PLANNING A WIN IN MIDDLE-GAME PLAY
I shall now give a few winning positions taken from my own games. I have
selected those that I believe can be considered as _types_, i.e. positions
that may easily occur again in a somewhat similar form. A knowledge of such
positions is of great help; in fact, one cannot know too many. It often may
help the player to find, with little effort, the right move, which he might
not be able to find at all without such knowledge.
17. ATTACKING WITHOUT THE AID OF KNIGHTS
[Illustration] {69}
EXAMPLE 43.--It is Black's move, and as he is a Kt and P behind he must win
quickly, if at all. He plays:
1. ........ Q R - Kt 1 !
2. R - B 2
If, Q x Q, R x P ch; K - R 1, B - Q 4 and mate follows in a few moves.
2. ........ R x P ch
3. K - B 1 B - B 5 ch
4. Kt x B R - Kt 8 mate
[Illustration]
EXAMPLE 44.--Black's last move was P - K 6, played with the object of
stopping what he thought was White's threat, viz.: R - Q R 5, to which he
would have answered Q - B 5 ch and drawn the game by perpetual check.
White, however, has a more forceful move, and he mates in three moves as
follows: {70}
1. R x P ch Q x R
2. R - Q R 5 Black moves
3. White mates
[Illustration]
EXAMPLE 45.--White has a beautiful position, but still he had better gain
some material, if he can, before Black consolidates his defensive position.
He therefore plays:
1. R x Kt ! P x R
2. B x P ch K - K 2
If Kt x B; R x Kt and Black would be helpless.
3. Q - R 7 ch K - K 1
4. Q x Kt ch K - Q 2
5. Q - R 7 ch Q - K 2
6. B - B 8 Q x Q
7. R x Q ch K - K 1
8. R x R Resigns
In these few examples the attacking has been done by Rooks and Bishops in
combination with the Queen. {71} There have been no Knights to take part in
the attack. We shall now give some examples in which the Knights play a
prominent part as an attacking force.
* * * * *
18. ATTACKING WITH KNIGHTS AS A PROMINENT FORCE
[Illustration]
EXAMPLE 46.--White is two Pawns behind. He must therefore press on his
attack. The game continues:
1. Kt (B 5) x Kt P Kt - B 4
Evidently an error which made the winning easier for White, as he simply
took the Rook with the Knight and kept up the attack. Black should have
played: 1 ... Kt x Kt. Then would have followed: 2 Kt - B 6 ch, K - Kt 3;
3 Kt x B, P - B 3 (best); 4 P - K 5, K - B 2; 5 Kt x P, R - K 2;
6 Kt - K 4, and Black should lose.[4]
{72}
[Illustration]
EXAMPLE 47.--The student should carefully examine the position, as the
sacrifice of the Bishop in similar situations is typical, and the chance
for it is of frequent occurrence in actual play. The game continues:
1. B x P ch K x B
2. Kt - Kt 5 ch K - Kt 3
Best. If 2...K - R 3; 3 Kt x P ch wins the Queen, and if 2...K - Kt 1;
3 Q - R 5, with an irresistible attack.
3. Q - Kt 4 P - B 4
4. Q - Kt 3 K - R 3
White finally won.[5]
{73}
* * * * *
19. WINNING BY INDIRECT ATTACK
We have so far given positions where the attacks were of a violent nature
and directed against the King's position. Very often, however, in the
middle-game attacks are made against a position or against pieces, or even
Pawns.
_The winning of a Pawn among good players of even strength often means the
winning of the game._
Hence the study of such positions is of great importance. We give below two
positions in which the attack aims at the gain of a mere Pawn as a means of
ultimately winning the game.
[Illustration]
EXAMPLE 48.--Black is a Pawn behind, and there is no violent direct attack
against White's King. Black's pieces, however, are very well placed and
free to act, and by co-ordinating the action of all his pieces he is soon
able not only to regain the Pawn but to obtain the better game. The student
should carefully {74} consider this position and the subsequent moves. It
is a very good example of proper co-ordination in the management of forces.
The game continues:
1. ........ R - R 1
2. P - Q R 4
White's best move was P - Q Kt 3, when would follow Kt x B; 3 Q x Kt,
R - R 6 and Black would ultimately win the Q R P, always keeping a slight
advantage in position. The text move makes matters easier.
2. ........ Kt x B
3. Q x Kt Q - B 5
4. K R - Q 1 K R - Kt 1
Black could have regained the Pawn by playing B x Kt, but he sees that
there is more to be had, and therefore increases the pressure against
White's Queen side. He now threatens, among other things, R x Kt P.
5. Q - K 3 R - Kt 5
Threatening to win the exchange by B - Q 5.
6. Q - Kt 5 B - Q 5 ch
7. K - R 1 Q R - Kt 1
This threatens to win the Kt, and thus forces White to give up the
exchange.
8. R x B Q x R
9. R - Q 1 Q - B 5
Now Black will recover his Pawn. {75}
[Illustration]
EXAMPLE 49.--An examination of this position will show that Black's main
weakness lies in the exposed position of his King, and in the fact that his
Q R has not yet come into the game. Indeed, if it were Black's move, we
might conclude that he would have the better game, on account of having
three Pawns to two on the Queen's side, and his Bishop commanding the long
diagonal.
It is, however, White's move, and he has two courses to choose from. The
obvious move, B - B 4, might be good enough, since after 1 B - B 4,
Q R - Q 1; 2 P - Q Kt 4 would make it difficult for Black. But there is
another move which completely upsets Black's position and wins a Pawn,
besides obtaining the better position. That move is Kt - Q 4 ! The game
continues as follows:
1. Kt - Q 4 ! P x Kt
2. R x B Kt - Kt 5
{76}
There is nothing better, as White threatened B - B 4.
3. B - B 4 ch K - R 1
4. R - K 6 P - Q 6
5. R x P
And White, with the better position, is a Pawn ahead.
These positions have been given with the idea of acquainting the student
with different types of combinations. I hope they will also help to develop
his imagination, a very necessary quality in a good player. The student
should note, in all these middle-game positions, that--
_once the opportunity is offered, all the pieces are thrown into action "en
masse" when necessary;_ and that _all the pieces smoothly co-ordinate their
action with machine-like precision._
That, at least, is what the ideal middle-game play should be, if it is not
so altogether in these examples.
* * * * *
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