Modern Chess Tactics: Pieces And Pawns In Action [Paperback ed.] 0710070985, 9780710070982

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Ludek Pachman Translated by P. H. Clarke

Modern Chess Tactics Pieces and Pawns in Action LU D E K P A C HMAN Translated by P . H. CLA R K E

tim\ � LON DON

ROUTLE D G E & K E G A N P A U L

First published in England by Routledge {5 Kegan Paul Ltd Broadway House, 68-74 Carter Lane London EC4V SEL I97° Reprinted I97 I First .1mblished as a paperbacl� I972 Printed'in Great Britain by C. Tinling f:!j Co. Ltd London and Prescot Translation

©

Routledge fJj Kegan Paul Ltd I970 Original Czech title

Taktika Moderniho Sachu First published I962 by Spoltovni

a

Puristicki Nakladatelstvi

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher, except for the quotation of brief passages in criticism.

ISBN 0 7100 7098 5

(Paperback)

Contents

Foreword 1

THE ELEMENTS OF C HESS TACTICS I II

2

II III

IV

The Knight The Bishop The Rook Open jiles The seventh (second) rank The eighth (jirst) rank The Queen I llustrative games

THE TAC TICAL USE OF THE PIECES I II III

4

Move, manoeuvre, combination Calculation

THE PROPE RTIES OF THE PIECES I

J

VII

Increasing the effectiveness of the pieces Tactical co-ordination of the pieces Double attack Illustrative games

1

1

7 14 14

23 33 35

47

5 1. 55 61

74 74 83 88 91

HESTRICTING THE EFFECTI VENESS A N D C O-O RDINATION OF THE PIECES I II III IV V

Encircling a piece Pieces as tactical weaknesses Interrupting the line of a piece Diverting Decoying v

100 100 105 109 1 13

122

Contents VII

5

CHANGING THE MATERIAL SITUATION

Winning material Eliminating the opponcnt's active pieces Transition to the endgamc Other kinds of tactical e x ch anges Illustrative Gamcs

I II III IV

6

128 1 32 152

Combined elements Pinning Illustrative games

VI

T H Il PAW N S

The

PCCldi;tritics of pawn Il (;clH:sis of a passcd pawn I

III IV V VI VII VIII

moves

Exploiting a passed pawn Connected passed pawns Promoting a pawn to a piece other than the Queen Advanced pawns Weak pawns The tactical co-ordination of the pieces and pawns Illustrative games

1 66 1 66 170 174 176 179 184 1 84 1 86 189 19 5 198 I99 20 I 204 207

Index of Games

215

Index of Positions

217

VI

During a game of chess two important questions are continually occupying us : what ought we to undertake and how ought we to execute it? The first question pertains to the sphere of chess strategy, the second to the sphere of tactics. The two are closely connected in a game. Strategy without tactics would be somewhat abstract and lifeless. Tactics without strategy would be like wan­ dering in a labyrinth. You may therefore ask why I now put a textbook on chess tactics before you when I have already dealt with the questions of chess strategy in another work. Str:ategy and tactics have much in common but also many dis­ tinctive features. Integral strategic planning gives the play a scientific foundation. But knowing the most important tactical clements is indispensable for play even at the ' lower levels' . It is easier to learn tactics, and any study of the middlegame ought to begin with its elements. In this work I have tried to present the important elements of chess tactics as methodically as possible. The present volume con­ tains a concise analysis of the functions of the various men and of their basic relationships. I n a future volume attention will be focused on attack and defence. Some questions-interesting though they are-must naturally be restricted to a minimum in order to keep the work to a tolerable size. Thus, the themes 'Psychological Elements' and 'Creative Imagination in Chess' deserve a compre­ hensive and independent elaboration, and I myself should like to come back again to that later. L. Pachman

VII

I

The Elements

of Chess

Tactics

I Move, manoeuvre, combination The simplest elements of chess tactics-by which is meant th e

complex of all measures and methods employed in the execution of a certain plan during the game-are naturally the individual moves. To be able to qualify an individual move more closely one must proceed from the object with which it was played. Obviously, we shall not discuss the nonsensical moves of weak players or pointless moves (in time-trouble). An intelligent move, which is in keeping with the character of the given position, may be described as follows:

Active,' the move assists in the execution of one's own plan. Passive: the move hinders the realization of the opponent's plan. Waiting,' in an unclear strategic situation we pursue waiting tactics without weakening our own position-in order to force the opponent to reveal his strategic plan. I

2

Thematic position White to move

Stahlberg-Alekhine (4th Olympiad, I93I) Black to move I

The Elements of Chess Tactics In certain cases a move can have two properties, being both active and passive at the same time. The first two diagrams provide examples of active moves. In Diagram I White plays I Q-Kt4, with the object of mating Black by Q X P on the following move. We say that White, by I Q-Kt4, threatens 2 Q X P mate. Active moves are very often associated with definite threats, whether they be mate, win of material or something less immediate, likc lessening the effectiveness or inter­ fering with the co o p c ratio n of the opponent's pieces, weakening his pawns, creating a passcd pawn ctc. In addition to the mate, White also has a sccond thrcat in Diagram I-to give check by 2 Kt-R6 and at the samc timc att ack the undefended black Queen. Since Black call only guard against one of these two threats, the movc I < B eh; 9 K X R, R-QI eh; IO K-B3, R-BI eh; II K-Q2, R-QI ch; I2 K-BI, and the black Knight cannot escape-an instructive example of an intentional loss of tempo ! Another tactical element, one that is typical for the Knight but by no means confined to this piece, is the move that discovers an attack on an u nprotected enemy piece. In the position in Diagram 25 White played I QR-BI!, which, 25

Paclzman-Fiehtl (Ostrava, I946)

thanks to his lead in development, would maintain his advantage against any of his opponent's replies, e.g. I . . . , R-QBI ; 2 Q-Kt5 ch, Q X Q ; 3 Kt X Q etc. or I . . , B-B4 ; 2 Q-R4, Q X Q ; 3 Kt X Q, threatening both 4 Kt X B and 4 P-QKt4- Black played I . . . , 0-0, whereupon the move 2 Kt-Q5! won the exchange ; for 2 RXR is defeated by 3 Kt �< B ch and then 4 R X R. The game went on, 2 . . . , Kt xKt; 3 R /R, Kt xB; 4 P x Kt, Q-R4; 5 Q-Q3, B-B4; 6 K-Kt2, Q-K4; 7 P-Kt3, P-KR3; 8 KR-QBI, and White won thanks to being the exchange up. One of Morphy's most famous combinations, whose motif has been repeated several times since, also depends on a discovery by a Knight. I n the position in Diagram 26, which is of course won for Black in various ways owing to the extra Rook, Morphy played I . . . , R xB!; 2 Q xR, Kt-KKt6!!, and White resigned. After .

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20

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•

,

The Properties of the Pieces Q White is mated by 3 . . , Kt-K7, whik (';Iplllllll�� ,III" Knight by 3 Q X Kt loses the Queen to the fork 3 . , 1\ I 1\ 'J I, ll, Our concluding Knight discovery is based on a Zwi.l'l'lit'/lS,Ii", II and a fork. In the game Tarrasch-Blackburne (see D iag l':l11i .�';) White won the exchange by I Kt-R6! If 1 , Q X :lnd ( 1 1 1 1 '. It iH thus time that plays the decisive role here-the B i �·d lO p O i l ( ) I':' L: must be released immediately, without the loss of : I II � I ) I ( 10 : I Kt X PI! After I , P )( Q ; 2 Kt X B ch Black 1ll 1lHt I,: i v c the Queen back by 2 . . . , Q >< Kt, when he is left a pawn d o w n in a hopeless position ; moving the King, 2 . . . , K-Kt2, of CO I I I'fI(1 leads to mate by 3 R X P ch !, Kt-B3 ; 4 R x P. The strength or the white Bishop is very impressively demonstrated after 1 . . . , Q X Kt ; 2 Q-R6 1, e.g. 2 " . , B-B3 ; 3 R >< Kt !, R X R ; 4 B X B or 2 . . . , Q-Q3 ; 3 R-KR5 etc. Black replied I . . . , P >< Kt, and the rest of the game took a course which really belongs to Volume II, Chapter I ; 2 Q X RP chI, K >< Q; 3 R-RS ch, K-KtI; 4 R-R8 mate. In another position (see Diagram 41) White was able to open the important QR I-KR8 diagonal by a combination consisting of a pawn breakthrough, a Rook sacrifice and a pawn advance ; I P-QS!, •

•

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41

Englund-Perfilyev (I926) BP x P; 2 R x P!!, P x R; 3 P-K6, and Black resigned. After 3 . . . , Q x QP ; 4 B-Kt2, R-Q2 (4 . . . , Q-B2 ; 5 Q-B8 mate) ; 5 P ;< R he could not prevent the mate (5 . . . , Q X Q ; 6 P X B Q ch etc.). Tactical devices that remind one of Knight forks are also possible with the Bishop-though they are considerable rarer. Diagram 42 illustrates two possible forms of such Bishop forks ; on the left a fork without a check ; on the right one with check. In =

31

The Properties of the Pieces 43

the first case Black could just as well have a Rook and a Knight on QR3 and QB5- -or evcn two Rooks ; in the second it could be a black Knight or pawn on K6. In each case it must be a piece that moves in a different way from the Bishop. There are also two methods of using a Bishop fork to win the Queen. Both methods are portrayed thematically in Diagram 43 . In the left side of the diagram the forking Bishop is protected (naturally the pawn's place as the giver of this protection can be taken by any other piece) ; in the right side the Bishop is unpro­ tected, but the Queen is situated behind the King and thus has its linc of fire interrupted. Interesting combinations occur when Bishop and Knight forks are combined. Diagram 44 illustrates a simple example. White plays I B-K4 chI and wins the Queen after both I . , K X B; 2 Kt-Kts ch and I , Q x B; 2 Kt-B6 ch. .

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44

32

.

The Properties of the Pieces And here are two rather more complex examples of Bishop forks. In the position in Diagram 45 Black won at once by I . . . , R x P ch!; 2 K x R, B x P cll. 45

Porath-Barcza (I2th Olympiad, I956) Black to move

KotO'V-Geller (Moscow, I949) Black to move

In Diagram 46 the Bishop fork is introduced by an exchange sacrifice : I . . . , R(KtI) X Kt! (after I . . . , R X R White recaptures on Q2 with the Knight); 2 P x R, R x R; 3 R x R, B x P ell, and White resigned. I I I The Rook Just as in the case of the Bishop, two special tactical motifs arise from the Rook's way of moving : simultaneous attack on two pieces that move in a different way (the enemy King may be one of them) and attack on a piece (perhaps with check) behind which another man is posted on the same line. The following three diagrams illustrate these in their simplest forms. In the position in Diagram 47 White can achieve the win of a piece in two ways : by I R-K6 (attack on two pieces) or by I R-K8 ell (giving check and at the same time threatening the Knight at QKtI). In the left part of Diagram 48 White plays I R-QKt.r, and after the withdrawal of the unprotected Bishop at QKt5 he wins the

33

The Properties of the Pieces 47

other black Bishop. In the right part of the diagram it is the Queen, a piece which moves in a similar way but is of higher value, that is first attaclwd-·· · ·by .r R-KB3; after its retreat Black loses the Knight on KJ3 1 . I n the third thematic illustration (see Diagram 49) two cases are shown in which J3lack loses a piece behind his King as the result of a Rook check. In the left part of the diagram Black loses the un­ protected Knight on QKtI after .r R-Kt2 ch, whereas in the right 49

part the Queen can be defended after I R Kt3 ch by . . . , K-R3 or . . . , K-B3. Nevertheless, 'White makes a great material gain by the Rook check, since here a piece of higher value is concerned. In the game Najdorf-Reshevsky (see Diagram 50 ) Black con­ tinued I . . , B x PI; 2 B x E, Q x P; 3 Q X Q, R x Q and got the piece back by the fork, winning a pawn at the same time. There -

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34

The Properties of the Pieces followed 4 Kt x P, R x B; 5 Kt x Kt, Kt x Kt, and only as a 1'OH llt of Reshevsky's inaccurate play did the game end in a draw. 50

L. Schmid-Evans (I3th Olympiad, I95B) Black to move

Najdorf-Reshevsky

(Match, I952) Black to move

In the game L.Schmid-Evans (see Diagram 5 1 ) White treated himself on the previous move (P-B4 ??) to a gross error in a strate­ gically won position. Play continued I . . . , P x P; 2 P X P, B x P!; 3 P x B, R X P ch, and Black quickly exploited his material advantage. O P EN F I LES

The most interesting tactical problems naturally arise when one strives to make maximum use of the Rook-in the struggle to create and exploit open files. Here we wish to discuss the particular tactical means by which open files can be obtained. I.

The pawn exchange

This tactical motif occurs in all openings, principally with the centre pawns. A typical device is the exchange of the QBP for the enemy QP or of the KBP for the KP. In most cases this not only leads to the opening of files but also to a superiority in the centre. In the position in Diagram 52 Fine won by opening the KB file and attacking the KB7 point : I . , Kt-KKtS; 2 Q-B3 (after .

35

.

The Properties of the Pieces 2 Q-K2 Black can immediately open the KB file by . . . , P--B4}, P-Kt3!; 3 Kt-Q2, Kt X BP!; 4 R X Kt, P-B4; S P X P, B X KBP; 6 B x B, R x B; 7 Q-Qs ch, K-Kt2 ; 8 Kt-K4, B x R ch; 9 K-RI, QR-KBI and wins. 53

Reshevsky-Horowitz (Havana, I952) White to move

Dahe-Pine (iVlatch, [933) Black to move

A simple file-opening by a pawn exchange also brought White rapid success in the next example (see Diagram 53) : I P-KS!, P >< P; 2 R x P, R-B2; 3 Q-B3!,- K-R2,· 4 R-K8!, R-Kt2; 5 Q--KS!, R x P; 6 Q-Kt8!, P-KKt4; 7 P-B4! (after 7 R(KI )-K6?, R-Q8 ch ; 8 K-R2 Black could exchange Queens by 8 . . . , Q-B2 ch), P >< p,. 8 R(KI)-K6, Q X R(K6},· 9 R x Q, and Black resigned. 2. Exploiting the opponent's compromised pawn formation As long as the opposing pawns remain in their initial positions, e.g. QR2, QKt2, QB2, we cannot force the opening of any particu­ lar file by an exchange following the advance of our own pawns. However, any move by the enemy pawns makes the opening of a file possible. I f Black plays, for example, . . . , P-QR3, White can open the QKt file by the advance P-QKt4-KtS . If White does not have his QR5 square under the control of a piece, Black could answer the thrust P-QKt5 by . . . , P-QR{. In that case before carrying out the advance of his QKtP White must first fix the enemy QRP by the manoeuvre P-QR4-R5 . Against a pawn 36

The Properties of the Pieces formation of, say, QR2, QKt3 , QB2 W"hite can similarly O P ( ' I I either the QR file or the QB file (by respectively P-QR4 ({S o r P-QB4-BS following a preliminary P-QKq-KtS). If the hla d( pawns are on QR2, QKq and QB2, the opening of the QR filt: 01' the QB file is still simpler, since either P�QR4 or P-QB4 if! sufficient for the purpose (possibly-if Black could ans\ver the advance of the QRP or QBP by . . . , P-QKts-after a preliminary P-QKq). If the pawn formation is QR3 , QKt3, QB3 or QR4, QKq, QB4, it is also not possible to obtain an open file by a simple pawn exchange. But in this case the pawns are morc exposed to the attack of enemy pieces. This is one of the main reasons why the defending side especially should be very wary of unnecessary pawn advances. \Ve now give an example of opening a file by exploiting the opponent's compromised pawn formation. I n the game Pachman-Zita (see Diagram 54) White exploited the move . . . , P-KR3 to open the KR file : I P-KR4, P-B4. Black 54

Pachman-Zita (Prague, I959)

seeks his counterchances in the opening of the QB file. He could have prevented an immediate opening of the KR file by the sequence I . . . , P-Kt3 ; 2 P-KKq, B-Kt2 and now either 3 P-KtS, P-KRf or 3 P-RS, P-KKt4· In both cases White can open the Kl3' file by later advancing the KBP, while he can also alter his plan and aim at the weak QBP by means of the continua­ tion 2 Kt-QKtS, P-R3 ; 3 Kt-R7, R-RI ; 4 Kt-B6, Q-K I ; 5 R-B I . The game continued 2 P-KKt4, P X Pi 3 P x P, P-Kt3; 37

The Properties of the Pieces 4 P-KtS!, P X P; S P X P (even more accurate here was 5 P-R5 ! , K-Kt2 ; 6 P x P, P x P ; 7 B-Q3 , with a furious attack), B-Kt2 (after 5 . . . , B X KtP White would have two open attacking files and would continue 6 B-R3 ! followed by 7 QR-KtI and obtain a decisive attack). The open KR file only bore fruit in the closing stages of the game : 6 Q-Kt3!, Kt-KtI; 7 B-Kt2, R -KI ; 8 Kt-KS!, Q x P; 9 B x P, B x B; IO Kt x B, Q-B4 ch; II K-RI, Kt-B3 (after I I . . . , B x Kt; 1 2 P X B, R x P ; 13 Q-Kt3 ! Black is pre­ vented from playing 1 3 . . . , R X Kt? by 14 R /( R, Q X R ; I S Q-KR3 etc.) ; I2 P-B4, Kt-I?'4? ( 1 2 . . . , Q-K3 ; 1 3 Q-KB3, Kt-K2 !) ; I3 Q-QR31, Q-K3 ( 1 3 . . . , B-B I ; 1 4 Q-R3 ! , Q X Q ; I S Kt-B6 ch I ) ; I4 Kt--/(3, Q-K2; IS Q-Q3, Kt-B3; I6 Kt(K3)­ Kt4, Kt KtS ; 17 Q··-Q/(t31, KR-QI ( 1 7 . . . , Kt-B7 ch ; 1 8 K-K t r , (2--K3 ; 1 9 (2 X Q, R X Q-or 1 9 . . , P X Q ; 20 Kt-R6 eh -; 20 R-Ql3 I); I8 Kt x BP!, Kt-B7 ch; 19 K-KtI, Q x Kt; 20 R-R8 chI I, and Blach resigned. -

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3. The sacrifice of obstructing pawns The opening of a file often has so important a bearing on the execution of a certain plan that it pays to sacrifice the pawn that obstructs the file. In the position in Diagram 55 Schlechter opened the KB file by means of an interesting pawn sacrifice : I P-K6!, P x P; 2 P-BS!, P X P; 3 Q X P. Play continued 3 . . . , Q-K2; 4 Kt X QP, 55

Schlechter-}anowski (Ostend, I905) 38

The Properties of the Pieces B x Kt; s Q x QB ch, Q-KJ (if 5 . . . , K-RI , then 6 B X Kt, p II ; 7 R-B3, QR-Q I ; 8 B-Q6 !, with the threat of 9 R-R3 1 I IIIt l:) ; 6 B-K4!, QR-QI; 7 Q X Q ch, R X Q ; 8 B-QS, and White W O l l quickly. ..

4 . The pawn breakthrough In many cases it is impossible to achieve the opening of a file by means of a simple pawn exchange. This is principally so in positions where the enemy pawns are still situatcd on their original squares. The tactical means of creating an open file then is the pawn break­ through, a pawn advance that involves a pawn sacrifice. In the position in Diagram 56 Black won as follows : I . . . , 56

Jacob-Duras (Ostend, I907) Black to move

P-Kt6!; 2 P x P, P x P; J Kt x P, Q-RS; 4 Q-RJ (4 R-K8 is unplayable on account of 4 . . . , Q-R7 ch i 5 K-B I , Q-R8 ch I ; 6 Kt X Q, R X Kt ch i 7 K-K2, QR X R ch etc., while 4 R-K4 would equally be insufficient in view of 4 . . . , Q-R7 ch i 5 K-B I , R-Q7 ; 6 R-K8 ch, Kt-Q r etc.), Q-BJ; 5 Q-Kt4? (Black would have had a strong attack even after 5 Kt-K4, Q-K2 ; 6 Q-Kt3, Kt-Q5), R-RS; 6 Q-BJ, Kt-QS, and Black won. 5. The piece exchange The exchange of pieces that are protected by pawns also leads to 39

The Properties of the Pieces the opening of a file ; for after recapturing the pawns are doubled on one file while the neighbouring file is left clear. In the position in Diagram 57 theory gives I , B-K3 as one of the possible continuations. After 2 B X B, P X B Black has an open file, while after 2 B-Kt5, 0-0 ; 3 B X Kt, P X B the QKt file is open. But if White lets his Bishop remain at QB4 and plays, .

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57

l1zematic Position Black to move

Pachman- Toran (!lfar del Plata, I955)

for example, 2 P-B5, he obtains an open Q file after 2 . . . , B X B ; 3 P X B ; on the other hand, by 2 B-Kt3, B X B(?) ; 3 RP X B he can open the QR file. In my game with Toran (see Diagram 58) a position was reached in which Black threatens on the one hand to double Rooks on the open KB file and on the other to attack the white King position by exploiting the QKt file. Nevertheless, White succeeded in obtaining a strong attack by means of a piece exchange involving a pawn sacrifice : I B-B5!, B x B; 2 P x B, R x P. Now the open KKt file makes it possible to start an action against the black King : 3 B-R6, K-RI (if 3 . . . , KR-B2, then 4 Kt-K4, K-Rl ; 5 B X B ch, R x B ; 6 Q-B4 would be very strong) ; 4 B x B ch, R x B; 5 R x R, K x R; 6 R-KtI ch, K-RI; 7 Kt-K4! (at the same time White also threatens 8 Q-R6), Q-KBI; 8 Q-B3 ch, R-K4; 9 Kt-Q2! (but not 9 Kt-Kt5 on account of 9 . . . , Q-B7 ; 1 0 Kt-B3, Q-K6 ch), Q-BS (9 . , Q-B7 ; 10 R-B l ) ; IO R-BI, Q-QS? (a gross error in time-trouble ; after 10 . . . , Q-R3 White would unpin his Knight by I I K-Q1 !, e.g. I I , Q X P ? ; 1 2 Q-B3 and .

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40

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The Properties of the Pieces wins or I I , K-KtI ! ; 1 2 Kt-B3, R-K2 ; 1 3 Q X P w i lh I I considerable positional advantage); II Q x Q, P X Q; I2 R 1/8 ("h. and it was not until fourteen moves after the loss of his Knigh t: lit QKtl that Black resign ed. .

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6. The piece sacrifice The most varied tactical devices involving either temporary or lasting material sacrifices can lead to the opening of files. A particularly characteristic example is provided by the game Konstantinopolsky-Kholmov (see Diagram 59) : I Kt-QS! By this 59

Konstantinopolsky-Kholmov (Semi-Final, I8th USSR Championship)

temporary piece sacrifice White secures the opening of the QB file in every variation. After I . . . , P >< Kt ; 2 BP x P he wins the piece back with advantage by means of the pin on the Bishop. Black must capture on Q4, since he would lose quickly after both 1 . . . , Q-Kt2 ; 2 Kt X Kt ch, B X Kt ; 3 D X D, P x B ; 4 P-QKt4 and 1 . . . , K-D I ; 2 Kt x D, K >< Kt ; 3 P-K5 ! , P x P ; 4 B-R3 ch, K-K I ; 5 Q-Kt4. The game therefore continued I . . , B X Kt; 2 BP x B, Q-Q2; 3 B-KR3, and White was soon able to exploit his positional superiority. .

The object of controlling an open file is almost without exception to penetrate the enemy position, especially to the seventh (second) or the eighth (first) rank. If the squares in the opponent's position D

The Properties of the Pieces are guarded by his pieces, the Rook requires the co-operation of the other pieces. In the following example (see Diagram 60) the co-ordination of Queen and Rook makes it possible to exploit the open file : I Q-B3! (now z Q-QB6 followed by 3 R-Q7 is threatened), Q-KI. In this way Black covers the QB3 point. An extremely interesting position 60

Fine-Becker (Zandvoort, I936) White to move

would have arisen if White had nevertheless played z Q-QB6. It is then bad for Black to exchange on QB3, since after z . . . , Q X Q ; 3 P X Q , R X P ; 4 R-Q7 the passed pawn at QB6 is decisive and passive defence by 3 . . . , K-B r ; 4 R-Q7, R-Rz likewise proves insufficient. In that case the white Rook on Q7 is effectively pro­ tected by the pawn and cannot therefore be driven away by the black King. White improves the position of his King and wins easily by a pawn breakthrough on the K side. Black would answer z Q-QB6 with z . . . , Q-QB r ! ; 3 R-Q7, R-Rz. White is then hardly in a position to strengthen his hold on the game, e.g. 4 R-K7, K-BI ; 5 Q-Q7, Q x Q ; 6 R x Q, K-K I , and the white Rook is forced to retreat. The difference between the position in which the white pawn is on QB6 and this one, where it still stands on QKt5 , is very striking and demonstrates how important it is to control the squares via which the Rook can invade the enemy camp. In the game White found another plan-z Q-KB6! Now 3 R-Q8 is threatened, and because of that the black Rook is pushed back

The Properties of the Pieces , R-RI; 3 P-Kt4! Since White cannot on to the defensive� 2 exploit the Q file directly, he opens a file on the K side by a pawlI­ breakthrough combination (the threat is 4 P X P, P X P; 5 R 01( 1:3 ch). 3 . . . , P X P; 4 P-RS! This decides the game. 4 . . , p >< () would be followed by 5 Q-Kt5 ch, K-B l ; 6 Q X RP, when Black lacks a satisfactory defence against the invasion of the white Rook on either the KKt file or the KR file ; thus, 6 . . . , R-Q x ? is prevented by 7 Q-R6 ch, K-Ktl (7 . . . , K-K2 ; 8 Q-B6 ch etc. is just the same) ; 8 Q-Kt5 ch. In the game Black gave the pawn back in one last attempt to defend himself, 4 . . . , Q-KBI; S P X P, Q-Kt2, but quickly lost the Queen ending : 6 R-Q8 chI, R x R; 7 Q x R ell, Q-BI; 8 P x P ch, K x P; 9 Q-B6 ell, K-KtI ; IO Q x P ell, K-R2; II Q-Q7 ch, K-R3; I2 P-K6, Q-RI ch; I3 Q-Qs, Q-KI; I4 Q-KS, Q-K2; IS K-Kt3, and Black resigned. In the game Thelen-Chodera (see Diagram 6 1 ) White's invasion .

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61

Thelen-Chodha (Prague, I943)

of the seventh rank was made possible by the tactical co-ordination of Rook and Knight. After I R-QI Black should have countered with 1 . . , B-Q4 1, when 'White would recover the sacrificed pawn with a positional advantage by 2 Q-Kt2 followed by 3 Kt-B6 ch. But Black committed a gross blunder with I . . . , Q-K2?? and after 2 R-Q7! had to resign. He could not take the Rook on account of the Knight fork at KB6, and the Queen has no good retreat squares at all (2 . . . , Q-K I ; 3 Kt-B6 ch). An interesting struggle took place in the game Reti-Tartakover .

43

The Properties of the Pieces

(see Diagram 62) over the invasion of White's QB2 by a Rook : I . . . , P-QKt4!; 2 Kt X Kt (after 2 B X P Black would retain the upper hand by the continuation 2 . . . , Kt X Kt ; 3 P X Kt, Q­ KKt3 ! ; 4 P-K4, B x P ; 5 P-B3, R-B7 etc.), R x Kt; J B-KtJ, P-QR4! (Black wants to drive away the Bishop, which is guarding the QB2 point ; White could not play 4 Q R-B I ? on account of 4 · · · , Q-B3 !, but the continuation 4 KR-B I , Q-B3 ; 5 Q-B I would have been worth trying here); 4 P-K4, KR-BI! (but not 4 . . . , P-RS ; 5 B-B2, KR-B I ; 6 B-Q3, when White holds his own) ; S QR-QI, P-RS; 6 B-QS, B-RJ! (threatening 7 . . . , P-KtS) ; 7 Q-KJ, P-Kt5; S R.-BI, R-B7! Black has thus attained his tactical objective ; he easily won the Bishop ending : 9 R >� R, R x R; IO R·-Ku, J( K7; II Q-KBJ, B-Q6!; I2 R-QBI, 62

Riti-Tartakover (Hastings, I926-27) Blach to move

Flohr-Rosselli (Folkestone, I933) White to move

R x KtP; IJ Q x Q, p )< Q; I4 R-B8 ch, K-Kt2; IS P-KRJ, B-Kt8!; I6 R-Kt8 (16 R-B7, B X RP), P-R6!; I7 P-Kt4, P-Kt6!; I8 R x P ( 1 8 B x KtP, B x RP or 18 P x P, P-R7 ; 19 R�QR8, B x P ! ; 20 B X B, R-Kt8 ch), R x R; I9 B x R, B x KP. The invasion of the seventh or eighth rank by a Rook is most often made possible by the assistance of the other Rook. We speak then of doubling Rooks on the open file. In the position in Diagram 63 Flohr wanted to exploit the open Q file. To that end he first removed the QP, which is blocking the Q file, by means of an exchange : I KKt X B!, P X Kt. Now he 44

The Propert£es of the P£eces , R-Q I is of COl l I'Nll l i l. I'I'lI l lld doubled Rooks : 2 R-Qr, Q-K3 (2 by 3 B-B6, when White wins the KP) ; 3 KR-Q2, Q�l\tt) ; ./ J I N, I, Kt-B3. The seventh rank is inaccessible to White here, hili III" occupation of the sixth rank with the Rook had a similiH' drl'I'\: : S R-Q6!, Kt-BS; 6 B )< Kt, Q x B; 7 P-BS!, Kt-Kr (bllt II Ot: 7 . . . , P X P on account of 8 Q-Kt3 ch, winning a piece) ; '" R(Q6)-Q2, R-R3; 9 Q-R4, R-KB3; IO P >< P, R x P. This movCj is forced, since \Vhite would occupy the seventh rank with gain of tempo after 10 . . . , P X P ; 1 1 R-Q7 ch. Now a general attack on the weakened black position is soon decisive : II Kt-QS (the fork 1 2 Kt-K7 is threatened), R-KtI; I2 Kt-B4, Q-Kt6 (or 1 2 , R(Kt3)-Kt3 ; 1 3 Kt x P ch etc.) ; I3 Kt x R, Q x P ch; I4 K-RI, K x Kt; IS R-QS, Kt-B3; I6 R-Q6, Q-Kt4; I7 R x Kt chI, and Black resigned. After 1 7 . . . , K ;< R ; 1 8 R-Q6 ch the black Queen is lost, while if 17 . . . , Q X R, then 1 8 Q-Kt3 ch and 1 9 Q X R. In the game Schlage-Dobias (see Diagram 64) Black opened the •

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Schlage-Dobias (Brno, I923) Black to move K file by a pawn breakthrough that involved a piece sacrifice : I . . . , P-BS!; 2 KtP X P ( 2 P-B3, with the intention of blocking the important file by 3 P-K4 after the withdrawal of the Knight, would be inadequate owing to the following possibility : 2 . . . , P x KtP ! ; 3 P x Kt, P x P ch ; 4 K-R I , Q-B8 ch I etc.), Kt(Kt3) X PI; 3 P X Kt, Kt-Q7 I This is the point of the breakthrough operation. Black penetrates to the enemy first rank with gain of 45

The Properties of the Pieces tempo. The game continued 4 R(B2) x Kt, R x Kt ch; 5 B-BI, and now Black contented himself with the safe winning continuation 5 . . . , R x B. Certainly, 5 . . . , B X BP, with the double threat of 6 . . . , B x R followed by 7 . . . , R X B and 6 . . . , Q-Kt3 ch; won even more quickly, e.g. 6 R-Q I , Q-Kt3 ch ; 7 K-R I , B x P ! ; 8 K x B, R x P ch ; 9 K--R3, R(B7» � B with a decisive attack. An interesting struggle for the seventh rank occurred in the game Botvinnik-Boleslavsky (see Diagram 65). White is already in

Botvinnik-Boleslavsky ( USSR Championship, I945)

control of the Q file here, but Black's Q2 is so strongly guarded by pieces that its conquest seems almost impossible. The game continued I P-QKt4! (with this vVhite prepares to advance his QBP to BS and drive away the Knight protecting the Qz point), B-K3; 2 B-Kt3! White exchanges off another piece that covers Qz. While Black could also have played I . . . , B-B I on the previous move, after z B-Kt3 the white Bishop would be very actively placed. 2 , R X R. Thus Black voluntarily gives up the Q file, which he in any case could no longer hold. Against other moyes, for instance, White could continue with R-Q3 and Q-Qz, after which Black would be forced to make the exchange . . . , R >< R. The attempt to protect the Rook on Q I by the Bishop from KB3 would fail because of the loss of the KP, e.g. z . . . , B-B3 ; 3 R-Q3, KR-K I ; 4 Q-Qz, B x B ; S P x B, R x R (or 5 . . . , Q-Bz ; 6 Kt-Kt4 etc.) ; 6 Q x R, R-Q I ; 7 Q x R ch, Q x Q ; 8 •

•

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46

The Properties of the Pieces 1\ ' / ' R >< Q ch B x R 9 Kt x P. 3 Q x R B x B ' 4 P x B f) ) ).: 6 P-B41, B-B3; P-BS, Kt-BI (after 6 . . . , R-Q I ; 7 Q >; I{ e h , B X Q ; 8 R X B ch, K-Kt2 ; 9 P X Kt White would have a matcrilll advantage) ; 7 Q-Q7 I, Q X P; 8 Q X KtP, B-KI4; 9 Kt >� II, P >< Kt; IO Q X RP, and 'White was able to use his extra pawn to secure a quick win. The position in Diagram 66 contains an important motif. White has doubled his Rooks on the QKt file, and it seems that by penetrating to the seventh rank he will at least counterbalance the disadvantage arising out of the passive position of the Bishop and "

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66

Lisitsyn-Klyavin ( USSR Team Championship, I953) Black to move

the threatened breakthrough by . . . , P-Kt5. But Black played I . . . , R-Kt31, and after 2 R X R, P x R ; 3 R x P, R X P ch he would himself invade the seventh rank with decisive effect. After 2 P-KR3, QR-QKtI 1 White had to exchange Rooks-3 R X R, R X R; 4 R X R, P x R-and lost the ending as a result of his 'bad' Bishop. Posting a Rook on a square that is protected by a pawn, as a preparation for doubling Rooks, is a very common tactical element. THE SEVENTH

( SE C ON D )

RA N K

The invasion of the seventh (second) rank by a Rook can have various effects : 47

The Properties of the Pieces Win of material: most often one or more enemy pawns which are still situated on their starting squares. We have already met one such case in the position shown in D iagram 62. Paralysis of the enemy position : this enables the other pieces to execute a decisive blow. Attack on the enemy King: we shall illustrate some typical devices involving this use of the Rook on the seventh (second) rank in the following examples.

In the position in Diagram 67 Black played I . . . , Kt-Q5! After

Fiiip.-.'Jar. .'JeZek (Czechoslovak Championship, I953) Black to move

the opponent's best reply, 2 Kt-Kt4, he would win the KP by 2 . . , R-K7. But White mistakenly played 2 Kt-B6 eM, K-RI (now . . . , Q-B3 ch is threatened) ; 3 Q-Q3, Q-B3 ch . Now White would be unable to prevent the mate after 4 Q-K4?, Q X Q ch ; 5 Kt X Q, Kt-B6-a typical device ! The game proceeded as follows : 4 Kt-K4, R-Q7!; 5 Q-K3, Kt-B4!; 6 Q-KB3, R-KB7!; 7 Q-Q3, Kt x P eh!; 8 Q X Kt (8 P X Kt, Q-R3 ch ; 9 K-KtI , Q-R7 mate), Q '/ Kt eh; 9 K-KtI, R-Kt7 chi; IO Q x R, Q >( R eh; II K-B2, Q-Kt7 eh ; I2 K-B3, Q x Q eh; I3 K x Q, K-Kt2; I4 K-B3, K-B2, and White resigned. Nimzovitch used the expression '7th rank absolute' to describe such a case, where the Rook makes all the squares on the seventh .

The Propert£es of the P£eces (second) rank inaccessible to the opponent's King. In tlw < R, when ! l lncit has difficulty developing his Rook at QRI . I7 . . , QR-Qr!; r8 B-Q2(?) This is certainly an inaccurate continuation, after which W h i tc'H advantage could have withered away to almost nothing. Tchigorin wanted to complete his development quickly and keep the enemy King in the centre, but he actually granted Black a breathing­ space and the opportunity to consolidate. Far better here was I S Q-Qs ch, K-B I ; 1 9 Q-KBS, K-Xt I ; 20 B-Q2, P X P ; 2 1 R X P, Q-Q2 ; 22 Kt-K6, R-QB1 ; 23 R-K l, with a clear advantage for White, as Tchigorin himself affirmed after the game. I8 . . . , P x P Naturally not 1 8 . . . , R �< R? ; 19 Q-QS ch, K-Kl ; 20 Q X KR ch, K-B I on account of 2 1 P X P ch, K x P ; 22 R-KI, with a decisive attack. I9 QR-KI, R X R? Thus Black 'returns' the error his opponent made on the eighteenth move. The game would be almost level after 1 9 . . , Kt-K4 ! ; 20 Q-QS ch, K-B I ; 2 1 R X R, Q X R ! ; 22 Q-K4, Q-B2. Now there are further interesting developments. 20 Kt X R, R-Kr .

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2I Kt-KtS!, R x R ch; 22 B x R, Q-K2; 23 Q-BS ch, K-QI After 23 . . . , K-Kl ; 24 Kt-K4 ! White would threaten to capture the KBP with check. But now 24 Kt-R4 would not be particularly good in view of 24 . . . , P-Q6, when Black obtains sufficient counterchances i n the shape of his passed pawn. Ap­ parently, Charousek had counted on this when making his nineteenth move, but he overlooked the following clever twist : 63

The Properties of the Pieces

24 B-Q2! In this way the Knight is protected in its attacking position (24 . . . , P X Kt? ? ; 25 B x P) and \Vhite threatens to win the important KRP. If that fell, White's distant passed pawn at KR2 would decide matters. 24 · . . , Q-K7 At first glance this seems a strong continuation. However, White maintains the upper hand by a combined attack on the black King with Queen and Knight. The KRP certainly cannot be defended (24 . . . , P-KR3 ; 25 Kt-K4), and after 24 . . . , Kt-K4 Tchigorin intended to continue 25 Kt x P, Kt--Q2 ; 26 P-KR4 ! (threatening 27 Kt x P !). 25 Q x P ch, Kt-K2 Black would losc in a similar manner after 25 . . . , K-B l ; 26 Q-B5 ch, K-Q I ; 27 P-KR4 !, Q x B ; 28 Q-K6 !, Kt-K2 ; 29 Kt-B7 ch, K-K I ; 30 Kt-K5 . 26 P-KR4!, P-Q6 A longer but equally hopeless defence would have been possible after the capture of the Bishop : 26 . . . , Q x B ; 27 Kt-B7 ch, K-B l (27 . . . , K-K l ? ; 28 Kt-K5, Q-Q8 ch ; 29 K-R2, Q-R4 ; 30 P-KKt4 ! and wins) ; 28 Q X Kt, Q-B8 ch ; 29 K-R2, Q-B5 ch ; 30 K-R3, Q-B4 ch ; 3 1 K-Kt3 , Q-Kt3 ch ; 32 K-B4, Q-Ku ; 33 Kt-K5, and White makes good his advantage on the K side. 27 Kt-B7 ell , K-BI If the King dodges to K1 , 28 Kt-K5 follows, and Black must give up a piece ( . . . , Q x P ch) ; for otherwise he would be unable to prevent a quick mate. 28 Q-R8 cll, K-Q2; 29 Q-Q8 ch, K-K3; 30 Kt-Kt5 ch, K-B4; 3I Q-KB8 ch, Resigns If 3 1 . . . , K-Kt5, then 32 Q-B4 ch, K-Iy. ; 33 Kt-K4 ! etc. This game is a good example of Tchigorin's masterly handling of open piece-play. The effectiveness and co-ordination of the white pieces reached a maximum here in a series of tactical turns. Kotov-Barcza Interzonal Tournament, Stockholm, I952 Queen's Pawn, King's Indian Defence I P-Q4, Kt-KB3; 2 P-QB4, P-KKt3; 3 Kt-QB3, B-Kt2; 4 P-K4, P-Q3; 5 P-KKt3, 0-0; 6 B-Kt2, P-K4; 7 KKt-K2, 64

The Properties of the Pieces P x P; 8 Kt >; P, Kt-B3; 9 Kt-B2, B-K3 ; IO J>. XI:!, (> ( ), ; I I 0-0, B-R6; I2 P-B3, B x B; I3 K x B, P-QR-J'! 1 3 . . . , Kt-KR4 followed by 14 . . . , P-B4 is better. I4 B-Kt2, Kt-R2; IS Q-Q2, P-QKt4; I6 Kt-[(3, P ·n:! ; 1 ,/ QR-QI, QR-QI '

Black has not played the opening very actively and by his timid action on the Q side has merely brought about a marked weakening of his position there. Moreover, it is precisely this weakening that enables \Vhite to carry out an interesting manoeuvre. I n the beautiful final combination which crowns this manoeuvre the strength of his Bishop makes itself fully felt. I8 Kt-K2! White now has at his disposal the interesting positional threat of 19 Q-RS, after which 19 . . . , Q-Kt2? would be unplayable on account of 20 P-KS ! , Kt-R4 ; 21 P-KKq, while if 1 9 . . . , Q-B I ; 20 P X P !, Black can no longer recapture with the QRP and would therefore get the disadvantage on the QB file. I8 . . . , Q-B2; I9 B-B3!, Q-K2 The natural 1 9 . . . , R-Q2 fails against the fine continuation, 20 Q-Kt2 !, when 20 . . . , Kt-K I ; 21 B A B, Kt X B ; 22 Kt-Kt4 leads to a great positional inferiority for Black and 20 . . . , Q-Q I ; 2 I Q-R3 ! loses him a pawn. It is already clear that the pressure exerted by the white Bishop on the QR1-KR8 diagonal is begin­ ning to play an important role. 20 Kt-Q4 The threat is 2 1 QKt-BS , P X Kt ; 22 Kt X P, Q-K3 ; 23 Kt X B , winning at once. 20 . . . , Kt-KI

The Properties of the Pieces

2I QKt-B5!! A beautiful combination, which proved that Black's last move only appeared to parry the threat of Kt-BS. The combination is based on the strong position of the white Bishop and has, after the elimination of Black's Bishop, its surprising point in the quiet twenty-fourth move. 2I . . . , P x Kt; 22 Kt x P, Q-B2 At first glance 22 . . . , Q-K3 seems better, but then Black would lose quickly to the following forcing manoeuvrc : 23 B x B, Kt x B ; 24 Q-KtS, Q-K4 (24 · . . , Q-Kt3 ? ; 2S Kt-K7 ch) ; 2S Kt-R6 ch, K-RI ; 26 Q x Q, P x Q ; 27 R x R, R x R ; 28 Kt x P ch etc. 23 Kt x B, Kt x Kt; 24 B-B6! Now the idea of White's combination is clear. The defence by . . . , P-B3 is prevented and White threatens Q-KtS followed by mate at KKt7. If Black defends himself by regrouping with . . . , K-R I and . . . , R-KKtI-as happened in the game-, the advance of the KRP is decisive. After 24 . . . , Kt-K3 White would decide the issue by 2S P-B4 followed by P-KBS. 24 . . . , K-RI; 25 Q-Kt5, R-KKtI; 26 P-KR4, QR-KI One last try-Black wants to eliminate the attacking Bishop at the cost of the exchange. 27 P-R5, R-K4; 28 B x R, P x B; 29 Q-B6!, Kt-BI; 30 P-R6, Kt-K2; 3I R-Q2!, Resigns There is no defence against the doubling of Rooks on the Q file. Witkowski-Pachman Czechoslovakia-Poland Match, Prague, I955 Ruy Lopez

I P-K4, P-K4; 2 Kt-KB3, Kt-QB3; 3 B-Kt5, P-QR3; 4 B-R4, 66

The Properties of the Pieces Kt-B3; S a-a , P-QKt4; 6 B-Kt3, P-Q3; 7 P-B3, 11 ./..;;) .. if R-KI, 0-0; 9 P-Q4, B-KtS; IO P-Qs, Kt-QR4; II B--.I I;.J, P-B3; I2 P x P, Q-B2; I3 P-KR3, B-K3! This is the first move that fails to observe theoretical principlcH. In similar positions it is usual to retreat the Bishop to K}4, where, however, it is less actively placed and can also be driven away at a suitable moment by P-KKt4. The sole disadvantage of posting the Bishop at K3 is the fact that White can try for its exchange by Kt-KKts. That is what happens in this game. But it turns out that after . . . , P X Kt the open KB file offers Black more than enough compensation for the two Bishops. I4 QKt-Q2, Kt x BP; IS Kt-KtS(?) 1 5 Q-K2 was stronger. I f Black then wishes to carry out the advance . . . , P-Q4, in view of the danger to his pawn at K4 he must first play IS . . . , KR-K I . After that, though, 1 6 Kt-Kts, P-Q4 ; 17 Kt x B, P x Kt can certainly follow ; for returning the Rook to KBI would cost Black two tempi. An interesting example of diverting a Rook by positional means ! IS . . . , P-Q4; I6 Kt x B, P x Kt; I7 Kt-B3, P-R3! In their very first lessons most beginners are strongly advised against making moves of this type, particularly in the opening phase of the game, without good reason. But here a good reason for . . . , P-KR3 does exist : without this move White would execute the exchange manoeuvre B-KKt5 x Kt, and then the game would be destined to end in a draw owing to the Bishops of opposite colours. I8 Q-K2

I8 . . . , B-B4! See the note to the 1 5th move ! Now Black can protect the pawn 67

The Properties of the Pieces at his K4 indirectly and in an active way. 19 P X P, P X P ; 20 Kt X P, Kt X Kt ; 21 Q X Kt would be followed by 2 1 . . . , B ;< P ch I I9 B-K3, P-Q5; 20 B-Q2, P x P; 2I P x P .. After 2 1 B X BP the move . . . , Kt-KR4 would undoubtcdly be even more effective. \Vhite now prepares to counter-attack on the Q side by the thrust P-QR4. . , Kt-KR4; 22 B-Kt3, Q-K2 ; 23 P-Q14 , Kt-R4; 24 2I KR-KtI Now it almost looks as if \Vhite's action is bound to be success­ ful. Black cannot defend the QKtP, and after 24 . . . , P X P ; 25 R X P, Kt X B ; 26 R X Kt and QRP would be very weak. But the black pieces are well placed in readiness for a tactical counter­ stroke. 24 . . . , QR QI! .

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A pawn sacrifice which is based on a further sacrifice of the exchange. Thus, 25 P X P would be followed by 25 . . . , R X B ! ; 26 Q X R (or 26 Kt X R, R X P ; 27 Q X R, B X Q ch ; 28 K X B, Q-B4 ch and wins), Kt X B ; 27 R >< Kt, R X Kt ! ; 28 P X R, Kt-B5, and White can prevent the mate only at the expense of a Rook (29 K-B I , Q-Kt4 and either 30 Q-B2, Q-Kt7 ch ; 3 1 K-K l , Q-Kt8 ch etc. or 30 Q-Kt2, Q-Kt7 ch ; 3 1 K-K l , Kt-Q6 ch etc.). Both the black Rooks prove to be excellently posted on the open files 25 B-K3, B x B It is a pity to part with the attacking Bishop, but the attack goes on just the same after its exchange. 26 Q X B, Kt-KB5! Now the threat is 27 . . . , R-Q6 ; 28 Q-K 1 , R x Kt. 27 Kt >< P is prevented by 27 . . . , Q-Kt4. 68

The Properties of the Pieces 27 Kt-KI, P x P! Suddenly the shady side of the move P-QR4 also mnkcH i hl appearance. Now White can play neither 2 8 B x P (on aC(,O I I IlI o f 2 8 . . . , Kt-B 5 ! , with an interesting Queen trap) nor 28 R X 1' ; fo r after 28 . . . , Kt X B ; 29 R x Kt, R-Q8 the Rook's invasion of the eighth rank is decisive, e.g. 30 K-R2 !, Q-Kq ; 3 I P-Kt3, Kt X P j 32 K x Kt, Q x Q ; 33 P x Q, R x Kt ; 34 R x P , R >� P ; 35 R x P, KR-B6, and Black wins the Rook ending. After the loss of the pawn White's position soon breaks up completely. 28 B-R2, Q-Kt4 Again with the strong threat of . . . , R-Q6 ! 29 R-QI, Kt-Kt6; 30 QR-KtI, R X R; JI R X R, R-QI; 32 R x R ch, Q x R ; 33 Kt-B3, Q-Q8 ell ; 34 K-R2, Q-K7; 35 Kt x P, Q X Q; 36 P x Q, Kt-K'J; 37 P-B4, Kt-B6; 38 B x Kt Or 38 P-BS, Kt X BP , 39 B-B4, P-R6 etc. 38 . . . , P >� B ; 39 Kt-Q3, Kt x P; 40 K-KtI, P-QR4; 4I Kt-Kt2, Kt-B4; Resigns Siimisch-Nimzo'vitch Copenhagen, I923 Queen's Pawn, Queen's Indian Defence I P-Q4, Kt-KB3; 2 P-QB4, P-K3; 3 Kt-KB3, P-QKt3; 4 P-KKt3 B-Kt2 · 5 B-Kt2 B-K2 · 6 Kt-B3 0-0 · 7 0-0 , [!-Q4; 8 Kt-KS, P-B3 9 P x P(?), BP x P; IO B-B4, P-QR3; II R-BI, P-QKt4; T2 Q-Kt3, Kt-B3; I3 Kt X Kt, B X Kt; I4 P-KR3, Q-Q2; IS K-R2, Kt-R4; I6 B-Q2 , P-B4; I7 Q-QI, P-KtS; I8 Kt-KtI, B-QKt4; I9 R-KtI \Vhite's pieces are unfavourably posted and his position is under pressure. It is therefore understandable that he is on the watch for any freeing possibility. The intention behind the text move is to be able to play P-K4, attacking the Knight on K�. I9 . . . , B-Q3! This apparently only helps the opponent to realise his plan ; for now after 20 P-K4 the Knight cannot retreat to KB3 because of the loss of a piece. 20 P-K4? The opening-up of the game is always advantageous for the side whose pieces are the better developed. Here it is indisputably ,

J

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69

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The Properties oj the Pieces

Black, who with his next move opens the KB file and immediately invades the seventh rank with a Rook-this only at the price of a trifling material deficit, the loss of a piece for two pawns. 20 . . . , BP x P!; 2I Q x Kt, R x P; 22 Q-Kt5 After 22 Q-Q I , QR-KB I White would have no possible defence against the threat of . . . , QR-B6! 22 , QR-KBI; 23 K-RI, QR-B4; 24 Q-K3, B-Q 6 Black now threatens to trap the Queen by . . . , Rc.·-K7. Of course, 24 . . . , R-K7 followed by . . . , QR-B7 would also have been very strong, but Nimzovitch already foresaw the pleasing finish on the next move. 25 QR-KI, P-R3! .

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White resigned, since he cannot move a single piece. Mter 26 K-R2 or 26 P-Kt4 the reply 26 . . . , QR-B 6 ! would be decisive. The position shown above clearly demonstrates what powerful weapons the control of an open file and the occupation of the seventh rank can be. 70

The Properties of the Pieces A lekhine- Tartakover Kecshemet, I927 Caro-Kann Defence I P-K4, P-QB3; 2 P-Q4, P-Q4; 3 Kt-QB3, P x P; 4 Kt /-: P, Kt-B3,' 5 Kt-Kt3, P-K4; 6 Kt-B3, P X P; 7 Kt X P, B-QII4 7 . . , B-K2 is better. 8 Q-K2 chi, B-K2; 9 B-K3, P-B41; IO Kt(Q4)-B5, 0-0 .

Is not White falling behind with his development as a result of the check at K2? If he now chooses to prepare K-side castling by I I Q-B3, he in fact gets into certain difficulties after I I . , Kt-;-B3. However, by means of a few energetic moves, of admirable simplicity, Alekhine succeeds in making capital out of the mobility of his Queen. II Q-B4! Queen sorties undertaken before development has been com­ pleted are as a rule misguided ; for without the co-operation of the other pieces the Queen not only is prevented from displaying its attacking power to the full but also often affords the enemy pieces a rewarding object of attack. But here the Queen is not isolated from the other pieces ; its co-ordination with them is excellent, as immediately becomes evident in more ways than one : .

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Attack on the QBS point-eo-operation with the Bishop at K3. 2. Preparation of the manoeuvre B-Q3 and O-O-O----< P chI, KL< B Equally weak are I S . . . , K >< B ; 16 Q >< P

eh and I S . . , K-RI ; 1 6 Q X KBP, QKt-Qz ; 17 Kt-BS , B-KB 1 ; 1 8 Kt-�, B-KKtz ; 1 9 B ;x: RP !, and White wins. .

I6 Q-Kt4 ch, K-RI; I7 R x Q, R x R

Or 1 7 . . . , B X R ; 1 8 Q-B3, and White wins a whole Rook, since the Bishop at Q l interrupts the line of action of the King's Rook. I8 Q-K4

72

The Properties of the Pieces This Queen fork virtually ends the game ; for White now obtains a decisive material advantage. I8 . . . , Kt-QB3; I9 Q ;< Kt, B-KBI; 20 Kt-B5, B-B5; 2I B )( RP, B-Q4; 22 Q-B7, QR-BI; 23 Q-B4, R-B3; 24 B x B, R x B; 25 Q-K5 ch, Kt-B3; 26 Kt-Q6!, Resigns

F

73

3

The Tactical Use of the Pieces I Increasing the effectiveness of the pieces To invest the pieces with a higher degree of effectiveness is a substantial part of the purpose of the moves we make in a game. This even goes for opening moves. Thus the moves I P-14 and I P-Q4 open lines for the pieces (Bishop, Queen), while the move I Kt-KBJ brings the Knight into an effective position. We have already familiarised ourselves in Chapter 2 with a series of examples showing the increasing of the effectiveness of pieces, e.g. the opening of a diagonal for the Bishop, transferring the Knight to an outpost, the opening of a file for the Rook, the invasion of the seventh and eighth ranks by the Rooks etc. Basically the effective­ ness of the pieces can be increased in the following ways : By piece regrouping. 2. By removal of one's own or the opponent's pawns from the line of pieces (clearing of files or diagonals). J . By clearing a square for a particular piece. 4. By the removal of one's own or the opponent's pieces from the line. I.

We shall now illustrate th ese various elements by some examples I.

Piece regrouping

The simplest way of heightening the effectiveness of a piece is to post it on another square, from which it controls more space or can threaten more points in the enemy position. In the position in Diagram 9 1 White has an extra pawn and can make use of this advantage in various ways. Nevertheless, the win would still be a difficult technical business were Black to succeed in occupying the KB and K files with his Rooks and in getting his King away from the QB file. White won quickly, however, by bringing his passively placed Bishop into action : I B-B4! The 74

The Tactical Use of the Pieces 91

Vasilyev-Klaman ( Tiflis, r949) White to move

Bishop is very strong on the KR2-QKt8 diagonal, preventing Black from retreating his King to QKtI and thereby consolidating his positiop. BI�ck could not capture the QP with his Knight on account of 2 B-K3. I , Q X QP would be followed by 2 Q X Q, Kt x Q ; 3 QR-B 1 ch, Kt-B3 ; 4 P-QKt4, K-Q2 ; 5 P-Kt5 and 6 R-B7 ch. The game continued r . . . , KR-Kr ( I . . . , P-KK4 ; 2 B-K5, Kt x B ; 3 P x Kt etc.); 2 QR-Br, R >< R; 3 Q x R, K-Q2 (3 . . . , Q X QP? ; 4 Q-K 6 ch, R-Q2 ; 5 Q-K8 ch, R-Q I ; 6 R >< Kt ch I, P X R; 7 Q x P mate) ; 4 Q-K1, R-Kr; S Q-QKt3. White now wins the QP, and that settles the game : S . . . , R-K3; S Q X QP eh, .

•

.

K-K2,' 7 B-KS , P-KKt3; 8 P-QKt4, K-B2,' 9 R-Kr, K-K2 ,' ro Q

and Black resigned. A complicated example of heightening the effectiveness of a Bishop is provided by the game Alekhine-Vidmar (see Diagram 92). White has-thanks above all to his control of the QB file­ a clear positional advantage. But his Bishop at QKt3 is not effective enough, since its freedom of movement is hindered by the black pawns at K3 and KB2. Obviously, 1 QR X B?, R X R ; 2 Q X Kt does not work on account of 2 . . . , KR-Q 1 followed by . . . , R-B8 ch. Now Black threatens to complete his development by . . . , Kt-Bf and . . . , B-Kt2. With his next moves Alekhine carries out a remarkable manoeuvre, the object of which is to increase the effectiveness of the Bishop : r B-Qr ! White prepares to occupy the KRI-QR8 diagonal by means of 2 Kt-Q4 and XR

eh,

75

The Tactical Use of the Pieces 92

il lekhine- Vidmar (Hastings, I936-37)

3 B-B3· At the same time he threatens 2 R X B. Thus the modest Bishop move contains two dangerous threats at once. I . . . , Kt-B4; 2 P-QKt4! Here is another important tactical element­ the driving off of an enemy piece. In addition, 'White enhances , Kt-KS; the effectiveness of his Rook at QBl in this way. 2 3 Q-Q4, B-Kt2; 4 O-O! (capturing the pawn would be less clear, e.g. 4 Q x P, B-Q4 ; 5 P-QR3 , Q-KtJ !, and now 6 0-0 fails against 6 . , Kt-Q7 !), P-QKt4; S Kt-KS, Q-R3; 6 Kt-B6!, B x Kt; 7 R x B, Kt-B3; 8 B-B3. Now the idea of the manoeuvre introduced by I B-Ql ! is clear. The white Bishop is in full control of the long diagonal, and Black is soon unable to prevent the loss of his QRP : 8 . . , QR-QI; 9 R-Q6, R x R; IO Q )( R, Q-RS; II P-QR3, Q-QBS ; I2 Q >: RP, Kt- Q4; I3 P-QR4 !, Kt-B2 (White wins quickly after either 13 . . . , Q x P ; 14 B X Kt, P x B ; 1 5 Q x P or 1 3 . . . , Kt x KtP ; 14 Q x KtP) ; I4 Q-B6, Q x Q ; IS B x Q, P x P; I6 R-RI, and White was able to exploit his pawn advantage in the endgame . . An increase in effectiveness, especially of minor pieces, often involves their transfer to the middle of the chessboard-centrali­ sation. Here I am confining myself to one example, in which the game is decided by the transfer of two minor pieces, in spite of the faet that \Vhite is a pawn up and possesses a dangerous passed pawn on the KR file. In the position in Diagram 93 play continued I . . . , B-Qs!; 2 QR-QI, Kt-B4! (the idea behind the previous Bishop move naturally did not consist in capturing the pawn on •

.

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.

•

.

The TacHcal Use of the jJieC(1.1' 93

Lilienthal-Koto� U\10scow, I948) Black to move

KB6 ; after 2 . . . , B x P? ? ; 3 B x B ch, Q x B ; 4 R x Kt ! followed by 5 B x B White would win) ;

J

BxB

ch, Q x B.

If White now

allows the black Knight to penetrate to Q6, Black's pieces will become so effective that he will win the game fairly easily. \Vhite therefore rightly began to complicate matters by after 4 . . 6 Kt

x

.

4 R x B!,

but

, R )< R he should have continued with 5 B-K3 ! , R-KS ;

R, Q x Kt ;

7

Q-Q2, Kt-Q6 ;

8

P-B 3 , Q-B3 when Black

would have stood only a shade better thanks to the strong position

S Q-KS?, R-Q4!; 6 Kt x R, Q >< Kt; 7 R-KI, Q-BJ; 8 Q-K3, Kt-Q6, and the active Knight was soon able to settle the gam e : 9 R-KtI, R-QI ; IO P-KR4?, Kt X KtP!; II Q X P, Kt-Q 6; I2 R- QI, R-Q2! �Vhite resigned, of his Knight. However, p lay went on

since he has no defence against 1 3 . . . , Kt-R S .

The remO'iJal of one's own pieces 2.

Of

the opponent's pawns from the line of

We have already been into this motif in detail in the previous chapter. It is obviously

a

question here of pieces with a rectilinear

action, where the increase in their effectiveness presupposes a clearing of files or diagonals. We supplement the examples in Chapter 2 with three more difficult ones. In the position shown in Diagram 94 Black made the sixth rank accessible to his Rook and increased its effectiveness by

77

I . . . ,

The Tactical Use of the Pieces 94

95

Alekhine-Znosko-Borovsky (St Petersburg, I9IJ) Black to move

Verlinsky-Alekhine (St Petersburg, I909) B lack to move

P-Bs!; 2 P X P, R-R6! As a result the game was rapidly decided in his favour : J Q-Q2, Q-B4; 4 K-KtJ, B x BP; S Q-BI, R-B6!; 6 R x R, P x R (by the exchange of Rooks Black · has not only created a strong passed pawn but also cleared the way for his Queen-he threatens 7 . . . , Q -Kt8 ch); 7 Kt-KJ, B x P; 8 Q-B2!, B-KJ; 9 Kt-QI, Q-Kt8 cll; IO K-R4, P-Kt4 chI; II P x P e.p., P-R4! (threatening 1 2 . . . , Q-R8 ch ; 1 3 K-Kt3, P-RS ch ; 14 K-B2, Q-R7 ch) ; I2 Kt-KJ, Q x Kt; IJ Q-R4, Q-B7 cll; I4 K-RJ, P-RS; IS Q-K8 ch, K-Kt2; I6 Q-K7 ch, K x P, and White resigned. In the position shown in Diagram 95 Black improved the effectiveness of both Bishops : I . . . , P-BS!; 2 P x P, B-RS; J P-QBJ, 0-0-0; 4 Kt-Q2, B-B7; S P-BJ, B-B4. After 6 P-QR4, Kt-BJ; 7 B-RJ, B-K6!; 8 Kt-KBI, B-R2; 9 P-RS, R-Q6 White interrupted the line of the Bishop on QR2 by IO P-BS. However, this interruption lasted for only two moves : IO . . . , KR-QI; II K-B2, Kt-Q2; I2 Kt-KJ, Kt x P!!, and Black won ; for after 1 3 Kt x B the double check 1 3 . . . , Kt x P ch ; 1 4 K-K 1 , B-B7 ch etc. is decisive. Bronstein increased the effectiveness of his Queen in an in­ teresting way in the position shown in Diagram 9 6. After I Kt-BS!, P x Kt; 2 P >� P the white Queen's activity was increased in two ways : by the opening of the KKt file, which bears fruit after 2 . . . , Kt(K3)-B 1 ; 3 Q-K4 ch, and by the clearing of the 78

The Tactical Use of the Pieces

Bronstein-Kopylov (I7th USSR Championship) White to rno'oe

KB3-QR8 diagonal. This factor proyes decisive both after 2 • • • , Kt-Kt4 and the text continuation : 2 , Kt-BS; 3 R X Ktl, R x R; 4 R x R, Q x R; 5 Q x R ch. White picked up two pawns and won quickly : 5 . , B-KI; 6 B x Kt, P X B; 7 Q x P, Q-K2; 8 Q-K6 ch, K-BI; 9 Q x Q ch, K x Q; IO B-K4, K-Q3; II P-KKt4, P x P e.p.; I2 P x P, K-K4; I3 B-B2, and Black resigned •

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•

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•

· 3 . Clearing a square for a particular piece , The effectiveness of a piece is sometimes limited by the fact that it cannot be posted on a particular square because that is occupied by another man of the same side. The removal of this other man clears the square, and thus the effectiveness of the piece increases. This theme is best illustrated by the following examples. In the position shown in Diagram 97 Black needs to clear the KB6 square for his Knight-and, in order to avoid the exchange of Rooks, without loss of tempo. This plan can be realised by the following sequence of moves : I . . . , R-B7 ch ; 2 K-RI, R-R7 chI; 3 K X R. The position is now like that before the first move, with the single difference that the black Rook at KB6 has dis­ appeared. This makes a two-move mate possible : 3 . , Kt-B6 cit; 4 K-RI, R X R mate. In the game Duras-Kvicala (see Diagram 98) White would have .

79

.

The Tactical Use of the Pieces 97

Tartakover-Schlechter (Vienna, I908) Black to move 98

Duras-Kvicala (Prague, I902)

won a pawn by I R x R, R x R ; 2 R x R, Q x R ; 3 B �< KtP. But he would have found it hard to exploit this advantage, since the black Queen would then penetrate his position : 3 . , Q-R7 ch ; 4 K-Q I , Q-Kt8 ch ; S K-Q2, Q-B7 ch ; 6 Q-K2, Q-QS etc. Duras, however, won quickly by first clearing the KBS square for his Queen by a pawn sacrifice : I P-B6! , Q :x:. P (White wins easily after I . . . , Q-B I ; 2 Q-BS ch, K-Q I ; 3 B x KtP) ; 2 R ;< R, R x R; 3 R x R, Q >( R; 4 Q-B5 ch, K-K2; 5 B x P ch, P-B3 (or 5 . . . • .

80 .

.

The Tactical Use of the Pieces K-B I ; 6 Q-B8 ch, K-Ktz ; 7 B-B6 ch, and White Wi.llH) ; () () !\' () ch, and Black resigned. In the position in Diagram 99 White cleared h i i4 K 1 1.1. r lq l Hi I'� 99

Weller-Solmiin (Correspondence Game, I956-57)

for his Knight by I P-K6!, Q X P; 2 P-B5 and at the same time created an operational pqint for it at K6. Play continued 2 . . . , Q-B2; 3 Kt-B4, R-Q2; 4 Kt-K6. Thanks to his strongly posted Knight, White already threatens to launch an attack on the QB7 point by the moves B-Bf, Kt-KtS etc. Black therefore sought to exchange the Knight by 4 . . . , Kt-QI. But now it turned out that tlie move z P-BS had also cleared KBf for the white Bishop ! There followed 5 B-B4, Kt x Kt; P X Kt, Q < P; 7 Kt-Kt5, and White had an irresistible attack : 7 . . . , P-B3; 8 QR-KI!, Q-B2; 9 Kt x P ch, K-QI; IO Q-QKt3, Kt-BS; II Kt x P chI (clearing the way for the Queen-if I I , P X Kt, then 12 Q-Kt8 mate follows), K-KI; I2 Kt x B, R x Kt; I3 Q x PI, K-BI; I4 Q-Kt4, Q-KI; IS P-QKt3, P-Kt4; I6 B x PI, P x B; I7 R X P ch, and Black resigned. .

.

•

f. The removal of one's own or the opponent's pieces from the line This tactical element is entirely analogous to the one just covered. But here it is a question not only of clearing a square but of removing a particular piece, one's own or the opponent's, from the line of another piece. 81

The Tactical Use of the Pieces In the position shown in Diagram 1 00 White played I R-B3/, threatening 2 Q-R7 mate. In this way he opened the way for his Bishop on Q B I with gain of tempo : I . . , P x R; 2 B x RP with a quick mate. A very frequent case is that where a Rook's line is cleared by a discovery by a Bishop on Q3 involving a check at KR7. In the position shown in Diagram 1 0 1 play continued I P-BS/ (dearing .

100

101

Sokolsky-Saigin (Kiev, I950)

Stahlberg-Szabo (Ioth Olympiad, Helsinki, I952)

the square for the Bishop I), KtP x P (if I . . . , Q x BP, then 2 Q-K4 follows) ; 2 Kt x P/, R x Kt (or 2 . . . , K x Kt ; 3 P x P ch, and now 3 . . . , Q x P leads to the loss of the Queen by 4 B-B4, 3 . . . , K-Ktl or 3 . . . , K-K I costs the Queen after the Bishop discovery 4 B x P ch or 4 B-Kt6 ch respectively, and 3 . . . , K-B3 loses on account of 4 Q-B3 ch, K X P ; 5 R-K I ch, K-Q2 ; 6 B-BS ch) ; 3 P x P. The black Rook cannot retreat, since Black would lose his Queen after 4 B X P ch ! The game went on 3 . . . , K-BI; 4 P x R, R-QI; S R-KI , R-Q2; 6 Q-K4, Q-KR3; 7 R-Kt2, and Black resigned. In other cases it may of course be necessary to remove an enemy piece from the line of one of one's own pieces. In the position in Diagram 102 Black would win at once by the Bishop sacrifice on KKt6 if the white Bishop were not standing on KK14. Doubling Rooks is insufficient on account of 2 QR-K I !, 13-Q3 ; 3 Q-K8 ch ! , and White wins. The game continued I . . . ,

82

The Tactical Use of the Pieces 102

Kagan�Sokolsky (Kiev, I950) Black to move P-B4!; 2 B X P, B X KKtP, and Black won very rapidly : 3 KR-KI, B x P ell; 4 K x B, Q-R7 cll; 5 K-K3, R-Kt6 ch; 6 Q-B3, R X Q ch; 7 K X R, R-KBI; 8 K-K4, Q-B7 ch, and White resigned. II Tactical co-ordination of the pieces In many combinations it often seems as if one side's pieces sud­ denly develop extraordinary power. They control more space than usqal and create a great many strong threats. The combinations succeed even against the opponent's best defence and even when some variations could not accurately be calculated beforehand. It plainly looks as if everything on the chessboard was designed in advance. The reason for such an increase in the effectiveness of the pieces lies in their co-ordination. Pieces which supplement each other in their effect are of much greater relative value than pieces which do not exhibit such reciprocal connections. A whole series of cases is known in end­ game theory (see, for example, the ending of Queen versus two minor pieces) where the co-ordination of the pieces even counter­ balances a considerable m aterial inferiority. The majority of so-called 'positional draws' also depend on good co�ordination of the pieces ; these are positions in which one side possesses a considerable material advantage, which-in theoretical terms-

The Tactical Use of the Pieces ought certainly to have guaranteed a win but on account of some peculiarity of the position cannot bring it about by force. The positional draw, which is used as motif in many studies, sometimes occurs even in practical play. Thus in the position shown in Diagram 103 the game cnded in a draw, although Black enjoyed a great material superiority. All the white pieces mutually protect and complement each other, with the result that the white position is like an inaccessible fortress. Where piece co-ordination is concerned we make a distinction between so-called strategic co-ordination, in which the co-opera­ tion of the pieces serves the execution of a definite strategic plan, 103

Lilienthal-Bonch-Os71l010vsky (Jloscow, I946)

and tactical co-ordination, in which the pieces complement each other in the execution of a definite threat or an attack on the weak points in the enemy position or co-operate in repelling the oppo­ nent's threats and dcfending endangered points in one's own position. In the position in Diagram 103 it is a matter of the tactical co-ordination of the white pieces. The Bishop and Rook comple­ ment each other in warding off Black's two threats-the advance of the pawns and the creation of mating threats by the invasion of the black King. In all such cases it is a question of the tactical co-ordination of two pieces. In the famous game Torre-Lasker (see Diagram 104) Black suffered a severe defeat because after I B-B6!, Q X Q,' 84

The Tactical Use of the Pieces

Torre-Lasker (Moscow, I92S) 2 R X P ch the co-ordination of Rook and Bishop enabled the first

player not only to recover the sacrificed material by discovered checks (for explanation see Volume II, Chapter I ) but also to win two more pawns : 2 . . . , K-RI; 3 R x P ch, K-KtI; 4 R-Kt7 ch, K-RI; S R .':< B ch, K-KtI; 6 R-Kt7 ell, K-RI; 7 R-KtS ch, K-R2; 8 R x Q, K-Kt3; 9 R-R3, K x B, and White won the ending without difficulty. In the attack on an exposed King the co-ordination of Queen and Rook is extraordinarily effective. These two pieces sometimes drive the King literally across the whole board until it is mated. Let us place, for example, the black King on KKt2 and the white Queen on QR8 and Rook on KR6. In this scheme the white pieces forcibly mate the King at its QR2 by a succession of checks (unless, of course, the position of other white or black pieces makes a shorter mate possible) : I Q-R8 ch, K-B 2 ; 2 R-B6 ch, K-Kz ; 3 Q-B8 ch, K-Q2 ; 4 R-Q6 ch, K-B2; 5 Q-Q8 ch etc. A difficult but also very typical example of the co-ordination between Queen and Rook in the attack on the King is illustrated in Diagram 105. Play continued I . . . , Q-Q7 ell; 2 K-B3, R-Q6 ch; 3 R-K3 (or 3 K-Kt4, Q-KB7 ; 4 Q-K5, R x P ch I ; 5 Q X R, Q-B4 mate), Q-K8! (we shall get to know more about this motif, which we call 'cross pinning', in a later section) ; 4 Q-KS (other defences are also insufficient : 4 Q-K4, Q-B8 ch ; 5 K-Kt4, 4 P-Kt4, Q-B8 ch ; 5 K-Kt3, R-Q5 ! ; 6 Q X R, Q-B4 mate ; R-Q7 ; 6 R-KB3, Q-Kt7 ch ; 7 K-B4, R-Q5 ch etc. ; 4 85

The Tactical Use of the Pieces

N.N.-KokSdl (Prague, I9Z8) Black to move

K-B4, Q-B7 ch etc.), Q-B8 ch; 5 K-K4, R-Q5 chi, and after the capture of the Rook by King or Queen the black Queen mates on QBS or KB4 respectively. The co-ordination of the pieces is seen to fullest advantage in the struggle against enemy pawns. In the position shown in Diagram 1 06 the white pawns seem very dangerous. However, by a simple manoeuvre based on the co-ordination of Rook and 1 06

1 07

Bogolj'ubow-Alehhine ( World Championship l11atch, I9z9)

Ujtelky-Pachman ( Teplice, I953) B lack to 'ffl(1) e

Black to move

86

The Tactical Use of the Pieces Bishop Alekhine was soon able to render them harmless : I

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•

•

,

B-K7! (threatening . . . . , R-B6 mate !) ; 2 P-Kt6, R-RS ch; 3 K-KtS, R x P ch; 4 K-B6, R-BI ch; S K-K7, R x BP; 6 R(Kt6)

X

KtP, R-K4; 7 R-Q2 ch, K-B4; 8 P-Kt7 (also useless would be 8 R-K I , R X P ; 9 R(Q2)

X

B, R(Kt3) x P ch), B-BS!, and after

three more moves White resigned. In both the previous cases it was a question of the tactical co-ordination of two pieces. But it often comes to the co-ordina­ tion of a greater number of pieces. In the position in Diagram 1 07 White reckoned only with the continuation I . . . , Q x Q Ch i 2 R x Q, B-KBS ; 3 R-KKt l , B-K6 ; 4 R(B2)-B I , when the endgame would b e equal. However, play went on I . . . , R x Kt!!; 2 Q x Q (2 Q X R is not playable on account of 2 . . . , B-KBS, while 2 K X R is decisively met by 2 . . . , B-BS ch i 3 K-Kt4, Q-Q I ), B-KBS. In spite of his great material advantage White is now lost. The co-ordination of the Rook and both Bishops creates mating threats that cannot be parried. 3 R-Bz (or 3 R-K B I , R-Kt7 ch i 4 K-R I , R-K7 5 R-B3, B

X

ch

!;

R ch i 6 K-Kt I , B-K6 ch etc.), R-Kt7 ch; 4 K-RI,

R-KtI ch, and White resigned

(5

R-Kt2, R X R ; 6 Q X QP, B-R I

I).

Incidentally, mate could have been forced at once by 4 . . . , R-R7 ch ! followed by 5 . . . , R-R8. In the position shown in Diagram 108 Black had the great material advantage of Rook and four pawns against Bishop and Knight. By means of the brilliant co-ordination of his pieces, 108

B lackburne- Teichmann

(Nurnberg, 1896) 87

The Tactical Use of the Pieces however, White made it impossible for Black to exploit this superiority. The game proceeded I R-Q3 ch, K-1«-3! (otherwise Black would cven lose, e.g. I . . . , K-B t' ?? ; 2 Kt-K7 mate or I : . . , K-K r ? ; 2 B-B 7 ! , R-R8 ch ; 3 K-Kt2, R-Kt I ch ; 4 K-R3, P-B3 ; 5 R-Q8 ch, K-Bz ; 6 Kt-R6 ch etc. ) ; 2 Kt-Kt7 chI, K-K2 (2 . . . , K-B3 is insufficient to win in view of 3 R-Q6 ch !, when 3 . . . , K x Kt fails against 4 B-R6 ch and 5 R-Q8 mate ; after 3 . . . , K-K2 ; 4 Kt-Bs ch, K-K I ; 5 Kt-Kt7 ch, K-B r ; 6 B-R6 ! Black must again play 6 . . . , K-K2, since otherwise after 6 . . . , P-B3 ; 7 R-Q7 ! he would lose even yet) ; 3 R-K3 ch, K-Q2 (or 3 . . . , K-B3 ; 4 B-KS ch, K-Kt3 ? ; 5 R-Kt3 ch etc.) ; 4 R-Q3 ch, Drawn. Black must not have anything to do with 4 . . . , K-B I , since the reply would be 5 Kt-BS !, with two strong threats-6 Kt-K7 mate and 6 Kt-Q6 ch followed by 7 Kt x BP ch. III Double attack An important case of the increased effectiveness· of pieces is the so-called double attack. Its simplest form consists of the simul­ taneous attack on two enemy men by one piece. We called it the 'fork' and have already met many cxamples of this form of attack in every section of the previous chapter. But the double attack also occurs in a more complicated form. A particular piece, mostly in co-operation with other pieces, creates two threats which cannot be covered simultaneously. Usually a double attack is made possible by various tactical weaknesses in the opponent's position -unguarded pieces, exposed King or unprotected points in its vicinity (e.g. the KB7 point in various openings). It very often happens that one side threatens mate and the win of an unguarded piece at the same time. In the position in Diagram 109 White played I B x KtP!, K x B; 2 R-R4, threatening 2 Q x P ch and mate next move. But at the same time the undefended Bishop at KR6 is also threatened. The game continued 2 , Q-Kt3; 3 R x B, P-R4; 4 R-K7, R-BI; S Q-K2, R(Q4)-QB4; 6 R x P, R-B8 cit; 7 K-Kt2, Q-B3 ch; 8 K-R3, R-BI; 9 Q-Kt4 ch, Q-KtJ; IO Q x P ch, Q-B3; II R-KtS ch, K-R2; I2 Q >< Q, and White won. After I R-Q8 ch, K-Kt2 in the position shown in Diagram 1 10 Tchigorin concluded the game by 2 P-BS!, B x P; J Q-BS! On •

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88

The Tactical Use of the Pieces I lO

Ljimtsev-Taimanov (I949)

1'chigorin-Janowski (Paris, I90o)

the one hand mate by 4 Q-B 8 is threatened, on the other the loss of the Bishop at KB4. We observe an interesting motif here that holds good for both these positions (Diagrams 1 09 and 1 1 0) : Black is already burdened with one tactical weakness in the starting position, but the second of thcm has to be forced by White. In the first example Black already has an undefended Bishop on KR6 and White must create the mate threat by first sacrificing a piece at KKt7. In the second position the mate threat is already present ; White is first obliged, III

Roleslavsky-Flohr (Budapest, I950) G

89

The Tactical Use of the Pieces however, to decoy the Bishop to KBf so that by attacking another black piece he may give the said mate threat additional force. The most complicated examples of double threats are those where one of the threats is obvious but the second is masked in some way. In the position in Diagram I I I Boleslavsky first, by the move I Q-Q3!, forced a weakening of the black position-. . . , P-Kt3 . This weakening was necessary, since after an immediate I Q-R3 Black could defend himself with I , P-R3 !, when Z Kt-R7 would fail against Z , R-K I . But after I , P-Kt3; 2 Q-R3! this double attack was already enough to bring in a pawn. In addition to the straightforward capture on QR6 3 Kt X RP ! is also threatened, and after 2 , P-R3 ; 3 Kt-R7 ! White wins the exchange by another double attack ; for he then threatens both Kt X R and Kt-B6 ch. There followed 2 , Kt-K3; 3 Kt X Kt, P x ](t; 4 Q X P, and White won thanks to his extra pawn. An historic example of a double attack is provided by the game Popiel-Marco (see Diagram l I Z ) . In this position Black resigned, •

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1I2

1 I3

Popiel-Marco (Monte Carlo, I902) Black to move

Opening Variation (Ruy Lopez) Black to move

since he saw no possible defence against the threatened loss of his Bishop on QS . Yet at this very moment he could win by the double attack I . , B-Kt8 !, since he then threatens both to win the Queen and also to give mate at KR7. A curiosity, which has nevertheless occurred in a number of •

•

The Tactical Use of the Pieces games, is the double attack in conjunction with castling. A typical example is found in the following well-known variation of the Ruy Lopez : 1 P-K4, P-K4 ; 2 Kt-KB3, Kt-QB3 ; 3 B-Kt5, P -QR3 ; 4 B-R4, P-Q3 ; 5 B x Kt ch, P x B ; 6 P Q4, P-B3 ; 7 ll--K3, Kt-K2 ; 8 Kt-B3, R-QKt I ; 9 Q-Q2 ! (see Diagram I I 3). Now 9 . . . , R x P? would be wrong on account of IO P x P, BP x P; II Kt x P!, and Black must not capture by II . . . , P x Kt?, as after I2 Q X Q ch, K X Q; I3 0-0-0 chi he would lose the exchange. -

I L L U STRAT I VE GAM ES

D. Byrne-Fischer New Yorl�, I9S7 Queen's Pawn, Griinfeld Defence I Kt-KB3, Kt-KB3; 2 P-B4, P-KKt3; 3 Kt-B3, B-Kt2; 4 P-Q4, 0-0; S B-B4, P-Q4; 6 Q-Kt3, P x P; 7 Q >< BP, P-B3; 8 P-K4, QKt-Q2 8 . , P-QKt4 ! ; 9 Q-Kt3, Q-R4 is better. 9 R-QI, Kt-Kt3; IO Q-B5, B-KtS; II B-KKtS? Black has not handled the opening accurately and would have had 'a really difficult game had White fortified his central position by the moves B-K2 and B-K3 . But to make this very illogical move (why should one alter the position of a well developed piece?) is a serious error. At KKt5 the Bishop is a tactical weakness for White, enabling Black to carry out an interesting combination. .

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II . . . , Kt-RS! Now 1 2 Kt X Kt is not possible owing to 1 2

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, Kt X P, when

The Tactical Use of the Pieces Black obtains a material advantage in all lines, e.g. 13 Q X KP?, Q-R{ ch ; 1 3 P-Kt4 (14 Kt-B3, KR-KI ), Q X Kt ; I S Q X Kt, KR-K I ; 1 6 B-K7, B x Kt ; 17 P x B, B-B I etc. 1 3 B x P, Kt x Q ; 1 4 B x Q, Kt :>; KB ; 19 R-Ktl . I6 B-BS Or 16 Q X Kt, KR-KI , and Black keeps the extra pawn. I6 . . . , KR-KI ch; I7 K-BI

Now it almost looks as if Black has miscalculated. The attacked Queen cannot at the same time protect the threatened Knight, and after 1 7 . . . , Kt X R ; I S B X Q, P X B ; 19 Q-Kt3 further losses are inevitable. However, the poor position of the white King enablcs Black to make a beautiful combination, which thematically, belongs to Chapter I of Volume II. I7 . . . , B-K3!!; I8 B x Q

The Tactical Use of the Pieces Other moves are hardly better : (i) 18 B x B?, Q-Kt4 ch ; 19 K-KtI , Kt-K7 ch ; 20 K· ·H I , I< Q ; 20 B x B, R x B w i th a n easy wm; I8 . . . , B x B ch,· I9 K-KtI, Kt-K7 ch; 20 K-BI, Kt x P ch; 2I K-KtI, Kt---K7 ch; 22 K-BI, Kt-B6 ch The Knight returns to its starting position, but there is the difference that it has eliminated the white pawn at Q4 during its four-move tour and consequently is nmv covered by the Bishop at KKt2 ! 23 K-KtI, P x B,· 24 Q-Kt4, R-R5 The game could really have ended here. The white Queen can neither defend the attacked Rook nor threaten any of the black pieces. White is therefore left only \\'ith a choice between two unfavourable constellations of material: Rook against two Bishops (in the event of 25 Q x R) or Queen against Rook and two Bishops (as in the game). The final phase is only of interest because it develops into an amusing hunt for the white King. 25 Q x P, Kt x R; 26 P-KR3, R x P; 27 K-R2, Kt x P; 28 R-KI, R x R; 29 Q-Q8 ch, B-BI; 30 Kt x R, B-Q4; 3I Kt-B3, Kt-K5; 32 Q-Kt8, P-QKt4; 33 P-R4, P-R4; 34 Kt-K5, K-Kt2; 35 K-KtI, B-B4 ch; 36 K-BI, Kt-Kt6 ch; 37 K-KI, B-Kt5 ch; 38 K-QI, B-Kt6 ch; 39 K-BI, Kt-K7 ch; 40 K-KtI, Kt-B6 ch,· 4I K-BI, R-B7 mate Penrose-Barden Hastings, I957-58 Sicilian Defence I P-K4, P-QB4; 2 Kt-KB3, Kt-QB3; 3 P-Q4, P x P; 4 Kt x P, Kt-B3; 5 Kt-QB3, P-Q3; 6 P-B4, P-KKt3; 7 B-Kt5, B-Q2; 8 B x Kt, B x B; 9 P-K5, P x P; IO P x P, Kt-K5; II Kt x Kt, B x Kt · I2 0-0 White has come out of the opening with a considerable lead in development, but he has a weak pawn at K5 and in addition Black is in possession of the two Bishops. White's task, therefore, will ,

93

The Tactical Use of the Pieces consist in creating effective threats as quickly as possible and so preventing his opponent from completing his development. I2 . . . , B-Kt2; IJ R-KI!, Q-Q4? In this way Black only falls in with his opponent's plan ; for now difficult complications arise. Better moves would be I3 . . . , B-Q4 or I 3 . . . , B-QB3 followed by 14 . . . , 0-0. I4 P-BJ!, Q x KP! This is the best here, since other continuations failed to give Black a satisfactory game : (i) 14 . . . , 0-0 ; I S Q-K2, B-B4 ; 1 6 Kt X B, P X Kt ; I7 B-B4 . with a clear positional advantage for White. (ii) 1 4 . . . , B X KtP ; IS Q-Kt4, B-R8 ; 1 6 P-B4 !, Q X BP ; 1 7 K X B, Q-Q4 ch ; Q-I4, and White wins a piece for two pawns. (iii) 14 . . . , B X KP ; I S Q-R4 ch, K-B I (or I S . . . , P-Kt4 ; 1 6 Kt X P) ; 1 6 R X B ! , and White wins.

IS B-B4! A very pretty move, made possible by the unprotected position of the black pieces. Black cannot well decline the sacrifice, since after I S . . . , Q-Q4; 1 6 Q-R4 ch, K-B I ; 17 QR-QI he would be hopelessly placed. IS . . . ; Q x B; I6 Q-R4 ch, B-BJ? The undefended black Queen is past saving. Black must therefore look round for a chance to get the greatest possible compensation for it. Although after the text move he obtains as much as a Rook and two Bishops for the Queen, his situation is extremely bad owing to the lack of any real co-ordination among his pieces. The following continuation would have offered Black relatively the 94

The Tactical Use of the Pieces best prospects of a stubborn defence : 1 6 . . . , K-B I ; I 7 K.t-··K() ch I , P X Kt ; 18 R-KB I , Q X R ch ; 1 9 R )< Q ch, B-B4 ; 20 P -K Kq, B-B3 ; 2 1 P X B, KP X P. Black then has Rook, Bishop and two pawns for the Queen and has consolidated his position ; Whitc would not find it easy to exploit his advantage on the Q side. On the other hand, 1 6 . . . , K-QI would have been bad on account of 17 Kt-Kt3, P-B4; 18 Kt-B5 (in addition to Q-Q7 mate, there is also the threat of Kt-K6 ch I), K-BI ; 1 9 Q-Q7 ch, K-KtI ; 20 R X B !, when \Vhite wins, and 1 6 . . . , P-Kt4 on account of 1 7 Q x P ch I (but not 1 7 Kt X P ?, 0-0, and Black defends himself), K-QI (or 17 . . . , K-B I ; 1 8 Kt-K6 ch) ; 18 QR-QI, K-B2 (or I S . . . , K-B I ; 1 9 Kt-B6 !, and White has a decisive attack) ; 19 Kt-K6 ch I, P x Kt ; 20 Q-B4 ch I, K-Kt1 ; 21 R x B, Q-QB2 ; 22 Q-Kt3 ch etc.

I7 R x P chI , K x R or 1 7 A beautiful move ! If 1 7 , K-Q I , then 18 Kt X B ch, and White wins. I7 . . . , K-BI; I8 Kt-K6 chi, P x Kt; I9 Q x Q ch, K x R; 20 Q-QB7 ch, B-Q2; 2I R-QI, QR-QI Black could not protect the Bishop with the other Rook, since after 2 1 . . . , KR-Qr ? ; 22 Q x P he would have had no defence against 23 R X B ch ! But now Black loses both his pawns on the Q side, and so the rest of the game is clear. 22 Q X P, KR-BI; 23 Q X P, R-B4; 24 P-QR4, B-K4 ; 25 P-R5, K-KI; 26 P-R6, B-QB3; 2 7 R x R ch, K x R; 28 Q-K3, B-B2; 29 P-QKt4, R-K4; 30 Q-Q4 ch, K-BI; 3I P-B4, R-K5; 32 Q-R8 cit, K-Q2; 33 Q x P ch, K-QI; 34 Q-R8 ch, K-Q2; 35 .

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95

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The Tactical Use of the Pieces Q-Kt7 ch, K-BI; 36 Q-B8 ch, B-QI; 37 Q-QBs, K-Q2; 38 P-KtS, B-RI; 39 Q-R7 cll, Resigns Pachman- Vasiukov Gotha, I9S7 Sicilian Defence I P-K4, P-QB4; 2 P-KKt3, Kt-QB3; 3 B-Kt2, P-KKt3; 4 Kt-K2, B-Kt2; S 0-0, P-Q3; 6 P-QB3 , P-K4 ; 7 P-Q3, KKt-K2; 8 B-K3, 0-0; 9 P-Q4, BP �-< P; IO P x P, P-Q4; II QKt-B3 The character of the position is now clear. The centre pawns are destined to be exchanged quickly and with the development symmetrical White has a lead of a single tempo. It must therefore be in his interests to increase the effectiveness of his pieces in the quickest possible way. Black, on the other hand, must strive to simplify the position by exchanges. II . . . , KP x P . Even in exchanging it is necessary to observe the correct order , QP x P would have been wrong here, since of moves. First I I after 1 2 P-QS ! White would have a strong passed pawn. I2 KKt x P, P x P; I3 Kt x Kt, Kt x Kt .

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I4 B-BS! Black would have been very well placed after 1 4 B x KP, B-R6 ! Now, however, the white pieces come swiftly into play and Black can hardly afford to win the QKtP on the fifteenth move. I4 . . . , R-KI,' IS Kt x P, Q-R4 · . Capturing at QKt7 would be very dangerous : I S . . . , B X P j 96

The Tactical Use of the Pieces 1 6 R-Kt I , B-Kt2 ; 1 7 Kt-Q6, R-K4 ; 1 8 B-QH.J etc. N or wou ld the exchange of Queens really ease Black's game, for W h i te wO l dd still have a great lead in development and exert p l'ctltlurc O i l thc QKt7 point. I6 Q-KII Many chessplayers have groundless fears about exchan gin g Queens in attacking positions. The exchange of Queens in no way lessens the attacking prospects, assuming that the opponent's Queen is more active than one's own-which is true in the present case. Black threatened . . . , R x Kt followed by . . . , Q X B. Here the exchange of Queens also has the advantage that White occupies the K file with gain of tempo (he threatens Kt-B6 ch). I6 . . . , B-B4? The first serious error, after which it is hardly possible to save the game. 1 6 . . . , B-K3 was also not goo d,-on account of 1 7 P-QKq ! followed by 1 8 Kt-Q6, and White obtains a very strong attack. Instead, Black should first have exchanged Queens and then played . . . , B-K3 . I7 Q x Q, Kt x Q; I8 Kt-Q6, R-K7 Black had relied on this. Apparently, the attack on QKt7 gives him perfectly sutlicient counterplay .

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I9 QR-KI! This prepares the coming positional exchange sacrifice, the idea of which lies in attaining the maximum tactical co-ordination of the white pieces and control of the seventh rank. I9 . . . , R x KtP; 20 B-Q5, B-K3; 2I R x BI, P x R; 22 B x P ch, K-RI Obviously, not 22 . . . , K-B I on account of 23 Kt-Bs ch etc. 23 Kt-B7 ch, K-KtI; 24 R-QI! '

97

The Tactical Use of the Pieces This is the real point of the exchange sacrifice. White threatens 25 R-Q7 followed by Kt-Kt5 ch and B-Q4. Black can naturally thwart this threat in various ways, but he cannot prevent the white Rook from invading the seventh rank, after which all the white pieces develop maximum tactical co-ordination. 24 . . . , R-K7 Slightly more accurate here was at once 24 . . . , Kt-B3, when the QKtP remains protected by the Rook. Nevertheless, after 25 R-Q7, R-K l ; 26 B-Q5 Black's defence would still have been very difficult. 25 Kt-Kt5 ch, K-RI Returning the exchange would have given no prospects of escape ; for after 25 . . . , R X B ; 26 Kt X R, P-Kt3 ; 27 R-Q7 ! the strongly posted white Rook would be decisive, e.g. 27 . . . , B-B3 ; 28 B-K3, Kt-B3 ; 29 P-KR4, Kt-K4 ; 30 R-QB7, Kt-KtS ; 3 1 B-Kt5 etc. 26 R-Q7

The various tactical possibilities occurring in this positlOn provide a good illustration of the efficient co-ordination of the white pieces. Black hoped he could get himself out of trouble by playing 26 . . . , P-KR3, but then 27 B-Q4 !, P X Kt ; 28 B X B ch, K-R2 ; 29 B-B6 ch I, K-R3 ; 30 B-Kt4 !, R-K8 ch i 3 1 K-Kt2 would be decisive. White then has two strong threats at his dis­ posal : 32 B-Kt7 ch, K-R2 ; 33 B-B3 ch and also 32 P-KR4. Against the only reply, 3 1 . . . , R-K5, there follows 32 B-KB3, R-QRS ; 33 P-R{, P X P; 34 P X P, P-KKt4 ; 35 P X P ch, K-Kt3 ; 36 R-K7 !, K-B4 ; 37 R-K5 ch, K-BS ; 38 P-Kt6, and White wins. This possible variation is highly instructive. The white Rook and two Bishops develop so complete a co-ordination that their

The Tactical Use of the Pieces effectiveness greatly exceeds that of Black's two Roo lul Hlld Knight ; for the Rook at QRI and the Knight at QR4 stand elltirely apart from the field of play. 26 . . . , Kt-B3; 27 B-Q5!, Kt-K4 Again . . . , P-KR3 was not playable-this time on acco l l n t: of 28 Kt-K6, B-B3 ; 29 Kt-B8 etc. The move 27 B-QS Hcrvcd therefore to clear the K6 square for the Knight. 28 R-K7 The pin on the Knight is decisive. The prettiest variation ran as follows : 28 . . . , P-KR3 ; 29 Kt-B7 ch, K-R2 ; 30 Kt X Kt, R X Kt; 3 1 R X B ch I, K X R ; 32 B-Qf, R-KI (or 32 . . . , K-B3) ; 33 P-Bf and wins. Other defences are also insufficient, e.g. 28 . . . , R-Q I ; 29 B-Kt3 ! or 28 . . . , R-QBI ; 29 B-Q6 !, R-Q I ; 30 B X Kt, KR X B ; 3 1 Kt-B7 ch, K-Kt I ; 32 R X R etc. 28 . . . , R-K8 ch; 29 K-Kt2, Kt-Q6; 30 Kt-B7 ch, K-KtI; 3I Kt-K5 ch A discovered check combined with an attack on an unprotected black piece. 3I . . . , K-RI; 32 Kt x Kt, R x R; 33 B x R, R-QBI; 34 B-Q6, P-Kt3; 35 Kt-K5, R-B7; 36 B�Kt3, R-Kt7 ; 37 K-B3, P-QR4; 38 Kt-B4!, P-R5; 39 Kt x R, P x B; 40 P x P, B x Kt; 4I K-K4, K-KtI; 42 B-K5, B-R6; 43 K-Q5, K-B2; 44 B-Q4, P-QKt4; 45 P-R4, Resigns

99

4

Restricting the Effectiveness and Co-ordination of the Pieces Striving to make the effectiveness of one's own pieces as great as possible naturally always involves restricting the effectiveness of the opponent's pieces. In this chapter we shall discuss some of the tactical means which can serve to achieve this object. I Encircling

a

piece

This is the most radical measure. A piece which has been driven into an unfavourable position either loses its effectiveness almost completely or falls as a sacrifice to the opponent's -pieces. We have already familiarised ourselves with one such typical case-a Knight shut in at QR8-in Chapter 2. Of course, the encircling of a Knight can also occur on other squares. In the position in Diagram I I4 White played I B-RI!, Q-Q2; 2 P-BS! and so achieved the encircling of the black Knight on QRS. Black defended with 2 , Q-B2, intending to continue •

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Tchigorin- Walbrodt ( Vienna, I898) 1 00

Restricting Effectiveness and Co-ordination 3 .

. , P-cQKt4-. White prevented that by 3 R-QB.rl and won a piece after 3 . , R-Q2; 4 Q-Kr!, KR-Qr; 5 Q-KtLJ.. Black tried , Kt x BP; 6 P x Kt, R-Q8; 7 B x Kt, KtP x 11; R n ·Q./, 5 . R X R ch; 9 K X R and then resigned. The following position affords a typical example of the ell­ circling of a Bishop : White : King on QBI ; pawns on QR2, QKt2 and QB2 ; Black : King on KKt I ; Bishop on K3. 1 , B X P?? would be a grave error now in view of 2 P-Kt3, and after 3 K-Kt2 Black loses the Bishop. The isolating of a piece is not bound to lead to its loss in every case. It often happens that a piece is shut out of play for the duration of the entire game, either by one's own or the opponent's pawn chain. The encircling of the Bishop at QKt2 that occurred in the game Wolf-Alekhine (see Diagram I I S) is a typical example .

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Wolf-Alekhine (Carlsbad, r923) Black to move

of this. Alekhine played I , B X B! Now 2 Q X B fails against the following interesting combination : 2 . . . , R X R ; 3 Q X R, P-Q6 ! (double attack !) ; 4- B X Q, P X Q ! (again a double attack­ both the Bishop on KB6 and the Rook on K B I are threatened) and Black wins. After 2 R X R Black would win a pawn by 2 . . . , B X R ! ; 3 R X R ch, K X R ; 4- K X B, B X P. White therefore played 2 P X B, but after that his Bishop remains shut in for ever ; conse­ quently when the game was later opened up on the K side Black was really a piece up, and after a further twenty moves he won. .

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101

Restricting Effectiveness and Co-ordination Even the strongest pieces-the Queen and Rook-are not immune to the dismal fate of being encircled. First we have two examples of encircling a Rook. In the game Darga-Ivkov (see Diagram I I 6) White invaded the seventh rank with his Rook, and it was psychologically under116

Darga-Ivkov (Hastings, I955-56)

standable that he disdained to exchange it. He played I R-K7??, but after I . , K-BI!; 2 R x Kt, K-B2 his Rook was trapped, and Black won because he was the exchange up. .

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Bogoljubow-Alekhine ( World Championship iVlatch, I934) Black to move 102

Restricting Effectiveness and Co-ordination In the game Bogoljubow-Alekhine (Diagram 1 1 7) Black co uld win a pawn by I . . . , Q X P, but then White would obtain defi n i te

counterchances by z 0-0. Alekhine played the stronger r . . , B X PI White must not take with the pawn-z P X B---O\1 aCCO l l l l t: of z . . . , Q-B6 ch. On the other hand, if he plays z R X B) hi� Rook is trapped in a very interesting manner after z . . , Q X P. , The only possible retreat, 3 R-RS, leads to defeat aftct 3 . Q-KtS ch ; 4 B-Qz, P-B6. The game continued 2 0-0, 1J >< P; 3 QR-KI, B-B4, and Black won by virtue of his extra pawns. Cases where the Rook is partially or completely cut off from the theatre of play are far commoner than those where it is actually captured. That illustrated in Diagram 1 1 8 is of comparatively frequent occurrence. The Rook, together with the King, is here shut in by the opponent's Bishop and pawn. Even the big material advantage (Queen versus Bishop and Knight) cannot itself com­ pensate for the disadvantage resulting from the encirclement of the two pieces. The game Spielmann-Stoltz continut'9. (from Diagram 1 1 8) as follows : I Q-Kt3 ( I Q X P ?, QR-K I ), B-QB4; 2 B-BS(!) (the immediate z Q X P ch, R-Kz ; 3 Q X R would be wrong on account .

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118

Spielmann-Stoltz (Match, I930) of 3 . . . , Kt-KtS ; 4 R-KB I , Kt X BP I and wins), B X B; 3 Q X P ch, K-Kt3,' 4 Q x R, R-K7 (4 . . . , B-KR6 ; S R-KB I , B x P ch I ; 6 K X B, R-K7 ch ; 7 K X P, B-KtS ch ; 8 K-B4, R-KS mate would 103

Restricting Effectiveness and Co-ordination be even more stylish) ; S P-KR4, B x P ch; 6 K-BI, B-Q6; 7 P-RS ch, K-Kt4, and White resigned. The trapping of the strongest piece-the Queen-naturally always produces the most striking effect. Strange to say, this occurs quite frequently. The reason is that excessive demands are often made on the Queen's effectiveness and as a result it gets into posi­ tions that are all too exposed. In the opening stages of the game the encircling of the Queen at QRS, after it has won the enemy Rook there, is a common occurrence. In the position against Nimzovitch in Diagram 1 1 9 Alekhine played I . . . , Kt-Q4 ch!; 2 B-Q2, Q-Kt3!; 3 Q x R cit , K-Q2, and White cannot save the Queen without suffering a loss of 1 20

]\'imzovitch-A lekhi1le

Stulik-Pachman (Maridmke L dzne [957) B lack to move

(Bled, I93I) Black to move

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material. The attempt 4 P-QR4, Kt-B2 ; 5 P-R5 would lead to the loss of both Rooks after 5 . . . , Q X KtP ; 6 Q X P, Q X R ch. The game went on 4 0-0, Kt-B2; S B-RS, Ko: Q; 6 B X Q, Kt X B, and Black won thanks to his advantage of two pieces against a Rook. After the move I . . . , P-RS! in the position shown in Diagram 1 20 White surrendered at once. Retreating the Queen costs the KBP, while after 2 Q X KtP, B-B4; 3 Q-RS, R-Kt2 chi; 4 R-Kt2 (4 K-R 1 , B-KtS), R �< R elt; 5 K >< R, R KtI ch; 6 K-B2, B-KtS; 7 Q-B7 ell, R-Kt2 the Queen trap is closed successfully. -

Restricting EjJectizJeness and Co-ordinal.£otl Just like the other pieces, the Queen can also l i l l d i t,d l' 1 1' 1 1 1 " porarily shut out of play. As a rule this is highly 1 I I l p leaH:l I I I , H i ' lI'O the absence of the Queen always results in a consilicl'alrk illiTeI1l1(� in the effectiveness of the enemy pieces. I n the game Maroczy-Tartakover (see Diagram 1 2 1 ) II I1\d� played I . . , P-B3!; 2 Q X P (2 Q-Q4 is unplayable on :ICCOl l l l t of 2 , Q-Kt3 ; 3 Kt-Kt3, Q X Q ch ; 4 Kt X Q, B-1l4 ), R {J il l !; .

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III

Nlar6czy- Tartakover

( Vielllla, I920) Black to move

3 Q X QB. Now the white Queen is for a moment shut off from the scene of play, and Black decides the game by an assault on the white King : 3 , B X Kt ch; 4 K-R2, Q-Q6!; 5 R-B3 (5 R-RI , B-B7 f), Q-Q8; 6 Q-R5, R-B3; 7 Q-Q2, Q-Kt8 ch, and White resigned. After 8 K-Kt3 the mating threats arising from 8 . . , R-Kt3 ch ; 9 K-Rf, R x P cannot be parried. •

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I I Pieces as tactical weaknesses Every man on the chessboard possesses a greater or lesser degree of effectiveness, depending on the position in which it finds itself. At the same time, however, it can also play a negative role-as an object of attack for the opponent's pieces. Owing to the lower mobility of the pawns it is in them that this negative value is mostly expressed, but it is also exhibited in the other men without exception. H

105

Restricting Effectiveness and Co-ordination An unprotected piece turns out to be a tactical weakness the most frequently. In the position in Diagram 1 22 White exploited the unprotected state of the Bishop on QB3 to effect a manoeuvre containing several tactical elements (Queen fork, Zwischenzug, Bishop fork, 1 22

Kashdan- Tenner (New York, I934) White to move

decoying, pin) : I B X PI, Q-R6 (I , P X B ; 2 Q X P ch followed by 3 Q x B) ; 2 B-KtJ!, Q-Q3; 3 B-B7!, Q-KJ (3 . . . , Q x B ; 4 B x P ch and wins) ; 4 B x R R x B; 4 B-R4! (the quickest way to realise the material advantage and at the same time a pretty trap), R x R; 6 R x R, B x B,' 7 Q X B, Kt-B6?; 8 Q x Kt!, and Black resigned (8 . . . , Q X Q ; 9 R-Kt8 ch, K-B2 ; 1 0 Kt-Ks ch). Many different combinations depending above all on a discovery by a piece are made possible by the unprotected or exposed position of the Queen. In the position shown in Diagram 123 Alekhine played I P-KS!, only pretending to weaken the opponent's pawn formation while at the same time opening the line for his Bishop. In reality this move was based on the idea of depriving the black Queen of the Q3 square. Flohr did not see through the hidden intention of the move, and after I . . , P-B41 ( I , P X P was necessary); 2 R-B8! he resigned, for as a result of the unprotected position of his Queen he loses a whole Rook (2 , Q X Q ; 3 R x R ch). We observe how important it is that-as distinct from the •

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106

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Restricting Effectiveness and Co-ordination unprotected position of the black Queen-the w h ite < R is prevented by the loss of played I R X Kt chI, when 1 •

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124

Steinitz-Bardeleben (Hastings, I89S)

1 07

Restricting Effectiveness and Co-ordination the Rook at Q B I . Equally, I . . . , K X R fails against 2 R-K I ch, K-Q3 (here the King cannot escape to safety at KEI on account of the unprotected position of the Queen) ; 3 Q-Kt4 ch, K-B2 ; 4 Kt-K6 ch, K-Ktl ; 5 Q-B4 ch etc. However, Black replied I . . . , K-BII, whereby he in his turn also exploited the unprotected position of the white Queen on KKt4 and of the Rook on QB I . The game continued 2 R-B7 ch, K-KtI; 3 R-Kt7 chI, K-RI (the Rook must not be taken either by the Queen-in view of the loss of the Rook at QB I -or by the King-in view of thc loss of the Queen) ; 4 R x P chI, and Black resigned. Steinitz's combination could have had the following conclusion : 4 . . . , K-Kt I ; 5 R-Kt7 ch I , K-R I ; 6 Q-Rf ch I, K X R ; 7 Q-R7 ch, K-B r ; 8 Q-R8 ch, K-K2 ; 9 Q-Kt7 ch, K-K I ; 1 0 Q-Kt8 ch, K-K2 ; I I Q-B7 ch, K-QI ; 1 2 Q-B8 ch, Q-KI ; 1 3 Kt-B7 ch, K-Q2 ; 1 4 Q-Q6 mate. Diagram 1 25 is an interesting example of a position in which there are several exposed pieces. With his last move, . . . , B-K5, Black created the strong threat to win a piece by . . . , P-QB4. 1 25

Aitken-Toran (Munich, I954) White played I Kt-Q3?, whereupon he lost his Bishop, encircled in the middle of the board, after I . . . , B X Kt; 2 P X B, P-QB4. In the initial position, however, Black also has a tactical weakness in the undefended state of his Knight at QR5. An attack against this weakness would have saved White : I R-Kt31, P-QB4; 2 R-R3, and White can maintain the material balance. 1 08

Restricting Effectiveness and Co-ordiualilill I I I Interrupting the liae of a pioco

One of the most important tactical means of iIH'. I'C:lHi I I g I I H� effectiveness of pieces is liI!.e opening (see Chapter 3 , Sed i o l l I , 1.). Obviously, in the struggle against the enemy pieccs thc oppoH i l e tactical element-restricting the effectiveness of piccc(, by i n t er­ rupting their lines of action-is also applied. \Ve begin with two simple examples on this theme. In the position shown in Diagram 1 26 Black could chlHe the mating net by the move . . . , P-B6 if the KB6 square were Dot covered by the white Queen. Therefore play continued I . . . , 126

1 27

Zhuravlyov-Borisenlw (Moscow, I949) Black to move

Tartakover-Kleczynski (Polish Championship, I927) White to move

P-Q6!; 2 B X P, which interrupted the line of action of the Queen. Now, after 2 . , P-B6, White is absolutely powerless against the mate : 3 R-K3 (3 Q X Kt, Q-R6 ch), Q-R8 ch; 4 R-KtI, Q X R chI; 5 K x Q, QR-KtI ell; 6 K-BI, R-R8 mate. I n the game Tartakover-Kleczynski (see Diagram 1 27) White likewise won a piece by interrupting the line of action of the black Queen, which protected the K4 point. Of course, the immediate 1 P-Q6? was not playable on account of 1 , B X QP. Tartakover therefore played I R X BI, and after I . . . , R X R; 2 P-Q6 Black resigned (z . . , R x P ; 3 B x R). The interruption of the line of the white Rook that occurred in .

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109

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Restricting Effectiveness and Co-ordination the game Capablanca-Spielmann (see Diagram 1 28) is more complicated. With his last move, R-Q I , White appears to have forced the black Queen to withdraw. I . . . , B-Q4 would not be good now on account of 2 Q-Ktr followed by 3 Kt x B. But Spielmann played I . . . , R-Q4!, after which White must not take 128

Capablanca-Spielmann (Bad Kissingen, I92B) Black to move

the Rook with the Knight, since he would thereby interrupt the line of his Rook and lose his Queen. 2 R x R, P x R was therefore forced, and now Black would have had much the better of it even after the best reply 3 Kt-Kt2, P-Q5. But the game went on 3 Kt-K5?, Q-Q3; 4 Kt(B4)-Q3, B-R3; 5 Q-KI, KB >� Kt; 6 Kt x B, Q x Kt; 7 Q x P, B-Q6, and White had to resign a few moves later. In many cases interrupting the lines of the opponent's pieces is connected with increasing the effectiveness of one's own pieces. In the position shown in Diagram 129 it seems that Black has sufficient counterplay in his attack on the QKt7 point. After r R-B3 ch, Q x R ; 2 B x Q, R x P ch ; 3 K-RI , R-Kt6 ch he would hold the draw by perpetual check. However, White found a pretty way to win : I Q-B8 ch, K-K2; 2 B-B2!! This move serves a double purpose ! It interrupts the line of the black Rook and at the same time clears the K file for a mating attack with the Rook on KKt3 . 2 . . . , Q X B would be followed by 3 R X P ch, K-Q3 ; 4 R-K6 ch with a quick mate. The game continued 2 , Q-K7; .

110

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Restricting Effectiveness and Co-ordinatioll 1 29

Lange-Buchholz (Bad Oeynhausen, I942) White to move

3 Q-Kt7 ch, K-K3; 4 Q-K4 cll, K-Q3; 5 R x P, Q-Kt4; 6 Q-K7 ch, K-Q4; 7 Q-K6 ch, K-Q5; 8 R-K4 cll, and Black resigned. Line breaking can also prove of good use in defence in warding off enemy threats. In the game Ahues-N.N. (see Diagram 130) White was a Rook and Knight down. He had sacrified both pieces for an attack, the point of which should have been the move I Q X Ktl? Now 1 , P x Q is prevented by 2 R-Kt3 ch, K-RI ; 3 B x P mate, and in .

130

Ahues-N.N. (Berlin, I920) White to move

III

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Restricting Effectiveness and Co-ordination addition there appears to be no defence against the threat of 2 Q X P mate. Impressed by this threat, Black resigned the game. But he could have won if he had interrupted the line of the Rook bY I . . . , Q-KtS! (with this he would have not only covered the KKt2 point but also threatened . . . , Q X P mate) and calmly taken the white Queen after 2 P X Q. Interesting twists occur in combinations in which the active side interrupts the lines of action of several enemy pieces either one after the other or simultaneously. The position shown in Diagram 1 3 1 provides an example of interrupting the lines of two black pieces by two consecutive moves. ,

131

Dyckhoff-Prizoonitz (German Correspondence Championship, I929)

The black Queen is very exposed where it stands, and the interruption of its line of retreat by I Kt-Kt6 ch is very tempting. But after I . . , P X Kt ; 2 P-KR3 Black would save the Queen by the fine counter-attack 2 . . . , Kt-Kt5 ! (3 P X Q ? , Kt >< B ch or 3 P X Kt, Q X KtP). White therefore first interrupted the line of action of the Bishop at QKt2 by the move I P-QS!, and after I . . . , Kt-QI he trapped the Queen by the method already indicated : 2 Kt-Kt6 chI, P �< Kt; 3 P-KR3, and Black resigned. In chess problems so-called intersection-point combinations occur frequently. The 'Nowotny Theme' is one of these. I n it the lines of action of two black pieces that have different moves inter­ sect at a certain point. 'White sacrifices a piece on this point (intersection point), and Black in capturing it momentarily inter.

II2

Restricting Effecti-veness and Co-ordinatio/l.

rupts the line of action of one piece by the other. Thlls it is a case here of the simultaneous interruption of the lines of two b lack pieces. These cases very rarely occur in practical play. In the position shown in Diagram 1 3 2 the white Rook h i ndet·s the progress of the pawn at Q7 and the Bishop the march of the 1 32

Nenarokov- Grigoriev

(NlosCO'w, I923) Blach to move

pawn at KR6. mack won at once by I , B-Q3!! Mter either 2 R x B, P-R7 or 2 B X B, P-Q8 =Q one of the black p awns reaches the promoting square whatever happens. .

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IV Diverting We come now to one of the most important and frequently applied tactical elements that occurs in countless manoeuvres and com­ binations of various types. Its essence is already expressed in the title. At its post a certain enemy piece either creates a definite threat or guards against a threat of ours. If we force it to abandon its post, either the opponent's threat disappears altogether or he finds it impossible to defend against our threat. The notion of 'diverting' therefore lacks a little in accuracy ; for it is here a question of a forced alteration of the position of an enemy man. In the position in Diagram 1 33 the black Queen is protected by the Knight at KB3. The move I Kt-R5! is based on the diversion II3

Restricting Effectiveness and Co-ordination 1 33

1 34

Steinitz-JI£rschfeld (London, IB7I)

Opocensky-Mackenzie (5th Olympiad, Folkestone, I933)

of this defending piece. Black loses either the Queen (after I . . . , Kt X Kt) or the Knight (after other moves). After I B-B3 in the position shown in Diagram 1 34 Black could still have defended himself by 1 , Q-B I. White therefore first diverted the Queen from the KBI-QR6 diagonal by I B-Kt4! After I . , Q-Rs; 2 B-B3 Black had to defend with 2 . . , P-B3 and lost quickly after 3 R x P!, Kt x QP (3 . . . , Q-Q2 ; 4 R X P) ; 4 R-BB chI Diverting a piece while one . is on the defensive against enemy threats occurs less often. •

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135

Alekhine-Verlinsky (Odessa, I9IB) 1 14

Restricting Effectiveness and Co-ordinat.ion

Although White is a piece up in the position shown in i > i.lIg n l l k l 1 35 , it seems that he cannot maintain his material superiority. 1 1 0 must not take the Queen on account of the mate by . . . , 1< I IH (Black's last move, . . . , R-KD I !, depended precisely O i l tlw diversion of the Rook at QB I ) , and in addition to the Rook at (16 the Rook at QD I is also attacked (the threat is 1 , Q >< R eh I i 2 B X Q, R-B8 mate). Alekhine won, however, by the beautiful move I Q-QI!!, which is based on the diversion of the Bishop at 1(7. After I . . . , B X Q Black's mate threat vanishes and White retains his decisive material advantage by 2 R X Q. The diversion of enemy pieces can be achieved solely by means of definite, strong threats. The following methods of dive1ting are applicable : •

I.

2.

3. 4.

5.

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Threatening a p1ece (one that 1S undefended or of higher value). Check. Mate threat. Pinning a piece. Capturing (exchanging) another man, which is defended by the piece being diverted.

We shall now examine the individual cases more closely with the aid of some examples. 137

Lasker-Ragozin (l\IJoscow, I936) Black to move

Takdcs-Grunfeld (Vienna, I927)

Restricting Effectiveness and Co-ordination Diverting by threatening a piece

I.

In the position shown in Diagram 136 the white Rook thwarts the threat of . . . , B-Kt3 . Black won by pursuing this Rook with his Bishop : I . . , B-B2!; 2 R-KB6, B-QI; 3 R-Q6 (3 Q-B3, Q-R2 ch ; 4- Q-B2, Q x Q ch ; 5 R x Q, B-Kt3), B-K2!; 4 R-Kt6, Q x R!; 5 Q x Q, B-B4 ch; 6 Q x B, R X Q, and Black was able to realise the advantage of the exchange and win the endgame. The key to Black's position in Diagram 137 is the KB3 point. By I P-Q6! Black's defending Bishop is diverted. After I . . . , B X P White made sure of the win by the continuation 2 Kt X P chi, P x Kt; 3 B-Q5 ch, K-Kt2 ; 4 B x P clt, K-R3; 5 R >< R, R x R; 6 Q-Q2 ch, and Black resigned. .

Diverting by check

2.

This likewise occurs very frequently. Moreover, the check can be connected either with a mating attack or with a threat to win material. If White is to strengthen his attack decisively in the position shown in D iagram 138, he needs the KKt4- square for his Queen. , B X R; He therefore played I R X P ch!, intending, after I 2 Q-K4 ch, to force mate : 2 . . , K-B3 ; 3 Q-B3 ch, K-K3 (or 3 . . . , K-Kt4- ; 4- P-R4- ch etc.) ; 4- Q-B7 ch. The game continued I . , B-K2; 2 Q-R5!, R-BI; 3 Q-KtS ch, K-RI; 4 Kt-Kt6 chI •

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1 39

Borisenko-Simagin (z21ld USSR Championship) Black to 11l0've

Reshevsky- Vascot/cellos (Boston, I944)

I 16

Restricting Effectiveness and Co-ordinatio/l. (diverting the KRP !), P x Kt; 5 Q-R6 ch, K-.J( u; () Q �< I ' /'11, K-RI; 7 QR x B, and Black resigned. An interesting example is illustrated in Diagram 1 31). I l lack forced mate by I . . . , P-B4 chI; 2 P x P e.p., Q-B4 eh ; :; J( R4, Q-R4 mate. By the move 1 . . . , P-B4 ch Black diverted the pawn at KKt5 and so cleared the way for his Queen to get to KR4. 3 . Diverting by a mate threat

Just like a check, a quiet move involving a direct mate threat can also be a means of compulsion. In the position in Diagram 1 40 the black Bishop guards against the mate threat Q-R8. White diverted it by the move I Kt-K7!, which involves a further mate threat-2 Q-Kt8 mate ( I R-K7

A lekhine-iV1indeno (Simultaneous Display, I933)

would of course be weak on account of 1 . . . , B-Kt2, when the mates at KB7 and KR8 are both covered at the same time). Black resigned the game. In the position shown in Diagram 141 the attempt 1 P-Kt6, Q X KtP ; 2 Q-B4 ch fails against the defence 2 P-Q4. Alekhine therefore first diverted the pawn at Q 3 by I Kt-K5!, which simultaneously threatens 2 R-R8 mate. After I . . . , P X Kt; 2 P-Kt6! Black resigned. The black Queen is again diverted by the forced move 2 , Q X KtP, and then there follows simply 3 Q-B4 ch, Q-B2 (or 3 . . . , R-B2) ; 4 R-RS mate. •

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1 17

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Restricting Effectiveness and Co-ordination 4- Diverting by pinning The pin will be examined in detail in Section VII. But since it is an unusually frequent means of diverting an enemy piece, we are introducing two examples of it at this stage already. In the position shown in Diagram 142 Black won immediately 1 43

Vorotilov-Borodulin (Correspondence Game, I947-48) Black to move

Chekover-Sokolsky (Leningrad, I947) Black to move

by I . . . , B-R3! White resigned, since after z P-Kt5, n x P ; 3 Q X B he is mated by 3 . . . , Q x B. The critical point in the position in Diagram 1 43 is White's KB3. Black must divert the white Queen from this point, and this he also managed to do with the aid of a pin : I . . . , R-Q7!; 2 B x {?, R x B; 3 Q x R, Q x P ch; 4 K-KtI (4 K-Rz, Kt-Kt5 ch ; 5 K-Ku Q-Kt6 ch ' 6 K-BI-or 6 Q-Kt2 Q-K6 ch- B-R3 ch ,' 7 R-B4, Kt-K6 ch ; 8 K-Kz, Kt x R ; 9 Q-Q8 ch, K-R2 ; 1 0 P X Kt, B X P ch followed by . . . , Q-Kt7 ch or . � , Q-KB6 ch etc.), Q-Kt6 ch; 5 K-BI (or 5 Q-Ktz, Q-K6 ch), B-R3 ch; 6 R-B4, Kt x R; 7 Q-Q8 ch, K-Kt2; 8 B-Q3, Q-B6 cit; 9 K-KtI, Kt-K6, and Black won. "

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5. Diverting by capturing another man We have in fact already encountered this element in the position in Diagram 1 38. There the move R X P ch served to divert the 1 18

Restricting Effectiveness and Co-ordination. Bishop, i.e. the capture of a man which was protected hy the Bishop. Here are two more examples on this theme. In the game Rubinstein-Griinfeld (see Diagram 144') White increased his material advantage by I B X P. Play contillued r R(Q5) x B(?); 2 R x R, R x R ; 3 R x P ch, K-R4; 4 ]>'· IJ3, IIl1d Black resigned. Here White accomplished the diversion of the black Rook at K3 from the third rank by means of the double capture on K4. In the position shown in Diagram 145 White won by a beautiful mating combination-I R X PI The significance of this move, .

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1 45

Rubinstein-Grunfeld (Selllmering. I926)

Johannsson-Rey (Correspondence Game, I935)

whereby the black Queen is diverted from the KR3 square, is demonstrated only at the very end of the game : I . , Q X R; 2 Q-K8 ch, R-BI; 3 R-R8 chI (diversion of the King from protecting the Rook at KB 1 ), K x R; 4 Q x R ch, R-KtI; 5 Q-R6 mate. We have thus explained the individual ways in which pieces can be diverted by force. Now we shall deal briefly with three special cases of piece diversion, i.e. .

1.

The 'overloaded' piece.

2.

Diverting a piece guarding the first (eighth) rank.

3 . Diverting two or more pieces.

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Restricting Effectiveness and Co-ordination 1 . The 'overloaded' piece

It is a well known popular saying that a man cannot serve two masters. Equally, it may sometimes be almost impossible for a piece to cover two different strong threats at the same time. In such cases it often happens that the execution of one threat diverts the piece from covering the other. In the position in Diagram 146 White played I Q :< P?? and thereby overlooked the fact that his Bishop is now overloaded by having to cover the mate at his KR2 and the Queen at the same time. Anderssen won the Queen by I . , R X P chI; 2 B x R, Q X Q. .

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147

Knorre-Anderssen (Berlin, I864)

Fiister-Siimisch ( Tretlcatlski l'eplice, I94I)

The overloaded piece in the position in Diagram 147 is the Knight at K I , which protects the Queen on Q3 and the KKt2 point. After I B X P chi Black resigned, since he cannot prevent the loss of the Queen ( I . . . , K X B ; 2 Kt-Bs ch). 2. Diverting a piece guarding the first (eighth) rank Here we are really concerned with the normal forms of diverting defending pieces. Exploiting the weakness of the first (eighth) rank, however, is a motif on which a series of beautiful combina­ tions can be founded. Here we give three typical examples. From the position sho\','O in Diagram 148 play continued I Q-R7!, Q-f4 (after 1 Q-B I White wins by 2 Q >< R) ; 2 Q X PI, Q-B2; 3 Q-R7!, and Black resigned. •

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1 20

Restricting Effectiveness and Co-ordination 1 49

Adams- Torre (New Orleans, I92I)

From the position In Diagram 149 the continuation was I Q-KKt4!, Q-Kt4; 2 Q-QB4!, Q-Q2; 3 Q-B7!!, Q-Kt4 (or 3 . . . , Q-R5 ; 4 R-K4 !, P-R3 ; 5 Q x R !, Q x R ; 6 Q x R eh etc.) ; 4 P-QR4! (but not 4 Q X KtP? on account of 4 . . . , Q X R ! ; 5 R X Q, R-B8 eh, and it is White who gets mated I), Q X RP; 5 R-K4!, Q-Kt4; 6 Q X KtP!, and Black resigned. This is one of the most famous combinations stemming from this motif. In the position shown in D iagram 1 50 Alekhine forced mate by means of a threefold diversion of the black pieces : I B X B, R X B ; 2 B );( Kt, Q X B (2 P X B ; 3 Q-R6, Q-KBI, and now White .

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Alekhine-Freeman (Blindfold Simultaneous Display, I924) I

121

Restricting Effect/veness and Co-ordination diverts the Queen from the KKt2 square by 4 R-K8 !) ; 3 R-K8 ch, Kt-BI. With his first two moves White diverted two black pieces from the first rank, and now the black Qucen will also be diverted from the KB3 square : 4 Kt-R6 ch!, Q x Kt; 5 R x Kt chi, K x R; 6 Q-Q8 mate. 3 . Diverting two or more pieces In the position shown in Diagram 1 5 1 White played the surprising move I Kt-Q8!, by which he diverts either Black's Queen or

J-Iorwitz-Szen (London, IB5I) White to move

Rook. If I , R X Kt, then 2 R-B7 !, with a double attack on QKt7 and KB7, would be decisive. Black replied I . . . , Q-K2 but lost the exchange after 2 Q-K4! From the position in Diagram 1 52 play continued I R-Kt3 ch, K-RI; 2 Q R6, R-KtI; 3 R-K8!!-a device which has since been . repeated in very many games. After 3 . . . , R X R Black is mated at KKt2, while after 3 . . . , Q X R the reply 4 Q-B6 ch likewise leads to mate. •

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V Decoying By tactical means similar to those used in diverting it is also possible to achieve the decoying of the opponent's pieces to squares where they are either exposed or in the way of other fellow-pieces. 1 22

Restricting Effecti·veness and Co-ordinal ion In the game Lasker-Euwe (see Diagram 1 53) HI.:Ick Id't hi:; Knight, which had been attacked by his opponcnt'H la:;1 I ) l O V e , O i l QBs and counter-attacked the white Knight by . . . , B R4.? I f the latter retreats, then the black Knight can also move aw;,y witholl\: 1 53

Lasker-Euwe (Nottingham, I936)

risk. But Lasker won a piece by decoying the Bishop to an exposed square : I P-QKt4!, B x P, and now 2 Kt-B2 involves an attack on the black Bishop, with the result that two black pieces are threa­ tened simultaneously. In the position shown in Diagram 154 it is a question of decoying the black Queen to the KB2 square, where it will be in 1 55

Wagner-Rellstab (Swinemullde, I930)

Hartlaub-Bickermann (1\Junich, I906)

123

Restricting Effectiveness and Co-ordination an exposed position after a discovery by the Knight on KKt6. White won by the moves I Kt-Q4! (clearing the way for the Rook at KB I ) , B X Kt; 2 R X Kt chI Now Black would lose his Queen after 2 . . , Q X R ; 3 Kt X P ch. The game continued 2 , K-QJ; J Kt x P!, B x Kt; 4 Q-QI ch, K-BJ; S Q-BJ ch, K-KtJ; 6 R-KJ, P-B3; 7 R-Kt3 eh, K-R3; 8 R(Kt3) x P, B X KtP; 9 Q-Q3 ch, K-R4; IO R BS ch, and Black resigned. In the position in Diagram 1 55 White won by I R-K8!, which was designed to lure the Queen into the Knight fork : if I , Q X R, there would follow 2 Kt-Rs ch, K-R2 ; 3 Kt-B6 ch, winning the Queen. The game went on I . . . , Q-Kt4; 2 Q-K3, P-KR4; J Q-KS ch, and Black l'esigned; for after both 3 . . . , Q-B3 and 3 . . . , K-R2 the move 4 R-K7 ch would be decisive. A highly interesting example of piece decoying is illustrated by Diagram 1 56. White is a whole Rook up. but apparently he cannot cover the enemy mate threats. Black threatens . . . , R X B ch, and .

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Lucarelli-Carra (Bologna, I932)

interrupting the black Bishop's line of action by I P-Q4? would make possible a mating attack by the black Queen- . . . , Q-K7 ! Nevertheless, White won in the following surprising way : I R-Q2!!, R x R; 2 P-Q4, Q-K7 (the better 2 B-Q3 would be followed by 3 Q-B S , and the advance of the KRP is decisive) ; 3 B-BI, and Blaek resigned, since after 3 . . . , R X RP ; 4 P X B he loses a piece without compensation. By the Rook sacrifice White here decoyed the black Rook to Q7, where after Black's next move .

124

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Restricting Effectiveness and Co-ordination ( . . . , Q-K7) it interrupts the line of the black (lt lCCI l . '('he doubling of the black pieces on the seventh rank is fatal fill" W h i te only if the Queen stands in front of the Rook. The poillt: o f the first move therefore lay in the fact that the two black major piCCCH change their positions. In chess problems such a manoeu vre hy a Queen and Rook is called the Loyd-Turton Theme. Vie shall not spend time on the various means by which an enemy piece can be decoyed by force to a certain square ; for they are identical with those employed in diverting pieces. Instead, we shall mention two special cases of piece decoying : Closing (blocking) a square. 2. Decoying the King. I.

I.

Closing (blocking) a square

Occupying a squ are with a man often has the unpleasant effect that this square cannot be occupied by another man if one needs it. In the position shown in Diagram 157 White forces mate in three moves by blocking one after the other two of the black King's flight squares : I P-Kt4 chI, B x P; 2 B-Kt6 chI, P x B; 3 Q x R 1 57

Blackburne-N.N. (Blindfold Simultaneous Display, I9I2)

mate. In addition to the blocking of the QKt3 square the move 2 B-Kt6 ch pursued a further object-to open the way for the white Queen's mating attack.

125

Restricting Effectiveness and Co-ordination In

the above example it was a question of blocking squares in the immediate vicinity of the King. While blocking a flight square for the King is the most frequent case, other pieces also sometimes have their access to a certain square blocked by the decoying of a friendly man to that square. The artificially constructed position in Diagram 1 58, which we have taken from V. VukoviC's book, Skola Kombiniranja [Combina­ tion School], is very interesting. Here White must strive to force 1 59

Reshevsky-Evans ( US Championship, I959) White to move

V. Vukovic

mate by transferring his Knight to QB2. After moves like 1 Kt X BP? or 1 Kt-Kt7? the black Knight reaches Q6 or K7 with check in good time by the sequence of moves . . . , Kt-B1-Kt3 x BP. However, White wins by I P-Kt6!, since after the forced I . . . , P x P the KKt3 square is barred to the black Knight. Then both 2 Kt-B7 and 2 Kt-Kt7 are sufficient, e.g. 2 Kt-B7, P-Q4 (2 . . , P-Kt4- ; 3 Kt x P, Kt x Kt ; 4- P x Kt etc.) ; 3 P x P e.p., P x P; 4 Kt x P, Kt-B3; 5 Kt x P, Kt-KS (or 5 . . . , Kt-Q4- ; 6 Kt-Q2 etc.); 6 Kt-K3. The case illustrated in Diagram 159 is also instructive. White needs to open a file on the K side. 1 P-B5, however, would be followed by 1 . . . , P-Kt4-. Reshevsky therefore first sacrificed a pawn by I P-KtS!, P X P, and now after 2 P-BS! the move . . . , P-Kt4- is prevented by Black's own pawn. The opening of the KB file was consequently forced-in circumstances, moreover, that are .

126

Restricting Fffectiveness and Co-ordination very unfavourable for Black. 2 . . . , p X P is impossible i ll view of 3 B x BP, threatening 4 B X Kt and 4- Q-Kt3. The game COIlt:i l l l lCd 2 , Kt-BI; 3 Q-Kt3!, Q x QP; 4 P x P, P x P; 5 (» . /{/, Q x B (5 . . , Q x R ; 6 Q-B7 ch, K-RI ; 7 B-B3 ch etc.); 6 (> /17 ch, K-RI; 7 R-B3!, after which White won the Q ueen alld the game (7 . , Q X B ? ; 8 R-RJ ch). •

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2. Decoying the King The enemy King can often be decoyed to a certain square by the same means and with the same object as any other piece. The commonest form of King decoying is by checking to a square "vhere the King is exposed to further checks or mate. In the game Tolush-Keres (see Diagram 1 60) play continued 160

Tolush-Keres (Leningrad, I939 ) Black to move

lWachenzie- Winawer White to move

I . , P-K7; 2 Q-B7, Q-Kt6 chI; 3 K X Q, P-K8 =Q ch, and Black mates in three moves. Another special case is when the King is drawn into a pin position (details about pinning are contained in the last section of this chapter). In the position shown in D iagram 161 White won by the moves I R-Rt8 chi, K x R; 2 Q X Q . A typical tactical element i s a series of checks which decoys the King to a certain square. .

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1 27

Rest1'icting Effectiveness and Co-ordination In the position in Diagram 1 62 Duras won by the following beautiful combination : I R x P chI!, K x R; 2 Q-K7 ch, K-Kt3; 3 R-Kt8 cll, K-B4; 4 R x Kt chi, K x R; 5 Q-Kt7 cit, and Black resigned, since he loses the Queen after 5 . . , K-R4 ; 6 Q-R7 ch or 5 . , K-B4 ; 6 Q-Q7 ch. .

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1 62

Duras-E. Cohn (Carlsbad, I9II) White to move

Many more examples of King decoying will be given in Volume II, Chapter 1 . VI

COInbined elements

Decoying and diverting very often occur in mutual association or in connection with other tactical elements, e.g. interrupting lines, pinning etc. Even blocking a square represents the combining of two elements : the decoying of one piece and restricting the effectiveness of another. , In the position shown in Diagram 1 63 play continued I . R-K8 chi (decoying the white Rook); 2 R X R, Q-Qs chI (diverting the Queen); 3 Q x Q, P x R = Q mate. In the position in Diagram 164 the move I R-KR8! fulfils a double task : it forces either the diversion of the King from cover­ ing the KR3 point (if 1 . . . , K X R, then 2 Q X P ch decides matters, mating in two moves) or the decoying of the Queen to KKt3. The game went on I . . . , Q >� KtP; 2 B-BS , whereupon .

128

.

Restricting Effectiveness and Co-ordination

111alwgonov-Reshevsky

(1Vloscow, I939)

Black resigned; for after 2 . . . , Q-Q3 ; 3 R-R7 ch, K-Bl ; 4 Q-RS he can ward off the immediate threat of mate only by giving up his Knight. The move played by Stahlberg in the position shown in Dia­ gram 1 6S , I B-B7!!, is in fact many sided. After 1 Q X B; 2 R �< R the consequences of the black Queen's diversion from its defence of the Rook on Q I and at the same time decoying to the KB2 square (by which the Bishop at KB3 is pinned) would be •

Stdhlberg- Najdorf (Buenos Aires, I947) White to move

129

•

•

,

Restricting Effectiveness and Co-ordination obvious. I n addition, I B-B7 ! ! clears the way for the Rook at Q2 and, as the further course of the game shows, also for the white Queen. Najdorf played I . . . , K x B; 2 R )< R Q x R; 3 Q-Kt7 ch (as well as all the elements already cited now yet another appears­ the unprotected Rook at QR3 makes a 'Queen fork' possible), K-KtI; 4 Q X R, P-K5; 5 R-K3, B-QS; 6 R X P, and Black resigned. Piece diverting occurs even more often in more difficult com­ binations. The next two examples illustrate typical ways in which this tactical element combines with various others. In the position shown in Diagram 166 Keres played I B-Kt4!

166

Keres-SzabO (Hastings, I954-55) Black cannot capture the Bishop, since in the process his Queen would abandon its protection of the K2 point, and then 2 Q X KP ch, R-B2 ; 3 R-R7 ch I (diverting the black King), K >( R ; 4 Q X R ch followed by 5 R-RI ch would be decisive. Thus here it is even a case of the diversion of two black pieces. In itself the move I B-K4 primarily signifies an increase in the Bishop's effective­ ness as a result of being transferred to another diagonal : I . . . , Q-B2; 2 B-B5! Here two questions could equally well be put : (a) Could not White also have played I B-� with the same effect? He could not, since he would thereby have made the following defence possible for Black : 1 . . , R-RI ! ; 2 R X R, R X R, and White must not capture the Knight on QR4 on account of . . . , Q-R6 ch with mate next move. By 1 B-Kt4 !, therefore, the black .

1 3°

Restricting Effectiveness and Co-ordination Queen was also diverted from the KR6 point ! (b) Since the K n ight on QR4 is protected, why should not Black now defend h i l l lSd f by z . . . , R-R I ; 3 R X R, R X R? This is also not possib l e ; for White would then force a win by again diverting the black O I I CCll : 4 R x Kt !, Q >< R ; 5 Q x KP ch etc. The game continued :.1 . , K-B2; 3 R-R7 ch, K-KI; 4 QR-RI, Q-Kt2; 5 R-R8, and lUad� resigned. In the game Samisch-Koch (see Diagram 1 67) White need.s to divert the black Queen from covering the points Kz and KKtz. .

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168

Tarrasch-Allies (Naples, I9I4)

Samisch-Koch White to move

The initial move, I P-QS!, aims to open a file for the Rook on KB I and at the same time leads either to the diversion of the Queen ( 1 . . . , Q x QP ; z Q-B6, Q-02 ; 3 R-Q I l, Q-KBz ; 4 R-Q8 ch etc.) or to the decoying of the Bishop into a pin : I . . . , B x P; 2 R-QI!, P-B6; 3 R x B! (diverting the black Queen from the Kz square), Q X R; 4 Q-K7, Q-B2; 5 B-QB4! By pinning the Queen White either diverts it from the KBz square (5 . . . , Q X B ; 6 Q-Kt7 mate) or diverts the Rook from the first rank (5 , R x B ; 6 Q-Q8 ch etc.). Black resigned. The position from the game Tarrasch-Allies (see Diagram 1 68) is again an example of the application in practical play of an idea stemming from problem chess. The black King faces a double mate threat. The first threat ( 1 Q-Kt7 ch, K x P ; z R-RI mate) is covered only by the black Queen on Qz. The second (I R X P mate) is also impracticable for the moment, since the QB4 point is .

131

•

.

Restricting Effectiveness and Co-ordination protected by the Rook on QB 1 . However, Tarrasch found a brilliant move here-I B-B7!! Black must take on his QB2 either with the Queen or with the Rook and in so doing momentarily interrupts the line of action of the other piece. Consequently both White's threats are covered by only a single black piece, which is therefore 'overloaded'. Thus we have 1 . . . , Q X B ; 2 R �< P ch !, Q x R ; 3 Q-Kt7 ch, K x P ; 4 R-Rl mate or 1 . . . , R x B ; 2 Q-Kt7 ch !, R X Q ; 3 R X P mate. If there were a black Rook on Q2-just as on QB1-(this alteration would be quite unimportant as far as the execution of 'White's combination is concerned), this position would represent an extraordinarily pure adaptation of the so-called 'Plachutta Theme'. VII Pinning This concept is so familiar-and has also already been illustrated in many earlier examples-that we need not take up more space with its definition. We wish, however, to show the individual types of pin in model form. The chief types of pin are portrayed thematically in Diagrams 1 69-1 71 . The first two diagrams il­ lustrate cases where the King stands behind the pinned piece, with the result that it is not possible for the piece to move away. Such a pin is called an absolute pill.

In Diagram 169 the way the pinned piece moves IS m each instance different from the way the pinning piece moves ; conse­ quently the pinned piece cannot be moved. This type is called the full pin. 1 32

Restricting Effectiveness and Co-ordination In Diagram 1 70 the pinned and pinning pieces m ove i n the same way. Here the pin is not full, since the pinned pieee il-l ill a position to make a move in the direction of the pinning p iece e v e n to eliminate it by capturing it. Thus it is a question of a /JlIrlial pill. In three cases in Diagrams 1 69 and 170 the pinning p iece it-! of ,

170

171

higher value than the one pinned and in two the opposite is the case. It is clear that a difference exists between these two types of pin. If the pinned piece of a lower value is protected, then­ though the piece is immobilised-the pin does not necessarily lead to the loss of material, as is the case in the second alternative. Othcr types of pins are illustrated in Diagram 1 7 1 . Although the pinned pieces (Bishop on Q R2, Knight on QKt3-Rook on KKt2, Bishop on KKt2) can be moved, in the first three cases moving them involves the loss of the more valuable piece behind. The pinning of the Bishop on K Kt2 depends on the threat of . . . , R-Kt8 mate. In such a case we speak of a relative pin. Naturally, there are also partial relative pins, when the pinning and pinned pieces move in the same way. We also observe that any piece (with the exception, of course, of the King) or even a pawn can be pinned. But the pinning can be executed only by a piece that moves in a straight line (Queen, Rook, Bishop, but not Knight or pawn). We shall now examine how a pin is formed. There are several ways of forcing enemy men into a pin position : 1 . By transferring one's own pieces. 2. By decoying an enemy piece. 1 33

Restricting Effectiveness and Co-ordination 3. By decoying the enemy King. 4. By clearing the way for the pinning piece. 5. By a check which forces a piece to be interposed. 6. By other tactical means. I.

Pinning by transferring one's own pieces

This method occurs the most frequently, very often even during the development of the pieces in the opening ; for example, 1 P-Q4, P-Q4 ; 2 P-QB4, P-K3 ; 3 Kt-QB3, Kt-KB3, and now the developing move 4 B-KtS at the same time creates a relative pin on the black Knight at KB3 . In the position shown in Diagram 172 White won by giving two 172

Kieninger-Herrmann (Bad Oeynhausen, I940)

checks, forcing a position where the pawn at K3 is pinned and so winning the important QP : I O-B7 ch, K-KI; 2 Q-B8 ch i and Black resigned, since after 2 . . . , K-K2 ; 3 R X QP!, Q-B8 ch ; 4 R-Q l he can prevent mate only at the cost of losing his Queen. ,

2; By decoying an enemy piece Here two different cases can arise : (a) The piece which we intend to pin is decoyed to a certain square. (b) A more valuable piece is decoyed to a square that lies behind the piece we wish to pin. 1 34

Restricting Effectiveness and Co-ordination In the game Rubinstein-Lasker (see Diagram 173) Wh ite decoyed the enemy Rook into a pin by means of a pt'ctty trap : I R-BI I, R X Kt? (White would retain the advantagc cvcn aftcr 1 73

1 74

Rubinstein-Lasker (St Petersburg, I909)

Averbakh-Lisitsyn (ust USSR Championship)

the better reply I . . , K-KtI , e.g. 2 R-B5, Q-B5 ; 3 P-Q S ) ; 2 R X B ch, P X R; 3 Q-BI I Black had apparently not reckoned with this pin. After 3 P X R?, Q X KP ch followed by . . . , R X P he . would certainly have had a good position. 3 . . . , R X P (Black could have put up a longer resistance with 3 . . . , R-K4 ; 4 Q X P ch, K-KtI ; 5 P X R, Q x P); 4 P x R, R-Q2; S Q x P ch, K-QI; 6 R-,B4, P-B4; 7 Q-BS, Q-K2; 8 Q x Q ch, K x Q; 9 R x P, R-Q8 cit; IO K-B2, R-Q7 ch; II K-B3, R X QKtP; I2 R-QRS, R-Kt2; I3 R-R6, and White easily won the Rook ending. An exa�ple of the second case occurred in the game Averbakh­ Lisitsyn (s�.y, Diagram 174). By I Kt x BPI, Q x Kt White lured the Queen t< BP ch), B Q4 8 Kt-K4!, R-KKtI; 9 Kt X P, R-Kt2 ,· IO Q-R6, and Black resigned (IO • • • , QR-KKtI ; I I Q x P ch I, R x Q ; 1 2 R x R mate). A further frequent effect of a pin is to hinder castling by the threatened loss of the pinned piece and so keep the King in an exposed position in the centre. This tactical element occurs in many openings, especially in open games. Thus the game Steinitz­ Bardeleben, the critical position in which was illustrated in Dia­ gram 1 24, opened as follows : I P-K4, P-K4 ; 2 Kt-KBJ, Kt-QB3 ; 3 B-B4, B-B4 ; 4 P-B3, Kt-B3 ; 5 P-Q4, P X P ; 6 P X P, B-KtS ch ; 7 Kt-B3 1 ?, P-Q4 ; 8 P x P, KKt x P ; 9 0-0, B-K3 1 ; 10 B-KKtS, B-Kz ; I I B x Kt, QB x B ; 12 Kt x B, Q x Kt; 1 3 B x B, Kt X B, and now White kept the enemy King in the middle by the pinning manoeuvre 14 R-K I , Q-Qz ; I S Q-Kz I , so that Black was forced to carry out an artificial castling by . . . , P-KB3 and . . . , K-Bz. In the game Bernstein-Spielmann (see Diagram 184) White ought to have played I P-Kt3, P x P ; z B-Ktz, P-Kt6 ; 3 Q-B I , P-Q6 ; 4 P-K3, though even then he would have stood badly. The game went on I P x P?, Q x P cit,· 2 Kt-Q2, and now the pinning .

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-

-

141

,·

Restricting Effectiveness and Co-ordination 185

Pattern White to move White to move

Bernstein-Spielmann (Ostend, I906)

of the Knight causes all White's efforts to complete his develop­ ment to fail. After 2 , Kt-K4; J B-BI, R-QJ ( 3 , Kt-KtS was still more precise) ; 4 P-BJ, Kt-B6; 5 P-KtJ, R-QKtJ (threatening 6 . . . , Kt X R and if 7 Q X Kt?, then 7 . . . , B-Kt6, winning the Queen) ; 6 K-B2, R-QBI; 7 K-KtI, Kt x KP ch White resigned. A pinned piece loses its effectiveness and only apparently covers the squares within its radius of action. In the left half of the thematic illustration (Diagram 185) White mates in two moveS-I Q-R6 ch and 2 Q X P ma te while in the •

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•

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-

186

:1

Pachman-Barcza (Interzonal Tournament, I95z) 142

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Restrict£ng Effectiveness and Co-ord£llatiml right half he can calmly capture the pawn by I Q X P; for the squares QR3 and KKt5 are really not guarded at all by Black. White exploited this characteristic of a pinned man in the position shown in Diagram 1 86, playing I Q-Q4! Black I.t1USt not capture on KR8 in view of 2 R-KKt6 !, when he would not be able to prevent the mate at KKt7. The game continued I . . . , Q-R4; 2 R-Q5!, Q-Kt3 (2 . . . , Kt X R ; 3 R X Q, B X R was not playable on account of 4 Q-KtI , Kt-Kt6 ; 5 Q-K3, and the black Knight is trapped) ; 3 R-KI, B-K3; 4 R-Q6, Q-Kt5; 5 B x B, l' x B; 6 R-Q7, and White was easily able to turn his extra pawn to account. In the position in Diagram 187 the pin on the white KBP is only partial, since the Bishop is threatened by the pawn. A full pin would arise after I . . . , B-R3, but the loss of tempo would allow White a defence with 2 P-Kt3: Foltys won by replacing the par-

T6t-.Foltys (Ljubljana, I938) Black to move

tially pinned pawn by a fully pinned Knight : I . . . , Kt x l'!; 2 Kt x Kt, l'-K4!; 3 B-K3 (3 P x P would be followed by 3 . . . , Q X Q ch ; 4 K X Q, B X Kt ch ; 5 B-K3, B x KP) l' x Kt; 4 B x l', R-Kr ch; 5 K-QI (5 B-K2, B-R5 ch ; 6 P-Kt3 ?, B-KtS), B-B3; 6 l'-B3, Q-Q4; 7 K-B2, l'-QKt4!; 8 B-Q3, l'-QR4; 9 KR-KI, R x R; IO R X R, B-K3; II R-QKtI, l'-B4!, and Black won in a few moves by an attack on the weakened position of the white King. The position in Diagram 1 88 is a different case. Here White won ,

1 43

Restricting Effectiveness and Co-ordination 188

189

Harjet-Ditt (Bremen, I954)

Horwitz-W.*

by changing the diagonal pin on the Knight at KS for a vertical pin. After I P-Q5! Black resigned at once, since however he captures on Q4 he loses a piece by 2 B x Kt. We shall now briefly consider two special types - of pin : the double pin (cross pin) and the latent pin. In the position shown in Diagram 189 White obtained a decisive material advantage by means of a double pin after I R X R, R X R; 2 P-Kt6 ch, K X P; 3 R-R6! The lines of action of the white and black pieces here make the form of a cross-hence the name 'cross pin'. 19°

Schuster-Pfeiffer (Berlin, I953) «
� Kt ch; 8 B-K2 he ought not to have anything to do with winning the KKtP. In the position arising after 8 B-K2 White has the greatest conceivable positional compensation for the sacrificed pawn : he is two tempi ahead in development, he has the Bishop pair and the black squares in the opponent's position have been weakened. In spite of this vVhite cannot achieve more than equality according to the present state of theory. .

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I I Eliminating the opponent's active pieces In Chapter 4 we spoke of the various means of restricting the effectiveness of enemy pieces. An even more radical method of curtailing the activity of troublesome enemy pieces, whether aggressive or defensive, is to eliminate them by exchange or even by sacrifice. In the position shown in Diagram 206 the black Bishop at K2 covers the Q3 point, which otherwise could be invaded by the white Knight. The game therefore continued I P-K4, P X P; 2 P-KS, Kt-Q4; 3 B-KtS!, Q-B2 (3 . , B X B ; 4 Kt-Q6 ch followed by Kt X QB) ; 4 QR-BI, Kt-B4; 5 B-KtI, 0-0 (5 . . . , .

170

.

Changing the 1'vlaterial Situation 206

Blackbume-Siichtullg Black to move

Pachmall-Griillfeld (Prague, I949) ,

P-R3 ; 6 B X B, K X B ; 7 Kt-Q6, with decisive advantage to White); 6 B x B, Q x B (6 . . . , Kt x B ? ; 7 B x P ch !, K x B ; 8 Kt-KtS ch etc.) ; 7 Kt-Q6! The exchange of the important defend­ ing Bishop enabled White to occupy this key square with the Knight and thereby win the exchange ; for the Knight on QB4 is trapped in an original way. Neither . . . , Kt X P nor . . . , Kt-Kt6 is playable on account of 8 Q-B2. After 7 . . . , P-Q6; 8 Q-QI, QR-BI; 9 Kt x R, R X Kt White was soon able to exploit the advantage of the exchange : IO R-B4!, P-QR4; II B X P, Kt-Kt3; I2 R-Q4, Kt(Kt3) x P; I3 B-B2!, Kt-Kt3; I4 Q-Q2, B X Kt; IS P x B, Kt(Kt3)-Q2; I6 R-QI!, P-Kt3; I7 P-B4, R-B2; I8 Q�K3, Kt-Kt3; I9 Q-KKt3, Kt(B4)�Q2; 20 B-KtI, Kt-RS; 2I R(Q4)-Q2, Kt(RS)-B4; 22 P-R4, P-RS; 23 P-RS, K-Kt2; 24 P x P, RP x P; 2S K-Kt2, R-BI; 26 P-BS!, P x P; 27 B >< P, and Black exceeded the time limit. In the position in Diagram 207 Black continued wrongly with I . . . , Q-R8 ch? ; 2 K-Q2, QR-QI ch ; 3 B-Q3, and the game ended in a draw. However, by a simple exchange sacrifice Black could have eliminated the important defending Bishop and won immediately : I . . . , R x B!; 2 R x R, Q-R8 ch; 3 K-Q2, R-Q8 ch etc. The elimination of defending pieces occurs very frequently in . mating combinations. In the position shown in Diagram 208 White won by sacrificing his Queen for the defending Knight on KB I : I Q X Kt chi (but

,

Changing the Mattrial Situation 208

Nikitin- Vlasov ( Correspondence Game, I948)

Schwarz-Szeles (Budapest, I956)

not 1 Q x RP ch?, Kt x Q ; 2 R x Kt, Kt x B !), K x Q; 2 R x P, Kt x B; 3 P x Kt, K-KtI; 4 QR-RI etc. The elimination of defending pieces is an extraordinarily com­ mon motif, occurring in conjunction with the most varied other tactical elements. In the game Nikitin-Vlasov (see Diagram 209 ) White eliminated the defending Knight by an exchange sacrifice-I R X Ktl, P x R. His next mo,,-e, 2 P-KS!, served to divert the Queen from the KR3 point and at the same time to decoy it to a square where it would become the prey of the white Bishop within a few moves : 210

Keres-Alexander (Hastings, I9S4-SS) 172

Changing the Material Situation 2 . . , Q x Kt; 3 Q x P, KR-KI; 4 B-R7 ch, K-RI; 5 B x P ch, K-KtI; 6 B-R7 clz, K-RI; 7 B-K4 clz, K-KtI; 8 Q-R7 ch, K-BI; 9 Q-R8 ch, K-K2; IO Q-B6 ch, K-BI; II B x Q, R X B; I2 P-B4, B-Kt2; I3 R-KI, and Black resigned. The position from the game Keres-Alexander (see Diagram 2 1 0) is very interesting. By t\\'o surprising moves, I Kt-K51I, Kt X Kt; 2 B -B51, Q x B; 3 R x Kt, V/hite achieved the elimination of the defending Knight on QB3 without loss of time. Black could not prevent the mate without giving the piece he had won back again, e.g. 3 . . . , Q-Q2 ; 4 Q x P, Q-Kl ; 5 QR-Kl , Kt-Kt 1 ; 6 Q-R8 ch, K-Q2 ; 7 Q x P etc. The game continucd 3 . . . , Q-Q6; 4 R X B, R­ Q2; 5 R-K3, Q-R3; Q x Q, P >< Q; 7 B-KS, and Blach resigned. In the position shown in Diagram 21 1 vVhite is hindered from strengthening his attack by the weakness of his KP. Therefore he .

2II

212

Keres-Szabo

Chariton-Rosenberg

(Hunrary- USSR .Vlatch,

(Correspondence Game,

I955)

I957)

Black to move

first e' iminated the black Knight by an exchange sacrifiee-I R X Ktl, B X R-and then prcpared the final attack on the KKt7 and KR7 points by 2 B-Q3. There followed 2 . . , P-R3; 3 Q-B4 (but not 3 Q x P on account of 3 . . . , Q x KP ; however, 3 Q-K4, P-Kt3-or 3 . . . , K-B 1 ; 4 R X P !-; 4 R x P ch ! would also have been very strong here), K-BI (Q-B6 was threatened) ; 4 R x PI, K X R; S Q-B6 ch, K-BI (or 5 . . , K-Kt 1 ; 6 Q X RP followed by B-R7 ch, B-Kt6 eh, Q-R7 ch and Q x P mate) ; 6 B-Kt6, and Black resigned. .

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17 3

Changing the Material Situation

In the position in Diagram 2 1 2 the well known sacrifice on KR7 is threatened. But Black ignored this threat and after I . . . , P x PI; 2 B X P eh, K x B; J Q-RS eh, K-KtI; 4 Kt-KtS elimina­ ted )Vhite's most important attacking piece by 4 . . . , Q X Ktl Play went on S Q x Q, P X P; 6 0-0, Kt-BJ, and the connected passed pawns decided the game in Black's favour : 7 P-R4, P-BJ; 8 P x P, R X P; 9 P-B4, R-R-7; IO Q-KtJ, Kt-QS; II Q-QJ, P-K4; I2 P x P, R x R ell; IJ Q x R, P-B7,' I4 K-R2, Kt-B6 eh,' IS P x Kt, B-B4, and White resigned ( 1 6 Q-KtS, R-Rl). III Transition to the endgame Transition to the endgame is an exchange manoeuvre that has the strongest influence in altering the strategic character of the position. Apart from the special cases of peaceful drawn games, the transition to the endgame always tends to favour one of the players. Enforcing it represents in many cases an important tactical objective, attained by manoeuvres and combinations based on the most varied tactical motifs. 2 13

Smyslov-Keres (Absolute USSR Championship, I94I) Blaek to move

In the game Smyslov-Keres (see Diagram 2 1 3 ) the white pawns are badly placed for the endgame (a black-squared Bishop and the pawns at QR3, QKt2, Q4 and KS on black squares). White is threatening, however, to launch a very strong attack by B-B6 ! 174

Changing the Material Situation followed by R-KKt3 . Keres played I . . . , Kt-B4! and thereby obtained at least equality. For instance, 2 Q-B4 would be followed by 2 . . . , Kt-KS ; 3 B-R4 (or 3 P-B3, when both 3 . . . , Kt X B and 3 . . . , Kt-Q7 followed by . . . , Kt-BS would be possible), P-B3. Smyslov assessed the position incorrectly and did not avoid the transition to the endgame. Play went on 2 P-KKt4, Q X Q; 3 P ;< Q, P-B3!!; 4 P x P (or 4 B x P, Kt-KS ; S B-R4, R x P or 4 P x Kt, P >< B ; 5 R-KB3, P-Kt5 ; 6 R-B4, P-R4 followed by . . . , P-KKq), Kt-K5; 5 P x P (or 5 B-R4, P x P ; 6 B-Kt3, Kt-Q7, with advantage to Black), R x P; 6 B-K7, K x P; 7 P-BJ, Kt-Q7, and Black was able to exploit his positional superiority (more compact pawn formation and Knight against bad Bishop) in the endgame. Transition to the endgame can be a promising means of escape in positions where the enemy �ttack cannot be held by . any other method. In the position shown in D iagram 214 Black threatens to win in several ways, c.g. by the move . . . , Q-I�t2. The game continued 214

21 5

Evans-Quesada White to move

Yudovitch-Ravinsky (Semi-finals, USSR Championship, I946)

Q-QB3!, R x Kt ( I . . . , B X Kt?? ; 2 Q-R3 ch etc.) ; 2 Q >< Q ch, R x Q; 3 R x B!, R x R ch; 4 R x R, R x B; 5 R-B7! Although the transition to the endgame has cost White a piece, the material disadvantage is at least balanced by the dangerous passed pawn at QR6 and the active white Rook. After 5 . . . , Kt x P; 6 P-R7, I

1 75

Changing the Material Situation R-KI!,' 7 R-Q7 Black had the chance to secure a draw by 7 . . . , Kt-Kt3, e.g. 8 R X P, R-RI ; 9 R-QKt7, P-BS ! ; 1 0 R X Kt, R X P ; I I R-R6, R-KKt2 etc. He played, however, 7 . . . , Kt-B6?, and White won the game by the following pretty combination : 8 P-Kt6!, P x P; 9 R-QKt7, R-K8 ch; IO K-Kt2, R-QR8; II R-Kt8 ch, K-Kt2; I2 P-R8= Q, R X Q; IJ R x R etc. In the position in Diagram 2 1 S Black would stand better after the exchange of Queens, I Q X Q?, Kt X Q ( . . . , Kt-B7 is threa­ tened). White very rightly avoided the transition to the endgame here and exploited the exposed position of the black Queen for the development of his forces : I R-KJ!, K-KtI; 2 Kt-BJ, Q-Q4; J B-Q2, B-B4; 4 B-BJ, KR-KI; S QR-KI, R x R; 6 Q x R. Now he threatens 7 B X P, K X B ; 8 Q-KtS ch. After the correct reply 6 . . . , P-B3 Black would have probably held his own. But instead he chose a faulty continuation and succumbed to White's attack : 6 . . . , Q-QJ?; 7 Q-KtS, Q-KtJ (7 . . . , B-Kt3 ; 8 P-KR4-); 8 Q-R4, B-KJ,' 9 Kt-KS!, Kt X Kt; IO R X Kt (now Black can no longer resist the pressure on his KKt2 point), Q-Kt8 ch; II K-R2, B-B4; I2 Q-Q4!, K-BI; IJ R-KI, and Black resigned. IV Other kinds of tactical exchanges I n addition to the two motifs which we have dealt with in the previous sections (eliminating defending pieces and transition to the endgame) one can obviously strive for an exchange of pieces on many other grounds. One of these, for example, is the creating or exploiting of open lines (see Chapter 2). I n the position in Diagram 2 1 6 it seems that the white Bishop on Q3 is an important attacking piece (for example, an attacking operation with P-KR4--S comes into consideration). However, Capablanca quickly obtained a decisive advantage by exchanging this Bishop for the Knight on Q4- and thereby making it possible to invade the seventh rank with a Rook : I B-K4!, B-Kt4; 2 KR-KI (threatening 3 Kt X KtP !, RP X Kt ; 4- B X Kt), Q-QJ; J B X Kt, P x B; 4 Q-RS!, P-QRJ; S Q-B7, Q x Q; 6 R x Q (the threat is 7 Kt-KtS, Kt-R3 ; 8 Kt-K6 ch), P-RJ; 7 R X P, QR-BI; 8 P­ QKtJ, R-B7; 9 P-QR4, B-K7 ,' IO Kt-R4 (threatening Kt X KtP), P-KR4; II Kt(R4) x P, R-KI; I2 R x P ch, K-RJ; IJ P-B4, P-R4; I4 Kt-R4 and White won. The exchange of a badly posted piece for an active enemy piece 176

Changing the Material Situation 216

Capablanca-Alekhine (St Petersburg, 19I3)

is a very frequent motif in exchange operations. In the game Rubinstein-Alekhine (see Diagram 2 1 7) Alekhine used the weak­ ness of \Vhite's K5 and KKt2 points to enforce the exchange of his paSSive Bishop : I , Q-Kt2! (diverting the Queen from the .

.

.

217

218

Rubinstein-Alehhine (Dresden, I926) B lack to move

Steinitz-Noa (London, I883) White to move

defence of the KKt2 point); 2 Q-Q4!, B-R3! Now 3 B x B? is impossible on account of the mate at KKt7, and after 3 R-B2, Q-Kt6; 4 R-B2, B )( B; 5 R x B Black converted his positional advantage into a win. 1 77

Changing the lVlaterial Situation In inferior positions exchanges of minor pieces that leave Bishops of opposite colours are for the most part advantageous. The position shown in Diagram 2 1 8 is a simple example. Black has con!?iderably the better of it : he threatens . . . , R-Q I followed by . . : , Q-Kt5. Steinitz therefore continued I Kt-QS!, B x Kt; 2 B x Kt, Q x B; 3 Q x B, R-QI; 4 Q-K4, B x P; S R-KI, B-R6; 6 B-Q3, P-Kt3; 7 Q-KS, and the game was agreed drawn. This was rather premature on Black's part, but against an accurate defence the extra pawn cannot in fact be exploited in such positions. Sometimes it is not easy to decide which of the opponent's pieces it is appropriate to exchange. In the position in Diagram 2 1 9 I faced the choice between exchanging the black Bishop or the black Knight. The first possibility is tempting because it would 219

220

Pachman- Sajtar (Bucharest, I949)

S.-Anderssen (I864) Black to move

give White the strong Bishop pair. But the Knight at Q2 is very important for Black, since it covers the weak QKt3 point and makes it possible to carry out the advance . . . , P-K4. Play therefore continued I Kt ;< Kt!, Q >:. Kt; 2 Kt >:. P, Q-B2 (2 . . . , B-Kt5 ch ; 3 K-K2) ; 3 B-Q2! (threatening 4 B-R5), P-QR4; 4 P-K4, and White's advantage is now obvious (strong centre and limiting of the mobility of the Bishop on KKt3). White won the game quickly. So-called 'pseudo-sacrifices' are a particular type of exchange 178

Changing the 1VIateriai Situation manoeuvre. In these one side sacrifices a certain amount of material ( piece or pawn ) but immediately wins it back with material or positional advantage. In the position shown in Diagram 220 there followed I . . . , Kt x KtPI; 2 K x Kt, Q x Kt chI-thus two successive pseudo­ sacrifices. They are pseudo-sacrifices because after 3 K X Q Black wins back the sacrificed material togcther with the addition of two pawns by the Knight fork . . . , Kt X P ch ! The game went on 3 K-KtI, Kt x P; 4 Q-Q3, P-QKt41; 5 Q x Kt, B-Kt2, and White resigned. We have already met many examples of similar pseudo­ sacrifices in previous chapters.

I L L U STRAT I V E GA M E S

Boleslavsky-Lisitsyn 2Jrd USSR Championship Sicilian Defence I P-K4, P-QB4; 2 Kt-KB3, P-Q3; 3 P-Q4, P X P; 4 Kt x P, Kt-KB3; 5 Kt-QB3, P-KKt3; 6 B-K3, B-Kt2; 7 P-B3, 0-0; 8 Q-Q2, Kt-B3; 9 0-0-0, Kt x Kt; IO B x Kt, Q-R4; II K-KtI, P-K4; 1 2 B-K3, B-K3; I3 P-QR3, KR-QI? The plan to prcpare the advance . . . , P-Q4 is logical and correct. However, it makes a difference which Rook supports the advance of the QP. The only correct continuation hcre is 1 3 . . . , QR-QI !, e.g. 14 Kt-KtS, Q x Q ; I S R x Q, P-< P, Kt x P, and now 1 7 B I< P fails against 1 7 . . . , Kt-B6 ch I ; 1 8 K-B I , B-R3 etc. I4 Kt-KtSI, Q-RSI?

1 79

Changing the Material Situation Mter the previous error 1 4 . . . , Q X Q ; 1 5 R X Q is no longer sufficient, since both 1 6 Kt X QP and 1 6 Kt-B7 are threatened. I5 P-QB4!! A surprising pawn sacrifice, by which White forces the exchange of both the black pieces that cover the important strategic point Q4. I5 · · · , B x P If Black disdains the proffered pawn sacrifice, he will never again be able to carry out the freeing advance . . . , P-Q4. I6 Kt-B3!, Q-Kt6; I7 B x B, Q x B; I8 B-Kt5!, Q-K3; I9 B X Kt, Q X B; 20 Kt-Q5, Q-R5

The result of the manoeuvre introduced by White's fifteenth move is clear from the diagram. White is left with a strong Knight in a central post in contrast to the powerless black Bishop. The extra black pawn (at Q3) is rather a disadvantage, since it merely hinders the black pieces in their movements. In the further course of play White prepares the opening of files on the K side and wins by an attack on the enemy King. 2I Q-K2, B-BI Were it not for the pawn at Q3, the Bishop could come into play this way ! 22 Q-BI! But not at once 22 P-KKt3 on account of 22 . . . , Q-R6, and the white pawns are blocked. , QR-BI; 23 P-KKt3, Q-Kt4; 24 P-KR4!, Q-R3 22 Capturing on KKt6 is not possible in view of 25 R-Q2 followed by 26 R-Kt2, when the black Queen is lost. 25 P-KKt4 Threatening 26 P-KtS followed by 27 Kt-B6 ch and 28 P-RS. .

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1 80

Changing the Material Situation 25 . . . , P-KKt4; 26 P X P, Q x P; 27 R-RS, Q-Kt3; 28 P-KtS! The decisive move. Black has no defence against 29 Kt-B6 ch. 28 . . . , P-KR3; 29 R x P!, Q x P If 29 . . . , B X R?, then 3 0 Kt-Kt7 ch. 30 R-RS!, Resigns After 30 . . . , Q-Kt3 ; 3 1 Q-RI the move 32 R-Ktl is decisive. Pachman-Kopfiva Czechoslovak Championship, I9S7 Queen's Pawn, King's Indian Defence I P-Q4, Kt-KB3; 2 P-QB4, P-KKt3; 3 Kt-QB3, B-Kt2; 4 P-K4 P-03 ' 5 B-K2 0-0 ' 6 Kt-B3 , P-K4 ' 7 0-0, P-B3 ' 8 R-KI, Q-K2; 9 B-BI, B-KtS; IO P-Qs, P-B4; II P-KR3, B-Q2?; I2 P-R3, P-QR4; I3�B-Q2, Kt-R3; I4 R-KtI, P-Kt3; IS P-KKt3 After the partial blockade of the Q side it is clear that the K side will become the main theatre of battle. Here both sides must strive for the advance of their K BP-a tactical motif which we shall consider more closely in Volume II, Chapter 2. For Black it is very difficult to force the advance . . . , P-B4-. Thus after 1 5 . . . , Kt-KI ; 1 6 B-Kt2 the reply 1 6 . . . , P-B4- would be bad on account of 1 7 P X P, P X P ; 1 8 Kt-KKt5 !, and the white Knight invades K6 at the cost of a pawn sacrifice. IS . . . , P-R3; I6 Kt-KR4, K-R2; I7 K-R2, Kt-KKtI; I8 B-Q3! The thrust 1 8 P-B4- would also be premature from White's side. Mter 1 8 . . . , P x P ; 1 9 B x P, B-K4- ! ( 19 . . . , P-KKt4? ; 20 Kt-BS) ; 20 Kt-B3, P-B3 ! Black would achieve an equal game. '

-..

J

"

,

,

Changing the ilJateriai Situation Can Black play 1 8 . . . , P-D4 now? By no means ; for it turns out that a combination based on decoying and pinning would be decisive : 1 9 Kt x KtP ! , K x Kt ; 20 P x P ch, and now either 20 . . . , B x P ; 2 1 Q-Kt4 ch or 20 . . . , K-R2 ; 2 1 P-B6 ch or 20 . . . , K-B3 ; 2 1 Kt-lZ4 ch, K-B2 ; 22 Q-R5 mate. I8 . . . , P-B3? With this Black makes it considerably easier for his opponent to carry out the advance P-B4. Since he himself had no possibility of active play on the K side, he should at least have made White's action more difficult. The move 1 8 . . . , Q-Q I would have suited that end ; then 19 P-B4 would be unplayable on account of 1 9 . . . , P X P ; 20 B x P, P-KKt4. I9 P-B4, Q-QI In order to avoid losing the exchange after 20 P-B5, P-KKt4 ; 2 1 Kt-Kt6. 20 P-B5, P-KKt4; 2I Kt-Kt6, R-B2 Black counted on capturing on KKt3 after 22 . . . , B-KI and 23 . . . , R-Kt2. But in the meantime White opens the KR file and obtains a strong attack. 22 P-KR4, B-KI; 23 R-KRI, R-Kt2; 24 K-Kt2! But certainly not 24 Q-RS ? on account of 24 . . . , Kt-K2 ; 25 P X P, Kt X Kt, and Black emerges from the complications with an extra pawn. 24 . . . , B x Kt; 25 P x B ch, K x P; 26 P x P, BP x P

The obvious continuation of the attack now is 27 Q-RS ch, K-R2 ; 28 B X P. But when we calculate further we perceive that Black obtains very good defensive possibilities after 28 . . . , Q-KI ; 29 Q-R4, Q-Kt3 followed by . . . , B-D3. The white Bishop on 1 82

Changing the 1\!JateriaZ Situalion Q3 does not take part in the attack and the black Knight on KKtl adequately defends the weak KR3 point. 27 B-K2! This surprising move (blocking the Queen's path to KRS !) has a double significance. After the continuation in the game the white Bishop comes into play and the position of the black King will . become untenable in spite of the extra pawn. However, if Black had played 27 . . . , Kt-B3, then White would have eliminated the important defending Knight by 28 B-Ktf !, Kt X n ; 29 Q X Kt and easily driven home his attack on the K side, e.g. 29 . . . , Q-Q2 ; 30 Q-RS ch, K-R2 ; 3 1 B x P, Q-KB2 ; 32 n x P !, Q x Q ; 33 R X Q, n X B; 34 QR-KRI etc. The main object of the manoeuvre 27 B-K2 l is therefore the elimination of the Knight at K Kt l , which protects the weak KR3 point. 27 . . . , K-R2; 28 B-Kt4, Kt-B2 Now the other Knight hurries across to the defence of the King. But thanks to the excellent co-ordination of all his pieces White has no difficulty in building up his attack on the open KR file. 29 B-B5 ch, K-Rr; 30 Q-R5, Kt-Kr 30 . . . , 13-B3 would have lost at once in view of 3 1 Q-Kt6, Kt-KI (or 3 1 . . . , Q-K2) ; 3 2 R x P ch I , Kt x R ; 33 R-KRl etc. 3r R-R2! This is significantly stronger than 3 1 B X P, QKt-B3, after which Black would force the exchange of Queens by 32 Q-Kt6, Q-K I . Now doubling Rooks followed by Q-Kt6 is threatened. 3r . . . , B-B3; 32 Q-Kt6, R-Kt2; 33 R x P chi, Kt x R; 34 Q x KKt ch, K-Ktr; 35 B-K6 ch, K-Br; 36 R-KBr The pin decides matters immediately. Black cannot play 30 . . • " K-K2 on account of 3 1 R X B !, diverting the Knight. 36 . . . , R-R2; 37 B x P, R-KB2; 38 Kt-Kt5! It would have been pointless to take the exchange, since now Black does not have a single reasonable move at his disposal. 38 . . . , K-K2; 39 R x B!, Resigns After 3 9 . . . , Kt X R ; 40 B X Kt ch, R X B ; 41 Q X KR ch, K-K I ; 42 Kt-B7 ch Black loses his Queen as well.

6 The Pawns

I The peculiarities of pawn moves

The pawn is the least mobile of the men, and precisely because of that the placing of the pawns has a far-reaching influence on the strategic character of the position. In spite of their low mobility the pawns frequently appear as an active factor in tactical man­ oeuvres as well. The most important factor, which multiplies the value of the pawns in many cases, is their capacity for promotion to another piece. We shall deal with creating a passed pawn and promoting it in Sections II and I I I of this chapter. But the pawn's way of moving also makes possible the application of a number of other tactical elements, already familiar to us from our study of the effectiveness of the various pieces (with the obvious exception of the pin, which is the privilege of the Queen, Rooks or Bishops). The pawn fork occurs frequently in the very opening, e.g. after the moves I P-K4, P-K4 ; 2 Kt-KB3, Kt-QB3 ; 3 B-B4, Kt-B3 ; 4 Kt-B3, Kt x P ! j 5 Kt x Kt, P-Q4, and Black wins the piece back. A move involving a discovered check is possible on ranks, diagonals and files, in the last case as a consequence of the fact that the pawn captures in a different direction from that in which it moves. For example, after I P-K4, P-I4 ; 2 P-KB4, P x P ; 3 Kt-KB3, Kt-KB3 ; 4 P-KS, Kt-� White usually continues with 5 Q-K2, by which he tries to hinder his opponent's developing move . . . , P-Q3 or . . . , P-Q4. Both . . . , P-Q3 and . . . , P-Q4 would be followed by the discovered check 6 P x P ch (in the second case the capture is made en passant). The discovered check based on capturing en passant also makes possible a curiosity : simultaneous checks by two pieces of the same type. If in the pattern position shown in Diagram 22 1 Black covers the check by the move . . . , P-Q4, then after P X P e.p. a situation arises in which the black King is in check from both the white Queens.

The Pawns 221

222

Pattern

Golyak-Gaiduk (Moscow, I949)

In the position in Diagram 222 White won by applying a pawn fork : I Kt-B6!, P X Kt; 2 P X P, and the black Knight cannot now move away on account of 3 P-B7, winning. The game continued 2 , KR-BI; 3 B x Kt, R-B2; 4 R-K3, Kt-Q2 ; 5 B-RS, QR x B, 6 P x R, R x P; 7 Q-KI, and White won. .

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It is also typical to employ a pawn to attack a pinned piece. The game Smyslov-Alatortsev (see Diagram 223) proceeded I P-Kt4! (threatening 2 P-KtS), P-R3; 2 P-R4! (again P-KtS is threa­ tened). Black prevented the loss of a piece only at the price of the , P-Kt4 and lost quickly : 3 P X P, decisive weakening move 2 •

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223

Smyslov-Alatortsev (MoscO'lv, I946) N

1 85

The Pawns P x P; 4 R-BS, K-Kt3,·

5

B-Q3, Kt-KS; 6 Q-B4! (double

attack on K 4 and KB7), Kt-Q3; 7 R x BP eh, and Black resigned before being mated. �n Volume II, Chapter

I,

we shall often encounter cases where

the pawn serves as a battering-ram with the task of smashing the opponent's castled position. I I Genesis of a passed pawn By far the greater part of the manoeuvres and combinations in which the pawn plays the chief role touches the rule bestowing a right on the pawn that sets it apart from all the other men-the right of promotion. This right can increase the pawn's value to such as extent that it may even surpass the value of the strongest piece-the Queen. In the position shown in Diagram 224 White

224

225

Pattern White to move to win

Alekhine-Fine

(Kemeri, I937)

wins by the move I P x Kt = Kt eh. If we replace the pawn on KB7 by a Queen, then White's game is hopelessly lost. The basic ways of creating a passed pawn is by exploiting a pawn majority on a certain sector of the board. This theme belongs to the sphere of chess strategy. I n addition, a passed pawn can also be created by applying various tactical means ; for example, by exchanging pieces in order to clear the pawn's path, by a combina­ tional pawn breakthrough, by a Zwisehenzug, by eliminating enemy pawns by a sacrifice etc.

1 86

The Pawns I n the game Alekhine-Fine (see Diagram 22S) Alekhine created two passed pawns in the course of the next six moves, the first by enforcing the exchange of one of his own pieces, the second by exchanging one of his opponent's pieces : I Kt-QSI, B >< Kt; 2 P x B, Kt-B4; 3 B-BS, R-QI; 4 K-B3, P-QKt3 (4 . . . , R >< P ? ; S K-B4) ; 5 P x P, P x P; 6 B x Ktl, P x B. There was no defence against the advance of the passed pawns, and the game came to a swift conclusion with 7 P-Kt6, Kt-Q3; 8 B-Q7 I, R x B?; 9 R-R8 ch, Kt-KI; IO R x Kt mate. In the position shown in Diagram 226 White forced the capture of a piece on a point covered by a pawn by sacrificing his Queen . , Q-B I ; 2 R x R, Q x R ; 3 for a Rook : I Q-Kt61, R x Q ( I 227

226

Izaakian-Naranovitch

(Preliminaries, USSR Champiollship, I947) White to move

Pattern White to move White to move

R-R7 ! R x Q ; 4 P x R followed by S B-RS, and White likewise wins by the advance of the passed pawn) ; 2 P x R, R-Kt2, and now White could have won quickly in the following way : 3 R x R, Q x R; 4 R-R7/, Q-KtI (4 . . . , Q x P ; S B-RS ) ; 5 B-RS, B-BI; 6 R-QB71, B-Q2; 7 P-Kt7 ch, Kt-B2 (7 . . , K-K2? ; 8 Kt-BS mate) ; 8 Kt-BS/, B x Kt; 9 R x Ktl, B x P ch; IO K-B2, B-R2; II R x RP clz, K-Qr; I2 B-Kt61, and wins ( 1 2 . . . , B x B ; 1 3 R-R8 ch). The pawn breakthrough is another method of creating a passed pawn that occurs frequently. In contrast to exploiting a numerical .

The Pawns pawn superiority in this case one or more pawns are sacrificed in order to remove enemy pawns from the line of motion of one's own pawns. Diagram 227 provides a schematic illustration of two simple examples of pawn breakthroughs. In the left part White forcibly clears the way for one of his pawns by the continuation I P-Kt6!, and now I . . . , RP x P; 2 P-B6!, P x BP; 3 P-R6 etc. or I . . . , BP x P; 2 P-R6!, P X RP; 3 P-B6 etc. In the right part of the diagram he must not play I P-B4?, since after I , P-B3 he can no longer obtain a passed pa\vn. The correct sequence is therefore I P-B6!, P X P; 2 P-B4 followed by 3 P-KtS! It is obvious that in such cases the pawn breakthrough is practicable only if the liberated pawn cannot be effectively blocked by the opponent ; for otherwise his superiority in pawns after the breakthrough would prove the decisive factor. In the position shown in Diagram 228 Alekhine obtained a passed pawn and a quick victory by a pawn breakthrough whereby he at the same time also exploited the pin on the Bishop at K4 : .

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229

228

Vistanetskis-Lipkin (Team Championship of the USSR, I9S6)

Alekhine-Schwarz (London, I926)

I P-BS!, KtP X P; 2 P-Kt6, R-BI; 3 Q-B3!, KR-KI; 4 B X B, P x B; 5 Q x KP!, Q x Q; 6 R x Q, R x R; 7 R x P ch, R x R; 8 P x R, R-Kr; 9 P :< Kt = Q, R x Q; IO B-K6! (the point of the combination begun on the fifth movc : the passed pawn .costs a whole Rook and White retains the extra piece), K-Kt3; II P-B7, R-KBI; I2 P-B8 =Q, R x Q; I3 B x R, and White won quickly. 188

The Pawns

Cases where opposing pawns are eliminated by sacrificial mean in order to clear the way for one's own pawns occur very fre quently. In the position in Diagram 229 White won as follow s I Kt x PI, K x Kt; 2 R-Q6 ell, K-B2; 3 B x P, QR-QI; 4 P-B6 , Kt-KtI; S R x R, R x R ; 6 R )c R, K x R; 7 B-Kt6 eh, K-BI; 8 P-B7, and White won in a few moves. In the position shown in Diagram 230 the unfortunate placing of the black Rook at QR3 enabled White to carry out a decisive manoeuvre : I B x Kt, P X B (after I , Q X B the next move is •

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.

2 3°

Szabo-BaYda (Bucharest, I953)

ev�n more powerful) ; 2 Q x RI, P x Q; 3 P-Kt7, Q-QKtr; 4 P-K4, P-Q4; S B-RS, P x KP; 6 P x P, P-R4; 7 B-B71, Q x B; 8 P-Kt8=Q, and White was able to exploit the advantage of the exchange. III

Exploiting a passed pawn

The most important-though, as one might suppose, not the most common-method of exploiting a passed pawn is by enforcing its promotion. The promotion of a pawn is of course such a strong threat that the opponent resists its realisation with all the means at his disposal. This explains why promotion is rare in the middle­ game but more frequent in the endgame, when the material has been reduced. It is relatively easier to exploit a passed pawn which is not I 89

The Pawns blocked, i.e. which is not prevented from advancing by enemy pieces. Sometimes even its heedless advance may be sufficient to decide the game. In the well known game Bogoljubow-Alekhine (see Diagram 23 1 ) Black won by the swift advance of his passed pawn, without heeding the loss of material : I . . . , P-Kt5!; 2 R x R, P x Q; 3 R x Q, P-B7!; 4 R x R ch, K-R2; 5 Kt-B2, P-B8 = Q ch; 6 Kt-BI, Kt-K8 (threatening . . . , Kt-B6 mate) ; 7 R-R2, Q X BP. At the present moment White has two Rooks for the Queen newly promoted from the passed pawn, but the new mate threat-. . . , B-Kt4-compels him to give up the exchange. After 8 R-QKt8, B-Kt4; 9 R X B, Q X R Black was able to exploit his advantage within a few moves. 231

232

Bogoljubow-Alekhine (Hastings, I922-23) Black to move

Eliskases-H. Milller (Linz, I934)

A passed pawn that has already advanced to the seventh rank is very dangerous. To enforce its promotion in such a case it is often sufficient to restrict the effectiveness or co-ordination of the opponent's defending pieces. A common method of eliminating defending pieces in positions with a pawn on the seventh rank is to set up a pin on the eighth rank, employing an operation point protected by the pawn. In the position shown in Diagram 232 play continued I Q-K6 ch, K-KI; 2 R-R8!, QR x R ell; 3 K-R2, and Black resigned. If the enemy King is used to prevent the promotion of the pawn, 19°

The Pawns in such a dangerous post it can easily fall a victim to a mating attack. In the position in Diagram 233 there followed I . . . , Q-KtS ch; 2 P-B3, Q X RP! (this threatens mate by . . . , Q-Q8 ch etc., and the Queen at the same time controls the Q2 point ; after 233

234

Beilin-Lyublinsky (Moscow, I949) Black to move

Dallielsson-Z. Nilsson (Stockholm, I95z) White to move

3 Q-KtS ch, K-Kt2 White would have no more checks at his disposal) ; 3 Q-B8 ch, K-R4; 4 R x P ch, K-KtS! (but not 4 . . . , P x R?? ; 5 Q x P ch, K-R3 ; 6 Q-Kt5 mate) ; 5 R-KtS ch, K-B6, and White resigned. A pawn that has reached the si.xth rank is also only a little short of its goal in most cases. In the position shown in Diagram 234 it appears that White cannot prevent perpetual check after I K-Kt3, Q-B7 ch i 2 K-R2, Q-Kt8 ch etc. However, the pawn on the sixth rank made a beautiful combination possible : I K-R3!!, R-B6 ch; 2 Q-Kt3!, R X Q cll; 3 K x R, P-KR4! (threatening 4, P-RS ch, after which Black would force perpetual check); 4 R x P ch, K-KtI; 5 R-R8 chi (but not S P-K7, K-B2 ; 6 R-KS, K-K r ; the Rook sacrifice diverts the black King from the pawn's promoting square), K x R; 6 P-K7, and Black resigned. Discovered check is a common motif in forcing a pawn's advance from the sixth to the seventh and eighth ranks. In the game Arnold-Duras (see Diagram 23S) Black won by the move I . . . , Q-Q8! Now 2 R X Q did not work on account of 2 . . . , •

191

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The Pawns 23 5

Arnold-Duras (Prague, I920) Black to move

Siimisch-Pachman (Prague, I943) Black to move

P-K7 ch followed by 3 . . . , P x P = Q ch etc. White played 2 Kt x B and after 2 . . . , R-B8! was obliged to resign (3 K-B I , P-K7 ch etc.). It is often possible to eliminate the blockade of a pawn that has reached as far as the sixth rank at the price of even a considerable material sacrifice. \Vc now give two typical examples of this. In the position in Diagram 236 play continued I . . , Q '< R!; 2 Kt X Q, R X QP; 3 Q-B5, R X Kt!, and White exceeded the time limit in a hopeless position (4 Q X R, P-K7 ; 5 B X P ch, R �< B etc.). .

2 37

r;eltmallder-Polugoyevsky (Championship of the Russian Republic, I958) Black to move

The Pawns In the position shown in Diagram 237 there followed I . . . , Kt-Kt6 chi; 2 P x Kt, Q-BJ cit; J Q-B2, R :< R ch; 4 K x R, Q X Q ch; 5 K X Q, P-B7, and White resigned. The order of moves is very important here. If Black were to continue with 3 . . . , Q X Q ch ??, then after 4 K X Q, R X R ; 5 K X R the white King would stop the passed pawn and thus ensure the win for White. There is another important tactical element that deserves special attention-decoying a Knight to a square where it is exposed to attack from a pawn advancing from the sixth to the seventh rank. The pawn's promotion is then threatened on two squares at once (by simple advance or by capture of the Knight), and it can often no longer be prevented. In a game from a junior tournament (see Diagram 238) I won by the following combination : I . . . , R X B!; 2 Kt-QJ, Q X R!; 23 9

Bfezovsky-Pachman (Mladd Boleslav, I94I) Black to move

Kottnauer-Gligoric (illoscow, I948) Black to move

J R x Q, R-Q7; 4 Kt-Kt2 (4 Kt-B1 , P-K7 ; 5 Kt x P, R x Kt ; 6 R x P, R-Q7 ; 7 R-Q7, P-R4 ; 8 R-Q S , P-Kt3 etc. also loses), R-Q8 ch!, and White resigned (5 Kt X R, P-K7 etc.). It is much more difficult to remove the blockade of a passed pawn that is not so far advanced. Here I am confining myself to three examples of manoeuvres which serve to eliminate the pawn blockade. In the position shown in Diagram 239 the blockade of the pawn 1 93

The Pawns at Q5 looks complete, but it turns out to be very unstable : I . . . , KKt-K4 !; 2 Kt(B3) ;< Kt (2 Kt(B3)-KI is unplayable in view of 2 . . . , R x Kt ch I ; 3 R x R, Kt x Kt etc.), Kt x Kt; 3 R x R, B x}(t; 4 Q-Q2, B x R; S Q X B, and now the pawn was able to continue its advance almost without hindrance : S . . . , P-Q6; 6 Q-Q2 (6 Q-K4, P-Q7 ; 7 R-Q I , Kt x P ! ; 8 Q >dZt, R-K8 ch), Kt >; P; 7 Q-B3, Kt x B; 8 Q x Kt, P-Q7 ; 9 B-B3, R-K8 ch,' IO K-Kt2, P-Q8 =O, and White resigned. In the position shown in D iagram 240 White exploited the passed pawn at Q6 by a very interesting manoeuvre designed to decoy the black Bishop into a pin : I P-QKt4 !, P X P; 2 R X R, P x R; 3 P-Q7! (threatening 4 B-B7), B-B3; 4 R-QBI!, B x P (otherwise 5 R-B8 would be decisive) ; S R-QI, P-Kt6; 6 B-B7, 240

Pachman- IIort (Prague, I958)

Keres-Stdhlherg (Munich Olympiad, I936)

R-QBI; 7 R x B, K-KtI (7 . . . , P-Kt7? ; 8 B-KS ch and wins) ; 8 B-KS, R-B4I (better was 8 . . . , P-QR4 ; 9 R-R7, R-B7 ; 10 R x QRP, P-Kt7 ; I I B x P, R x B ; 12 K-B2, with a won Rook ending); 9 R-Kt7 ch, K-BI; IO B-Q6 ell, K x R; II B x R, K-B2; I2 B-R3, and White won. In the position in Diagram 241 play continued I P-K6!, P x P; 2 Q X Q ell, R X Q; 3 P x P, R x P ch; 4 K-B2, R-Kt2; S Kt x P!, P x Kt (or S . . . , B x P ; 6 Kt-B6 ch followed by 7 Kt x P and 8 Kt-Q6) ; 6 P-B6, R-KtI; 7 P x P!, and Black resigned (7 . . . , R-KtI ; 8 R-R8 !, R x P ; 9 R-R7 etc.). 1 94

The Pawns IV Connected passed pawns Unity multiplies individual strength. This principle is fully valid for passed pawns. Naturally, the opponent always tries to prevent the creation of connected passed pawns. It is therefore comparatively rare for them to appear as the result of simple pawn exchanges-apart from those cases where the opponent also creates a pair of connected passed pawns at the same time. In the creation of such pawns two fundamental tactical elements come into operation : the piece sacrifice and the pawn breakthrough. In a game with Durao (see Diagram 242) I won quickly after sacrificing a Bishop on QKts : I B X P, P X B; 2 Kt X KtP, Q-KtI;

24 3

Pachman-Durao (Zonal Tournament, Dublin, I957)

Zukertort-Steinitz ( World Championship Match, I886) Black to move

3 Kt-B7, R-QBI; 4 Kt x R, R x R ch; S Q x R, B x Kt; 6 P-KtS!, P-K3 (or 6 . . , Q X QKtP; 7 Kt-BS ) ; 7 P-Kt6, and Black resigned. In this case White won the exchange back immediately after the piece sacrifice, and thus here it is only a question of a pseudo-sacrifice. However, real sacrifices of a piece for two ad­ vanced passed pawns frequently occur. In the game Zukertort-Steinitz (see Diagram 243) Black won as follows : I . . . , Kt-QS!; 2 P x Kt, Q x P ch; 3 K-RI, P-K6; 4 Kt-B3, B-B3; S Kt(Q2)-KtI, P-Q7; 6 Q-B2, B-Kt6; 7 Q x BP, .

1 9S

The Pawns P-Q8=Q; 8 Kt x Q, B x Kt; 9 Kt-B3, P-K7; IO KR x B, Q x Kt, and White resigned. And now we give two examples of a successful pawn break­ thr:ough leading to the creation of connected passed pawns. i n the game Euwe-Alekhine (see Diagram 244) White could have taken the pawn by I Q x P, but after I . . . , Kt-� followed by . . . , Kt-B3 it would have been very difficult to exploit his 244

245

Euwe-A lekhine (Match, I926)

8ajtar-Hromddka (Ostrava , I94I)

advantage. Euwe therefore chose the much stronger variation I P-B6f, P X P (but not I . . . , Q X P on account of 2 Kt-Q6, winning the exchange); 2 Q x P and then proceeded to exploit the connected passed pawns : 2 Kt-K4; 3 Q-Q2, Q-R3; 4 P-RS, Kt x P; S Kt-BSf (not 5 B-Kll I ?, Kt x R ! ; 6 ll x Q, Kt-ll6 ch), Kt x Kt; 6 B x Kt, Q-Kt4,' 7 B x KP, R-QBI; 8 B-BI, Q-Kt6; 9 R-R3, Q-Q4; IO P-Kt7, R-KtI; II P-R6, and White won. Thus, creating two connected passed pawns was substantially stronger here than the possible gain of material. In the position shown in Diagram 245 White won by a typical breakthrough operation : I P-BS/, P x P; 2 Q-RS eh, K-KtI,' 3 P-KtS/, P x P; 4 R-K7, R-KBI; S Q-B3!, Q-Kt2; 6 Kt-Kt4· Black cannot prevent the fall of the QP, and that decides the game, Play continued 6 . . . , Q-RI,� 7 Q x P eh, Q X Q,' 8 Kt X Q, R-QI; 9 Kt-Kt4 K-BI ' IO R-KI R-RI ' II P-Q� J ' R-RS ,' I2 P-B6 .', B-BI; I3 P-Q6, and Blaek resigned. •

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J

1 96

The Pawns When both sides have connected passed pawns it is usual'ly time that is the decisive factor in exploiting them. A very sharp position occurred in the game Smyslov-Botvinnik (see Diagram 246). After I . . . , P-B7? White would play 2 R X P, P-B8 = Q ; 3 R x Q, R x R ch ; 4 K-R2, and his passed pawns are

Smyslov-Botvinnik (Absolute USSR Championship, I94I) Black to move

stronger than a Rook. Botvinnik won by sacrificing a Rook him­ self in order to gain time for the advance of his pawns : I . . . , R x P!; 2 R x R, P-Q6; 3 R-KKtI (or 3 P-R7, P-Q7 ; 4 R-KKtI , P-B7 ; 5 R-Kt7 ch, K-RI ; 6 R-Kt8, P-B8 = Q ; 7 P-R8 = Q , Q x R ch ; 8 K x Q, P-Q8 = Q ch ; 9 K-Kt2, Q-K7 ch ; 10 K-KtI, P-Kt8 =Q ch etc.), P-Q7 ; 4 R x BP, R-B2! (but it would have been rash to play 4 . . . , P-B7 ? ; 5 R-B7 ch, K-R I ; 6 R-B6, K-R2 ; 7 R-B7 ch, Drawn); 5 R(B6)-KKt6 (threatening R(Kt6)-KtS), P-Q8 = Q!, and White resigned. After 6 R x Q, P-B7 Black wins a decisive tempo. When advancing connected passed pawns one must take care that as far as possible they move forward together. The premature advance of one of them usually lessens their mobility substantially and enables the opponent to resist their progress successfully. Were the black pawn still at QB2 instead of QB6 in the position shown in Diagram 247, then Black would have the advantage in spite of his material deficit and could continue with . . . , P-B4 followed by . . . , P-QS etc. As it was, Duras successfully countered

1 97

The Pawns

247

Duras-E. Cohn (Carlsbad, I907)

the further advance of the black pawns : I QR-KtI!, R-QBI; 2 Q-Kt6! (but not 2 R x P, P-B7 ; 3 R-B r , R-BS ! , when Black drives away the white Queen and sets his QP in motion ; 4 Q-Kt6? would not work at all on account of 4 . . . , Q x Q ; 5 R x Q, R-QS ! etc.), Q x Q ; 3 R x Q, R-B3,· 4 R-Kt4! (after the exchange on QB6 the black pawns could no longer be halted, while 4 R x P would also have been weak : 4 . . . , P-B7 ; 5 R-B r , P-QS ; 6 R-Kt8 ch, B-Ktr ; 7 R-Q8, R-QKt3 !, with a win for Black), P-QKt4; 5 K-KtI. The black pawns are now definitely blocked. 5 , R-B S ; 6 R x P, P-QS ; 7 R-Kt8 ch, B-B r is prevented by 8 R-Kt6 ! followed by R-Q6. After 5 , K-KtI; 6 K-B2, R-R3; 7 R-QRI, P-Qs (otherwise the white King would occupy Q4) ; 8 R x QP, P-B7; 9 K-K3!, R x P; IO R-QBI. R-Kt7; II K-Q2 White won quickly. •

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V Promoting a pawn to a piece other than the Queen Up till now we have dealt with cases where on reaching the eighth rank the pawn has, so to speak, 'automatically' promoted to the strongest piece-the Queen. But in certain circumstances use may be made of the rule that a pawn can also be promoted to another piece. For example, in the position in Diagram 224 it was not possible to promote the pawn to a Queen in view of the threatened mate, whereas promoting to a Knight, giving check at the same time, brought White a decisive material advantage. . 1 98

The Pawns Promotion to a Rook or Bishop instead of a Queen is justified only in those cases where one has to counter the opponent's stalemate defence ; it therefore occurs only in the endgame. It follows that for the study of the middlegame promoting the pawn to a Knight is alone of practical significance. It occurs in cases when promotion to a Queen would enable the opponent to execute a certain powerful threat but promotion to a Knight in­ volves a check. In the game Furman-Keres (see Diagram 248) I P-B8 = Q ? failed o n account of I Q-B7 ch ; 2 K-B3, Q-K7 ch ; 3 K-B4, Q-K5 mate and I B x Q on account of I . , R-B8 ch. Furman •

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249

Fllrman-Keres (Moscow, I948)

T hematic Position White to move

chose the continuation I P-B8=Kt chI, K-KtI; 2 B-K6 ch, Q x B; 3 Q x Q ch, K x Kt; 4 Q x QP, and was soon able to exploit his material advantage. The position shown in Diagram 249 exemplifies a well known combination, which has already been applied in many games. White wins as follows : I R-B8 chi, R x R; 2 Q-R7 chI, K x Q; 3 P x R =Kt chI etc. VI Advanced pawns Advanced pawns can make possible numerous tactical devices, especially those with a mating finish. In the position shown in Diagram 250 White utilised the advanced pawn at KKt6 in a surpnsmg way : I R-KII!, R x R

The Pawns

Schroder-N.N. (Berlin, I930) (I , R x Q? ? ; 2 R X R mate) ; 2 Q-B7 ch, K-RI; 3 R x R, R x R ch; 4 K-Kt2, R-Kt8 ch; 5 K-R3!, and Black resigned, since he is defenceless against the threatened mate. A protected pawn that has penetrated the castled position and reached the seventh rank is very unpleasant. In a well known game with Alekhine (see Diagram 25 1 ) Lasker made use of the advanced pawn at QKt7 in the following way : I B X R!, Q X B ( I , Kt X Q was unplayable on account of 2 B x P ch, K x P ; 3 B x Kt ch, K-B I -or 3 . . . , K-R3 ? ; 4 R-R5 mate- ; 4 B-K5 ch, winning the Queen) ; 2 Q-K5, Q-Kt3 (Black .

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Lasker-Alekhine (St Petersburg, I9I4)

Siegfried-IfiiJmefeld (Posen, I94I)

200

The Pawns is also lost after the exchange of Queens, since his Rook is tied to the defence of the first rank) ; 3 Q-K7, Q-Q3; 4 R-KS, P-Q6; S P X P, Q >< QP; 6 R-K3, Q-Q8 ch; 7 K-R2, Kt-Kt4; 8 R-K6, Kt x P; 9 R-KB6!, and Black resigned. There is no defence against the mate threat 1 0 R-B8. Diagram 252 provides an example of a combination in which White creates an advanced pawn by means of a Queen sacrifice : r Q-B6 ch!, B x Q; 2 R-R7 ch, K-Ktr; 3 P x B, R-Qr; 4 QR-Rr, and Black resiglled. VII Weak pawns The concept of a 'weak pawn' is predominantly associated with strategy. Nevertheless, in the exploitation of strategically weak points in the pawn formation (such as isolated, back"lard or doubled pawns) one always employs a number of tactical elements. The most important is the concentrated attack by pieces on weak enemy pawns. In the game Duras-Fr. Treybal (see Diagram 253) the pawn at QB2 proved to be a strategic weakness. White rapidly exploited 25 3

Duras-Fr. Treybal (Prague, I90B) this weakness by the following piece manoeuvre : r Q-B2, QR-Br; 2 R-B4, P-KB3; 3 R-QBr, R-B2; 4 Q-Kt3! Black's position has suddenly become untenable, as these variations show : 201

The Pawns (i) 4- . . . , P-QKt3 ; 5 Q x P ! ! , P x Q ; 6 R x R ch, R-D r ; 7 R(B r)­ B7, with a won ending. (ii) 4- . . . , P-QKt4- ; 5 R-D6, Q x P ; 6 R X QP ! , R-Rr ; 7 R(Q6)­ ]36, Q-K2 ; 8 Q-Kt3 etc. (iii) 4- . . . , R-QKtr ; 5 Q-R3 ! (threatening 6 R X P I), Q-Q r ; 6 P­ QKt4- ! (6 Q-R5?, P-QD4- !), R-K2 ; 7 Q-R5, R -D I ; 8 Q-Kt6 ! , R X P I?, and now both 9 Q X KtP and 9 R X P give a winning position. The game continued 4 . . . , P-QB4,' 5 P X P e.p., P-QKt4; 6 R-Q4, P-B4; 7 Q-Q5, P X P; 8 R X P, and White won. In other cases the pawn weaknesses need not be permanent but merely temporary. Just like any other unprotected piece, an insufficiently guarded pawn may also become for the moment an object of attack and so make it possible for the enemy pieces to manoeuvre advantageously. In such cases we speak of the pawn as a 'tactical weakness'. Unprotected pieces usually prove to be tactical weaknesses, whilst strategic weaknesses are mostly comprised of pawns (as a rule, pieces can be regrouped more easily, and therefore they only rarely represent a permanent weakness). In the position in Diagram 254-, however, the direct opposite is the case. Black's strategic weakness is the encircled Knight at KR6 and his momen­ tary, tactical weakness the unprotected pawn at QR2. White won the pawn by means of the double attack I Q-B5! Black could not protect the attacked pawn by r . . . , P-R3 on account of a 2 Q-Q6, 254-

Pachman-SzabO (Zonal Tournament, Hilversum, I947)

202

The

Pawns

which leads to a quick finish, e.g. 2 . . . , R-Kt3 ; 3 P-KK4 or 2 . . . , R-KKtI ; 3 B X P, B x B ; 4 Q X R etc. Play continued r . . . , R-KKtr; 2 Kt x B!, and now Black faced an interesting choice ;

for after 2 . . . , Q X Kt ; 3 Q-Q6 !, Q X Q j 4 P x Q, R x QP ; 5 B x P, R-R3 ; 6 K-Kt2 his 'strategic weakness', the Knight at KR6,

would fall. In the game he surrendered the pawn after 2

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R x Kt; 3 Q x RP and lost quickly : 3 . . . , Q-R4; 4 Q-K3, R-R3; 5 Q-K2, Q-Kr; 6 P-K6!, R x KtP; 7 Q-KS ch, K-Ktr; 8 B x P, R-Kt2; 9 B x Kt, R x B; ro R-KKtr, and Black resigned.

Strategic weaknesses also often result from tactical manoeuvres based on various motifs. In the game Foltys-Sajtar (see Diagram 255) play continued

r B-B7!, Q x B; 2 Kt x Kt ch, P x Kt; 3 B x B, and after a long 255

Foltys- Sajtar (Prague, I95I) White to move

Pachman-Euwe (nth Olympiad, I954) White to move

struggle White succeeded in exploiting the weakened position of

the black pawns on the K side. In a game with Euwe (see Diagram 256) I forced a permanent weakening of the enemy pawns by a temporary pawn sacrifice : r P-BS!, P x BP; 2 P x KP, Kt x P; 3 Kt x Kt, B x Kt; 4 B x B, Q x B,' 5 Q-B2. Now the pawn at QB4 falls, and in view of the

weaknesses at QBz and Q R3 Black's position is lost. Play con­

tinued 5 . . , B-KS; 6 Q-B4 ch, K-Rr; 7 B x B! (7 B-B I was also playable, but accurate calculation showed that the Rook .

ending was

an

easy win), P x B; 203

8

Q x BP, Q-Kt7; 9 Q-B2,

The Pawns QR-KtI; IO P-R3, P-R3,' II R-R2, Q x Q; I2 KR x Q!, R-Kt8 . , R-Kt2 ; 1 4 R-B6 etc.) ; I4 ch; I3 K-R2, R-KB8 (or 1 3 P-Kt4!, R-QKtI; IS R x P, R(KtI)-Kt8; I6 R-Q2!, R-R8; I7 R-K7, R x P; I8 R x KP, and Black resigned a few moves later. .

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VIII The tactical co-ordination of the pieces and pawns Now that we have familiarised ourselves with the characteristics of all the individual men (except the King, which we shall deal with in Volume II) we wish to turn once more to a detailed exposition of tactical co-ordination, enlarging its scope by bringing in not only the pieces but also the pawns. What do we understand in general under the concept of co­ ordination ? It may be a question of the collaboration of the pieces and pawns in the fulfilment of a strategic plan or the pieces and pawns may defend each other and build an impregnable defensive wall against the opponent's p ieces or complement each other in the execution of a certain threat (manoeuvre, combination) in order to achieve some part of a tactical objective. In such cases we speak of tactical co-ordination. The tactical co-ordination of the pieces and pawns can be expressed in several ways. In the schemes shown in Diagram 257 all the white pieces and all the black pieces defend each other, while in Diagram 258 the white men form a defensive wall that the black pieces cannot pass. The position in the right-hand half of the diagram is drawn despite Black's great material superiority precisely because of the 2 57

204

The Pawns excellent co-ordination of the white pieces with the pawn at KB2. Nearly all combinations are based on increased co-ordination of the pieces, sometimes of the pieces and pawns. The more material one sacrifices during a combination the more complete must be the co-ordination of the remaining forces. In the game Spielmann-L'Hermet (see Diagram 259) White sacrificed a Queen and Rook, after which the co-ordination of his Bishops with the passed pawn showed to brilliant effect : I Q x RPI, P x Q; 2 P x P ch, K-BI; 3 R-Kt8 chI, K x R; 4 P-R7 ch, K-BI; 5 P-R8= Q mate. 25 9

260

Spielmartn-L'Hermet (Magdeburg, I927)

Niephaus-Niisken (German ChampiollSh ip, I949)

The co-ordination of pieces and pawns often expresses itself in various forms of pawn breakthrough. In the position shown in Diagram 260 play continued I P-KSI, Kt-Q2 ( I . . . , QP X P ; 2 P-Q6 !, B-B3 ; 3 QP x P, KR-K I ; 4 B x B, Q x B ; 5 Q x Q, R x Q ; 6 P-Kt5 followed by 7 P-B6, and White wins) ; 2 P-B6/, KP x P; 3 P-K6, P x P; 4 P x P, Q-KtI; 5 P x Kt, and White won quickly. It is noteworthy that this manoeuvre involves the active participation of the pawns at Q5, K4, KB5 and KKt4 and not only the Queen and Bishop at KB3 but also the other white Bishop (otherwise Black would always have had the Zwischenschach . . . , Q-R2 at his disposal). In the game Smyslov-Keres (see Diagram 2 6 1 ) it still seemed quite difficult to exploit White's passed pawn. After I B x P, o

205

The Pawns 261

S1I1yslov-Keres (Ca7ldidates' Tournament, I9S3)

R-B I Black would have obtained counterplay. But with his next two moves, I B-R4!, Q-K2; 2 B-B4!, Smyslov achieved an ideal co-ordination between his pieces and the passed pawn. The Bishop on KD4 can, if the occasion arises, move up to Q1l7, after which all the squares in front of the passed pawn would be con­ trolled by the white Bishops. The game went on 2 . . , KR-QI; 3 P-Q6, Q-KS; 4 R-KI, Q-B4; S P-Q7, P-R4; 6 R-K8 ell, K-R2 ; 7 P-R4, R-R3 (7 . . , D X DP ; 8 Q X D, Q X B ; 9 B D2 ch, P-D4 ; 1 0 R-K7) ; 8 B-KKtS, R x P 9 ; B x R, and White was soon able to exploit the advantage of the exchange. The pawns afford the major pieces considerable assistance in the struggle for control of open files. In co-operation with major pieces an otherwise worthless pawn can become an important factor. In the game Janowski-Alapin (see Diagram 262) White had doubled pawns on the K file. However, after I R-Q6! exchanging by I . . . , R X R is practically forced (otherwise White enforces it just the same after Q-Q2) and the doubled pawn is changed into a strong passed pawn : 2 P X R, Q-Q2; 3 P-K4, P-QB4 (3 . . , P-R4 ; 4 P-B4 !, P x P ; 5 P-KS, R-K I ; 6 P-K6 !, P x P ; 7 B x P ch I, R X B ; 8 Q X R ch, Q X Q ; 9 P-Q7, and White wins) ; 4 P-KS, and White thereafter used his spatial advantage to build up an attack on the K side : 4 . . . , P-BS; S B-B2, Q-B3; 6 P-B3, Q-B4 eh; 7 K-RI, R-QI; 8 Q-KI!, R-Q2; 9 P-KR3, B-B3, IO P-B4, R-R2; II P-BS!, B-Q2; I2 P-B6! P-Kt3 ( 1 2 . . . , P x P ; 1 3 Q-Kt3 ch, K-RI (or D I ) ; 14 Q-B4 !); I3 Q-Kt3, K-R2; .

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206

The Pawns 262

Janowski-Alapin (Barmen, I90S)

I4 P-KR4, Q-BI; IS P-R5, Q-KKtI; I6 R-Q4, B-KI; I7 R-R4, O-BI ' I8 R-Kt4 Q-KtI ' I9 0-K31, R-Q2 ' 20 R--R4, Q-BI ' 2I P-KKt6l, K-RI; 22 P x P, P x P; 23 R x P ch, R-R2; 24 R x R clz, K :-