END-GAME STRATEGY
We must now revert once more to the endings. Their importance will have
become evident to the student who has taken the trouble to study my game
with Janowski (Example 53). After an uneventful opening--a Ruy Lopez--in
one of its normal variations, my opponent suddenly made things interesting
by offering the exchange; an offer which, of course, I accepted. Then
followed a very hard, arduous struggle, in which I had to defend myself
against a very dangerous attack made possible by the excellent manoeuvring
of my adversary. Finally, there came the time when I could give back the
material and change off most of the pieces, and come to an ending in which
I clearly had the advantage. But yet the ending itself was not as simple as
it at first appeared, and finally--perhaps through one weak move on my
part--it became a very difficult matter to find a win. Had I been a weak
end-game player the game would probably have ended in a draw, and all my
previous efforts would have been in vain. Unfortunately, that is very often
the case among the large majority of players; they are weak in the endings;
a failing from which masters of the first rank are at times not free. {111}
Incidentally, I might call attention to the fact that all the world's
champions of the last sixty years have been exceedingly strong in the
endings: Morphy, Steinitz, and Dr. Lasker had no superiors in this
department of the game while they held their titles.
26. THE SUDDEN ATTACK FROM A DIFFERENT SIDE
I have previously stated, when speaking about general theory, that at times
the way to win consists in attacking first on one side, then, granted
greater mobility of the pieces, to transfer the attack quickly from one
side to the other, breaking through before your opponent has been able to
bring up sufficient forces to withstand the attack. This principle of the
middle-game can sometimes be applied in the endings in somewhat similar
manner.
EXAMPLE 56.
[Illustration] {112}
In the above position I, with the Black pieces, played:
1. ........ R - K 5 ch
2. R - K 2 R - Q R 5
3. R - R 2 P - K R 4
The idea, as will be seen very soon, is to play P - R 5 in order to fix
White's King's side Pawns with a view to the future. It is evident to Black
that White wants to bring his King to Q Kt 3 to support his two weak
isolated Pawns, and thus to free his Rooks. Black, therefore, makes a plan
to shift the attack to the King's side at the proper time, in order to
obtain some advantage from the greater mobility of his Rooks.
4. R - Q 1 R (Q 4) - Q R 4
in order to force the Rook to Rook's square, keeping both Rooks tied up.
5. R (Q 1) - R 1 P - R 5
6. K - Q 2 K - Kt 2
7. K - B 2 R - K Kt 4
Black begins to transfer his attack to the King's side.
8. R - K Kt 1
A serious mistake, which loses quickly. White should have played
8 K - Kt 3, when Black would have answered 8...R (R 5) - R 4; 9 P - B 3,
and Black would have obtained an opening at K Kt 6 for his King, which in
the end might give him the victory.
8. ........ R - K B 5
{113} Now the King cannot go to Kt 3, because of R - Kt 4 ch.
9. K - Q 3 R - B 6 ch
10. K - K 2
If P x R, R x R; followed by R - K R 8 winning,
10. ........ R x R P
and Black won after a few moves.
EXAMPLE 57.--Another good example, in which is shown the advantage of the
greater mobility of the pieces in an ending, is the following from a game
Capablanca-Kupchick played at the Havana Masters Tournament, 1913. The full
score and notes of the game can be found in the book of the tournament.
[Illustration]
White's only advantage in the above position is that he possesses the open
file and has the move, which will secure him the initiative. There is also
the slight advantage of having his Pawns on the Queen's side united, while
Black has an isolated Q R P. The {114} proper course, as in the previous
ending, is to bring the Rooks forward, so that at least one of them may be
able to shift from one side of the board to the other, and thus keep
Black's Rooks from moving freely. What this means in general theory has
been stated already; it really means: _keep harassing the enemy; force him
to use his big pieces to defend Pawns. If he has a weak point, try to make
it weaker, or create another weakness somewhere else and his position will
collapse sooner or later. If he has a weakness, and he can get rid of it,
make sure that you create another weakness somewhere else_.
From the position in question the game continued thus:
1. R - K 4 K R - K 1
with the object of repeating White's manoeuvre, and also not to allow White
the control of the open file.
2. Q R - K 1 R - K 3
3. Q R - K 3 R (B 1) - K 1
4. K - B 1 K - B 1
Black wants to bring his King to the centre of the board in order to be
nearer to whatever point White decides to attack. The move is justified at
least on the general rule that in such endings the King should be in the
middle of the board. He does nothing after all but follow White's
footsteps. Besides, it is hard to point out anything better. If
4...P - Q 4; 5 R - Kt 4 ch, followed by K - K 2, would leave Black in {115}
a very disagreeable position. If 4...P - K B 4; 5 R - Q 4! R x R? 6 P x R,
R x P; 7 K - B 2, R - K 2; 8 R - Q R 4, winning the Q R P, which would
practically leave White with a passed Pawn ahead on the Queen's side, as
the three Pawns of Black on the King's side would be held by the two of
White.
5. K - K 2 K - K 2
6. R - Q R 4 R - Q R 1
The student should note that through the same manoeuvre Black is forced
into a position similar to the one shown in the previous ending.
7. R - R 5!
This move has a manifold object. It practically fixes all of Black's Pawns
except the Q P, which is the only one that can advance two squares. It
specially prevents the advance of Black's K B Pawns, and at the same time
threatens the advance of White's K B Pawns to B 4 and B 5. By this threat
it practically forces Black to play P - Q 4, which is all White desires,
for reasons that will soon become evident.
7. ........ P - Q 4
8. P - Q B 4! K - Q 3
Evidently forced, as the only other move to save a Pawn would have been
P x P, which would have left all Black's Pawns isolated and weak. If
8...P - Q 5; 9 R - K 4, K - Q 3; 10 P - Q Kt 4! R - K 4; 11 R - R 6, and
Black's game is hopeless.
9. P - B 5 ch K - Q 2
10. P - Q 4 P - B 4
{116} Apparently very strong, since it forces the exchange of Rooks because
of the threat R - R 3; but in reality it leads to nothing. The best chance
was to play R - K K 1.
11. R x R P x R
12. P - B 4
Up to now White had played with finesse, but this last move is weak.
R - R 6 was the proper way to continue, so as to force Black to give up his
Q R P or Q B P.
12. ........ K - B 1
13. K - Q 2
Again a bad move. 13 R - R 3 was the proper continuation, and if then
13...R - Kt 1; 14 P - Kt 3, K - Kt 2; 15 P - Kt 4, K - R 1; 16 R - Q Kt 3,
with excellent winning chances; in fact, I believe, a won game.
[Illustration]
13. ........ K - Kt 2
Black misses his only chance. R - Kt 1 would have drawn. {117}
14. R - R 3 R - K Kt 1
15. R - R 3 R - Kt 2
16. K - K 2 K - R 3
17. R - R 6 R - K 2
18. K - Q 3 K - Kt 2
He goes back with the King to support his K P, and thus be able to utilise
his Rook. It is, however, useless, and only White's weak play later on
gives him further chances of a draw.
19. P - K R 4 K - B 1
20. R - R 5
To prevent the Black Rook from controlling the open file
20. ........ K - Q 2
21. R - Kt 5 R - B 2
22. K - B 3 K - B 1
He must keep his King on that side because White threatens to march with
his King to R 6 via Kt 4.
23. K - Kt 4 R - B 3
24. K - R 5 K - Kt 2
25. P - R 4 P - Q R 3
26. P - R 5 R - R 3
He can do nothing but wait for White. The text move stops White from moving
his Rook, but only for one move.
27. P - Kt 4 R - B 3
The only other move was K - R 2; when White could play R - Kt 7, or even
P - Kt 5. {118}
[Illustration]
28. P - Kt 5
A weak move, which gives Black a fighting chance. In this ending, as is
often the case with most players, White plays the best moves whenever the
situation is difficult and requires careful handling, but once his position
seems to be overwhelming he relaxes his efforts and the result is nothing
to be proud of. The right move was 28 R - Kt 7.
28. ........ R P x P
29. P x P R - B 1 !
30. R - Kt 7 R - R 1 ch
31. K - Kt 4 P x P
32. K x P R - R 7
33. P - B 6 ch K - Kt 1
34. R x R P R - Kt 7 ch
35. K - R 5 R - R 7 ch
36. K - Kt 4 R x P
Black misses his last chance: R - Kt 7 ch, forcing the King to B 3, in
order to avoid the perpetual, {119} would probably draw. The reader must
bear in mind that my opponent was then a very young and inexperienced
player, and consequently deserves a great deal of credit for the fight he
put up.
37. R - K 7 R x P
R - Kt 7 ch; followed by R - K R 7, offered better chances.
38. P - R 6! R x P ch
39. K - Kt 5 R - Q 8
40. P - R 7 R - Kt 8 ch
41. K - B 5 R - B 8 ch
42. K - Q 4 R - Q 8 ch
43. K - K 5 R - K 8 ch
44. K - B 6 R - K R 8
45. R - K 8 ch K - R 2
46. P - R 8 (Q) R x Q
47. R x R K - Kt 3
48. K x P K x P
49. K x P K - B 4
50. K - K 5 Resigns.
This ending shows how easy it is to make weak moves, and how often, even in
master-play, mistakes are made and opportunities are lost. It shows that,
so long as there is no great advantage of material, even with a good
position, a player, no matter how strong, cannot afford to relax his
attention even for one move. {120}
* * * * *
27. THE DANGER OF A SAFE POSITION
EXAMPLE 58.--A good proof of the previous statement is shown in the
following ending between Marshall and Kupchick in one of their two games in
the same Tournament (Havana, 1913).
[Illustration]
It is evident that Marshall (White) is under great difficulties in the
above position. Not only is he bound to lose a Pawn, but his position is
rather poor. The best he could hope for was a draw unless something
altogether unexpected happened, as it did. No reason can be given for
Black's loss of the 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 that actually
existed. Let us see how it happened.
1. P - Kt 4 R x R P
{121} The mistakes begin. This is the first. Black sees that he can take a
Pawn without any danger, and does not stop to think whether there is
anything better. R - B 7 ch was the right move. If then K - Kt 3, R x P. If
instead White played K - K 4, then R - K 4 ch followed by R x R P.
2. R - Q 1 R - R 5 ch
Mistake number two, and this time such a serious one as to almost lose the
game. The proper move was to play P - B 4 in order to break up White's
Pawns and at the same time make room for the Black King, which is actually
in danger, as will soon be seen.
3. R - Q 4 R (R5) - R 4
Mistake number three and this time fatal. His best move was R (Kt 4) - R 4.
After the text move there is no defence. Black's game is lost. This shows
that even an apparently simple ending has to be played with care. From a
practically won position Black finds himself with a lost game, and it has
only taken three moves.
4. R (Q 4) - Q 8 R - Kt 2
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 x P ch, R - Kt 3; 8 P - Kt 5 ch, K - K 2; 9 R (R 6) x R, P x R;
10 R - Kt 7 ch, K - K 1; 11 R x Kt P, and wins easily.
5. P - R 4 P - R 4
6. R - R 8 ch Resigns.
The reason is evident. If 6...K - Kt 3; 7 P x P ch, {122} R x P; 8 R x R,
K x R; 9 R - R 8 ch, K - Kt 3; 10 P - R 5 mate.
* * * * *
28. ENDINGS WITH ONE ROOK AND PAWNS
The reader has probably realised by this time that endings of two Rooks and
Pawns are very difficult, and that the same holds true for endings of one
Rook and Pawns. Endings of two Rooks and Pawns are not very common in
actual play; but endings of one Rook and Pawns are about the most common
sort of endings arising on the chess board. Yet though they do occur so
often, 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 1909-1910.
EXAMPLE 59.
[Illustration]
{123} In this position Marshall had a simple win by R - B 7 ch, but played
P - B 6, and thereby gave Black a chance to draw. Luckily for him Black did
not see the drawing move, played poorly, and lost. Had Black been up to the
situation he would have drawn by playing R - Q 3.
1. P - B 6 R - Q 3 !
Now White has two continuations, either (_a_) P - B 7, or (_b_) R - B 7 ch.
We have therefore:
(a) 2. P - B 7 R - Q 1 !
3. R - R 5 ch K - B 5
and White will finally have to sacrifice the Rook for Black's Pawn. Or--
(b) 2. R - B 7 ch K - Q 5 !
3. P - B 7 R - Kt 3 ch !
a very important move, as against R - K B 3, R - K 7 wins.
4. K - B 1 R - K B 3
5. R - Kt 7 K - B 6
and White will finally have to sacrifice the Rook for the Pawn, or draw by
perpetual check.
If there were nothing more in the ending it would not be of any great
value, but there are other very interesting features. Now suppose that
after 1 P - B 6, R - Q 3; 2 P - B 7, Black did not realise that R - Q 1 was
the only move to draw. {124} We would then have the following position:
[Illustration]
Now there would be two other moves to try: either (_a_) R - Kt 3 ch, or
(_b_) R - K B 3. Let us examine them.
(a) 1. ........ R - Kt 3 ch
2. K - B 3 R - B 3 ch
3. K - K 3 R - K 3 ch
If P - Kt 6; R - R 5 ch wins, because if the King goes back, then R - R 6,
and if the King goes up, then R - R 4 ch, followed by R - K B 4 wins.
4. K - Q 3 R - K B 3
If R - Q 3 ch; K - K 4 wins.
5. R - R 5 ch K moves
6. R - R 6 wins
(b) 1. ........ R - B 3
2. R - Kt 7 ! K - B 5
If P - Kt 6; R - Kt 3, and White will either capture the Pawn or go to
K B 3, and come out with a winning ending. {125}
3. P - R 4 P - Kt 6
4. R - Kt 4 ch K moves
5. R - Kt 3
and White will either capture the Pawn or play R - K B 3, according to the
circumstances, and come out with a winning ending.
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 played K - Kt 3 instead, we would
then have the following position:
[Illustration]
Now the best continuation would be:
1. P - B 7 R - Kt 3 ch (best)
2. K - B 1 R - K B 3
3. R - K 7 ! K - B 4 (best)
White threatened to check with the Rook at K 6.
4. K - K 2 P - Kt 6
{126} Best. If K - B 5; both P - R 4 and K - K 3 will win; the last-named
move particularly would win with ease.
5. R - K 3 P - Kt 7 (best)
6. R - Q Kt 3 R x P
7. R x P R - K R 2
8. R - Q 2 R x P
9. K - K 3
[Illustration]
This position we have arrived at is won by White, because there are two
files between the opposing King and the Pawn from which the King is cut off
by the Rook, and besides, the Pawn can advance to the fourth rank before
the opponent's Rook can begin to check on the file. This last condition is
very important, because if, instead of the position on the diagram, the
Black Rook were at K R 1, and Black had the move, he could draw by
preventing the {127} advance of the Pawn, either through constant checks or
by playing R - K B 1 at the proper time.
Now that we have explained the reasons why this position is won, we leave
it to the student to work out the correct solution.
The fact that out of one apparently simple ending we have been able to work
out several most unusual and difficult endings should be sufficient to
impress upon the student's mind the necessity of becoming well acquainted
with all kinds of endings, and especially with endings of Rook and Pawns.
* * * * *
29. A DIFFICULT ENDING: TWO ROOKS AND PAWNS
Following our idea that the best way to learn endings as well as openings
is to study the games of the masters, we give two more endings of two Rooks
and Pawns. These endings, as already stated, are not very common, and the
author is fortunate in having himself played more of these endings 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 method to be followed in such cases. The way
of procedure is somewhat similar in all of them.
EXAMPLE 60.--From a game, Capablanca-Kreymborg, in the New York State
Championship Tournament of 1910. {128}
[Illustration]
It is Black's move, and no doubt thinking that drawing such a position
(that was all Black played for) would be easy, he contented himself with a
waiting policy. Such conduct must always be criticised. It often leads to
disaster. _The best way to defend such positions is to assume the
initiative and keep the opponent on the defensive._
1. ........ Q R - K 1
The first move is already wrong. There is nothing to gain by this move.
Black should play P - Q R 4; to be followed by P - Q R 5; unless White
plays P - Q Kt 3. That would _fix_ the Queen's side. After that he could
decide what demonstration he could make with his Rooks to keep the
opponent's Rooks at bay.
2. R - Q 4
This move not only prevents P - B 5 which Black intended, but threatens
P - Kt 3, followed, after {129} P x P ch, by the attack with one or both
Rooks against Black's Q R P.
2. ........ R - B 3
probably with the idea of a demonstration on the King's side by R - Kt 3
and Kt 7.
3. P - Kt 3 P x P ch
4. P x P K - B 2
5. K - Q 3
R - Q R 1 should have been played now, in order to force Black to defend
with R - K 2. White, however, does not want to disclose his plan at once,
and thus awaken Black to the danger of his position, hence this move, which
seems to aim at the disruption of Black's Queen's side Pawns.
5. ........ R - K 2
6. R - Q R 1 K - K 3
This is a mistake. Black is unaware of the danger of his position. He
should have played P - Kt 4; threatening R - R 3, and, by making this
demonstration against White's K R P, stop the attack against his Queen's
side Pawns, which will now develop.
7. R - R 6 R - Q B 2
He could not play K - Q 3, because P - Q B 4 would win at least a Pawn.
This in itself condemns his last move K - K 3, which has done nothing but
make his situation practically hopeless.
8. R (Q 4) - Q R 4 P - K Kt 4
Now forced, but it is a little too late. He could not play 8...K R - B 2,
because P - K B 4 would have {130} left his game completely paralysed.
Black now finally awakens to the danger, and tries to save the day by the
counter-demonstration on the King's side, which he should have started
before. Of course, White cannot play R x R P, because of R x R, followed by
R - R 3, recovering the Pawn with advantage.
9. P - K R 4 ! P - Kt 5
Black is now in a very disagreeable position. If he played 9...P x P;
10 R x P would leave him in a very awkward situation, as he could not go
back with the King, nor could he do much with either Rook. He practically
would have to play 10...P - K R 3, when White would answer 11 P - Kt 4,
threatening to win a Pawn by P - Kt 5, or, if that were not enough, he
might play K - Q 4, to be followed finally by the entry of the King at B 5
or K 5.
10. K - K 2
[Illustration]
{131} /* 10. ........ P x P ch */
Again he cannot play P - K R 4, because P - K B 4 would leave him
paralysed. The advance of his K R P would make White's K R P safe, and
consequently his K R would have to retire to K B 2 to defend the Q R P.
That would make it impossible for his King to go to Q 2, because of the
Q R P, nor could he advance a single one of his Pawns. On the other hand,
White would play P - Kt 4, threatening to win a Pawn by P - Kt 5, or he
might first play K - Q 4, and then at the proper time P - Kt 5, if there
was nothing better. Black meanwhile could really do nothing but mark time
with one of his Rooks. Compare this bottling-up system with the ending in
Example 57, and it will be seen that it is very similar.
11. K x P R (B 3) - B 2
12. K - K 2
Probably wrong. P - Kt 4 at once was the right move. The text move gives
Black good chances of drawing.
12. ........ K - Q 3
13. P - Kt 4 R - Q Kt 2
This could never have happened had White played 12 P - Kt 4, as he could
have followed it up by P - Kt 5 after Black's K - Q 3.
14. P - R 5
Not good. P - K B 4 offered the best chances of {132} winning by force. If
then 14...R - Kt 2; 15 P - R 5, R - Kt 7 ch; 16 K - Q 3, R - K R 7;
17 R x P, R x R; 18 R x R, R x P; 19 R - R 6, with winning chances.
[Illustration]
14. ........ P - R 3
Black misses his last chance. P - B 5 would draw. If then 15 P x P,
R (Kt 2) - K 2 ch !; 16 K - B 1, R x P; 17 R x P, R - K 6 !
15. P - K B 4 R - Kt 2
16. K - Q 3 R (K Kt 2) - K 2
17. R - R 1 R - Kt 2
18. K - Q 4 R - Kt 7
19. R (R 6) - R 2 R (Kt 2) - Kt 2
R (Kt 7) - Kt 2 would have offered greater resistance, but the position is
lost in any case. (I leave the student to work this out.)
20. K - Q 3 ! R x R
21. R x R R - K 2
{133} Nothing would avail. If 21...R - Kt 8; 22 R - R 6 ! R - Q 8 ch;
23 K - B 2, R - K R 8; 24 P - Kt 5, R x P; 25 R x P ch, K - Q 2;
26 R - Q R 6, and White will win easily.
22. R - K Kt 2 R - K 3
23. R - Kt 7 R - K 2
24. R - Kt 8 P - B 4
Black is desperate. He sees he can no longer defend his Pawns.
25. R - Kt 6 ch R - K 3
26. P x P ch K - Q 2
27. R - Kt 7 ch K - B 3
28. R x P K x P
29. R - K B 7 Resigns.
EXAMPLE 61.--From the game Capablanca-Janowski, New York National
Tournament of 1913.
[Illustration]
Black's game has the disadvantage of his double Q B P, which, to make
matters worse, he cannot {134} advance, because as soon as Black plays
P - Q Kt 3, White replies P - Q Kt 4. It is on this fact that White builds
his plans. He will stop Black's Queen's side Pawns from advancing, and will
then bring his own King to K 3. Then in due time he will play P - Q 4, and
finally P - K 5, or P - K Kt 5, thus forcing an exchange of Pawns and
obtaining in that way a clear passed Pawn on the King's file. It will be
seen that this plan was carried out during the course of the game, and that
White obtained his winning advantage in that way. The play was based
throughout on the chance of obtaining a passed Pawn on the King's file,
with which White expected to win.
1. P - K Kt 4
already preparing to play P - K Kt 5 when the time comes.
1. ........ P - Q Kt 3
Black wants to play P - Q B 4, but White, of course, prevents it.
2. P - Kt 4 ! K - Kt 2
This King should come to the King's side, where the danger lurks.
3. K - B 2 P - Q Kt 4
With the object of playing K - Kt 3 and P - Q R 4, followed by P x P, and
thus have an open file for his Rook and be able to make a
counter-demonstration {135} on the Queen's side in order to stop White's
advance on the right. White, however, also prevents this.
4. P - Q R 4 ! R - Q 5
Of course if P x P; Black will have all his Pawns on the Queen's side
disrupted and isolated, and White can easily regain the lost Pawn by
playing either Rook on the Q R file.
5. R - Q Kt 1 R - K 4
He still wants to play P - Q B 4, but as it is easy to foresee that White
will again prevent it, the text move is really a serious loss of time.
Black should bring his King over to the other side immediately.
6. K - K 3 R - Q 2
7. P - R 5
The first part of White's strategic plan is now accomplished. Black's Pawns
on the Queen's side are _fixed_ for all practical purposes.
7. ........ R - K 3
If R x R; Kt P x R would have given White a very powerful centre. Yet it
might have been the best chance for Black.
8. R (Kt) - K B 1 R (Q 2) - K 2
9. P - Kt 5 P x P
10. R x P
{136}
[Illustration]
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 commanding position in the centre
of the board ready to support the advance of White's Pawns, or, if
necessary, to go to Q B 5, or to move to the right wing in case of danger.
Besides, White holds the open file with one of his Rooks. Altogether
White's position is superior and his chances of winning are excellent.
10. ........ R - R 3
11. R - Kt 3 R (R 3) - K 3
to prevent P - Q 4. Also Black fears to keep his Rook in front of his two
King's side Pawns which he may want to utilise later.
12. P - R 4 P - Kt 3
13. R - Kt 5 P - R 3
{137} White threatens P - R 5, which would finally force Black to take, and
then White would double his Rooks against the isolated Pawn and win it, or
tie up Black's Rooks completely. The text move, however, only helps White;
therefore Black had nothing better than to hold tight and wait. R - K 4
would not help much, as White would simply answer R - B 8, R - K 1;
R (Kt 5) x R, and whichever Rook Black took, White would have an easy game.
(The student should carefully study these variations.)
14. R - Kt 4 R - Kt 2
15. P - Q 4 K - B 1
16. R - B 8 ch K - Kt 2
K - Q 2 would not help much, but since he made the previous move he should
now be consistent and play it.
17. P - K 5 P - Kt 4
18. K - K 4 R (K 3) - K 2
19. P x P P x P
20. R - B 5 K - B 1
21. R (Kt 4) x P R - R 2
22. R - R 5 K - Q 2
23. R x R R x R
24. R - B 8 R - R 5 ch
25. K - Q 3 R - R 6 ch
{138}
26. K - Q 2 P - B 4
27. Kt P x P R - Q R 6
28. P - Q 5 Resigns.
The winning tactics in all these endings have merely consisted in keeping
the opponent's Rooks tied to the defence of one or more Pawns, leaving my
own Rooks free for action. This is a general principle which can be equally
applied to any part of the game. It means in general terms--
_Keep freedom of manoeuvre while hampering your opponent._
There is one more thing of great importance, and that is that the winning
side has always had a general strategical plan capable of being carried out
with the means at his disposal, while often the losing side had no plan at
all, but simply moved according to the needs of the moment.
* * * * *
30. ROOK, BISHOP AND PAWNS _v._ ROOK, KNIGHT AND PAWNS
We shall now examine an ending of Rook, Bishop and Pawns against Rook,
Knight and Pawns, where it will be seen that the Rook at times is used in
the same way as in the endings already given.
EXAMPLE 62.--From the first game of the Lasker-Marshall Championship Match
in 1907. {139}
[Illustration]
In this position it is Black's move. To a beginner the position may look
like a draw, but the advanced player will realise immediately that there
are great possibilities for Black to win, not only because he has the
initiative, but because of White's undeveloped Queen's side and the fact
that a Bishop in such a position is better than a Knight (see Section 14).
It will take some time for White to bring his Rook and Knight into the
fray, and Black can utilise it to obtain an advantage. There are two
courses open to him. The most evident, and the one that most players would
take, is to advance the Pawn to Q B 4 and Q B 5 immediately in conjunction
with the Bishop check at R 3 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 previous
endings, forcing White to defend something all the time, restricting the
action of White's Knight and {140} White's Rook, while at the same time
keeping freedom of action for his own Rook and Bishop.
1. ........ R - Kt 1
This forces P - Q Kt 3, which blocks that square for the White Knight.
2. P - Kt 3 R - Kt 4
bringing the Rook to attack the King's side Pawns so as to force the King
to that side to defend them, and thus indirectly making more secure the
position of Black's Queen's side Pawns.
3. P - B 4 R - K R 4
4. K - Kt 1 P - B 4
Note that the White Knight's sphere of action is very limited, and that
after Kt - Q 2 White's own Pawns are in his way.
5. Kt - Q 2 K - B 2
6. R - B 1 ch
This check accomplishes nothing. It merely drives Black's King where it
wants to go. Consequently it is a very bad move. P - Q R 3 at once was the
best move.
6. ........ K - K 2
7. P - Q R 3 R - R 3
Getting ready to shift the attack to the Queen's side, where he has the
advantage in material and position.
8. P - K R 4 R - R 3
{141}
Notice how similar are the manoeuvres with this Rook to those seen in the
previous endings.
9. R - R 1 B - Kt 5
Paralysing the action of the Knight and _fixing_ the whole King's side.
10. K - B 2 K - K 3
White cannot answer Kt - B 3, because B x Kt followed by K - K 4 will win a
Pawn, on account of the check at K B 3 which cannot be stopped.
11. P - R 4 K - K 4
12. K - Kt 2 R - K B 3
13. R - K 1 P - Q 6
14. R - K B 1 K - Q 5
Now the King attacks White's Pawns and all will soon be over.
15. R x R P x R
16. K - B 2 P - B 3
Merely to exhaust White's move, which will finally force him to move either
the King or the Knight.
17. P - Q R 5 P - Q R 3
18. Kt - B 1 K x P
19. K - K 1 B - K 7
20. Kt - Q 2 ch K - K 6
21. Kt - Kt 1 P - B 4
22. Kt - Q 2 P - R 4
23. Kt - Kt 1 K - B 6
24. Kt - B 3 K x P
{142}
25. Kt - R 4 P - B 5
26. Kt x P P - B 6
27. Kt - K 4 ch K - B 5
The quickest way to win. White should resign.
28. Kt - Q 6 P - B 4
29. P - Kt 4 P x P
30. P - B 5 P - Kt 6
31. Kt - B 4 K - Kt 6
32. Kt - K 3 P - Kt 7
Resigns.
A very good example on Black's part of how to conduct such an ending.
* * * * *
{143}