 4
White meanwhile could play P Kt 4
5

and follow

it

up with P

obtaining a passed Pawn, which, with proper

play, should win.


29.

R QB 2!

R QB

30.

RXR

BX

There are now Bishops of opposite colour, but nevertheless

White has an easily-won game.

GAME

214

K B2

31.

f-

P-Qs

31-

Practically forced.

march up

to

Otherwise the White King would

4 and then to

Queen's side Pawns.


this

by putting

his

and win

just as easily.
32.

and win Black's

Black attempted to stop

If

King at

would enter through

QB

3 then the

White King

into Black's King's side

QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLINED


at

Kt

7,

where

rectly aJso the

it

Q Kt

3738.

not only protects the

215

P, but indi-

P.

K-Q4

B Kt

The student ought

Resigns.

to have reaUsed

by

this

time

the enormous importance of playing well every kind


of ending.

In this game again, practically from the

opening, White aimed at nothing but the isolation


of Black's

P.

and obtained,

Once he obtained

he tried for

fortimately, another advantage of posi-

tion elsewhere which translated


terial

that,

advantage of a Pawn.

itself

into the

ma-

Then by acciu-ate playing


home his advantage.

in the ending he gradually forced

This ending has the merit of having been played against

one of the

finest players in the world.

GAME

White;

10.

PETROFF DEFENCE

GAME

2l6

lo

Played by Morphy, and a very


is

fine

move.

The

point

that should Black exchange Queens he will be a

move behind

development and consequently

in

get a cramped

game

if

will

White plays accurately.

B-K3

Marshall thought at the time that this was the best

move and consequently played

it

in preference

to

QxQch.
8.
9.
'

10.
11.

12.

It is

On

now time

Kt

B3

B X Kt
P Q4

P KR3
QXB
B K2

Q Kt sch Kt Q2
B Q3!

to examine the result of the opening.

White's side

we

and the Queen out

find the

in a

minor pieces well posted

somewhat odd

place, it is true,

but safe from attack and actually attacking a Pawn.

PETROFF DEFENCE
White

is

also ready to Castle.

217

White's position

is

evidently free from danger and his pieces can easily

manoeuvre.

On

Black's side the

thing

first

we

notice

is

that

he has retained both his Bishops, unquestionably an


advantage

but on the other hand we fimd his pieces

bunched together too much, and the Queen in danger


of being attacked without having any good square to
go

The Bishop

to.

at

blocks the Queen, which, in

has no freedom and

2
its

Besides, Black cannot Castle

cause

turn, blocks the Bishop.

on the King's

QxP, R Kti; Q K4

wins a Pawn.
because

Nor can he

Q R

nor can he play

K Kt

side be-

threatening mate,

Castle on the Queen's side

would put Black's game

danger, since he cannot play

in

imminent

P R 3 because of B X P
i

because of

Kt Kt

Consequently we must conclude that the opening


all

5.

is

in White's favour.

P Kt4

12

To make room
Kt 5.
13.

giving

find a

for his Queen, threatening also

P KR3

up a Pawn

and take the

in

an attempt to

initiative.

4;

It

was

ch, followed

2,

game
him to
and should

free his

difficult for

move, as White threatened Kt

Kt X P

00

Black go with the Queen to Kt

it

then

by B x B.

4,

PQ

5,

GAME

2l8

IS-

QXP
Q-K4

16.

P-QKt3

14.

lo

QR Kti
Q Kt2
P-QB4

In order to break up White's centre and bring his

Knight to

4 and thus lay the foundation for a violent

attack against White's King.


faUs, as it

The

plan, however,

always must in such cases, because Black's

development

is

backward, and consequently his pieces

are not properly placed.

17.

00

18.

Kt Qs!

PXP

simple move, which destroys Black's plan utterly.

Black

and, as
lose

now have no concerted action of his pieces,


his Pawns are all weak, he wiU sooner or later

will

them.

B Qi

18
19.

B B4

Kt B4

20.

QxP

QxQ

PETROFF DEFENCE
The
a

fact that he has to exchange

Pawn behmd shows

B X Kt
BB 3

23.

QR-Qi

BxKt

ending brought about

threatening.
is

plight a desperate one.

and

it is

is lost.

But now the

The

which makes Black's


game has no further

only because of

its

value as a study

of this variation of the Petroflf that I have given

Black was able to

is

one in which the Bishop

stronger than the Knight;

interest,

game

Kt X Q
B xB

The Knight was too


is

Queens when he

that Black's

22.

21.

219

fight it out until the sixtieth

it.

move
The

on account of some poor play on White's part.


moves are given merely as a matter of form.

rest of the

24.

220

RUY LOPEZ

White;

221

GAME II
Kt R3
Q Ki

222
lo.

The problem for White now


to Kt 5 as fast as he can.
at once, Black simply takes

to advance his

is

If

he plays

it.

If

Q Kt P

PQ

he plays

Kt 4

first

Q R 3 and then P Q Kt 4, he will still have to protect


his Q Kt P before he can go on and play P Q R 4
and P

Kt

5.

As a matter

of fact

White played a

rather unusual move, but one which, imder the circimistances,

once play

Kt

was the

5.

11.

12.
13.

He

best, since after it

P Q Kt 4 and

simplifies,

R Kt i!
P Kt4
P QR4

then

PQ

he could at

4 and

PB 3
Kt B 2

BxKt

hoping to lighten White's attack, which

wiU have to be conducted practically with only the

heavy pieces on the board.


it

in order to play

He may have

Kt Kt 4 and

K 3.

also

done

RUY LOPEZ
14.

223

RXB

Taking with the Pawn would have opened a


bility for

possi-

a counter attack.
,

P-QKt3

14-

He

is

of

his

forced to this in order to avoid the breaking

it

The only

Queen's side Pawns.

would have been

P Q

Kt 4

alternative

which on the face of

looks bad.
15.

P-Kts

16.

PXP

17.

18.

it

White

BPxP
P-QR4
Q-B4

Kt-Q5
P B4

The White Knight


hind

will

is

now

a tower of strength. Be-

be able to prepare an attack,

which wiU begin with

P Q

4,

to drive

Black Queen and thus leave himself

up

5.

There

is

away the

free to play

only one thing to take care of and that

GAME

224
is

to prevent Black

from

Knight and a Pawn.


i8.

...

II

sacrificing the

Rook

for the

FRENCH DEFENCE
GAME

12.

FRENCH DEFENCE

(New York,
White:

R. Capablanca,

J.

1.

2.

3.

4.

P K4
P-Q4
Kt-QB3
B-Q3

1918)

Black:

P-Q4
Kt KB

Not the most favoured move, but a


it

perfectly natural

cannot be bad.

PXP

4
4

O. Chajes.

P K3

developing one, and consequently

P Q B

225

generally played in this case instead of

is

the text move.


5-

KtxP

6.

Kt X Kt ch

^Kt Q2
KtxKt

7.

Kt-Bs

B K2

226
8.

This

played to prevent

is

B Kt
for

which

2,

Black in

Q Kt

GAME
Q K2

is

P Q

Kt

3,

followed

by

the general form of development

this variation.

B Kt

12

5 ch,

If

Black now plays 8

BQ

10

Kt K

P
and

White obtains a considerable advantage in position.

0-0
P KR3
B KKts
Of course Black could not play P Q Kt
of B X Kt, followed by Q K
8

9.

3 because

4.

10.

B X Kt

11.

Q K4

This weakens Black's

BXB

P KKt3
King's side.
R K

was

the right move,


12.

P KR4

P-K4

12.

This

is

merely giving up a

out quickly with his

B.

Pawn

in order to

come

But as he does not obtain

FRENCH DEFENCE
any compensation

for his

He

should have played

the

game out

227

Pawn, the move


Q 4 and tried

that way.

It

bad.

is

to fight

might have continued

13 Q B 4,B Kt 2; i4QxBP,BxP;
16 O O O with considerable
IS Kt X B, Q X Kt

thus:

advantage

of

13.
14.
15.
16.
17-

The

for White.

position

might be considered a mild form of

text

move

suicide.

B-B4
BxB
B Kt 2
Q K2

PxP
Q KB4
00
RxB
Q-B4

In order to keep the Black Queen from coming into


the game.

QR Qi

17
18.

KR Qi
R K

i,

R K

3.

better plan would have been to play

threatening P K

6.

RxR
R Ki

18
19.

20.

Of course

if

Black with a
21.

RxR
P B3
BXP

Kt X

Pawn minus

B,

fights

QX

Kt;

very hard.

R K3

The Pawn had now


last

P QB3

move, because

to be

after

defended after Black's

B x P; Kt x

B,

Qx

Kt;

GAME

228

R K

3,

Black could

now

12

play

Q Kt

defending

the Rook.

P QB4

21
22.
23.

White's plan

K B 2
P-R4

now

is

P Kt3

to fix the Queen's side in otder

to be able to manoeuvre freely on the other

he has the advantage of material.


23-

24.

side,

where

FRENCH DEFENCE

22g

Black persists in waiting for developments.


that

if

PK R

s,

P X P; P X

P, the

He

sees

Queen goes

R 6,

and White will have to face serious difficulties.


In this situation White decides that the only course
is to bring his King to K Kt 3, so as to defend the
squares K R 3 and K Kt 4, where the Black Queen
to

might otherwise become a source of annoyance.


35-

GAME

230

Now

12

that he has completed his

White

is

ready to advance.

39.

39... P

march with the King,

P KR5

K Kt

*PXP
Q B

5,

Q Kt

4,

4 would be answered by

with a winning game.


40.

Against

K Kt

practically

Q K2

PxP
i;

forcing

White would play


the

which White would have

exchange

of

Queens,

Uttle trouble in

ending, since Black's Bishop could not do

after

winning the

much damage

in the resulting position.


41.

Q-B5

K-Kti

Black overlooks the force of 42


defence was
either

ing

R Q

i;

R Q

against which

advance the King or play Kt

Kt Kt

6 ch.

42.

R Q7

BxPch

7.

His best

White could
4,

threaten-

FRENCH DEFENCE

231

This loses a piece, but Black's position was altogether


hopeless.
434445-

K Kt4

Q B3
Q Kt2ch

KtxB
K B4

Resigns.

The interest of this game centres mainly on the


opening and on the march of the White King during
the final stage of the game.

King becoming a fightmg


are stiU on the board.

GAME

13.

It is

piece,

RUY LOPEZ

(New York,
White:

J. S.
I.

Morrison.

an instance of the

even while the Queens

1918)

Black:

J.

R. Capablanca.

GAME

232

13

maximum

we might

say, exerts its

this note

with the one in the Capablanca-Bum game

strength

(Compare

at San Sebastian, page 197.)


7.

8.

Of course not

The

by

10.

B3

because of

2;

would have been P

Kt

preferable to have the

9.

Kt

K Kt K

alternative

followed

B Kt2

Kt B3
B Kt 5

Kt Q
3;

to be

2; but in this position

Kt

at

KB

5.

it is

3.

P-KR3

Q-Q2
B KR4

An

error of judgment.
White wants to keep the
Knight pinned, but it was more important to prevent
Black from Castling immediately. B
B 4 would

have done

this.

00

10
11.

0-0-0

Bold play, but again faulty judgment, unless he intended to play to win or lose, throwing safety to
the wmds.
The Black Bishop at Kt 2 becomes a
very powerful attacking piece.

The strategical disnow far superior to


be Black who will take the

position of the Black pieces

White's, therefore

it

will

is

offensive.

II
12.

KR Ki

R Ki

RUY LOPEZ

White wanted to keep

his

QR

on the open

consequently brings over his other


to defend his

P K Kt

4,

that the

Rook

file,

and

to the centre

P, which Black threatened to win

foUowed by Kt

by

P.

P Kt4!

12

Now

233

KR

is

in the centre,

Black can safely

advance, since, in order to attack on the King's side.

White would have


do

to shift his Rooks,

so long as Black keeps


13.

B Kt3

which he cannot

up the pressure

in the centre.

Kt KR4

Uncovering the Bishop, which now acts along the


long diagonal, and at the same time preventing

5,

which would be answered by Kt

Kt X P

etc.,

14.

XB

PX

P
Kt,

winning a Pawn.

Kt-Qs

P-R3

Black drives the Bishop away so as to unpin his


pieces

and be able to manoeuvre

freely.

GAME

234

13

B-K3

B-Q3

15.

Preparing the onslaught. Black's pieces begin to bear


against the King's position.

P B3

16.

With the

last

of Black's

at
his

Kt

his

Queen at

to check at

KR

QB

an attack to which there

White

(Compare

game

and then advancing

P B4!

which has for


of the

2,

7.

16
Initiating

blocks the action

K B, but he also aims at placing his Bishop


and

K P,

move White not only

its

Q B

this

no

is

reply,

and

ultimate object either the winning


or cutting

from the game.

it off

game with the Winter-Capablanca

at Hastings.)
17.

The Bishop

is

P KR4
now out

PB

of action.

White naturally

coimter attacks violently against the seemingly ex-

RUY LOPEZ

235

posed position of the Black King, and, with very good


judgment, even ofEers the Bishop.

i8.

PXP!

PxP!

Taking the Bishop would be dangerous,


bad, while the text

which

is

move accompUshes

20.

R Ri
K Kt

retire his

might have done


for

if

it

Bishop to

immediately.

at this stage of the

game

Since he would

sooner or later, he
It is doubtful,
it

how-

would be possible

White to save the game.

Kt K4

20
21.

It

Black's object,

B B2

This move tmquestionably loses time.

ever,

not actually

to put the Bishop out of action.


19.

have to

if

was

Kt X Kt

difficult

RX

to decide which

Kt

way

to retake.

GAME

236

13

took with the Rook in order to have

it

prepared for

a possible attack against the Kiag.


22.

Now

B R2

Kt

B3

that the White Bishop has been driven back,

Black wants to get rid of White's strongly posted


Knight at Q s, which blocks the attack of the Bishop
at

may

It

2.

the key

Q5

is

to White's defence.

23.

White

be said that the Knight at

P-KKt3

strives not only to

have play

for his Bishop,*

but also he wants to break up Black's Pawns in order


to counter-attack.

23

Kt X Kt

ening

ch,

The

QX

alternative

Kt; and Black would be threat-

R R 4, and also Q K 3.

notice that

that he

is

would have been

Black's drawback in

The student should


all this is

playing minus the services of his

is this fact

out longer.

that

makes

it

possible for

the fact

R.

It

White to hold

23-

24.
25-

GAME

238

14

R K8ch

31

RxRch

33.

RxR
K R2

34.

K-Kt3

P-Q4

32.

the quickest

way

BB

to finish the game.

35.

BxP

PxPch

36.

K Kt4

P B6

PxP
P B4
K-Rs

R Ksch

37.
38.
39.
40.
41.

RxPch

RxB
K R2
B-K 3

R Q8ch
R-Q 7
Resigns.

very lively game.

GAME

14.

QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLINED

(New York,
White

2.

3.

4.
5.

6.
7.

This

is

Black

F. J. Marshall.
1.

1918)

P-Q4
Kt KB3
P-B4
Kt B3
B Kt5
P K3
RB
I

J.

R. Capablanca.

P-Q4
Kt KB3
P-K3
QKt Q2
B K2

P B3

one of the oldest systems of defence against

had played it before in this


Tournament against Kostic, and no doubt Marshall
At times I change my defences,
expected it.
the Queen's Gambit.

QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLINED


or rather systems of defence;

during a Tournament,

good

results,
8.

if

239

on the other hand,

one of them has given

I generally play it all the time.

me

GAME

240

14

obtained the centre.

Black, on the other hand,

entrenched in his

three ranks,

QR

will post his

and

play

finally

first

Q Kt

when

full

by

action to the Black Bishop

I.

It

truly an

Kt B4!

P-Qs
was

is

P.

Against Kostic in a previous

Kt B

an advance on the

initiating

carefully analysed,

attack against Black's


IS-

is

given time

In this game White attempts to

2.

anticipate that plan


centre, which,

if

at Q B I and his Knight at K B


3,
P Q B 4, in order to break up

White's centre and give


posted at

and

carelessness

game

on

shall believed differently, otherwise

my

had played

part,

but Mar-

he would not have

played this variation, since, had he analysed this move,

he woidd, I think, have realised that Black would


obtain an excellent game.

only

BPXP

The

position

is

but also Kt

Black now threatens not

XP

followed

very interesting and

by B P x

P.

full of possibilities.

QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLINED


i6.
17.

PXKP
B X Kt

Kt X P (K

241

3)

QXB

played under the impression that White had to lose

QR

time in defending his

QB

when

P,

I could play

obtaining a very superior game.

4,

my

be seen,

opponent had quite a

But, as will
surprise for

little

me.
18.

Kt Q4I

Q K4!
19 R R

18

Of

course,

if

18.

x R P;

.Q

would win

The text move is probably the only satismove in the position. The obvious move would

the Queen.
factory

have been

Q Q

2 to

defend the

would have come 19 Kt

K Kt 3
Q

I,

(threatening

Q KB

2;

22

assiures

5,

PB

P,
3;

and then
20

The

i),

text

move, on the other

Black an even game at the very

as will soon be seen.

K R i 21 Q R
P KR4, with a tremendous

Q R Q

advantage in position.
hand,

QB

least,

GAME

242
19.

KtxP

14

QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLINED


the King

White

itself.

because of

PB

is

afraid to play 22

24^

P B

4.

P-Ks
To prevent P B

P-KKt4

22.

The White Knight is practicaUy


4.
pmned, because he does not dare move on account
of

RXK

P.

mz
a

23.

This

P KR4

a sequel to the previous move.

White expects
to disrupt Black's Pawns, and thus make them weak.
is

PXP

23-

Though doubled and

isolated

this

Pawn

exercises

Black now threatens R K 3;

Kt 3 and P R 6 and R 7 at
to be followed by R

enormous pressure.
the proper time.
24.

White

R K

cannot

stand

the

slow death

any

longer^

GAME

244

14

He

sees danger everywhere,

by

giving

up

his

and wants to avert it


Queen's side Pawns, expecting to

regain his fortunes later on

on the King's

by taking the

side.

R-K3!

24

Much

better than taking Pawns.

to defend the Knight with the

R Kt

of the threat
25.

R Kt

This forces White

Rook atK

i,

because

3.

R(Ki) QB

Preparatory to

3.

K Kt2

The game

decided on the King's side, and

Pawn

initiative

it is

is

going to be

the isolated double

that will supply the finishing touch.


26.

P QKt4

To prevent P

Kt

5,

P Kt4
defending the Knight and

erating the Rooks.


27.

28.

P-R3
K B I

R-Kt3

R R7

lib-

QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLINED

245

Notice the remarkable position of the pieces.

White

cannot move anything without incurring some

loss.

His best chance would have been to play 29 P


6,
but that would only have prolonged the game, which
in

is lost

any

case.

29.

K Kt

30.

P-Kt3

P R6

P-QR3

Again forcing White to move and to


thereby, as

31.

all his

PR

RxKP

P-K6

R R

If 33

35

ch;

something

pieces are tied up.

the Knight because

Not even now can White move


of

lose

KxP,

R R

ch;

K Kt

i,

8 mate.
32.

P Kt4

33-

P-B3

P Kt

5,

R X R, R X

PR

R R3
7

ch; 34

P, winning easily.

K R

i,

RxKt;

GAME

246
3334.

14

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