THE

MIDDLE LAME
IN CHESS
Eugene A..
Znosko-Borovsky
Transiated by J. duMont

Dover Publicatio ns, Inc.

New York

PREFACE
A third edition of Znosko-Borovsky's pioneer work,
The Mjddie Game in Chess, having been sold out, the
question of a reprint became urgent.
An artist in the true sense of the word, the author was
not satisfied with a mere reprint of the work as it stood,
successful though that has been. Instead of this line of
least resistance, he set out to write an entirely new book,
in which the experience and concentrated thought of the
last twelve years have found a happy expression. .
The really outstanding positions from the old book
have been retained, but treated in a manner far more
concise and easy to comprehend.
At the same time, new and profound ideas are illustrated by positions from the very latest master practice.
True to the pioneer spirit, which is perhaps the most
striking feature of the author's character, he gives his
readers, in Chapter I of Part II, a lucid exposition of
those bugbears of the average player, the trans1tion stages
between Opening and Middle Game and between Middle
Game and End Game.

CONTENTS
PART 1. GENERAL REMARKS
PAGE

THE MATERIAL BASIS OF THE GAME

I The Elements:
2 The

Space, Time,

Pieces and

their

Force

Management:

The

Pawns, The King, The Other Pieces.

.
3 The Co-ordination of the Elements as the Basis
of Chess .

II

IDEAS IN CHESS
I Objects to follow and how to attain them
2 Threats

!Ii

In

STRATEGYAND TACTICS

For the first time in the history of chess literature,

this important subject finds adequate and authoritative
treatment.

I Preliminary and Inner Analysis of a Position

2 The Position as a Whole.
.
.

My thanks are due to my friends F. W. Allen and

D. Castello for reading the proofs.
J. DU MONT

+ Tactical Po~ibilities

3 Construction and Execution of the Plan.

'I'

I THE STAGESOF THE MIDDLE GAME

I Between the Opening and the Middle Game
2 Between Middle Game and End Game.

1+
29

35
35
+2

+8
+8
58
61
69

PART II. THE MIDDLE GAME

This Dover edition, first published in 1980, is a republication

of the
fourth, revised edition as published by David McKay Company in
1938. The main text is unabridged, but a two-page List of Illustrative
Positions has been omitted.

International Standard Book Number: 0-486-23931-4

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 79-55840
Manufactured in the United States of America
Dover Publications, Inc.
180 Varick Street
New York, N.Y. 10014

II

SUPERIORITYIN POSITION
I Superiority in the Various Elements
2. Various Means of Exploiting an Advantage

76
76
87
9+
9+
110