GENERAL THEORY
Before we revert to the technique of the openings it will be advisable to
dwell a little on general theory, so that the openings in their relation to
the rest of the game may be better understood.
20. THE INITIATIVE
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 _the initiative_, and the initiative, other things being
equal, is an advantage. Now this advantage must be kept as long as
possible, and should only be given up if some other advantage, material or
positional, is obtained in its place. White, according to the principles
already laid down, develops his pieces as fast as possible, but in so doing
he also tries to hinder his opponent's development, by applying pressure
wherever possible. He tries first of all to control the centre, and failing
this to obtain some positional advantage that will make it possible for him
to keep on harassing the enemy. He only relinquishes the initiative when he
gets for it some material advantage under such favourable conditions as to
make him feel {78} assured that he will, in turn, be able to withstand his
adversary's thrust; and finally, through his superiority of material, once
more resume the initiative, which alone can give him the victory. This last
assertion is self-evident, 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. It may be that a direct attack against the
King is in order; or that it is a case of improving a position already
advantageous; or, finally, that some material can be gained at the cost of
relinquishing the initiative for a more or less prolonged period.
* * * * *
21. DIRECT ATTACKS _EN MASSE_
In the first case the attack must be carried on with sufficient force to
guarantee its success. Under no consideration must a direct attack against
the King be carried on _a outrance_ unless there is absolute certainty in
one's own mind that it will succeed, since failure in such cases means
disaster.
EXAMPLE 50.--A good example of a successful direct attack against the King
is shown in the following diagram:
In this position White could simply play B - B 2 and still have the better
position, but instead he prefers an immediate attack on the King's side,
with {79} the certainty in his mind that the attack will lead to a win. The
game continues thus:[6]
[Illustration]
12. B x P ch K x B
13. Kt - Kt 5 ch K - Kt 3
14. Q - Kt 4 P - B 4
Best. P - K 4 would have been immediately fatal. Thus: 14...P - K 4;
15 Kt - K 6 ch, K - B 3; 16 P - B 4 ! P - K 5; 17 Q - Kt 5 ch, K x Kt;
18 Q - K 5 ch, K - Q 2; 19 K R - Q 1 ch, Kt - Q 6; 20 Kt x P, K - B 3 (if
K - K 1, Kt - Q 6 ch wins the Queen); 21 R x Kt, Q x R; 22 R - B 1 ch,
K - Kt 3 (if K - Q 2 mate in two); 23 Q - B 7 ch and mate in five moves.
{80}
15. Q - Kt 3 K - R 3
16. Q - R 4 ch K - Kt 3
17. Q - R 7 ch K - B 3
If K x Kt; Q x Kt P ch and mate in a few moves.
18. P - K 4 Kt - Kt 3
19. P x P P x P
20. Q R - Q 1 Kt - Q 6
21. Q - R 3 Kt (Q 6) - B 5
22. Q - Kt 3 Q - B 2
23. K R - K 1 Kt - K 7 ch
This blunder loses at once, but the game could not be saved in any case;
e.g. 23...B - K 3; 24 R x B ch, Kt x R; 25 Kt - Q 5 mate.
24. R x Kt Q x Q
25. Kt - R 7 ch K - B 2
26. R P x Q R - R 1
27. Kt - Kt 5 ch K - B 3
28. P - B 4 Resigns
EXAMPLE 51.--Another example of this kind:
[Illustration] {81}
In the above position the simple move Kt x P would win, but White looks for
complications and their beauties. Such a course is highly risky until a
wide experience of actual master-play has developed a sufficient insight
into all the possibilities of a position. This game, which won the
brilliancy prize at St. Petersburg in 1914, continued as follows:--
21. B - R 4 Q - Q 2
22. Kt x B Q x R
23. Q - Q 8 ch Q - K 1
If K - B 2; 24 Kt - Q 6 ch, King moves; 25 mate.
24. B - K 7 ch K - B 2
25. Kt - Q 6 ch K - Kt 3
26. Kt - R 4 ch K - R 4
If 26...K - R 3; 27 Kt (Q 6) - B 5 ch, K - R 4; 28 Kt x P ch, K - R 3;
29 Kt (R 4) - B 5 ch, K - Kt 3; 30 Q - Q 6 ch and mate next move.
27. Kt x Q R x Q
28. Kt x P ch K - R 3
29. Kt (Kt 7) - B 5 ch K - R 4
30. P - K R 3 !
The climax of the combination started with 21 B - R 4. White is still
threatening mate, and the best way to avoid it is for Black to give back
all the material he has gained and to remain three Pawns behind.
The student should note that in the examples given the attack is carried
out with every available piece, {82} and that often, as in some of the
variations pointed out, it is the coming into action of the last available
piece that finally overthrows the enemy. It demonstrates the principle
already stated:
_Direct and violent attacks against the King must be carried _en masse_,
with full force, to ensure their success. The opposition must be overcome
at all cost; the attack cannot be broken off, since in all such cases that
means defeat._
* * * * *
22. THE FORCE OF THE THREATENED ATTACK
Failing an opportunity, in the second case, for direct attack, one must
attempt to increase whatever weakness there may be in the opponent's
position; or, if there is none, one or more must be created. It is always
an advantage to threaten something, but such threats must be carried into
effect only if something is to be gained immediately. For, holding the
threat in hand, forces the opponent to provide against its execution and to
keep material in readiness to meet it. Thus he may more easily overlook, or
be unable to parry, a thrust at another point. But once the threat is
carried into effect, it exists no longer, and your opponent can devote his
attention to his own schemes. One of the best and most successful
manoeuvres in this type of game is to make a demonstration on one side, so
as to draw the forces of your opponent to that side, then through the
greater mobility of your pieces to shift your forces quickly {83} to the
other side and break through, before your opponent has had the time to
bring over the necessary forces for the defence.
A good example of positional play is shown in the following game:
EXAMPLE 52.--Played at the Havana International Masters Tournament, 1913.
(French Defence.) White: J. R. Capablanca. Black: R. Blanco.
1. P - K 4 P - K 3
2. P - Q 4 P - Q 4
3. Kt - Q B 3 P x P
4. Kt x P Kt - Q 2
5. Kt - K B 3 K Kt - B 3
6. Kt x Kt ch Kt x Kt
7. Kt - K 5
[Illustration]
This move was first shown to me by the talented Venezuelan amateur, M.
Ayala. The object is to {84} prevent the development of Black's Queen's
Bishop _via_ Q Kt 2, after P - Q Kt 3, which is Black's usual development
in this variation. Generally it is bad to move the same piece twice in an
opening before the other pieces are out, and the violation of that
principle is the only objection that can be made to this move, which
otherwise has everything to recommend it.
7. ........ B - Q 3
8. Q - B 3
[Illustration]
B - K Kt 5 might be better. The text move gives Black an opportunity of
which he does not avail himself
8. ........ P - B 3
P - B 4 was the right move. It would have led to complications, in which
Black might have held his own; at least, White's play would be very
difficult. The text move accomplishes nothing, and puts Black {85} in an
altogether defensive position. The veiled threat B x Kt; followed by
Q - R 4 ch; is easily met.
9. P - B 3 O - O
10. B - K Kt 5 B - K 2
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 attacking position without
hindrance of any sort.
11. B - Q 3 Kt - K 1
The alternative was Kt - Q 4. Otherwise White would play Q - R 3, and Black
would be forced to play P - K Kt 3 (not P - K R 3, because of the sacrifice
B x P), seriously weakening his King's side.
12. Q - R 3 P - K B 4
White has no longer an attack, but he has compelled Black to create a
marked weakness. Now White's whole plan will be to exploit this weakness
(the weak K P), and the student can now see how the principles expounded
previously are applied in this game. Every move is directed to make the
weak King's Pawn untenable, or to profit by the inactivity of the Black
pieces defending the Pawn, in order to improve the position of White at
other points.
13. B x B Q x B
14. O - O R - B 3
15. K R - K 1 Kt - Q 3
16. R - K 2 B - Q 2
{86} At last the Bishop comes out, not as an active attacking piece, but
merely to make way for the Rook.
17. Q R - K 1 R - K 1
18. P - Q B 4 Kt - B 2
A very clever move, tending to prevent P - B 5, and tempting White to play
Kt x B, followed by B x P, which would be bad, as the following variation
shows: 19 Kt x B, Q x Kt; 20 B x P, Kt - Kt 4; 21 Q - Kt 4, R x B;
22 P - K R 4, P - K R 4; 23 Q x R, P x Q; 24 R x R ch, K - R 2; 25 P x Kt,
Q x P. But it always happens in such cases that, if one line of attack is
anticipated, there is another; and this is no exception to the rule, as
will be seen.
[Illustration]
19. P - Q 5 ! Kt x Kt
Apparently the best way to meet the manifold threats of White. B P x P
would make matters worse, as the White Bishop would finally bear on the
weak King's Pawn _via_ Q B 4. {87}
20. R x Kt P - K Kt 3
21. Q - R 4 K - Kt 2
22. Q - Q 4 P - B 4
Forced, as White threatened P x K P, and also Q x P
23. Q - B 3 P - Kt 3
Q - Q 3 was better. But Black wants to tempt White to play P x P, thinking
that he will soon after regain his Pawn with a safe position. Such,
however, is not the case, as White quickly demonstrates. I must add that in
any case Black's position is, in my opinion, untenable, since all his
pieces are tied up for the defence of a Pawn, while White's pieces are free
to act.
24. P x P B - B 1
[Illustration]
25. B - K 2 !
The deciding and timely manoeuvre. All the Black pieces are useless after
this Bishop reaches Q 5. {88}
25. ........ B x P
26. B - B 3 K - B 2
27. B - Q 5 Q - Q 3
Now it is evident that all the Black pieces are tied up, and it only
remains for White to find the quickest way to force the issue. White will
now try to place his Queen at K R 6, and then advance the K R P to R 5 in
order to break up the Black Pawns defending the King.
28. Q - K 3 R - K 2
If 28...P - B 5; 29 Q - K R 3, P - K R 4; 30 Q - R 4, R - K 2; 31 Q - Kt 5,
K - Kt 2; 32 P - K R 4, Q - Q 2; 33 P - K Kt 3, P x P; 34 P - B 4, and
Black will soon be helpless, as he has to mark time with his pieces while
White prepares to advance P - R 5, and finally at the proper time to play
R x B, winning.
29. Q - R 6 K - Kt 1
30. P - K R 4 P - R 3
31. P - R 5 P - B 5
32. P x P P x P
33. R x B Resigns.
Commenting on White's play in this game, Dr. E. Lasker said at the time
that if White's play were properly analysed it might be found that there
was no way to improve upon it.
These apparently simple games are often of the most difficult nature.
Perfection in such cases is much more difficult to obtain than in those
positions calling {89} for a brilliant direct attack against the King,
involving sacrifices of pieces.
* * * * *
23. RELINQUISHING THE INITIATIVE
In the third case, there is nothing to do, once the material advantage is
obtained, but to submit to the opponent's attack for a while, and once it
has been repulsed to act quickly with all your forces and win on material.
A good example of this type of game is given below.
EXAMPLE 53.--From the Havana International Masters Tournament, 1913. (Ruy
Lopez.) White: J. R. Capablanca. Black: D. Janowski.
1. P - K 4 P - K 4
2. Kt - K B 3 Kt - Q B 3
3. B - Kt 5 Kt - B 3
4. O - O P - Q 3
5. B x Kt ch P x B
6. P - Q 4 B - K 2
7. Kt - B 3
P x P might be better, but at the time I was not familiar with that
variation, and therefore I played what I knew to be good.
7. ........ Kt - Q 2
8. P x P P x P
9. Q - K 2 O - O
10. R - Q 1 B - Q3
11. B - Kt 5 Q - K 1
12. Kt - K R 4 P - Kt 3
{90} Black offers the exchange in order to gain time and to obtain an
attack. Without considering at all whether or not such a course was
justified on the part of Black, it is evident that as far as White is
concerned there is only one thing to do, viz., to win the exchange and then
prepare to weather the storm. Then, once it is passed, to act quickly with
all forces to derive the benefit of numerical superiority.
13. B - R 6 Kt - B 4
14. R - Q 2 R - Kt 1
15. Kt - Q 1 R - Kt 5
To force White to play P - Q B 4, and thus create a hole at Q 5 for his
Knight.[7] Such grand tactics show the hand of a master.
16. P - Q B 4 Kt - K 3
17. B x R Q x B
18. Kt - K 3
Kt - K B 3 was better.
18. ........ Kt - Q 5
19. Q - Q 1 P - Q B 4
In order to prevent R x Kt giving back the exchange, but winning a Pawn and
relieving the position.
20. P - Q Kt 3 R - Kt 1
In order to play B - Kt 2 without blocking his Rook.
{91} Black's manoeuvring for positional advantage is admirable throughout
this game, and if he loses it is due entirely to the fact that the
sacrifice of the exchange, without even a Pawn for it, could not succeed
against sound defensive play.
[Illustration]
21. Kt - B 3 P - B 4
22. P x P P x P
[Illustration]
The position begins to look really dangerous for White. In reality Black's
attack is reaching its maximum force. Very soon it will reach the apex, and
then {92} White, who is well prepared, will begin his counter action, and
through his superiority in material obtain an undoubted advantage.
23. Kt - B 1 P - B 5
24. Kt x Kt B P x Kt
25. Q - R 5 B - Kt 2
26. R - K 1 P - B 4
He could not play R - K 1 because of R x Q P. Besides, he wants to be ready
to play P - K 5. At present White cannot with safety play R x K P, but he
will soon prepare the way for it. Then, by giving up a Rook for a Bishop
and a Pawn, he will completely upset Black's attack and come out a Pawn
ahead. It is on this basis that White's whole defensive manoeuvre is
founded.
27. P - B 3 R - K 1
28. R (Q 2) - K 2 R - K 3
[Illustration]
Now the Black Rook enters into the game, but White is prepared. It is now
time to give back the exchange. {93}
29. R x P B x R
30. R x B R - K R 3
31. Q - K 8 Q x Q
32. R x Q ch K - B 2
33. R - K 5 R - Q B 3
34. Kt - Q 2
R - B 5 ch might have been better. The text move did not prove as strong as
anticipated.
34. ........ K - B 3
35. R - Q 5 R - K 3
36. Kt - K 4 ch K - K 2
R x Kt would lose easily
37. R x B P P - Q 6 !
Very fine. White cannot play R B 7 ch because of K - Q 1; R x B, R x Kt
winning.
38. K - B 2 B x Kt
39. P x B R x P
40. R - Q 5 R - K 6
The ending is very difficult to win. At this point White had to make the
last move before the game was adjourned.
[Illustration] {94}
41. P - Q Kt 4 ! R - K 5
42. R x P R x P
43. R - K R 3 R x P
44. R x P ch K - B 3
45. R x P K - B 4
46. K - B 3 R - Kt 7
47. R - R 5 ch K - B 3
48. R - R 4 K - Kt 4
49. R x P R x R P
50. P - R 4 ch K - R 4
51. R - B 5 ch K - R 3
52. P - Kt 4 Resigns
I have passed over the game lightly because of its difficult nature, and
because we are at present concerned more with the opening and the
middle-game than we are with the endings, which will be treated separately.
* * * * *
24. CUTTING OFF PIECES FROM THE SCENE OF ACTION
Very often in a game a master only plays to cut off, so to speak, one of
the pieces from the scene of actual conflict. Often a Bishop or a Knight is
completely put out of action. In such cases we might say that from that
moment the game is won, because for all practical purposes there will be
one more piece on one side than on the other. A very good illustration is
furnished by the following game. {95}
EXAMPLE 54.--Played at the Hastings Victory Tournament, 1919. (Four
Knights.) White: W. Winter. Black: J. R. Capablanca.
1. P - K 4 P - K 4
2. Kt - K B 3 Kt - Q B 3
3. Kt - B 3 Kt - B 3
4. B - Kt 5 B - Kt 5
5. O - O O - O
6. B x Kt
Niemzowitch's variation, which I have played successfully in many a game.
It gives White a very solid game. Niemzowitch's idea is that White will in
due time be able to play P - K B 4, opening a line for his Rooks, which, in
combination with the posting of a Knight at K B 5, should be sufficient to
win. He thinks that should Black attempt to stop the Knight from going to
K B 5, he will have to weaken his game in some other way. Whether this is
true or not remains to be proved, but in my opinion the move is perfectly
good. On the other hand, there is no question that Black 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 considers impregnable and from which he can start an
attack in due course.
6. ........ Q P x B
{96} The alternative, Kt P x B; gives White the best of the game, without
doubt.[8]
7. P - Q 3 B - Q 3
8. B - Kt 5
This move is not at all in accordance with the nature of this variation.
The general strategical plan for White is to play P - K R 3, to be followed
in time by the advance of the K Kt P to Kt 4, and the bringing of the Q Kt
to K B 5 via K 2 and K Kt 3 or Q 1 and K 3. Then, if possible, the K Kt is
linked with the other Kt by placing it at either K R 4, K Kt 3, or K 3 as
the occasion demands. The White King sometimes remains at Kt 1, and other
times it is placed at K Kt 2, but mostly at K R 1. Finally, in most cases
comes P - K B 4, and then the real attack begins. Sometimes it is a direct
assault against the King,[9] and at other times it comes simply to
finessing for positional advantage in the end-game, after most of the
pieces have been exchanged.[10]
8. ........ P - K R 3
9. B - R 4 P - B 4
{97}
[Illustration]
To prevent P - Q 4 and to draw White into playing Kt - Q 5, which would
prove fatal. Black's plan is to play P - K Kt 4, as soon as the
circumstances permit, in order to free his Queen and Knight from the pin by
the Bishop.
10. Kt - Q 5
White falls into the trap. Only lack of experience can account for this
move. White should have considered that a player of my experience and
strength could never allow such a move if it were good.
10. ........ P - K Kt 4
[Illustration] {98} After this move White's game is lost. White cannot play
Kt x Kt P, because Kt x Kt will win a piece. Therefore he must play
B - Kt 3, either before or after Kt x Kt, with disastrous results in either
case, as will be seen.
11. Kt x Kt ch Q x Kt
12. B - Kt 3 B - Kt 5
13. P - K R 3 B x Kt
14. Q x B Q x Q
15. P x Q P - K B 3
[Illustration]
A simple examination will show that White is minus a Bishop for all
practical purposes. He can only free it by sacrificing one Pawn, and
possibly not even then. At least it would lose time besides the Pawn. Black
now devotes all his energy to the Queen's side, and, having practically a
Bishop more, the result cannot be in doubt. The rest of the game is given,
so that the student may see how simple it is to win such a game. {99}
16. K - Kt 2 P - Q R 4
17. P - Q R 4 K - B 2
18. R - R 1 K - K 3
19. P - R 4 K R - Q Kt 1
There is no necessity to pay any attention to the King's side, because
White gains nothing by exchanging Pawns and opening the King's Rook file.
20. P x P R P x P
21. P - Kt 3 P - B 3
22. R - Q R 2 P - Kt 4
23. K R - R 1 P - B 5
If White takes the proffered Pawn, Black regains it immediately by
R - Kt 5, after P x B P.
24. R P x P P x P (Kt 6)
25. B P x P R x P
26. R - R 4 R x P
27. P - Q 4 R - Kt 4
28. R - B 4 R - Kt 5
29. R x B P R x P
Resigns
* * * * *
25. A PLAYER'S MOTIVES CRITICISED IN A SPECIMEN GAME
Now that a few of my games with my own notes have been given, I offer for
close perusal and study a very fine game played by Sir George Thomas, one
of England's foremost players, against Mr. F. F. L. Alexander, in the
championship of the City of London Chess Club in the winter of 1919-1920.
It has the {100} interesting feature for the student that Sir George Thomas
kindly wrote the 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 thus will be
distinguished from my own comments.
EXAMPLE 55.--Queen's Gambit Declined. (_The notes within brackets by Sir
George Thomas._) White: Mr. F. F. L. Alexander. Black: Sir George Thomas.
1. P - Q 4 P - Q 4
2. Kt - K B 3 Kt - K B 3
3. P - B 4 P - K 3
4. Kt - B 3 Q Kt - Q 2
5. B - Kt 5 P - B 3
6. P - K 3 Q - R 4
[Illustration]
(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 x P. But 7 Kt - Q 2 is probably a strong
way {101} of meeting this threat.) There are, besides, two good reasons for
this method of defence; first, that it is not as much played as some of the
other defences and consequently not so well known, and second that it
leaves Black with two Bishops against B and Kt, which, in a general way,
constitutes an advantage.
7. B x Kt Kt x B
8. P - Q R 3 Kt - K 5
9. Q - Kt 3 B - K 2
This is not the logical place for the B which should have been posted at
Q 3. In the opening, time is of great importance, and therefore the player
should be extremely careful in his development and make sure that he posts
his pieces in the right places.
10. B - Q 3 Kt x Kt
11. P x Kt P x P
12. B x B P B - B 3
(I did not want White's Kt to come to K 5, from where I could not dislodge
it by P - K B 3 without weakening my K P.) The same result could be
accomplished by playing B - Q 3. Incidentally it bears out my previous
statement that the B should have been originally played to Q 3.
13. O - O
The alternative was P - K 4, followed by P - K 5, and then O - O. White
would thereby assume the initiative but would weaken his Pawn position
considerably, and might be compelled to stake all on a {102} violent attack
against the King. This is a turning point in the game, and it is in such
positions that the temperament and style of the player decide the course of
the game.
13. ........ O - O
14. P - K 4 P - K 4
[Illustration]
15. P - Q 5
(White might play 15 K R - Q 1, keeping the option of breaking up the
centre later on. I wanted him to advance this P as there is now a fine post
for my B at Q B 4.) By this move White shows that he does not understand
the true value of his position. His only advantage consisted in the
undeveloped condition of Black's Q B. He should therefore have made a plan
to prevent the B from coming out, or if that were not possible, then he
should try to force Black to weaken his Pawn position in order to come out
with the B. There were three moves to consider: first, {103} P - Q R 4, in
order to maintain the White B in the dominating position that it now
occupies. This would have been met by Q - B 2; second, either of the Rooks
to Q 1 in order to threaten 16 P x P, B x P; 17 Kt x B, Q x Kt;
18 B x P ch. This would have been met by B - Kt 5; and third, P - K R 3 to
prevent B - Kt 5 and by playing either R to Q 1, followed up as previously
stated to force Black to play P - Q Kt 4, which would weaken his Queen's
side Pawns. Thus by playing P - K R 3 White 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 throughout the rest of the game will centre mainly on Black's play
and the manner in which he carries out the attack.
15. ........ Q - B 2
16. B - Q 3
(This seems wrong, as it makes the development of Black's Queen wing
easier. At present he cannot play P - Q Kt 3, because of the reply P x P
followed by B - Q 5.)
16. ........ P - Q Kt 3
17. P - B 4 B - Kt 2
18. K R - B 1
(With the idea of Q R - Kt 1 and P - B 5. But it only compels Black to
bring his B to Q B 4, which he would do in any case.)
{104} /* 18. ........ B - K 2 19. R - B 2 B - B 4 20. Q - Kt 2
P - B 3 */
(It would have been better, probably, to play 20...K R - K 1, with the idea
of P - B 4 presently.) Black's play hereabout is weak; it lacks force, and
there seems to be no well-defined plan of attack. It is true that these are
the most difficult positions to handle in a game. In such cases a player
must conceive a plan on a large scale, which promises chances of success,
and with it all, it must be a plan that can be carried out with the means
at his disposal. From the look of the position it seems 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 P - K B 4. If White is able to defeat this plan, or
rather to prevent it, then, once he has fixed some of the White pieces on
the King's side, he should quickly shift his attack to the Queen's side,
and open a line for his Rooks, which, once they enter in action, should
produce an advantage on account of the great power of the two Bishops.
21. Q R - Kt 1 Q R - Q 1
22. P - Q R 4 B - R 3
23. R - Q 1
(White has clearly lost time with his Rook's moves.)
23. ........ K R - K 1
24. Q - Kt 3
{105}
(To bring his Queen across after Kt - R 4 and B - K 2.)
24. ........ R - Q 3
25. Kt - R 4 P - Kt 3
26. B - K 2
[Illustration]
26. ........ P x P
(I thought this exchange necessary here, as White is threatening to play
his Bishop via Kt 4 to K 6. If he retook with the Bishop's Pawn I intended
to exchange Bishops and rely on the two Pawns to one on the Queen's wing. I
did not expect him to retake it with the King's Pawn, which seemed to
expose him to a violent King's side attack.) Black's judgment in this
instance I believe to be faulty. Had White retaken with the B P, as he
expected, he would have had the worst of the Pawn position, as White would
have had a passed Pawn well supported on the Queen's side. His only
advantage would lie in his having a very well posted Bishop against a badly
{106} posted Knight, and on the fact that in such positions as the above,
the Bishop is invariably stronger than the Knight. He could and should have
prevented all that, by playing B - B 1, as, had White then replied with
Q - Kt 3, he could then play P x P, and White would not have been able to
retake with the B P on account of B x P ch winning the exchange.
27. K P x P P - K 5
28. P - Kt 3 P - K 6
I do not like this move. It would have been better to hold it in reserve
and to have played P - B 4, to be followed in due time by P - K Kt 4 and
P - B 5, after having placed the Q at Q 2, K B 2, or some other square as
the occasion demanded. The text move blocks the action of the powerful B at
Q B 4, and tends to make White's position safer than it should have been.
The move in itself is a very strong attacking move, but it is isolated, and
there is no effective continuation. Such advances as a rule should only be
made when they can be followed by a concerted action of the pieces.
29. P - B 4 B - B 1
30. Kt - B 3 B - B 4
31. R - Kt 2 R - K 5
32. K - Kt 2 Q - B 1
33. Kt - Kt 1 P - K Kt 4
{107}
(If now 34 B - B 3, P x P; 35 B x R, B x B ch, with a winning attack.)
34. P x P P x P
35. R - K B 1 P - Kt 5
R - R 3 was the alternative. White's only move would have been K - R 1. The
position now is evidently won for Black, and it is only a question of
finding the right course. The final attack is now carried on by Sir George
Thomas in an irreproachable manner.
36. B - Q 3 R - K B 3
37. Kt - K 2 Q - B 1
[Illustration]
(Again preventing B x R, by the masked attack on White's Rook. White
therefore protects his Rook.) If Kt - B 4, P - K 7 !; 39 Kt x P, R x Kt ch;
40 R x R, B - K 5 ch !!; 41 B x B, best, R x R and White is lost. If,
however, against 38 Kt - B 4, Black plays Q - R 3, and White 39 Q - B 2, I
take pleasure {108} in offering the position to my readers as a most
beautiful and extraordinary win for Black, beginning with
39...Q - R 6 ch !!! I leave the variations for the student to work out.
38. R (Kt 2) - Kt 1 Q - R 3
39. Q - B 2
(Making a double attack on the Rook--which still cannot be taken--and
preparing to defend the K R P.) If either the Rook or Bishop are taken
White would be mated in a few moves.
39. ........ Q - R 6 ch
40. K - R 1 R x P !!
[Illustration]
(If 40...R - R 3; 41 Kt - Kt 1, Q x Kt P; 42 Q - K Kt 2. Black therefore
tries to get the Queen away from the defence.) A very beautiful move, and
the best way to carry on the attack.
41. Q x R
{109}
(The best defence was 41 R x B, but Black would emerge with Queen against
Rook and Knight.)
41. ........ B x B
(Again, not R - K R 3; because of P - Q 6 dis. ch.)
42. R x R
(If 42 Q x B, then, at last, R - R 3 wins.)
42. ........ B x Q
43. Kt - B 4 P - K 7 !
[Illustration]
(The Queen has no escape, but White has no time to take it.)
44. R - K Kt 1 Q - B 8
White resigns. A very fine finish.
* * * * *
{110}