Chess Fundamentals - Capablanca

BY JOSE
R.
CAPABLANCA
A PRIMER OF CHESS
JOSE
R.
CAPABLANCA
CHESS
FUNDAMENTALS
BY
JOSE
R.
CAPABLANCA
CHESS CHAMPION OF THE WORLD
m
NEW YORK
HARCOURT, BRACE AND COIMPANY LONDON: G. BELL AND SONS, LTD.
COPYRIGHT, 1921, BY HARCOURT, BRACE AND COMPANY, INC.

All rights reserved.
mimeograph
or
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by any other means, without permission in writing from the publisher.
PRINTED IN THE
U. S. A.
SRLF
o<//S
PREFACE
Chess Fundamentals was
ago.
first
published thirteen years
Since then there have appeared at different times
a number of articles dealing with the so-called HjqDer-
modern Theory. Those who have read the articles may well have thought that something new, of vital importance, had been discovered. The fact is that the
Hypermodern Theory
is
merely the application, during
the opening stages generally, of the
same old
principles
through the medium of somewhat new
tactics.
There
has been no change in the fundamentals.
The change
has been only a change of form, and not always for the
best at that.
In chess the tactics
may
as
change but the strategic
fundamental principles are always the same, so that

Chess Fundamentals
years ago.
is
good now as
it
was thirteen
It will be as good a hundred years from now;
as long in fact as the laws
and
rules of the
game remain
therefore
what they are

that there
is
is
at present.
The
reader
may
go over the contents of the book with the assurance

in it ever>^thing
he needs, and that there
nothing to be added and nothing to be changed.

its
Chess Fundamentals was the one standard work of
kind thirteen years ago and the author firmly believes

that
it is
the one standard work of
its
J.
kind now.
R.
CAPABLANCA
New York
Sept. I, igs4
LIST OF
CONTENTS
I
I
PART
CHAPTER
First Principles: Endings, AIiddle-game akd Openings

PAGE
1. 2.
3.
4.
5.
Some Simple Mates Pawn Promotion Pawn Endings Some Winning Positions in the Middle-game
Relative \'alue of the Pleces General Strategy of the Opening Control of the Centre Traps
g
13
....
19
24
25
6.
7.
28
8.
32
CHAPTER
A A
II
Further Principles in End-game Play

9.
10.
11.
12.
Cardinal Principle Classical Ending Obtaining a Passed Pawn How to find out which Pawt^ \nLL be the first TO Queen
35 37
40
41 43
13.
14.
15.
16.
The Opposition The Relati\e \'alue of Knight and Bishop How to Mate with Knight and Bishop Queen against Rook
....
50
59 62
CHAPTER
III
PLANNnNG A WiN IN IMlDDLE-GAME PlAY

17. 18. 19.
Attacking wtthout Tire aid of Knights Attacking v^tth Knights as a Prominent Force. Winning by Indirect Attack
68
.
71
73
LIST OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER
IV
PAGE
20.
General Theory
The
Initiative
77
21.
22. 23.
24.
25.
Direct Attacks en masse The Force of the Threatened Attack Relinquishing the Initiative Cutting off Pieces from the Scene of Action ... A Player's Motives Criticised in a Specimen Game
78
82
89
94
99
CHAPTER V
End-game Strategy
26. 27.
28.
29.
30.
The Sudden Attack from a Different Side The Danger of a Safe Position Endings with one Rook and Pawns A Difficult Ending: Two Rooks and Pawns .... Rook, Bishop and Pawns v. Rook, Knight and Pawns
(A Final Example of preserving Freedom whilst imposing restraint.)
11
120
122
127
138
CHAPTER
VI
Further Openings and Middle-games

31.
32.
Some Salient Points about Pawns Some Possible Developments from a Ruy Lopez
(showing the weakness of a backward
143
Q B
P;
the 146
33.
power of a Pawn at K 5, etc.) The Influence of a "Hole"
150
LIST OF
CONTENTS
II
PART
ILLUSTIL\TIVE
GAME
1.
GAMES
PAGE
159
Queen's Gambit Declined (Match, 1909) White: F. J. MarshaU. Black: J. R. Capablanca.

Queen's Gambit Declined (San Sebastian,
White: A. K. Rubinstein.
Black:
J.
)
2.
1911). R. Capablanca.
163
3.
Irregular Defence (Havana,

White: D. Janowski.
Black:
J,
1913
169
R. Capablanca.
174
4.
French Defence
White:
J.
(St.
Petersburg,
a.
R. Capablan
(St.
1913) Black: E. A. Snosko-Borovski. 1914)

J. R. Capablanca.
5.
RuY Lopez
Petersburg,
Black:
181
White: Dr. E. Lasker.

6.
French Defence (Rice Memorial Tournament,

White: O. Chajes.
Black:
J.
191 6)
189
R. Capablanca.
197
7.
R\n Lopez (San

White:
J.
Sebastian, 1911 ) R. Capablanca. Black: A. Burn.

1913 ) Black: J. R. Capablanca.
8.
Centre Game (Berlin,

White:
J. Mieses.
201
9.
Queen's Gambit Declined (Berlin, 1913)

White:
J.
209
R. Capablanca.
Black: R. Teichmann.
10.
Petroff Defence (St. Petersburg, 1914)

White:
J.
215
R. Capablanca.
(St.
Black: F.
J.
Marshall. 221
11.
RuY Lopez
White:
J.
Petersburg,
R. Capablanca.
1914) Black: D. Janowski.
12.
French Defence (New York, 1918)

White:
J.
225
R. Capablanca.
Black: O. Chajes.
13.
Rl^ Lopez (New York,

White:
J. S.
1918)
Black:
J.
231
Morrison.
R. Capablanca.
1918).
.
14.
Queen's
Gambit Declined
J.
(New York,
238
White: F.
Marshall.
Black: J. R. Capablanca.
CHESS FUNDAMENTALS
CHESS FUNDAMENTALS
PART
CHAPTER
I
First Principles: Endings, Middle-Game
AND Openings
The
first
thing a student should do,

the
is
to familiarise
himself
with
power
of the
to
pieces.
This can
best be done
by learning how
simple mates.
1.
accompKsh quickly
some
of the
SOME SIMPLE
IÎATES
Example
King.
1.
The
is to
ending Rook and King against
The principle
last line
drive the opposing

the hoard.
King
to
the
on any side of
i^
mm^
^ ^
mm.
^m^
WwA
M.
mm.
m>.
^P
SOME SIMPLE MATES

In this position the power of the Rook
is
demonand the
7,
strated
by the
first
move,
R R
7,
which immediately
confines the Black
King
to the last rank,
mate
is
quickly
accomplished
2.
by:
iR R
and
K Kt i; 2 K Kt
The
forced.
combined
action
of
King
in
Rook
is
needed to arrive at a position
which mate can be

for
The
is
general
principle
beginner
to
foUow
to
keep his
King as
much
file,
as
possible
on the same
rank, or, as in this case,
as the opposing King.

to
When,
fiJe,
in this case, the

it is
King has been brought

it,
the sixth rank,
better to place
it
not on the same
but on the one next to

i; 3
towards the centre.

4,
2...K B
K-Q
Not
If
i;
K B 3, K K i; 4 K K K-Qs, K-B i; 6K-Q6.

6,
I
K B
Q
because then the Black King wiU

it
go back to
and
will take
much
longer to mate.
now
the King moves back to
i,
R R 8 mates
at once.
6...K-Kti;
K Kti;
It has
7R-QB7,K-Ri; 8K-B6, 9K Kt6, K Ri; loR BSmate.

On move
5
taken exactly ten moves to mate from the
original position.
Black could have played

(the Black
K K
King
I,
and, according to principle, White would
have continued
will ultimately
6K Q6, K Bi
be forced to move
King
in front of the
White
and
i;
be
8
mated
by
6,
K Kt K Kt
i; 10
K B R R
R R8); 7K K6, K R i; 9 K Kt
6,
8 mate.
SOME SIMPLE MATES

Example
2.
^.
W a W mm ^ ^ mm ^ 1 ^ i
I
WM.
WM.
f.^m.
'mm.
WiM
'immi.
ill
Since the Black King
is
in the centre of the board,

is
the best
way
to proceed
2,
to
advance your own King

2
thus:
K K
K Q
4;
K K
it
3.
is
As the
better to
Rook has not
yet come into play,
advance the King straight into the centre of the board,

not in front, but to one side of the other King.
Should
drives
if
now
it
the Black King
move
ch.
to
4,
the
Rook
If
back by
R R
6
;
On
the other hand,
2.
K B K Kt
3
. .
.
5 instead,
5,
then also 3
RR
3;
4,
5.
now
if
3.
there follows 4
KB
the
then 4
R R
K Q
but
instead
keeping the King
confined to as few squares as possible.
Now
5
7
ending
may
continue
K B
7.
R B
4 ch, 4 ch,
R-Kt
K Kt 6; 6 K-Q K R 6; 8 K-B K-R

3,
3,
K-Kt
7;
It
should be noticed
how
often the
White King has moved

it,
next to the Rook, not only to defend

reduce
the
but also to
mobility
of
the
opposmg King.
Now
6
White mates
SOME SIMPLE MATES

in three
moves thus:
in front of the
R R
4 ch,
file,
K Kt
II
10
R any
King
It
square on the Rook's
forcing the Black
White,
K B
R R
mate.
has taken eleven moves to mate,

I believe it
it
and, under any conditions, While in under twenty.

is
should be done
it
may
be monotonous,
worth while for the beginner to practice such

it
things, as
his pieces.
will teach
him
the proper handling of
Example
3.
Now
we come
to
two Bishops and
King against King.
Since the Black
King
is
in the corner.
White can
;
play
3
B Q 3, K Kt 2; 2 B K Kt 5, K B 2 B B 5, and already the Black King is confined

I
to a few squares. position,
If the
Black King,
in the original
had been
in the centre of the board, or
away
his
from the
last row.
White should have advanced
King, and then, with the aid of his Bishops, restricted
SOME SIMPLE MATES

the Black King's
possible.
movements
to as few squares as
We
In
might now continue
3...K
Kt2;4K B
2.
this
ending the Black King must not only be driven
to the edge of the board, but he
must
also be forced
into a comer, and, before a mate can be given, the
White King must be brought

at the
to the sixth rank and,

last
7,
same time,
in
one of the
two
8,
files
in this
case either
K R 6, K Kt 6, K B
KB
and as
KR6
.
and
K
5
Kt
6 are the nearest squares,
it is
to either of
4.
these squares that the
King ought
to go.
4,
.K
B
7
K Kt K Kt 2; 6 K R K B 2; K R K Kt 2; 8 B Kt K Kt i; 9K R6, K Bi. White must now mark time and

2;
3,
5,
6,
move one
King
to go
I.
of the Bishops, so as to force the Black
back
10
B R5,
it
K Kti;
iiB K7,
K R
position
Now
the White Bishop
must take up a
from which
can give check next mo\'e
along the White
diagonal,
i.
moves back
13
to
Kt
12
when the Black King B K Kt 4, K Kt i;
B K6ch, K Ri;
It has taken fourteen
14
B B6
to
force
mate.
the
in
moves
mate
under
and,
in
any
position,
it
should be
done
thirty.
In
all
endings of this kind, care must be taken
not to drift into a stale mate.
In this particular ending one should remember that

the King must not only be driven to the edge of the
board, but also into a corner.
In
all
such endings,
is
however,
it
is
immaterial whether the King
forced
SOME SIMPLE MATES

last rank, or to
on to the
or
an outside
file,
e.g.
KR
Q R
4,
K
4.
or
8.
Example
the
We
now come
it is
to
Queen and King

of
all
against King.
As the Queen combines the power

the Bishop,
the easiest mate of
Rook and
and should always be accomplished in under ten moves.
Take the
following position:
m
A
as
2
^m
is
Wfi
to
^m.
the
first
good way to begin
make
i
move with
the Queen, trying to limit the Black King's mobility
much
as possible.
2.
Thus:
Q B
6,
K Q KB
5;
K Q
Already the Black King has only one
available square 2...K
4; 3
KK
6,
3,
4;
5,
Q Q K Kt (Should Black play K Kt KR 5 then Q Kt 6 ch) 5 Q K K R K B 4 and mate next move); K moves; 6Q K Kt K R 6; 7 K B
6,
4.
;
(if
4,
6,
3,
mates.
In this ending, as in the case of the Rook, the Black King must be forced to the edge of the board only
;
PAWN PROMOTION
the Queen being so
9
the
much more powerful than

far easier
Rook, the process
is
and and
shorter.
These
are the three elementary endings
in all of these
the principle
tion of the
is
the same.
is
In each case the co-operaIn order to force a mate
King
needed.
without the aid of the King, at least two

required.
2.
Rooks
are
PAWN PROMOTION
is
The gain of a Pawn

to win, even
unit, apart
the smallest material advantage
that can be obtained in a
game
and
is
it
often
is
sufficient
when
the Pa,wn
the only remaining

is
from the Kings.
It
essential, speaking
generally, that
the
King should
he in front oj his
Pawn, with
at least
one intervening square.

If
the opposing King
is
directly in front of the
Pawn,
then the game cannot be won.

plained
This can best be ex-
by the following examples.

6.
Example
10
PAWN PROMOTION
position
is
The
for
drawn, and the way to proceed
is
Black to keep the King always directly
in front
in-
of the
Pawn, and when
it
cannot be done, as for
stance in this position because of the White King,
then the Black King must be kept in front of the
White King. The play would proceed thus
P
a
K 3,
very
as
K K
will
4;
K Q
later.
3,
K Q
other
4-
This
is
important move.
be shown
Any
move would
lose,
As the Black King cannot be kept close up to the Pawn, it must be brought as far forward as possible and, at the same time, in front
of the WTiite King.
PK K B 4,
3
4 ch,
K K
3.
4;
K K
3,
K K
3;
K B
Again the same
case.
As the
White King comes up, the Black King must be kept in front of it, since it caimot be brought up to the
Pawn.
P-K ch, K-K 3; 7K-K4, K-K2; K Q 2; 9 P K 6 ch, K K 2; 8 K Q now loK K K Ki; II K Q6, K Q
6
5
5,
5,
I.
If
White advances the Pawn, the Black King gets in front of it and White must either give up the Pawn
or play
K K
6,
and a
stale
mate
results.
If instead
of advancing the
Pawn White withdraws Black brings his King up to the Pawn and, when forced to go back, he moves to K in front of the Pawn ready to come up again or to move in front of the White Kmg, as before, should the latter advance. The whole mode of procedure is very important
his King,
and the student should become thoroughly conversant
PAWN PROMOTION
with
its details
;
II
for
it
involves principles to be taken

lost
up
later on,
and because many a beginner has

of proper knowledge.
identical positions from lack

this stage of the
its
At
on
book
cannot lay too
much
stress
importance.
6.
Example
King
is
In
this position WTiite wins, as the
in front of his
Pawn and
there
is
one intervening
square.
The method
of the
to follow
is
to
is
advance the King as far as
compatible with the safety
Pawn and
to
its
never to advance the

safety.
Pawn
until
it is
essential
own
I.
Thus:
K K
4,
K K
3.
Black does not allow the WTiite King to advance,

therefore
so to
now compelled to advance his Pawn as to force Black to move away. He is then able advance his own King.
White
is 2.
P-K3,K-B3;
3.
K-Q5,K-K2.
12
If
PAWN PROMOTION
Black had played
3.
.
.K B
4,
then White would
4, since he could be forced to advance the PawTi to not advance his King without leaving Black the
opportunity to play
K K
it
5, is
winning the Pawn.

better for
Since he has not done so,

to advance the
White not
safety does
still
Pawn
Thus:
yet, since its
own
not require
it,
but to try to bring the King
fur-
ther for\vard.
4.
K K5,K-Q2;
the White
5.
K-B6,K-Ki.
it
Now
Pawn
6.
is
too far back and
may be
brought up within protection of the King.
K4,K Q2.
to play
3,
Now
to bring
fore he
it
would not do
K B
7,
because
Black would play
K Q
King
and White would have

Pawn.
There-
back
his
to protect the
must
continue.
7.
P-K5,K-Ki.
else,
Had
he moved anywhere
White could have played
K B 7, followed by the advance of the Pawn to K 6, K 7, K 8 all these squares being protected by
;
the King.
As Black
tries to
prevent that, White must

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

8.
Thus
K K6.
it
K 6 would make play K B, and we
a draw, as Black would then

similar
5.
would have a position
to the one explained in connection with
Example
8...K B
i;
9K-Q
7.
PAWN ENDINGS
King moves and the White Pawn advances
becomes a Queen, and
it
13
to
8,
is
all
over.
This ending is like the previous one, and for the same reasons should be thoroughly understood before proceeding any further.
3.
PAWN ENDINGS
two
I shall
now
see
give a couple of simple endings of
Pawns
reader
against one, or three against two, that the
may
out
how they can be won.

it is
Fewer explana-
tions will be given, as
up
to the student to
work
things
learn
for
himself.
Furthermore,
nobody can
how
;
to play well merely
from the study of a
book
it
can only serve as a guide and the rest must

if
be done by the teacher,

not, the student
the student has one;
if
must reahse by long and
bitter ex-
perience the practical apphcation of the
many
things
explained in the book.
Example
7.
14
PAWN ENDINGS
this
In
1
position
6,
White
cannot
win
by
playing
P, which
2
PB
P,
because Black plays, not
PX
then
would
lose,
but
.K Kt
i,
and
if
PX
P,
If
KX
able
2
2P
and draws, as shown B 7 ch, K B I, and White
in a previous case.
will
never be
it.
to
Queen
7,
his
Pawn
3
without
losing
If
K K
I
PxP;
KxP,
K Bi,
and draws.
WTiite,
however,
can win the position given in the
diagram by playing:
K-Q
7,
K-Kt
If
i;
K-K
i;
7
7,
K-R
P-B
K R
6 mate.
i;
3P-B6,PXP.
3-K-Kt
3;
7
7ch,
K R i; 4 K B
6
P B 8 (Q) mate. 5 P Kt 7, P B 4;
ch,
2;
P-Kt
8 (Q) ch,
K R
^^'
Q-Kt
^^
W l^w f Mai
^P
wm
Example
by
I
8.
5.
PB
In the above
i
position
White can't win
Black's best answer would be
Kt
draws.
(The student
should work this out.)

5,
He
cannot win by
(This, because
Kt
because
Kt
3 draws.
of the principle
of the ''opposition''
PAWN ENDINGS
which governs
this
15
all
ending as well as
the
Pawn-
endings already given, and which will be explained
more
fully later on.)

:
White can win, however, by playing
K K
4,
K-K3. (If i...P-Kt 3; 2 K-Q 4, K-K 3; 3K-B5,K-B3;4K-Q6,K-B2;5P-Kt5,
K Kt 2; 6 K K K Kt i; K R2; 8K B7 and White wins P-B ch, K-B 3; 3 K-B

7,
K B
P-Kt
6,
the Pawn.)
4,
3.
(If this
Pawn
in
is
kept back we arrive at the ending

7.)
shown
Example
5P B6,
K B
into
ch, K B 2; 4 P Kt K K3;6K K4, K B2;7K K5,

5
I.
White cannot
force
his
Bishop's
Pawn
(find
out why), but by giving his
Pawn up he
Thus
can win the other
Pawn and
the game.
7, KxP; 9K Q6, K B i; loK K6, K Kt 2; II K K 7, K Kt i; 12 K B 6, K R2; 13 K B7, K R i; 14 K X P,
8P B
K Kti.
There
In
is
still
some
resistance in Black's position.
fact, the
only
way
to
win
is
the one given here,
as will easily be seen

15
to
by experiment.
6,
K R
(if
K B
i;
K R
17
2;
and
in order
win WTiite must get back to the actual position, as agamst 16 Kt 6 ch, R i draws), Ri
16
18
P Kt K R
6,
7,
K Kt
P Kt
the
7,
K KB
2;
and White queens
Pawn
and
wins.
This ending, apparently so simple, should show the

student the enormous
difficulties
to be surmounted,
i6
PAWN ENDINGS
left,
even when there are hardly any pieces
when
playmg agamst an adversary who knows how to use the resources at his disposal, and it should show the
student, also, the necessity of paying strict attention
to these elementary things
which form the basis of
true mastership in Chess.
Example
9.
In
this
ending
Mm.
Mm.
MM i ^^ w. $m
Mm.
WTiite can win
by advancing any
it
of the three
Pawns
on the
first
move, but
is
convenient to follow the

is
general rule, whenever there

it,
it.
no good reason against

no
of advancing the
Fawn
Thus we begin by
I.
thai has
Pawn
opposing
P-B 5,K-K2.
a similar ending
. .
.
IfP Kt3, P B6; and we have

to one of those
shown above.
If
PR
P-Kt
2.
5-
K-K5,K-B2;
3.
P- Kt K-K
5,
2.
PAWN ENDINGS
If
17
3...P-Kt 3; 4 P-B 6, and if S...F-R 3; P Kt 6 ch, and in either case we have a similar
4.
ending to one of those already shown.
P-R5,
and by following
it
up with P
Kt
P X P
we have the
same ending previously shown.
Should Black play

;
4...P Kt
3,
then
result.
R PX
P,
PB
6 ch
with the same
Having now seen the

all
on one
side of
a case when there

board.
when the PawTis are the board we shall now examine are Pawns on both sides of the
cases
Example
10.
In
these cases the general rule
is
to act immediately on the side where you have the su-
perior forces.
Thus we have
I.
P KKt4.
i8
PAWrN ENDINGS
advance the
It is generally advisable to
Pawn
that
is
free
from opposition.
I
P-QR4.
Black makes an advance on the other side, and now White considers whether or not he should stop the
advance.
In this case either
way
wins, but generally
the advance should be stopped
when
the opposing
King
2.
is
far
away.
P-QR4,K-B3; 3.P-R4,K-K3.
.K
If 3.
Kt
4,
3,
then simple counting will show that

side with his King, his single
White goes to the other
wms
the
at
Q R
and then Queens
Pawn
long
before Black can do the same.
K-B 2; 5'K-B K B 6.P R and P Kt 6...P R 3;

4.
P-Kt
5,
5,
5,
K-Kt
2;
2.
If
6,
then the two
Pawns defend themselves and White can go to the other side with his King, to win the other Pawn.
7.
K-K5.
single
Now
This
out
it is
time to go to the other side with the King,
win the Black Pawn and Queen the

is
Pawn.
typical of all such endings

in this case
and should be worked and

in similar cases
by the student
which he can put up.
SOME WINNING POSITIONS

4.
19
SOME WINNING POSITIONS IN THE MIDDLE-
GAME
By
the time the student has digested
all
is
that has
been previously explained, he, no doubt,

to get to
anxious
the actual game and play with
all
the pieces.
shall
However, before considering the openings, we

devote a
little
time to some combinations that often
arise during the
game, and which
will give
the reader
some idea of the beauty of the game, once he becomes

better acquainted with
it.
Example
11.
âi
v;^
Mii/l
Z1
It is Black's
move, and thinking that White merely
threatens to play
Q R
6 and to mate at
i,
Black plays
of
1...R K
threatening
Kt 7, mate by way
and most
R K
8.
White now uncovers
his real
effective threat, viz.
I...R Ki; 2QxPch,KxQ; K Kti; 4R R8 mate.
3R Rsch,
20

of a
This same t>ê of combination

result
may come as the somewhat more compHcated position.
Example
12.
4^^^
^^^
iBi
|S!<
^^
<:,y>iiii.
White
is
a piece behind, and imless he can win

will lose
;
it
back quickly he
1.
he therefore plays
Kt X Kt
B Kt
He
by
cannot take the
Kt because White
threatens mate
QXP
if
ch followed by
2.
RR
ch,
3 ch.
Kt Kych
;
QxKt
KXQ
;
Again
B X Kt
;
QXP
RR
3 ch,
King moves
3. 4.
R 8 Rx Q Q-Q7
P.
mate.
BxR
of
and WTiite wins one

with a
the two
Bishops,
remams
and a
win
against a
and B, and should
therefore
easily.
These two examples show the
IN
THE MIDDLE-GAME
21
danger of advancing the

having Castled on that
Kt P one
square, after
side.
Example
13.
WM<>Mf'^.
w^
c^..
'^
^ ^ ^ w
&a^
^
î^
This
tion.
is
another very interesting t>pe of combina-
Black has a
R
is
for a
Kt and
in
fact,
should therefore
win, unless White

tion
able to obtain some compensa-
immediately.
WTiite,
mates
in
a few
moves thus
I.
Kt B 6ch
PxKt
K R
I
Forced, otherwise
2.
QXP
mates.
Q Kt 3 ch
B X P
mate.
3.
Example
curs
in
14.
The
same t\pe
of combination oc-
a more comphcated form in the following
position.
22
If
B X Kt B X Kt Q B
1.
;
QX
3
is
B.
threatens mate, and there-
fore wins the Q,

2.
which
already attacked.
Kt B
B XP
6ch
Px
Kt
3.
R Kt3 ch
mate.
K Ri
4.
Example
tion
is
15.
very frequent type of combina-
shown
in the following position.
mm:
i
t^
wm'
^^'mm"t''"-c<m/'^^''
m. ^Wm.^
'mm.
m,
IN
Here White
THE MIDDLE-GAME
is
23
the exchange
:
and a Pawn behind,

i
but he can win quickly thus

(If
I...K-R
6,
i;
Q-K
i;
7
B x P ch, K X B. P KKta; 5,
5,
Q R
2
and
5 ch,
wins.)
Q R
a R.
K Kt
KR
5,
Kt Kt
and Black
cannot stop mate at
except by sacrificing the
Queen by
Q K
which would leave White with a
for
Example
position.
16.
This
same type
of combination
is
seen in a more complicated form in the following
24
6
8
RELATIVE VALUE OF THE PIECES

7 ch, 7
Q R Kt R
K B i; 7 Q R 8 ch, K K 2; 9 R K
is
ch,
i
Kt Kt
i; i;
ch,
K Q
10
Q X Kt
mate.
rather long and has
This combination
ations,
many
vari-
therefore a beginner will hardly be able to

it
;
fathom
but,
knowing the type
of
combination,
he might under similar circumstances undertake and

carry out a briUiant attack which he would otherwise
never think
tions
of.
It will
be seen that
all
the combina-
shown have
for a foundation the proper co-ordiall
nation of the pieces, which have
been brought to
bear against a weak point.
5.

advisable to give the student an idea
Before going on to the general principles of the

openings,
it
is
of the proper relative value of the pieces.
There
is
no complete and accurate table

the only thing to do
arately.
is
for all of
them, and
to
compare the pieces sep-
For
all
general theoretical purposes the Bishop and
the Knight have to be considered as of the same value,
though
it is
my
opinion that the Bishop will prove the

in
more valuable piece

Knights.
most cases
and
it is
well
known
that two Bishops are almost always better than two
The Bishop will be stronger against Pawns than the Kjiight, and in combination with Pawns will also be stronger against the Rook than the Knight
will be.
25
A Bishop and a Rook are also
stronger than a Knight
and a Rook, but a Queen and a Knight may be stronger than a Queen and a Bishop.
A Bishop
will often
be worth more than three PawTis,

so,
but a Knight very seldom
and may even not be
worth so much.
A Rook
Bishop
will
will
be worth a Knight and two Pawns,
or a Bishop and two Pa\\Tis, but, as said before, the
be a better piece against the Rook.

are
slightly
Two Rooks
They
Bishop, and a
stronger than
Queen.
are slightly weaker than two Knights and a

little
more
so than
two Bishops and

of the
a Knight.
The power
of the
off.
Knight decreases as
the pieces are changed
The power
Rook,
on the contrary,
increases.
The King, a purely

pieces are off the
defensive piece throughout the

all
middle-game, becomes an offensive piece once

there are one or two minor pieces
the
board, and sometimes even

left.
when
The handling
of the King becomes of paramount importance once
the end-game stage

6.
is
reached.
GENERAL STRATEGY OF THE OPENING
The main thing is to develop the pieces quickly. Get them into play as fast as you can. From the outset two moves, iP K4oriP Q4,
open up
lines for the
theoretically
one
Queen and a Bishop. Therefore, of these two moves must be

first
the best, as
no other
move accomplishes
so
much.
26
GENERAL STRATEGY
17.
1.
Example
Suppose
3
we begin
P K4
2.
Kt KB
P K4
move
This
is
both an attacking and a developing move.
Black can
play
now
2
either reply with the identical
or
Kt QB3
This developing move at the same time defends

the King's Pawn.
3.
Kt-B3 B-Kt5
advisable
is
Kt-B3
These moves are of a purely developing nature.

4.
//
is
generally
not
to
bring
this
Bishop
King's
out until
one Knight
out,
preferably
also
the
Knight.
to
The Bishop could

it is
have been played
4,
but
advisable whenever possible to combine
development and attack.

4
B-Kt5
same manner, threatening a pos-
Black
sible
replies in the
exchange of Bishop for Knight with Kt
XP
to
follow.
5-
0-0
way
of
an
indirect
preventing
will
5...BxKt, which
At
more experience or study

the same time the Rook
centre^
is
show to be bad.
brought into action in the
a very important point.
OF THE OPENING
5
27
0-0
line of reasoning.
Black follows the same

6.
P-Q3
P-Q3
:
These moves have a two-fold object, \iz. to protect the King's Pawn and to open the diagonal for the
development of the Queen's Bishop.
7.
B-Kt5
i
A very powerful move, which brings us to the middlegame

stage, as there is already in
view a combination
it
to win quickly
by Kt Q
5.
This threat makes
impossible
for
Black to continue the same course.
(There
lose
if
is
a long analysis showing that Black should
he also plays
B Kt
as
5.)
He
is
now
forced to
play
7...BxKt,
up
the
experience
has
shown,
thus
bringing
First,
to notice three things.
complete development of the opening

(This varies
has taken only seven moves.

or twelve
up
to ten
moves
in some very exceptional cases.
As
rule, eight
should be enough.)
Second, Black has
28
CONTROL OF THE CENTRE

QRP
Pawn
been compelled to exchange a Bishop for a Knight,

but as a compensation he has isolated White's
and doubled a Pawn.

the game,
is
is
(This, at such
an early stage of
Third,
rather an advantage for White, as the
doubled towards the centre of the board.)
White by the exchange brings up a Pawn to control the square Q 4, puts Black on the defensive, as experience will show, and thus keeps the
tionable advantage.^
initiative,
an unques-
The
same
strategical principles
expounded above are the

only their tactical appli-
for all
the openings,
cation varies according to the circumstances.
Before proceeding further I wish to lay stress on

the following point which the student should bear in
mind.
Before development has been completed no piece should
he
moved more than once, unless
it
is essential
in order
to obtain either
material advantage or to secure freedom
of action.
The beginner would do

well as
well to
remember
:
this, as
what has already been stated
viz.,
bring
out the Knights before bringing out the Bishops.
7.
The
four squares,
4 and
4 on each side respec-
tively, are the centre squares,
and control
The
of these
control of
squares
is
called control of the centre.
the centre is of great importance.
No
violent attack
can succeed without controlling at least two of these

^
The value
of the initiative is explained in section 20, p. 77.

squares,
29
and possibly
three.
Many
a manoeuvre in
the opening has for

centre,
its sole
object the control of the

initiative.
it
which invariably ensures the
It
is
well always to bear this in mind, since
will often
be
moves which could not otherwise be properly understood. As this book progresses I shall dwell more fully on these different points. At
the reason of a series of
present I shall devote some time to openings taken
random and explain the moves according to general principles. The student will in that way train his
at
mind
in the
proper direction, and will thus have
less
trouble in finding a
way out when
confronted wîth a
new and
difficult
situation.
Example
18.
1.
2.
P K4 Kt KB
P K4 P Q3
move
is
timid move.
Black assumes a defensive attitude

wrong.
be
at once.
On
principle the
In the
openings, whenever possible, pieces

preference to
shmdd
moved in
Paums.
3-
P-Q4
offensive
White takes the

deploy his forces.
3
immediately and strives
to control the centre
so as to
have ample room
to
Kt-Q2
move
to
Black does not wish to relinquish the centre and also

prefers the text
Kt Q B
3,
which would
be the more natural square for the Kt.
But on
prin-
30
ciple the

move
is
wrong, because
it
blocks the action

of faciHtating the
of the Queen's Bishop,
and instead
action of Black's pieces, tends, on the contrary, to
cramp them.
4.
B QB
KR3
of his previous
Black
is
forced to
pay the penalty
move.
itself
Such a move on Black's part condemns by any form of opening that makes it necessary.
White threatened Kt
it
.
Kt
2,
and Black could hot stop

5
(if
P X P, Kt X P because of with 4. .B K 5...PXP, 6 Q-Q 5); 6 KtxKt, PxKt; Q R and White wins a Pawn and has besides a
5,
perfectly safe position.

5.
Kt B3
6.
7.
K3 Q K2
that he wants
last
KKt B3 B K2
White does not Castle
force
yet.
It should be noticed that
The reason
is
to deploy his forces first,
and through the
move
Black
to as
play
PQ B
threatens
3 to
make room
i,
for the
Queen
White
R Q
7
8. 9.
to be followed
other alternatives
would
finally
by P X P. Black's force him to play
PX
P, thus abandoning the centre to White.
P-B3
R Qi
-O
Q -B
his
With
this last
is
move White completes
development,
while Black
evidently somewhat hampered.
A simple
examination
will suffice to
show that White's position

is
31
unassailable.
There are no weak spots
in his
armour,
and
his pieces are ready for
any manoeuvre that he
may
wish to carry out
in
order to begin the attack on
the enemy's position.
study this example.
It will
The student should carefully show him that it is someI
times convenient to delay Castling.
have given the
moves
as they
come
to
my mind
without following
any standard book on openings.

given by
\Miether the moves
me
agree or not with the standard works, I

of this
do not know, but at the present stage

it is
book
not convenient to enter into discussions of mere
technicalities
which the student
will
be able to under-
stand when he has become more proficient.
Example
19.
1.
2.
3.
P K4 Kt-KB3 P-Q4
P K4 P-Q3
B-Kt5
least
bad move, which
violates one of the principles set
down, according to which at
one Knight should
be developed before the Bishops are brought out, and

also because
in the
it
exchanges a Bishop for a Knight, which

is
opening
generally bad, unless there
is
some
compensation.
4.
PxP
32
7.
TRAPS
8.
Q-QKt3 Kt-B3
5-
P-QKt3
P-QB3
To prevent
Kt Q
li
Black, however, has no pieces out except his Queen,
and White, with a Bishop and a Knight already developed, has a chance of obtaining an advantage quickly
by playing Kt Q 5 anyway. The student is to work out the many variations arising from
position.
left
this
These examples
will
show the
practical appHcation
of the principles previously enunciated.

is
The student
to pieces
3
warned against playing Pawns in preference at the beginning of the game, especially P
K R
and
P Q R
3,
which are
moves very commonly
in-
dulged in by beginners.
8.
TRAPS
which (practice has shown)
I shall
now
give a few positions or traps to be avoided
in the openings,
and
in
beginners are often caught.
TRAPS
Example
20.
33
M#
Pf#
'
'
mi.
i^mV///^
^êii
^
White plays:
1.
PxP
Kt
V
KtxP
BXQ
5
Black should have recaptured with the Pawn.

2.
Kt
mate.
3.
4.
BxPch
Kt Q
K K2
Example 21.
11^
i^'^*^^
^^":?
34
TRAPS
Black, having the move, should play
P K
3.
But
suppose he plays
1.
Kt
ch
KB
3 instead, then
comes
BX P
Kt
does
would
also give
White the advantage, the
threat being of course
ifBxQ;
2BXP
2
mate.
Nor
i
.
BR
5 help matters,
because of
QX
B,
BK
White's
3 leaves
Black with the
inferior position.
But
move
in the text secures
an immediate material
advantage, and the beginner at any rate should never

miss such an opportunity for the sake of a speculative
advantage in position.
I
2.
KxB
Kt K KtxB
5
ch
K moves
3.
and White has won a Pawn besides having the better

position.
There are a good many other traps

is
in
fact, there
a book written on traps on the chess board;

is
but
the type given above
the most
common
of
all.
CHAPTER
II
Further Principles in End-Game Play
We
and
shall
now go back
to the endings in search of a
few more principles, then again to the middle-game,

finally to the
openings once more, so that the ad-
vance
this
may not only be gradual but homogeneous. In way the foundation on which we expect to build
the structure will be firm and solid.
9.
A CARDINAL PRINCIPLE
Wa
_
In the position shown above, White can draw by
playing
P Kt
4 according to the general rule that

i.e.
governs such cases,
to
advance the
Pawn
that is
But suppose that White, either free from opposition. because he does not know this principle or because he
35
36
A CARDINAL PRINCIPLE
suppose,
does not, in this case, sufficiently appreciate the value

of its application;
we
say,
that he plays
i
.
p_Q R PQ R
I
4.
Then Black can win by playing
4,
applying one of the cardinal prmciples of
the high strategy of chess
A
ponent's Pawns.
stress
unit that holds two.
In this case one
Pawn would
It
hold two of the oplay too
The student cannot
on
this principle.
it
can be applied in
much many
ways, and
in the
constitutes one of the principal
weapons
hands of a master.
Example
cient proof.
22.
The
example given should be
suffi-
ation
We
give a few
moves
of the
main
vari-
1.
P R4
P QR4
2
2.
K Kt
(Best
;
KB
see why.)
3.
P Kt
(Best.)
PXP
P Kt6 P Kt 7
4.
5.
P R5 P R6
6.
7.
P-R7
P-Kt8(Q)
8.
P-R8(Q) Q-Ksch KXQ QX Q

is
This brings the game to a position which

Black,
won by
classical
and which constitutes one
of
the
endings of King and Pawns.

guiding idea of
it
I shall try to explain the

it.
to those not familiar with
A CLASSICAL ENDING
10.
37
A CLASSICAL ENDING
^ ^ "^^^ mm
^
Example
at
23.
In
this
position WTiite's best line
of defence consists in keeping his
Pawn where
it
stands
2.
As soon
as the
easier for
Black to win.
Pawn is advanced it becomes On the other hand, Black's

parts.
plan to win (supposing that WTiite does not advance
Pawn) may be divided into three part will be to get his King to K R 6,
his
The
first
at the
same time
(This
it
keeping intact the position of his Pawns,
is is
aU important,
essential at the
his rearmost
since, in order to
win the game,

to
end that Black may be able
advance
Pawn one
or two squares according to
the position of the White King.)

1.
2.
K K
4,
Kt3
Kt
2
K K6
7;
3
If 2
K-Kt
K-B
P-R
4,
P-Kt
îU
win.
38
2
3. 4.
5.
A CLASSICAL ENDING
K-B K Kt 2 K Kt
2
I
K-B5 K Kts K R 5 K R6
The
first
part has been completed.
If
'
^
The second part
advancing the
6.
7.
^ ^ S
will
be short and
will consist in
RP
up the K.
K Ri K Kt
m
P R4 P R5
This ends the second part.
r^^P
i ,,
__^^
^^^^^
^__
^^^^.
'mi_
A CLASSICAL ENDING
The third part the Kt P so as
King
sary
is
39
will consist in
timing the advance of

6
to play
It
P Kt
when
the White
at
R
to
it is
now becomes evident how necesbe able to move the Kt P either one or
I.
two squares according to the position

King, as indicated previously.^
White's move, the
since the
of the WTiite
it
In this case, as
is
Pawn
will
be advanced two squares

if
it
White King
one
square
will
be in the comer, but
were now Black's move the
Kt P
the
should only be ad^

WTiite
vanced
since
King
is
at
Kt
I.
8.
K R
Px
P
P Kt4
I
9.
K-Kt
10. 11.
K Ri
P Kt
7.
P-KT5 P Kt6
If
K Kt
I,
II
12. 13.
K Kt I KB 2
way
PXP P Kt 7 K R7
that the student should
and wins.
It is in this analytical
try to learn.
logical
He
will
thus train his mind to follow a
sequence in reasoning out any position.

is
This
example
it
excellent training, since
it is
easy to di\ade
into three stages
and
to explain the
main point
of
each part.
The next
subject
we
^
shall
study
is
the simple oppo-
See page 37.
40
sition,
OBTAINING A PASSED PAWN

but before we devote our time to
it
I wish to
call attention to
two
things.
11.
OBTAINING A PASSED PAWN

more Pawns are opposed to each
as the one in
When
other in
there
is
three or
some such position
Example
24,
always a chance for one side or the other of
obtaining a passed Pawn.
wAm..
m P
^m...
m
Example
Pawn.
1.
mm
way
of
24.
In
the above position the
obtaining a passed
Pawn
is
to
advance the centre
P Kt6
RPxP
PxBP
White Pawn
is
If
PxP;
2.
PR
6,
3.
P B6 P R6
case the
of
and as
in
this
nearer
to
will
Queen than any
the
Black Pawns, White
WHICH PAWN FIRST TO QUEEN

win.
41
Now
if
it
had been Black's move Black could
play
I
P-Kt3
2.
BPxP
BPxP
to try to obtain a passed
It
would not be advisable
Pawn
because the White Pawns would be nearer to

single
Queen than the

3.
Black Pa\Mi.
Px
PxP
The
and the game properly played would be a draw.

student should work this out for himself.
12.
HOW TO
FIND OUT WHICH PAW^ WILL BE FIRST TO QUEEN

free,
WTien two Pawns are
or will be free, to ad-
vance to Queen, you can find out, by counting, which
Pawn
will
be the
25.
first
to succeed.
this position
Example
wins.
In
whoever moves
first
42
WÎCH PAWN FIRST TO QUEEN

The
first
thing
is
to find out,
by counting, whether
the opposing King can be in time to stop the passed
Pawn from
Queening.
When,
as
m this case,
it
cannot
be done, the point is to count which Pawn comes in In this case the time is the same, but the Pawn first. that reaches the eighth square first and becomes a
Queen
is
in
a position to capture the adversary's
Queen when he makes one.

1.
Thus
P R4
P-KR4
P-R5 PXP
White can capture
so,
2.
3.
P-Rs P Kt6
httle calculation.
if
Now
ing,
comes a
the Pawn, but
he does
he
will not,
when Queen-
command
Pawn.
the square where Black will also Queen
his
Therefore, instead of taking, he plays:

4.
5.
6.
P-R6 P R7 P R8
P-R6 P-R7
(Q),
and wins.
well
to
The student would do
acquaint hunself
with various simple endings of this sort, so as to acquire the habit of counting, and thus be able to know
with ease when he can or cannot get there
again I must
call
first.
Once
attention to the fact that a book
cannot by
as a guide,
itself
teach
how
to play.
It can only serve
and
if
must be learned by experience, a teacher can be had at the same time, so much
and the
rest
the faster will the student be able to learn.
THE OPPOSITION
13.
43
THE OPPOSITION
When
by
force,
Kings have to be moved, and one player can,
brmg his King into a position similar to the one shown in the following diagram, so that his adversary is forced to move and make way for him, the
player obtaining that advantage
oi) position.
is
said to
have
the
Example
plays
26.
Suppose
K-Q4
White
in the
above position White
I.
Now
or,
if
Black has the option of either opposing the

of
passage
the
Kmg
by playing
the
K Q
he prefers, he can pass with his
own King
Kings are
by replying
directly
K B
4.
Notice that
opposed to each other, and the number of
intervening squares between

this case.
them
is
odd
one
in
The
opposition can take the form shown
above,
44
THE OPPOSITION
close frontal opposition;
which can be called actual or

or this form:
^^^
^ ^ ^
I^S fe^
^B
'^M/i
^ ^ ^^
which can be called actual or close diagonal opposition,
or, again, this
form
,^^WmJ^ mm,^
^^^^^^^P ^^^^
^^
^,
^^,
^P
all
^m
^M,
lateral opposition.
which can be called actual or close

In practice they are
one and the same.
The
Kings,
Kings are always on squares of the same colour, there

is
only one intervening square between the

last '^has the
and the player who has moved
op position P
THE OPPOSITION
Now,
if
45
the student will take the trouble of moving
each King backwards as in a game in the same frontal,

diagonal or lateral line respectively shown in the dia-
grams, we shall have what
may
be called distant frontal,
diagonal and lateral opposition respectively.
The matter
and takes
of the opposition
is
highly important,
all
at times
somewhat complicated forms,
of which can be solved mathematically;
but, for the
present, the student should only consider the
most
simple forms.
of
{An examination of some of the examples King and Pawns endings already given will show
all
several cases of close opposition.)
In
simple forms of opposition,
when
the
Kings are on
move has
the
same
line
and
the
number
of intervening squares between them is even, the player
who has
the
the opposition.
^
W m
^*^,
^m,
^m
1
Example
tage
the
27.
The above
position shows to advanof
enormous value
the
opposition.
The
46
position
is
THE OPPOSITION
very simple.
Very
little
is
left
on the
board, and the position, to a beginner, probably looks

absolutely even.
ever has
tlie
It is
not the case, however.
Who-
move wins.
Notice that the Kings are
directly in front of one another,
and that the number

win such a
position.
of intervening squares
is even.
Now
Thus:
as to the procedure to
to begin
is
The proper way
to
move
straight up.
I.
K K2
THE OPPOSITION
defence more difficult
to
47
overcome.
Let us begin
anew.
K K2 Nowif 2K Q3, K Q
I.
KQ
2,
or
if
K K3, K K
both cases.
2,
and Black obtains the opposition
in
(WTien
the Kings are directly in Iront of one another, and the
number
is
of
intervening
squares
between the Kings

last
odd,
the
player
who has moved
has the
opposition.)
Now
There
in order to win, the
White King must advance.
is
only one other square where he can go,

is
3,
and that
waiting
or
file
the right place.
Therefore
it is
seen that
so-called
in such cases
when
the opponent
makes a
have
move, you must advance, leaving a rank free between the Kings. Therefore we
2.
K B 3
K K
Now, it would be bad to advance, because then Black, by bringing up his King in front of your King, would
obtain the opposition.
similar
It is
White's turn to play a
move
3.
to Black's first
move,
viz.
K-K3
first
which brings the position back to the

shown.
self
variation
The student would do

It often
well to familiarise himin all
with the handling of the King
examples of
losing of
opposition.
means the winning or
a game.
48
THE OPPOSITION
Example
28.
The following position
is
an excellent
proof of the value of the opposition as a means of

defence.
,_.
^
11 6
^_^
m
P
^m^mm
apparently
yet he
^
^m^ mm^
White
is
Pawn behind and
lost,
can manage to draw as follows

1.
K Ri!
Pawns does not permit White
in
effect
if
The
to
position of the
draw by means
of the actual or close opposition,

:
hence he takes the distant opposition

1
K B K B
I 2,
(actual or
close
opposition),
K Q
7;
K Q
move,
and White cannot continue to

at
keep the lateral opposition essential to his safety,

because of his
after the text
I
2.
own Pawn
if
3.
On
the other hand,
K R2
3.
K-R3I
K-Q7 K Q6 K-K7
THE OPPOSITION
4.
5.
49
K Kt2
K-Kt3
K K6 K-Q5
forcing Black to play 6
.
6.
K Kt4
Pawn and
.
attacking the
K K
when he can go back
to
Kt
3 as already
shown, and always keep the opposition.
Going back to the original position,

1.
if
K Ri
P Kt
White does not play P X P, because P

win, but plays
2.
will
K Kt
ch;
3
K Q
followed
If
2...PXP
draw.
3.
KxP,
by
K K
4,
will
PXP
will
P-K5
show that both
sides
and mere counting

drawing the game.
If the
Queen,
student will
now
take the trouble to go back

I
to the examples of
King and Pawns which

of
have
given in this book,^ he will reaUse that in

the matter of the opposition
is
all of
them
paramount imporall
tance
as, in fact, it is in
nearly
endings of King
and Pawns, except

position in itself
in
such cases where the Pawn-
ensures the win.

^
See page 13.
50
14.
THE RELATIVE VALUE

THE RELATIVE VALUE OF KNIGHT AND BISHOP
it is
Before turning our attention to this matter
weU
so
if
to state
now
that two Knights alone cannot mate,
but, under certain conditions of course, they can do
the opponent has one or
more Pawns.
^^'fS
^WMSh^9
^W
Example
29.
In the above position White cannot

King
is
win, although the Black
cornered, but in the
following position, in which Black has a
Pawn,
White wins with or without the move.

I.
Thus
Kt Kt6
P R5
OF KNIGHT AND BISHOP

White cannot take the Paun because the game
be drawn, as explained before.
2.
51
will
3. 4.
5.
Kt K 5 Kt B6 Kt Kt 5
Kt B
7
P R6 P R7
P-R8(Q)
is
mate
eviaent.
The reason
White with
for this peculiarity in chess

the
two Knights can only stalemate the
King, unless Black has a
Pawn
is
which can he moved.

a Bishop and a Pa\^'n
Example
30.
Although he
ahead the following position cannot be won by WTiite.
m.._ i
<i&.
^^^îi
It is the greatest
weakness of the Bishop, that when

a square of opposite colour
in front of the Pa^^^l, the
the Rook's
Pawn Queens on
is
and the opposing King

Bishop
is
absolutely worthless.
All that Black has to

close to the
do
is
to keep
moving
his
King
comer
square.
52
THE RELATIVE VALUE
Example
variation.
31.
In the above position White with or

Take the most
difficult
without the move can win.
Kt 4 ch P Kt4 K B K B 2 P R7
Kt
I
K R7 K R8
Kt-K3
6.
7.
P-Kt5
Kt B I Kt X P mate
we have
the
P Kt6ch
we
Now
can
that
seen these exceptional cases, merits
analyse
different
and the
relative
value of the Knight and the Bishop.

It
is
is
generally thought
by amateurs that the Knight
the more valuable piece of the two, the chief reason
being that, unlike the Bishop, the Knight can
command
fact
is
both Black and White squares.
However, the
generally overlooked that the Knight, at
any one time,

has the choice of one colour only.
to bring a
It takes
53
longer
Also,
much
Knight from one wing to the other.

in
as
shown
the following Example, a Bishop can

;
stalemate a Knight
is
a compliment which the Knight
unable to return.
Example
32.
The weaker
is
the player the
more
terrible the
Knight
to him, but as a player increases in strength the
value of the Bishop becomes more evident to him, and

of course there
is,
or should be, a corresponding decrease
in his estimation of the value of the
Knight as compared
to the Bishop.
In this respect, as in
many
others, the
masters of to-day are far ahead of the masters of former

generations.
While not so long ago some of the very
best amongst them, like Pillsbury

ferred Knights to Bishops, there
is
and Tchigorin, prehardly a master of

agree with the state-
who would not completely ments made above.

to-day
54
THE RELATIVE VALUE
This is about the only case when Example 33. Knight is more valuable than the Bishop.
the
m
i
W^
mm
^M
^"S"^ >k mm
^^ M
i
m^3.
i
^m.
* ^^m
i
^mmfmyW mg
^P
is
m^
fp 1
i^
It is
what
called a 'Ûock position

(If
^''^
and
all
the
Pawns are on one side of the board.

on both
in
there were
Pawns
sides of the
board there would be no advantage

In such a position Black has
having a Knight.)
excellent chances of winning.
Of course, there
his Bishop.
is
an
a
extra source of weakness for WTiite in having his
Pawns
is
on the same colour-squares as
This
The proper way, mistake often made by players. generally, in an ending, is to have your Pawns on squares of opposite colour to that of your own Bishop.
When you have your
Pa^Mis on squares of the same
colour the action of your
own Bishop
is
limited
by
is
them, and consequently the value of the Bishop
diminished, since the value of a piece can often be
measured by the number

While on this subject,
of
squares
it
commands.
I shall also call attention to the
OF KNIGHT AXD BISHOP

fact that
it is
55
generally preferable to keep your
Pawns
on squares
of the
same colour as that

if
of the opposing
Bishop, particularly
they are passed Pawns supprinciples
ported by the King.
The
might be stated
thus
When
Bishop.
the
opponent hns a BisJiop, keep your Paiims

the
on squares of
same
colour
as
your
opponent's
Whenever you have a
BisJiop,
ivJiether
the
op portent
of
tJie
has also one or not, keep your

opposite colour to that of
Pawns on squares your own Bishop.
Naturally, these principles have sometimes to be
modified to suit the exigencies of the position.
Example
34.
In the
following position the Pa\Mis
are on one side of the board,

in having either a
and there
is
no advantage
Knight or a Bishop.
The game
should surely end in a draw.
56
THE RELATIVE VALUE

35.
Example
Now
let
us add three
Pawns on
each side to the above position, so that there are
Pawns on both
sides of the board.
It
is
now
preferable to have the Bishop, though

if
the position,
properly played out, should end in a

of having the
draw.
The advantage
in its ability to
Bishop Kes as
much
command,
at long range, both

its
sides of the board from a central position as in
abihty to
move quickly from one
side of the
board
to the other.
m ^^
^^
'^'imm.
"^WiM.
'''m
W S ^

Example 36
57
it is
In
the
above position
un-
questionably an advantage to have the Bishop, because,
although each player has the same number of Pawns, they are not balanced on each side of the board.
Thus,
on the King's
the
side.
White has three

it
to two, while
on
to
Queen's
Still,
side
is
Black
that
has
three
two.
in
with proper play, the game should end
draw,
though
White
has
somewhat
better
chances.
Example
37.
Here
is
is
position
in
which to
have the Bishop
a decided advantage, since not
M m
mm.
t: ^:^
'%,
only are there PawTis on both sides of the board,
but there
is
a passed
Black).
Pawn (K
R P
if
for
WTiite,
Q R P
at
all.
for
Black
should
have
extreme
it
difficulty in
drawing
this position,
he can do
58
VALUE OF KNIGHT AND BISHOP

38.
Example
Again Black would have great
diffi'
culty in drawing this position.
i.^^-25^^
** mmi^
**
m$:
^ ?i
The student should
tions.
I
i^
carefully consider these posi-
hope that the
many examples
As
will help
him
to understand, in their true value, the relative merits

of the
Knight and Bishop.
to the general
method
wiU
of procedure, a teacher, or practical experience,
be best.
might say generally, however, that the

all
proper course in these endings, as in

ings, is
:
similar end-
Advance
of the
King
to the centre of the
board or towards the passed Pawns, or Pawns that

are susceptible of being attacked, and rapid advance
of the passed
Pawn
or
Pawns
as far as
is
consistent
with their safety.
To
give a fixed line of play would be folly.

is
Each
to
ending
different,
and requires
different
handhng,
do.
according to
Calculation
will count.
what the adversary proposes

visuaHsuig the future positions
by
is
what
MATE WITH KNIGHT AND BISHOP

15.
59
HOW TO MATE WITH A KNIGHT AND A BISHOP

before going back again to the middle-game
let
Now,
and the openings,
us see
and Bishop, and, then, against a Rook.
how to mate with Knight how to win with a Queen

the
With a Knight and a Bishop

givefi
mate can only he
in the earners of the same colotir as the Bishop.
Example
at
39.
In
8.
this
example we must mate either

into
QR
or
KR
The ending can be divided
two
parts.
Part one consists in driving the Black
King
done
to the last line.

in all
We
might begin, as
is
generally
such cases, by advancmg the King to the
centre of the board

I.
K K2
make
it
K Q
more
Black, in order to
difficult,
goes towards
the white-squared comer:

2.
3.
K-Q3 B-B4
K-B3 K-Q4
6o
4.
5.
HOW TO
Kt K 2 Kt-B3
IMATE WITH
K B 4
K-Kt5
6.
7.
K Q4 K-B5
K-B 6 Kt Qs
is
8.
9.
K R4 K-R3 K-R K Ri
2
is
The
first
part
now
over; the Black King
in the
white-squared corner.
The second and last part Black King now from

order to mate him.
position.
10.
will consist in driving the
QR8toQRiorKR8m
i
QR
will
be the quickest in this
Kt Kt
6 ch
K R2
11.
12.
13-
BB 7 B Kt8
Kt-Q5
make
for
K-R3 K R4 K-R5
i
Black
tries to
KR
with his King.
White
5,
has two ways to prevent that, one by 14
BK
A KNIGHT AND BISHOP
6i
I give
K Kt
6;
15
Kt
it
K
is
3,
and the other which
as the text, and which I consider better for the student

to learn, because
more methodical and more
in
accord with the

the
spirit of all these endings,
by using
King
as
much
as possible.
14.
62
QUEEN AGAINST ROOK

fifty
mate within the

the rules.
moves which are granted by
16.
QUEEN AGAINST ROOK

difficult
This
is
one of the most
endings without
Pawns.
The
resources of the defence are
many, and
rules.
when used
(The rule
skilfully
only a very good player will prevail

fifty
within the limit of

is
moves allowed by the

fifty
that at any
moment you may demand

moves.
is
that your opponent mate you within
However, every time a piece
exchanged or a
afresh.)
Pawn
advanced the counting must begin
Example
move.
40.
This
is
one of the standard positions
which Black can often bring about.

If it
Now,
it is
White's
were Black's
move
it
would be simple, as
WM'^'^M
'^
"^^P
"^W"
he would have to move his Rook away from the King

(find
out why), and then the
Rook would be compara-
QUEEN AGAINST ROOK

lively easy to win.
63
We
to
deduce from the above that Black Rook away
the main object
is
force the
from the defending King, and that, in order to compel Black to do so, we must bring about the position in
the diagram with Black to move.
Once we know
becomes
easier to
what
find.
is
required, the
way
to proceed
Thus
I.
Q K 5ch
;
Q R 6, because R B 2 ch R B3ch; 3KXR. Stalemate.

Not
I
K Kt
6,
(The beginner
will invariably fall into this trap.)
I
2.
K to R
or to
3.
Q R ch Q-R5
I
K Kt
In a few moves we have accomplished our object.
The
first
part
is
concluded.
Now we
come
will
to the
second part.
otherwise the
The Rook can only go

first
to a Wliite square,
check with the Queen
win
it.
Therefore
3-
4.
64
QUEEN AGAINST ROOK
^m
Example
41.
The
procedure here
is
very similar.
The
things to bear in
mind
are that the
Rook must
be prevented from interposing at
immediate mate, and
in the
Kt i because of an same way the King must
be prevented from going either to
3 or
i.
Example
42.
We
shall
now examine
a more
diffi-
cult position.
at
QUEEN AGAINST ROOK

Many
players would be deceived
is
65
by
this position.
The most likely looking move suppose we begin

1.
not the best.
Thus
2.
Q Ksch K B K Kt 6 R Q 2
it
The only
one, which
defence, but, unfortunately, a very effective
makes
very
chfficult for
.
White, since he
.
cannot play 3
4
K B
6,
quickly by
K B
Now
6,
R Kt 2 ch 6 because of 3 R Kt 3 ch draws. Nor can he win 3 Q Q B 5 ch because 3...K K R Q 3 ch! driving back the Wliite
Q K
.
i,
King.
that
we have
seen the difficulties of the situa-
tion let us go back.
The
5
best
move
is
1.
Q Kt
2
ch!
K Ri
IfK R2;
2.
3.
Q Kt6ch, K R i; 3K R6! Q K 5 ch! K R2best K Kt 5 R R2!best
If3...R Kt2ch;
similar to those in
4K B6 leads to a position
41.
Examples 40 and
4.
66
QUEEN AGAINST ROOK

of
and we have the position to move. Let us go back again.

1.
Example 40 with Black
2.
Q Kt 5 ch K B Q Q8ch K Kt 2
I
3.
K Kt
R B6
R
The best place for the Rook away from the King. Kt 2 ch; 5 K B 6 3...K R2; 4 Q Q 4,
would lead to positions similar to those already

4.
5.
seen.
Q Q4ch
K B
K Kt6 i; 5 Q_Q 6 ch, K Kt 2; 6Q K5 ch, K B 7 K Kt 6 would also win the Rook. The text move,
however,
is
given to show the finesse of such endings.
White now threatens mate at

5
6.
7.
8.
K B 6 K K6
Q B
is lost.
R Kt6ch R B 6ch R KR6

K R 8.
White threatened mate at

8.
4ch
and the Rook
Note, in these examples, that the checks at long

range along the diagonals have often been the key to
all
the winning manoeuvres.
Also that the Queen and
QUEEN AGAINST ROOK

King
are often kept on different lines.
67
The student
should carefully go over these positions and consider

all
the possibilities not given in the text.
He
should once more go through everything already
written before proceeding further with the book.
CHAPTER
III
Planning a Win in Middle-Game Play

I
SHALL now give a few winning positions taken from

games.
I
my own
have selected those that

types,
i.e.
beheve
can be considered as
positions that
similar form.
;
may
easily occur again in a
somewhat
is
knowledge of such positions

one cannot know too many.
player to find, with
of great help
It often
in fact,
may
help the
little effort,
the right move, which

all
he might not be able to find at

knowledge.
without such
17.
ATTACKING WITHOUT THE AID OF KNIGHTS
68
ATTACKING WITHOUT KNIGHTS

Example
plays
I
69
is
43.
It is Black's
move, and as he
if
Kt and P behind he must win quickly,
at
all.
He
QR Kt i!
R B
ch
;
2.
If,
QX
Q,
RXP
2
3.
K R
I,
B- Q
4 and mate
follows in a few moves.
RXP
ch
K B
KtX B
B B 5ch
4.
R Kt 8mate
i#j
fii *
Example
44.
Black's
last
move was P
5,
6,
played with the object of stopping what he thought
was White's
threat, viz.
:R Q R
5
to
which he
would have answered
Q B
ch and dra\vn the game
by perpetual check. White, howêver, has a more forceful move, and he mates in three moves as
follows
70
1.
ATTACKING WITHOUT
RXP
ch
QxR
Black moves
2.
R-QR5
White mates
3-
"^
I
'^M^
''ik^
t^.
^-^^-^
ft ^fe
'
H*B
i
ife
^ /
^
IB
^
IP
MExample 45. White has a beautiful

stiU
^^.
i*
position, but
if
he had better gain some material,
he can, before
Black consolidates his defensive position.

fore plays:
1.
He
there-
RX
RX
Kt
PX
R
helpless.
2.
Bx Pch
Q-R7ch
K K2
If
Kt X B
Kt and Black would be
3.
THE AID OF KNIGHTS

There have been no Knights to take part
71
in the attack.
We
shall
now
give
some examples
in
which the Knights
play a prominent part as an attacking force.
18.
ATTACKING WITH KNIGHTS AS A PROMINENT FORCE
WJLfci
W^'T',
ixm m
AW
5 A
A
iBj
Example
must
tinues
46.
White
on
is
two Pawns behind.
He
con-
therefore press
:
his attack.
The game
I.
Kt (B
5)xKtP
Kt B4
Evidently an error which

for WTiite, as
made the winning easier he simply took the Rook with the Knight
attack.
and kept up the
Black should have played
i...KtxKt. Then would have followed: 2 Kt B 6ch, K Kt3; 3 Kt X B, P B3 (best); 4 P
5,
K-B
2;
KtxP,
lose.^
R-K 2; 6 Kt-K
My
Chess Career, by
4,
and Black should
* Full score and notes are given in Capablanca (Game No. ii).
J.
R.
72
ATTACKING WITH KNIGHTS
i imm. 1
Example
amine the
47.
The
is
student
should
carefully
ex-
position, as the sacrifice of the

typical,
in
Bishop in
for
it
similar situations
of
and the chance

actual play.
is
frequent occurrence
The game
continues
1.
BXP
ch
5
KxB
ch
2.
Kt Kt
.
K-Kt3
ch wins the Queen,
Best.
If 2
K R
and if2...K Kti; 3Q R5, with an irresistible

attack.
3.
4.
Kt X P
Q-Kt4 Q-Kt3
P-B4 K-R3
Example 50
(p 80.).
White
*
finally won.^
is
This position
elaborated under
WINNING BY INDIRECT ATTACK

19.
73

far given positions
We
have so
where the attacks
were of a violent nature and directed against the

King's position.
Very
often, however, in the middle-
game
attacks are
made
against a position or against
pieces, or
even Pawns.
The winning of a
strength often
Pawn among
the
good players of even

the
means Hence the study
winning of
game.
is
of such positions
of great im-
portance.
We
give below two positions in which the
attack aims at the gain of a mere

ultimately winning the game.
Pawn
as a
means of
Example
is
48. Black is a Pawn behind, and there no violent direct attack against White's King.
Black's pieces, however, are very well placed and free

to act,
and by co-ordinating the action
of all his pieces
he
is
soon able not only to regain the
Pawn
but to
obtain the better game.
The student should
carefully
74

It
consider this position and the subsequent moves.

is
a very good example of proper co-ordination in the

of forces.
management
I
2.
The game contmues:
R Ri
P QR4 P Q Kt
3,
White's best move was

follow
when would
Kt X B
ultimately win
Q X Kt, R R 6 the Q R P, always

3
and Black would

keeping a slight
easier.
The
text
move makes matters
2
3. 4.
KtxB
QxKt
Q-B5
KR Qi
KR Kt
is
Black could have regained the
Pawn by
more
playing
BX
Kt, but he sees that there
to be had,
and therefore
Queen
side.
increases the pressure against Wnite's
He now
threatens,
among
other things,
R X Kt
P.
5.
Q-K3
Q-Kt5
R-Kt5
BQ
I
Threatening to win the exchange by

6.
7.
5.
B-Qsch
K Ri
QR Kt
QxR
Q-B5
Pawn.
This threatens to win the Kt, and thus forces White

to give
up the exchange.
8. 9.
RxB R-Qi
will recover his
Now
Black

I
75
wii
^ ^
ZZ
^^
Example 49. An examination show that Black's main weakness

position of his King,
of this position will

lies in
the exposed
and
in the fact that his
Q R
were
has not yet come into the game.

Black's move,
Indeed,
if
it
we might conclude
side,
that he would have
the better game, on account of having three
Pawns
to
two on the Queen's

the long diagonal.
It
is,
and
his
Bishop commanding
however. White's move, and he has two courses
to choose from.
The obvious move, B
4,
might
be good enough, since after

2
iB B4,
QR Qi;
But
P Q Kt
is
4 would
make
it
difhcult for Black.
there
another
move which completely
upsets Black's
position
and wins a Pawn, besides obtaining the better position. That move is Kt Q 4! The game
continues as follows
1.
Kt Q4!
Px
2.
Rx B
Kt Kt Kt
76

There
is
nothing better, as White threatened

3.
4.
5.
BB
4.
B B 4ch
K R
R K6 RxP
P Q6
is
And
ahead.
White, with the better position,
Pawn
These positions have been given with the idea of acquaintmg the student with different types of combmations.
I
hope they
will also help to
develop his
imagination, a very necessary quality in a good player.
The student should

positions,
that
note,
all
these middle-game
once the opportunity is ojfered,

into action
all the pieces
are thrown
all
"en
masse^''
when necessary; and that
the pieces smoothly co-ordinate their action with

like precision.
machine-
That, at
should be,
least, is
if it is
what the
ideal
middle-game play
not so altogether in these examples.
CHAPTER
IV
General Theory
Before we
it
revert to the technique of the openings

little
will
be advisable to dwell a
on general theory,
so that the openings in their relation to the rest of the
game may be
better miderstood.
20.
THE INITIATIVE
on the board both
sides
As the
pieces are set
have
the same position and the same
amount
of material.
White, however, has the move, and the

case
move
in this
means
the
initiative,
is
and the
initiative,
other
things being equal,
an advantage.
Now
this ad-
vantage must be kept as long as possible, and should

only be given up
or positional,
is
if
some other advantage, material

its
obtained in
place.
WTiite, according
his pieces
to the principles already laid
down, develops
as fast as possible, but in so doing he also tries to
hinder his opponent's development, by applying pressure wherever possible.
He
it
tries first of all to control
the centre, and failing this to obtain some positional
advantage that
will
make
possible for
him
to
keep
on harassing the enemy.

initiative
He
it
only relinquishes the
when he
gets for
some material ad\-antage

feel
under such favourable conditions as to make him
78
DIRECT ATTACKS EN MASSE

will,
assured that he
turn, be able to withstand his

finally,
adversary's thrust;
ority of material,
and
through his superiinitiative,
once more resume the

give
which alone can

assertion
is
hun the
since,
victory.
in
This last
self-evident,
order to win the
game, the opposing King must be driven to a position
where he
is
attacked without having any
way
of escape.
Once the pieces have been properly developed the

resulting positions
may
vary
in
character.
is
It
may
be that a direct attack against the King

or that
it
in order;
is
a case of
;
advantageous
or,
improvmg a position already finally, that some material can be
gained at the cost of relinquishing the initiative for
a more or
less
prolonged period.
21.

case the attack
to
In the
sufficient
first
must be
its
carried
on with
force
guarantee
success.
Under no
King
consideration must a
direct attack against the

is
be carried on a outrance unless there

tainty in one's
failure in
absolute cer-
own mind
that
it
will succeed, since
such cases means disaster.
Example
diagram
50.
A good example of a successful direct

is
attack against the King
shown
in the
following
In this position White could simply play
BB
and
fers
still
have the better position, but instead he prean immediate attack on the King's side, with

the certainty in his
79
mind that the attack

continues thus:
^
will lead to
a win.
The game
12.
13. 14.
B X P
ch
KxB
K-Kt3
PB
4
Kt Kt 5 ch Q Kt 4
Best.
4 would have been immediately fatal.
Thus:
16
18
K 4; 15 Kt K 6 ch, K B 3; P K 5; 17 Q Kt 5 ch, KxKt; P B 4! Q K 5 ch, K Q 2; 19 K R Q ch, Kt

14...P
i
Q6;
20
Ktx
3
(if
P,
;
K B
21
(if
K K
QXR
;
i,
Kt Q6ch
i
wins the Queen)
RX
2
Kt,
22
K Kt
^
K Q
mate
in
two)
R B 23 Q B
ch,
ch
and mate
in five
moves.
We
give,
may
take
familiarise himself with
from now on, games and notes, so that the student the many and varied considerations
that constantly are borne in

it
mind by the Chess Master.
We
must
for granted that the student has already reached a stage
where, while not being able fully to understand every move, yet he
can derive benefit from any discussion with regard to them.
8o

15.
16. 17.
Q-Kt3
Q R4ch Q Rych
P K4 P X P
K-R3 K Kt 3 K B3
Kt - Kt
3
If
KX
Kt
Q X Kt P
18.
ch and mate in a few moves.
19. 20.
QR Qi
Q-R3 Q Kt3
PxP Kt Q6
Kt(Q6)-B5
21.
22.
23.
KR Ki
;
Q-B2 Kt K 7 ch
23...B
mate.
This blunder loses at once, but the game could not
be saved in any case

ch,
e.g.
K3; 24RXB
Kt X
25
Kt Q
24.
25.
26. 27.
28.
R X Kt Kt R 7 RPXQ
ch
Kt Kt
PB
4
ch
QXQ KB 2 R Ri K-B3
Resigns
of this
Example
51.
Another
A.
example
kind
-1
S H H iii
m
m 1^
a^ p^^"

In the above position the simple move
8i
Kt X P
would win, but White looks for complications and

their beauties.
Such a course
is
highly risky until a
wide experience of actual master-play has developed
sufficient insight into all the possibiUties of
a position.
at
St.
This game, which
won
the
brilliancy
prize
Petersburg in 1914, continued as follows:

21.
82
THE FORCE OF THE

often, as in
and that
out,
it is
some
of the variations pointed of the last available
the coming into action
piece that finally overthrows the enemy. It

strates the principle already stated
demonhe
Direct
and
violent attacks against the
King must
carried en masse, with full force, to ensure their success.
The opposition must

cannot he broken
defeat.
ojf,
he overcome at all cost;
the attack
since in all such cases that
means
22.
THE FORCE OF THE THREATENED ATTACK

an opportunity,
in
Failing
the
second case,
for
direct attack, one
must attempt
to increase whatever
weakness there
or,
is
if
may
be in the opponent's position;

It
there
is
none, one or more must be created.
always an advantage to threaten something, but

if
such threats must be carried into effect only

thing
is
some-
to be gained immediately.
For, holding the
threat in hand, forces the opponent to provide against

its
it.
execution and to keep material in readiness to meet
Thus he may more

is
easily overlook, or be unable
to parry, a thrust at another point.
But once the

no longer, and
his
threat
carried into effect,
it
exists
your opponent can devote his attention to

schemes.
own
mayour
One
on one
of the best
and most
is
successful
noeuvres in this type of

stration
game
then
to
make
a demon-
side, so as to side,
draw the
through
forces of
opponent to that
the
greater
mobiUty
of
your
pieces to shift
your forces quickly
THREATENED ATTACK
to the other side
^3
before
and break through,
your
opponent has had the time to bring over the necessary forces for the defence.
good example of positional play
is
shown
in the
following
game
52.
Example
White
Played
at
the
Havana
Interna-
tional blasters
:
Tournament, 1913. (French Defence.)

Black
:
J.
R. Capablanca.
I.
R. Blanco.
84
THE FORCE OF THE

Q Kt
move
2,
prevent the development of Black's Queen's Bishop

via
after
P Q Kt
3,
which
is
Black's usual
it
development
to
in this variation.
Generally
is
bad
the same piece twice in an opening before
the other pieces are out, and the violation of that

principle
this
is
the only objection that can be
made
to
move, which otherwise has everything to recomit.
mend
7 8.
B-Q3 Q-B3
^/^^j
Tw
wffc
The
text
B K Kt
himself
might be better.
move
gives
Black an opportunity of which he does not avail
P-B3
It
PB
own;
4 was the right move.
would have led to

held his
complications, in which Black might have
at least, White's play would be very difficult.
The
text
move accomplishes
nothing, and puts Black
THREATENED ATTACK
in
85
veiled threat
an altogether defensive
;
position.
The
;
B X Kt
followed by
9.
Q R
5
4 ch
is
easily met.
10.
B K Kt
P B3
00 BK 2
too
their
The
back
fact that
Black has now to move his Bishop
clearly demonstrates that Black's plan of develis
opment
faulty.
He
has
lost
much
time,
and
White brings
his
pieces
into
most attacking
position without hindrance of

11.
any
sort.
I
B Q3
was Kt
3,
Kt K
The
play
alternative
4.
Otherwise
WTiite
to
would play
Q R
Kt
3
and Black would be forced
(not
K R
3,
because of the
sacrifice
BX
P), seriously weakening his King's side.
12.
Q R3
P KB
White has no longer an attack, but he has compelled Black to create a marked weakness. Now White's
whole plan
will
be to exploit this weakness (the weak

see
P),
and the student can now

directed to
how
the principles
expounded previously are applied
in this
game.
Every
move
is
make
the
weak King's Pawn uninactivity of the Black
tenable, or to profit
by the
pieces defending the PawTi, in order to improve the
position of
White at other
13. 14. 15. 16.
points.
BxB 00
KR K
R-K2
QxB R B3
I
Kt Q3 B Q2
S6
THE FORCE OF THE

last the
At
Bishop comes out, not as an active attack-
ing piece, but merely to

17. 18.
make way
I
for the
Rook.
QR K
P QB
R Ki
Kt B
2
very clever move, tending to prevent
PB
5,
and tempting White to play Kt x B, followed by B X P, which would be bad, as the following variation shows:
19
Kt X B, Q X Kt; 20 B x
P,
Kt
Q-Kt 4, RxB; 22 P K R 4, PKR4; 23QxR,PxQ; 24RxRch,K R 2;

Kt
25 4;
21
PX
Kt,
QX
if
P.
But
it
always happens in such

is
cases that,
is
one line of attack

this is
anticipated, there
rule, as
another;
and
no exception to the
will
be seen.
19.
P-Q5!
KtxKt
Apparently the best way to meet the manifold threats B P X P would make matters worse, as of White.
the White Bishop would finally bear on the weak
King's
Pawn ma Q B
4.
THREATENED ATTACK 20. R X Kt P KKt3

21. 22.
87
Q-R4 Q-Q4
Q-B3
better.
K-Kt2
P
B4
P,
Forced, as White threatened

23-
PX
and
also
QX P
P-Kt3
But Black wants
to
Q Q
White
was
tempt
to play
regain his
is
P X P, thinking that he will soon after Pawn with a safe position. Such, however,
I
not the case, as White quickly demonstrates.

in
must add that
any case Black's position

all his
is,
in
my
for
opinion, untenable, since
pieces are tied
up
the defence of a
to act.
24.
Pawn, while White's
pieces are free
PX P
BB
25.
2!
All the
The
deciding and timely manoeuvre.
Black
5.
pieces are useless after this Bishop reaches
88
FORCE OF THREATENED ATTACK

25
26. 27-
BB
B-Q5
all
BxP K B 2 Q-Q3
the Black pieces are tied
Now
way
his
it is
it
evident that
up, and
only remains for White to find the quickest
to force the issue.
White
will
now
try to place
Queen
at
K R
6,
and then advance the
K R P
to
5 in order to
break up the Black Pawns defend-
ing the King.

28.
Q K3
4,
R K2
3,
5,
If
30
32
34
to
B 5; 29 Q K R P K R 4; R K 2; 31 Q Kt K Kt 2; Q R P-K R Q-Q 2; 33P-K Kt 3,PXP; and Black will soon be helpless, as he has PB
28...P
4,
4,
mark time with
his pieces while Wliite prepares

5,
to advance
PR
29.
and
finally at the
proper time
to play
RX
B, winning.
RELINQUISHING THE INITIATIVE

sacrifices
89
for a brilliant direct attack against the King, involving
of pieces.
23.

is
In the third case, there

material advantage
is
nothing to do, once the
obtained, but to submit to the

it
opponent's attack for a while, and once

repulsed to act quickly with
all
has been
your forces and win

this
on material.
is
good example of
type of game
given below.
Example
53.
From
the
Masters Tournament, 1913.

J.
Havana International (Ruy Lopez.) White:
R. Capablanca.
1.
Black: D. Janowski.
2.
P K4 Kt KB3
B-Kt5
P K4
3.
4.
5.
0-0
B X Kt
ch
Kt-QB3 Kt-B3 P-Q3

PXB B K2
6.
7.
P Q4
Kt-B3
better,
PXP
what
I
might be
but at the time I was not
familiar with that variation,
and therefore
played
knew
7
8.
to be good.
Kt
Q2
9.
10.
11. 12.
PxP Q K2 R-Qi B Kt 5 Kt-KR4
PxP 00 B Q3 Q K
P-Kt3
90

offers the
Black
to
exchange in order to gain time and
obtain
an attack.
Without considering at
justified
all
whether or not such a course was

of Black,
it is
on the part
is
evident that as far as White

viz., to
concerned
there
is
only one thing to do,
win the exchange

Then, once
to derive
and then prepare to weather the storm.

it is
passed, to act quickly with
all forces
the benefit of numerical superiority.

13.
B R6
14.
15.
R Q
2
I
Kt Q
Kt B R Kt R Kt
4
I
To
force
White to play P
5 for his
4,
and thus create a

tactics
hole at
Knight.^
Such grand
show
the hand of a master.

Black's manoeuvring for positional advantage
is
91
adit
mirable throughout this game, and
if
he loses
is
due entirely to the fact that the sacrifice of the exchange,

without even a
Pawn
for
it,
could not succeed against
sound defensive play.
21.
Kt B
22.
PxP
.
P-B4 PxP
/mm.
W"
ill
WM
wm
wm
^P
P
WfA
The
position begins to look really dangerous for Wîte.

is
In reality Black's attack

force.
reaching
its
maximum
Very soon
it
will
reach the apex, and then
92

who
is
White,
action,
well prepared, will begin his counter

his superiority in material obtain
and through
an undoubted advantage.
23.
24.
25.
26.
Kt B I Kt X Kt
P-B
QR
5
I
i
R-K
B P X Kt B Kt 2 PB 4
because of
He
could not play
R K
sides,
he wants to be ready to play
ent WTiite cannot with safety play
R X Q P. BeK 5. At presR X K P, but

will
he
will
soon prepare the

for a
way
for
it.
Then, by giving
completely
up a Rook
Bishop and a Pawn, he
upset Black's attack and come out a Pawn ahead. It is on this basis that White's whole defensive ma-
noeuvre
is
founded.
27.
PB
R Ki
28.
R (Q2)-K2
R-K 3
W^M
ji-
'mm k
^p
^p
^p
m^ ^ ^m,^
^m, ^ ^m.
m
Now
is
^;tî@
WM.
Î^S
the Black
It
prepared.
Rook enters into the game, but White is now time to give back the exchange.

29.
93
303132.
3334.
RxP RxB Q K8
RX
Qch
2
R K5
Kt
BxR R-KR3 QxQ K B R-QB3

2
RB
ch might have been better.
The
text
move
did not prove as strong as anticipated.
34
35. 36.
R-Qs
Kt
K-B3 R-K3
KK
2
K 4 ch
RX
Very
of
Kt would
37.
fine.
I
;
lose easily
RxBP
Kt
P-Q6!
R
B
7
WTiite cannot play
ch because
K Q
R x B, R X 38. K - B 2
39. 40.
winning.
B X Kt
PX B
R Q
very
RxP R K6
to win.
The ending
White had
is
difficult
At
this point
to
make
the last
move
before the
game
was adjourned.
^mm^wJ'''"' ^H^ mm WM. aP ^/M. i
,.MSm
94
CUTTING OFF PIECES FROM

41.
THE SCENE OF ACTION

Example
Tournament,
Winter.
54.
95
Victory
:
Played
:
at
the
Hastings
1919.
J.
(Four
Knights.)
WTiite
W.
Black
R. Capablanca.
I.
96

alternative,
The
Kt P X B
gives
White the best
of
the game, without doubt.
7.
8.
P-Q3 B Kt 5
not at
all in
B-Q3
accordance with the nature
This move
is
of this variation.
The
general strategical plan for
K R 3, to be followed in time by the advance of the K Kt P to Kt 4, and the bringing and of the Q Kt to K B 5 via K 2 and K Kt 3 or Q with the linked K 3. Then, possible, the K Kt is other Kt by placing at either K R 4, K Kt 3, or K 3
White
is
to play
if
it
as the occasion demands.
remains at
Kt
i,
The White King sometimes and other times it is placed at K Kt 2,

i.
but mostly at
K R
Finally, in
most cases comes
KB
4,
and then the
real attack begins.
Some-
times
it is
a direct assault against the King,^ and at

it
other times
comes simply to
finessing for positional
advantage in the end-game, after most of the pieces
have been exchanged.^

8
9.
R4
P KR3 P B4
^ See game Capablanca-Kupchick, from Havana International Masters Tournament Book, 1913, by J. R. Capablanca; or a game in the Carlsbad Tournament of 191 1, Vidmar playing Black against
Alechin.
^
See Niemzowitch's game in the All Russian Masters Tourna1
ment,
^
914,
at St. Petersburg, against Levitzki, I believe.
See Capablanca-Janowski game,

1913.
New York
Masters Tourna-
ment,
THE SCENE OF ACTION
97
it ll^
& a
To
prevent
5,
J rJAB
Kt Q
to play
P Q 4 and to draw White into playing which would prove fatal. Black's plan is
Kt
4,
as soon as the circumstances
permit, in order to free his Queen and Knight from the pin by the Bishop.
10.
Kt
White
Only lack of experience can account for this move. WTiite should have considered that a player of my experience and strength could never allow such a move if it were good.
falls
into the trap.
10.
P-KKt4
:
H
iL*fi
A
m
I
p
k ^-<-^
A A
i
98
move White's game is lost. White cannot play Kt X Kt P, because Kt x Kt will win a piece. Therefore he must play B Kt 3, either before or after Kt X Kt, with disastrous results in either case,
After this
as will be seen.
11. 12. 13.
Ktx Ktch
B Kt
3
14.
15.
P-KR3 QxB PXQ

i mjM.'^^_,
QxKt B-Kt5 BxKt
QxQ P-KB3
mm
****?**
.,Si. WM WM^
^ M
A
it
simple examination will show that White

all
is
minus
a Bishop for
practical purposes.
He
can only free
by
sacrificing
one Pawn, and possibly not even
then.
At
least
it
would
all his
lose
time besides the Pawn.

side,
Black now devotes
energy to the Queen's
and, having practically a Bishop
more, the result
cannot be in doubt.
so that the student
The
rest of the
game
is
given,
to
may
see
how
simple
it is
win
such a game.
THE SCENE OF ACTION

16.
17.
99
K-Kt2 P QR4
P-QR4
KR-QKti
KB 2 K K3
18.
19.
R R P-R4
There
is
no necessity to pay any attention to the

the King's
King's side, because White gains nothing by exchanging
Pawns and opening

20.
Rook
file.
PxP
P-Kt3
RPxP
P-B3
5
21.
22.
23.
If
R-QR2 P-Kt4 KR-Ri P-B

it
White takes the proffered Pawn, Black regains
immediately by
24.
R Kt RPXP
B
5,
after
PX B
P.
6)
P X P (Kt
25. 26. 27. 28.
PxP
R R4
P-Q4 R B4
RXBP
Resigns
29.
RxP RxP R Kt4 R Kt5 RxP
25.
A PLAYER'S MOTIVES CRITICISED IN A SPECIMEN GAME

that a few of
Now
my
games with
my own
notes
have been given,

a very fine
I offer for close perusal

Sir
and study
game played by
George Thomas, one
of England's foremost players, against ^Mr, F. F. L.
Alexander, in the championship of the City of London
Chess Club in the winter of 1919-1920.
It
has the
100
A PLAYER'S MOTIVES CRITICISED

student that Sir George
kindly wrote the notes to the
interesting feature for the
Thomas
game
for
me
at
and with the understanding that I would make the comments on them that I considered apSir George Thomas' notes are in brackets propriate. and thus will be distinguished from my own comments.
my
request,
{The Gambit Declined. White notes imthin brackets by Sir George Thomas) Mr. F. F. L. Alexander. Black Sir George Thomas.
Example
55.
Queen's
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
P-Q4 Kt KB3 P-B4

Kt-B3 B-Kt5
P--K3
6.
P-Q4 Kt KB3 P-K3 QKt-Q2 P-B3 Q-R4
mm
mm ^p
i
"
m.'
followed to attack White's Q Kt doubly by Kt K way strong a probably Kt Q by P X P. But

5,
(One of the objects of Black's method of defence
is
2 is
IN A SPECIMEN
of meeting this threat.)
GAME
;
loi
There
are, besides,
first,
two good
that
it
reasons for this
method
as
of defence
is
not as
much played
some
of the other defences
and consequently not so well known, and second that

it
leaves Black with two Bishops against
B and
Kt,
which, in a general way, constitutes an advantage.

7.
B X Kt
Kt X B
8. 9.
P QR3 Q Kt 3
Q
3.
Kt K
B-K
This
is
not the logical place for the
which should
is
have been posted at

extremely careful
In the opening, time
of
great importance, and therefore the player should be

in his
development and make sure
that he posts his pieces in the right places.

10.
BQ
Kt X Kt
11. 12.
(I
PX
Kt
Px
B
Kt
it
BxBP
B3
come
to
did not want White's

I
to
5,
from
where
could not dislodge
weakening
out
my K
P.)
by P K B 3 without The same result could be ac3.
complished by playing
BQ
Incidentally
it
bears
my
previous statement that the
should have
been originally played to

13.
3.
0^0
was P
The
alternative
4,
followed by
P K
and then
initiative
0.
5,
WTiite would thereby assume the
but would weaken his
Pawn
position con-
siderably,
and might be compelled
to stake all
on a
102

This
is
violent attack against the King.
a turning
point in the game, and

the temperament and course of the game.
13
14.
it
is
in such positions that
style of the player decide the
0-0
P K4
P
K4
^///m
15.
P-Qs
K R Q
is i,
(White might play 15

of breaking
keeping the option

I
up the centre
later on.
wanted him
to advance this
as there
this
now
a fine post for
my
His
at
QB
4.)
By
move White shows
that he does
not understand the true value of his position.
only advantage consisted in the undeveloped condition

of Black's
B.
He
should therefore have
made a
if
plan to prevent the
from coming out, or
that
were not possible, then he should try to force Black to weaken his Pawn position in order to come out with
the B.
There were three moves to consider:
first,
IN A SPECIMEN
GAME
B
occupies.
103
in the
PQ R
4, in
order to maintain the White

that
it
dominating
position
now
2
;
This
would have been met by

the
17
QB
second, either of
Rooks
to
Kt X B,
B Kt 5 and third, P K R Kt 5 and by playing either R to Q vent B

been met by
;
Q Q X Kt
i
in order to threaten 16
;
PX
P,
B X P
18
B X P
ch.
This would have

3 to pre,
followed
up as previously stated to force Black to play P Q Kt 4, which would weaken his Queen's side K R 3 WTiite would Thus by playing P PawTis.
have attained the desired object.

blocks the action of the White
The
text
move
B and
facihtates Black's
development.
sive,
Hereafter White will act on the defeninterest
and the
throughout the
rest of the
game
in
will
centre mainly on Black's play and the manner

carries out the attack.
which he
15
16.
Q-B
B-Q3
it
(This seems wrong, as
makes the development
of
Black's Queen wing easier.
At present he carmot
play
P Q
Kt
3,
because of the reply
PXP
followed
by
B-Q
5-)
16
17.
PB
4
I
P-QKt3 B Kt 2
i
18.
KR-B
Q
any
(With the idea of
R Kt
and P
5.
But
it
only compels Black to bring his
to
QB
4,
which he
would do
in
case.)
I04

i8
19.
20.
(It
RB 2 Q Kt 2
been
I,
BK BB PB
better,
4
3 to
would
.
have
probably,
play
20.
K R K
with the idea of

is
P B
it
4 presently.)
Black's play hereabout
weak
lacks force,
and
It
there seems to be no well-defined plan of attack.

is
true that these are the most difficult positions to
handle in a game.
a plan on a large
success,
In such cases a player must conceive

scale,
which promises chances of
and with
it all, it
must be a plan that can be

at his disposal.
carried out with the
means
it
From
the look of the position
seems that Black's best
chance would be to mass his forces for an attack

against White's centre, to be followed
by a
White
it,
direct
attack against the King.
He
should, therefore, play
R K
I,
threatening
P K
4.
If
is
able
to defeat this plan, or rather to prevent
then, once
he has fixed
side, side,
some
of the
White pieces on the King's

attack to the Queen's
he should quickly
shift his
and open a Une
for his
Rooks, which, once they
enter in action, should produce an advantage on ac-
count of the great power of the two Bishops.

21. 22.
23.
QR Kt
P
lost
QR Q
B R3
QR4 R-Qi
(White has clearly

23
24.
time with his Rook's moves.)
KR-K
Q-Kt3
IN A SPECIMEN
(To bring his Queen across after Kt
24
25. 26.
GAME
105
2.)
R 4 and B K
R-Q3
Kt R4
B
P-Kt3
K2
^m
yy/^MH
,~~ ,y//X'iiiii
ft
i"
4kr^
^P.
mm
26.
WW-.,
r^
TXiJ
i^;
PxP
Kt 4
I
(I
is
thought this exchange necessary here, as WTiite

to
threatening to play his Bishop via
6.
If
he retook with the Bishop's
Pawn
intended to
exchange Bishops and rely on the two Pawns to one
on the Queen's wing.

it
I did
not expect him to retake
with the King's PawTi, which seemed to expose

to a violent King's side attack.)
in
this instance
I
him
Black's judg-
ment
believe to be faulty.
Had
White retaken with the B P, as he expected, he would have had the worst of the Pawn position, as WTiite would have had a passed Pawn well supported on the
Queen's
side.
His only advantage would
lie
in
his
having a very well posted Bishop against a badly
io6

Knight, and on the fact that in such posiis
posted
tions as the above, the Bishop
invariably stronger
than the Knight. vented

all that,
He
could and should have pre-
then replied
by playing B B i, as, had White Kt 3, he could then play with
PX
P, and Wliite would not have been able to retake
with the
exchange.
B P
27.
on account of
B XP
ch winning the
KPxP
P Kt3
move.
It
28.
P-Ks P-K6
would have been better
to
do not
it
like this
to hold
in reserve
and
have played
be followed
after
due time by
having placed the
K Kt 4 5, Q at Q 2, K B 2, or some other
The
text
P B 4, and P B
to
square as the occasion demanded.

blocks the action of the powerful
move
4,
at
Q B
and
make White's position safer than it should have been. The move in itself is a very strong attacktends to
ing move, but
it is
isolated,
and there
is
no effective
continuation.
Such advances as a rule should only
be made when they can be followed by a concerted

action of the pieces.
29.
IN A SPECIMEN
(If
GAME
BX
R,
107
now 34
B-B
3,
PXP;
35
BXB
ch,
with a winning attack.)

34. 35.
PX P
PX P
I
R-KB
K R
P-Kt5
WTiite's
RR
dently
finding
was the ahernative.

i
.
only move
would have been
The
it
position
now
is
evi-
won
for Black,
and
is
only a question of
carried
The final attack is now the right course. on by Sir George Thomas in an irreproachable
36.
manner.
37.
Q3 Kt K 2
R KB3 QB
I
(Again preventing
B X
7
! ! !
R, by the masked attack

39 Kt
41
on White's Rook.
If
WTiite therefore protects his Rook.)

;
Kt B
4,
PK
5
P,
40
RX
R,
K
If,
ch
B X
B, best,
R X Kt RXR
4,
ch;
and
White
plays
is lost.
however, against 38
Kt B
Black
Q R
3,
and White 39
QB
2,1 take pleasure
io8

my
readers as a most beau-
in offering the position to

tiful
and extraordinary win
for Black, beginning
with
30.
.Q R
38.
39.
6 ch
I leave the variations for the
student to work out.
R(Kt2)-Kt
Q-R3
Q-B2
which still (Making a double attack on the Rook cannot be taken and preparing to defend the K R P.) If either the Rook or Bishop are taken White would
be mated in a few moves.
39
40.
Q R6ch
K R
RXP!!
(If
40...R-R3;
Kt
2.
41
Kt-Kt
I,
QxKtP;
42
Q
away
Black therefore
tries to get
the Queen
from the defence.)

best
very beautiful m.ove, and the
way
41.
to carry
on the attack.
QXR
IN A SPECIMEN
(The best defence was 41
GAME
109
RX
B, but Black would
emerge with Queen against Rook and Knight.)

41
BxB
;
(Again, not
R K R 3 42. R X R
B, then, at
42
43.
because of
6 dis. ch.)
(If
42
QX
last,
RR
3 wins.)
Bx
Kt B
4
Q
7!
P K
^
11 ^M3.
Si
^m^
WWA
w
>;i-.-^^^
^mm A
m
(The Queen has no escape, but \Miite has no time
to take
it.)
44.
R KKt
A
very
Q-B8
WTiite resigns.
fine finish.
CHAPTER V
End-Game Strategy
We
must now revert once more
to the endings.
Their
importance will have become evident to the student
who has taken
the trouble to study
my game
with
Janowski (Example
a
my
Ruy Lopez
53).
After an uneventful opening

its
one of
normal variations,
opponent suddenly made things interesting by
offering the exchange;
an
offer which, of course,
accepted.
in
Then
I
followed a very hard, arduous struggle,
which
had
to defend myself against a very danger-
ous attack
vring of
made
possible
by the
excellent
manoeu-
my
adversary.
Finally, there
came the time

in
when
most
I
I could give back the material and change off
of the pieces,
and come
to
an ending
which
clearly
had the advantage.

it
But yet the ending

at first appeared,
itself
was not as simple as
and
finally
perhaps through one weak move on my part

difficult
it
became a very
I
matter to fmd a win.
Had
been a weak end-game player the game would

in
probably have ended

efforts
is
a draw, and
in vain.
all
my
previous
would have been
Unfortunately, that
very often the case among the large majority of

;
players
they are weak in the endings

first
a failing from
free.
which masters of the
rank are at times not
END-GAME STRATEGY
all
III
Incidentally, I might call attention to the fact that
the world's champions of the last sixty years have

:
been exceedingly strong in the endings

Steinitz,
]Morphy,
in
this
and Dr. Lasker had no superiors
department of the game while they held their
titles.
26.
THE SUDDEN ATTACK FROM A DIFFERENT SIDE

way
to
have pre\iously stated, when speaking about

win consists
attacking
general theory, that at times the

in
first
on one
side, then,
granted greater
mobihty
from one
of the pieces, to transfer the attack quickly

side to the other, breaking
through before
sufficient
your opponent has been able to bring up

forces to withstand the attack.
This principle of the

in the endings
middle-game can sometimes be applied

in
somewhat
similar
manner.
Example
56.
m..M t i
2 .,^^^^^^^
&
.M
^'is.'
112
THE SUDDEN ATTACK

I,
In the above position
with the Black pieces,
played
I
2.
3.
R K2 R R2
R K ch R QRs P-KR4
5
is
The
idea, as will
be seen very soon,
to play
PR
in order to fix White's King's side
Pawns with a view

3 to support his
free his
to the
future.
It
is
evident to Black that White
wants to bring his King to
Q Kt
two weak
isolated
Pawns, and thus to
Rooks.
Black, therefore, makes a plan to shift the attack to the King's side at the proper time, in order to obtain
some advantage from the greater mobihty

Rooks.
4.
of
his
R-Qi
Rook
R(Q4)-QR4
to Rook's square, keeping
in order to force the
both Rooks tied up.

5.
R(Qi)-Ri
6.
7.
K Q2 K B
P-R5 K Kt R KKt4
2
Black begins to transfer his attack to the King's

8.
side.
R KKt
8.
serious mistake,
which
loses quickly.
3,
White should
have played 8
answered
.
K Kt
5)
when Black would have

4
;
.R (R
PB
3,
and Black
would have obtained an opening at K Kt 6 for his King, which in the end might give him the victory.
8
R-KB5
FROM A DIFFERENT
Now
Kt
the King cannot go to
SIDE
because of
113
Kt
3,
4 ch.
9.
K Q3
;
R B 6ch
followed
If
K K 2 P X R, R X R
10.
by
R K R
8 winning,
10
RXRP
after a few moves.
and Black won
Example 57. Another good example, in which is shown the advantage of the greater mobiUty of the pieces in an ending, is the following from a game
Capablanca-Kupchick played at the Havana Masters
Tournament, 1913. game can be found
The
in the
full
score
and notes
of the
book
of the tournament.
î
'
;.
WW-' WM
ft
il
White's only advantage in the above position
is
that
he possesses the open

will secure
file
and has the move, which

There
is
him the
initiative.
also the shght
advantage of ha\'ing his Pawns on the Queen's side

united, while Black has an isolated
Q R
P.
The
114
THE SUDDEN ATTACK

is
proper course, as in the previous ending,

the
to bring
Rooks forward,
shift
so that at least one of
them may
be able to
other,
freely.
from one side of the board to the
and thus keep Black's Rooks from moving
What
this
;
means
really
in general theory
has been
stated already
it
means
keep harassing the

to
enemy; force him
to
use his big pieces

to
defend Paums.
If he has a weak point, try
make
it
weaker, or create
another weakness somewhere else and his position will

collapse sooner or later.
If he has a weakness, and he
can
get rid of
it,
make
else.
sure that you create another weak-
ness somewhere
From
thus
the position in question the
game continued
1.
R-K4
KR-Ki
of the
with the object of repeating White's manoeuvre, and

also not to allow
2.
White the control

I
open
file.,
3.
4.
QR-K QR-K3 K-B

I
R-K3
R(Bi)-Ki
K-B
Black wants to bring his King to the centre of the board in order to be nearer to whatever point White
decides to attack.
The move
is
justified at least
on
the general rule that in such endings the King should
be in the middle of the board.

all
He
does nothing after

Besides,
it is
but follow White's footsteps.
hard
to point out anything better.
If4...P Q4; 5R
2,
Kt 4
ch, followed
by
KK
would leave Black
in
a very disagreeable position. If4...P
KB4; 5R
FROM A DIFFERENT SIDE

Q4!
8
115
Rx
R?
4,
6PxR,RxP; 7K-B2,R-K2;
winning the
RQ R
Q R
P, which would prac-
tically leave
White with a passed Pawn ahead on the

as the three
Queen's
side,
King's side would be held

5.
Pawns of Black on by the two of White.
the
6.
K-K2 R-QR4
is
K-K2 R-QR
The student should note

noeuvre Black
that through the same
ma-
forced into a position similar to the
one shown
in the previous ending.

7-
R-R5!
It practically fixes
This move has a manifold object.

all of
Black's
Pawns except
the
P, which
is
the only
one that can advance two squares.

vents the advance of Black's
It specially pre-
KB
Pawns, and at the

of
same time threatens the advance

lâwns to
White's
4 and
forces Black to
B 5. By this threat it practically play P Q 4, which is all White desires,

become evident.
for reasons that will soon

7
8.
P-QB4!
PX
10
P-Q4 K-Q3
move
If 8
Evidently forced, as the only other
to save a
left 5
;
Pawn would have been

all
P, which would have

. . .
Black's
Pawns
isolated
and weak.
9
11
R-K
PQ
4,
K-Q
9.
3;
P-Q
Kt
4!
R-K
4;
R R 6, and Black's game is hopeless.

10.
P-B 5ch P-Q4
K-Q 2
P-B4
Ii6
THE SUDDEN ATTACK

it
Apparently very strong, since

of
it
forces the exchange

;
Rooks because
I.
of the
threat R R 3
but in reahty
leads to nothing.
The
best chance
was
to play
R-K K
Up
to
11. 12.
RX R P-B4
PxR
now White had played with finesse, but this R - R 6 was the proper way to last move is weak. contmue, so as to force Black to give up his Q R P
or
Q B
P.
12
13.
K-B
K-Q2
13
Again a bad move.

tinuation,
RR
.
was the proper coni

;
and
IS
if
then 13.
4,
.R-Kt
i;
14
P-Kt
Kt
3,
K-Kt
2;
P-Kt
K-R
16
R-Q
3,
with excellent winning chances; in
fact, I
beheve, a
won game.
13
K-Kt
R - Kt
2
i
Black misses his only chance.

drawn.
would have

14.
117
15.
16.
17. 18.
R-R3 R-R3 K-K2 R-R6 K-Q 3

utilise his
R-KKt
R-Kt2
K-R3 R-K
2
K-Kt
Rook.
It
is,
He
goes back with the King to support his
P, and
thus be able to
less,
however, use-
and only White's weak play
later
on gives him
further chances of a draw.

19.
P-KR4
R-R
5
K-Bi
controlling the
20.
To prevent
file
the Black
Rook from
open
20
21.
22.
KQ
R-Kt
K-B 3
his
R-B 2 K-B
King
to
3
He must
keep his King on that side because White
threatens to
march with
R
2
6 via
Kt
4.
23.
K-Kt
4
5
R-B
24.
25. 26.
K-R
K-Kt
P-R4 P-R5
P-QR3 R-R3
The
text
He can do
move
for
nothing but wait for Wliite.
stops White from
moving
his
Rook, but only
one move.
27.
P-Kt
R-B
3
;
The only
could play
other
move was K R 2 Kt 7, or even P Kt
when
WTiite
5.
ii8
THE SUDDEN ATTACK
rS
til i
KlJ
28.
P-Kt
is
weak move, which
gives Black a fighting chance.
In this ending, as
often the case with most players.

situation
White plays the best moves whenever the

is
difficult
and requires
careful handling,
but once
his position seems to be overwhelming he relaxes his The efforts and the result is nothing to be proud of.
right
move was
28.
29.
28
R Kt
7.
RPXP
PxP
R-Kty K-Kt4
R-Bi! R-Rich
303132-
KxP
P-B6ch
PxP R-R7
K-Kti R-Ktych R-Rych
33343536.
RxRP
K-R5
K-Kt4
last
3,
RXP
R-Kt
7
Black misses his

the King to
chance:
ch, forcing
in order to
avoid the perpetual,
119
would probably draw. The reader must bear in mind that my opponent was then a very young and inexperienced player, and consequently deserves a great
deal of credit for the fight he put up.
37.
R-K7
R Kt
chances.
ch; followed by
RxP R-K R
7,
offered better
38.
120
THE DANGER OF
27.
THE DANGER OF A SAFE POSITION
Example 58. ment is shown

shall
A good proof of the previous

in the following ending
in
state-
between Mar-
and Kupchick
one of their two games in the
same Tournament (Havana, 1913).
^m
Wm
^P M WM I mm'%
.^m .....^m
M ^ ^,^,.^
i
It is evident that
difficulties
Marshall (White)
is
under great
is
in
the above position.
Not only
he
bound
to lose a
Pawn, but
his position is rather poor.
The
best he could hope for was a draw unless someit
thing altogether unexpected happened, as
did.
No
reason can be given for Black's loss of the

that he
felt so
game except
it
certain of having the best of
with a
Pawn more and what he

that he
sider the
considered a safe position,

careless
became exceedingly
happened.
I.
and did not conLet us see
danger that actually existed.
how
it
P-Kt4
RXRP
A SAFE POSITION
The mistakes
begin.
i2i
This
is
the
first.
Black sees
that he can take a
Pawn
without any danger, and

is
does not stop to think whether there

better.
anything
R B 7 ch was the right move. If then K-Kt 3, R X P. If instead White played K- K 4, then R - K 4 ch followed by R X R P.
2.
R-Q
R-R
this
ch
Mistake number two, and

one as to almost
lose
time such a serious
the game.
The proper move
was to play P B 4 in order to break up White's Pawns and at the same time make room for the Black
King, which
is
actually in danger, as will soon be seen.
3.
R-Q4
(Kt
4)
R(R5)-R4
this
Mistake number three and
time
fatal.
His best
there
move was
is
4.
After the text

is lost.
move
no defence.
Black's
game
This shows that
even an apparently simple ending has to be played

with care.
From
practically
won
it
position
Black
finds himself with a lost
game, and
has only taken
three moves.
R - Kt 2 If4...P-B4; 5R-R8ch,K-Kt3; 6 R (B 8) Kt 8 ch, K- B 3 7 R X P ch, R- Kt 3 8 P- Kt 5 ch, K-K 2; 9 R (R 6) X R, Px R; 10 R-Kt 7 ch, K Ki; iiRxKtP, and wins easily.
4.
(Q
4)
-Q
5.
P-R4
R-R
8 ch
If
P-R4
Resigns.
6
.
6.
The reason
is
evident.
K Kt
Px P
ch,
122
ENDINGS WITH ONE

9
RxP; 8RxR, KxR;

10
R-R
8 ch,
K-Kt
3;
PR
28.
mate.
ENDINGS WITH ONE ROOK AND PAWNS

reader has probably realised
The
by
this
time that
endings of two Rooks and
Pawns
are very difi&cult,
and that the same holds true

and Pawns.
not very
for endings of
one Rook
Endings of two Rooks and Pawns are

in actual play
;
common Rook and Pawns
but endings of one
are about the most
common
sort
of endings arising
on the chess board.
Yet though and
they do occur so often, few have mastered them thoroughly.
They
are often of a very difficult nature,
sometimes while apparently very simple they are in

reality extremely intricate.
Here
is
an example from
a game between Marshall and Rosenthal in the
Manhattan Chess Club Championship Tournament of

1909-1910.
Example
59.
ROOK AND PAWNS

In
this
7
123
position
Marshall
had
6,
simple
wm
by
RB
ch, but played
PB
and thereby gave
Black a chance to draw.
Luckily for him Black did

lost.
not see the drawing move, played poorly, and
Had
Black been up to the situation he would have
drawn by playing
I.
R Q P-B6
We
3.
R-Q3I
either (a)
:
Now
or {b)
White has two continuations,
PB
7,
RB
(a)
2.
7 ch.
have therefore
3.
P-B 7 R-R5ch
Or
R-Qi!
K-B5
sacrifice the
and White
will finally
have to
Rook
for
Black's Pawn.
(6)
2.
3.
R-B 7ch PB 7
K-Q5!
R Kt3 ch!
R KB3,R K7
a very important move, as against

wins.
4.
5.
K-B
R-Kt
R-KB3 K-B 6
have to
sacrifice
and White
for
If there
will
finally
the
Rook
would
other
the Pawn, or draw by perpetual check.
were nothing more
in the
ending
there
it
not
be of any great value,
but
are
very interesting features.
Now
suppose that after
1P-B6, R-Q3; 2P-B7,

realise that
Black did not

to
RQ
was the only move
draw.
124
ENDINGS WITH ONE

would then have the following position
We
Now
(a)
there would be
two other moves to try
either
R-Kt
(a)
3 ch, or (6)
R-K
3.
Let us examine
them.
I.
...:....
R-Kt3ch
2.
3.
K-B3 K-K3
R-B3ch R-K3ch
if if
R R 5 ch wins, because the King the King goes up, then goes back, then R R 6, and R R 4 ch, followed by R K B 4 wins.
If
P_Kt
6;
4.
K-Q3
R-KB3
4 wins.
If
R-Q
3 ch;
5.
K-K
6.
K moves R R 5 ch R R 6 wins
R-Kt
7!
3,
W
If
2.
R-B3 K-B 5
R- Kt and White will either capture the Pawn or go to K B 3, and come out with a winning
P- Kt
6
;
ending.
3. 4.
5.
ROOK AND PAWNS P-Kt6 P-R4 R Kt 4 ch K moves
125
R-Kt3
capture the
and White
will either
Pawn
or play
KB
3,
according to the circumstances, and come out
with a winning ending.
Now, going back

suppose that after
to the position
shown on page
122,
Black did not

to draw,
and
iP B6, R Q3; 2R Bych, realise that K Q 5 was the only move consequently played K Kt 3 instead,
the following position
we would then have
Now
the best continuation would be

I.
P-B7
R-Kt3ch
(best)
2.
K-B
R-KB3
K-B
4 (best)
at
3.
R-K7!
White threatened to check wnth the Rook

4.
K 6.
K-K2
P-Kt6
126
Best.
If
ENDINGS WITH ONE
K-B
5;
both
P-R
4 and
K-K
3 will
win
the last-named
move
particularly
would win
with ease.
5-
R-K3
R-QKt3
P-Kt
7 (best)
6.
7.
RxP
R-Q2 K-K3
8.
RxP R-KR2 RxP
9.
This position we have arrived at

are
is
won by White,
is
because there
two
files
between the opposing

cut off
King and the Pawn from which the King
by the Rook, and

to check
besides, the
Pawn
can advance to
the fourth rank before the opponent's
Rook can begin

very im-
on the
file.
if,
This
last condition is
portant, because
instead of the position on the
diagram, the Black
Rook were
at
KR
i,
and Black
had the move, he could draw by preventing the ad-
ROOK AND PAWNS

or
127
Vance of the Pawn, either through constant checks
by playmg
R K B
at the proper time.
Now
position
that
is
we have explained won, we leave it to
the reasons
why
this
the student to
work
out the correct solution.
The fact that out of one apparently simple ending we have been able to work out several most unusual and difficult endings should be sufficient to impress upon the student's mind the necessity of becoming
well acquainted with all kinds of endings,
cially
and espe-
with endings of Rook and Pawns.
29.
A DIFFICULT ENDING: TWO ROOKS AND PAWNS

way
of
Folloâng our idea that the best

ings as well as openings
is
to learn end-
to study the
games
of the
masters,
we
give two
more endings
two Rooks and
Pawns.
These endings, as already stated, are not

is
very common, and the author
fortunate in having
is
himself played more of these endings than
generally
the case.
By
carefully
comparing and stud>'ing the
endings already given
(Examples 56 and 57) \\ith the following, the student no doubt can obtain an idea
of the proper
method
to be followed in such cases.

is
The way
them.
of procedure
somewhat
similar in all of
Example
borg, in the
60.
From
a game, Capablanca-KreymState Championship Tourna-
New York
ment
of 1910.
128
A DIFFICULT ENDING:
m^
'm
Bi
ii m
e
1
i
S
^
^
It
is
M^M^M
all
Black's move, and no doubt thinking that
drawing such a position (that was

for)
Black played
would be easy, he contented himself with a waiting

Such conduct must always be
The
best
policy.
criticised.
to
It
often leads to disaster.

positions is to
way
defend such
the
assume
the initiative
and keep
opponent
on
the defensive.
I
QR-Ki
The
move is already wrong. There is nothing to gain by this move. Black should play P Q R 4 to be followed by P Q R 5; unless White plays P Q Kt 3. That would j^x the Queen's side. After
first
that he could decide what demonstration he could
make with
at bay.
his
Rooks
to keep the opponent's
Rooks
2.
R-Q4
PB
3,
This move not only prevents

intended,
which Black
after
but
threatens
P Kt
followed,
TWO ROOKS AND PAWNS

PX P
ch,
129
by the attack with one
or both
Rooks
against Black's
2
Q R
P.
R-B3
R-Kt
3
probably with the idea of a demonstration on the

King's side by
3.
and Kt
7.
p _ Kt
PXP
ch
2
4.
5.
PXP K-Q3
K-B
RK
2.
R Q R
force
should have been played now, in order to

WTiite, however,
Black to defend with
does not want to disclose his plan at once, and thus
awaken Black to the danger of his position, hence this move, which seems to aim at the disruption of Black's Queen's side Pawns.
5
6.
R-K2
R-QRi
Black
is
K-K,3
unaware
of the
This
is
a mistake.
danger of
;
his position.
He
3,
should have played
ening
RR
4 threatdemonstration and, by making this P, stop the attack against his
P Kt
against WTiite's
K R
Queen's side PawTis, w^hich will

7.
now
develop.
R-R6
KQ
3,
R-QB 2
because
itself
He
could not play

least a
PQ B
condemns
4 would
his last
win at
Pawn.
This in
move
K K
8.
3,
which has done nothing but make his
situation practically hopeless.
(Q
it
4)
is
-QR
a
little
P-
Kt
Now
forced, but
.
too late.
He
4
could not
play 8.
.K
R B
2,
because
KB
would have
130
left his
A DIFFICULT ENDING:
game completely
to the danger,
paralysed.
Black now
finally
awakens
and
tries to
save the day by
the counter-demonstration on the King's side, which
he should have started before.

cannot play
Of course, White
RXR
P, because of
RX
R, followed
by
RR
3,
recovering the
Pawn
with advantage.
9.
P-KR4
in a
P-Kt5
If
Black
played
is
now
very disagreeable position.
he
9...PXP;
loRxP
would leave him
in a
very awkward situation, as he could not go back

with the King, nor could he do
much with
10.
4,
either
.
.
Rook.
He
practically
would have to play

11
5,
K R 3, when White would answer

ening to win a
P Kt
or,
if
threat-
Pawn by P Kt
of the
that were
not enough, he might play

finally
K Q
at
4,
to be followed
5
by the entry
10.
King
or
5.
K-K2
m,
î wm
i
a^M
,
^m.
mm
TWO ROOKS AND PAWNS

10
131
P X P
ch
Again he cannot play
PK
4,
because
would leave him paralysed.
The advance
KB4 of his K R P
defend the
would make
his
WTiite's
^
K R
P
it
safe,
and consequently
2 to
KR Q R P.
would have to
retire to
KB
That would make

the
impossible for his King
to go to
Q 2, because of
Q R P, nor could he advance

On
the other hand, WTiite
a single one of his
Pawns.
would play P Kt 4, threatening to win a Pa\Mi by P Kt 5, or he might first play K Q 4, and then
at the proper time
P Kt
5, if
there
was nothing better.
Black meanwhile
could really
do nothing but mark
time with one of his Rooks.
Compare this botthngup system with the ending in Example 57, and it
will
be seen that
11.
it is
very similar.
Kx P
move
(B
3)-B
Probably
12. K K 2 P Kt wTong.
4 at once was the right
move.
The
12
text
gives Black good chances of
drawing.
13.
P-Kt4
as he could
K-Q3 R-QKt 2
have followed
3.
it
This could never have happened had White played

12
P Kt
4,
up by
P-Kt
5 after
Black's
K-Q
14.
Not good. winning by
P-R5 P-K B 4
If
offered
the best chances of
force.
then 14...R
Kt
2;
15
132
A DIFFICULT ENDING:
R5, R-Ktych; 16 K- Q R X R; 18 R X R, R X P;
chances.
R-K R 19 R-R
3,
'^"'V'-r"-:^.
17
RX
P,
6,
with winning
I
^
^'LJ-mm.
v-",r
^^//ii.
S M
*
'^
m.
Wi
PB
2 ch! 5
;
^
14.
M ^ M M
P-R3
last chance.
Black misses his

If
would draw.
16
then 15
17
P X
P,
(Kt
2) K
KB
i,
RxP;
15.
R-K 6! R-Kt P-KB4

RXP,
16.
17. 18.
19.
K-Q3 R-R K-Q4

I
(R
2
6)
-R
R (K Kt 2) - K R-Kt 2 R-Kt 7 R (Kt 2) - Kt 2

any
case.
(I
(Kt
7)
Kt
would have
is lost
offered greater resistance,
but the position
in
leave the stu-
dent to work this out.)

20.
K-O3!
RxR
R-K2
21.
RxR
TWO ROOKS AND PAWNS

Nothing would
avail.
^33
If2i...R-Kt8;22R-R6!
R-Q
White
8 ch;
25
27,
K-B
ch,
RxP;
Rx P
win
22.
23.
24.
R-K K-Q 2;
2,
R
26
8;
P-Kt 5, R-Q R 6, and

24
will
easily.
R-K Kt 2
R-Kt 7 R-Kt 8
He
R-K 3 R-K
2
P-B
sees he can
Black
his
is
desperate.
no longer defend
Pawns.
25. 26.
27.
R-Kt 6ch Px Pch R-Kt 7 ch

RXP R K B
7
R-K 3 K-Q K-B 3

2
28.
29.
KX
the
Resigns.
Example
ski,
game Capablanca-JanowNew York National Tournament of 1913.

61.
From
i 1
;i
mk
^^
ft
^^
^^
ft
Black's
game has
the disadvantage of his double
Q B
P, which, to
make matters
worse, he cannot
134
A DIFFICULT ENDING:
P Q Kt
3,
advance, because as soon as Black plays
White White
side
replies
P Q Kt
4.
It
is
on
this fact that
builds his plans.
He
will stop Black's
Queen's
Pawns from advancing, and will then bring his own King to K 3. Then in due time he will play P-Q 4, and finally P- K 5, or P- K Kt 5, thus forcing an exchange of Pawns and obtaining in that
way
a clear passed
Pawn on
the King's
file.
It will
be seen that this plan was carried out during the course of the game, and that White obtained his winning
advantage in that way.
The play was based through-
out on the chance of obtaining a passed

King's
file,
Pawn on
the
with which White expected to win.

1.
P-KKt4
P K Kt
5
already preparing to play
when
the tune
comes.
I
P-QKt3
P-Q B
4,
Black wants to play

prevents
it.
but White, of course,
2.
P-Kt4!
K-Kt2
side,
This King should come to the King's danger lurks.

3.
where the
K-B
P-QKt4
K-Kt
3
With the
followed
his
object of playing
and
P-Q R
file
4,
by P X Rook and be able
P, and thus have an open

to
for
make a counter-demonstration
TWO ROOKS AND PAWNS

on the Queen's
on the
right.
135
side in order to stop White's
advance
this.
White, however, also prevents
4.
P-QR4I
;
R-Qs
will
Of course
if
PX P
Black
have
all his
Pawns on
the Queen's side disrupted and isolated, and WTiite
can easily regain the
lost
Pawn by
playing either
Rook on the
Q R file.
5.
RQ
White
Kt
R K4
4,
He
still
wants to play
PQ B
will again
but as
it
is
easy
to foresee that
prevent
it,
the text
move
is
really a serious loss of time.
Black should
bring his King over to the other side immediately.

6.
7.
K-K3
P-R5
R-Q2
is
The
first
part of White's strategic plan

Black's
now accom-
phshed.
Pawns on
the Queen's side are fixed
for all practical purposes.
R-K3
R
Yet
would have
it
If
RXR
Kt P X
gi\'en WTiite
a very
powerful centre.
might have been the best
chance for Black.

8. 9.
R (Kt) -KBi P-Kt 5
R(Q2)-K2
PxP
10.
RxP
ir.6
A DIFFICULT ENDING:
'^m
^f
^ ^ W
-"---^---"
The second
obtained
is
part of White's
It
strategical plan
if
is
now
accomplished.
remains to find out
the advantage
sufiicient to win.
is
White not only has a
passed Pawn, but his King

in the centre of the
m a commanding position
QB
5,
board ready to support the advance

or,
if
of White's
Pawns,
necessary, to go to
in case of danger.
or
to
move
to the right
wing
file
Besides,
White holds the open
with one of his Rooks.

is
Al-
together White's position

of winning are excellent.
superior
and
his chances
10
II.
R-R3
R-Kt3
4.
R(R3)-K3
side
to prevent
PQ
Also Black fears to keep his
Rook
in front of his
two King's
Pawns which he
may want
to utilise later.
12.
P-R4
R-Kt5
P-Kt3
13.
P-R3
TWO ROOKS AND PAWNS
137
White threatens P R 5, which would finally force Black to take, and then White would double his
Rooks against
however, only
nothing
better
the
isolated
Pawn and win

The
tight
it,
or
tie up Black's Rooks completely.
text
move,
helps
WTiite;
to
therefore
Black
had
wait.
than
not
hold
and
(Kt
RK
would
help
8,
much, as WTiite would
simply answer
R-B
R-K
5)
R,
and whichever Rook Black took. White would have

an easy game.
these variations.)
(The student should carefully study
14. 15. 16.
R-Kt4
R-Kt
P-Q4 R-B 8ch
K-Bi
K-Kt
2
would not help much, but since he made the previous move he should now be consistent and play
2
it.
KQ
17-
138
ROOK, BISHOP AND PAWNS

26.
v.
27.
28.
K-Q2 KtPxP
PQ
5
P-B4
R-QR6
Resigns.
The winning
tactics in all these endings
have merely
tied to the
consisted in keeping the opponent's
Rooks
defence of one or more Pawns, leaving

free
my own Rooks
It
for action.
This
is
a general principle which
can be equally applied to any part of the game.
means
in general
terms
Keep freedom
opponent.
of manoeuvre
while
hampering your
There
that
is
is
one more thing of great importance, and
that the winning side has always had a general
strategical plan capable of being carried out with the
means
at his disposal, while often the losing side

all,
had
no plan at
but simply moved according to the
needs of the
moment.
30.
v.
ROOK,
KNIGHT AND PAWNS
We
it
shall
now examine an ending
of
Rook, Bishop
used in the
and Pawns against Rook, Knight and Pawns, where

will
be seen that the Rook at times
is
same way as
in the endings already given.
Example
62.
From
the
first
game
of the Lasker-
Marshall Championship Match in 1907.
ROOK, KNIGHT AND PAWNS
139
J
%
ku *
^_5r
In this position
the position
it
is
Black's move.
To a
beginner
may
look like a draw, but the advanced
player will realise immediately that there are great

possibilities for
Black to win, not only because he has
the initiative, but because of White's undeveloped
Queen's side and the fact that a Bishop in such a position

is
better than a Knight (see Section 14).
It will
take some tune for White to bring his

into the fray,
Rook and Knight

obtain an
and Black can
utilise it to
advantage.
There are two courses open to him.
The
most evident, and the one that most players would take, is to advance the Pawn to Q B 4 and Q B 5
immediately
at
in
conjunction with the Bishop check
and any other move that might be necessary with the Black Rook. The other, and more subtle,
3
course
his
was taken by Black.

in the
It consists in utilising
Rook
same way as shown
in the previous
all
endings, forcing White to defend something

time, restricting the action
of WTiite's
the
Knight and
140
WTiite's
of
v.
Rook, while at the same time keeping freedom action for his own Rook and Bishop.
I
R-Kt
P Q Kt
3,
This forces
which blocks that square
for the WTiite Knight.

2.
P-Kt3
Rook
King to that
Pawns.
R-Kt 4
Pawns
side to defend them,
bringing the
to attack the King's side
so as to force the
and thus
indirectly
making more secure the
position
of Black^s Queen's side

3.
4.
P-B4
K-Kt
I
R-KR4
P-B4
of action
is
Note that the White Knight's sphere

very limited, and that after
Kt Q
White's
own
Pawns
are in his way.

5.
Kt-Q2
K-B
6.
R-B
ch
It merely drives
This check accomplishes nothing.

Black's King where
it is
it
wants to go.
Consequently
a very bad move.
PQ
3 at once
was the
best move.
6
7.
P-QR3
K-K2 R-R3
side,
Getting ready to shift the attack to the Queen's
where he has the advantage

8.
in material
and
position.
P-KR4
R-R3
ROOK, KNIGHT AND PAWN'S

Notice
141
how
similar are the manceuvres with this
Rook
to those seen in the previous endings.

9.
R-R
side.
B - Kt
Paralysing the action of the Knight and fixing the
whole King's
lo.K B2
White cannot answer
followed
K K3
Kt B
3,
because
B x Kt
by
K K
4 will win a Pawn, on account of
the check at
which cannot be stopped.
II.
142

25. 26. 27.
Kt-R4 KtxP
Kt K4ch
way
to win.
P-B5 P-B6
K B5
White should
resign.
The
quickest
2d>.
29.
Kt-Q6 P-Kt4
P-B
PxP
P-Kt6 K-Kt6 P-Kty
how
to con-
30. 31.
32.
P-B
Kt-B4 Kt-K3
Resigns.
very good example on Black's part of
duct such an ending.
CHAPTER
VI
Further Openings and Middle-Games

31.
SOME SALIENT POINTS ABOUT PAWNS

to the discussion of openings
it
Before going back

mind a few
will
and
in
middle-game positions,
might be well to bear
facts concerning
Pawn
positions which
no doubt help to understand certain moves, and
sometimes even the object of certain variations in

the openings, and of some manoeuvres in the middle-
games.
Example
side.
63.
In
the position of the diagram
we
and
have an exceedingly bad Pawn formation on Black's

Black's
Q B P
is
altogether backward,
White could by means
of the
open
file
concentrate
U3
144
SOME SALIENT POINTS

weak
5,
his forces against that
point.
is
There
is
also the
square at White's
QB
which
controlled
by White,
and from where a White piece once established could In order to get rid of it, Black not be dislodged.
would have to exchange
venient.
it,
which
is
not always an
all
easy matter, and often when possible not at
con-
P,
The same holds true with regard to Black's B P and K Kt P, which create what is called
a "hole" at Black's
be avoided.
3.
Such Pawn formations
invariably lead to disaster,
and consequently must
m ^
i
i
...
i^
Example
while
the
64.
In
this position
we might say
that
the White centre
Pawns have the attacking position, Black centre Pawns have the defensive
in
position.
Such a formation of Pawn occurs
the
French Defence.
attempts,
In such positions White most often

of
by means
KB
4 and
KB
5,
to obtain
is
a crushing attack against Black's King, which

erally Castled
gen-
on the King's
side.
To
prevent that,
ABOUT PAWNS
and
also to
145
assume the
initiative or obtain material
advantage, Black makes a counter-demonstration by
P - Q B 4, followed by P X P (when White defends the Pawn by P Q B 3), and the concentrating of Black's pieces against the White Pawn at Q 4. This
in substance
might be said to be a determined attack
against White's centre in order to paralyse the direct
attack of WTiite against Black's King.
It
must be
it
remembered that
tion to
at the beginning of the
book
was
stated that control of the centre was an essential condi-
a successful attack against
the
King.
In an abstract
Pawns
are
way we may say strongest when they are

Thus the
that two or
in the
more
same rank
next to one another.
centre
strongest in themselves, so to speak,
Pawns are when placed at

fifth
K
is
4 and
4 respectively, hence the question of ad-
vancing either the one or the other to the
rank
one that must be most carefully considered.
The
advance of either
the
Pawn
often determines the course
game
will follow.
is
Another thing to be considered
the matter of one

isolated either
or more passed Pawns when they are

singly or in pairs.
is
We
might say that a passed
Pawn
either ver}'
weak
or very strong,
and that
its
weakness
or strength, whichever happens to be in the case to
be considered, increases as
it
advances, and
is
at the
same time
in direct relation to the
number
of pieces
on the board.
In this last respect
it
might be generally
said that a passed
Pawn
increases in strength as the
number
of pieces
on
the board diminishes.
146
SOME POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENTS

all
Having
this clear in
mind we
will
now
revert
to the openings and middle-game.
We
will analyse
games
carefully
from beginning to end according to

I
shall,
general principles.
whenever
possible,
use
my
owTi games, not because they will better illustrate
the point, but because, knowing them thoroughly, I

shall
be able to explaui them more authoritatively
than the games of others.
32.
SOME POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENTS FROM A RUY LOPEZ

of the variations in the openings
That some
on some
and
the manoeuvres in the middle-game are
often based
of the elementary principles just
expounded
can be easily seen in the following case
Example
65.
FROM A RUY LOPEZ

So
far
147
a very well-known variation of the
Ruy
Lopez.
In fact, they are the moves of the Janowski-
Lasker game in Paris, 191 2.

14.
Q-Q3
P-Kt3
of the Knights to
Let us suppose the game went on, and that in some
way White, by playmg one
at the proper time, forced the exchange of both Knights,
and then afterwards both the Bishops were exchanged,
and we arrived
very similar
ing the
at
some such position as shown

(I
in the
following diagram.
obtained such a position in a

at
way once
Lodz
in Poland.
was play-
White pieces
against a consulting team headed

m
by
Sal we.)
a
-i Vk'
i<//M
'/,
'/'///.
si
Now we
would have here the case of the backward

will in
Q B P, Q B 4.
lost,
which
no way be able to advance to

to be theoretically
will invariably
Such a position may be said

in practice a iirst-class
(If I
and
it
master
win
from Black.
may be
excused the reference,

referred to.)
I will say that I
won
the
game above
After a few moves
the position
may
be easily thus
148
SOME POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENTS
ft
i^ m
ft
#^^f
--"-.
^^
C,,^^
fl
The Black
plays
&
^^
pieces can be said to be ^xe^.

3,
If
2,
White
other-
Q QB
Black must answer
Q Q
wise he
will lose a
Pawn, and
3
if
White returns with
the Queen to
to
Q R
Black
will
have again to return
Q Kt
with the Queen or lose a Pawn.
can only move according to
Thus Black White's lead, and under
such conditions White can easily advance with his
Pawns
finally
K B 4 and K Kt 4, until Black will be forced to stop P B 5 by playing P K B 4, and we might

to
have some such position as

66.
this
Example
^ ^
^
_
ft
1^ ^ w If^ î m>M
ft
"
ft
^^
,
WM m'^^ tl
WKy
ft
ft
"W$.
ty/ZA
B^M
i
^^mwwi
FROM A RUY LOPEZ

In this situation the
I.
149
as follows:
2
game might go on
P X
P,
X
2.
P;
2.
Q- KB
i,
3,
Q- Q
White threatened to win a Pawn by

could not play
.
QX
P, and Black
.R
K B
at least.
because 3
RX B P
would
3.
5.
also
win a
Pawn
R(B5)-B2,R-Kt3; R(B i) - KKt I,
4.
R- Kt2,K- Ri
R
7.
(B
i)
- K Kt
R,
6.
Q- R5,RX
K X R, QXQ, PX
it
R;
2
RX
2,
RX
Kt
R
3
8.
Q-
Kt
Q;
ch;
II.
9.
K-R
4,
Q-
10.
P - Kt
and White wins
Now
diagram
suppose that in the position in the preceding
were Black's move, and he played

his
R KB
i.
White would then simply defend
move
like
Q- K B
3,
threatening
K B P by some R X Q B P, and
Kt
3,
then he would bring his King up to
and when
the time came, break through, as in the previous case.

WTiite might even be able to obtain the following
position
&
^^^
ft
fIB
I50
SOIME POSSIBLE
DEVELOPMENTS
Black would
now be
forced to play
2,
R B
it
i,
and
White could then play
QB
and follow
up with
3,
and thus
force Black to play
P, which
would give White a greater advantage.
careful
that,
examination of
besides
all
these positions will
reveal
the
advantage of freedom of
of the
manoeuvre on White's part, the power

at
Pawn
free to
5 is
enormous, and that
it
is
the
commanding
it is
position of this
Pawn, and the
fact that
advance, once
all
the pieces are exchanged, that con-
stitute the pivot of all White's manoeuvres.
have purposely given positions without the moves
which lead to them so that the student

accustomed to build up
positions that
in
may become
possible
situation).
his
own mind
any given
may
arise (out of
Thus he
his
will learn to
make
strategical plans
and be on
derive
way
to the master class.

benefit
The student can
enormous
33.
by further
practice of this kind.
THE INFLUENCE OF A "HOLE"

game has
illustrated in
The
influence of a so-called "hole" in a
already been
my game
against Blanco
(page 81), where has been shown the influence exercised
by the
different pieces posted in the hole created

5.
at White's

Example
point, I
151
67.
In
order to further illustrate this

in the
now
give a
national
Masters
game played Tournament

White:
Havana
Inter-
of
1913.
(Queen's
Gambit Declined.)
A. Kupchick.
1.
D. Janowski.
Black:
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
P-Q4 P-QB4 Kt QB 3 B Kt5 P-K3 B-Q3 BxP

is
P-Q4 P-K3 Kt KB3 B K2

QKt-Q2 PxP Kt Kt3
Knight at
Of course the idea

it is
to post a
4,
but as
the other Knight which will be posted there this

logical.
manoeuvre does not seem
The Knight
at
Kt
3 does nothing except to prevent the development
of his
own Q
B.
4,
is
The normal
to play
course
00,
followed
by P
more reasonable.
White
For a beautiful
in that variation,
illustration of
how
see the Janowski-Rubinstein
game
of the St. Peters-
burg Tournament of 191 4.

8.
B-Q3
its
B Kt
the
9
has some points in
favour in this position,
the most important being the possibility of advancing
Kmg's Pawn immediately
after 8
K
4
Kt Q
BxB, QxB.
8
9.
Kt
10.
BxB Kt B3
QxB
152
Had White's Bishop been at Q Kt 3 he could now play P K 4 as indicated in the previous note, a move
which he cannot make
of
in the present position, because
Kt K B
XB
threatening, not only the
Kt
P,
but also Kt
ch.
As White's King's Bishop should
never be exchanged in this opening without a very
good reason White therefore cannot play

10
11.
PK
4.
12.
0-0 R B
^ ^Mi
î
0-0 B Q2
I
^mi
^^
i
mm
m m m
'<m>.
4^Â
^^ m^mî
and now threatens to
;
White
is
perfectly developed,
:
win a Pawn as follows

followed
Kt X Kt, Kt X Kt
PK
4,
by
RX
P.
12
P-QB3
The fact that Black is practically forced to make this move in order to avoid the loss of a Pawn is sufficient reason in itself to condemn the whole system
of
development on Black's part.

2,
In
off
effect,
he plays
BQ
and now
he has to shut
the action of his

own Bishop, which a Pawn for a while.
Bishop
it
153
thereby becomes httle more than

In fact,
it is
hard to see how this

Besides,
will ever
be able to attack anything.
can be
easily seen that
White
will
soon post his
two Knights at
Black
will
and
QB
5 respectively,
and that
not be able to dislodge them without seriously

his
it
weakening
game,
if
he can do
it
at
it
all.
From
all
these reasons
can be gathered that

for
would probably
have been better
Black to play Kt
x Kt and
thus
get rid of one of the
two White Knights before assumIn such cases, the
ing such a defensive position.

less
the
number
of pieces
on the board, the better
chances there are to escape.

13.
Kt
K4
5 for
KB
This practically amounts to committing suicide, since

it it
creates a hole at
will
White's Knight, from where

If
be practically impossible to dislodge him.
Black intended to make such a move he should have
done
it
before,
when
at least there
would have been an
object in preventing the WTiite Knight from reach-
ing
5.
14. 15.
Kt B 5 Kt K5
The
at
position of White's Knights, especially the one

5,
might be said to be
ideal,
and a
single glance
shows how they dominate the position.

henceforth will be
full
The question
situation.
how
such
is
WTiite going to derive the
benefit
from
an advantageous
This
we
shall soon see.
154
9
m%
4
^p
mil
\l k
''^'^''mm^'''mi
^H
15-
bi
&
.
R Kt
in this
There
is
no object
move, unless
is
it is
to be fol-
owed by
Kt Q
i6.
17. 18.
2.
As that
not the case, he might

i,
have gone with the Rook to
as he does later.
R Ki Q-B3 Q Kt3
7
R-B3 R-R3 R B
I ^.
White threatened to win the exchange by playing

either
Kt B
19.
or
Kt Kt
20. 21.
P-B3 P QR3 P R3
RB 2 K Ri
Perhaps
these precautions are unnecessary, but White feels that he has more than enough tune to
all
prepare his attack, and wants to be secure in every
way
before he begins.
THE INFLUENCE OF A ''HOLE"

21
22.
23.
155
P-Kt4
PK Q B
4
2
He had
better have played

rid of White's
P-B5 Kt K6 Kt B 3 and
;
tried later
on to get
Knights by means of
Kt Q
2.
24.
RX
Kt
Rook
for a
with this
sacrifice of the
Knight and Pawn
White obtains an overwhelming

24
25.
position.
Qx
to
PX R Kt B
Kt Q
of good
was better
in order to get rid of
one of the
two WTiite Knights. There were, however, any number

rep^lies
it,
among them
the
following
K Kt
Kt(B5)xKt,BxKt; QxP, QxQ; Kt Bych,

2
;
Kt X Q, and with two Pawns exchange, and the position so much in his
White should have no trouble
in winning.
for
the
favour,
156
THE INFLUENCE OF A "HOLE" R Kt3 26. Kt Kt4

27.
28.
P K5 B B4
R Kt2 BB 2
and
as
it
is
All these
easily
moves are
practically forced,
seen they tie
up Black's
position
more and
more.
White's manoeuvres from move 24 onwards
are highly instructive.

29.
Kt B
Kt Kt
This wandering Knight has done nothing throughout

the game.
30. 31.
Kt(B5)-K4P-KR3
P
Kt Q4 KR4 R-Kt3 Q-Q2 32. Q-Bi 33. PxP and Black would be helpless. If P X P; K B Kt K 2 34. P B 4 KKt4 PxP P 35. Resigns. 36. PxP There nothing to be done. If B Kt Q R 2 ch,
2,
is
i
;
K Kt
things,
of
2;
B X
P.
notice that, apart
The student should
from other
White throughout the game has had control the Black squares, principally those at K 5 and
5.
QB
From now on
collection of
to the end of the
book
I shall give a
my
games both
lost
and won, chosen so
as to serve as illustrations of the general principles

laid
down
in the foregoing pages.
PART
II
PART
GAME
1.
II
QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLINED

(Match, 1909)
White
F.
J.
:Marshall.
Black
J.
R. Capablanca.
1.
P Q4
2.
P-QB4
Kt-QB3
B Kt5
3.
4.
5.
P-K3
P Q4 P-K3 Kt-KB3 B K2 Kt-K5

match
I
I
had played
played
tactics.
this defence twice before in the
with good
still
results,
it
and although
lost this
game
until the very last
game, when
changed
my
The reason was my

I
total lack of know^l-
edge of the different variations in this opening, coupled
with the fact that

successful with
I
it
it
knew that Dr. E. Lasker had been

against jMarshall himself in 1907.
it
thought that since Dr. Lasker had played

should be good.
so often,
The
object
is
to exchange a couple
of pieces
full
and at the same time

possibilities
to bring about a position
of
and with promising chances of

end-game stage
is
success
once
the
reached.
On
general principles
it
should be wrong, because the

159
i6o
GAME
is
same Ejiight
although
it
moved
three times in the opening,

pieces.
mvolves the exchange of two
In
reahty the difficulty in this variation, as well as in

nearly
in
all
the variations of the Queen's gambit, hes
the slow development of Black's

this
Queen Bishop.
and
However, whether
safely played
is is
variation can or cannot be

still
a question
to be decided,
I
it
outside the scope of this book.
may add
that at
present
my preference
it
is
for a different
system of devel-
opment, but
is
not unlikely that I should some
time come back to this variation.
6.
7.
BxB B-Q3
QxB
we
shall
PXP
is
preferable for reasons that
soon
see.
7
8.
Px
is
Kt
Kt X Kt Kt Q2
to develop the
Now P X P
game.
would be a better way

idea
The
3,
that after
8...PxP;
2,
qBxBP,
P Q Kt
eleventh
followed by B Kt
would give Black's
Bishop a powerful range.
For
this variation see the
game
9.
of the match.
Kt-B3
.
0-0
X P
5.
;
No
longer would 9.
.P
be good, because 11
B Kt
P Q Kt would prevent B Kt
10
B X
P,
3
2
on account
of
Kt

10.
i6i
11.
12.
PXP Q Kt3 P QR4
PX P Kt B
P-B4
Yet
it
it is
Played with the intention of obtaining the majority

of
Pawns on
this
the Queen's side.
doubtful
whether
move
is
good, since
in
leaves Black's
Queen 's-side PawTis disrupted
a way.
3.
The
safer
course would have been to play

13.
PB
Q-R3
P-QKt3
This exposes Black to further attack by
PR
without any compensation for

this position
it.
If I
had
to play
nowadays
after 14
would simply play 13...

P,
R K
and
If,
I.
Then
QX
QXQ
would
the
follow,
believe
that Black would
regain
Pawn.
5
instead,
White played 14 P X P then
B Kt
would give Black an excellent game.

14.
15. 16.
PR
00
B Kt 2 QB 2
I
KR Kt
Kt Q
l62
GAME
Black's position was bad and perhaps lost in any

case,
but the text move makes matters worse.
As a
5.
matter of fact I never saw White's reply

It
BB
this
never even passed through

Black's
I.
my
mind that
was
threatened.
16.
.
best
.K
R Kt
17.
If that
move would have been loses, then any other move
would
lose as well.
BB
KR B
From bad
to worse.
18.
Kt B
3 offered the only hope.

Of course,
if
163
Kt X B, R Kt 8 ch would have drawn. The text move is pretty and finishes quickly. A well-played game on Marshall's part.
25
GAME
2.

(San Sebastian, 191 1)
White
A. K.
164
GAME
course of this variation, but with very poor success.
The move in theory ought to be unsound, since Black's K Kt is yet undeveloped. I had not yet learned of Kt 5 and the exchange the attack founded on Kt Either Kt of the B at K 3. B 3 or P K R 3; K Kt 5, was right. to prevent either B or Kt
Pip
9^,
._
^J
-=
m g t:l^M^P m mxmxm
1
tgiW|;;iSj'&i
9-

which
I
165
had
seen, but
which
thought
could
be
defeated.
14.
B X Kt
B, which
it
QXB
seemed would give
I considered
PX
me
a playable game, but I thought WTiite's combination
unsound and therefore

regret.
let
him play
it,
to
my
lasting
S
^..
am'
15.
KtXP!
'
Q-R3
y
.
^y/////i
^1
A.^^
L,_
&
^;-
.^M
i66
i6.
GAME
K Kt2!
I
This
is
the
move which
mind
2,
had not considered.
I thought
2,
that Rubinstein would have to play

I
B Kt
4
(if
when
i,
had
in
the following winning combination
16
B Kt
Kt
4! 17
Kt B
QXR!! QxQ, BxPch

18
;
wins),
R-B Kt Kt 5
;
P K R 3 (if Kt R 3, B X P ch wins the ex20 K x B, change), Kt X P 19 R X Kt, B X R ch It curious that should win. is and Black P K Kt 4,
this
combination has been overlooked.

granted
i.
It has been
taken for
that
did
not see the
17th
move
Q B
16
After White's last
QR Qi
move
there
was nothing
for
me
to
do but submit to the inevitable.

17.

22.
2324. 2526.
167
R-Q3
KR K RxR
RxR
R-QKt3
27.
28. 29.
30-
R-K5 RxP B K 6 ch R B ch B B ch B B4
5
RxP
Kt-B3 K B
I
K K K-Q2
30.
P-QR3
It loses
bad move, which gives away any legitimate

a very important
chance Black had to draw.
move.
game will show, was to play way proper The it Q 3. If then R Q Kt 5, RxR; B x R, Kt Q 5; followed by P Q Kt 4; and WTiite would have an exceedingly difficult game to draw on
In
fact, as the course of the
loses several moves.
account of the dominating position of the Knight at
i68
GAME
and the awkward position
this is so.) 31-
5 in
conjunction with the extra
Pawn on
the Queen's
(See
side
of White's King.
how
32. 3334. 3536. 37.

38.
R B 7 ch R X K Kt P
B Kt8
RXP P R4 R R6ch R R5 ch B-Q5
K-Q3 P Kt4 P-QR4 P-RS

P-Kt5
K B4
K-Kt3
gives Black
With
these last three
moves White again
move B B 4 would have won with comparative ease, but the text move
a chance.
Even
before the last
is
a downright blunder, of which, fortunately for him,
Black does not avail himself.
38
P Kt6
it
RXP
White
would make
if
practically
all.
impossible
for
to win,
he can win at
White's best con-

tinuation then would have been
:
169
40
42
is
R Kt P R
a win
5 ch,
5,
it
K PR 7
;
B B4, R By; B 2; 41 B Kt 8, P R 6; 43 B X P, R X B, and if there

39
to
find
it,
is
very
difficult
as
against
44
PR
6,
R R
3! offers
excellent
chances for a
draw.
39. 40.
If
Px
P B X Kt
7;
P R6 R X Kt P
40...P
R
8.
41
R Kt
ch,
KR
3;
42
R Kt
41. 42.
B-Q5 R R6ch
P-R7
Resigns.
As an end game, this is rather a sad exhibition for two masters. The redeeming feature of the game is
Rubinstein's fine combination in the middle game,
beginning with 14
B x
Kt.
GAME
White
3.
IRREGULAR DEFENCE
(Havana, 1913)
Black
R. Capablanca.
D. Janowski.
I.
J.
lyo
GAME
last
3
to obtain full developis
At
ment.
Black
is
on
his
way
The
idea of this irregular opening
mainly
own resources. At the time system of defence was not the played, was game the as well known as the regular forms of the Queen's Pawn openings. Whether it is sound or not remains
to throw WTiite on his
yet to be proved.
Its
good features are that
it
keeps
the centre intact without creating

ness,
any particular weakthe

It is
and that
it
gives plenty of opportunity for deep
and concealed manoeuvring.

long time
it
The drawback
will
is
takes Black to develop his game.
natural to suppose that White
employ that time
to prepare a weU-conceived attack, or that he will use
the advantage of his development actually to prevent

Black's
complete
development,
or
failing
that,
to
obtain some definite material advantage.

lo.
P-KR3
IRREGULAR DEFENCE
12
171
Kt X Kt
I considered castling,
I
very serious mistake,

right
which
afraid
was the
move, but desisted because

;
was
that by playing 13
B Kt
wrong
3;
15
Kt
B X Kt, P x B 14 Kt Kt 3, B 5, White would obtain a winWhether

all
ning position for the end game.

this
right or
shows how closely related are
parts of
the game, and consequently

the other.
13.
14.
how one
will influence
BxB
B X Kt
KxB
B Kt
3
Not good.
been Kt
The natural and proper move would have

3, in
order to bring
at once
all
the Black pieces

it
into play.
B x Kt
was
also good, as
would
have reHeved the pressure against Black's King's Pawn,
and
at the
it
same time have

is
simplified the
game.
ele-
Here
seen
how
failure to
comply wdth the
mentary
logical reasons, that
govern any given posiI
tion, often brings the player into trouble.
was no
fear
doubt influenced
of
in
my
choice of
moves by the
BB
5,
which was a very threatening move.
15.
16.
Q-B4 P QKt 4
B X B
Kt-K3
QB
2
17.
iS.
Q K4
RPx B K B 3
172
GAME
mm
i
iW
^
î
imm:
^^ -^
19.
Si_,
R-Q3
be followed by
PK R
Black's
4, to
P Kt
4,
might have
been a more vigorous
way
to carry
on the attack.
weak point
is
is
unquestionably the
Pawn
at
4,
which he
text
compelled to defend with the King.

at doubling the Rooks, with the
The
move aims
ultimate object of placing one of
them
at
6,
sup-
ported by a
Pawn at Q B 5, this by playing P B 4, which would create a "hole" or by playing P Kt 3, which would tie the at Q 5 Black Queen to the defence of the Q B P as well as
Black could only stop
;
the
P, which she already defends.
Black, how-
ever, can
meet
all
this
by
offering the
exchange of
this reason
Rooks, which destroys White's plans.
For
PK
attack.
4 appears the proper
way
to carry on the
QR-Qi P KKt4 20. QR Qi which would preparatory to P K Kt This move

19
is
3,
IRREGULAR DEFENCE
make
Black's position secure.
173
Unfortunately for Black,
he did not carry out his original plan.

21.
P B4
left
RxR
Black with a perfectly
P
safe
Kt
would have
game.
22.
RxR
right
R Q
very serious mistake, which loses a
Pa^\^^.
left
P
Black
Kt
was the
move, and would have

In
fact,
if it
with a very good game.
should come to
a simple ending, the position of the Black King would
be an advantage.
23.
RxR
Ktx R
24.
KR4
will
This wins a Pawn, as

reply 24...Kt
soon be seen.
Black cannot
ch,
because 25
PXP
Kt x P;
26
Q R 4
wins the Knight.
174
24.
GAME
FRENCH DEFENCE
of defending, Black
175
makes a counter demonstration

It leads to highly interestuig
on the Queen's
games.
5-
side.
PXP
game was played
but
I
At the time
this
the variation
was
in vogue,
considered then, as I do now,
the text
move
5
to be the stronger.
QxP
Px
P.
It
This
is
considered superior to
has for
its
object, as I said before, to take the initiative
away
from White by disrupting White's Queen's

his breaking
laid
side.
WTiite,
however, has more than ample compensation through
up Black's King's
is of
side.
It
might be
down
as a principle of the opening that the breaking
up of the King^s side

lar occurrence
mme
impartanê tlmn a simi-
on
the
Queen^s
side.
6.
176
FRENCH DEFENXE
reply, but a careful examination will
177
show that WTiite
already has the better position.

15. 16.
R-Q3!
KR Q
K Kt Q-KB4
I
L.!
Jy
17.
Kt
R4
it
This move has been criticised because
puts the
forc-
Knight out
of the
;
way
for a
few moves.
But by
WTiite gains a \try important move ing Q K Kt 4 which not only consohdates his position, with P B
4,
but also drives the Queen away, putting
it
out of the
is
game
for the
moment.
Certainly the Queen
far
more valuable than the Knight,

for WTiite's
to say nothing of the
time gained and the freedom of action obtained thereby
more important
17
18. 19.
pieces.
PB
Q K Kt 4 Q Kt 2
B-B3
178
In such positions
to get rid of the
it
GAME
is
generally very advantageous
Black Bishop controlling his

positions
Q R
and
Q B
3,
which form "holes"
for White's pieces.
The Bishop
m such
19
is
of very great defensive

it.
value, hence the advantage of getting rid of
KR Ki
B X B
20.
21.
KxB
P-B3
6 ch.
P-QB5!
White threatened P
22.
B
3
Kt B
Q-Bi
Q
6 via
To
and
prevent the Knight from moving to
K 4 or Q B
4.
It
is
self-evident that
White has a
great advantage of position.
23.
Kt Q2?
had considered
it
R Kt
3,
it
which was the right
move, but gave
up because
seemed too slow, and
FRENCH DEFENCE
way
of winning.
179
that in such a position there had to be some quicker
23
24.
PX P
Kt B 4 Kt Kt
3
Kt
4 or
would have brought about
an ending advantageous to White.

24
25.
Kt R
ch
26.
27.
If
Px
28
Kt Kt3 KR I Kt Q4
R B
(Kt
i)
I
Q Q4
KtxP, R
R Kt
i;
i;
29
Kt x
P would
win.
28.
P B 4
I
Kt B
4 was the right move.
was, however,
still
looking for the

that the
"grand combination," and thought

I
Pawn
would
later
on have at
6 would
win the game.
Black deserves great credit for the

this exceedingly difficult
way
in
which he conducted
I So
GAME
He
move
defence.
could easily have gone wrong any

22
num-
ber of times, but from
onwards he always
played the best move.

?8
FRENCH DEFENCE
I8l
I
36QXQP! R-Q
(if
i;
I,
37
Q-R6, K-Kt
I
;
best
Q Q
ch
K R K Kt
R Q Kt
wins)
38
QXB P
and Wliite
will at least
have a draw.
3536.
i82
GAME
superiority of
has four Pawns to three on the King's

Black's
side,
while
is
Pawns on
the other side
somewhat balanced by the
fact that
one of Black's
Pawns
is
doubled.
On
the other hand, Black has
the advantage of remaining with two Bishops while
White has only one.

4
5.
6.
7.
P-Q4 QxP
KtxQ
is
QPXB PxP QxQ B-Q3

His
Black's idea
to
Castle on the King's side.
reason
side to
is
that the King ought to remain on the weaker
oppose later the advance of White's Pawns.

is
Theoretically there
very
much
to be said in favour
of this reasoning, but
whether in practice that would

difficult to
all
be the best system would be rather
prove.
The student should
notice that
if
now
the pieces
were exchanged White would practically be a

ahead, and would therefore have a
Pawn
won
ending.
8.
Kt
QB3
Kt
K2
In any other
perfectly soimd form of development.
form adopted the Black Kt could not be developed

either as quickly or as well.
for
K2
and
to
is
the natural position
the Black
Kt
in this variation, in order not to

also,
obstruct Black's Pawns,

ualities,
in
some event3.
in
order
to
go
Kt
There
is
RUY LOPEZ
also the possibility of its going to
183
5 via
QB
3 after
P-QB4.
9.
10.
0-0 PB 4
weak
0-0
at the time,
This move
still.
I considered
and
do
It leaves the
P weak,
it
unless
it
advances to
5,
and
it
also
makes
4.
possible for Black to pin the
Kt by B Q B
10.
R K Best. It threatens B B4; B K3, Kt Q4. It also prevents B K 3 because of Kt Q 4 or B Kt Kt 3 B3 Preparatory to P Q Kt followed by P Q B 4 in conjunction with Kt Kt and B Kt which
I
4.
II.
3,
3,
would put WTiite
in
great
difficulties
to
meet the
combined attack against the two centre Pawns.

12.
P-B5
KW
Bi
^^
*
ft
<^
^^
^S Mi^^m
a
%
|f|i
r'^4
m .W3 mm m wm
&
1 84
GAME
like
It
has been wrongly claimed that this wins the game,

nothing better than to have such a
It required several mistakes
but I would
position again.
on
my
part finally to obtain a lost position.
12
13.
P-QKt3
B-B4
13-
B Kt2
Played against
of course
was
my better judgment. The B X B. Dr. Lasker gives
right
move
4;
i;
the follow-
ing
15
variation:
R Q
I,
i3...BxB;i4RxB, P B B Kt 2; 16 R B 2, Q R Q
19
of
it.
17RXR, RxR; 18R Q2, RxR;

and he claims that White has the best
as Niemzovitch
Kt x R,
But,
pointed out immediately after the

i
game, 16...Q
tion,
is
R Q
given in Dr. Lasker's variaIf
not the best.
16... Q
RB
i!
then
WMte
will
have great
difficulty in
drawing the game,
RUY LOPEZ
since there
is
185
no good way to stop Black from playing
Kt B
3, followed
by Kt
K
Kt
5,
4,
threatening
Kt~
5.
And
should White attempt to meet this maat
noeuvre by withdrawing the
Kt
then the
Black Knight can go to
K
B
of
will
be the object of the attack.
and the White Pawn at Taking Dr.

Black plays 19.
also
Lasker's variation, however, whatever advantage there
might be disappears at once

3,
if
.Kt
threatening
Kt Kt
Black
3
and
If
Kt Q
draw.
5,
neither
which can be stopped.

5,
White answers 20 Kt
In
Kt Q
.
5 for
will at least
fact,
after 19.
.Kt
Black threatens so
many
things
that
it is difficult
to see
how
Wliite can prevent the
loss of
one or more Pawns.
14. 15.
B X B
PXB
Kt-Q4
.B
It is
a curious but true fact that I did not see this

I
move when
played 13
Kt
13.
.
2,
otherwise I would
have played the right move

15
.B
B.
QR-Qi
yet far from
lost,
The game
lowed by
is
as against the entry
of the Knight, Black can later
PQ
16.
on play P
4, fol-
4.
Kt K6
R Q2
17.
QR-Qi
i86
GAME
m m
'4,c/ii^
m%^'m
^
wy
ifcsi^
mJ^wi
I
now was on
by P
the point of playing

4,
PB
4, to
be
followed
which
thought would give
me
i,
a draw, but suddenly I became ambitious and thought

that I could
play the text move,

sacrifice
ly.-.Kt
and
at
later
6,
still
on
the exchange for the Knight

for
it,
winning a
weaker.
I
Pawn
and leaving White's
KP
intended to carry this plan either
before or after playing
K Kt 4 as the circumstances
:
demanded.
18
Now
5,
let
us analyse
1 7
PB
4.
If
QKt 4; and a Kt; 19 PxB, P careful analysis wall show that Black has nothing to Black's plan in this case would be to work his fear. Kt around to K 4, via Q B i, Q Kt 3, and Q B 5 or Kt Q
Bx
P X P, B X P 20 Kt X B (best, since if R (B 2) Q 2, B X Kt give Black the advantage), RxKt; 21 R X R, Kt X R; and there is no good reason why
19
;
2.
Again, 17...P
4; 18
RB
2,
-Q
4;
Black should
17
18.
lose.
Kt Bi
RB
P-QKt4
RUY
i88
helpless with each
GAME
move.
The game needs no
further
comment, excepting that

an altogether
made,
it
my
if
play throughout was of
irresolute character.
When
a plan
is
must be
carried out
at all possible.
Regard-
ing the play of White, I consider his loth
and 12th
his 28th
moves were very weak

move.
perfect.
he played well after that up
to the 27th move, which
was bad, as well as was

good,
The
rest of his play
probably
29.
FRENCH DEFENCE
GAME
6.
189
FRENCH DEFENCE
(Rice Memorial Tournament, 191 6)
White
O.
I.
Chajes.
Black
J.
R. Capablanca.
190
9.
GAME
BB
I
P QB4
It
Threatening
threat of
last
Q R
3-
4 and stopping thereby White's
BR
demonstrates that White's

loss of
move was a complete

his position.
time and merely
weakened
10.
FRENCH DEFENCE
fended, and this in turn will give
to post his
191
him the opportunity

2.
Knight at
4 via
When
the Black
Knight
is
posted at
2,
Q 4,
the Bishop will be developed to

itself,
3 via
it
as soon as the opportunity presents
and
will
be Black that will then have the
initiative,
and can consequently decide the course

15.
of the
game.
To prevent Kt X P, or
ever,
is
R-Qi Kt K
2
;
which would be answered by
still
better
by B
3.
strategically
wrong,
since
The move, howby bringing his

loses
pieces to the Queen's side,
White
any chance
he might have of making a determined attack on the

King's side before Black
15
16.
is
thoroughly prepared for
it.
P-KKt3
PB
4
K Kt
P Q R
be
here,
17-
B-K3
4, in
Better would have been
order to play
better posted
it
BR
3.
The
WTiite
B would
much
on the open diagonal than

on the defensive.
17
18.
where
acts purely
BB
Kt K2 Kt Q4
it
is
This Knight completely paralyses the attack, as
dominates the whole situation, and there

to dislodge
his pieces.
for
it.
no way
Behind
it
Black can quietly develop

said to be
The game can now be
won
Black strategically.
192
19. 20.
GAME
21.
22. 23.
R Q3 Kt Q4 R Kt3 P KR4 P-R5

K
2
B Q2
QR-QB K R KR Kti
2
Q-Kt5
Also to prevent
In order to pin the Knight and be ready to come back

to either or
B
all
i.
R Kt
i.
In reaUty nearly
these precautions are unnecessary,
since White's attack amounts to nothing.
Probably
Black should have

5
left
aside all these considerations,

it
up with and played Q R now, in order to follow favourable under less but later, p B as he did
4,
circumstances.
24.
R-R3
^ m
Wi^ ^^M ^
ft
1/
'tyyy/i
^
^
ill
i m "
^^4
rj
^^..,.,..^^_
1^^^^^
24.
^^^
P-B4
QB
i
Not
the best, as White will soon prove.
would have avoided everything, but Black wants assume the initiative at once and plunges into comto
FRENCH DEFENCE
plications.
is
193
However, as
will
soon be seen, the
move
not a losing one by any means.

25. 26.
PXP
e.p.
Kt X P
(B 3)
PxPch
RxP
m
A
''iM
J:
Ma
27.
'^^M.
^wm /^m
'^^
RxP ch
This wins the Queen.

27
28.
KxR
B QxQ
Kt
5ch
Px
Kt
29.
194
GAME
position looks
6
I
The
most
interesting.
thought
it
would be possible to get up such an attack against

the White King as to
make
it
impossible for
him
to
it
hold out
much
longer, but I
was wrong, unless

first,
could have been done by playing B B 3 I P Kt 3 and then playing K R

4.
forcing
followed a
play-
similar plan, but lost a very important
move by
ing
Q R K Kt R Q I. I am
to play
which gave White time to play
convinced, however, that
BB
at once was the right move.
White would be forced

either
P Kt
4;
3,
and Black would reply with

to play
5
;
KR
it
as already indicated, which looks the best

is
(the plan, of course,
R K R i
and follow
up with
K Kt
it
threatening mate, or
to
some
other
move
according
will
circumstances.
first
In some
cases, of course,
be better
will
to play
least
K Kt 5),
him a
them
to
this posi-
or
Kt K
There
that
It
it
5,
which
be
at
give
draw.
tion
all.
are so
many
possibilities in
would
be
impossible
to
give
will
worth
the
reader's
time
go
carefully through the Unes of play indicated above.
29
QR KKt
B
3
As stated B
30.
31.
was the best move.
P-Kt3
B-B3
R Q
K R4
is
The
plan, of course, as explained above,

5 in
to go to
8,
Kt
it
due time and threaten mate at

too late, the White
KR
but
in
is
now
Rook having come
FRENCH DEFENCE
time to prevent the manoeuvre.
195
Instead of the text
move,
therefore, Black should
have played Kt
5;
which would have given him a draw at the very

After the text moves the tables are turned.
least.
It is
now
White who has the upper hand, and Black who has
to fight for a draw.
32.
R Q6
still
B
had
to
K5
probably
Kt
was
the right move, and
the last chance Black

best play.
33.
34.
draw against White's
QxBP RxR
R, Kt
Kt-Q4
KxR
no better.
Kt X Q
RX
35-
X P was
196
GAME
why
I
Most
did,
I
players will be wondering, as the spectators
did not resign.
The reason
is
that while
for the fol-
knew
the
game
to be lost, I
was hoping
lowing variation, which Chajes came very near playing
5iQxPch,K-R2; 52Q-R5,RxP; 53 BKt 5 ch, K Kt 2 54 B X R ch, K X B; and while

;
White has a won game

pieces against a master
it
is
it,
by no means
let
easy.
If
the reader does not believe
and
see
him take the White what happens. My

no chances, played
opponent,
51
who decided
7,
to take
B Kt
and
finally
won
as
shown below.
51.
RUY LOPEZ
GAME
RUY LOPEZ
197
7.
(San Sebastian, 191 1)
White
J.
R. Capablanca.
1.
Black
A.
Bum-
K4
3
2.
Kt KB
3. 4.
5.
B-Kt5 B R4
P K4 Kt QB 3 P-QR3 Kt B 3
my
ignorance
P-Q3
This
is
a very solid development, to which I was
much
addicted at the time, because of
of the multiple variations of the openings.

5
6.
P B3
is
P-Q3 B K2
the alternative of developing
In this variation there

this
Bishop via Kt
7.
2,
after
2
Kt
3.
QKt Q
Kt B
I
00
P QKt4 P Q4
Px
P
4
at
8. 9.
BB
10.
11.
Q K 2
Px
P
B QB
E\'idently to
I
make room for the Queen do not think the move ad\asable at this
3
is
2,
but
stage.
It
a more natural and effective move.
develops
a piece and threatens

to be stopped.
12.
BB
5,
which would have
B Kt
B K3
198
GAME
it is
Now
not so effective, because White's
QB
is
out,
and the
Kjiight, in going to
K
B.
3 to defend
the square
QB
4,
does not block the

13.
Kt
14.
K3
R Ki Q K2
good.
This
is
bad.
Black's
game was already not
He probably had no choice but to take the Knight with the Bishop before making this move.
wm
s.
15.
16.
Kt Qs
BxKt
Kt Kt
I
PxB
it
in order to bring
to
2,
to support the other Knight
and
also his King's
Pawn.
able
White, however, does not

of his
allow time for this, and

superior position
17.
is
by taking advantage to win a Pawn.
P-QR4
way
it
P-Kt5
Pawn,
solid.
Since he had no
to prevent the loss of a
he should have given
up where
it
is,
and played
Q Kt Q
2,
in '.order to
make
his position
more
RUY LOPEZ
The
text
199
leaves
Black's
move not only loses a Pawn, but game very much weakened.
18.
19.
PXP
B X Kt
BxP
QXB
20. 21.
Q-K4
QxPch
B-Q3 KB
With a Pawn more and all his pieces ready for while Black is still backward in development,
remains for White to drive
action^
it
only
home
his
advantage before
Black can come out with his pieces, in which case,
by using the open

able
K R
file,
Black might be able to

WTiite
start a strong attack against WTiite's King.

is
by
his next
22.
move
to eliminate all danger.
Kt
R4
forced.
Q-R3
Black
could
This
is
practically
not
play
P Kt
3 because of
BxP,
and Wliite meanwhile
threatened
Q R
8 ch followed
by Kt
ch and
QXP.
200
23.
GAME
QXQ
202
GAME
%i
HI
\mhW' m ^^^^M
%
^^"
^^^^^
10
Q-B3
Pawn was merely with
Black
for his
White's threat to regain the
the idea of gaining time to develop his pieces.
could have played
PQ
opening the
11
way
Q B, when would have followed, 12 Kt B 3, and White would

Black aims at taking the
in accordance
B Q3,
With the
R Ki;
text
soon start a powerful
direct attack against Black's King.

initiative
move
with the principles
away from White laid down in this
book.
II.
If
Kt
3
;
R3
and White's Bishop would be
B X
at
P,
PQ
completely shut
if
off,
and could only be

loss
extricated,
all,
with serious
of
position.
The
text
move aims
at quick development to keep the initiative.

II
P-Q3
it
This
now
is
not only a developing move, but
also
threatens to win a piece by
Bx
Kt.
CENTRE GAME
12.
203
B-Q3
safe.
Kt-Q5
RK
i;
This complicates the game unnecessarily.
was simple, and perfectly

13.
B-K3
13
B-Kt5
The
position
This
is
a serious mistake.
was most
interesting,
and though
in
appearance dangerous for
The right move would have been 13. .R Kt 5, when we would have 14 B X Kt, RXB; i5P-QB3,BxP; 16 P x B, K Kt 5
Black, not so in reality.
.
R-
17
Q K
PX
Q,
(best),
Qx
ch;
18B B2, QxQ;

game
19
RX
P, and Black has the best of the
with four Pawns for a Knight, besides the fact that

all
the White
14.
Pawns
are isolated.
5!
Kt Kt
Rx
There was nothing

15.
better.
QXB!
Kt
ch
204
GAME
^ ^
iBi
J^^
i6.
17.
18.
BxKt! Kt K4!
RxB
RxKt
19. 20.
QxR P KB4 P B3
Q Kt4ch
Q-Kt4
B B4
21. 22.
KR Ki
R-Q5
Q-B3
QXQ
tage,
would have given White a decided advan-
enough to win with proper play. Mieses, however, feared the difficulties of an ending where, while having
the exchange, he would be a
ferred to keep the
Pawn
minus.
He
pre-
Queens on the board and keep up

sight,
the attack.
At
first
and even
after
careful
thought, there seems to be no objection to his plan From this point truth such is not the case. but
the
game
will gradually
improve
in
Black's
is lost.
favour
until,
with the exchange ahead, White
CENTRE GAME
22
23. 24.
205
P-B5 R-Q2
Q-Q2 P-QB3 P-Q4
i *.i^
B ^ ^
m
,
wm
m S
MAMI
i^
^J
is
My
I
shall
plan for the
moment
very simple.
It îll
3.
consist in bringing
my
Bishop around to
Then
try to paralyse
White's attack against

also prevent
my
is
King
from
safe
side
by playing P K R 3, and ever playing P K Kt

5.
White
from attack
I shall begin to
my advance my
Once
;
King
Queen's
Pawns, where there are four to three

Bishop at
and that
even
advantage, coupled with the enormous attacking power

of
my
3, will
at least assure
me an
chance of success.
2526. 27.
Q-B3
B K2
2
QR K
28.
B-B3 Q-R5 P KR3 P KKt4 K R2!
2o6
GAME
To prevent P K R 4, which I would answer with P K Kt 3, winning the Queen. It can now be
considered that
will
my
King
his
is
safe
from attack.
White
have to withdraw
Queen via
3,
and Black
can use the time to begin his advance on the Queen's

side.
29.
30.
K Kt R Q
R Qi PB 4
Notice that, on assuming the defensive, White has

placed his Rooks correctly from the point of view of
strategy.
They
are both on white squares free from
the possible attack of the Black Bishop.

31.
Q-R3
at
Q-R5
moment, on account
in the
This gains time by attacking the Rook and holding

the White the
3 for the
of
K Kt P.
Besides, the
Queen must be
middle
of the fray
now
that the attack has to be brought
home.
WTiite has actually
more value
utilise
in
material,
and therefore Black must
everything at his
command
32. 33-
in order to succeed.
R(K2)-Q2
5
;
K-Ri threatening P Kt
of action of the 34.
Q-K5ch P-QKt4
which would open the
line
Bishop and also secure a passed Pawn.
Q-Kt2
Q QXR
ch.
Q-R5
P, which White cannot
indirectly defending the
take on account of
CENTRE GAME
35.
207
K-Kti
P-Kt5
The attack increases in force as it is gradually brought home directly against the King. The position now is most interesting and extremely difficult. It is
doubtful
if
there
is
any valid defence against Black's
best play.
The
variations are
numerous and
difficult.
36.
PXP
RxR;
QxP
R
now x R, B x P
pla>'
Black has now a passed Pawn, and his Bishop exerts

great pressure.
White cannot very well

38
37
RxP
5
because of
and WTiite could not take the Bishop because
ch would win the Rook, leaving Black a clear
passed
Pawn
37
ahead.
38
P-QR3 RxP
R(Ql)_Q2
Q K:t3
Q-R5! R-QKti
39 40
41
P-B5 R Kt6
Q-Q6
208
GAME
"^m^m^"^'
Njî"
PH
wM..
IH ^H ^^
'%^Mi^
^^ i^^P
Ifî
^^^
41.
P B6
also
B X P would
game
it is
win, which shows that White's
is
altogether gone.
In these cases, however,

that should be played,
not the prettiest
move
but the most effective one, the
move
that will
make
your opponent resign soonest.

42.
43.
44.
R QB R-Q3 R-Qi
Resigns.
PxP
Q-K5! R QB6
Of course White must play

plays
Q Q
2,
and Black then
RX
P.
209
GAME
9.

(Berlin, 1913)
White:
J.
R. Capablanca.
Black: R. Teichmann.
I.
210
text
GAME
move
is
that
it
leaves Black's
QP
isolated,
and
consequently weak and subject to attack.

14.
KR Q
would
5;
Ktx B
been
The
15
alternative
have
16
14...P
4,
2,
P Kt
Kt
Q R
Kt4; Kt (B 4)
15.
Kt X Kt
16.
17.
RXR
P Kt QXR
Kt-B3
Q-B5
Black aims at the exchange of Queens in order to

remain wdth two Bishops for the ending, but in this
position such a course
is
a mistake, because the Bishop
at
Kt
2 is inactive
and cannot come into the game
by any means,
Queen's
unless Black gives
up the
isolated
Pawn which
18.
the Bishop must defend.
Kt
Q4
4,
Not, of course,
R B R-B
R Q
because of
QXQ
Kt X
Q,
and there would be no good way

18
19.
to prevent
7.
QxQ
Kt(B3)xQ!
Knights' moves.
chain-like, so to speak, in order
Notice the co-ordination of the
They
there.
are
manoeuvred
to maintain one of them, either at
4 or ready to go
file,
Now
19
White threatens to take the open

forces Black's next
.
and therefore
move.
I
R B
211
The student should examine

will
this position carefully.
There seems to be no particular danger, yet, as Wliite

demonstrate. Black
may
be said to be
the defence
is
lost.
If
the
game
is
not altogether
difficult
lost,
at least
of the
most
kind;
indeed, I
must confess
that I can see no adequate defence against White's
next move.
20.
Kt B
21
5!
KB
If2o...B
Qi;
23
2,
R X Kt; 25 R Q
Kt Q6,R B 2; 22 Kt x B X Kt, B X B; 24 R X P, R B
is
B,
2;
and White
else,
moves anywhere
then
Pawn B X
ahead.
If 20.
.B
the
Kt, doubling
KB
P and
isolating all of Black's King's side

21.
22.
Pawns.
Kt X B Kt Q4
KX
Kt Kt 3 Kt
This
is
practically forced, as WTiite threatened
5 ch.
Notice that the Black Knight
is
pinned in
such a
gi\Tng
way
that no
relief
can be afforded except by
up the
K R
or
abandoning the open
file
212
GAME
sieze
it.
with the Rook, which would be disastrous, as White
would immediately
23.
P-B3I
^Z-
P-R3
else
Black could do nothing

his
except
Rook along the open file, since as away White would take it. White, on the other hand, threatens to march up with his King to K 5
via
mark time with soon as he moved
KB2,KKt3, KB4,
after having, of course,
prepared the way.

to
Hence, Black's best chance was

in the text, in order to free his
give up a Pawn, as
Knight.
24.
25.
B X P
P K R4 BB 4
Kt Q
26.
Kt B 4 Kt K3
Black exchanges Knights to remain with Bishops of

opposite colours, which gives
273
him
the best chance to
draw.
27.
Kt X Kt
KX
Kt
27.
P X Kt would be
worse, as WTiite would then
be able to post his Bishop at

28.
5.
R Q2
R KRi
Black wants to force

be
bad,
on
B Kt3. P KKt3 would account of P Q 5 which would

;
get the Black Bishop into the game, even though
White could answer P

however, weak, as
will
5
;
4.
The
it
text
move
is,
soon be seen.
His best chance
was
and
to play
P Kt
3.
and follow
and B R
White meanwhile
R 4 Kt 4 could play P
up with P
5,
obtaining a passed Pawn, which, with proper
play, should win.

29.
R QB 2!
RXR
R QB
B X
30.
There are now Bishops of opposite colour, but nevertheless
White has an
easily -won
game.
2 14
GAME
31.
K B
^
i
:i.i
i *,^.
II ^^
a a
^^
31
Practically forced.
P-Qs
Otherwise the White King would
march up
this
to
4 and then to
If
and win Black's White King
Queen's side Pawns.
Black attempted to stop
by putting
his
King at
QB
3 then the
would enter through
into Black's King's side
and win
just as easily.
32.

at
215
Kt
7,
where
it
not only protects the

P.
P, but indi-
rectly also the
Q Kt
37
38.
K-Q4
B Kt
7
Resigns.
The student ought

of ending.
to have reahsed
by
this
time
the enormous importance of playing well every kind
In this game again, practically from the
opening, White aimed at nothing but the isolation

of Black's
P.
Once he obtained
that, he tried for
and obtained,
tion
terial
fortunately, another advantage of posiitself
elsewhere which translated
into the
ma-
in
Then by accurate playing the ending he gradually forced home his advantage.
advantage of a Pawn.
finest players in the world.
This ending has the merit of having been played against
one of the
GAME
10.
PETROFF DEFENCE
(St.
Petersburg, 1914)
White:
J.
R. Capablanca.
1.
Black:
F. J. Marshall.
K4
3
K4
2.
Kt KB
3.
4.
5.
KtxP
Kt KB 3 P-Q3
6.
7.
KB Q-K2 P Q3
B-Kts
Kt
Ktx P
Q-K2 Kt KB
2l6
GAME
lo
fine
Played by Morphy, and a very

is
move.
The
will
point
that should
Black exchange Queens he

in
be a
will
move behind
get a
development and consequently

if
cramped game
7
White plays accurately.
B-K3
it
Marshall thought at the time that this was the best
move and consequently played
in
preference to
QX Q
ch.
8.
Kt B
P KR3
9.
BxKt
P Q4
10.
QxB B K2
5ch
11. 12.
Q Kt
Kt Q2
B-Q3!
^^^^
mxm'imxm MB
I
ik: m%
W.
mwm,.
^^,.
WW
i
;Mj^ ^^^^^^^^^^
It is
now time
to examine the result of the opening.
On
White's side
we
find the
minor pieces well posted

it is
and the Queen out
in
a somewhat odd place,
true,
but safe from attack and actually attacking a Pawn.
PETROFF DEFENCE
White
is
217
is
also ready to
Castle.
White's position
evidently free from danger and his pieces can easily
manoeuvre.
On
Black's side the
first
thing
we
notice
is
that
he has retained both his Bishops, unquestionably an
advantage
but on the other hand we find his pieces

in
bunched together too much, and the Queen

of being (attacked without having
danger
to
it
any good square
go
to.
The Bishop
at
2 its
has no freedom and
blocks the Queen, which, in
turn, blocks the Bishop.
Besides, Black cannot Castle
on the King's
side be-
cause
QxP, R Kti;
Q K
4 threatening mate,
wins a Pawn.
Nor can he
Castle on the Queen's side
because Q R 5 would put Black's game in imminent danger, since he cannot play P R 3 because of B x P nor can he play K Kt because of Kt Kt
i
5.
Consequently we must conclude that the opening

all in
is
White's favour.
12
P Kt 4
for his
To make room Kt 5.
13.
Queen, threatening also
P-KR3
in
initiative.
0-0
free
giving
up a Pawn
an attempt to
his
and take the

find a
It was difficult for move, as White threatened Kt K 4, and should Black go with the Queen to Kt 2, then P Q 5, B
game him to
4;
Kt X P
ch, followed
by B x B.
2l8
14. 15.
GAME
lo
QxP Q-K4
P - Q Kt
3
QR-Kt Q Kt 2
16.
P-QB4
In order to break up White's centre and bring his
Knight to
4 and thus lay the foundation for a violent
attack against WTiite's King.

fails,
The
plan,
however,
as
it
always must
is
in
such cases, because Black's
development
backward, and consequently his pieces
are not properly placed.

17.
00
Kt-Qs!
PXP
18.
simple move, which destroys Black's plan utterly.

will
Black
and, as
lose
now have no concerted action of his pieces, his Pawns are all weak, he will sooner or later
them.
IMi
m
m
C..^B
fe'
m
ill
m i
19. 20.
BB
QxP
B-Qi Kt B4 QxQ
PETROFF DEFENCE
The
fact that he has to
219
is
exchange Queens when he
a Pawn behind shows

21.
that Black's
game
is
lost.
Kt X
22. 23-
B X B
B X Kt BB 3
QR-Qi
is
BxKt
But now the
one in which the Bishop
The Knight was too

ending brought about
is
threatening.
stronger than the Knight;
which makes Black's

further
plight a desperate one.

interest,
The game has no

its
and
it is
only because of
value as a study
of this variation of the Petroff that I
have given
it.
Black was able to fight
it
out until the sixtieth

WTiite's part.
on account
rest of the
of
some poor play on
move The
moves
24.
are given merely as a matter of form.
220
38.
GAME
lo
RUY LOPEZ
GAME
11.
221
RUY LOPEZ
(St. Petersburg, 191 4)
White:
J.
R. Capablanca.
1.
Black: D. Janowski.
P-K4
Kt KB
3
2.
Kt
K4 QB
3.
4.
5-
B-Kt5
B X Kt
P-QR3
QPXB
having discussed
with
it,
Kt-B3
move
after
it
played
this
Alechin on several occasions.

at the time, superior to
Alechin considered
4,
PQ
which
is
generally-
played.
He
played
it
himself later on in the Tourna-
ment, in one of his games against Dr. E. Lasker,
and obtained the superior game, which he only

through a blunder.
5
lost
B-QB4
probably the best move in this position.
PB
I
is
do not
like the text

6.
7.
move.
P Q3 B K3
B
for
KKt
BxB
White, and also reinforces
This opens the

his centre, but
KB
file
Black naturally did not want to make
a second move with this Bishop.

8. 9.
PxB 0-0
Q K
0-0-0
Bold play, typical of Janowski.
222
lo.
GAME II Kt-R3 Q Ki
The problem for White now to Kt 5 as fast as he can.

at once, Black simply takes
is
to advance his
If
it.
he plays
If
Q Kt P P Q Kt 4
first
he plays
Q R 3 and then P Q Kt 4, he will still have to protect his Q Kt P before he can go on and play P Q R 4
and
P Kt
5.
As a matter
of fact
White played a
cir-
rather unusual move, but one which, under the
cumstances, was the best, since after
it
he could at
4 and
once play
PQ
11. 12. 13.
Kt 4 and then
PQ R
Kt
5.
R Kt i! P Kt4 P QR4
PB 3 Kt B 2 B X Kt
He
will
simplifies,
hoping to lighten White's attack, which
have to be conducted practically with only the heavy pieces on the board. He may have also done
it
in order to play
Kt Kt
4 and
3.
RUY LOPEZ
14.
223
RXB
possi-
Taking with the Pawn would have opened a

bihty for a counter attack.
14.
P-QKt3
up
He
of
is
forced to this in order to avoid the breaking
his
Queen's side Pawns.
The only
4
;
alternative
would have been P

it
Kt
which on the face of
looks bad.
IS16. 1718.
P-Kt5
PxP
Kt-Qs
BPxP P-QR4 Q-B4
P-B4
p
mm.
^'^.
^ w^
The
hind
WTiite Klnight
it
is
now
a tower of strength. Beto

4,
WTiite will
be able
prepare
to drive
an attack,
which
will
begin with
P Q
away the
play
Black Queen and thus leave himself
free to
5.
There
is
only one thing to take care of and that
224
is
GAME
from
II
to prevent Black
sacrificing the
Rook
for the
Knight and a Pawn. ^to'

i8
19.
20.
R B 2 QB 3
his 19th
2,
Kt Kt4 Kt K3
R Q2
Had White on
stead
of
move played
K RB
R,
in-
RB
by Kt
21.
Black could have played
now
instead of the text move,
RX
Kt
KPX
2
Q X P ch
followed
4 with a winning game.

I
R Q
K Kt
for
It
would have been better

text
Black to play
K Q
i.
The
move
22.
23. 24.
25.
loses very rapidly.
P-Q4 RB 2
Px
P PB 5 P X Kt P B 6ch PX R P Q5 P Q6 Q B 6
Q-Q3
Px
P Kt B 5 Kt X Kt QXQP
26.
27.
K Kt
QXP
28.
29.
(Q
I
2)
R K
PxP
30. 31.
Resigns.
FRENCH DEFENXE
GAME
12.
225
FRENCH DEFENCE
191 8)
(New York,
White:
J.
R. Capablanca.
1.
Black:
O. Chajes.
2.
3. 4.
P K4 P-Q4 Kt-QB3 B-Q3
P K3 P-Q4 Kt KB
Not
the most favoured move, but a perfectly natural

it
developing one, and consequently

4
cannot be bad.
PXP
is
generally played in this case instead of
the text move.

5.
KtxP
Kt X Kt ch
QKt Q2
Ktx Kt
B K2
6.
7.
Kt-B3
W^
sj^:
'm
M_
^8--C,
IS.
F^^
wm-
226
8.
GAME Q K2
is
12
This
is
played to prevent
2,
P Q Kt
If
3,
followed
by
B Kt
for
which
the general form of development
Black
3
;
in this variation.
Black now plays 8

2
;
P
and
Q Kt
B Kt
8
9.
5 ch,
BQ
10
Kt K
White obtains a considerable advantage
in position.
B-KKt 5
Of course Black could not

of
0-0 P KR3 play P Q Kt

4.
3 because
B X
Kt, followed by
10. 11.
Q K
B X Kt
Q-K4
P KR4
BX B P KKt3
side.
This weakens Black's King's

the right move.
12.
R K
was
12.
P-K4
Pawn
in order to
This
is
merely giving up a
come
out quickly with his
B.
But as he does not obtain
FRENCH DEFENCE
any compensation
for his
227
is
Pawn, the move

It
bad.
He
the
should have played
Q Q
2;
game out
13
that way.
4,
4 and tried to fight might have continued
thus:
QB
of
B Kt
for
14QXBP, BxP;
with considerable
i5KtxB,QxKt; 16O O O
advantage
position
White.
The
text
move
might be considered a mild form of

13-
suicide.
228
GAME
3,
12
R K
Black could
21
22. 23.
now
play
Q Kt
defending
the Rook.
KB 2 P-R4
now
is
P-QB4 P Kt3
on the other
side,
White's plan
to fix the Queen's side in order
to be able to manoeuvre freely
where
he has the advantage of material.
Q-Q2 Q B Q-K3
I
K B
K -Kt
Black sees that he now stands

position,
in his best defensive
and therefore waits

is
for
White
to
show how
he intends to break through.

that the White Knight
in
He notices, of course, the way of the K B P,

4 to defend, or support
which cannot advance to

rather, the
Pawn
at
5.
FRENCH DEFENCE
28.
229
>30
GAME
is
12
Now
that he has completed his
march with the King,
White
ready to advance.
wm.
m. '
%m
mm
^p
39.
^^^mf^^^^-m^^^^
P KR5
'Px P
39...P
K Kt
40.
4 would be answered by
Q B
5,
with a winning game.
PxP
i
;
Q K2
White would play
Against
K Kt
Q Kt
4,
practically
forcing
the
exchange
of
Queens,
after
which White would have
Httle trouble in
winning the
ending, since Black's Bishop could not do

in the resulting position.
41.
much damage
Q B
i
Black overlooks the force

defence was
R Q
6 ch.
K Kt of 42 R Q
I
7.
His best
against which White could
either advance the
King or play Kt
4,
threaten-
ing
Kt Kt
42.
R Q7
BxPch
FRENCH DEFENCE
hopeless.
43.
231
This loses a piece, but Black's position was altogether
K-Kt4
Ktx B K B4
game march of
44.
45-
Q-B3 Q Kt 2ch
Resigns.
centres mainly on the
The
interest of this
opening and on the
the White King during

It is
the final stage of the game.
an instance of the Queens
King becoming a
are
still
fighting piece, even while the
on the board.
GAME
13.
RUY LOPEZ
191 8)
J.
(New York,
White:
J. S.
Morrison.
Black:
R. Capablanca.
1.
2.
P K4 Kt KB3
B-Kt5
Kt B 3 P-Q4
P K4
Kt QB3
3. 4.
5.
6.
KtxP
KB
via
P-Q3 B Q2 PxP P KKt3

Ruy Lopez
the devel-
In this form of defence of the
opment
of the
Kt
at
2 is, I think, of great
im-
portance.
The Bishop
Kt
exerts great pressure
along the long diagonal.

tion of the Bishop
At the same time the posiand Pawns in front of the King,

one of great defensive strength.
once
it
is
Castled,
is
Therefore, in this form of development, the Bishop,
232
GAME
say, exerts its
13
we might
this note
maximum
strength
(Compare
mth
the one in the Capablanca-Burn
game
at San Sebastian, page 197.)
7.
8.
Kt B3 B Kt 5
B Kt2
Kt B
2;
Of course not
K Kt K
Kt
because of
Kt Q
3;
5.
The
alternative
would have been
PB
to be
followed
by
K
9.
but
m
3.
this position it is
preferable to have the
Kt
at
KB
10.
Q-Q2 B KR4
judgment.
it
P-KR3
White wants to keep the
to prevent
An
error
of
Knight pinned, but
was more unportant
Black from Castling immediately.
BK B
4 would
have done
this.
10
11.
00
000
inlose,
Bold play, but again faulty judgment, unless he

tended to play to win or
the winds.
throwing safety to
at
Kt 2 becomes a very powerful attacking piece. The strategical disposition of the Black pieces is now far superior to White's, therefore it will be Black who mil take the
The Black Bishop
offensive.
II
12.
R Ki
KR Ki
RUY LOPEZ
233
1
i
i'.i i.
,.i'-i
A.Â-fi
cifii
WTiite wanted to keep his
Q R
on the open
file,
and
consequently brings over his other

to defend his
Rook
to the centre
P, which Black threatened to win
by
P K
Now
Kt
4,
followed
by Kt X
P.
12
P Kt 4!
K R
is
that the
in the centre,
Black can safely

side,
advance, since, in order to attack on the King's
White would have do
to shift
his Rooks, which he cannot in the centre.
so long as Black keeps

13.
up the pressure
B Kt
Kt
KR
Uncovering the Bishop, which now acts along the

long diagonal, and at the same time preventing
P
Kt,
5,
which would be answered by Kt

;
XB
PX
Kt X P
etc.,
winning a Pawn.
14.
Kt-Qs
to
P-R3
freely.
Black drives the Bishop away so as to impin his

pieces
and be able
manoeuvre
234
15.
GAME
13
B-Q3
B-K3
Preparing the onslaught. Black's pieces begin to bear

against the King's position.
16.
PB
mAAi
A
^jl
^.
i^
^
ill
i^S
^^^^^H.
With the
of Black's
last
HâH
blocks the action
move White not only

his
K B,
and
but he also aims at placing his Bishop
at
his
Q Kt
Queen at
QB
7.
2,
and then advancing
P, to check at
16
KR
P B4!
is
Initiating
an attack to which there
no
reply,
and
which has
of the
for its ultimate object either the
winning
White
Q B
or cutting
it
off
from the game.
(Compare
this
game with
the
Winter-Capablanca
game
at Hastings.)
17.
KR4
PB
The Bishop
is
now out
of action.
White naturally
counter attacks violently against the seemingly ex-
RUY LOPEZ
judgment, even
offers the Bishop.
235
posed position of the Black King, and, with very good
11
1^^
^.iiJKt
1^^
i--!
î^^
18.
PX
P!
PXP!
if
Taking the Bishop would be dangerous,

bad, while the text
not actually
move
accomphshes Black's object,
which
is
to put the Bishop out of action.

19.
20.
R R K Kt
I
I
BB
This move unquestionably loses time.
Since he would
have to
retire his
it
Bishop to
sooner or later, he
It is doubtful,
it
might have done

ever,
for
if
immediately.
how-
at this stage of the

to save the
game
would be possible
White
game.
20
21.
Kt X Kt
to decide
Kt K 4 R X Kt
which way to letake.
1
It
was
difficult
236
took with the
GAME
Rook
13
in order to
have
it
prepared for
a possible attack against the King.

22.
B R2
Kt B
Now
that the White Bishop has been driven back,

rid of White's
Black wants to get Knight at

at
strongly posted
5,
which blocks the attack of the Bishop

be said that the Knight at
2.
It
may
Q5
is
the key to White's defence.
^*
4/imi
i^m
mm. * iil %yA A
^m.M^ .JL^^y.,
23.
P KKt3
have play for
his Bishop,
White
strives not only to
but also he wants to break up Black's Pawns in order

to counter-attack.
The
alternative
would have been
23
Kt X Kt
ch,
QX
Kt; and Black would be threat-
ening
R R 4, and also Q K 3.
Black's drawback in
is
The student should

all
notice that
this is the fact
that he
is
playing minus the services of his
R.
It
this fact that
makes
it
possible for
White to hold
out longer.
RUY LOPEZ
23
24.
25.
237
Kt X P
B X Kt
RXB
PxP
P-B3
*
',/'yM
!*i
^-//-y,.
imv"*''1^
l*BiHJ
26.
Kt
K3
attack.
I leave it to the
Kt Kt
4 was the alternative, but in any event

resist the
White could not
reader to work this out for himself, as the variations are

so
numerous that they would take up too much

26
27.
space.
P-B4
RXQ
Kt Kt
4
28. 29.
Q R4 QxQ PxP B Kt 3
will
This forces the King to the corner, where he

in a
be
mating
net.
30.
K Ri
Q R
QR K
Now
at last the
is
enters into the
game and soon
the battle
over.
31If
P-R3
8 ch;
RxP,
R K
R Q
i,
(K
i)
7.
2^8
31
32. 33.
34.
GAME
RXR K R
14
R K8ch
2
R X R ch BB 2
K-Kt3
to finish the
P-Q4
game.
the quickest
way
35.
BX P

or
239
rather
systems of defence
if
on the other hand,
during a Tournament,
one of them has given

it
me
good
results,
8.
generally play
all
the time.
240
obtained the centre.
GAME
first
14
is
Black, on the other hand,

three ranks,
entrenched in his
will post his
and
if
given time
QR
play
and
finally
QB I PQ B
at
full
and
4,
his
Knight at
KB
3,
in order to
break up
White's centre and give
action to the Black Bishop
posted at
Q Kt
2.
In this game White attempts to
anticipate that plan

centre, which,
by
initiating
an advance on the
is
when
carefully
analysed,
truly
an
attack against Black's

IS-
P.
P-Qs
was
carelessness
Kt-B4!
game
I
Against Kostic in a previous
had played
Kt B
I.
It
on
my
part, but
Mar-
shall believed differently, otherwise
he would not have
played this variation, since,
had he analysed this move,
he would, I think, have realised that Black would Black now threatens not obtain an excellent game.
only
BPX P
position
but also Kt
XP
followed
by B P X P.
The
is
very interestmg and
full of possibiUties.

16.
17.
241
PX KP B X Kt
Kt X P (K
3)
Q XB
played under the impression that White had to lose

time in defending his
QR
P,
when
could play
Q B
me.
4,
obtaining a very superior game.
But, as will
be seen,
my
opponent had quite a
httle surprise for
18.
Kt Q4!
Pi A 1
ftJiB*
'^m.
""^^
''^m.
^^M
ffa'^
i^l
^^
18
Of course,
the Queen.
factory
if
18.
.Q
text
x R P;
move
is
Q K4! 19 R R
i
would wan
satis-
The
probably the only
move
in the position.
2
The obvious move would
have been
Q Q
to defend the
would have come 19 Kt
Q B
P, and then
3;
5,
KKt3
Q
I,
K R i; 21 QR Q KB2; 22P KR4, with a tremendous

(threatening
PB
20
QRQ
The
i),
text
move, on the other

least,
hand, assures Black an even game at the very as will soon be seen.
242'
19. 20.
21.
GAME
14
KtxP
RxQ R Kt
QxQ R-Q7
I
A
he
ful
very serious error of judgment.
White
is
under
the impression that he has the better game, because

is
Pawn
ahead, but that

the Black
is
not
so. 7
position of
pensates Black for the
Rook at Q Pawn minus.
The powerfully com(see
Besides, the
Bishop
is
better with
Rooks than the Knight
pages
48-56, where the relative values of the Knight and
Bishop are compared), and, as already stated, with
Pawns on both
because of
its
sides of the
board the Bishop

Incidentally,
is
superior
long range.
this
end-
ing will demonstrate the great
White's best chance was to

21
power of the Bishop. take a draw at once, thus.

22
Kt
K
;
ch
KB
P
i;
RB
Kt
(not
B XP
it);
because
23
B 3 would
not
RK
give
White the
6 ch, be-
best of
RxB
(best;
Kt
cause of 24
R
It is
B P X Kt; foUowed by R X K P), R X Kt; K i; 25 RxR ch, K X R, Kt 8 ch, R
and with proper play White

the one
will
draw.
curious that, although a
Pawn
ahead, White
is
who
is
always in danger.
It is only
now,
after seeing this analysis, that the value of Black's

1 8th
move
21.
QK
4 can be fully appreciated.
R-Ki
powerful
With
this
move Black
will
begins, against White's
centre,
an assault which
soon be shifted against

the
24^
Kmg
22.
itself.
White
4.
is
afraid to play 22
because of
PB
PB
K5
PB
P.
4.
P KKt4
The White Knight
dare
is
To
of
prevent
practically
pinned, because he does not
move on account
RXK
23.
P KR4
WTiite expects
This
is
a sequel to the previous move.
to disrupt Black's
23.
Pawns, and thus make them weak.
P
isolated
xP
Pawn
6
exercises
Though doubled and

enormous pressure.
to be followed
this
Black now threatens

3
by
R Kt
I
and P
R K and R 7
3;
at
the proper time.

24.
R K
White
cannot
stand
the
slow
death
any
longer^
244
GAME
sees danger everyw^here,
his
14
He
and wants to avert
it
by giving up
on the King's
24
Queen's side Pawns, expecting to
regain his fortunes later on

side.
by taking the
initiative
R-K3!
This forces White
Much
better than taking Pawns.
to defend the of the threat

25.
Knight with the Rook

3.
atK
i,
because
R Kt R (Ki) QB Preparatory to R Kt
Pawn
K Kt
The game
it is is
3.
going to be
decided on the King's side, and
the isolated double
that will supply the finishing touch.

26.
QKt4
5,
P Kt
4
lib-
To prevent P Kt
erating the Rooks.
27. 28.
defending the Knight and
P-R3
R-Kt3
K B
R-R7
iJiSiSJîs?
gS^SS^
fmy/î
'///////,
m^mm
<^
M '^^mm,
li " ^ ^ ^
^
8
P

Notice the remarkable position of the pieces.
245
White
loss.
cannot move anything without incurring some
His best chance would have been to play 29
P K
6,
but that would only have prolonged the game, which

is
lost in
any
case.
I
29.
K Kt
30.
P-Kt3
all his
P-R6 P-QR3
lose
Again forcing White to move and to

thereby, as
pieces are tied up.
something
31.
P-K6
WTiite
RxKP
move
the Knight because
3
Not even now can

of
PR
ch;
KxP, R R
ch;
K Kt
i,
R R
8 mate.
32. 33-
P-Kt4
R-R3
7
P-B3
5,
If 33
P-Kt
R,
P-R
ch;
34K-R1, RxKt;
35
RX
RX
P, winning easily.
246
UBRARVFACUr^ SOUTHERN REGIONAL

'"'
University of California
%rANG^Lls:crF?.RN.AW-,388

Chess Fundamentals - Capablanca

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Chess Fundamentals - Capablanca

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BY JOSE

CHESS CHAMPION OF THE WORLD

HARCOURT, BRACE AND COIMPANY LONDON: G. BELL AND SONS, LTD.

COPYRIGHT, 1921, BY HARCOURT, BRACE AND COMPANY, INC.

published thirteen years

Since then there have appeared at different times

a number of articles dealing with the so-called HjqDer-

merely the application, during

the opening stages generally, of the

through the medium of somewhat new

has been no change in the fundamentals.

In chess the tactics

change but the strategic

fundamental principles are always the same, so that

It will be as good a hundred years from now;

as long in fact as the laws

what they are

go over the contents of the book with the assurance

he needs, and that there

nothing to be added and nothing to be changed.

Chess Fundamentals was the one standard work of

kind thirteen years ago and the author firmly believes

the one standard work of

First Principles: Endings, AIiddle-game akd Openings

Further Principles in End-game Play

PLANNnNG A WiN IN IMlDDLE-GAME PlAY

Further Openings and Middle-games

power of a Pawn at K 5, etc.) The Influence of a "Hole"

Queen's Gambit Declined (Match, 1909) White: F. J. MarshaU. Black: J. R. Capablanca.

Irregular Defence (Havana,

1913) Black: E. A. Snosko-Borovski. 1914)

White: Dr. E. Lasker.

French Defence (Rice Memorial Tournament,

R\n Lopez (San

Sebastian, 1911 ) R. Capablanca. Black: A. Burn.

Centre Game (Berlin,

Queen's Gambit Declined (Berlin, 1913)

Petroff Defence (St. Petersburg, 1914)

1914) Black: D. Janowski.

French Defence (New York, 1918)

Rl^ Lopez (New York,

First Principles: Endings, Middle-Game

thing a student should do,

ending Rook and King against

drive the opposing

SOME SIMPLE MATES

confines the Black

to the last rank,

needed to arrive at a position

which mate can be

rank, or, as in this case,

as the opposing King.

in this case, the

King has been brought

the sixth rank,

not on the same

but on the one next to

towards the centre.

K B 3, K K i; 4 K K K-Qs, K-B i; 6K-Q6.

because then the Black King wiU

the King moves back to

7R-QB7,K-Ri; 8K-B6, 9K Kt6, K Ri; loR BSmate.

taken exactly ten moves to mate from the

Black could have played