Chess Fundamentals

2/12/2015
ChessFundamentals.
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Title:ChessFundamentals
Author:JosRalCapablanca
ReleaseDate:October18,2010[EBook#33870]
Language:English
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ChessFundamentals.
JOSR.CAPABLANCA
CHESS
FUNDAMENTALS
BY
JOSR.CAPABLANCA
CHESSCHAMPIONOFTHEWORLD
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ChessFundamentals.
NEWYORK
HARCOURT,BRACE&WORLD,INC.
LONDON:G.BELLANDSONS,LTD.
COPYRIGHT,1921,BY
HARCOURT,BRACE&WORLD,INC.
1949BYOLGACAPABLANCA
Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthispublicationmaybereproducedortransmittedinanyformorby
anymeans,electronicormechanical,includingphotocopy,recording,oranyinformationstorage
andretrievalsystem,withoutpermissioninwritingfromthepublisher.
SeventeenthPrinting
PRINTEDINTHEUNITEDSTATESOFAMERICA
PREFACE
Chess Fundamentals was first published thirteen years ago. Since then there have appeared at
differenttimesanumberofarticlesdealing with the socalled Hypermodern Theory. Those who
have read the articles may well have thought that something new, of vital importance, had been
discovered.ThefactisthattheHypermodernTheoryismerelytheapplication,duringtheopening
stagesgenerally,ofthesameoldprinciplesthroughthemediumofsomewhatnewtactics.There
has been no change in the fundamentals. The change has been only a change of form, and not
alwaysforthebestatthat.
Inchessthetacticsmaychangebutthestrategicfundamentalprinciplesarealways the same,so
thatChessFundamentalsisasgoodnowasitwasthirteenyearsago.Itwillbeasgoodahundred
yearsfromnowaslonginfactasthelawsandrulesofthegameremainwhattheyareatpresent.
The reader may therefore go over the contents of the book with the assurance that there is in it
everything he needs, and that there is nothing to be added and nothing to be changed. Chess
Fundamentals was the one standard work of its kind thirteen years ago and the author firmly
believesthatitistheonestandardworkofitskindnow.
J.R.CAPABLANCA
NewYork
Sept.1,1934
LISTOFCONTENTS
PARTI
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CHAPTERI
FirstPrinciples:Endings,MiddlegameandOpenings
1.SOMESIMPLEMATES
2.PAWNPROMOTION
3.PAWNENDINGS
4.SOMEWINNINGPOSITIONSINTHEMIDDLEGAME
5.RELATIVEVALUEOFTHEPIECES
6.GENERALSTRATEGYOFTHEOPENING
7.CONTROLOFTHECENTRE
8.TRAPS
PAGE
3
9
13
19
24
25
28
32
CHAPTERII
FURTHERPRINCIPLESINENDGAMEPLAY
9.ACARDINALPRINCIPLE
10.ACLASSICALENDING
11.OBTAININGAPASSEDPAWN
12.HOWTOFINDOUTWHICHPAWNWILLBETHEFIRSTTOQUEEN
13.THEOPPOSITION
14.THERELATIVEVALUEOFKNIGHTANDBISHOP
15.HOWTOMATEWITHKNIGHTANDBISHOP
16.QUEENAGAINSTROOK
35
37
40
41
43
50
59
62
CHAPTERIII
PLANNINGAWININMIDDLEGAMEPLAY
17.ATTACKINGWITHOUTTHEAIDOFKNIGHTS
18.ATTACKINGWITHKNIGHTSASAPROMINENTFORCE
19.WINNINGBYINDIRECTATTACK
68
71
75
CHAPTERIV
GENERALTHEORY
20.THEINITIATIVE
77
21.DIRECTATTACKSENMASSE
22.THEFORCEOFTHETHREATENEDATTACK
23.RELINQUISHINGTHEINITIATIVE
24.CUTTINGOFFPIECESFROMTHESCENEOFACTION
25.APLAYER'SMOTIVESCRITICISEDINASPECIMENGAME
78
82
89
94
99
CHAPTERV
ENDGAMESTRATEGY
26.THESUDDENATTACKFROMADIFFERENTSIDE
27.THEDANGEROFASAFEPOSITION
28.ENDINGSWITHONEROOKANDPAWNS
29.ADIFFICULTENDING:TWOROOKSANDPAWNS
30.ROOK,BISHOPANDPAWNSv.ROOK,KNIGHTANDPAWNS
(AFinalExampleofpreservingFreedomwhilst
imposingrestraint.)
111
120
122
127
138
CHAPTERVI
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FURTHEROPENINGSANDMIDDLEGAMES
31.SOMESALIENTPOINTSABOUTPAWNS
32.SOMEPOSSIBLEDEVELOPMENTSFROMARUYLOPEZ
(showingtheweaknessofabackwardQBPthe
powerofaPawnatK5,etc.)
33.THEINFLUENCEOFA"HOLE"
143
146
150
PARTII
ILLUSTRATIVEGAMES
GAME.
1.QUEEN'SGAMBITDECLINED(MATCH,1909)
White:F.J.Marshall.Black:J.R.Capablanca.
2.QUEEN'SGAMBITDECLINED(SANSEBASTIAN,1911)
White:A.K.Rubinstein.Black:J.R.Capablanca.
3.IRREGULARDEFENCE(HAVANA,1913)
White:D.Janowski.Black:J.R.Capablanca.
4.FRENCHDEFENCE(ST.PETERSBURG,1913)
White:J.R.Capablanca.Black:E.A.SnoskoBorovski.
159
163
169
174
5.RUYLOPEZ(ST.PETERSBURG,1914)
White:Dr.E.Lasker.Black:J.R.Capablanca.
6.FRENCHDEFENCE(RICEMEMORIALTOURNAMENT,1916)
White:O.Chajes.Black:J.R.Capablanca.
7.RUYLOPEZ(SANSEBASTIAN,1911)
White:J.R.Capablanca.Black:A.Burn.
8.CENTREGAME(BERLIN,1913)
White:J.Mieses.Black:J.R.Capablanca.
9.QUEEN'SGAMBITDECLINED(BERLIN,1913)
White:J.R.Capablanca.Black:R.Teichmann.
181
10.PETROFFDEFENCE(ST.PETERSBURG,1914)
White:J.R.Capablanca.Black:F.J.Marshall.
11.RUYLOPEZ(ST.PETERSBURG,1914)
White:J.R.Capablanca.Black:D.Janowski.
12.FRENCHDEFENCE(NEWYORK,1918)
White:J.R.Capablanca.Black:O.Chajes.
13.RUYLOPEZ(NEWYORK,1918)
White:J.S.Morrison.Black:J.R.Capablanca.
14.QUEEN'SGAMBITDECLINED(NEWYORK,1918)
215
189
197
201
209
221
225
231
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CHESSFUNDAMENTALS
{3}
PARTI
CHAPTERI
FIRSTPRINCIPLES:ENDINGS,MIDDLEGAMEANDOPENINGS
Thefirstthingastudentshoulddo,istofamiliarisehimselfwiththepowerofthepieces.Thiscan
bestbedonebylearninghowtoaccomplishquicklysomeofthesimplemates.
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1.SOMESIMPLEMATES
Example1.TheendingRookandKingagainstKing.
TheprincipleistodrivetheopposingKingtothelastlineonanysideoftheboard.
In this position the power of the Rook is demonstrated by the first move, R R 7, which
immediately confines the Black King to the last rank, and the mate is quickly accomplished by:
1RR7,KKt12KKt2.
{4}
The combined action of King and Rook is needed to arrive at a position in which mate can be
forced.Thegeneralprincipleforabeginnertofollowisto
keephisKingasmuchaspossibleonthesamerank,or,asinthiscase,file,astheopposingKing.
When,inthiscase,theKinghasbeenbroughttothesixthrank,itisbettertoplaceit,notonthe
samefile,butontheonenexttoittowardsthecentre.
2...KB13KB3,KK14KK4,KQ15KQ5,KB16KQ6.
NotKB6,becausethentheBlackKingwillgobacktoQ1anditwilltakemuchlongertomate.
IfnowtheKingmovesbacktoQ1,RR8matesatonce.
6...KKt17RQB7,KR18KB6,KKt19KKt6,KR110RB8mate.
It has taken exactly ten moves to mate from the original position. On move 5 Black could have
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playedKK1,and,accordingtoprinciple,Whitewouldhavecontinued6KQ6,KB1(the
BlackKingwillultimatelybeforcedtomoveinfrontoftheWhiteKingandbematedbyRR8)
7KK6,KKt18KB6,KR19KKt6,KKt110RR8mate.
{5}
Example2.
SincetheBlackKingisinthecentreoftheboard,thebestwaytoproceedistoadvanceyourown
Kingthus:1KK2,KQ42KK3.AstheRookhasnotyetcomeintoplay,itisbetterto
advance the King straight into the centre of the board, not in front, but to one side of the other
King.ShouldnowtheBlackKingmovetoK4,theRookdrivesitbackbyRR5ch.Ontheother
hand,if2...KB5instead,thenalso3RR5.Ifnow3...KKt5,therefollows4KQ3butif
instead3...KB6then4RR4,keepingtheKingconfinedtoasfewsquaresaspossible.
Now the ending may continue: 4...K B 7 5 R B 4 ch, K Kt 6 6 K Q 3, K Kt 7
7RKt4ch,KR68KB3,KR7.ItshouldbenoticedhowoftentheWhiteKinghas
moved next to the Rook, not only to defend it, but also to reduce the mobility of the opposing
King.NowWhitematesinthreemovesthus:9RR4ch,KKt810Ranysquareonthe
Rook'sfile,forcingtheBlackKinginfrontoftheWhite,KB811RR1mate.Ithastaken
eleven moves to mate, and, under any conditions, I believe it should be done in under twenty.
Whileitmaybemonotonous,itisworthwhileforthebeginnertopracticesuchthings,asitwill
teachhimtheproperhandlingofhispieces.
{6}
Example3.NowwecometotwoBishopsandKingagainstKing.
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SincetheBlackKingisinthecorner,Whitecanplay1BQ3,KKt22BKKt5,KB2
3 B B 5, and already the Black King is confined to a few squares. If the Black King, in the
originalposition,hadbeeninthecentreoftheboard,orawayfromthelastrow,Whiteshouldhave
advancedhisKing,andthen,withtheaidofhisBishops,restrictedtheBlackKing'smovementsto {7}
asfewsquaresaspossible.
Wemightnowcontinue:3...KKt24KB2.InthisendingtheBlackKingmustnotonlybe
driventotheedgeoftheboard,buthemustalsobeforcedintoacorner,and,beforeamatecanbe
given,theWhiteKingmustbebroughttothesixthrankand,atthesametime,inoneofthelast
twofilesinthiscaseeitherKR6,KKt6,KB7,KB8,andasKR6andKKt6arethenearest
squares,itistoeitherofthesesquaresthattheKingoughttogo.4...KB25KKt3,KKt2
6KR4,KB27KR5,KKt28BKt6,KKt19KR6,KB1.Whitemustnow
mark time and move one of the Bishops, so as to force the Black King to go back 10 B R 5,
KKt111BK7,KR1.NowtheWhiteBishopmusttakeupapositionfromwhichitcan
give check next move along the White diagonal, when the Black King moves back to Kt 1.
12BKKt4,KKt113BK6ch,KR114BB6mate.
Ithastakenfourteenmovestoforcethemateand,inanyposition,itshouldbedoneinunderthirty.
Inallendingsofthiskind,caremustbetakennottodriftintoastalemate.
InthisparticularendingoneshouldrememberthattheKingmustnotonlybedriventotheedgeof
theboard,butalsointoacorner.Inallsuchendings,however,itisimmaterialwhethertheKingis
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forcedontothelastrank,ortoanoutsidefile,e.g.KR5orQR4,K1orQ8.
{8}
Example4.WenowcometoQueenandKingagainstKing.AstheQueencombinesthepower
of the Rook and the Bishop, it is the easiest mate of all and should always be accomplished in
undertenmoves.Takethefollowingposition:
A good waytobegin is to make the first move with the Queen, tryingto limit the Black King's
mobilityasmuchaspossible.Thus:1QB6,KQ52KQ2.AlreadytheBlackKinghasonly
one available square 2...K K 4 3 K K 3, K B 4 4 Q Q 6, K Kt 4. (Should Black play
K Kt 5, then Q Kt 6 ch) 5 Q K 6, K R 5 (if K R 4, K B 4 and mate next move)
6QKKt6,KR67KB3,Kmoves8Qmates.
Inthisending,asinthecaseoftheRook,theBlackKingmustbeforcedtotheedgeoftheboard
onlytheQueenbeingsomuchmorepowerfulthantheRook,theprocessisfareasierandshorter.
Thesearethethreeelementaryendingsandinallofthesetheprincipleisthesame.Ineachcase
thecooperationoftheKingisneeded.InordertoforceamatewithouttheaidoftheKing,atleast
twoRooksarerequired.
{9}
2.PAWNPROMOTION
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ThegainofaPawnisthesmallestmaterialadvantagethatcanbeobtainedinagameanditoften
is sufficient to win, even when the Pawn is the only remaining unit, apart from the Kings. It is
essential,speakinggenerally,that
theKingshouldbeinfrontofhisPawn,withatleastoneinterveningsquare.
IftheopposingKingisdirectlyinfrontofthePawn,thenthegamecannotbewon.Thiscanbest
beexplainedbythefollowingexamples.
Example5.
The position is drawn, and the way to proceed is for Black to keep the King always directly in {10}
frontofthePawn,andwhenitcannotbedone,asforinstanceinthispositionbecauseoftheWhite
King,thentheBlackKingmustbekeptinfrontoftheWhiteKing.Theplaywouldproceedthus:
1PK3,KK42KQ3,KQ4.Thisisaveryimportantmove.Anyothermovewouldlose,
aswillbeshownlater.AstheBlackKingcannotbekeptcloseuptothePawn,itmustbebrought
asfarforwardaspossibleand,atthesametime,infrontoftheWhiteKing.
3PK4ch,KK44KK3,KK35KB4,KB3.Againthesamecase.AstheWhite
King comes up, the Black King must be kept in front of it, since it cannot be brought up to the
Pawn.
6PK5ch,KK37KK4,KK28KQ5,KQ29PK6ch,KK210KK5,
KK111KQ6,KQ1.IfnowWhiteadvancesthePawn,theBlackKinggetsinfrontofit
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andWhitemust either give up the Pawn or play K K 6, and a stale mate results. If instead of
advancingthePawnWhitewithdrawshisKing,BlackbringshisKinguptothePawnand,when
forcedtogoback,hemovestoKinfrontofthePawnreadytocomeupagainortomoveinfront
oftheWhiteKing,asbefore,shouldthelatteradvance.
The whole mode of procedure is very important and the student should become thoroughly
conversantwithitsdetailsforitinvolvesprinciplestobetakenuplateron,andbecausemanya
beginner has lost identical positions from lack of proper knowledge. At this stage of the book I
cannotlaytoomuchstressonitsimportance.
{11}
Example 6.In this position White wins, as the King is in front of his Pawn and there is one
interveningsquare.
Themethodtofollowisto
advance the King as far as is compatible with the safety of the Pawn and never to advance the
Pawnuntilitisessentialtoitsownsafety.
Thus:
1.KK4,KK3.
BlackdoesnotallowtheWhiteKingtoadvance,thereforeWhiteisnowcompelledtoadvancehis
PawnsoastoforceBlacktomoveaway.HeisthenabletoadvancehisownKing.
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2.PK3,KB33.KQ5,KK2.
IfBlackhadplayed3...KB4,thenWhitewouldbeforcedtoadvancethePawntoK4,sincehe {12}
could not advance his King without leaving Black the opportunity to play K K 5, winning the
Pawn.Sincehehasnotdoneso,itisbetterforWhitenottoadvancethePawnyet,sinceitsown
safetydoesnotrequireit,buttotrytobringtheKingstillfurtherforward.Thus:
4.KK5,KQ25.KB6,KK1.
NowtheWhitePawnistoofarbackanditmaybebroughtupwithinprotectionoftheKing.
6.PK4,KQ2.
NowitwouldnotdotoplayKB7,becauseBlackwouldplayKQ3,andWhitewouldhaveto
bringbackhisKingtoprotectthePawn.Thereforehemustcontinue.
7.PK5,KK1.
Hadhemovedanywhereelse,WhitecouldhaveplayedKB7,followedbytheadvanceofthe
PawntoK6,K7,K8allthesesquaresbeingprotected by the King. As Black tries to prevent
that,Whitemustnowforcehimtomoveaway,atthesametimealwayskeepingtheKinginfront
ofthePawn.Thus:
8.KK6.
P K 6 would make it a draw, as Black would then play K B, and we would have a position
similartotheoneexplainedinconnectionwithExample5.
8...KB19.KQ7.
KingmovesandtheWhitePawnadvancestoK8,becomesaQueen,anditisallover.
{13}
This ending is like the previous one, and for the same reasons should be thoroughly understood
beforeproceedinganyfurther.
3.PAWNENDINGS
IshallnowgiveacoupleofsimpleendingsoftwoPawnsagainstone,orthreeagainsttwo,thatthe
readermayseehowtheycanbewon.Fewerexplanationswillbegiven,asitisuptothestudentto
work things out for himself. Furthermore, nobody can learn how to play well merely from the
studyofabookitcanonlyserveasaguideandtherestmustbedonebytheteacher,ifthestudent
hasoneifnot,thestudentmustrealisebylongandbitterexperiencethepracticalapplicationof
themanythingsexplainedinthebook.
Example7.
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In this position White cannot win by playing 1 P B 6, because Black plays, not P P, which {14}
wouldlose,but1...KKt1,andifthen2PP,KP,anddraws,asshowninapreviouscase.If
2 P B 7 ch, K B 1, and White will never be able to Queen his Pawn without losing it. If
2KK7,PP3KP,KB1,anddraws.White,however,canwinthepositiongiveninthe
diagrambyplaying:
1KQ7,KKt12KK7,KR13PB6,PP.If3...KKt14PB7ch,KR1
5PB8(Q)mate.
4KB7,PB45PKt7ch,KR26PKt8(Q)ch,KR37QKt6mate.
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Example8.IntheabovepositionWhitecan'twinby1PB5.Black'sbestanswerwouldbe
PKt3draws.(Thestudentshouldworkthisout.)Hecannotwinby1PKt5,becausePKt3
draws.(This,becauseoftheprincipleofthe"opposition"whichgovernsthisendingaswellasall
thePawnendingsalreadygiven,andwhichwillbeexplainedmorefullylateron.)
{15}
White can win, however, by playing: 1 K K 4, K K 3. (If 1...P Kt 3 2 K Q 4, K K 3

3KB5,KB34KQ6,KB25PKt5,KKt26KK7,KKt17KB6,KR2
8KB7andWhitewinsthePawn.)
2PB5ch,KB33KB4,PKt3.(IfthisPawniskeptbackwearriveattheendingshown
inExample7.)4PKt5ch,KB25PB6,KK36KK4,KB27KK5,KB1.
WhitecannotforcehisBishop'sPawnintoQ(findoutwhy),butbygivinghisPawnuphecanwin
theotherPawnandthegame.Thus:
8PB7,KP9KQ6,KB110KK6,KKt211KK7,KKt112KB6,
KR213KB7,KR114KP,KKt1.
ThereisstillsomeresistanceinBlack'sposition.Infact,theonlywaytowinistheonegivenhere,
aswilleasilybeseenbyexperiment.
15KR6(ifKB6,KR2andinordertowinWhitemustgetbacktotheactualposition,as
against 16 P Kt 6 ch, K R 1 draws), K R 1 16 P Kt 6, K Kt 1 17 P Kt 7, K B 2
18KR7,andWhitequeensthePawnandwins.
This ending, apparently so simple, should show the student the enormous difficulties to be
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surmounted,evenwhentherearehardly any pieces left, when playing against an adversary who

knowshowtousetheresourcesathisdisposal,anditshouldshowthestudent,also,thenecessity
of paying strict attention to these elementary things which form the basis of true mastership in
Chess.
{16}
Example9.Inthisending
White can win by advancing any of the three Pawns on the first move, but it is convenient to
followthegeneralrule,wheneverthereisnogoodreasonagainstit,ofadvancingthePawnthat
hasnoPawnopposingit.Thuswebeginby
1.PB5,KK2.
If P Kt 3, P B 6 and we have a similar ending to one of those shown above. If 1...P R 3
2PKt5.
2.KK5,KB23.PKt5,KK2.
If 3...P Kt 3 4 P B 6, and if 3...P R 3 4 P Kt 6 ch, and in either casewehave asimilar
endingtooneofthosealreadyshown.
{17}
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4.PR5,
and by following it up with P Kt 6 we have the same ending previously shown. Should Black
play4...PKt3,thenRPP,PPPB6chwiththesameresult.
HavingnowseenthecaseswhenthePawnsareallononesideoftheboardweshallnowexamine
acasewhentherearePawnsonbothsidesoftheboard.
Example10.Inthesecasesthegeneralruleistoactimmediatelyonthesidewhereyouhavethe
superiorforces.Thuswehave:
1.PKKt4.
ItisgenerallyadvisabletoadvancethePawnthatisfreefromopposition.
1.........
{18}
PQR4.
Blackmakesanadvanceontheotherside,andnowWhiteconsiderswhetherornotheshouldstop
theadvance.Inthiscaseeitherwaywins,butgenerallytheadvanceshouldbestoppedwhenthe
opposingKingisfaraway.
2.PQR4,KB33.PR4,KK3.
If3...KKt3,thensimplecountingwillshowthatWhitegoestotheothersidewithhisKing,wins
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thePatQR4,andthenQueenshissinglePawnlongbeforeBlackcandothesame.
4.PKt5,KB25.KB5,KKt26.PR5,KB2.
If6...PR37PKt6,andthenthetwoPawnsdefendthemselvesandWhitecangototheother
sidewithhisKing,towintheotherPawn.
7.KK5.
Now it is time to go to the other side with the King, win the Black Pawn and Queen the single
Pawn.Thisistypicalofallsuchendingsandshouldbeworkedoutbythestudentinthiscaseand
insimilarcaseswhichhecanputup.
{19}
4.SOMEWINNINGPOSITIONSINTHEMIDDLEGAME
Bythetimethestudenthasdigestedallthathasbeenpreviouslyexplained,he,nodoubt,isanxious
togettotheactualgameandplaywithallthepieces.However,beforeconsideringtheopenings,
weshalldevotealittletimetosomecombinationsthatoftenariseduringthegame,andwhichwill
givethereadersomeideaofthebeautyofthegame,oncehebecomesbetteracquaintedwithit.
Example11.
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ItisBlack'smove,andthinkingthatWhitemerelythreatenstoplayQR6andtomateatKKt7,
Blackplays1...RK1,threateningmatebywayofRK8.Whitenowuncovershisrealand
mosteffectivethreat,viz.:
1...RK12QPch,KQ3RR3ch,KKt14RR8mate.
{20}
Thissametypeofcombinationmaycomeastheresultofasomewhatmorecomplicatedposition.
Example12.
Whiteisapiecebehind,andunlesshecanwinitbackquicklyhewilllosehethereforeplays:
1.KtKt
BKt4
HecannottaketheKtbecauseWhitethreatensmatebyQPchfollowedbyRR3ch.
2.KtK7ch
QKt
AgainifBKtQPch,KQRR3ch,KingmovesRR8mate.
3.RQ
4.QQ7
BR
andWhitewinsoneofthetwoBishops,remainswithaQandaBagainstaRandB,andshould
{21}
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thereforewineasily.Thesetwoexamplesshowthedanger of advancing the K Kt P one square,

afterhavingCastledonthatside.
Example13.
Thisisanotherveryinterestingtypeofcombination.BlackhasaRforaKtandshouldtherefore
win,unlessWhiteisabletoobtainsomecompensationimmediately.White,infact,matesinafew
movesthus:
1.KtB6ch
PKt
2.QKt3ch
3.BPmate.
KR1
Forced,otherwiseQXPmates.
Example14.Thesametypeofcombinationoccursinamorecomplicatedforminthefollowing
{22}
position.
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1.BKt
QB.
If...BKtQB3threatensmate,andthereforewinstheQ,whichisalreadyattacked.
2.KtB6ch
3.RKt3ch
4.BPmate.
PKt
KR1
Example15.Averyfrequenttypeofcombinationisshowninthefollowingposition.
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HereWhiteistheexchangeandaPawnbehind,buthecanwinquicklythus:1BPch,KB.(If
1...KR12QKR5,PKKt33QR6,andwins.)
{23}
2QR5ch,KKt13KtKt5,andBlackcannotstopmateatKR7exceptbysacrificingthe
QueenbyQK5,whichwouldleaveWhitewithaQforaR.
Example16.Thissametypeofcombinationisseeninamorecomplicatedforminthefollowing
position.
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Whiteproceedsasfollows:1KtKtch(thisclearsthelinefortheB)BKt(tostoptheKtfrom
movingtoKt5afterthesacrificeoftheB)2RB,KtRbest3BPch,KB.(If3..KR1
4 Q R 5, P K Kt 3 5 B P ch, K Kt 2 6 Q R 7 ch, K B 3 7 P Kt 5 ch, K K 3
8BPch,RB9QK4mate.)4QR5ch,KKt15KtKt5,RB16QR7ch,
KB17QR8ch,KtKt18KtR7ch,KK29RK1ch,KQ110QKtmate.
{24}
Thiscombinationisratherlongandhasmanyvariations,thereforeabeginnerwillhardlybeableto
fathomitbut,knowingthetypeofcombination,hemightundersimilarcircumstancesundertake
andcarryoutabrilliantattackwhichhewouldotherwiseneverthinkof.Itwillbeseenthatallthe
combinationsshownhaveforafoundationthepropercoordinationofthepieces,whichhaveall
beenbroughttobearagainstaweakpoint.
5.RELATIVEVALUEOFTHEPIECES
Beforegoingontothegeneralprinciplesoftheopenings,itisadvisabletogivethestudentanidea
oftheproperrelativevalueofthepieces.Thereisnocompleteandaccuratetableforallofthem,
andtheonlythingtodoistocomparethepiecesseparately.
ForallgeneraltheoreticalpurposestheBishopandtheKnighthavetobeconsideredasofthesame
value,thoughitismyopinionthattheBishopwillprovethemorevaluablepieceinmostcases
anditiswellknownthattwoBishopsarealmostalwaysbetterthantwoKnights.
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TheBishopwillbestrongeragainstPawnsthantheKnight,andincombinationwithPawnswill
alsobestrongeragainsttheRookthantheKnightwillbe.
{25}
ABishopandaRookarealsostrongerthanaKnightandaRook,butaQueenandaKnightmay
bestrongerthanaQueenandaBishop.
ABishopwilloftenbeworthmorethanthreePawns,butaKnightveryseldomso,andmayeven
notbeworthsomuch.
ARookwillbeworthaKnightandtwoPawns,oraBishopandtwoPawns,but,assaidbefore,the
BishopwillbeabetterpieceagainsttheRook.
TwoRooksareslightlystrongerthanaQueen.TheyareslightlyweakerthantwoKnightsanda
Bishop,andalittlemoresothantwoBishopsandaKnight.ThepoweroftheKnightdecreasesas
thepiecesarechangedoff.ThepoweroftheRook,onthecontrary,increases.
TheKing,apurelydefensivepiecethroughoutthemiddlegame,becomesanoffensivepieceonce
allthepiecesareofftheboard,andsometimesevenwhenthereareoneortwominorpiecesleft.
ThehandlingoftheKingbecomesofparamountimportanceoncetheendgamestageisreached.
6.GENERALSTRATEGYOFTHEOPENING
Themainthingistodevelopthepiecesquickly.Getthemintoplayasfastasyoucan.
Fromtheoutsettwomoves,1PK4or1PQ4,openuplinesfortheQueenandaBishop.
Therefore, theoretically one of these two moves must be the best, as no other first move
accomplishessomuch.
{26}
Example17.Supposewebegin:
1.PK4
2.KtKB3
PK4
This is both an attacking and a developing move. Black can now either reply with the identical
moveorplay
2.........
KtQB3
ThisdevelopingmoveatthesametimedefendstheKing'sPawn.
3.KtB3
KtB3
Thesemovesareofapurelydevelopingnature.
4.BKt5
ItisgenerallyadvisablenottobringthisBishopoutuntiloneKnightisout,preferablytheKing's
Knight.TheBishopcouldalsohavebeenplayedtoB4,butitisadvisablewheneverpossibleto
combinedevelopmentandattack.
4.........
BKt5
Black replies in the same manner, threatening a possible exchange of Bishop for Knight with
KtPtofollow.
5.OO
anindirectwayofpreventing5...BKt,whichmoreexperienceorstudywillshowtobebad.At
thesametimetheRookisbroughtintoactioninthecentre,averyimportantpoint.
5.........
{27}
OO
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Blackfollowsthesamelineofreasoning.
6.PQ3
PQ3
Thesemoveshaveatwofoldobject,viz.:toprotecttheKing'sPawnandtoopenthediagonalfor
thedevelopmentoftheQueen'sBishop.
7.BKt5
A very powerful move, which brings us to the middlegame stage, as there is already in view a
combinationtowinquicklybyKtQ5.ThisthreatmakesitimpossibleforBlacktocontinuethe
samecourse.(ThereisalonganalysisshowingthatBlackshouldloseifhealsoplaysBKt5.)He
isnowforcedtoplay7...BKt,asexperiencehasshown,thusbringinguptonoticethreethings.
First,thecompletedevelopmentoftheopeninghastakenonlysevenmoves.(Thisvariesuptoten
ortwelvemovesinsomeveryexceptionalcases.Asarule,eightshouldbeenough.)Second,Black
has been compelled to exchange a Bishop for a Knight, but as a compensation he has isolated
White's Q R P and doubled a Pawn. (This, at such an early stage of the game, is rather an
advantageforWhite,asthePawnisdoubledtowardsthecentreoftheboard.)Third,Whitebythe
exchangebringsupaPawntocontrolthesquareQ4,putsBlackonthedefensive,asexperience
willshow,andthuskeepstheinitiative,anunquestionableadvantage.[1]
{28}
The strategical principles expounded above are the same for all the openings, only their tactical
applicationvariesaccordingtothecircumstances.
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BeforeproceedingfurtherIwishtolaystressonthefollowingpointwhichthestudentshouldbear
inmind.
Before development has been completed no piece should be moved more than once, unless it is
essentialinordertoobtaineithermaterialadvantageortosecurefreedomofaction.
Thebeginnerwoulddowelltorememberthis,aswellaswhathasalreadybeenstated:viz.,bring
outtheKnightsbeforebringingouttheBishops.
7.CONTROLOFTHECENTRE
The four squares, K 4 and Q 4 on each side respectively, are the centre squares, and control of
thesesquaresiscalledcontrolofthecentre.Thecontrolofthecentreisofgreatimportance. No
violent attack can succeed without controlling at least two of these squares, and possibly three. {29}
Manyamanuvreintheopeninghasforitssoleobjectthecontrolofthecentre,whichinvariably
ensurestheinitiative.Itiswellalwaystobearthisinmind,sinceitwilloftenbethereasonofa
seriesofmoveswhichcouldnototherwisebeproperlyunderstood.AsthisbookprogressesIshall
dwellmorefullyonthesedifferentpoints.AtpresentIshalldevotesometimetoopeningstakenat
randomandexplainthemovesaccordingtogeneralprinciples.Thestudentwillinthatwaytrain
his mind in the proper direction, and will thus have less trouble in finding a way out when
confrontedwithanewanddifficultsituation.
Example18.
1.PK4
2.KtKB3
PK4
PQ3
Atimidmove.Blackassumesadefensiveattitudeatonce.Onprinciplethemoveiswrong.Inthe
openings,wheneverpossible,piecesshouldbemovedinpreferencetoPawns.
3.PQ4
Whitetakestheoffensiveimmediatelyandstrivestocontrolthecentresoastohaveampleroomto
deployhisforces.
3.........
KtQ2
BlackdoesnotwishtorelinquishthecentreandalsoprefersthetextmovetoKtQB3,which
wouldbethemorenaturalsquarefortheKt.Butonprinciplethemoveiswrong,becauseitblocks
theactionoftheQueen'sBishop,andinsteadoffacilitatingtheactionofBlack'spieces,tends,on
thecontrary,tocrampthem.
4.BQB4
{30}
PKR3
Blackisforcedtopaythepenaltyofhispreviousmove.SuchamoveonBlack'spartcondemnsby
itselfanyformofopeningthatmakesitnecessary.WhitethreatenedKtKt5andBlackcouldnot
stopitwith4...BK2,becauseof5PP,KtP(if5...PP,6QQ5)6KtKt,PKt
7QR5,andWhitewinsaPawnandhasbesidesaperfectlysafeposition.
5.KtB3
6.BK3
7.QK2
KKtB3
BK2
ItshouldbenoticedthatWhitedoesnotCastleyet.Thereasonisthathewantstodeployhisforces
first,andthroughthelastmoveforceBlacktoplayPQB3tomakeroomfortheQueenasWhite
threatensRQ1,tobefollowedbyPP.Black'sotheralternativeswouldfinally force him to
playPP,thusabandoningthecentretoWhite.
7.........
8.RQ1
PB3
QB2
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9.OO
With this last move White completes his development, while Black is evidently somewhat
hampered.AsimpleexaminationwillsufficetoshowthatWhite'spositionisunassailable.There
arenoweakspotsinhisarmour,andhispiecesarereadyforanymanuvrethathemaywishto
carryoutinordertobegintheattackontheenemy'sposition.Thestudentshouldcarefullystudy
thisexample.ItwillshowhimthatitissometimesconvenienttodelayCastling.Ihavegiventhe
movesastheycometomymindwithoutfollowinganystandardbookonopenings.Whetherthe
movesgivenbymeagreeornotwiththestandardworks,Idonotknow,butatthepresentstageof
thisbookitisnotconvenienttoenterintodiscussionsofmeretechnicalitieswhichthestudentwill
beabletounderstandwhenhehasbecomemoreproficient.
{31}
Example19.
1.PK4
2.KtKB3
3.PQ4
PK4
PQ3
BKt5
Abadmove,whichviolatesoneoftheprinciplessetdown,accordingtowhichatleastoneKnight
shouldbedevelopedbeforetheBishopsarebroughtout,andalsobecauseitexchangesaBishop
foraKnight,whichintheopeningisgenerallybad,unlessthereissomecompensation.
4.PP
BKt
5.QB
6.BQB4
PP
QB3
4...PPlosesaPawn.
IfKtB3QQKt3winsaPawn.
7.QQKt3
8.KtB3
PQKt3
PQB3
{32}
TopreventKtQ5.
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Black, however, has no pieces out except his Queen, and White, with a Bishop and a Knight
alreadydeveloped,hasachanceofobtaininganadvantagequicklybyplayingKtQ5anyway.
Thestudentislefttoworkoutthemanyvariationsarisingfromthisposition.
These examples will show the practical application of the principles previously enunciated. The
student is warned against playing Pawns in preference to pieces at the beginning of the game,
especiallyPKR3andPQR3,whicharemovesverycommonlyindulgedinbybeginners.
8.TRAPS
Ishallnowgiveafewpositionsortrapstobeavoidedintheopenings,andinwhich(practicehas
shown)beginnersareoftencaught.
{33}
Example20.
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Whiteplays:
1.PP
KtP
BlackshouldhaverecapturedwiththePawn.
2.KtKt
BQ
3.BPch
KK2
4.KtQ5mate.
Example21.
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Black,havingthemove,shouldplayPK3.ButsupposeheplaysKtKB3instead,thencomes {34}
1.BPch
KtK5wouldalsogiveWhitetheadvantage,thethreatbeingofcourseifBQ2BPmate.
Nor does B R 5 help matters, because of 2 Q B, 1... B K 3 leaves Black with the inferior
position.ButWhite'smoveinthetextsecuresanimmediatematerialadvantage,andthebeginner
at any rate should never miss such an opportunity for the sake of a speculative advantage in
position.
1.........
2.KtK5ch
3.KtB
KB
Kmoves
andWhitehaswonaPawnbesideshavingthebetterposition.
Thereareagoodmanyothertrapsinfact,thereisabookwrittenontrapsonthechessboardbut
thetypegivenaboveisthemostcommonofall.
CHAPTERII
{35}
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FURTHERPRINCIPLESINENDGAMEPLAY
Weshallnowgobacktotheendingsinsearchofafewmoreprinciples,thenagaintothemiddle
game, and finally to the openings once more, so that the advance may not only be gradual but
homogeneous.Inthiswaythefoundationonwhichweexpecttobuildthestructurewillbe firm
andsolid.
9.ACARDINALPRINCIPLE
Inthepositionshownabove,WhitecandrawbyplayingPKt4accordingtothegeneralrulethat
governssuchcases,i.e.toadvancethePawnthatisfreefromopposition.ButsupposethatWhite,
either because he does not know this principle or because he does not, in this case, sufficiently
appreciatethevalueofitsapplicationsuppose,wesay,thatheplays1PQR4.ThenBlackcan
winbyplaying1...PQR4,applyingoneofthecardinalprinciplesofthehighstrategyofchess
{36}
Aunitthatholdstwo.
InthiscaseonePawnwouldholdtwooftheopponent'sPawns.Thestudentcannotlaytoomuch
stress on this principle. It can be applied in many ways, and it constitutes one of the principal
weaponsinthehandsofamaster.
Example22.Theexamplegivenshouldbesufficientproof.Wegiveafewmovesofthemain
variation:
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1.PR4
PQR4
2.KKt2
KB5
(Bestseewhy.)
3.PKt4
PP
(Best.)
4.PR5
PKt6
5.PR6
PKt7
6.PR7
PKt8(Q)
7.PR8(Q)
QK5ch
8.QQ
KQ
This brings the game to a position which is won by Black, and which constitutes one of the
classical endings of King and Pawns. I shall try to explain the guiding idea of it to those not
familiarwithit.
{37}
10.ACLASSICALENDING
Example23.InthispositionWhite'sbestlineofdefenceconsistsinkeepinghisPawnwhereit
standsatR2.AssoonasthePawnisadvanceditbecomeseasierforBlacktowin.Ontheother
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hand,Black'splantowin(supposingthatWhitedoesnotadvancehisPawn)maybedividedinto
three parts. The first part will be to get his King to K R 6, at the same time keeping intact the
positionofhisPawns.(Thisisallimportant,since,inordertowinthegame,itisessentialatthe
end that Black may be able to advance his rearmost Pawn one or two squares according to the
positionoftheWhiteKing.)
1.KKt3
2.KKt2
KK6
If2KKt4,KB73PR4,PKt3willwin.
2.........
3.KB2
4.KKt2
5.KKt1
{38}
KB5
KKt5
KR5
KR6
Thefirstparthasbeencompleted.
ThesecondpartwillbeshortandwillconsistinadvancingtheRPuptheK.
6.KR1
7.KKt1
PR4
PR5
Thisendsthesecondpart.
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ThethirdpartwillconsistintimingtheadvanceoftheKtPsoastoplayPKt6whentheWhite {39}
KingisatR1.ItnowbecomesevidenthownecessaryitistobeabletomovetheKtPeitherone
ortwosquaresaccordingtothepositionoftheWhiteKing,asindicatedpreviously.[2]Inthiscase,
asitisWhite'smove,thePawnwillbeadvancedtwosquaressincetheWhiteKingwillbeinthe
corner, but if it were now Black's move the Kt P should only be advanced one square since the
WhiteKingisatKt1.
8.KR1
9.KKt1
10.KR1
11.PP
PKt4
PKt5
PKt6
11.........
12.KKt1
13.KB2
PP
PKt7
KR7
IfKKt1,PKt7.
andwins.
Itisinthisanalyticalwaythatthestudentshouldtrytolearn.Hewillthustrainhismindtofollow
alogicalsequenceinreasoningoutanyposition.Thisexampleisexcellenttraining,sinceitiseasy
todivideitintothreestagesandtoexplainthemainpointofeachpart.
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Thenextsubjectweshallstudyisthesimpleopposition,butbeforewedevoteourtimetoitIwish
tocallattentiontotwothings.
{40}
11.OBTAININGAPASSEDPAWN
WhenthreeormorePawnsareopposedtoeachotherinsomesuchpositionastheoneinExample
24,thereisalwaysachanceforonesideortheotherofobtainingapassedPawn.
Example24.IntheabovepositionthewayofobtainingapassedPawnistoadvancethecentre
Pawn.
1.PKt6
IfBPPPR6,
2.PB6
3.PR6
RPP
PBP
and as in this case the White Pawn is nearer to Queen than any of the Black Pawns, White will
win.NowifithadbeenBlack'smoveBlackcouldplay
1.........
{41}
PKt3
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2.BPP
BPP
ItwouldnotbeadvisabletotrytoobtainapassedPawnbecausetheWhitePawnswouldbenearer
toQueenthanthesingleBlackPawn.
3.PP
PP
andthegameproperlyplayedwouldbeadraw.Thestudentshouldworkthisoutforhimself.
12.HOWTOFINDOUTWHICHPAWNWILLBEFIRSTTOQUEEN
When two Pawns are free, or will be free, to advance to Queen, you can find out, by counting,
whichPawnwillbethefirsttosucceed.
Example25.Inthispositionwhoevermovesfirstwins.
Thefirstthingistofindout,bycounting,whethertheopposingKingcanbeintimetostopthe
passedPawnfromQueening.When,asinthiscase,itcannotbedone,thepointistocountwhich
Pawncomesinfirst.Inthiscasethetimeisthesame,butthePawnthatreachestheeighthsquare
firstandbecomesaQueenisinapositiontocapturetheadversary'sQueenwhenhemakesone.
Thus:
{42}
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1.PR4
2.PR5
3.PKt6
PKR4
PR5
PP
Nowcomesalittlecalculation.WhitecancapturethePawn,butifhedoesso,hewillnot,when
Queening, command the square where Black will also Queen his Pawn. Therefore, instead of
taking,heplays:
4.PR6
PR6
5.PR7
PR7
6.PR8(Q),andwins.
Thestudentwoulddowelltoacquainthimselfwithvarioussimpleendings of this sort, so as to

acquirethehabitofcounting,andthusbeabletoknowwitheasewhenhecanorcannotgetthere
first.OnceagainImustcallattentiontothefactthatabookcannotbyitselfteachhowtoplay.It
canonlyserveasaguide,andtherestmustbelearnedbyexperience,andifateachercanbehadat
thesametime,somuchthefasterwillthestudentbeabletolearn.
{43}
13.THEOPPOSITION
WhenKingshavetobemoved,andoneplayercan,byforce,bringhisKingintoapositionsimilar
totheoneshowninthefollowingdiagram,sothathisadversaryisforcedtomoveandmakeway
forhim,theplayerobtainingthatadvantageissaidtohavetheopposition.
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Example26.SupposeintheabovepositionWhiteplays
1.KQ4
NowBlackhastheoptionofeitheropposingthepassageoftheWhiteKingbyplayingKQ3or,
ifheprefers,hecanpasswithhisownKingbyreplyingKB4.NoticethattheKingsaredirectly
opposedto each other, and the number of intervening squares between them is oddoneinthis
case.
The opposition can take the form shown above, which can be called actual or close frontal
oppositionorthisform:
{44}
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whichcanbecalledactualorclosediagonalopposition,or,again,thisform:
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whichcanbecalledactualorcloselateralopposition.
In practice they are all one and the same. The Kings are always on squares of the same colour,
thereisonlyoneinterveningsquarebetweentheKings,andtheplayerwhohasmovedlast"has
theopposition."
{45}
Now,ifthestudentwilltakethetroubleofmovingeachKingbackwardsasinagameinthesame
frontal, diagonal or lateral line respectively shown in the diagrams, we shall have what may be
calleddistantfrontal,diagonalandlateraloppositionrespectively.
Thematteroftheoppositionishighlyimportant,andtakesattimessomewhatcomplicatedforms,
allofwhichcanbesolvedmathematicallybut,forthepresent,thestudentshouldonlyconsider
the most simple forms. (An examination of some of the examples of King and Pawns endings
alreadygivenwillshowseveralcasesofcloseopposition.)
Inallsimpleformsofopposition,
whentheKingsareonthesamelineandthenumberofinterveningsquaresbetweenthemiseven,
theplayerwhohasthemovehastheopposition.
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Example27.Theabovepositionshowstoadvantagetheenormousvalueoftheopposition.The
positionisverysimple.Very little is left on the board, and the position, to a beginner, probably
looks absolutely even. It is not the case, however. Whoever has the move wins. Notice that the
Kingsaredirectlyinfrontofoneanother,andthatthenumberofinterveningsquaresiseven.
{46}
Nowastotheproceduretowinsuchaposition.Theproperwaytobeginistomovestraightup.
Thus:
1.KK2
2.KK3
3.KK4
KK2
KK3
KB3
NowWhitecanexercisetheoptionofeitherplayingKQ5andthuspassingwithhisKing,orof
playingKB4andpreventtheBlackKingfrompassing,therebykeepingtheopposition.Mere
countingwillshowthattheformercoursewillonlyleadtoadraw,thereforeWhitetakesthelatter
courseandplays:
4.KB4
KKt3
5.KK5
KKt2
If4...KK35KKt5willwin.
NowbycountingitwillbeseenthatWhitewinsbycapturingBlack'sKnightPawn.
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Theprocesshasbeencomparativelysimpleinthevariationgivenabove,butBlackhasotherlines
ofdefencemoredifficulttoovercome.Letusbeginanew.
1.KK2
{47}
KQ1
Nowif2KQ3,KQ2,orif2KK3,KK2,andBlackobtainstheoppositioninbothcases.
(When the Kings are directly in front of one another, and the number of intervening squares
betweentheKingsisodd,theplayerwhohasmovedlasthastheopposition.)
Nowinordertowin,theWhiteKingmustadvance.Thereisonlyoneothersquarewherehecan
go,B3,andthatistherightplace.Thereforeitisseenthatinsuchcaseswhentheopponentmakes
a socalled waiting move, you must advance, leaving a rank or file free between the Kings.
Thereforewehave
2.KB3
KK2
Now, it would be bad to advance, because then Black, by bringing up his King in front of your
King,wouldobtaintheopposition.ItisWhite'sturntoplayasimilarmovetoBlack'sfirstmove,
viz.:
3.KK3
which brings the position back to the first variation shown. The student would do well to
familiarisehimselfwiththehandlingoftheKinginallexamplesofopposition.Itoftenmeansthe
winningorlosingofagame.
Example 28.The following position is an excellent proof of the value of the opposition as a
meansofdefence.
{48}
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WhiteisaPawnbehindandapparentlylost,yethecanmanagetodrawasfollows:
1.KR1!
The position of the Pawns does not permit White to draw by means of the actual or close
opposition,hencehetakesthedistantopposition:ineffectif1KB1(actualorcloseopposition),
KQ72KB2,KQ6andWhitecannotcontinuetokeepthelateraloppositionessentialtohis
safety,becauseofhisownPawnatB3.Ontheotherhand,afterthetextmove,if
1.........
2.KR2
3.KR3!
4.KKt2
5.KKt3
6.KKt4
KQ7
KQ6
KK7
KK6
KQ5
{49}
attackingthePawnandforcingBlacktoplay6...KK6whenhecangobacktoKt3asalready
shown,andalwayskeeptheopposition.
Goingbacktotheoriginalposition,if
1.KR1
PKt5
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WhitedoesnotplayPP,becausePK5willwin,butplays:
2.KKt2
KQ7
If2...PPch3KP,followedbyKK4,willdraw.
3.PP
PK5
andmerecountingwillshowthatbothsidesQueen,drawingthegame.
IfthestudentwillnowtakethetroubletogobacktotheexamplesofKingandPawnswhichIhave
giveninthisbook,[3]hewillrealisethatinallofthemthematteroftheoppositionisofparamount
importanceas,infact,itisinnearlyallendingsofKingandPawns,exceptinsuchcaseswhere
thePawnpositioninitselfensuresthewin.
{50}
14.THERELATIVEVALUEOFKNIGHTANDBISHOP
Before turning our attention to this matter it is well to state now thattwo Knights alone cannot
mate, but, under certain conditions of course, they can do so if the opponent has one or more
Pawns.
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Example29.IntheabovepositionWhitecannotwin,althoughtheBlackKingiscornered,but
inthefollowingposition,inwhichBlackhasaPawn,
Whitewinswithorwithoutthemove.Thus:
1.KtKt6
PR5
WhitecannottakethePawnbecausethegamewillbedrawn,asexplainedbefore.
{51}
2.KtK5
PR6
3.KtB6
PR7
4.KtKt5
PR8(Q)
5.KtB7mate
Thereasonforthispeculiarityinchessisevident.
WhitewiththetwoKnightscanonlystalematetheKing,unlessBlackhasaPawnwhichcanbe
moved.
Example30.AlthoughheisaBishopandaPawnaheadthefollowingpositioncannotbewonby
White.
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It is the greatest weakness of the Bishop, that when the Rook's Pawn Queens on a square of
oppositecolourandtheopposingKingisinfrontofthePawn,theBishopisabsolutelyworthless.
{52}
AllthatBlackhastodoistokeepmovinghisKingclosetothecornersquare.
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Example 31.In the above position White with or without the move can win. Take the most
difficultvariation.
1.........
2.KtKt4ch
3.KB1
4.KB2
5.KtK3
6.KtB1
7.KtPmate
KR7
KR8
PKt4
PR7
PKt5
PKt6ch
Nowthatwehaveseentheseexceptionalcases,wecananalysethedifferentmeritsandtherelative
valueoftheKnightandtheBishop.
ItisgenerallythoughtbyamateursthattheKnightisthemorevaluablepieceofthetwo,thechief
reason being that, unlike the Bishop, the Knight can command both Black and White squares.
However,thefactisgenerallyoverlookedthattheKnight,atanyonetime,hasthechoiceofone
colouronly.IttakesmuchlongertobringaKnightfromonewingtotheother.Also,asshownin
thefollowingExample,aBishopcanstalemateaKnightacomplimentwhichtheKnightisunable
toreturn.
{53}
Example32.
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TheweakertheplayerthemoreterribletheKnightistohim,butasaplayerincreasesinstrength
the value of the Bishop becomes more evident to him, and of course there is, or should be, a
correspondingdecreaseinhisestimationofthevalueoftheKnightascomparedtotheBishop.In
this respect, as in many others, the masters of today are far ahead of the masters of former
generations. While not so long ago some of the very best amongst them, like Pillsbury and
Tchigorin, preferred Knights to Bishops, there is hardly a master of today who would not
{54}
completelyagreewiththestatementsmadeabove.
Example33.ThisisabouttheonlycasewhentheKnightismorevaluablethantheBishop.
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Itiswhatiscalleda"blockposition,"andallthePawnsareononesideoftheboard.(Iftherewere
Pawns on both sides of the board there would be no advantage in having a Knight.) In such a
positionBlackhasexcellentchancesofwinning.Ofcourse,thereisanextrasourceofweakness
forWhiteinhavinghisPawnsonthesamecoloursquaresashisBishop.Thisisamistakeoften
made by players. The proper way, generally, in an ending, is to have your Pawns on squares of
oppositecolourtothatofyourownBishop.WhenyouhaveyourPawnsonsquaresofthesame
colourtheactionofyourownBishopislimitedbythem,andconsequentlythevalueoftheBishop
is diminished, since the value of a piece can often be measured by the number of squares it
commands.Whileonthissubject,Ishallalsocallattentiontothefactthatitisgenerallypreferable
tokeepyourPawnsonsquaresofthesamecolourasthatoftheopposingBishop,particularlyif
theyarepassedPawnssupportedbytheKing.Theprinciplesmightbestatedthus:
{55}
When the opponent has a Bishop, keep your Pawns on squares of the same colour as your
opponent'sBishop.
Whenever you have a Bishop, whether the opponent has also one or not, keep your Pawns on
squaresoftheoppositecolourtothatofyourownBishop.
Naturally,theseprincipleshavesometimestobemodifiedtosuittheexigenciesoftheposition.
Example34.InthefollowingpositionthePawnsareononesideoftheboard,andthereisno
advantageinhavingeitheraKnightoraBishop.Thegameshouldsurelyendinadraw.
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Example35.Nowlet us add threePawns on each side tothe above position, so that there are
Pawnsonbothsidesoftheboard.
{56}
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ItisnowpreferabletohavetheBishop,thoughtheposition,ifproperlyplayedout,shouldendina
draw.TheadvantageofhavingtheBishopliesasmuchinitsabilitytocommand,atlongrange,
bothsidesoftheboardfromacentralpositionasinitsabilitytomovequicklyfromonesideofthe
boardtotheother.
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Example 36.In the above position it is unquestionably an advantage to have the Bishop,
because,althougheachplayerhasthesamenumberofPawns,theyarenotbalancedoneachside
oftheboard.Thus,ontheKing'sside,Whitehasthreetotwo,whileontheQueen'ssideitisBlack
that has three to two. Still, with proper play, the game should end in a draw, though White has
somewhatbetterchances.
{57}
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Example37.Here is a position in which to have the Bishop is a decided advantage, since not
only are there Pawns on both sides of the board, but there is a passed Pawn (K R P for White,
QRPforBlack).Blackshouldhaveextremedifficultyindrawingthisposition,ifhecandoitat
{58}
all.
Example38.AgainBlackwouldhavegreatdifficultyindrawingthisposition.
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Thestudentshouldcarefullyconsiderthesepositions.Ihopethatthemanyexampleswillhelphim
tounderstand,intheirtruevalue,therelativemeritsoftheKnightandBishop.Astothegeneral
method of procedure, a teacher, or practical experience, will be best. I might say generally,
however,thatthepropercourseintheseendings,asinallsimilarendings,is:AdvanceoftheKing
to the centre of the board or towards the passed Pawns, or Pawns that are susceptible of being
attacked,andrapidadvanceofthepassedPawnorPawnsasfarasisconsistentwiththeirsafety.
To give a fixed line of play would be folly. Each ending is different, and requires different
handling, according to what the adversary proposes to do. Calculation by visualising the future
positionsiswhatwillcount.
{59}
15.HOWTOMATEWITHAKNIGHTANDABISHOP
Now,beforegoingbackagaintothemiddlegameandtheopenings,letusseehowtomatewith
KnightandBishop,and,then,howtowinwithaQueenagainstaRook.
WithaKnightandaBishopthematecanonlybegiveninthecornersofthesamecolourasthe
Bishop.
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Example39.InthisexamplewemustmateeitheratQR1orKR8.Theendingcanbedivided
intotwoparts.PartoneconsistsindrivingtheBlackKingtothelastline.Wemightbegin,asis
generallydoneinallsuchcases,byadvancingtheKingtothecentreoftheboard:
1.KK2
KQ2
Black,inordertomakeitmoredifficult,goestowardsthewhitesquaredcorner:
2.KQ3
3.BB4
4.KtK2
5.KtB3
6.KQ4
7.KB5
8.KB6
9.KtQ5
KB3
KQ4
KB4
KKt5
KR4
KR3
KR2
KR1
{60}
ThefirstpartisnowovertheBlackKingisinthewhitesquaredcorner.
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ThesecondandlastpartwillconsistindrivingtheBlackKingnowfromQR8toQR1orKR8
inordertomatehim.QR1willbethequickestinthisposition.
10.KtKt6ch
11.BB7
12.BKt8
13.KtQ5
KR2
KR3
KR4
KR5
Black tries to make for K R 1 with his King. White has two ways to prevent that, one by
14BK5,KKt615KtK3,andtheotherwhichIgiveasthetext,andwhichIconsiderbetter {61}
for the student to learn, because it is more methodical and more in accord with the spirit of all
theseendings,byusingtheKingasmuchaspossible.
14.KB5!
15.KtKt4
16.BB4
17.BK5
18.KB4
19.BB7ch
20.KtQ3
21.BKt6
22.KtKt2ch
KKt6
KB6
KKt6
KR5
KR4
KR5
KR6
KR5
KR6
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23.KB3
24.KB2
25.BB5ch
26.KtQ3
27.BKt4
28.KtB1ch
29.BB3mate
KR7
KR6
KR7
KR8
KR7
KR8
It will be seen that the ending is rather laborious. There are two outstanding features: the close
followingbytheKing,andthecontrollingofthesquaresofoppositecolourtotheBishopbythe
combined action of the Knight and King. The student would do well to exercise himself
methodicallyinthisending,asitgivesaverygoodideaoftheactualpowerofthepieces,andit
requiresforesightinordertoaccomplishthematewithinthefiftymoveswhicharegrantedbythe {62}
rules.
16.QUEENAGAINSTROOK
ThisisoneofthemostdifficultendingswithoutPawns.Theresourcesofthedefencearemany,
and when used skilfully only a very good player will prevail within the limit of fifty moves
allowedbytherules.(Theruleisthatatanymomentyoumaydemandthatyouropponentmate
you within fifty moves. However, every time a piece is exchanged or a Pawn advanced the
countingmustbeginafresh.)
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Example40.ThisisoneofthestandardpositionswhichBlackcanoftenbringabout.Now,itis
White's move. If it were Black's move it would be simple, as he would have to move his Rook
awayfromtheKing(findoutwhy),andthentheRookwouldbecomparativelyeasytowin.We
deducefromtheabovethatthemainobjectistoforcetheBlackRookawayfromthedefending
King,andthat,inordertocompelBlacktodoso,wemustbringaboutthepositioninthediagram
withBlacktomove.Onceweknowwhatisrequired,thewaytoproceedbecomeseasierto find.
Thus:
{63}
1.QK5ch
Not1QR6,becauseRB2ch2KKt6,RB3ch3KR.Stalemate.(Thebeginnerwill
invariablyfallintothistrap.)
1.........
2.QR1ch
3.QR5
KtoR1ortoR2
KKt1
Inafewmoveswehaveaccomplishedourobject.Thefirstpartisconcluded.Nowwecometothe
secondpart.TheRookcanonlygotoaWhitesquare,otherwisethefirstcheckwiththeQueenwill
winit.Therefore
3.........
4.QK5ch
RKt6
KR1best
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5.QR8ch
6.QKt7ch
7.QKt8ch
8.QR2mate
KR2
KR1
RKt1
(Thestudentshouldfindoutbyhimselfhowtowinwhen3...RKt84QK5ch,KR2.)
{64}
Example41.Theprocedurehereisverysimilar.Thethings to bear in mind are that the Rook

mustbepreventedfrominterposingatKt1becauseofanimmediatemate,andinthesamewaythe
KingmustbepreventedfromgoingeithertoR3orB1.
Example42.Weshallnowexamineamoredifficultposition.
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Manyplayerswouldbedeceivedbythisposition.Themostlikelylooking move is not thebest.

Thussupposewebegin
1.QK5ch
2.KKt6
{65}
KB1
RQ2
Theonlydefence,but,unfortunately,averyeffectiveone,whichmakesitverydifficultforWhite,
sincehecannotplay3QK6becauseof3...RKt2ch4KB6,RKt3chdraws.Norcanhe
winquicklyby3QQB5chbecause3...KK1,4KB6,RQ3ch!drivingbacktheWhite
King.
Nowthatwehaveseenthedifficultiesofthesituationletusgoback.Thebestmoveis
1.QKt5ch!
KR1
IfKR22QKt6ch,KR13KR6!
2.QK5ch!
3.KKt5
KR2best
RR2!best
If3...RKt2ch4KB6leadstoapositionsimilartothoseinExamples40and41.
4.QK4ch
5.QB4ch
KKt1
KR2
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6.KB6
7.QR4ch
8.QR5
RKKt2
KKt1
andwehavethepositionofExample40withBlacktomove.
{66}
Letusgobackagain.
1.QKt5ch
2.QQ8ch
3.KKt5
KB1
KKt2
RB6
ThebestplacefortheRookawayfromtheKing.3...KR24QQ4,RKt2ch5KB6
wouldleadtopositionssimilartothosealreadyseen.
4.QQ4ch
5.KKt6
KB1
5QQ6ch,KKt26QK5ch,KB17KKt6wouldalsowintheRook.Thetextmove,
however,isgiventoshowthefinesseofsuchendings.WhitenowthreatensmateatQ8.
5.........
6.KB6
7.KK6
RKt6ch
RB6ch
RKR6
WhitethreatenedmateatKR8.
8.QB4ch
andtheRookislost.
Note,intheseexamples,thatthechecksatlongrangealongthediagonalshaveoftenbeenthekey
toallthewinningmanuvres.AlsothattheQueenandKingareoftenkeptondifferentlines.The {67}
studentshouldcarefullygooverthesepositionsandconsiderallthepossibilitiesnotgiveninthe
text.
He should once more go through everything already written before proceeding further with the
book.
CHAPTERIII
{68}
PLANNINGAWININMIDDLEGAMEPLAY
Ishallnowgiveafewwinningpositionstakenfrommyowngames.IhaveselectedthosethatI
believecanbeconsideredastypes,i.e.positionsthatmayeasilyoccuragaininasomewhatsimilar
form.Aknowledgeofsuchpositionsisofgreathelpinfact,onecannotknowtoomany.Itoften
mayhelptheplayertofind,withlittleeffort,therightmove,whichhemightnotbeabletofindat
allwithoutsuchknowledge.
17.ATTACKINGWITHOUTTHEAIDOFKNIGHTS
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Example43.ItisBlack'smove,andasheisaKtandPbehindhemustwinquickly,ifatall.He
plays:
1.........
2.RB2
{69}
QRKt1!
If,QQ,RPchKR1,BQ4andmatefollowsinafewmoves.
2.........
3.KB1
4.KtB
RPch
BB5ch
RKt8mate
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Example44.Black'slastmovewasPK6,playedwiththeobjectofstoppingwhathethought
wasWhite'sthreat,viz.:RQR5,towhichhewouldhaveansweredQB5chanddrawnthe
gamebyperpetualcheck.White,however,hasamoreforcefulmove,andhematesinthreemoves
asfollows:
1.RPch
2.RQR5
3.Whitemates
{70}
QR
Blackmoves
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Example45.Whitehasabeautifulposition,butstillhehadbettergainsomematerial,ifhecan,
beforeBlackconsolidateshisdefensiveposition.Hethereforeplays:
1.RKt!
2.BPch
PR
KK2
IfKtBRKtandBlackwouldbehelpless.
3.QR7ch
4.QKtch
5.QR7ch
6.BB8
7.RQch
8.RR
KK1
KQ2
QK2
QQ
KK1
Resigns
InthesefewexamplestheattackinghasbeendonebyRooksandBishopsincombinationwiththe
Queen.TherehavebeennoKnightstotakepartintheattack.Weshallnowgivesomeexamplesin
whichtheKnightsplayaprominentpartasanattackingforce.
{71}
18.ATTACKINGWITHKNIGHTSASAPROMINENTFORCE
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Example 46.White is two Pawns behind. He must therefore press on his attack. The game
continues:
1.Kt(B5)KtP KtB4
EvidentlyanerrorwhichmadethewinningeasierforWhite,ashesimplytooktheRookwiththe
Knightandkeptuptheattack.Blackshouldhaveplayed:1...KtKt.Thenwouldhavefollowed:
2KtB6ch,KKt33KtB,PB3(best)4PK5,KB25KtP,RK26KtK4,
andBlackshouldlose.[4]
{72}
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Example47.Thestudentshouldcarefullyexaminetheposition,asthesacrificeoftheBishopin
similarsituationsistypical,andthechanceforitisoffrequentoccurrenceinactualplay.Thegame
continues:
1.BPch
2.KtKt5ch
KB
KKt3
Best.If2...KR33KtPchwinstheQueen,andif2...KKt13QR5,withanirresistible
attack.
3.QKt4
4.QKt3
PB4
KR3
Whitefinallywon.[5]
{73}
19.WINNINGBYINDIRECTATTACK
Wehavesofargivenpositionswheretheattackswereofaviolentnatureanddirectedagainstthe
King's position. Very often, however, in the middlegame attacks are made against a position or
againstpieces,orevenPawns.
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ThewinningofaPawnamonggoodplayersofevenstrengthoftenmeansthewinningofthegame.
Hencethestudyofsuchpositionsisofgreatimportance.Wegivebelowtwopositionsinwhich
theattackaimsatthegainofamerePawnasameansofultimatelywinningthegame.
Example48.BlackisaPawnbehind,andthereisnoviolentdirectattackagainstWhite'sKing.
Black'spieces,however,areverywellplacedandfreetoact,andbycoordinatingtheactionofall
hispiecesheissoonablenotonlytoregainthePawnbuttoobtainthebettergame.Thestudent
should carefully consider this position and the subsequent moves. It is a very good example of
propercoordinationinthemanagementofforces.Thegamecontinues:
1.........
2.PQR4
{74}
RR1
White'sbestmovewasPQKt3,whenwouldfollowKtB3QKt,RR6andBlackwould
ultimately win the Q R P, always keeping a slight advantage in position. The text move makes
matterseasier.
2.........
3.QKt
4.KRQ1
KtB
QB5
KRKt1
BlackcouldhaveregainedthePawnbyplayingBKt,butheseesthatthereismoretobehad,
and therefore increases the pressure against White's Queen side. He now threatens, among other
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things,RKtP.
5.QK3
RKt5
ThreateningtowintheexchangebyBQ5.
6.QKt5
7.KR1
BQ5ch
QRKt1
ThisthreatenstowintheKt,andthusforcesWhitetogiveuptheexchange.
8.RB
9.RQ1
QR
QB5
NowBlackwillrecoverhisPawn.
{75}
Example49.Anexaminationofthispositionwillshowthat Black's main weakness lies in the

exposedpositionofhisKing,andinthefactthathisQRhasnotyetcomeintothegame.Indeed,if
itwereBlack'smove,wemightconcludethathewouldhavethebettergame,onaccountofhaving
threePawnstotwoontheQueen'sside,andhisBishopcommandingthelongdiagonal.
Itis,however,White'smove,andhehastwocoursestochoosefrom.Theobviousmove,BB4,
mightbegoodenough,sinceafter1BB4,QRQ12PQKt4wouldmakeitdifficultfor
Black. But there is another move which completely upsets Black's position and wins a Pawn,
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besidesobtainingthebetterposition.ThatmoveisKtQ4!Thegamecontinuesasfollows:
1.KtQ4!
2.RB
PKt
KtKt5
Thereisnothingbetter,asWhitethreatenedBB4.
3.BB4ch
4.RK6
5.RP
{76}
KR1
PQ6
AndWhite,withthebetterposition,isaPawnahead.
These positions have been given with the idea of acquainting the student with different types of
combinations.Ihopetheywillalsohelptodevelophisimagination,averynecessaryqualityina
goodplayer.Thestudentshouldnote,inallthesemiddlegamepositions,that
oncetheopportunityisoffered,allthepiecesarethrownintoaction"enmasse"whennecessary
andthatallthepiecessmoothlycoordinatetheiractionwithmachinelikeprecision.
That, at least, is what the ideal middlegame play should be, if it is not so altogether in these
examples.
CHAPTERIV
{77}
GENERALTHEORY
Beforewereverttothetechniqueoftheopeningsitwillbeadvisabletodwellalittleongeneral
theory,sothattheopeningsintheirrelationtotherestofthegamemaybebetterunderstood.
20.THEINITIATIVE
As the pieces are set on the board both sides have the same position and the same amount of
material. White, however, has the move, and the move in this case means theinitiative, and the
initiative,otherthingsbeingequal,isanadvantage.Nowthisadvantagemustbekeptaslong as
possible,andshouldonlybegivenupifsomeotheradvantage,materialorpositional,isobtained
in its place. White, according to the principles already laid down, develops his pieces as fast as
possible,butinsodoinghealsotriestohinderhisopponent'sdevelopment,byapplyingpressure
wherever possible. He tries first of all to control the centre, and failing this to obtain some
positionaladvantagethatwillmakeitpossibleforhimtokeeponharassingtheenemy.Heonly
relinquishes the initiative when he gets for it some material advantage under such favourable
conditionsastomakehimfeelassured that he will, in turn, be able to withstand his adversary's {78}
thrustandfinally,throughhissuperiorityofmaterial,oncemoreresumetheinitiative,whichalone
can give him the victory. This last assertion is selfevident, since, in 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.ItmaybethatadirectattackagainsttheKingisinorderorthatitisacaseofimproving
a position already advantageous or, finally, that some material can be gained at the cost of
relinquishingtheinitiativeforamoreorlessprolongedperiod.
21.DIRECTATTACKSENMASSE
Inthefirstcasetheattackmustbecarriedonwithsufficientforcetoguaranteeitssuccess.Under
no consideration must a direct attack against the King be carried on outrance unless there is
absolutecertaintyinone'sownmindthatitwillsucceed,sincefailureinsuchcasesmeansdisaster.
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Example 50.A good example of a successful direct attack against the King is shown in the
followingdiagram:
InthispositionWhitecouldsimplyplayBB2andstillhavethebetterposition,butinsteadhe
prefersanimmediateattackontheKing'sside,withthecertaintyinhismindthattheattackwill
leadtoawin.Thegamecontinuesthus:[6]
12.BPch
13.KtKt5ch
14.QKt4
{79}
KB
KKt3
PB4
Best. P K 4 would have been immediately fatal. Thus: 14...P K 4 15 Kt K 6 ch, K B 3

16PB4!PK517QKt5ch,KKt18QK5ch,KQ219KRQ1ch,KtQ6
20KtP,KB3(ifKK1,KtQ6chwinstheQueen)21RKt,QR22RB1ch,
KKt3(ifKQ2mateintwo)23QB7chandmateinfivemoves.
15.QKt3
16.QR4ch
17.QR7ch
KR3
KKt3
KB3
{80}
IfKKtQKtPchandmateinafewmoves.
18.PK4
KtKt3
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19.PP
20.QRQ1
21.QR3
22.QKt3
23.KRK1
PP
KtQ6
Kt(Q6)B5
QB2
KtK7ch
This blunder loses at once, but the game could not be saved in any case e.g. 23...B K 3
24RBch,KtR25KtQ5mate.
24.RKt
25.KtR7ch
26.RPQ
27.KtKt5ch
28.PB4
QQ
KB2
RR1
KB3
Resigns
Example51.Anotherexampleofthiskind:
IntheabovepositionthesimplemoveKtPwouldwin,butWhitelooksforcomplicationsand
their beauties. Such a course is highly risky until a wide experience of actual masterplay has
developed a sufficient insight into all the possibilities of a position. This game, which won the
brilliancyprizeatSt.Petersburgin1914,continuedasfollows:
21.BR4
{81}
QQ2
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22.KtB
23.QQ8ch
QR
QK1
IfKB224KtQ6ch,Kingmoves25mate.
24.BK7ch
25.KtQ6ch
26.KtR4ch
KB2
KKt3
KR4
If26...KR327Kt(Q6)B5ch,KR428KtPch,KR329Kt(R4)B5ch,KKt3
30QQ6chandmatenextmove.
27.KtQ
RQ
28.KtPch
KR3
29.Kt(Kt7)B5chKR4
30.PKR3!
Theclimaxofthecombinationstartedwith21BR4.Whiteisstillthreateningmate,andthebest
waytoavoiditisforBlacktogivebackallthematerialhehasgainedandtoremainthreePawns
behind.
Thestudentshouldnotethatintheexamplesgiventheattackiscarriedoutwitheveryavailable
piece,andthatoften,asinsomeofthevariationspointedout,itisthecomingintoactionofthelast
availablepiecethatfinallyoverthrowstheenemy.Itdemonstratestheprinciplealreadystated:
{82}
Direct and violent attacks against the King must be carried enmasse, with full force, to ensure
theirsuccess.Theoppositionmustbeovercomeatallcosttheattackcannotbebrokenoff,since
inallsuchcasesthatmeansdefeat.
22.THEFORCEOFTHETHREATENEDATTACK
Failinganopportunity,inthesecondcase,fordirectattack,onemustattempttoincreasewhatever
weaknesstheremaybeintheopponent'spositionor,ifthereisnone,oneormoremustbecreated.
Itisalwaysanadvantagetothreatensomething,butsuchthreatsmustbecarriedintoeffectonlyif
something is to be gained immediately. For, holding the threat in hand, forces the opponent to
provideagainstitsexecutionandtokeepmaterialinreadinesstomeetit.Thushemaymoreeasily
overlook,orbeunabletoparry,athrustatanotherpoint.Butoncethethreatiscarriedintoeffect,it
existsnolonger,andyouropponentcandevotehisattentiontohisownschemes.Oneofthebest
andmostsuccessfulmanuvresinthistypeofgameistomakeademonstrationononeside,soas
todrawtheforcesofyouropponenttothatside,thenthroughthegreatermobilityofyourpiecesto
shiftyourforces quickly to the other side and break through, before your opponent has had the {83}
timetobringoverthenecessaryforcesforthedefence.
Agoodexampleofpositionalplayisshowninthefollowinggame:
Example52.PlayedattheHavanaInternationalMastersTournament,1913.(FrenchDefence.)
White:J.R.Capablanca.Black:R.Blanco.
1.PK4
2.PQ4
3.KtQB3
4.KtP
5.KtKB3
6.KtKtch
7.KtK5
PK3
PQ4
PP
KtQ2
KKtB3
KtKt
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ThismovewasfirstshowntomebythetalentedVenezuelanamateur,M.Ayala.Theobjectisto
preventthedevelopmentofBlack'sQueen'sBishopviQKt2,afterPQKt3,whichisBlack's
usualdevelopmentinthisvariation.Generallyitisbadtomovethesamepiecetwiceinanopening
beforetheotherpiecesareout,andtheviolationofthatprincipleistheonlyobjectionthatcanbe
madetothismove,whichotherwisehaseverythingtorecommendit.
7.........
8.QB3
{84}
BQ3
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BKKt5mightbebetter.ThetextmovegivesBlackanopportunityofwhichhedoesnotavail
himself
8.........
PB3
PB4wastherightmove.Itwouldhaveledtocomplications,inwhichBlackmighthaveheldhis
ownatleast,White'splaywouldbeverydifficult.Thetextmoveaccomplishesnothing,andputs
Blackinanaltogether defensive position. The veiled threat B Kt followed by Q R 4 ch is
easilymet.
9.PB3
10.BKKt5
{85}
OO
BK2
The fact that Black has now to move his Bishop back clearly demonstrates that Black's plan of
development is faulty. He has lost too much time, and White brings his pieces into their most
attackingpositionwithouthindranceofanysort.
11.BQ3
KtK1
ThealternativewasKtQ4.OtherwiseWhitewouldplayQR3,andBlackwouldbeforcedto
playPKKt3(notPKR3,becauseofthesacrificeBP),seriouslyweakeninghisKing'sside.
12.QR3
PKB4
White has no longer an attack, but he has compelled Black to create a marked weakness. Now
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White'swholeplanwillbetoexploitthisweakness(theweakKP),andthestudentcannowsee
howtheprinciplesexpoundedpreviouslyareappliedinthisgame.Everymoveisdirectedtomake
theweak King's Pawn untenable, or to profit by the inactivity of the Black piecesdefendingthe
Pawn,inordertoimprovethepositionofWhiteatotherpoints.
13.BB
14.OO
15.KRK1
16.RK2
QB
RB3
KtQ3
BQ2
At last the Bishop comes out, not as an active attacking piece, but merely to make way for the
Rook.
17.QRK1
18.PQB4
{86}
RK1
KtB2
Averyclevermove,tendingtopreventPB5,andtemptingWhitetoplayKtB,followedby
B P, which would be bad, as the following variation shows: 19 Kt B, Q Kt 20 B P,
KtKt421QKt4,RB22PKR4,PKR423QR,PQ24RRch,KR2
25PKt,QP.Butitalwayshappensinsuchcasesthat,ifonelineofattackisanticipated,there
isanotherandthisisnoexceptiontotherule,aswillbeseen.
19.PQ5!
KtKt
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Apparently the best way to meet the manifold threats of White. B P P would make matters
worse,astheWhiteBishopwouldfinallybearontheweakKing'sPawnviQB4.
20.RKt
21.QR4
22.QQ4
{87}
PKKt3
KKt2
PB4
Forced,asWhitethreatenedPKP,andalsoQP
23.QB3
PKt3
QQ3wasbetter.ButBlackwantstotemptWhitetoplayPP,thinkingthathewillsoonafter
regain his Pawn with a safe position. Such, however, is not the case, as White quickly
demonstrates.ImustaddthatinanycaseBlack'spositionis,inmyopinion,untenable,sinceallhis
piecesaretiedupforthedefenceofaPawn,whileWhite'spiecesarefreetoact.
24.PP
25.BK2!
BB1
Thedecidingandtimelymanuvre.AlltheBlackpiecesareuselessafterthisBishopreachesQ5.
25.........
26.BB3
{88}
BP
KB2
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27.BQ5
QQ3
Now itis evident that allthe Black pieces are tied up, and it onlyremainsfor Whiteto find the
quickestwaytoforcetheissue.WhitewillnowtrytoplacehisQueenatKR6,andthenadvance
theKRPtoR5inordertobreakuptheBlackPawnsdefendingtheKing.
28.QK3
RK2
If28...PB529QKR3,PKR430QR4,RK231QKt5,KKt232PKR4,
QQ233PKKt3,PP34PB4,andBlackwillsoonbehelpless,ashehastomarktime
withhis pieces while White prepares to advance P R 5, and finally at the proper time to play
RB,winning.
29.QR6
30.PKR4
31.PR5
32.PP
33.RB
KKt1
PR3
PB5
PP
Resigns.
CommentingonWhite'splayinthisgame,Dr.E.LaskersaidatthetimethatifWhite'splaywere
properlyanalyseditmightbefoundthattherewasnowaytoimproveuponit.
Theseapparentlysimplegamesareoftenofthemostdifficultnature.Perfectioninsuchcasesis
muchmoredifficulttoobtainthaninthosepositionscallingforabrilliantdirectattackagainstthe
King,involvingsacrificesofpieces.
{89}
23.RELINQUISHINGTHEINITIATIVE
Inthethirdcase,thereisnothingtodo,oncethematerialadvantageisobtained,buttosubmitto
theopponent'sattackforawhile,andonceithasbeenrepulsedtoactquicklywithallyourforces
andwinonmaterial.Agoodexampleofthistypeofgameisgivenbelow.
Example 53.From the Havana International Masters Tournament, 1913. (Ruy Lopez.) White:
J.R.Capablanca.Black:D.Janowski.
1.PK4
2.KtKB3
3.BKt5
4.OO
5.BKtch
6.PQ4
7.KtB3
PK4
KtQB3
KtB3
PQ3
PB
BK2
PPmightbebetter,butatthetimeIwasnotfamiliarwiththatvariation,andthereforeIplayed
whatIknewtobegood.
7.........
8.PP
9.QK2
10.RQ1
11.BKt5
12.KtKR4
KtQ2
PP
OO
BQ3
QK1
PKt3
Blackofferstheexchangeinordertogaintimeandtoobtainanattack.Withoutconsideringatall
whetherornotsuchacoursewasjustifiedonthepartofBlack,itisevidentthatasfarasWhiteis
concernedthereisonlyonethingtodo,viz.,towintheexchangeandthenpreparetoweatherthe
storm. Then, once it is passed, to act quickly with all forces to derive the benefit of numerical
superiority.
{90}
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13.BR6
14.RQ2
15.KtQ1
KtB4
RKt1
RKt5
ToforceWhitetoplayPQB4,andthuscreateaholeatQ5forhisKnight.[7]Suchgrandtactics
showthehandofamaster.
16.PQB4
17.BR
18.KtK3
KtK3
QB
18.........
19.QQ1
KtQ5
PQB4
KtKB3wasbetter.
In order to prevent R Kt giving back the exchange, but winning a Pawn and relieving the
position.
20.PQKt3
RKt1
InordertoplayBKt2withoutblockinghisRook.
Black'smanuvringforpositionaladvantageisadmirablethroughoutthisgame,andifhelosesit
isdueentirelytothefactthatthesacrificeoftheexchange,withoutevenaPawnforit,couldnot
succeedagainstsounddefensiveplay.
{91}
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21.KtB3
22.PP
PB4
PP
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The position begins to look really dangerous for White. In reality Black's attack is reaching its
maximumforce.Verysoonitwillreachtheapex,andthenWhite,whoiswellprepared,willbegin
hiscounteraction,andthroughhissuperiorityinmaterialobtainanundoubtedadvantage.
23.KtB1
24.KtKt
25.QR5
26.RK1
{92}
PB5
BPKt
BKt2
PB4
HecouldnotplayRK1becauseofRQP.Besides,hewantstobereadytoplayPK5.At
presentWhitecannotwithsafetyplayRKP,buthewillsoonpreparethewayforit.Then,by
givingupaRookforaBishopandaPawn,hewillcompletelyupsetBlack'sattackandcomeouta
Pawnahead.ItisonthisbasisthatWhite'swholedefensivemanuvreisfounded.
27.PB3
28.R(Q2)K2
RK1
RK3
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NowtheBlackRookentersintothegame,butWhiteisprepared.Itisnowtimetogivebackthe
exchange.
29.RP
30.RB
31.QK8
32.RQch
33.RK5
34.KtQ2
{93}
BR
RKR3
QQ
KB2
RQB3
RB5chmighthavebeenbetter.Thetextmovedidnotproveasstrongasanticipated.
34.........
35.RQ5
36.KtK4ch
KB3
RK3
KK2
37.RBP
PQ6!
RKtwouldloseeasily
Veryfine.WhitecannotplayRB7chbecauseofKQ1RB,RKtwinning.
38.KB2
BKt
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39.PB
40.RQ5
RP
RK6
Theendingisverydifficulttowin.AtthispointWhitehadtomakethelastmovebeforethegame
wasadjourned.
41.PQKt4!
42.RP
43.RKR3
44.RPch
45.RP
46.KB3
47.RR5ch
48.RR4
49.RP
50.PR4ch
51.RB5ch
52.PKt4
RK5
RP
RP
KB3
KB4
RKt7
KB3
KKt4
RRP
KR4
KR3
Resigns
{94}
Ihavepassedoverthegamelightlybecauseofitsdifficultnature,andbecauseweareatpresent
concernedmorewiththeopeningandthemiddlegamethanwearewiththeendings,whichwillbe
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treatedseparately.
24.CUTTINGOFFPIECESFROMTHESCENEOFACTION
Veryofteninagameamasteronlyplaystocutoff,sotospeak,oneofthepiecesfromthesceneof
actualconflict.OftenaBishoporaKnightiscompletelyputoutofaction.Insuchcaseswemight
saythatfromthatmomentthegameiswon,becauseforallpracticalpurposesthere will be one
morepieceononesidethanontheother.Averygoodillustration isfurnished bythe following
game.
{95}
Example 54.Played at the Hastings Victory Tournament, 1919. (Four Knights.) White: W.
Winter.Black:J.R.Capablanca.
1.PK4
2.KtKB3
3.KtB3
4.BKt5
5.OO
6.BKt
PK4
KtQB3
KtB3
BKt5
OO
Niemzowitch'svariation,whichIhaveplayedsuccessfullyinmanyagame.ItgivesWhiteavery
solidgame.Niemzowitch'sideaisthatWhitewillinduetimebeabletoplayPKB4,openinga
line for his Rooks, which, in combination with the posting of a Knight at K B 5, should be
sufficienttowin.HethinksthatshouldBlackattempttostoptheKnightfromgoingtoKB5,he
willhavetoweakenhisgameinsomeotherway.Whetherthisistrueornotremainstobeproved,
butinmyopinionthemoveisperfectlygood.Ontheotherhand,thereisnoquestionthatBlack
can easily develop his pieces. But it must be considered that in this variation White does not
attempt to hinder Black's development, he simply attempts to build up a position which he
considersimpregnableandfromwhichhecanstartanattackinduecourse.
6.........
QPB
Thealternative,KtPBgivesWhitethebestofthegame,withoutdoubt.[8]
7.PQ3
8.BKt5
{96}
BQ3
Thismoveisnotatallinaccordancewiththenatureofthisvariation.Thegeneralstrategicalplan
forWhiteistoplayPKR3,tobefollowedintimebytheadvanceoftheKKtPtoKt4,andthe
bringingoftheQKttoKB5viaK2andKKt3orQ1andK3.Then,ifpossible,theKKtis
linkedwiththeotherKtbyplacingitateitherKR4,KKt3,orK3astheoccasiondemands.The
WhiteKingsometimesremainsatKt1,andothertimesitisplacedatKKt2,butmostlyatKR1.
Finally,inmostcasescomesPKB4,andthentherealattackbegins.Sometimesitisadirect
assaultagainsttheKing,[9]andatothertimesitcomessimplytofinessingforpositionaladvantage
intheendgame,aftermostofthepieceshavebeenexchanged.[10]
8.........
9.BR4
PKR3
PB4
{97}
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TopreventPQ4andtodrawWhiteintoplayingKtQ5,whichwouldprovefatal.Black'splan
istoplayPKKt4,assoonasthecircumstancespermit,inordertofreehisQueenandKnight
fromthepinbytheBishop.
10.KtQ5
Whitefallsintothetrap.Onlylackofexperiencecanaccountforthis move. White should have

consideredthataplayerofmyexperienceandstrengthcouldneverallowsuchamoveifitwere
good.
10.........
PKKt4
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After this move White's game is lost. White cannot play Kt Kt P, becauseKtKtwillwina
piece.Thereforehe must play B Kt3, either beforeorafterKtKt,withdisastrousresultsin
eithercase,aswillbeseen.
11.KtKtch
12.BKt3
13.PKR3
14.QB
15.PQ
{98}
QKt
BKt5
BKt
QQ
PKB3
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AsimpleexaminationwillshowthatWhiteisminusaBishopforallpractical purposes. He can

onlyfreeitbysacrificingonePawn,andpossiblynoteventhen.Atleastitwouldlosetimebesides
thePawn.BlacknowdevotesallhisenergytotheQueen'sside,and,havingpracticallyaBishop
more,theresultcannotbeindoubt.Therestofthegameisgiven,sothatthestudentmayseehow
{99}
simpleitistowinsuchagame.
16.KKt2
17.PQR4
18.RR1
19.PR4
PQR4
KB2
KK3
KRQKt1
There is no necessity to pay any attention to the King's side, because White gains nothing by
exchangingPawnsandopeningtheKing'sRookfile.
20.PP
21.PKt3
22.RQR2
23.KRR1
RPP
PB3
PKt4
PB5
IfWhitetakestheprofferedPawn,BlackregainsitimmediatelybyRKt5,afterPBP.
24.RPP
PP(Kt6)
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25.BPP
26.RR4
27.PQ4
28.RB4
29.RBP
Resigns
RP
RP
RKt4
RKt5
RP
25.APLAYER'SMOTIVESCRITICISEDINASPECIMENGAME
Now that a few of my games with my own notes have been given, I offer for close perusal and
studyaveryfinegameplayedbySirGeorgeThomas,oneofEngland'sforemostplayers,against
Mr.F.F.L.Alexander,inthechampionship of the City of London Chess Club in the winter of
19191920.IthastheinterestingfeatureforthestudentthatSirGeorgeThomaskindlywrotethe
notes to the game for me at my request, and with the understanding that I would make the
comments on them that I considered appropriate. Sir George Thomas' notes are in brackets and
thuswillbedistinguishedfrommyowncomments.
{100}
Example 55.Queen's Gambit Declined. (The notes within brackets by Sir George Thomas.)
White:Mr.F.F.L.Alexander.Black:SirGeorgeThomas.
1.PQ4
2.KtKB3
3.PB4
4.KtB3
5.BKt5
6.PK3
PQ4
KtKB3
PK3
QKtQ2
PB3
QR4
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(One of the objects of Black's method of defence is to attack White's Q Kt doubly by Kt K 5,

followed by P P. But 7 Kt Q 2 is probably a strong way of meeting this threat.) There are,
besides,twogoodreasonsforthismethodofdefencefirst,thatitisnotasmuchplayedassomeof
theotherdefencesandconsequentlynotsowellknown,andsecondthatitleavesBlackwithtwo
BishopsagainstBandKt,which,inageneralway,constitutesanadvantage.
7.BKt
8.PQR3
9.QKt3
{101}
KtB
KtK5
BK2
ThisisnotthelogicalplacefortheBwhichshouldhavebeenpostedatQ3.Intheopening,timeis
ofgreatimportance,andthereforetheplayershouldbeextremelycarefulinhisdevelopmentand
makesurethathepostshispiecesintherightplaces.
10.BQ3
11.PKt
12.BBP
KtKt
PP
BB3
(IdidnotwantWhite'sKttocometoK5,fromwhereIcouldnotdislodgeitbyPKB3without
weakening my K P.) The same result could be accomplished by playing B Q 3. Incidentally it
bearsoutmypreviousstatementthattheBshouldhavebeenoriginallyplayedtoQ3.
13.OO
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ThealternativewasPK4,followedbyPK5,andthenOO.Whitewouldtherebyassumethe
initiativebutwouldweakenhisPawnpositionconsiderably,andmightbecompelledtostakeall
onaviolentattackagainsttheKing.Thisisaturningpointinthegame,anditisinsuchpositions {102}
thatthetemperamentandstyleoftheplayerdecidethecourseofthegame.
13.........
14.PK4
15.PQ5
OO
PK4
(Whitemightplay15KRQ1,keepingtheoptionofbreakingupthecentrelateron.Iwanted
himtoadvancethisPasthereisnowafinepostformyBatQB4.)BythismoveWhiteshows
that he does not understand the true value of his position. His only advantage consisted in the
undevelopedconditionofBlack'sQB.HeshouldthereforehavemadeaplantopreventtheBfrom
coming out, or if that were not possible, then he should try to force Black to weaken his Pawn
positioninordertocomeoutwiththeB.Therewerethreemovestoconsider:first,PQR4,in {103}
order to maintainthe WhiteBinthedominatingpositionthatitnowoccupies.Thiswouldhave
beenmet by Q B 2 second, either of the Rooks to Q 1 in order to threaten 16 P P, B P
17KtB,QKt18BPch.ThiswouldhavebeenmetbyBKt5andthird,PKR3to
preventBKt5andbyplayingeitherRtoQ1,followedupaspreviouslystatedtoforceBlackto
playPQKt4,whichwouldweakenhisQueen'ssidePawns.ThusbyplayingPKR3White
would have attained the desired object. The text move blocks the action of the White B and
facilitates Black's development. Hereafter White will act on the defensive, and the interest
throughoutthe rest of the game will centre mainly on Black's play and the manner in which he
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carriesouttheattack.
15.........
16.BQ3
QB2
(This seems wrong, as it makes the development of Black's Queen wing easier. At present he
cannotplayPQKt3,becauseofthereplyPPfollowedbyBQ5.)
16.........
17.PB4
18.KRB1
PQKt3
BKt2
(WiththeideaofQRKt1andPB5.ButitonlycompelsBlacktobringhisBtoQB4,which
hewoulddoinanycase.)
18.........
19.RB2
20.QKt2
BK2
BB4
PB3
{104}
(Itwouldhavebeenbetter,probably,toplay20...KRK1,withtheideaofPB4presently.)
Black'splayhereaboutisweakitlacksforce,andthereseemstobenowelldefinedplanofattack.
Itistruethatthesearethemostdifficultpositionstohandleinagame.Insuchcasesaplayermust
conceiveaplanonalargescale,whichpromiseschancesofsuccess,andwithitall,itmustbea
planthatcanbecarriedoutwiththemeansathisdisposal.Fromthelookofthepositionitseems
that Black's best chance would be to mass his forces for an attack against White's centre, to be
followed by a direct attack against the King. He should, therefore, play Q R K 1, threatening
PKB4.IfWhiteisabletodefeatthisplan,orrathertopreventit,then,oncehehasfixedsome
oftheWhitepiecesontheKing'sside,heshouldquicklyshifthisattacktotheQueen'sside,and
open a line for his Rooks, which, once they enter in action, should produce an advantage on
accountofthegreatpowerofthetwoBishops.
21.QRKt1
22.PQR4
23.RQ1
QRQ1
BR3
(WhitehasclearlylosttimewithhisRook'smoves.)
23.........
24.QKt3
KRK1
(TobringhisQueenacrossafterKtR4andBK2.)
24.........
25.KtR4
26.BK2
{105}
RQ3
PKt3
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26.........
PP
(Ithoughtthisexchangenecessaryhere,asWhiteisthreateningtoplayhisBishopviaKt4toK6.
IfheretookwiththeBishop'sPawnIintendedtoexchangeBishopsandrelyonthetwoPawnsto
oneontheQueen'swing.IdidnotexpecthimtoretakeitwiththeKing'sPawn,whichseemedto
exposehimtoaviolentKing'ssideattack.)Black'sjudgmentinthisinstanceIbelievetobefaulty.
Had White retaken with the B P, as he expected, he would have had the worst of the Pawn
position, as White would have had a passed Pawn well supported on the Queen's side. His only
advantagewouldlieinhishavingaverywellpostedBishopagainstabadlypostedKnight,andon
thefactthatinsuchpositionsastheabove,theBishopisinvariablystrongerthantheKnight.He
could and should have prevented all that, by playing B B 1, as, had White then replied with
QKt3,hecouldthenplayPP,andWhitewouldnothavebeenabletoretakewiththeBPon
accountofBPchwinningtheexchange.
27.KPP
28.PKt3
{106}
PK5
PK6
Idonotlikethismove.ItwouldhavebeenbettertoholditinreserveandtohaveplayedPB4,
tobefollowedinduetimebyPKKt4andPB5,afterhavingplacedtheQatQ2,KB2,or
someothersquareastheoccasiondemanded.ThetextmoveblockstheactionofthepowerfulBat
QB4,andtendstomakeWhite'spositionsaferthanitshouldhavebeen.Themoveinitselfisa
verystrongattackingmove,butitisisolated,andthereisnoeffectivecontinuation.Suchadvances
asaruleshouldonlybemadewhentheycanbefollowedbyaconcertedactionofthepieces.
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29.PB4
30.KtB3
31.RKt2
32.KKt2
33.KtKt1
BB1
BB4
RK5
QB1
PKKt4
(Ifnow34BB3,PP35BR,BBch,withawinningattack.)
34.PP
35.RKB1
{107}
PP
PKt5
R R 3 was the alternative. White's only move would have been K R 1. The position now is
evidentlywonforBlack,anditisonlyaquestionoffindingtherightcourse.Thefinalattackis
nowcarriedonbySirGeorgeThomasinanirreproachablemanner.
36.BQ3
37.KtK2
RKB3
QB1
(Again preventing B R, by the masked attack on White's Rook. White therefore protects his
Rook.)IfKtB4,PK7!39KtP,RKtch40RR,BK5ch!!41BB,best,RR
andWhiteislost.If,however,against38KtB4,BlackplaysQR3,andWhite39QB2,I
takepleasureinofferingthepositiontomyreadersasamostbeautifulandextraordinarywinfor {108}
Black,beginningwith39...QR6ch!!!Ileavethevariationsforthestudenttoworkout.
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38.R(Kt2)Kt1 QR3
39.QB2
(MakingadoubleattackontheRookwhichstillcannotbetakenandpreparingtodefendthe
KRP.)IfeithertheRookorBishoparetakenWhitewouldbematedinafewmoves.
39.........
40.KR1
QR6ch
RP!!
(If40...RR341KtKt1,QKtP42QKKt2.BlackthereforetriestogettheQueenaway
fromthedefence.)Averybeautifulmove,andthebestwaytocarryontheattack.
41.QR
(Thebestdefencewas41RB,butBlackwouldemergewithQueenagainstRookandKnight.)
41.........
{109}
BB
(Again,notRKR3becauseofPQ6dis.ch.)
42.RR
(If42QB,then,atlast,RR3wins.)
42.........
BQ
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43.KtB4
PK7!
(TheQueenhasnoescape,butWhitehasnotimetotakeit.)
44.RKKt1
QB8
Whiteresigns.Averyfinefinish.
CHAPTERV
{110}
ENDGAMESTRATEGY
Wemustnowrevertoncemoretotheendings.Theirimportancewillhavebecomeevidenttothe
student who has taken the trouble to study my game with Janowski (Example 53). After an
uneventfulopeningaRuyLopezinoneofitsnormalvariations,myopponentsuddenlymade
thingsinterestingbyofferingtheexchangeanofferwhich,ofcourse,Iaccepted.Thenfolloweda
veryhard,arduousstruggle,inwhichIhadtodefendmyselfagainstaverydangerousattackmade
possiblebytheexcellentmanuvringofmyadversary.Finally,therecamethetimewhenIcould
givebackthematerialandchangeoffmostofthepieces,andcometoanendinginwhichIclearly
hadtheadvantage.Butyettheendingitselfwasnotassimpleasitatfirstappeared,andfinally
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perhapsthroughoneweakmoveonmypartitbecameaverydifficultmattertofindawin.HadI
beenaweakendgameplayerthegamewouldprobablyhaveendedinadraw,andallmyprevious
effortswouldhavebeeninvain.Unfortunately,thatisveryoftenthecaseamongthelargemajority
ofplayerstheyareweakintheendingsafailingfromwhichmastersofthefirstrankareattimes
notfree.Incidentally,I might call attention to the fact that all the world's champions of the last {111}
sixtyyearshavebeenexceedinglystrongintheendings:Morphy,Steinitz,andDr.Laskerhadno
superiorsinthisdepartmentofthegamewhiletheyheldtheirtitles.
26.THESUDDENATTACKFROMADIFFERENTSIDE
Ihavepreviouslystated,whenspeakingaboutgeneraltheory,thatattimesthewaytowinconsists
in attacking first on one side, then, granted greater mobility of the pieces, to transfer the attack
quicklyfromonesidetotheother,breakingthroughbeforeyouropponenthasbeenabletobring
upsufficientforcestowithstandtheattack.Thisprincipleofthemiddlegamecansometimesbe
appliedintheendingsinsomewhatsimilarmanner.
Example56.
IntheabovepositionI,withtheBlackpieces,played:
1.........
2.RK2
3.RR2
{112}
RK5ch
RQR5
PKR4
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Theidea,aswillbeseenverysoon,istoplayPR5inordertofixWhite'sKing'ssidePawns
withaviewtothefuture.ItisevidenttoBlackthatWhitewantstobringhisKingtoQKt3to
supporthistwoweakisolatedPawns,andthustofreehisRooks.Black,therefore,makesaplanto
shifttheattacktotheKing'ssideatthepropertime,inordertoobtainsomeadvantagefromthe
greatermobilityofhisRooks.
4.RQ1
R(Q4)QR4
inordertoforcetheRooktoRook'ssquare,keepingbothRookstiedup.
5.R(Q1)R1
6.KQ2
7.KB2
PR5
KKt2
RKKt4
BlackbeginstotransferhisattacktotheKing'sside.
8.RKKt1
Aseriousmistake,whichlosesquickly.Whiteshouldhaveplayed8KKt3,whenBlackwould
haveanswered8...R(R5)R49PB3,andBlackwouldhaveobtainedanopeningatKKt6
forhisKing,whichintheendmightgivehimthevictory.
8.........
RKB5
NowtheKingcannotgotoKt3,becauseofRKt4ch.
9.KQ3
10.KK2
{113}
RB6ch
IfPR,RRfollowedbyRKR8winning,
10.........
RRP
andBlackwonafterafewmoves.
Example57.Anothergoodexample,inwhichisshowntheadvantageofthegreatermobilityof
thepiecesinanending,isthefollowingfromagameCapablancaKupchickplayedattheHavana
MastersTournament,1913.Thefullscoreandnotesofthegamecanbefoundinthebookofthe
tournament.
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White'sonlyadvantageintheabovepositionisthathepossessestheopenfileandhasthemove,
whichwillsecurehimtheinitiative.ThereisalsotheslightadvantageofhavinghisPawnsonthe
Queen's side united, while Black has an isolated Q R P. The proper course, as in the previous {114}
ending,istobringtheRooksforward,sothatatleastoneofthemmaybeabletoshiftfromone
sideoftheboardtotheother,andthuskeepBlack'sRooksfrommovingfreely.Whatthismeansin
generaltheoryhasbeenstatedalreadyitreallymeans:keepharassingtheenemyforcehimtouse
hisbigpiecestodefendPawns.Ifhehasaweakpoint,trytomakeitweaker,orcreateanother
weaknesssomewhereelseandhispositionwillcollapsesoonerorlater.Ifhehasaweakness,and
hecangetridofit,makesurethatyoucreateanotherweaknesssomewhereelse.
Fromthepositioninquestionthegamecontinuedthus:
1.RK4
KRK1
withtheobjectofrepeatingWhite'smanuvre,andalsonottoallowWhitethecontroloftheopen
file.
2.QRK1
3.QRK3
4.KB1
RK3
R(B1)K1
KB1
Black wantstobring hisKingtothecentre of the board inorder to be nearer to whatever point

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Whitedecidestoattack.Themoveisjustifiedatleastonthegeneralrulethatinsuchendingsthe
Kingshouldbeinthemiddleoftheboard.HedoesnothingafterallbutfollowWhite'sfootsteps.
Besides,itishardtopointoutanythingbetter.If4...PQ45RKt4ch,followedbyKK2,
wouldleaveBlackinaverydisagreeableposition.If4...PKB45RQ4!RR?6PR,
RP7KB2,RK28RQR4,winningtheQRP,whichwouldpracticallyleaveWhite
with a passed Pawn ahead on the Queen's side, as the three Pawns of Black on the King's side
wouldbeheldbythetwoofWhite.
5.KK2
6.RQR4
{115}
KK2
RQR1
ThestudentshouldnotethatthroughthesamemanuvreBlackisforcedintoapositionsimilarto
theoneshowninthepreviousending.
7.RR5!
Thismovehasamanifoldobject.ItpracticallyfixesallofBlack'sPawnsexcepttheQP,whichis
theonlyonethatcanadvancetwosquares.ItspeciallypreventstheadvanceofBlack'sKBPawns,
andatthesametimethreatenstheadvanceofWhite'sKBPawnstoB4andB5.Bythisthreatit
practically forces Black to play P Q 4, which is all White desires, for reasons that will soon
becomeevident.
7.........
8.PQB4!
PQ4
KQ3
Evidently forced, as the only other move to save a Pawn would have been P P, which would
haveleftallBlack'sPawnsisolatedandweak.If8...PQ59RK4,KQ310PQKt4!
RK411RR6,andBlack'sgameishopeless.
9.PB5ch
10.PQ4
KQ2
PB4
Apparentlyverystrong,sinceitforcestheexchangeofRooksbecauseofthethreatRR3butin
realityitleadstonothing.ThebestchancewastoplayRKK1.
11.RR
12.PB4
{116}
PR
UptonowWhitehadplayedwithfinesse,butthislastmoveisweak.RR6wastheproperway
tocontinue,soastoforceBlacktogiveuphisQRPorQBP.
12.........
13.KQ2
KB1
Againabadmove.13RR3wasthepropercontinuation,andifthen13...RKt114PKt3,
KKt215PKt4,KR116RQKt3,withexcellentwinningchancesinfact,Ibelieve,a
wongame.
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13.........
KKt2
Blackmisseshisonlychance.RKt1wouldhavedrawn.
14.RR3
15.RR3
16.KK2
17.RR6
18.KQ3
{117}
RKKt1
RKt2
KR3
RK2
KKt2
HegoesbackwiththeKingtosupporthisKP,andthusbeabletoutilisehisRook.Itis,however,
useless,andonlyWhite'sweakplaylaterongiveshimfurtherchancesofadraw.
19.PKR4
20.RR5
KB1
TopreventtheBlackRookfromcontrollingtheopenfile
20.........
21.RKt5
22.KB3
KQ2
RB2
KB1
He must keep his King on that side because White threatens to march with his King to R 6 via
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Kt4.
23.KKt4
24.KR5
25.PR4
26.PR5
RB3
KKt2
PQR3
RR3
HecandonothingbutwaitforWhite.ThetextmovestopsWhitefrommovinghisRook,butonly
foronemove.
27.PKt4
RB3
TheonlyothermovewasKR2whenWhitecouldplayRKt7,orevenPKt5.
{118}
28.PKt5
Aweakmove,whichgivesBlackafightingchance.Inthisending,asisoftenthecasewithmost
players, White plays the best moves whenever the situation is difficult and requires careful
handling,butoncehispositionseemstobeoverwhelmingherelaxeshiseffortsandtheresultis
nothingtobeproudof.Therightmovewas28RKt7.
28.........
29.PP
30.RKt7
RPP
RB1!
RR1ch
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31.KKt4
32.KP
33.PB6ch
34.RRP
35.KR5
36.KKt4
PP
RR7
KKt1
RKt7ch
RR7ch
RP
Blackmisseshislastchance:RKt7ch,forcingtheKingtoB3,inordertoavoidtheperpetual,
wouldprobablydraw.Thereadermustbearinmindthatmyopponentwasthenaveryyoungand {119}
inexperiencedplayer,andconsequentlydeservesagreatdealofcreditforthefightheputup.
37.RK7
RP
RKt7chfollowedbyRKR7,offeredbetterchances.
38.PR6!
39.KKt5
40.PR7
41.KB5
42.KQ4
43.KK5
44.KB6
45.RK8ch
46.PR8(Q)
47.RR
48.KP
49.KP
50.KK5
RPch
RQ8
RKt8ch
RB8ch
RQ8ch
RK8ch
RKR8
KR2
RQ
KKt3
KP
KB4
Resigns.
This ending shows how easy it is to make weak moves, and how often, even in masterplay,
mistakesaremadeandopportunitiesarelost.Itshowsthat,solongasthereisnogreatadvantage
ofmaterial,evenwithagoodposition,aplayer,nomatterhowstrong,cannotaffordtorelaxhis
attentionevenforonemove.
{120}
27.THEDANGEROFASAFEPOSITION
Example58.Agoodproofofthepreviousstatementisshowninthefollowingendingbetween
MarshallandKupchickinoneoftheirtwogamesinthesameTournament(Havana,1913).
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ItisevidentthatMarshall(White)isundergreatdifficultiesintheaboveposition.Notonlyishe
boundtoloseaPawn,buthispositionisratherpoor.Thebesthecouldhopeforwasadrawunless
somethingaltogetherunexpectedhappened,asitdid.NoreasoncanbegivenforBlack'slossofthe
game except that he felt so certain of having the best of it with a Pawn more and what he
considered a safe position, that he became exceedingly careless and did not consider the danger
thatactuallyexisted.Letusseehowithappened.
1.PKt4
RRP
Themistakesbegin.Thisisthefirst.BlackseesthathecantakeaPawnwithoutanydanger,and
does not stop to think whether there is anything better. R B 7 ch was the right move. If then
KKt3,RP.IfinsteadWhiteplayedKK4,thenRK4chfollowedbyRRP.
2.RQ1
{121}
RR5ch
Mistakenumbertwo,andthistimesuchaseriousoneastoalmostlosethegame.Thepropermove
wastoplayPB4inordertobreakupWhite'sPawnsandatthesametimemakeroomforthe
BlackKing,whichisactuallyindanger,aswillsoonbeseen.
3.RQ4
R(R5)R4
Mistakenumberthreeandthistimefatal.HisbestmovewasR(Kt4)R4.Afterthetextmove
thereisnodefence.Black'sgameislost.Thisshowsthatevenanapparentlysimpleendinghasto
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beplayedwithcare.FromapracticallywonpositionBlackfindshimselfwithalostgame,andit
hasonlytakenthreemoves.
4.R(Q4)Q8
RKt2
If 4...P B 4 5 R R 8 ch, K Kt 3 6 R (B 8) Kt 8 ch, K B 3 7 R P ch, R Kt 3

8PKt5ch,KK29R(R6)R,PR10RKt7ch,KK111RKtP,andwinseasily.
5.PR4
6.RR8ch
PR4
Resigns.
Thereasonisevident.If6...KKt37PPch,RP8RR,KR9RR8ch,KKt3
10PR5mate.
{122}
28.ENDINGSWITHONEROOKANDPAWNS
The reader has probably realised by this time that endings of two Rooks and Pawns are very
difficult,andthatthesameholdstrueforendingsofoneRookandPawns.EndingsoftwoRooks
andPawnsarenotverycommoninactualplaybutendingsofoneRookandPawnsareaboutthe
mostcommonsortofendingsarisingonthechessboard.Yetthoughtheydooccursooften,few
have mastered them thoroughly. They are often of a very difficult nature, and 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
19091910.
Example59.
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In this position Marshall had a simple win by R B 7 ch, but played P B 6, and thereby gave {123}
Blackachancetodraw.LuckilyforhimBlackdidnotseethedrawingmove,playedpoorly,and
lost.HadBlackbeenuptothesituationhewouldhavedrawnbyplayingRQ3.
1.PB6
RQ3!
NowWhitehastwocontinuations,either(a)PB7,or(b)RB7ch.Wehavetherefore:
(a) 2.PB7
3.RR5ch
RQ1!
KB5
andWhitewillfinallyhavetosacrificetheRookforBlack'sPawn.Or
(b) 2.RB7ch
3.PB7
KQ5!
RKt3ch!
averyimportantmove,asagainstRKB3,RK7wins.
4.KB1
5.RKt7
RKB3
KB6
andWhitewillfinallyhavetosacrificetheRookforthePawn,ordrawbyperpetualcheck.
Iftherewerenothingmoreintheendingitwouldnotbeofanygreatvalue,butthereareothervery
interestingfeatures.Nowsupposethatafter1PB6,RQ32PB7,Blackdidnotrealisethat
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RQ1wastheonlymovetodraw.Wewouldthenhavethefollowingposition:
{124}
Now there would be two other moves to try: either (a) R Kt 3 ch, or (b) R K B 3. Let us
examinethem.
(a) 1.........
2.KB3
3.KK3
RKt3ch
RB3ch
RK3ch
IfPKt6RR5chwins,becauseiftheKinggoesback,thenRR6,andiftheKinggoesup,
thenRR4ch,followedbyRKB4wins.
4.KQ3
RKB3
5.RR5ch
6.RR6wins
Kmoves
IfRQ3chKK4wins.
(b) 1.........
2.RKt7!
RB3
KB5
IfPKt6RKt3,andWhitewilleithercapturethePawnorgotoKB3,andcomeoutwitha
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winningending.
{125}
3.PR4
4.RKt4ch
5.RKt3
PKt6
Kmoves
and White will either capture the Pawn or play R K B 3, according to the circumstances, and
comeoutwithawinningending.
Now, going back to the position shown on page 122, suppose that after 1 P B 6, R Q 3
2 R B 7 ch, Black did not realise that K Q 5 was the only move to draw, and consequently
playedKKt3instead,wewouldthenhavethefollowingposition:
Nowthebestcontinuationwouldbe:
1.PB7
2.KB1
3.RK7!
RKt3ch(best)
RKB3
KB4(best)
WhitethreatenedtocheckwiththeRookatK6.
4.KK2
PKt6
Best.IfKB5bothPR4andKK3willwinthelastnamedmoveparticularlywouldwin
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withease.
5.RK3
6.RQKt3
7.RP
8.RQ2
9.KK3
PKt7(best)
RP
RKR2
RP
ThispositionwehavearrivedatiswonbyWhite,becausetherearetwofilesbetweentheopposing
KingandthePawnfromwhichtheKingiscutoffbytheRook,andbesides,thePawncanadvance
tothefourthrankbeforetheopponent'sRookcanbegintocheckonthefile.Thislastconditionis
veryimportant,becauseif,insteadofthepositiononthediagram,theBlackRookwereatKR1,
and Black had the move, he could draw by preventing the advance of the Pawn, either through
constantchecksorbyplayingRKB1atthepropertime.
{127}
Now that we have explained the reasons why this position is won, we leave it to the student to
workoutthecorrectsolution.
The fact that out of one apparently simple ending we have been able to work out several most
unusualanddifficultendingsshouldbesufficienttoimpressuponthestudent'smindthenecessity
ofbecomingwellacquaintedwithallkindsofendings,andespeciallywithendingsofRookand
Pawns.
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29.ADIFFICULTENDING:TWOROOKSANDPAWNS
Followingourideathatthebestwaytolearnendingsaswellasopeningsistostudythegamesof
themasters,wegivetwomoreendingsoftwoRooksandPawns.Theseendings,asalreadystated,
arenotverycommon,andtheauthorisfortunateinhavinghimselfplayedmoreoftheseendings
than is generally the case. By carefully comparing and studying the endings already given
(Examples 56 and 57) with the following, the student no doubt can obtain an idea of the proper
methodtobefollowedinsuchcases.Thewayofprocedureissomewhatsimilarinallofthem.
Example 60.From a game, CapablancaKreymborg, in the New York State Championship
Tournamentof1910.
{128}
ItisBlack'smove,andnodoubtthinkingthatdrawingsuchaposition(thatwasallBlackplayed
for) would be easy, he contented himself with a waiting policy. Such conduct must always be
criticised.Itoftenleadstodisaster.Thebestwaytodefendsuchpositionsistoassumetheinitiative
andkeeptheopponentonthedefensive.
1.........
QRK1
The first move is already wrong. There is nothing to gain by this move. Black should play
PQR4tobefollowedbyPQR5unlessWhiteplaysPQKt3.ThatwouldfixtheQueen's
side. After that he could decide what demonstration he could make with his Rooks to keep the
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opponent'sRooksatbay.
2.RQ4
ThismovenotonlypreventsPB5whichBlackintended,butthreatensPKt3,followed,after
PPch,bytheattackwithoneorbothRooksagainstBlack'sQRP.
2.........
{129}
RB3
probablywiththeideaofademonstrationontheKing'ssidebyRKt3andKt7.
3.PKt3
4.PP
5.KQ3
PPch
KB2
RQR1shouldhavebeenplayednow,inordertoforceBlacktodefendwithRK2.White,
however,doesnotwanttodisclosehisplanatonce,andthusawakenBlacktothedangerofhis
position,hencethismove,whichseemstoaimatthedisruptionofBlack'sQueen'ssidePawns.
5.........
6.RQR1
RK2
KK3
Thisisamistake.Blackisunawareofthedangerofhisposition.HeshouldhaveplayedPKt4
threatening R R 3, and, by making this demonstration against White's K R P, stop the attack
againsthisQueen'ssidePawns,whichwillnowdevelop.
7.RR6
RQB2
HecouldnotplayKQ3,becausePQB4wouldwinatleastaPawn.Thisinitselfcondemns
hislastmoveKK3,whichhasdonenothingbutmakehissituationpracticallyhopeless.
8.R(Q4)QR4 PKKt4
Nowforced,butitisalittletoolate.Hecouldnotplay8...KRB2,becausePKB4would
have left his game completely paralysed. Black now finally awakens to the danger, and tries to
savethedaybythecounterdemonstrationontheKing'sside,whichheshouldhavestartedbefore.
Ofcourse,WhitecannotplayRRP,becauseofRR,followedbyRR3,recoveringthePawn
withadvantage.
9.PKR4!
{130}
PKt5
Blackisnowinaverydisagreeableposition.Ifheplayed9...PP10RPwouldleavehimina
veryawkwardsituation,ashecouldnotgobackwiththeKing,norcouldhedomuchwitheither
Rook.Hepracticallywouldhavetoplay10...PKR3,whenWhitewouldanswer11PKt4,
threateningtowinaPawnbyPKt5,or,ifthatwerenotenough,hemightplayKQ4,tobe
followedfinallybytheentryoftheKingatB5orK5.
10.KK2
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10.........
PPch
{131}
AgainhecannotplayPKR4,becausePKB4wouldleavehimparalysed.Theadvanceofhis
KRPwouldmakeWhite'sKRPsafe,andconsequentlyhisKRwouldhavetoretiretoKB2to
defendtheQRP.ThatwouldmakeitimpossibleforhisKingtogotoQ2,becauseoftheQRP,
norcouldheadvanceasingleoneofhisPawns.Ontheotherhand,WhitewouldplayPKt4,
threateningtowinaPawnbyPKt5,orhemightfirstplayKQ4,andthenatthepropertime
PKt5,iftherewasnothingbetter.Blackmeanwhilecouldreallydonothingbutmarktimewith
oneofhisRooks.ComparethisbottlingupsystemwiththeendinginExample57,anditwillbe
seenthatitisverysimilar.
11.KP
12.KK2
R(B3)B2
Probablywrong.PKt4atoncewastherightmove.ThetextmovegivesBlackgoodchancesof
drawing.
12.........
13.PKt4
KQ3
RQKt2
ThiscouldneverhavehappenedhadWhiteplayed12PKt4,ashecouldhavefolloweditupby
PKt5afterBlack'sKQ3.
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14.PR5
Notgood.PKB4offeredthebestchancesofwinningbyforce.Ifthen14...RKt215PR5, {132}
RKt7ch16KQ3,RKR717RP,RR18RR,RP19RR6,withwinning
chances.
14.........
PR3
Blackmisseshislastchance.PB5woulddraw.Ifthen15PP,R(Kt2)K2ch!16KB1,
RP17RP,RK6!
15.PKB4
16.KQ3
17.RR1
18.KQ4
19.R(R6)R2
RKt2
R(KKt2)K2
RKt2
RKt7
R(Kt2)Kt2
R(Kt7)Kt2wouldhaveofferedgreaterresistance,butthepositionislostinanycase.(Ileave
thestudenttoworkthisout.)
20.KQ3!
21.RR
RR
RK2
Nothingwouldavail.If21...RKt822RR6!RQ8ch23KB2,RKR824PKt5,
{133}
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RP25RPch,KQ226RQR6,andWhitewillwineasily.
22.RKKt2
23.RKt7
24.RKt8
RK3
RK2
PB4
Blackisdesperate.HeseeshecannolongerdefendhisPawns.
25.RKt6ch
26.PPch
27.RKt7ch
28.RP
29.RKB7
RK3
KQ2
KB3
KP
Resigns.
Example61.FromthegameCapablancaJanowski,NewYorkNationalTournamentof1913.
Black'sgamehasthedisadvantageofhisdoubleQBP,which,tomakemattersworse,hecannot
advance,becauseassoonasBlackplaysPQKt3,WhiterepliesPQKt4.Itisonthisfactthat
White builds his plans. He will stop Black's Queen's side Pawns from advancing, and will then
bringhisownKingtoK3.TheninduetimehewillplayPQ4,andfinallyPK5,orPKKt5,
thusforcinganexchangeofPawnsandobtaininginthatwayaclearpassedPawnontheKing's
file.It will be seen that this plan was carried out during the course of the game, and that White
{134}
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obtained his winning advantage in that way. The play was based throughout on the chance of
obtainingapassedPawnontheKing'sfile,withwhichWhiteexpectedtowin.
1.PKKt4
alreadypreparingtoplayPKKt5whenthetimecomes.
1.........
PQKt3
BlackwantstoplayPQB4,butWhite,ofcourse,preventsit.
2.PKt4!
KKt2
ThisKingshouldcometotheKing'sside,wherethedangerlurks.
3.KB2
PQKt4
WiththeobjectofplayingKKt3andPQR4,followedbyPP,andthushaveanopenfile
for his Rook and be able to make a counterdemonstration on the Queen's side in order to stop
White'sadvanceontheright.White,however,alsopreventsthis.
4.PQR4!
{135}
RQ5
OfcourseifPPBlackwillhaveallhisPawnsontheQueen'ssidedisruptedandisolated,and
WhitecaneasilyregainthelostPawnbyplayingeitherRookontheQRfile.
5.RQKt1
RK4
HestillwantstoplayPQB4,butasitiseasytoforeseethatWhitewillagainpreventit,thetext
move is really a serious loss of time. Black should bring his King over to the other side
immediately.
6.KK3
7.PR5
RQ2
ThefirstpartofWhite'sstrategicplanisnowaccomplished.Black'sPawnsontheQueen'ssideare
fixedforallpracticalpurposes.
7.........
RK3
IfRRKtPRwouldhavegivenWhiteaverypowerfulcentre.Yetitmighthavebeenthebest
chanceforBlack.
8.R(Kt)KB1 R(Q2)K2
9.PKt5
PP
10.RP
{136}
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The second part of White's strategical plan is now accomplished. It remains to find out if the
advantage obtained is sufficient to win. White not only has a passed Pawn, but his King is in a
commandingpositioninthecentreoftheboardreadytosupporttheadvanceofWhite'sPawns,or,
ifnecessary,togotoQB5,ortomovetotherightwingincaseofdanger.Besides,Whiteholds
the open file with one of his Rooks. Altogether White's position is superior and his chances of
winningareexcellent.
10.........
11.RKt3
RR3
R(R3)K3
topreventPQ4.AlsoBlackfearstokeephisRookinfrontofhistwoKing'ssidePawnswhich
hemaywanttoutiliselater.
12.PR4
13.RKt5
PKt3
PR3
WhitethreatensPR5,whichwouldfinallyforceBlacktotake,andthenWhitewoulddoublehis
RooksagainsttheisolatedPawnandwinit,or tie up Black's Rooks completely. The text move,
however,onlyhelpsWhitethereforeBlackhadnothingbetterthantoholdtightandwait.RK4
would not help much, as White would simply answer R B 8, R K 1 R (Kt 5) R, and
whicheverRookBlacktook,Whitewouldhaveaneasygame.(Thestudentshouldcarefullystudy
thesevariations.)
14.RKt4
{137}
RKt2
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15.PQ4
16.RB8ch
KB1
KKt2
KQ2wouldnothelpmuch,butsincehemadethepreviousmoveheshouldnowbeconsistent
andplayit.
17.PK5
18.KK4
19.PP
20.RB5
21.R(Kt4)P
22.RR5
23.RR
24.RB8
25.KQ3
26.KQ2
27.KtPP
28.PQ5
PKt4
R(K3)K2
PP
KB1
RR2
KQ2
RR
RR5ch
RR6ch
PB4
RQR6
Resigns.
{138}
The winning tactics in all these endings have merely consisted in keeping the opponent's Rooks
tiedtothedefenceofoneormorePawns,leavingmyownRooksfreeforaction.Thisisageneral
principlewhichcanbeequallyappliedtoanypartofthegame.Itmeansingeneralterms
Keepfreedomofmanuvrewhilehamperingyouropponent.
There is one more thing of great importance, and that is that the winning side has always had a
generalstrategicalplancapableofbeingcarriedoutwiththemeansathisdisposal,whileoftenthe
losingsidehadnoplanatall,butsimplymovedaccordingtotheneedsofthemoment.
30.ROOK,BISHOPANDPAWNSv.ROOK,KNIGHTANDPAWNS
We shall now examine an ending of Rook, Bishop and Pawns against Rook, KnightandPawns,
where it will be seen that the Rook at times is used in the same way as in the endings already
given.
Example62.FromthefirstgameoftheLaskerMarshallChampionshipMatchin1907.
{139}
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In this position it is Black's move. To a beginner the position may look like a draw, but the
advancedplayerwillrealiseimmediatelythattherearegreatpossibilitiesforBlacktowin,notonly
becausehehastheinitiative,butbecauseofWhite'sundevelopedQueen'ssideandthefactthata
BishopinsuchapositionisbetterthanaKnight(seeSection14).ItwilltakesometimeforWhite
tobringhisRookandKnightintothefray,andBlackcanutiliseittoobtainanadvantage.There
are two courses open to him. The most evident, and the one that most players would take, is to
advancethePawntoQB4andQB5immediatelyinconjunctionwiththeBishopcheckatR3
and any other move that might be necessary with the Black Rook. The other, and more subtle,
course was taken by Black. It consists in utilising his Rook in the same way as shown in the
previousendings,forcingWhitetodefendsomethingallthetime,restrictingtheactionofWhite's
KnightandWhite'sRook,whileatthesametimekeepingfreedomofactionforhisownRookand
Bishop.
1.........
{140}
RKt1
ThisforcesPQKt3,whichblocksthatsquarefortheWhiteKnight.
2.PKt3
RKt4
bringingtheRooktoattacktheKing'ssidePawnssoastoforcetheKingtothat sideto defend

them,andthusindirectlymakingmoresecurethepositionofBlack'sQueen'ssidePawns.
3.PB4
RKR4
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4.KKt1
PB4
NotethattheWhiteKnight'ssphereofactionisverylimited,andthatafterKtQ2White'sown
Pawnsareinhisway.
5.KtQ2
6.RB1ch
KB2
This check accomplishes nothing. It merely drives Black's King where it wants to go.
Consequentlyitisaverybadmove.PQR3atoncewasthebestmove.
6.........
7.PQR3
KK2
RR3
GettingreadytoshifttheattacktotheQueen'sside,wherehehasthe advantage in material and

position.
8.PKR4
RR3
NoticehowsimilararethemanuvreswiththisRooktothoseseeninthepreviousendings.
9.RR1
{141}
BKt5
ParalysingtheactionoftheKnightandfixingthewholeKing'sside.
10.KB2
KK3
WhitecannotanswerKtB3,becauseBKtfollowedbyKK4willwinaPawn,onaccountof
thecheckatKB3whichcannotbestopped.
11.PR4
12.KKt2
13.RK1
14.RKB1
KK4
RKB3
PQ6
KQ5
NowtheKingattacksWhite'sPawnsandallwillsoonbeover.
15.RR
16.KB2
PR
PB3
Merely to exhaust White's move, which will finally force him to move either the King or the
Knight.
17.PQR5
18.KtB1
19.KK1
20.KtQ2ch
21.KtKt1
22.KtQ2
23.KtKt1
24.KtB3
25.KtR4
26.KtP
27.KtK4ch
PQR3
KP
BK7
KK6
PB4
PR4
KB6
KP
PB5
PB6
KB5
{142}
Thequickestwaytowin.Whiteshouldresign.
28.KtQ6
29.PKt4
30.PB5
31.KtB4
PB4
PP
PKt6
KKt6
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32.KtK3
Resigns.
PKt7
AverygoodexampleonBlack'spartofhowtoconductsuchanending.
CHAPTERVI
{143}
FURTHEROPENINGSANDMIDDLEGAMES
31.SOMESALIENTPOINTSABOUTPAWNS
Before going back to the discussion of openings and middlegame positions, it might be well to
bearinmindafewfactsconcerningPawnpositionswhichwillnodoubthelptounderstandcertain
moves, and sometimes even the object of certain variations in the openings, and of some
manuvresinthemiddlegames.
Example 63.In the position of the diagram we have an exceedingly bad Pawn formation on
Black's side. Black's Q B P is altogether backward, and White could by means of the open file
concentratehisforcesagainstthatweakpoint.ThereisalsothesquareatWhite'sQB5,whichis
controlled by White, and from where a White piece once established could not be dislodged. In
{144}
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order to getrid of it, Black wouldhave to exchange it, which is notalways an easy matter, and
oftenwhenpossiblenotatallconvenient.ThesameholdstruewithregardtoBlack'sKP,KBP
and K Kt P, which create what is called a "hole" at Black's K B 3. Such Pawn formations
invariablyleadtodisaster,andconsequentlymustbeavoided.
Example 64.In this position we might say that the White centre Pawns have the attacking
position, while the Black centre Pawns have the defensive position. Such a formation of Pawn
occursintheFrenchDefence.InsuchpositionsWhitemostoftenattempts,bymeansofPKB4
and K B 5, to obtain a crushing attack against Black's King, which is generally Castled on the
King'sside.Topreventthat,andalsotoassumetheinitiativeorobtainmaterialadvantage,Black {145}
makesacounterdemonstrationbyPQB4,followedbyPP(whenWhitedefendsthePawnby
P Q B 3), and the concentrating of Black's pieces against the White Pawn at Q 4. This in
substancemightbesaidtobeadeterminedattackagainstWhite'scentreinordertoparalysethe
direct attack of White against Black's King. It must be remembered that at the beginning of the
book it was stated that control of the centre was an essential condition to a successful attack
againsttheKing.
InanabstractwaywemaysaythattwoormorePawnsarestrongestwhentheyareinthesame
rank next to one another. Thus the centre Pawns are strongest in themselves, so to speak, when
placedatK4andQ4respectively,hencethequestionofadvancingeithertheoneortheotherto
the fifth rank is one that must be most carefully considered. The advance of either Pawn often
determinesthecoursethegamewillfollow.
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AnotherthingtobeconsideredisthematterofoneormorepassedPawnswhentheyareisolated
eithersinglyorinpairs.WemightsaythatapassedPawniseitherveryweakorverystrong,and
thatitsweaknessorstrength,whicheverhappenstobeinthecasetobeconsidered,increasesasit
advances,andisatthesametimeindirectrelationtothenumberofpiecesontheboard.Inthislast
respectitmightbegenerallysaidthatapassedPawnincreasesinstrengthasthenumberofpieces
{146}
ontheboarddiminishes.
Havingallthisclearinmindwewillnowreverttotheopeningsandmiddlegame.Wewillanalyse
gamescarefullyfrombeginningtoendaccordingtogeneralprinciples.Ishall,wheneverpossible,
use my own games, not because they will better illustrate the point, but because, knowing them
thoroughly,Ishallbeabletoexplainthemmoreauthoritativelythanthegamesofothers.
32.SOMEPOSSIBLEDEVELOPMENTSFROMARUYLOPEZ
Thatsomeofthevariationsintheopeningsandthemanuvresinthemiddlegameareoftenbased
onsomeoftheelementaryprinciplesjustexpoundedcanbeeasilyseeninthefollowingcase:
Example65.
1.PK4
2.KtKB3
3.BKt5
4.BR4
5.OO
6.PQ4
7.BKt3
8.PP
9.PB3
10.RK1
11.BB2
12.QKtQ2
13.KtKt3
PK4
KtQB3
PQR3
KtB3
KtP
PQKt4
PQ4
BK3
BK2
KtB4
BKt5
OO
KtK3
SofaraverywellknownvariationoftheRuyLopez.Infact,theyarethemovesoftheJanowski
LaskergameinParis,1912.
14.QQ3
{147}
PKt3
Letussupposethegamewenton,andthatinsomewayWhite,byplayingoneoftheKnightsto
Q4atthepropertime,forcedtheexchangeofbothKnights,andthenafterwardsboththeBishops
were exchanged, and we arrived at some such position as shown in the following diagram. (I
obtained such a position in a very similar way once at Lodz in Poland. I was playing the White
piecesagainstaconsultingteamheadedbySalwe.)
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NowwewouldhaveherethecaseofthebackwardQBP,whichwillinnowaybeabletoadvance
toQB4.Suchapositionmaybesaidtobetheoreticallylost,andinpracticeafirstclassmaster
willinvariablywinitfromBlack.(IfImaybeexcusedthereference,IwillsaythatIwonthegame
abovereferredto.)
Afterafewmovesthepositionmaybeeasilythus:
{148}
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TheBlackpiecescanbesaidtobefixed.IfWhiteplaysQQB3,BlackmustanswerQQ2,
otherwisehewillloseaPawn,andifWhitereturnswiththeQueentoQR3Blackwillhaveagain
toreturntoQKt2withtheQueenorloseaPawn.ThusBlackcanonlymoveaccordingtoWhite's
lead,andundersuchconditionsWhitecaneasilyadvancewithhisPawnstoKB4andKKt4,
untilBlackwillbeforcedtostopPB5byplayingPKB4,andwemightfinallyhavesome
suchpositionasthis:
Example66.
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Inthissituationthegamemightgoonasfollows:
{149}
1.PP,PP2.QKB3,QQ2
White threatened to win a Pawn by Q P, and Black could not play 2...R K B 1, because
3RBPwouldalsowinaPawnatleast.
3.R(B5)B2, RKt3
4.RKt2,
KR1
R(B1)KKt1
5.R(B1)KKt1,
6.QR5,
RR
7.RR,
RR
8.KR,
QKt2ch
9.KR2,
QKt3
10.QQ,
PQ
11.PKt4,andWhitewins.
Now suppose that in the position in the preceding diagram it were Black's move, and he played
RKB1.WhitewouldthensimplydefendhisKBPbysomemovelikeQKB3,threatening
RQBP,andthenhewouldbringhisKinguptoKt3,andwhenthetimecame,breakthrough,
asinthepreviouscase.Whitemightevenbeabletoobtainthefollowingposition:
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BlackwouldnowbeforcedtoplayRB1,andWhitecouldthenplayQB2,andfollowitup
withKB3,andthusforceBlacktoplayPP,whichwouldgiveWhiteagreateradvantage.
{150}
Acarefulexaminationofallthesepositionswillrevealthat,besidestheadvantageoffreedomof
manuvre on White's part, the power of the Pawn at K 5 is enormous, and that it is the
commandingpositionofthisPawn,andthefactthatitisfreetoadvance,onceallthepiecesare
exchanged,thatconstitutethepivotofallWhite'smanuvres.
I have purposely given positions without the moves which lead to them so that the student may
becomeaccustomedtobuildupinhisownmindpossiblepositionsthatmayarise(outofanygiven
situation).Thushewilllearntomakestrategicalplansandbeonhiswaytothemasterclass.The
studentcanderiveenormousbenefitbyfurtherpracticeofthiskind.
33.THEINFLUENCEOFA"HOLE"
The influence of a socalled "hole" in a game has already been illustrated in my game against
Blanco(page81),wherehasbeenshowntheinfluenceexercisedbythedifferentpiecespostedin
theholecreatedatWhite'sK5.
{151}
Example67.In order to further illustrate this point, I now give a game played in the Havana
International Masters Tournament of 1913. (Queen's Gambit Declined.) White: D. Janowski.
Black:A.Kupchick.
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1.PQ4
2.PQB4
3.KtQB3
4.BKt5
5.PK3
6.BQ3
7.BP
PQ4
PK3
KtKB3
BK2
QKtQ2
PP
KtKt3
OfcoursetheideaistopostaKnightatQ4,butasitistheotherKnightwhichwillbepostedthere
this manuvre does not seem logical. The Knight at Kt 3 does nothing except to prevent the
developmentofhisownQB.ThenormalcourseOO,followedbyPQB4,ismorereasonable.
For a beautiful illustration of how to play White in that variation, see the JanowskiRubinstein
gameoftheSt.PetersburgTournamentof1914.
8.BQ3
BKt3hassomepointsinitsfavourinthisposition,themostimportantbeingthepossibilityof
advancingtheKing'sPawnimmediatelyafter8....KKtQ49BB,QB.
8.........
9.BB
10.KtB3
KKtQ4
QB
HadWhite'sBishopbeenatQKt3hecouldnowplayPK4asindicatedinthepreviousnote,a {152}
movewhichhecannotmakeinthepresentposition,becauseofKtKB5threatening,notonlythe
KKtP,butalsoKtBch.AsWhite'sKing'sBishopshouldneverbeexchangedinthisopening
withoutaverygoodreasonWhitethereforecannotplayPK4.
10.........
11.OO
12.RB1
OO
BQ2
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White is perfectly developed, and now threatens to win a Pawn as follows: Kt Kt, Kt Kt
PK4,followedbyRP.
12.........
PQB3
ThefactthatBlackispracticallyforcedtomakethismoveinordertoavoidthelossofaPawnis
sufficientreasoninitselftocondemnthewholesystemofdevelopmentonBlack'spart.Ineffect,
heplaysBQ2andnowhehastoshutofftheactionofhisownBishop,whichtherebybecomes {153}
littlemorethanaPawnforawhile.Infact,itishardtoseehowthisBishopwilleverbeableto
attackanything.Besides,itcanbeeasilyseenthatWhitewillsoonposthistwoKnightsatK5and
QB5respectively,andthatBlackwillnotbeabletodislodgethemwithoutseriouslyweakening
his game, if he can do it at all. From all these reasons it can be gathered that it would probably
havebeenbetterforBlacktoplayKtKtandthusgetridofoneofthetwoWhiteKnightsbefore
assumingsuchadefensiveposition.Insuchcases,thelessthenumberofpiecesontheboard,the
betterchancestherearetoescape.
13.KtK4
PKB4
Thispracticallyamountstocommittingsuicide,sinceitcreatesaholeatK5forWhite'sKnight,
from where it will be practically impossible to dislodge him. If Black intended to make such a
moveheshouldhavedoneitbefore,whenatleasttherewouldhavebeenanobjectinpreventing
theWhiteKnightfromreachingB5.
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14.KtB5
15.KtK5
BK1
ThepositionofWhite'sKnights,especiallytheoneatK5,mightbesaidtobeideal,andasingle
glanceshowshowtheydominatetheposition.ThequestionhenceforthwillbehowisWhitegoing
{154}
toderivethefullbenefitfromsuchanadvantageoussituation,Thisweshallsoonsee.
15.........
RKt1
Thereisnoobjectinthismove,unlessitistobefollowedbyKtQ2.Asthatisnotthecase,he
mighthavegonewiththeRooktoB1,ashedoeslater.
16.RK1
17.QB3
18.QKt3
RB3
RR3
RB1
WhitethreatenedtowintheexchangebyplayingeitherKtB7orKtKt4.
19.PB3
20.PQR3
21.PR3
RB2
KR1
Perhapsalltheseprecautionsareunnecessary,butWhitefeelsthathehasmorethanenoughtime
topreparehisattack,andwantstobesecureineverywaybeforehebegins.
{155}
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21.........
22.PK4
23.QB2
PKt4
PB5
KtK6
HehadbetterhaveplayedKtB3andtriedlaterontogetridofWhite'sKnightsbymeansof
KtQ2.
24.RKt
withthissacrificeoftheRookforaKnightandPawnWhiteobtainsanoverwhelmingposition.
24.........
25.QP
PR
KtB1
KtQ2wasbetterinordertogetridofoneofthetwoWhiteKnights.Therewere,however,any
numberofgoodrepliestoit,amongthemthefollowing:Kt(B5)Kt,BKtQP,QQ
KtB7ch,KKt2KtQ,andwithtwoPawnsfortheexchange,andthepositionsomuchin
{156}
hisfavour,Whiteshouldhavenotroubleinwinning.
26.KtKt4
27.PK5
28.BB4
RKt3
RKt2
BB2
Allthesemovesarepracticallyforced,andasitiseasilyseentheytieupBlack'spositionmoreand
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more.White'smanuvresfrommove24onwardsarehighlyinstructive.
29.KtB6
KtKt3
ThiswanderingKnighthasdonenothingthroughoutthegame.
30.Kt(B5)K4
31.PKR4
32.QQ2
33.PP
PKR3
KtQ4
RKt3
QB1
IfPPKB2,andBlackwouldbehelpless.
34.PB4
35.PKKt4
36.PP
KtK2
PP
Resigns.
Thereisnothingtobedone.IfBKt1QR2ch,KKt2BP.
Thestudentshouldnoticethat,apartfromotherthings,Whitethroughoutthegamehashadcontrol
oftheBlacksquares,principallythoseatK5andQB5.
From now on to the end of the book I shall give a collection of my games both lost and won,
chosensoastoserveasillustrationsofthegeneralprincipleslaiddownintheforegoingpages.
PARTII
{159}
GAME1.QUEEN'SGAMBITDECLINED
(Match,1909)
1.PQ4
2.PQB4
3.KtQB3
4.BKt5
5.PK3
PQ4
PK3
KtKB3
BK2
KtK5
Ihadplayedthisdefencetwicebeforeinthematchwithgoodresults,andalthoughIlostthisgame
Istillplayedituntiltheverylastgame,whenIchangedmytactics.Thereasonwasmytotallack
ofknowledgeofthedifferentvariationsinthisopening,coupledwiththefactthatIknewthatDr.
E. Lasker had been successful with it against Marshall himself in 1907. I thought that since Dr.
Laskerhadplayeditsooften,itshouldbegood.Theobjectistoexchangeacoupleofpiecesand
at the same time to bring about a position full of possibilities and with promising chances of
successoncetheendgamestageisreached.Ongeneralprinciplesitshouldbewrong,becausethe
sameKnightismovedthreetimesintheopening,althoughitinvolvestheexchangeoftwopieces. {160}
In reality the difficulty in this variation, as well as in nearly all the variations of the Queen's
gambit, lies in the slow development of Black's Queen Bishop. However, whether this variation
canorcannotbesafelyplayedisaquestionstilltobedecided,anditisoutsidethescopeofthis
book.Imayaddthatatpresentmypreferenceisforadifferentsystemofdevelopment,butitisnot
unlikelythatIshouldsometimecomebacktothisvariation.
6.BB
7.BQ3
QB
PPispreferableforreasonsthatweshallsoonsee.
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7.........
8.PKt
KtKt
KtQ2
NowPPwouldbeabetterwaytodevelopthegame.Theideaisthatafter8...PP9BBP,
PQKt3,followedbyBKt2,wouldgiveBlack'sBishopapowerfulrange.Forthisvariation
seetheeleventhgameofthematch.
9.KtB3
OO
No longer would 9...P P 10 B P, P Q Kt 3 be good, because 11 B Kt 5 would prevent

{161}
BKt2onaccountofKtK5.
10.PP
11.QKt3
12.PQR4
PP
KtB3
PB4
PlayedwiththeintentionofobtainingthemajorityofPawnsontheQueen'sside.Yetitisdoubtful
whether this move is good, since it leaves Black's Queen'sside Pawns disrupted in a way. The
safercoursewouldhavebeentoplayPB3.
13.QR3
PQKt3
ThisexposesBlacktofurtherattackbyPR5withoutanycompensationforit.IfIhadtoplay
thispositionnowadaysIwouldsimplyplay13...RK1.Thenafter14QP,QQwouldfollow,
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andIbelievethatBlackwouldregainthePawn.If,instead,Whiteplayed14PPthenBKt5
wouldgiveBlackanexcellentgame.
14.PR5
15.OO
16.KRKt1
BKt2
QB2
KtQ2
{162}
Black'spositionwasbadandperhapslostinanycase,butthetextmovemakesmattersworse.Asa
matteroffactIneversawWhite'sreplyBB5.Itneverevenpassedthroughmymindthatthis
wasthreatened.Black'sbestmovewouldhavebeen16...KRKt1.Ifthatloses,thenanyother
movewouldloseaswell.
17.BB5
KRB1
Frombadtoworse.KtB3offeredtheonlyhope.
18.BKt
19.PR6
20.PP
21.QP
QB
BB3
PP
QRKt1
Thegamewaslost.Onemovewasasgoodasanother.
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22.RR
23.KtK5
24.PKB4
25.QR!
RR
QB4
RKt3
Resigns.
Of course, if 25 Kt B, R Kt 8 ch would have drawn. The text move is pretty and finishes
quickly.AwellplayedgameonMarshall'spart.
{163}
(SanSebastian,1911)
White:A.K.Rubinstein.Black:J.R.Capablanca.
1.PQ4
2.KtKB3
3.PB4
4.PQP
5.KtB3
6.PKKt3
PQ4
PQB4
PK3
KPP
KtQB3
BK3
Kt B 3 is the normal move in this variation. White's development was first introduced by
Schlechter and elaborated later on by Rubinstein. It aims at the isolation of Black's Q P, against
whichtheWhitepiecesaregraduallyconcentrated.InmakingthetextmoveIwastryingtoavoid
thebeatentrack.Beingadevelopingmovethereshouldbenoobjectiontoitinthewayofgeneral
principles,exceptthattheKnightsoughttocomeoutbeforetheBishops.
7.BKt2
8.OO
BK2
RB1
In pursuance of the idea of changing the normal course of this variation, but with very poor
success.Themoveintheoryoughttobeunsound,sinceBlack'sKKtisyetundeveloped.Ihadnot
yetlearnedoftheattackfoundedonKtKt5andtheexchangeoftheBatK3.EitherKtB3or
PKR3topreventeitherBorKtKKt5,wasright.
{164}
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9.PXP
10.KtKKt5
11.KtB
12.BR3
13.BKt5
BP
KtB3
PKt
QK2
OO
Thisisamistake.TherightmovewasRQ1inordertogettheRookawayfromthelineofthe
BishopatR3andatthesametimetosupporttheQP.IncidentallyitshowsthatWhitefailedto
takeproperadvantageofBlack'sweakopeningmoves.AgainstthetextmoveWhitemakesavery
{165}
finecombinationwhichIhadseen,butwhichIthoughtcouldbedefeated.
14.BKt
QB
I considered P B, which it seemed would give me a playable game, but I thought White's
combinationunsoundandthereforelethimplayit,tomylastingregret.
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15.KtP!
QR3
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{166}
16.KKt2!
ThisisthemovewhichIhadnotconsidered.IthoughtthatRubinsteinwouldhavetoplayBKt2,
whenIhadinmindthefollowingwinningcombination:16BKt2,KtK4!17KtB4(if
RB1,QR!!QQ,BPchwins),KtKt518PKR3(ifKtR3,BPchwinsthe
exchange),KtP19RKt,BRch20KB,PKKt4,andBlackshouldwin.Itiscurious
thatthiscombinationhasbeenoverlooked.IthasbeentakenforgrantedthatIdidnotseethe17th
moveQB1.
16.........
QRQ1
AfterWhite'slastmovetherewasnothingformetodobutsubmittotheinevitable.
17.QB1!
18.QB
19.QKt5
20.QQ3
21.PQ
22.BKt4
PKt
QQ7
KtQ5
QQ
KRK1
ThisgivesBlackachance.HeshouldhaveplayedKRK1.IfthenKtB7RRch,RR
RQB1,RK7KB1,KtQ5(ifRQ7BK6ch,KB1BPwouldwin)RB8ch,
KB2RB7ch,RK2RB5wins.
{167}
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22.........
23.KRK1
24.RR
25.RK5
26.RP
27.BK6ch
28.RB5ch
29.BB7ch
30.BB4
RQ3
RR
RQKt3
RP
KtB3
KB1
KK1
KQ2
30.........
PQR3
Abadmove,whichgivesawayanylegitimatechanceBlackhadtodraw.Itlosesaveryimportant
move.Infact,asthecourseofthegamewillshow,itlosesseveralmoves.Theproperwaywasto
playKQ3.IfthenRQKt5,RRBR,KtQ5followedbyPQKt4andWhitewould
haveanexceedinglydifficultgametodrawonaccountofthedominatingpositionoftheKnightat
Q5inconjunctionwiththeextraPawnontheQueen'ssideandtheawkwardpositionofWhite's
King.(Seehowthisisso.)
31.RB7ch
32.RKKtP
33.BKt8
34.RP
{168}
KQ3
PKt4
PQR4
PR5
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35.PR4
36.RR6ch
37.RR5ch
38.BQ5
PKt5
KB4
KKt3
WiththeselastthreemovesWhiteagaingivesBlackachance.EvenbeforethelastmoveBB4
would have won with comparative ease, but the text move is a downright blunder, of which,
fortunatelyforhim,Blackdoesnotavailhimself.
38.........
PKt6
R P would make it practically impossible for White to win, if he can win at all. White's best
continuationthenwouldhavebeen:39BB4,RB740RKt5ch,KB241BKt8, {169}
PR642PR5,PR743BP,RB,andifthereisawinitisverydifficulttofindit,as
against44PR6,RR3!offersexcellentchancesforadraw.
39.PP
40.BKt
PR6
RKtP
If40...PR741RKt5ch,KR342RKt8.
41.BQ5
42.RR6ch
PR7
Resigns.
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Asanendgame,thisisratherasadexhibitionfortwomasters.Theredeemingfeatureofthegame
isRubinstein'sfinecombinationinthemiddlegame,beginningwith14BKt.
GAME3.IRREGULARDEFENCE
(Havana,1913)
White:D.Janowski.Black:J.R.Capablanca.
1.PQ4
2.KtKB3
3.BKt5
4.PK3
5.KtB3
6.BQ3
7.QK2
8.OO
9.KRQ1
KtKB3
PQ3
QKtQ2
PK4
PB3
BK2
QR4
KtB1
BKt5
AtlastBlackisonhiswaytoobtainfulldevelopment.Theideaofthisirregularopeningismainly
tothrowWhiteonhisownresources.Atthetimethegamewasplayed,thesystemofdefencewas
notaswellknownastheregularformsoftheQueen'sPawnopenings.Whetheritissoundornot
remainsyettobeproved.Itsgoodfeaturesarethatitkeepsthecentreintactwithoutcreatingany
particularweakness,andthatitgivesplentyofopportunityfordeepandconcealedmanuvring.
The drawback is the long time it takes Black to develop his game. It is natural to suppose that
Whitewillemploythattimetoprepareawellconceivedattack,orthathewillusetheadvantageof
hisdevelopmentactuallytopreventBlack'scompletedevelopment,orfailingthat,toobtainsome
definitematerialadvantage.
10.PKR3
11.PP
12.KtK4
{170}
BR4
PP
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12.........
KtKt
{171}
A very serious mistake. I considered castling, which was the right move, but desisted because I
wasafraidthatbyplaying13BKt,PB14KtKt3,BKt315KtB5,Whitewould
obtainawinningpositionfortheendgame.Whetherrightorwrongthisshowshowcloselyrelated
areallpartsofthegame,andconsequentlyhowonewillinfluencetheother.
13.BB
14.BKt
KB
BKt3
Notgood.ThenaturalandpropermovewouldhavebeenKtK3,inordertobringalltheBlack
pieces into play. B Kt at once was also good, as it would have relieved the pressure against
Black'sKing'sPawn,andatthesametimehavesimplifiedthegame.
Hereitisseenhowfailuretocomplywiththeelementarylogicalreasons,thatgovernanygiven
position,oftenbringstheplayerintotrouble.Iwasnodoubtinfluencedinmychoiceofmovesby
thefearofBB5,whichwasaverythreateningmove.
15.QB4
16.PQKt4
17.BB
18.QK4
KtK3
QB2
RPB
KB3
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{172}
19.RQ3
PKR4,tobefollowedbyPKt4,mighthavebeenamorevigorouswaytocarryontheattack.
Black'sweakpointisunquestionablythePawnatK4,whichheiscompelledtodefendwiththe
King.ThetextmoveaimsatdoublingtheRooks,withtheultimateobjectofplacingoneofthemat
Q6,supportedbyaPawnatQB5,BlackcouldonlystopthisbyplayingPB4whichwould
createa"hole"atQ5orbyplayingPKt3,whichwouldtietheBlackQueentothedefenceof
the Q B P as well as the K P, which she already defends. Black, however, can meet all this by
offeringtheexchangeofRooks,whichdestroysWhite'splans.ForthisreasonPKR4appears
theproperwaytocarryontheattack.
19.........
20.QRQ1
QRQ1
PKKt4
ThismoveispreparatorytoPKKt3,whichwouldmakeBlack'spositionsecure.Unfortunately
forBlack,hedidnotcarryouthisoriginalplan.
21.PB4
{173}
RR
PKKt3wouldhaveleftBlackwithaperfectlysafegame.
22.RR
RQ1
Averyseriousmistake,whichlosesaPawn.PKKt3wastherightmove,andwouldhaveleft
Black with a very good game. In fact, if it should come to a simple ending, the position of the
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BlackKingwouldbeanadvantage.
23.RR
24.PKR4
KtR
ThiswinsaPawn,aswillsoonbeseen.Blackcannotreply24...KtK3because25PPch,
KtP26QR4winstheKnight.
24.........
25.QPch
26.QKt4ch
27.QKt5ch
28.QP
29.PB5
30.PK4!
31.KR2
32.QKt4ch!
33.KtP
34.KtQ
35.PK5
36.KtP
{174}
PP
KK3
KB3
KK3
QQ3
QQ4
QQ8ch
PB3
KK2
QQ
KtK3
PP
KtQ5
Thegamewentonforafewmoremoves,and,therebeingnowaytocounteract the advance of

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White'stwopassedPawns,Blackresigned.
GAME4.FRENCHDEFENCE
(St.Petersburg,1913)
White:J.R.Capablanca.Black:E.A.SnoskoBorovski.
1.PQ4
2.PK4
3.KtQB3
4.BKt5
PK3
PQ4
KtKB3
BKt5
This constitutes the McCutcheon Variation. It aims at taking the initiative away from White.
Insteadofdefending,BlackmakesacounterdemonstrationontheQueen'sside.Itleadstohighly
interestinggames.
{175}
5.PP
Atthetimethisgamewasplayedthevariation5PK5wasinvogue,butIconsideredthen,asI
donow,thetextmovetobethestronger.
5.........
QP
ThisisconsideredsuperiortoPP.Ithasforitsobject,asIsaidbefore,totaketheinitiativeaway
from White by disrupting White's Queen's side. White, however, has more than ample
compensationthroughhisbreakingupBlack'sKing'sside.Itmightbelaiddownasaprincipleof
theopeningthatthebreakingupoftheKing'ssideisofmoreimportancethanasimilaroccurrence
ontheQueen'sside.
6.BKt
7.PB
8.KtB3
BKtch
PB
PQKt3
TheplanofBlackinthisvariationistoposthisBishoponthelongdiagonalsoastobeablelater
on,inconjunctionwiththeactionofhisRooksalongtheopenKKt'sfile,tomakeaviolentattack
againstWhite'sKing.Itis,ofcourse,expectedthatWhitewillCastleontheKing'ssidebecauseof
thebrokenupconditionofhisQueen'ssidePawns.
9.QQ2
10.BK2
11.PB4
12.OOO
{176}
BKt2
KtQ2
QKB4
An original idea, I believe, played for the first time in a similar position in a game against Mr.
Walter Penn Shipley, of Philadelphia. My idea is that as there is no Black Bishop and because
Black's pieces have been developed with a view to an attack on the King's side, it will be
impossible for Black to take advantage of the apparently unprotected position of White's King.
Twopossibilitiesmustbeconsidered.Firstly:IfBlackCastlesontheQueen'sside,asinthisgame,
it is evident that there is no danger of an attack. Secondly: If Black Castles on the King's side,
White begins the attack first, taking advantage of the awkward position of Black's Queen. In
addition to the attacking probabilities of the text move, White in one move brings his King into
safety and brings one of his Rooks into play. Thus he gains several moves, "tempi" as they are
called,whichwillservehimtodevelopwhateverplanhemaywishtoevolve.
12.........
13.QK3
14.PKt3
OOO
KRKt1
QQR4
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ChessFundamentals.
Unquestionablyamistake,overlookingWhite'sfinereply,butacarefulexaminationwillshowthat
Whitealreadyhasthebetterposition.
15.RQ3!
16.KRQ1
17.KtR4
{177}
KKt1
QKB4
ThismovehasbeencriticisedbecauseitputstheKnightoutofthewayforafewmoves.Butby
forcingQKKt4WhitegainsaveryimportantmovewithPB4,whichnotonlyconsolidates
hisposition,butalsodrivestheQueenaway,puttingitoutofthegameforthemoment.Certainly
theQueenisfarmorevaluablethantheKnight,tosaynothingofthetimegainedandthefreedom
ofactionobtainedtherebyforWhite'smoreimportantpieces.
17.........
18.PB4
19.BB3
QKKt4
QKt2
InsuchpositionsitisgenerallyveryadvantageoustogetridoftheBlackBishopcontrollinghis
QR3andQB3,whichform"holes"forWhite'spieces.TheBishopinsuchpositionsisofvery
greatdefensivevalue,hencetheadvantageofgettingridofit.
19.........
20.BB
{178}
KRK1
KB
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ChessFundamentals.
21.PQB5!
PB3
22.KtB3
QB1
WhitethreatenedPB6ch.
TopreventtheKnightfrommovingtoQ6viaQ2andK4orQB4.ItisselfevidentthatWhite
hasagreatadvantageofposition.
23.KtQ2?
IhadconsideredRKt3,whichwastherightmove,butgaveitupbecauseitseemedtooslow,
{179}
andthatinsuchapositiontherehadtobesomequickerwayofwinning.
23.........
24.KtB4
PP
KtK4orKtKt3wouldhavebroughtaboutanendingadvantageoustoWhite.
24.........
25.KtR5ch
26.PP
27.QQ4
KtKt3
KR1
KtQ4
RB1
IfRKt128KtP,R(Kt1)B129KtPwouldwin.
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ChessFundamentals.
28.PB4
KtB4wastherightmove.Iwas,however,stilllookingforthe"grandcombination,"andthought
thatthePawnIwouldlateronhaveatQ6wouldwinthegame.Blackdeservesgreatcreditforthe
wayinwhichheconducted this exceedingly difficult defence. He could easily have gone wrong
anynumberoftimes,butfrommove22onwardshealwaysplayedthebestmove.
28.........
29.QKt1
30.PKt
31.PQ6
32.PQ7
33.KKt1
34.KtKt3
{180}
PK4!
PK5
PR
RK7
RB7ch
RKt1ch
QK2
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ChessFundamentals.
35.RP
Thepositionismostinteresting.IbelieveIlostheremylastchancetowinthegame,andifthatis
trueitwouldvindicatemyjudgmentwhen,onmove28,IplayedPB4.Thestudentcanfindout
whatwouldhappenifWhiteplaysQQ4!atonce.Ihavegoneoverthefollowingvariations:
35QQ4,RKRP(ofcourseifRBP,PQ8wins)36QQP!RQ137QR6,
KKt1best(ifQQ5chKR1,KKt1RQKt1wins)38QBPandWhitewillatleast
haveadraw.
35.........
36.QQ4
37.QR4
38.QR6
{181}
RK7
RQ1
QK5
KKt1
Thereisnothingtobedoneagainstthissimplemove,sinceWhitecannotplayKtQ4,because
QR8mates.
39.KB1
40.KtQ4
Resigns.
RQP
RK8ch
Averyinterestingbattle.
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ChessFundamentals.
GAME5.RUYLOPEZ
White:Dr.E.Lasker.Black:J.R.Capablanca.
1.PK4
2.KtKB3
3.BKt5
4.BKt
PK4
KtQB3
PQR3
TheobjectofthismoveistobringaboutspeedilyamiddlegamewithoutQueens,inwhichWhite
hasfourPawnstothreeontheKing'sside,whileBlack'ssuperiorityofPawnsontheothersideis {182}
somewhatbalancedbythefactthatoneofBlack'sPawnsisdoubled.Ontheotherhand,Blackhas
theadvantageofremainingwithtwoBishopswhileWhitehasonlyone.
4.........
5.PQ4
6.QP
7.KtQ
QPB
PP
QQ
BQ3
Black's idea is to Castle on the King's side. His reason is that the King ought to remain on the
weakersidetoopposelatertheadvanceofWhite'sPawns.Theoreticallythereisverymuchtobe
saidinfavourofthisreasoning,butwhetherinpracticethatwouldbethebestsystemwould be
ratherdifficulttoprove.ThestudentshouldnoticethatifnowallthepieceswereexchangedWhite
wouldpracticallybeaPawnahead,andwouldthereforehaveawonending.
8.KtQB3
KtK2
A perfectly sound form of development. In any other form adopted the Black Kt could not be
developedeitherasquicklyoraswell.K2isthenaturalpositionfortheBlackKtinthisvariation,
inordernottoobstructBlack'sPawns,andalso,insomeeventualities,inordertogoto K Kt 3.
ThereisalsothepossibilityofitsgoingtoQ5viaQB3afterPQB4.
9.OO
10.PB4
{183}
OO
ThismoveIconsideredweakatthetime,andIdostill.ItleavestheKPweak,unlessitadvances
toK5,anditalsomakesitpossibleforBlacktopintheKtbyBQB4.
10.........
RK1
Best.ItthreatensBB4BK3,KtQ4.ItalsopreventsBK3becauseofKtQ4orB4.
11.KtKt3
PB3
PreparatorytoPQKt3,followedbyPQB4andBKt2inconjunctionwithKtKt3,which
wouldputWhiteingreatdifficultiestomeetthecombinedattackagainstthetwocentrePawns.
12.PB5
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ChessFundamentals.
Ithasbeenwronglyclaimedthatthiswinsthegame,butIwouldlikenothingbetterthantohave
suchapositionagain.Itrequiredseveralmistakesonmypartfinallytoobtainalostposition.
12.........
13.BB4
{184}
PQKt3
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ChessFundamentals.
13.........
BKt2
Played against my better judgment. The right move of course was B B. Dr. Lasker gives the
followingvariation:13...BB14RB,PB415QRQ1,BKt216RB2,QRQ1
17RR,RR18RQ2,RR19KtR,andheclaimsthatWhitehasthebestofit.But,as
Niemzovitch pointed out immediately after the game, 16...Q R Q 1 given in Dr. Lasker's
variation,isnotthebest.If16...QRB1!thenWhitewillhavegreatdifficultyindrawingthe
game, since there is no good way to stop Black from playing Kt B 3, followed by Kt K 4,
threateningKtB5.AndshouldWhiteattempttomeetthismanuvrebywithdrawingtheKtat
Kt3thentheBlackKnightcangotoQ5,andtheWhitePawnatK4willbetheobjectofthe
attack. Taking Dr. Lasker's variation, however, whatever advantage there might be disappears at
onceifBlackplays19...KtB3,threateningKtKt5andalsoKtQ5,neitherofwhichcanbe
stopped. If White answers 20 Kt Q 5, Kt Q 5 for Black will at least draw. In fact, after
19...KtB3BlackthreatenssomanythingsthatitisdifficulttoseehowWhitecanpreventthe
lossofoneormorePawns.
14.BB
15.KtQ4
{185}
PB
ItisacuriousbuttruefactthatIdidnotseethismovewhenIplayed13...BKt2,otherwiseI
wouldhaveplayedtherightmove13...BB.
15.........
QRQ1
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ChessFundamentals.
Thegameisyetfarfromlost,asagainsttheentryoftheKnight,BlackcanlateronplayPB4,
followedbyPQ4.
16.KtK6
17.QRQ1
RQ2
{186}
InowwasonthepointofplayingPB4,tobefollowedbyPQ4,whichIthoughtwouldgive
me a draw, but suddenly I became ambitious and thought that I could play the text move,
17...KtB1,andlateronsacrificetheexchangefortheKnightatK6,winningaPawnforit,and
leaving White's K P still weaker. I intended to carry this plan either before or after playing
PKKt4asthecircumstancesdemanded.Nowletusanalyse:17...PB4.If18KtQ5,BKt
19PB,PQKt4andacarefulanalysiswillshowthatBlackhasnothingtofear.Black'splan
inthiscasewouldbetoworkhisKtaroundtoK4,viaQB1,QKt3,andQB5orQ2.Again,
17...PB418RB2,PQ419PP,BP20KtB(best,sinceifR(B2)Q2,BKt
give Black the advantage), R Kt 21 R R, Kt R and there is no good reason why Black
shouldlose.
17.........
18.RB2
19.KRQ2
20.PQKt4
21.PQR3
KtB1
PQKt4
R(Q2)K2
KB2
BR1
{187}
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ChessFundamentals.
Oncemorechangingmyplanandthistimewithoutanygoodreason.HadInowplayedRKt
PRch,RPasIintendedtodowhenIwentbackwiththeKnighttoB1,Idoubtverymuchif
Whitewouldhavebeenabletowinthegame.Atleastitwouldhavebeenextremelydifficult.
22.KB2
23.PKt4
24.RQ3
25.PKR4
26.PP
RR2
PR3
PQR4
PP
R(R2)K2
This,ofcourse,hasnoobjectnow.Black,withabadgame,floundersaroundforamove.Itwould
havebeenbettertoplayRR6tokeeptheopenfile,andatthesametimetothreatentocomeout
withtheKnightatKt3andB5.
27.KB3
28.KB4
RKt1
PKt3
Againbad.White'slasttwomoveswereweak,sincetheWhiteKingdoesnothinghere.Heshould
haveplayedhisRooktoKt3onthe27thmove.BlacknowshouldhaveplayedPKt4ch.After
missingthischanceWhitehasitallhisownway,andfinishesthegamemostaccurately,andBlack
becomesmorehelplesswitheachmove.Thegameneedsnofurthercomment,exceptingthatmy {188}
playthroughoutwasofanaltogetherirresolutecharacter.Whenaplanismade,itmustbecarried
outifatallpossible.RegardingtheplayofWhite,Iconsiderhis10thand12thmoveswerevery
weakheplayedwellafterthatuptothe27thmove,whichwasbad,aswellashis28thmove.The
restofhisplaywasgood,probablyperfect.
29.RKt3
30.KB3
31.PP
32.RR3
33.KKt3!
34.QRKR1
35.PK5
36.KtK4
37.Kt(K6)B5
38.KtR
39.RR7
40.RR1
41.RR8ch
42.KtB5
PKt4ch
KtKt3
RPP
RQ2
KK1
BKt2
QPP
KtQ4
BB1
BKt
RB1
KQ1
BB1
Resigns.
GAME6.FRENCHDEFENCE
{189}
(RiceMemorialTournament,1916)
White:O.Chajes.Black:J.R.Capablanca.
1.PK4
2.PQ4
3.KtQB3
4.BKt5
PK3
PQ4
KtKB3
BKt5
OfallthevariationsoftheFrenchDefenceIlikethisbest,becauseitgivesBlackmorechancesto
obtaintheinitiative.
5.PK5
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ChessFundamentals.
ThoughIconsiderPPthebestmove,thereismuchtobesaidinfavourofthismove,butnotof
thevariationasawhole,whichWhiteadoptedinthisgame.
5.........
6.BQ2
7.PB
8.QKt4
PKR3
BKt
KtK5
KB1
The alternative, P K Kt 3 leaves Black's King's side very weak. White by playing P K R 4
wouldforceBlacktoplayPKR4andlater,onWhite'sBishopbygoingtoQ3,wouldthreaten
the weakened K Kt P. By the text move Black gives up Castling, but gains time for an attack
{190}
againstWhite'scentreandQueen'sside.
9.BB1
PQB4
ThreateningQR4andstoppingtherebyWhite'sthreatofBR3.ItdemonstratesthatWhite's
lastmovewasacompletelossoftimeandmerelyweakenedhisposition.
10.BQ3
11.KtK2
12.OO
13.BKt
14.QP
QR4
PP
PP
PB
KtB3
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ChessFundamentals.
Black has come out of the opening with a Pawn to the good. His development, however, has
sufferedsomewhat,andthereareBishopsofoppositecolour,sothatitcannotbesaidasyet,that
Blackhasawongamebuthehascertainlythebestoftheposition,because,besidesbeingaPawn
tothegood,hethreatensWhite'sKP,whichmustofcoursebedefended,andthisinturnwillgive {191}
himtheopportunitytoposthisKnightatQ4viaK2.WhentheBlackKnightispostedatQ4,the
BishopwillbedevelopedtoB3viaQ2,assoonastheopportunitypresentsitself,anditwillbe
Blackthatwillthenhavetheinitiative,andcanconsequentlydecidethecourseofthegame.
15.RQ1
TopreventKtK2whichwouldbeansweredbyKtP,orstillbetterbyBR3.Themove,
however,isstrategicallywrong,sincebybringinghispiecestotheQueen'sside,Whitelosesany
chancehemighthaveofmakingadeterminedattackontheKing'ssidebeforeBlackisthoroughly
preparedforit.
15.........
16.PB4
17.BK3
PKKt3
KKt2
BetterwouldhavebeenPQR4,inordertoplayBR3.TheWhiteBwouldbemuchbetter
postedontheopendiagonalthanhere,whereitactspurelyonthedefensive.
17.........
18.BB2
KtK2
KtQ4
ThisKnightcompletelyparalysestheattack,asitdominatesthewholesituation, and there is no

waytodislodgeit.BehinditBlackcanquietlydevelophispieces.Thegamecannowbesaidtobe
{192}
wonforBlackstrategically.
19.RQ3
20.KtQ4
21.RKt3
22.PKR4
23.PR5
BQ2
QRQB1
KR2
KRKt1
QKt5
In order to pin the Knight and be ready to come back to either K 2 or B 1. Also to prevent
QRKt1.Inrealitynearlyalltheseprecautionsareunnecessary,sinceWhite'sattackamountsto
nothing.ProbablyBlackshouldhaveleftasidealltheseconsiderations,andplayedQR5now,in
ordertofollowitupwithPB4,ashedidlater,butunderlessfavourablecircumstances.
24.RR3
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ChessFundamentals.
24.........
PB4
Notthebest,asWhitewillsoonprove.QB1wouldhaveavoidedeverything,butBlackwantsto
assumetheinitiativeatonceandplungesintocomplications.However,aswillsoonbeseen,the
moveisnotalosingonebyanymeans.
25.PPe.p.
26.PPch
{193}
KtP(B3)
RP
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ChessFundamentals.
27.RPch
27.........
28.KtB5ch
29.QQ
ThiswinstheQueen.
KR
PKt
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ChessFundamentals.
Thepositionlooksmostinteresting.Ithoughtitwouldbepossibletogetupsuchanattackagainst {194}
theWhiteKingastomakeitimpossibleforhimtoholdoutmuchlonger,butIwaswrong,unless
it could have been done by playing B B 3 first, forcing P Kt 3 and then playing K R 4. I
followedasimilarplan,butlostaveryimportantmovebyplayingQRKKt1whichgaveWhite
timetoplayRQ1.Iamconvinced,however,thatBB3atoncewastherightmove.White
wouldbeforcedtoplayPKt3,andBlackwouldreplywitheitherKR4asalreadyindicated,
which looks the best (the plan, of course, is to play R K R 1 and follow it up with K Kt 5
threateningmate,orsomeothermoveaccordingtocircumstances.Insomecases,ofcourse,itwill
bebetterfirsttoplayKKt5),orKtK5,whichwillatleastgivehimadraw.Therearesomany
possibilities in this position that it would be impossible to give them all. It will be worth the
reader'stimetogocarefullythroughthelinesofplayindicatedabove.
29.........
QRKKt1
AsstatedBB3wasthebestmove.
30.PKt3
31.RQ1
BB3
KR4
Theplan,ofcourse,asexplainedabove,istogotoKt5induetimeandthreatenmateatKR8,but
itisnowtoolate,theWhiteRookhavingcomeintimetopreventthemanuvre.Instead of the {195}
textmove,therefore,BlackshouldhaveplayedKtK5whichwouldhavegivenhimadrawat
theveryleast.Afterthetextmovesthetablesareturned.ItisnowWhitewhohastheupperhand,
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ChessFundamentals.
andBlackwhohastofightforadraw.
32.RQ6
BK5
KtK5wasstilltherightmove,andprobablythelastchanceBlackhadtodrawagainstWhite's
bestplay.
33.QBP
34.RR
KtQ4
KR
KtQRR,KtPwasnobetter.
35.QK5
36.PB4
37.QKt2
38.BQ4
39.QKt5
40.KB2
41.QKt6
42.KK1
43.QQ6
44.PKt4
45.PKB5
46.KQ2
47.PB6
48.QK6ch
49.BK3
50.BR6ch
KB2
RK1
KtB3
RKR1
RR8ch
PR3
RR7ch
KtQ2
BB3
PP
RR8ch
KK1
RR2
KB1
RB2
KKt1
Most players will be wondering, as the spectators did, why I did not resign. The reason is that {196}
while I knew the game to be lost, I was hoping for the following variation, which Chajes came
verynearplaying:51QPch,KR252QR5,RP53BKt5ch,KKt254BRch,
KBandwhileWhitehasawongameitisbynomeanseasy.Ifthereaderdoesnotbelieveit,let
himtaketheWhitepiecesagainstamasterandseewhathappens.Myopponent,whodecidedto
takenochances,played51BKt7,andfinallywonasshownbelow.
51.BKt7
52.KK2
53.KB2
54.QKt4
55.KKt1
56.PR4
57.QR3
58.BR
59.QPch
60.QP
PKt6
PKt7
KtB1
KtQ2
PR4
BP
RP
KtB
KB1
andafteraveryfewmoremovesBlackresigned.
A very fine game on Chajes' part from move 25 on, for while Black, having the best of the
position,missedseveralchances,White,ontheotherhand,missednone.
GAME7.RUYLOPEZ
{197}
(SanSebastian,1911)
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ChessFundamentals.
White:J.R.Capablanca.Black:A.Burn
1.PK4
2.KtKB3
3.BKt5
4.BR4
5.PQ3
PK4
KtQB3
PQR3
KtB3
This is a very solid development, to which I was much addicted at the time, because of my
ignoranceofthemultiplevariationsoftheopenings.
5.........
6.PB3
PQ3
BK2
InthisvariationthereisthealternativeofdevelopingthisBishopviaKt2,afterPKKt3.
7.QKtQ2
8.KtB1
9.BB2
10.QK2
11.PP
OO
PQKt4
PQ4
PP
BQB4
EvidentlytomakeroomfortheQueenatK2,butIdonotthinkthemoveadvisableatthisstage.
B K 3 is a more natural and effective move. It develops a piece and threatens B B 5, which
wouldhavetobestopped.
12.BKt5
BK3
Nowitisnotsoeffective,becauseWhite'sQBisout,andtheKnight,ingoingtoK3todefend
thesquareQB4,doesnotblocktheQB.
13.KtK3
14.OO
{198}
RK1
QK2
Thisisbad.Black'sgamewasalreadynotgood.HeprobablyhadnochoicebuttotaketheKnight
withtheBishopbeforemakingthismove.
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15.KtQ5
16.PB
BKt
KtKt1
inordertobringittoQ2,tosupporttheotherKnightandalsohisKing'sPawn.White,however,
doesnotallowtimeforthis,andbytakingadvantageofhissuperiorpositionisabletowinaPawn.
17.PQR4
PKt5
Since he had no way to prevent the loss of a Pawn, he should have given it up where it is, and
playedQKtQ2,inordertomakehispositionmoresolid.ThetextmovenotonlylosesaPawn,
butleavesBlack'sgameverymuchweakened.
18.PP
19.BKt
20.QK4
21.QPch
{199}
BP
QB
BQ3
KB1
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ChessFundamentals.
With a Pawn more and all his pieces ready for action, while Black is still backward in
development,itonlyremainsforWhitetodrivehomehis advantage before Black can come out
withhispieces,inwhichcase,byusingtheopenKRfile,Blackmightbeabletostartastrong
attackagainstWhite'sKing.Whiteisablebyhisnextmovetoeliminatealldanger.
22.KtR4
QR3
Thisispracticallyforced.BlackcouldnotplayPKt3becauseofBP,andWhitemeanwhile
threatenedQR8chfollowedbyKtB5chandQP.
23.QQ
24.KtB5
25.BQ1
26.BP
27.BK2
28.KRQ1
29.BB4
30.PR4
{200}
PQ
PKR4
KtQ2
KtB3
KtP
KtB5
KRQ1
PR4
BlackmustlosetimeassuringthesafetyofthisPawn.
31.PKt3
32.BKt
KtK3
PB
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ChessFundamentals.
33.KtK3
34.KtB4
KRKt1
KK2
Blackfightsahopelessbattle.HeistwoPawnsdownforallpracticalpurposes,andthePawnshe
hasareisolatedandhavetobedefendedbypieces.
35.QRB1
RR2
WhitethreatenedKtB,followedbyRB7ch.
36.RK1
37.RK4
38.PKt4
KB3
RKt5
RR3
IfRRPKtBofcoursewouldwinapiece
39.RB3
40.RB3ch
41.PKt3
42.KKt2
43.PKt5
44.PR5
45.PR
46.PKt6
BB4
KKt2
BQ5
RR1
RR3
RKt
RB3
Resigns.
{201}
GAME8.CENTREGAME
(Berlin1913)
White:J.Mieses.Black:J.R.Capablanca.
1.PK4
2.PQ4
3.QP
4.QK3
5.KtQB3
6.BQ2
7.OOO
PK4
PP
KtQB3
KtB3
BKt5
OO
RK1
Inthisposition,insteadofthetextmove,PQ3isoftenplayedinordertodeveloptheQB.My
ideawastoexertsufficientpressureagainsttheKPtowinit,andthusgainamaterialadvantage,
whichwould, at least, compensate whatever slight advantage of position White mighthave.The
plan,Ithink,isquitefeasible,mysubsequentdifficultiesbeingduetofaultyexecutionoftheplan.
8.QKt3
9.KtKt
10.BKB4
KtP
RKt
{202}
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ChessFundamentals.
10.........
QB3
White'sthreattoregainthePawnwasmerelywiththeideaofgainingtimetodevelophispieces.
Black could have played P Q 3 opening the way for his Q B, when would have followed,
11 B Q 3, R K 1 12 Kt B 3, and White would soon start a powerful direct attack against
Black's King. With the text move Black aims at taking the initiative away from White in
accordancewiththeprincipleslaiddowninthisbook.
11.KtR3
IfBP,PQ3andWhite'sBishopwouldbecompletelyshutoff,andcouldonlybeextricated,if
atall,withseriouslossofposition.Thetextmoveaimsatquickdevelopmenttokeeptheinitiative.
11.........
PQ3
Thisnowisnotonlyadevelopingmove,butitalsothreatenstowinapiecebyBKt.
12.BQ3
{203}
KtQ5
Thiscomplicatesthegameunnecessarily.RK1wassimple,andperfectlysafe.
13.BK3
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ChessFundamentals.
13.........
BKt5
Thisisaseriousmistake.Thepositionwasmostinteresting,andthoughinappearancedangerous
forBlack,notsoinreality.Therightmovewouldhavebeen13...RKt5,whenwewouldhave
14 B Kt, R B 15 P Q B 3, B P 16 P B, R K Kt 5 17 Q K 3 (best), Q P ch
18BB2,QQ19PQ,RP,andBlackhasthebestofthegamewithfourPawnsfora
Knight,besidesthefactthatalltheWhitePawnsareisolated.
14.KtKt5!
RB
15.QB!
KtK7ch
Therewasnothingbetter.
{204}
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16.BKt!
17.KtK4!
18.QR
19.PKB4
20.PB3
21.KRK1
22.RQ5
RB
RKt
QKt4ch
QKt4
BB4
QB3
Q Q would have given White a decided advantage, enough to win with proper play. Mieses,
however, feared the difficulties of an ending where, while having the exchange, he would be a
Pawnminus.HepreferredtokeeptheQueensontheboardandkeepuptheattack.Atfirstsight,
andevenaftercarefulthought,thereseemstobenoobjectiontohisplanbutintruthsuchisnot
the case. From this point the game will gradually improve in Black's favour until, with the
{205}
exchangeahead,Whiteislost.
22.........
23.PB5
24.RQ2
QQ2
PQB3
PQ4
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Myplanforthemomentisverysimple.ItwillconsistinbringingmyBishoparoundtoB3.ThenI
shalltrytoparalyseWhite'sattackagainstmyKingbyplayingPKR3,andalsopreventWhite
from ever playing P K Kt 5. Once my King is safe from attack I shall begin to advance my
Queen'ssidePawns,wheretherearefourtothreeandthatadvantage,coupledwiththeenormous
attackingpowerofmyBishopatB3,willatleastassuremeanevenchanceofsuccess.
25.QB3
26.QRK2
27.QR5
28.PKKt4
BK2
BB3
PKR3
KR2!
TopreventPKR4,whichIwouldanswerwithPKKt3,winningtheQueen.Itcannowbe
consideredthatmyKingissafefromattack.WhitewillhavetowithdrawhisQueenviaR3,and
BlackcanusethetimetobeginhisadvanceontheQueen'sside.
29.KKt1
30.RQ1
{206}
RQ1
PB4
Notice that, on assuming the defensive, White has placed his Rooks correctly from the point of
viewofstrategy.TheyarebothonwhitesquaresfreefromthepossibleattackoftheBlackBishop.
31.QR3
QR5
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ThisgainstimebyattackingtheRookandholdingtheWhiteQatR3forthemoment,onaccount
oftheKKtP.Besides,theQueenmustbeinthemiddleofthefraynowthattheattackhastobe
brought home. White has actually more value in material, and therefore Black must utilise
everythingathiscommandinordertosucceed.
32.R(K2)Q2
33.KR1
QK5ch
PQKt4
threateningPKt5whichwouldopenthelineofactionoftheBishopandalsosecureapassed
Pawn.
34.QKt2
QR5
indirectlydefendingtheQP,whichWhitecannottakeonaccountofQRch.
35.KKt1
PKt5
{207}
TheattackincreasesinforceasitisgraduallybroughthomedirectlyagainsttheKing.Theposition
nowismostinterestingandextremelydifficult.Itisdoubtfulifthereisanyvaliddefenceagainst
Black'sbestplay.Thevariationsarenumerousanddifficult.
36.PP
QP
BlackhasnowapassedPawn,andhisBishopexertsgreatpressure.Whitecannotverywellplay
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now37RPbecauseofRR38RR,BPandWhitecouldnottaketheBishopbecause
QK5chwouldwintheRook,leavingBlackaclearpassedPawnahead.
37.PQR3
38.RP
39.R(Q1)Q2
40.QKt3
41.QQ6
QR5!
RQKt1
PB5
RKt6
{208}
41.........
PB6
BPwouldalsowin,whichshowsthatWhite'sgameisaltogethergone.Inthesecases,however,
it is not the prettiest move that should be played, but the most effective one, the move that will
makeyouropponentresignsoonest.
42.RQB2
43.RQ3
44.RQ1
Resigns.
PP
QK5!
RQB6
OfcourseWhitemustplayQQ2,andBlackthenplaysRP.
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{209}
(Berlin,1913)
White:J.R.Capablanca.Black:R.Teichmann.
1.PQ4
2.KtKB3
3.PB4
4.BKt5
5.KtB3
6.PK3
7.RB1
8.PP
9.BKt5
PQ4
KtKB3
PK3
BK2
QKtQ2
OO
PQKt3
PP
An invention of my own, I believe. I played it on the spur of the moment simply to change the
normalcourseofthegame.GenerallytheBishopgoestoQ3,ortoR6,afterQR4.Thetext
moveisinthenatureofanordinarydevelopingmove,andasitviolatesnoprincipleitcannotbe
bad.
9.........
10.OO
11.BR4
12.QK2
13.PP
BKt2
PQR3
RB1
PB4
KtP
IfPPKRQ1,andWhitewouldplaytowinoneofBlack'scentrePawns.Thedrawbackto
thetextmoveisthatitleavesBlack'sQPisolated,andconsequentlyweakandsubjecttoattack.
14.KRQ1
{210}
KtB
Thealternativewouldhavebeen14...PKt415BB2,PKt516KtQR4,Kt(B4)K5.
15.KtKt
16.RR
17.KtB3
PKt4
QR
QB5
BlackaimsattheexchangeofQueensinordertoremainwithtwoBishopsfortheending,butin
thispositionsuchacourseisamistake,becausetheBishopatKt2isinactiveandcannotcome
intothegamebyanymeans,unlessBlackgivesuptheisolatedQueen'sPawnwhichtheBishop
mustdefend.
18.KtQ4
Not,ofcourse,RQ4,becauseofQQKtQ,RB1andtherewouldbenogoodwayto
preventRB7.
18.........
QQ
19.Kt(B3)Q!
Notice the coordination of the Knights' moves. They are manuvred chainlike, so to speak, in
ordertomaintainoneofthem,eitheratQ4orreadytogothere.NowWhitethreatenstotakethe
openfile,andthereforeforcesBlack'snextmove.
19.........
RB1
{211}
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Thestudentshouldexaminethispositioncarefully.Thereseemstobenoparticulardanger,yet,as
Whitewilldemonstrate,Blackmaybesaidtobelost.Ifthegameisnotaltogetherlost,thedefence
is at least of the most difficult kind indeed, I must confess that I can see no adequate defence
againstWhite'snextmove.
20.KtB5!
KB1
If20...BQ121KtQ6,RB222KtB,RKt23BKt,BB24RP,RB2
25RQ2,andWhiteisaPawnahead.If20...Bmovesanywhereelse,thenBKt,doublingthe
KBPandisolatingallofBlack'sKing'ssidePawns.
21.KtB
22.KtQ4
KKt
PKt3
Thisispracticallyforced,asWhitethreatenedKtB5ch.NoticethattheBlackKnightispinned
insuchawaythatnoreliefcanbeaffordedexceptbygivinguptheKRPorabandoningtheopen
{212}
filewiththeRook,whichwouldbedisastrous,asWhitewouldimmediatelysiezeit.
23.PB3!
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23.........
PR3
BlackcoulddonothingelseexceptmarktimewithhisRookalongtheopenfile,sinceassoonas
hemovedawayWhitewouldtakeit.White,ontheotherhand,threatenstomarchupwithhisKing
toK5viaKB2,KKt3,KB4,afterhaving,ofcourse,preparedtheway.Hence,Black'sbest
chancewastogiveupaPawn,asinthetext,inordertofreehisKnight.
24.BP
25.PKR4
26.BB4
KtQ2
KtB4
KtK3
Black exchanges Knights to remain with Bishops of opposite colours, which gives him the best
chancetodraw.
27.KtKt
{213}
KKt
27...PKtwouldbeworse,asWhitewouldthenbeabletoposthisBishopatK5.
28.RQ2
RKR1
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BlackwantstoforceBKt3.PKKt3wouldbebad,onaccountofPQ5whichwouldgetthe
BlackBishopintothegame,eventhoughWhitecouldanswerPK4.Thetextmoveis,however,
weak,aswillsoonbeseen.HisbestchancewastoplayPKt5andfollowitupwithPR4and
B R 3. White meanwhile could play P Kt 4 and R 5, obtaining a passed Pawn, which, with
properplay,shouldwin.
29.RQB2!
30.RR
RQB1
BR
TherearenowBishopsofoppositecolour,butneverthelessWhitehasaneasilywongame.
{214}
31.KB2
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31.........
PQ5
Practically forced. Otherwise the White King would march up to Q 4 and then to B 5 and win
Black'sQueen'ssidePawns.IfBlackattemptedtostopthisbyputtinghisKingatQB3thenthe
WhiteKingwouldenterthroughK5intoBlack'sKing'ssideandwinjustaseasily.
32.PP
33.KK3
34.KQ3
35.PQR3
36.KK3
37.BR6
KQ4
BK3
KB3
BB5ch
BK3
ItisbetternottohurryPKKt4becauseofPB4foralthoughWhitecouldwininanycase,it
wouldtakelonger.NowtheWhiteKingthreatenstohelpbygoinginthroughKB4afterposting
{215}
theBishopatKt7,whereitnotonlyprotectstheQP,butindirectlyalsotheQKtP.
37.........
38.BKt7
KQ4
Resigns.
The student ought to have realised by this time the enormous importance of playing well every
kindofending.Inthisgameagain,practicallyfromtheopening,Whiteaimedatnothingbutthe
isolation of Black's Q P. Once he obtained that, he tried for and obtained, fortunately, another
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advantage of position elsewhere which translated itself into the material advantage of a Pawn.
Thenbyaccurateplayingintheendinghegraduallyforcedhomehisadvantage.Thisendinghas
themeritofhavingbeenplayedagainstoneofthefinestplayersintheworld.
GAME10.PETROFFDEFENCE
White:J.R.Capablanca.Black:F.J.Marshall
1.PK4
2.KtKB3
3.KtP
4.KtKB3
5.QK2
6.PQ3
7.BKt5
PK4
KtKB3
PQ3
KtP
QK2
KtKB3
PlayedbyMorphy,andaveryfinemove.ThepointisthatshouldBlackexchangeQueenshewill {216}
be a move behind in development and consequently will get a cramped game if White plays
accurately.
7.........
BK3
Marshallthoughtatthetimethatthiswasthebestmoveandconsequentlyplayeditinpreference
toQQch.
8.KtB3
9.BKt
10.PQ4
11.QKt5ch
12.BQ3!
PKR3
QB
BK2
KtQ2
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Itisnowtimetoexaminetheresultoftheopening.OnWhite'ssidewefindtheminorpieceswell
posted and the Queen out in a somewhat odd place, it is true, but safe from attack and actually
attackingaPawn.WhiteisalsoreadytoCastle.White'spositionisevidentlyfreefromdangerand
hispiecescaneasilymanuvre.
{217}
OnBlack'ssidethefirstthingwenoticeisthathehasretainedbothhisBishops,unquestionablyan
advantagebutontheotherhandwefindhispiecesbunchedtogethertoomuch,andtheQueenin
danger of being attacked without having any good square to go to. The Bishop at K 2 has no
freedom and it blocks the Queen, which, in its turn, blocks the Bishop. Besides, Black cannot
CastleontheKing'ssidebecauseQP,RKt1QK4threateningmate,winsaPawn.Norcan
heCastleontheQueen'ssidebecauseQR5wouldputBlack'sgameinimminentdanger,since
he cannot play P R 3 because of B P nor can he play K Kt 1 because of Kt Kt 5.
ConsequentlywemustconcludethattheopeningisallinWhite'sfavour.
12.........
PKt4
TomakeroomforhisQueen,threateningalsoPKt5.
13.PKR3
OO
givingupaPawninanattempttofreehisgameandtaketheinitiative.Itwasdifficultforhimto
find a move, as White threatened Kt K 4, and should Black go with the Queen to Kt 2, then
PQ5,BB4KtPch,followedbyBB.
{218}
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14.QP
15.QK4
16.PQKt3
QRKt1
QKt2
PQB4
InordertobreakupWhite'scentreandbringhisKnighttoB4andthuslaythefoundationfora
violent attack against White's King. The plan, however, fails, as it always must in such cases,
becauseBlack'sdevelopmentisbackward,andconsequentlyhispiecesarenotproperlyplaced.
17.OO
18.KtQ5!
PP
Asimplemove,whichdestroysBlack'splanutterly.Blackwillnowhavenoconcertedactionof
hispieces,and,ashisPawnsareallweak,hewillsoonerorlaterlosethem.
18.........
19.BB4
20.QP
BQ1
KtB4
QQ
ThefactthathehastoexchangeQueenswhenheisaPawnbehindshowsthatBlack'sgameislost.
21.KtQ
22.BB
23.QRQ1
{219}
BKt
BB3
BKt
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TheKnightwastoothreatening.ButnowtheendingbroughtaboutisoneinwhichtheBishopis
stronger than the Knight which makes Black's plight a desperate one. The game has no further
interest,and itisonly because of its 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 move on account of some poor play on
White'spart.Therestofthemovesaregivenmerelyasamatterofform.
24.RB
25.BB4
26.RK1
27.PB4
28.PPch
29.RB1ch
30.RKt4
31.RB5
32.PKR4
33.PP
34.BKt
35.RR
36.PKt6
37.RQB4
38.PR4
39.RB6
40.RB7ch
41.RP
42.KR2
43.PR5
44.RB7
45.PQKt4
46.PB3
47.RB6
48.RP
49.RQR3
50.PR6
51.RR5
52.PKt4
53.KKt3
54.KB4
55.KK5
56.PKt5
57.PKt6
58.KP
59.PKt7
60.PR7
61.KB5
KKt2
RKt3
KB3
KtK3
PP
KK2
RKKt1
RB3
KRQB1
RB4
PB
RR
KB1
RQR4
KKt2
RQ4
KP
RQ8ch
PQ4
RQB8
RQR8
RR5
PQ5
PP
RKtP
RKt2
RQR2
KB3
KK2
KQ3
KB2
KQ2
KK2
KB1
KK1
RP
RKt3ch
Resigns.
GAME11.RUYLOPEZ
{220}
{221}
White:J.R.Capablanca.Black:D.Janowski.
1.PK4
PK4
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2.KtKB3
3.BKt5
4.BKt
5.KtB3
KtQB3
PQR3
QPB
IplayedthismoveafterhavingdiscusseditwithAlechinonseveraloccasions.Alechinconsidered
it,atthetime,superiortoPQ4,whichisgenerallyplayed.Heplayedithimselflateroninthe
Tournament,inoneofhisgamesagainstDr.E.Lasker,andobtainedthesuperiorgame,whichhe
onlylostthroughablunder.
5.........
BQB4
PB3isprobablythebestmoveinthisposition.Idonotlikethetextmove.
6.PQ3
7.BK3
BKKt5
BB
ThisopenstheKBfileforWhite,andalsoreinforceshiscentre,butBlacknaturallydidnotwant
tomakeasecondmovewiththisBishop.
8.PB
9.OO
QK2
OOO
Boldplay,typicalofJanowski.
{222}
10.QK1
KtR3
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The problem for White now is to advance his Q Kt P to Kt 5 as fast as he can. If he plays
PQKt4atonce,Blacksimplytakesit.IfheplaysfirstPQR3andthenPQKt4,hewillstill
havetoprotecthisQKtPbeforehecangoonandplayPQR4andPKt5.Asamatteroffact
Whiteplayedaratherunusualmove,butonewhich,underthecircumstances,wasthebest,since
afterithecouldatonceplayPQKt4andthenPQR4andPKt5.
11.RKt1!
12.PKt4
13.PQR4
PB3
KtB2
BKt
Hesimplifies,hopingtolightenWhite'sattack,whichwillhavetobeconductedpracticallywith
onlytheheavypiecesontheboard.HemayhavealsodoneitinordertoplayKtKt4andK3.
{223}
14.RB
TakingwiththePawnwouldhaveopenedapossibilityforacounterattack.
14.........
PQKt3
He is forced to this in order to avoid the breaking up of his Queen's side Pawns. The only
alternativewouldhavebeenPQKt4whichonthefaceofitlooksbad.
15.PKt5
16.PP
BPP
PQR4
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17.KtQ5
18.PB4
QB4
TheWhiteKnightisnowatowerofstrength.BehinditWhitewillbeabletoprepareanattack,
whichwillbeginwithPQ4,todriveawaytheBlackQueenandthusleavehimselffreetoplay
PB5.ThereisonlyonethingtotakecareofandthatistopreventBlackfromsacrificingthe
RookfortheKnightandaPawn.
18.........
19.RB2
20.QB3
{224}
KtKt4
KtK3
RQ2
HadWhiteonhis19thmoveplayedKRB1insteadofRB2,Blackcouldhaveplayednow
insteadofthetextmove,RKtKPR,QPchfollowedbyKtB4withawinninggame.
21.RQ1
KKt2
ItwouldhavebeenbetterforBlacktoplayKQ1.Thetextmovelosesveryrapidly.
22.PQ4
23.RB2
24.PP
25.PB5
QQ3
PP
KtB5
KtKt
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26.PKt
27.PB6ch
28.PR
29.PQ5
30.PQ6
31.QB6
QQP
KKt1
QP(Q2)
RK1
PP
Resigns.
GAME12.FRENCHDEFENCE
{225}
(NewYork,1918)
White:J.R.Capablanca.Black:O.Chajes.
1.PK4
2.PQ4
3.KtQB3
4.BQ3
PK3
PQ4
KtKB3
Notthemostfavouredmove,butaperfectlynaturaldevelopingone,andconsequentlyitcannotbe
bad.
4........
PP
PQB4isgenerallyplayedinthiscaseinsteadofthetextmove.
5.KtP
6.KtKtch
7.KtB3
QKtQ2
KtKt
BK2
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{226}
8.QK2
This is played to prevent P Q Kt 3, followed by B Kt 2, which is the general form of

developmentforBlackinthisvariation.IfBlacknowplays8...PQKt39.BKt5ch,BQ2
10.KtK5andWhiteobtainsaconsiderableadvantageinposition.
8.........
9.BKKt5
OO
PKR3
OfcourseBlackcouldnotplayPQKt3becauseofBKt,followedbyQK4.
10.BKt
11.QK4
BB
PKKt3
ThisweakensBlack'sKing'sside.RK1wastherightmove.
12.PKR4
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12.........
PK4
ThisismerelygivingupaPawninordertocomeoutquicklywithhisQ B. But as he does not

obtainanycompensationforhisPawn,themoveisbad.HeshouldhaveplayedQQ4andtried {227}
tofightthegameoutthatway.Itmighthavecontinuedthus:13.QB4,BKt214.QBP,
BP15.KtB,QKt16.OOOwithconsiderableadvantageofpositionforWhite.The
textmovemightbeconsideredamildformofsuicide.
13.PP
14.QKB4
15.OOO
16.RB
17.QB4
BB4
BB
BKt2
QK2
InordertokeeptheBlackQueenfromcomingintothegame.
17.........
18.KRQ1
QRQ1
AbetterplanwouldhavebeentoplayRK1,threateningPK6.
18.........
19.RR
RR
RK1
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20.PB3
PQB3
OfcourseifBPKtB,QKtRK3.BlackwithaPawnminusfightsveryhard.
21.RK3
ThePawnhadnowtobedefendedafterBlack'slastmove,becauseafterBPKtB,QKt
RK3,BlackcouldnowplayQKt1defendingtheRook.
21.........
22.KB2
23.PR4
{228}
PQB4
PKt3
White'splannowistofixtheQueen'ssideinordertobeabletomanuvrefreelyontheotherside,
wherehehastheadvantageofmaterial.
23.........
24.RQ3
25.QK4
26.RQ5
27.PB4
QQ2
QB1
QK3
KB1
KKt1
Blackseesthathenowstandsinhisbestdefensiveposition,andthereforewaitsforWhitetoshow
howheintendstobreakthrough.Henotices,ofcourse,thattheWhiteKnightisinthewayofthe
KBP,whichcannotadvancetoKB4todefend,orsupportrather,thePawnatK5.
{229}
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28.PQKt3
29.KQ3
30.RQ6
31.RQ5
32.PKKt4
33.QB4
34.QK4
KB1
KKt1
QB1
QK3
KB1
KKt1
KB1
Blackpersistsinwaitingfordevelopments.HeseesthatifPKR5,PPPP,theQueengoes
toR6,andWhitewillhavetofaceseriousdifficulties.InthissituationWhitedecidesthattheonly
courseistobringhisKingtoKKt3,soastodefendthesquaresKR3andKKt4,wherethe
BlackQueenmightotherwisebecomeasourceofannoyance.
35.KK2
36.KB1
37.KKt2
38.KKt3
KKt1
KB1
KKt1
KB1
NowthathehascompletedhismarchwiththeKing,Whiteisreadytoadvance.
{230}
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39.PKR5
PP
39...PKKt4wouldbeansweredbyQB5,withawinninggame.
40.PP
QK2
Against K Kt1 White wouldplay Q Kt 4, practically forcing the exchange of Queens, after
whichWhitewouldhavelittletroubleinwinning the ending, since Black's Bishop could not do
muchdamageintheresultingposition.
41.QB5
KKt1
Blackoverlookstheforceof42RQ7.HisbestdefencewasRQ1againstwhichWhitecould
eitheradvancetheKingorplayKtR4,threateningKtKt6ch.
42.RQ7
BPch
Thislosesapiece,butBlack'spositionwasaltogetherhopeless.
43.KKt4
44.KtB
45.KB4
{231}
QB3
QKt2ch
Resigns.
TheinterestofthisgamecentresmainlyontheopeningandonthemarchoftheWhiteKingduring
thefinalstageofthegame.ItisaninstanceoftheKingbecomingafightingpiece,evenwhilethe
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Queensarestillontheboard.
GAME13.RUYLOPEZ
(NewYork,1918)
White:J.S.Morrison.Black:J.R.Capablanca.
1.PK4
2.KtKB3
3.BKt5
4.KtB3
5.PQ4
6.KtP
PK4
KtQB3
PQ3
BQ2
PP
PKKt3
InthisformofdefenceoftheRuyLopezthedevelopmentoftheKBviaKt2is,Ithink,ofgreat
importance.TheBishopatKt2exertsgreatpressurealongthelongdiagonal.Atthesametimethe
positionoftheBishopandPawnsinfrontoftheKing,onceitisCastled,isoneofgreatdefensive
strength. Therefore, in this form of development, the Bishop,we might say, exerts its maximum
strength (Compare this note with the one in the CapablancaBurn game at San Sebastian, page
197.)
7.KtB3
8.BKt5
{232}
BKt2
KtB3
OfcoursenotKKtK2becauseofKtQ5.ThealternativewouldhavebeenPB3tobe
followedbyKKtK2butinthispositionitispreferabletohavetheKtatKB3.
9.QQ2
10.BKR4
PKR3
Anerrorofjudgment.WhitewantstokeeptheKnightpinned,butitwasmoreimportanttoprevent
BlackfromCastlingimmediately.BKB4wouldhavedonethis.
10.........
11.OOO
OO
Boldplay,butagainfaultyjudgment,unlessheintendedtoplaytowinorlose,throwingsafetyto
the winds. The Black Bishop at Kt 2 becomes a very powerful attacking piece. The strategical
dispositionoftheBlackpiecesisnowfarsuperiortoWhite's,thereforeitwillbeBlackwhowill
taketheoffensive.
11.........
12.KRK1
RK1
{233}
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WhitewantedtokeephisQRontheopenfile,andconsequentlybringsoverhisotherRooktothe
centretodefendhisKP,whichBlackthreatenedtowinbyPKKt4,followedbyKtP.
12.........
PKt4!
NowthattheKRisinthecentre,Blackcansafelyadvance,since,inordertoattackontheKing's
side, White would have to shift his Rooks, which he cannot do so long as Black keeps up the
pressureinthecentre.
13.BKt3
KtKR4
UncoveringtheBishop,whichnowactsalongthelongdiagonal,andatthesametimepreventing
PK5,whichwouldbeansweredbyKtBPKt,KtPetc.,winningaPawn.
14.KtQ5
PR3
BlackdrivestheBishopawaysoastounpinhispiecesandbeabletomanuvrefreely.
15.BQ3
{234}
BK3
Preparingtheonslaught.Black'spiecesbegintobearagainsttheKing'sposition.
16.PB3
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WiththelastmoveWhitenotonlyblockstheactionofBlack'sKB,buthealsoaimsatplacinghis
BishopatQKt1andhisQueenatQB2,andthenadvancinghisKP,tocheckatKR7.
16.........
PB4!
Initiating an attack to which there is no reply, and which has for its ultimate object either the
winningoftheWhiteQBorcuttingitofffromthegame.(ComparethisgamewiththeWinter
CapablancagameatHastings.)
17.PKR4
PB5
TheBishopisnowoutofaction.Whitenaturallycounterattacksviolentlyagainsttheseemingly
exposedpositionoftheBlackKing,and,withverygoodjudgment,evenofferstheBishop.
{235}
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18.PP!
PP!
Taking the Bishop would be dangerous, if not actually bad, while the text move accomplishes
Black'sobject,whichistoputtheBishopoutofaction.
19.RR1
20.KKt1
BB2
Thismoveunquestionablylosestime.SincehewouldhavetoretirehisBishoptoR2sooneror
later, he might have done it immediately. It is doubtful, however, if at this stage of the game it
wouldbepossibleforWhitetosavethegame.
20.........
21.KtKt
KtK4
RKt
Itwasdifficulttodecidewhichwaytoretake.ItookwiththeRookinordertohaveitpreparedfor
apossibleattackagainsttheKing.
22.BR2
{236}
KtB3
NowthattheWhiteBishophasbeendrivenback,BlackwantstogetridofWhite'sstronglyposted
KnightatQ5,whichblockstheattackoftheBishopatB2.ItmaybesaidthattheKnightatQ5is
thekeytoWhite'sdefence.
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23.PKt3
WhitestrivesnotonlytohaveplayforhisBishop,butalsohewantstobreakupBlack'sPawnsin
ordertocounterattack.Thealternativewouldhavebeen23KtKtch,QKtandBlackwould
bethreateningRR4,andalsoQK3.ThestudentshouldnoticethatBlack'sdrawbackinallthis
isthefactthatheisplayingminustheservicesofhisQR.Itisthisfactthatmakesitpossiblefor
{237}
Whitetoholdoutlonger.
23.........
24.BKt
25.PP
KtP
RB
PB3
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26.KtK3
KtKt4wasthealternative,butinanyeventWhitecouldnotresisttheattack.Ileaveittothe
readertoworkthisoutforhimself,asthevariationsaresonumerousthattheywouldtakeuptoo
muchspace.
26.........
27.PB4
28.RQ
29.KtKt4
QR4
QQ
PP
BKt3
ThisforcestheKingtothecorner,wherehewillbeinamatingnet.
30.KR1
QRK1
NowatlasttheQRentersintothegameandsoonthebattleisover.
31.PR3
IfRP,RK8chRQ1,R(K1)K7.
31.........
32.RR
33.KR2
{238}
RK8ch
RRch
BB2
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34.KKt3
PQ4
thequickestwaytofinishthegame.
35.BP
36.KKt4
37.PP
38.PB4
39.KR5
40.RQ8ch
41.RQ7
Resigns.
PPch
PB6
RK5ch
RPch
RB
KR2
BK3
Averylivelygame.
(NewYork,1918)
1.PQ4
2.KtKB3
3.PB4
4.KtB3
5.BKt5
6.PK3
7.RB1
PQ4
KtKB3
PK3
QKtQ2
BK2
OO
PB3
ThisisoneoftheoldestsystemsofdefenceagainsttheQueen'sGambit.Ihadplayeditbeforein
thisTournamentagainstKostic,andnodoubtMarshallexpectedit.AttimesIchangemydefences,
orrathersystemsofdefenceontheotherhand,duringaTournament,ifoneofthemhasgivenme
goodresults,Igenerallyplayitallthetime.
8.QB2
9.BP
10.BB
11.OO
12.QKt
{239}
PP
KtQ4
QB
KtKt
PQKt3
Thisisthekeytothissystemofdefence.Havingsimplifiedthegameconsiderablybyaseriesof
exchanges, Black will now develop his Q B alongthelongdiagonalwithouthavingcreatedany
apparentweakness.TheproperdevelopmentoftheQBisBlack'sgreatestproblemintheQueen's
Gambit.
13.PK4
14.KRK1
BKt2
KRQ1
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Thedevelopingstagecannowbesaidtobecompleteonbothsides.Theopeningisoverandthe
middlegamebegins.White,asisgenerallythecase,hasobtainedthecentre.Black,ontheother
hand,isentrenchedinhisfirstthreeranks,andifgiventimewillposthisQRatQB1andhis
KnightatKB3,andfinallyplayPQB4,inordertobreakupWhite'scentreandgivefullaction
to the Black Bishop posted at Q Kt 2. In this game White attempts to anticipate that plan by
initiating an advance on the centre, which, when carefully analysed, is truly an attack against
Black'sKP.
15.PQ5
{240}
KtB4!
Against Kostic in a previous game I had played Kt B 1. It was carelessness on my part, but
Marshall believed differently, otherwise he would not have played this variation, since, had he
analysedthismove,he would, I think, have realised that Black would obtain an excellent game.
BlacknowthreatensnotonlyBPPbutalsoKtPfollowedbyBPP.Thepositionisvery
interestingandfullofpossibilities.
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16.PKP
17.BKt
KtP(K3)
QB
{241}
playedundertheimpressionthatWhitehadtolosetimeindefendinghisQRP,whenIcouldplay
P Q B 4, obtaining a very superior game. But, as will be seen, my opponent had quite a little
surpriseforme.
18.KtQ4!
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18.........
QK4!
Ofcourse,if18...QRP19RR1wouldwintheQueen.Thetextmoveisprobablytheonly
satisfactorymoveintheposition.TheobviousmovewouldhavebeenQQ2todefendtheQBP,
andthenwouldhavecome19KtB5,PB320QKKt3(threateningQRQ1),KR1
21QRQ1,QKB222PKR4,withatremendousadvantageinposition.Thetextmove,on
theotherhand,assuresBlackanevengameattheveryleast,aswillsoonbeseen.
19.KtP
20.RQ
21.RKt1
{242}
QQ
RQ7
A very serious error of judgment. White is under the impression that he has the better game,
becauseheisaPawnahead,butthatisnotso.The powerful position of the Black Rook at Q 7
fully compensates Black for the Pawn minus. Besides, the Bishop is better with Rooks than the
Knight(seepages4856,wheretherelativevaluesoftheKnightandBishoparecompared),and,
asalreadystated,withPawnsonbothsidesoftheboardtheBishopissuperiorbecauseofitslong
range. Incidentally, this ending will demonstrate the great power of the Bishop. White's best
chancewastotakeadrawatonce,thus.21KtK7chKB122RB7RK1(notBP
because P B 3 would give White the best of it) 23 R B (best not Kt Kt 6 ch, because of
BPKtfollowedbyRKP),RKt24RKt8ch,RK125RRch,KR,andwith
properplayWhitewilldraw.
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Itiscuriousthat,althoughaPawnahead,Whiteistheonewhoisalwaysindanger.Itisonlynow,
afterseeingthisanalysis,thatthevalueofBlack's18thmoveQK4canbefullyappreciated.
21.........
RK1
With this powerful move Black begins, against White's centre, an assault which will soon be
shiftedagainsttheKingitself.Whiteisafraidtoplay22PB3becauseofPB4.
22.PK5
{243}
PKKt4
To prevent P B 4. The White Knight is practically pinned, because he does not dare move on
accountofRKP.
23.PKR4
Thisisasequeltothepreviousmove.WhiteexpectstodisruptBlack'sPawns,andthusmakethem
weak.
23.........
PP
ThoughdoubledandisolatedthisPawnexercisesenormouspressure.BlacknowthreatensRK3
tobefollowedbyRKt3andPR6andR7atthepropertime.
24.RK1
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Whitecannotstandtheslowdeathanylonger.Heseesdangereverywhere,andwantstoavertitby
givinguphisQueen'ssidePawns,expectingtoregainhisfortuneslateronbytakingtheinitiative
ontheKing'sside.
24.........
{244}
RK3!
Much better than taking Pawns. This forces White to defend the Knight with the Rook at K 1,
becauseofthethreatRKt3.
25.R(K1)QB1 KKt2
PreparatorytoRKt3.ThegameisgoingtobedecidedontheKing'sside,anditistheisolated
doublePawnthatwillsupplythefinishingtouch.
26.PQKt4
PKt4
TopreventPKt5,defendingtheKnightandliberatingtheRooks.
27.PR3
28.KB1
RKt3
RR7
Noticetheremarkablepositionofthepieces.Whitecannotmoveanythingwithoutincurringsome
loss.Hisbestchancewouldhavebeentoplay29PK6,butthatwouldonlyhaveprolongedthe
game,whichislostinanycase.
{245}
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29.KKt1
30.PKt3
PR6
PQR3
AgainforcingWhitetomoveandtolosesomethingthereby,asallhispiecesaretiedup.
31.PK6
RKP
NotevennowcanWhitemovetheKnightbecauseofPR7chKP,R R 3 ch K Kt 1,
RR8mate.
32.PKt4
33.PB3
RR3
If33PKt5,PR7ch34KR1,RKt35RR,RP,winningeasily.
33.........
34.KtK7
35.KtB5ch
36.KtR4
37.KtB5
38.KB1
39.PB4ch
40.Resigns.
{246}
RQ3
R(Q3)Q7
KB3
KKt4
RKt7ch
PR7
KBP
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ChessFundamentals.
Anendingworthverycarefulstudy.
Notes
[1]Thevalueoftheinitiativeisexplainedinsection20,p.77.
[2]Seepage37.
[3]Seepage13.
[4]FullscoreandnotesaregiveninMyChessCareer,byJ.R.Capablanca(GameNo.
11).
[5]ThispositioniselaboratedunderExample50(p.80.).
[6]Wegive,fromnowon,gamesandnotes,sothatthestudentmayfamiliarisehimself
withthemanyandvariedconsiderationsthatconstantlyareborneinmindbytheChess
Master.Wemusttakeitforgrantedthatthestudenthasalreadyreachedastagewhere,
whilenotbeingablefullytounderstandeverymove,yethecanderivebenefitfromany
discussionwithregardtothem.
[7] A "hole" in chess parlance has come to mean a defect in Pawn formation which
allowstheopponenttoestablishhisforcesinwedgeformationorotherwisewithoutthe
possibilityofdislodginghimbyPawnmoves.Thus,inthefollowingdiagram,Blackhas
two holes at K B 3 and K R 3, where White forces, e.g. a Kt or B, could establish
themselves,supportedbypiecesorPawns.
[8] See game CapablancaKupchick, from Havana International Masters Tournament
Book, 1913, by J. R. Capablanca or a game in the Carlsbad Tournament of 1911,
VidmarplayingBlackagainstAlechin.
[9] See Niemzowitch's game in the All Russian Masters Tournament, 1914, at St.
Petersburg,againstLevitzki,Ibelieve.
[10]SeeCapablancaJanowskigame,NewYorkMastersTournament,1913.
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ChessFundamentals.
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Chess Fundamentals

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Chess Fundamentals

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White can win, however, by playing: 1 K K 4, K K 3. (If 1...P Kt 3 2 K Q 4, K K 3

surmounted,evenwhentherearehardly any pieces left, when playing against an adversary who

thereforewineasily.Thesetwoexamplesshowthedanger of advancing the K Kt P one square,

Thestudentwoulddowelltoacquainthimselfwithvarioussimpleendings of this sort, so as to

Example41.Theprocedurehereisverysimilar.Thethings to bear in mind are that the Rook

Manyplayerswouldbedeceivedbythisposition.Themostlikelylooking move is not thebest.

Example49.Anexaminationofthispositionwillshowthat Black's main weakness lies in the

Best. P K 4 would have been immediately fatal. Thus: 14...P K 4 15 Kt K 6 ch, K B 3

Whitefallsintothetrap.Onlylackofexperiencecanaccountforthis move. White should have

AsimpleexaminationwillshowthatWhiteisminusaBishopforallpractical purposes. He can

(One of the objects of Black's method of defence is to attack White's Q Kt doubly by Kt K 5,

Black wantstobring hisKingtothecentre of the board inorder to be nearer to whatever point

If 4...P B 4 5 R R 8 ch, K Kt 3 6 R (B 8) Kt 8 ch, K B 3 7 R P ch, R Kt 3

bringingtheRooktoattacktheKing'ssidePawnssoastoforcetheKingtothat sideto defend

GettingreadytoshifttheattacktotheQueen'sside,wherehehasthe advantage in material and

No longer would 9...P P 10 B P, P Q Kt 3 be good, because 11 B Kt 5 would prevent

Thegamewentonforafewmoremoves,and,therebeingnowaytocounteract the advance of

ThisKnightcompletelyparalysestheattack,asitdominatesthewholesituation, and there is no

This is played to prevent P Q Kt 3, followed by B Kt 2, which is the general form of

ThisismerelygivingupaPawninordertocomeoutquicklywithhisQ B. But as he does not

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