BY JOSE R. CAPABLANCA 
 A PRIMER OF CHESS
 
 JOSE R. CAPABLANCA
 
 CHESS 
 FUNDAMENTALS 
 
 BY 
 
 JOSE R. CAPABLANCA 
 
 CHESS CHAMPION OF THE WORLD 
 
 m 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
 HARCOURT, BRACE AND COIMPANY 
 
 LONDON: G. BELL AND SONS, LTD.
 
 COPYRIGHT, 1921, BY 
 HARCOURT, BRACE AND COMPANY, INC. 
 
 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by 
 mimeograph or any other means, without permission in writing from the publisher. 
 
 PRINTED IN THE U. S. A.
 
 SRLF 
 
 o<//S 
 
 PREFACE 
 
 Chess Fundamentals was first published thirteen years 
 ago. Since then there have appeared at different times 
 a number of articles dealing with the so-called HjqDer- 
 modern Theory. Those who have read the articles 
 may well have thought that something new, of vital 
 importance, had been discovered. The fact is that the 
 Hypermodern Theory is merely the application, during 
 the opening stages generally, of the same old principles 
 through the medium of somewhat new tactics. There 
 has been no change in the fundamentals. The change 
 has been only a change of form, and not always for the 
 best at that. 
 
 In chess the tactics may change but the strategic 
 fundamental principles are always the same, so that 
 Chess Fundamentals is as good now as it was thirteen 
 years ago. It will be as good a hundred years from now; 
 as long in fact as the laws and rules of the game remain 
 what they are at present. The reader may therefore 
 go over the contents of the book with the assurance 
 that there is in it ever>^thing 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 believes 
 that it is the one standard work of its kind now. 
 
 J. R. CAPABLANCA 
 
 New York 
 Sept. I, igs4
 
 LIST OF CONTENTS 
 PART I 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 First Principles: Endings, AIiddle-game akd Openings 
 
 PAGE 
 
 1. Some Simple Mates 3 
 
 2. Pawn Promotion g 
 
 3. Pawn Endings 13 
 
 4. Some Winning Positions in the Middle-game .... 19 
 
 5. Relative \'alue of the Pleces 24 
 
 6. General Strategy of the Opening 25 
 
 7. Control of the Centre 28 
 
 8. Traps 32 
 
 CHAPTER II 
 Further Principles in End-game Play 
 
 9. A Cardinal Principle 35 
 
 10. A Classical Ending 37 
 
 11. Obtaining a Passed Pawn 40 
 
 12. How to find out which Pawt^ \nLL be the first 
 
 TO Queen 41 
 
 13. The Opposition 43 
 
 14. The Relati\e \'alue of Knight and Bishop .... 50 
 
 15. How to Mate with Knight and Bishop 59 
 
 16. Queen against Rook 62 
 
 CHAPTER III 
 
 PLANNnNG A WiN IN IMlDDLE-GAME PlAY 
 
 17. Attacking wtthout Tire aid of Knights 68 
 
 18. Attacking v^tth Knights as a Prominent Force. . . 71 
 
 19. Winning by Indirect Attack 73
 
 LIST OF CONTENTS 
 
 CHAPTER IV 
 
 General Theory 
 
 PAGE 
 
 20. The Initiative 77 
 
 21. Direct Attacks en masse 78 
 
 22. The Force of the Threatened Attack 82 
 
 23. Relinquishing the Initiative 89 
 
 24. Cutting off Pieces from the Scene of Action ... 94 
 
 25. A Player's Motives Criticised in a Specimen Game . 99 
 
 CHAPTER V 
 
 End-game Strategy 
 
 26. The Sudden Attack from a Different Side 11 1 
 
 27. The Danger of a Safe Position 120 
 
 28. Endings with one Rook and Pawns 122 
 
 29. A Difficult Ending: Two Rooks and Pawns .... 127 
 
 30. Rook, Bishop and Pawns v. Rook, Knight and Pawns 138 
 
 (A Final Example of preserving Freedom whilst 
 imposing restraint.) 
 
 CHAPTER VI 
 Further Openings and Middle-games 
 
 31. Some Salient Points about Pawns 143 
 
 32. Some Possible Developments from a Ruy Lopez 
 
 (showing the weakness of a backward Q B P; the 
 power of a Pawn at K 5, etc.) 146 
 
 33. The Influence of a "Hole" 150
 
 LIST OF CONTENTS 
 
 PART II 
 
 ILLUSTIL\TIVE GAMES 
 
 GAME PAGE 
 
 1. Queen's Gambit Declined (Match, 1909) 159 
 
 White: F. J. MarshaU. Black: J. R. Capablanca. 
 
 2. Queen's Gambit Declined (San Sebastian, 1911). . 163 
 
 White: A. K. Rubinstein. Black: J. R. Capablanca. 
 
 3. Irregular Defence (Havana, 1913 ) 169 
 
 White: D. Janowski. Black: J, R. Capablanca. 
 
 4. French Defence (St. Petersburg, 1913) 174 
 
 White: J. R. Capablan a. Black: E. A. Snosko-Borovski. 
 
 5. RuY Lopez (St. Petersburg, 1914) 181 
 
 White: Dr. E. Lasker. Black: J. R. Capablanca. 
 
 6. French Defence (Rice Memorial Tournament, 191 6) 189 
 
 White: O. Chajes. Black: J. R. Capablanca. 
 
 7. R\n Lopez (San Sebastian, 1911 ) 197 
 
 White: J. R. Capablanca. Black: A. Burn. 
 
 8. Centre Game (Berlin, 1913 ) 201 
 
 White: J. Mieses. Black: J. R. Capablanca. 
 
 9. Queen's Gambit Declined (Berlin, 1913) 209 
 
 White: J. R. Capablanca. Black: R. Teichmann. 
 
 10. Petroff Defence (St. Petersburg, 1914) 215 
 
 White: J. R. Capablanca. Black: F. J. Marshall. 
 
 11. RuY Lopez (St. Petersburg, 1914) 221 
 
 White: J. R. Capablanca. Black: D. Janowski. 
 
 12. French Defence (New York, 1918) 225 
 
 White: J. R. Capablanca. Black: O. Chajes. 
 
 13. Rl^ Lopez (New York, 1918) 231 
 
 White: J. S. Morrison. Black: J. R. Capablanca. 
 
 14. Queen's Gambit Declined (New York, 1918). . . . 238 
 
 White: F. J. Marshall. Black: J. R. Capablanca.
 
 CHESS FUNDAMENTALS
 
 CHESS FUNDAMENTALS 
 
 PART I 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 First Principles: Endings, Middle-Game 
 AND Openings 
 
 The first thing a student should do, is to familiarise 
 himself with the power of the pieces. This can 
 best be done by learning how to accompKsh quickly 
 some of the simple mates. 
 
 1. SOME SIMPLE I^IATES 
 
 Example 1. — The ending Rook and King against 
 King. 
 
 The principle is to drive the opposing King to the 
 last line on any side of the hoard. 
 
 i^ mm^ ^m^ WwA 
 ■ ^ ^ 
 
 M. mm. mm. m>. 
 
 ^P 9
 
 4 SOME SIMPLE MATES 
 
 In this position the power of the Rook is demon- 
 strated by the first move, R — R 7, which immediately 
 confines the Black King to the last rank, and the 
 mate is quickly accomplished by: iR — R 7, 
 K— Kt i; 2 K— Kt 2. 
 
 The combined action of King and Rook is 
 needed to arrive at a position in which mate can be 
 forced. The general principle for a beginner to 
 foUow is to 
 
 keep his King as much as possible on the same 
 rank, or, as in this case, file, as the opposing King. 
 
 When, in this case, the King has been brought to 
 the sixth rank, it is better to place it, not on the same 
 fiJe, but on the one next to it towards the centre. 
 
 2...K— B i; 3 K — B 3, K— K i; 4 K— K 4, 
 K-Q i; 5 K-Qs, K-B i; 6K-Q6. 
 
 Not K — B 6, because then the Black King wiU 
 go back to Q I and it will take much longer to mate. 
 If now the King moves back to Q i, R— R 8 mates 
 at once. 
 
 6...K-Kti; 7R-QB7,K-Ri; 8K-B6, 
 K— Kti; 9K— Kt6, K— Ri; loR — BSmate. 
 
 It has taken exactly ten moves to mate from the 
 original position. On move 5 Black could have played 
 K— K I, and, according to principle, White would 
 have continued 6K— Q6, K— Bi (the Black King 
 will ultimately be forced to move in front of the White 
 King and be mated by R— R8); 7K— K6, 
 K— Kt i; 8 K— B 6, K— R i; 9 K— Kt 6, 
 K— Kt i; 10 R— R 8 mate.
 
 SOME SIMPLE MATES 
 
 Example 2. 
 
 ^. WM. WM. 
 
 W » W » 
 
 a ■ » ■ 
 
 I 'mm. f.^m. mm 
 
 ^ ^ ^ 1 
 
 mm 
 
 WiM 'immi. 
 
 ^ ■ ■ i 
 
 ill 
 
 Since the Black King is in the centre of the board, 
 the best way to proceed is to advance your own King 
 thus: I K— K 2, K— Q 4; 2 K— K 3. As the 
 Rook has not yet come into play, it is better to 
 advance the King straight into the centre of the board, 
 not in front, but to one side of the other King. Should 
 now the Black King move to K 4, the Rook drives 
 it back by R— R 5 ch. On the other hand, if 2. . . 
 K— B 5 instead, then also 3 R — R 5. If now 3. . . 
 K— Kt 5, there follows 4 K— Q 3; but if instead 
 3 . . . K — B 6 ; then 4 R — R 4, keeping the King 
 confined to as few squares as possible. 
 
 Now the ending may continue : 4 . . . K — B 7 ; 
 5 R — B 4 ch, K— Kt 6; 6 K-Q 3, K-Kt 7; 
 7 R-Kt 4 ch, K — R 6; 8 K-B 3, K-R 7. It 
 should be noticed how often the White King has moved 
 next to the Rook, not only to defend it, but also to 
 reduce the mobility of the opposmg King. Now
 
 6 SOME SIMPLE MATES 
 
 White mates in three moves thus: 9 R — R 4 ch, 
 K — Kt 8 ; 10 R — any square on the Rook's file, 
 forcing the Black King in front of the White, K — B 8 ; 
 II R — R I mate. It has taken eleven moves to mate, 
 and, under any conditions, I believe it should be done 
 in under twenty. While it may be monotonous, it 
 is worth while for the beginner to practice such 
 things, as it will teach him the proper handling of 
 his pieces. 
 
 Example 3. — Now we come to two Bishops and 
 King against King. 
 
 
 
 Since the Black King is in the corner. White can 
 play I B — Q 3, K— Kt 2; 2 B — K Kt 5, K — B 2 ; 
 3 B — B 5, and already the Black King is confined 
 to a few squares. If the Black King, in the original 
 position, had been in the centre of the board, or away 
 from the last row. White should have advanced his 
 King, and then, with the aid of his Bishops, restricted
 
 SOME SIMPLE MATES 7 
 
 the Black King's movements to as few squares as 
 possible. 
 
 We might now continue : 3...K — Kt2;4K — B 2. 
 In this ending the Black King must not only be driven 
 to the edge of the board, but he must also be forced 
 into a comer, and, before a mate can be given, the 
 White King must be brought to the sixth rank and, 
 at the same time, in one of the last two files ; in this 
 case either K R 6, K Kt 6, K B 7, K B 8, and as K R 6 
 and K Kt 6 are the nearest squares, it is to either of 
 these squares that the King ought to go. 4. . .K — 
 B 2; 5 K— Kt 3, K— Kt 2; 6 K— R 4, K — B 2; 
 7 K— R 5, K— Kt 2; 8 B — Kt 6, K— Kt i; 
 9K — R6, K — Bi. White must now mark time and 
 move one of the Bishops, so as to force the Black 
 King to go back ; 10 B — R5, K — Kti; iiB — K7, 
 K — R I. Now the White Bishop must take up a 
 position from which it can give check next mo\'e 
 along the White diagonal, when the Black King 
 moves back to Kt i. 12 B — K Kt 4, K — Kt i; 
 13 B — K6ch, K — Ri; 14 B — B6 mate. 
 
 It has taken fourteen moves to force the mate 
 and, in any position, it should be done in under 
 thirty. 
 
 In all endings of this kind, care must be taken 
 not to drift into a stale mate. 
 
 In this particular ending one should remember that 
 the King must not only be driven to the edge of the 
 board, but also into a corner. In all such endings, 
 however, it is immaterial whether the King is forced
 
 8 
 
 SOME SIMPLE MATES 
 
 on to the last rank, or to an outside file, e.g. K R 5 
 or Q R 4, K I or Q 8. 
 
 Example 4. — We now come to Queen and King 
 against King. As the Queen combines the power of 
 the Rook and the Bishop, it is the easiest mate of all 
 and should always be accomplished in under ten moves. 
 Take the following position: 
 
 ^ » « • • 
 
 m ^m Wfi ^m. 
 
 A good way to begin is to make the first move with 
 the Queen, trying to limit the Black King's mobility 
 as much as possible. Thus: i Q — B 6, K — Q 5; 
 2 K— Q 2. Already the Black King has only 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); 
 6Q— K Kt 6, K — R 6; 7 K — B 3, K moves; 
 8 Q mates. 
 
 In this ending, as in the case of the Rook, the Black 
 King must be forced to the edge of the board ; only
 
 PAWN PROMOTION 9 
 
 the Queen being so much more powerful than the 
 Rook, the process is far easier and shorter. These 
 are the three elementary endings and in all of these 
 the principle is the same. In each case the co-opera- 
 tion of the King is needed. In order to force a mate 
 without the aid of the King, at least two Rooks are 
 required. 
 
 2. PAWN PROMOTION 
 
 The gain of a Pawn is the smallest material advantage 
 that can be obtained in a game ; and it often is sufficient 
 to win, even when the Pa,wn is the only remaining 
 unit, apart from the Kings. It is essential, speaking 
 generally, that 
 
 the King should he in front oj his Pawn, with at least 
 one intervening square. 
 
 If the opposing King is directly in front of the Pawn, 
 then the game cannot be won. This can best be ex- 
 plained by the following examples. 
 
 Example 6.
 
 10 PAWN PROMOTION 
 
 The position is drawn, and the way to proceed is 
 for Black to keep the King always directly in front 
 of the Pawn, and when it cannot be done, as for in- 
 stance in this position because of the White King, 
 then the Black King must be kept in front of the 
 White King. The play would proceed thus : i P — K 3, 
 K— K 4; 2 K— Q 3, K— Q 4- This is a very 
 important move. Any other move would lose, as 
 will be shown later. As the Black King cannot be 
 kept close up to the Pawn, it must be brought as far 
 forward as possible and, at the same time, in front 
 of the WTiite King. 
 
 3 P — K 4 ch, K— K 4; 4 K— K 3, K— K 3; 
 5 K— B 4, K— B 3. Again the same case. As the 
 White King comes up, the Black King must be kept 
 in front of it, since it caimot be brought up to the 
 Pawn. 
 
 6 P-K 5 ch, K-K 3; 7K-K4, K-K2; 
 8 K— Q 5, K— Q 2; 9 P— K 6 ch, K— K 2; 
 loK— K 5, K— Ki; II K— Q6, K— Q I. If now 
 White advances the Pawn, the Black King gets in 
 front of it and White must either give up the Pawn 
 or play K— K 6, and a stale mate results. If instead 
 of advancing the Pawn White withdraws his King, 
 Black brings his King up to the Pawn and, when 
 forced to go back, he moves to K in front of the Pawn 
 ready to come up again or to move in front of the 
 White Kmg, as before, should the latter advance. 
 
 The whole mode of procedure is very important 
 and the student should become thoroughly conversant
 
 PAWN PROMOTION 
 
 II 
 
 with its details ; for it involves principles to be taken 
 up later on, and because many a beginner has lost 
 identical positions from lack of proper knowledge. At 
 this stage of the book I cannot lay too much stress on 
 its importance. 
 
 Example 6. — In this position WTiite wins, as the 
 King is in front of his Pawn and there is one intervening 
 square. 
 
 The method to follow is to 
 
 advance the King as far as is compatible with the safety 
 
 of the Pawn and never to advance the Pawn until it is 
 
 essential to its own safety. 
 
 Thus: 
 
 I. K — K 4, K — K 3. 
 
 Black does not allow the WTiite King to advance, 
 therefore White is now compelled to advance his Pawn 
 so as to force Black to move away. He is then able 
 to advance his own King. 
 
 2. P-K3,K-B3; 3. K-Q5,K-K2.
 
 12 PAWN PROMOTION 
 
 If Black had played 3. . .K— B 4, then White would 
 be forced to advance the PawTi to K 4, since he could 
 not advance his King without leaving Black the 
 opportunity to play K— K 5, winning the Pawn. 
 Since he has not done so, it is better for White not 
 to advance the Pawn yet, since its own safety does 
 not require it, but to try to bring the King still fur- 
 ther for\vard. Thus: 
 
 4. K— K5,K-Q2; 5. K-B6,K-Ki. 
 
 Now the White Pawn is too far back and it may be 
 brought up within protection of the King. 
 6. P — K4,K— Q2. 
 Now it would not do to play K — B 7, because 
 Black would play K— Q 3, and White would have 
 to bring back his King to protect the Pawn. There- 
 fore he must continue. 
 
 7. P-K5,K-Ki. 
 Had he moved anywhere else, White could have played 
 K — B 7, followed by the advance of the Pawn to 
 K 6, K 7, K 8 ; all these squares being protected by 
 the King. As Black tries to prevent that, White must 
 now force him to move away, at the same time always 
 keeping the King in front of the Pawn. Thus : 
 
 8. K— K6. 
 
 P — K 6 would make it a draw, as Black would then 
 
 play K — B, and we would have a position similar 
 
 to the one explained in connection with Example 5. 
 
 8...K— B i; 9K-Q 7.
 
 PAWN ENDINGS 
 
 13 
 
 King moves and the White Pawn advances to K 8, 
 becomes a Queen, and it is all over. 
 
 This ending is like the previous one, and for the 
 same reasons should be thoroughly understood before 
 proceeding any further. 
 
 3. PAWN ENDINGS 
 
 I shall now give a couple of simple endings of two 
 Pawns against one, or three against two, that the 
 reader may see how they can be won. Fewer explana- 
 tions will be given, as it is up to the student to work 
 things out for himself. Furthermore, nobody can 
 learn how to play well merely from the study of a 
 book ; it can only serve as a guide and the rest must 
 be done by the teacher, if the student has one; if 
 not, the student must reahse by long and bitter ex- 
 perience the practical apphcation of the many things 
 explained in the book. 
 
 Example 7.
 
 14 PAWN ENDINGS 
 
 In this position White cannot win by playing 
 
 1 P — B 6, because Black plays, not P X P, which 
 would lose, but i . . .K— Kt i, and if then 2 P X P, 
 K X P, and draws, as shown in a previous case. If 
 2P — B 7 ch, K — B I, and White will never be 
 able to Queen his Pawn without losing it. If 
 
 2 K— K 7, PxP; 3 KxP, K— Bi, and draws. 
 WTiite, however, can win the position given in the 
 diagram by playing: 
 
 I K-Q 7, K-Kt i; 2 K-K 7, K-R i; 
 3P-B6,PXP. If 3-K-Kt i; 4 P-B 7ch, 
 K— R i; 5 P — B 8 (Q) mate. 
 
 4 K— B 7, P — B 4; 5 P— Kt 7 ch, K — R 2; 
 6 P-Kt 8 (Q) ch, K— R 3; 7 Q-Kt 6 mate. 
 
 
 ^^ ^^' ^P wm 
 
 W l^w f 
 ^ » Mai 
 
 Example 8. — In the above position White can't win 
 by I P — B 5. Black's best answer would be P — Kt 3 
 draws. (The student should work this out.) He 
 cannot win by i P — Kt 5, because P — Kt 3 draws. 
 (This, because of the principle of the ''opposition''
 
 PAWN ENDINGS 15 
 
 which governs this ending as well as all the Pawn- 
 endings already given, and which will be explained 
 more fully later on.) 
 
 White can win, however, by playing : i K — K 4, 
 K-K3. (If i...P-Kt 3; 2 K-Q 4, K-K 3; 
 
 3K-B5,K-B3;4K-Q6,K-B2;5P-Kt5, 
 K— Kt 2; 6 K— K 7, K— Kt i; 7 K— B 6, 
 K— R2; 8K— B7 and White wins the Pawn.) 
 
 2 P-B 5 ch, K-B 3; 3 K-B 4, P-Kt 3. 
 (If this Pawn is kept back we arrive at the ending 
 shown in Example 7.) 4 P— Kt 5 ch, K— B 2; 
 5P — B6, K— K3;6K— K4, K— B2;7K— K5, 
 K — B I. White cannot force his Bishop's Pawn 
 into Q (find out why), but by giving his Pawn up he 
 can win the other Pawn and the game. Thus : 
 
 8P— B 7, KxP; 9K— Q6, K— B i; loK— K6, 
 K— Kt 2; II K— K 7, K— Kt i; 12 K— B 6, 
 K— R2; 13 K— B7, K— R i; 14 K X P, 
 K— Kti. 
 
 There is still some resistance in Black's position. 
 In fact, the only way to win is the one given here, 
 as will easily be seen by experiment. 
 
 15 K— R 6 (if K— B 6, K— R 2; and in order 
 to win WTiite must get back to the actual position, 
 as agamst 16 P— Kt 6 ch, K— R i draws), K— R i ; 
 16 P— Kt 6, K— Kt i; 17 P— Kt 7, K — B 2; 
 18 K — R 7, and White queens the Pawn and 
 wins. 
 
 This ending, apparently so simple, should show the 
 student the enormous difficulties to be surmounted,
 
 i6 
 
 PAWN ENDINGS 
 
 even when there are hardly any pieces left, when 
 playmg agamst an adversary who knows how to use 
 the resources at his disposal, and it should show the 
 student, also, the necessity of paying strict attention 
 to these elementary things which form the basis of 
 true mastership in Chess. 
 
 Example 9. — In this ending 
 
 Mm. Mm. Mm. MM I 
 
 m 
 
 ^^ w. 
 
 i $m 
 
 
 WTiite can win by advancing any of the three Pawns 
 on the first move, but it is convenient to follow the 
 general rule, whenever there is no good reason against 
 it, of advancing the Fawn thai has no Pawn opposing 
 it. Thus we begin by — 
 
 I. P-B 5,K-K2. 
 
 IfP — Kt3, P — B6; and we have a similar ending 
 to one of those shown above. If i . . . P — R 3 ; 2 
 P-Kt 5- 
 
 2. K-K5,K-B2; 3. P- Kt 5, K-K 2.
 
 PAWN ENDINGS 
 
 17 
 
 If 3...P-Kt 3; 4 P-B 6, and if S...F-R 3; 
 
 4 P — Kt 6 ch, and in either case we have a similar 
 ending to one of those already shown. 
 
 4. P-R5, 
 
 and by following it up with P — Kt 6 we have the 
 same ending previously shown. Should Black play 
 4...P— Kt 3, then R P X P, P X P ; P — B 6 ch 
 with the same result. 
 
 Having now seen the cases when the PawTis are 
 all on one side of the board we shall now examine 
 a case when there are Pawns on both sides of the 
 board. 
 
 Example 10. — In these cases the general rule is 
 to act immediately on the side where you have the su- 
 
 perior forces. Thus we have : 
 I. P— KKt4.
 
 i8 PAWrN ENDINGS 
 
 It is generally advisable to advance the Pawn that is 
 free from opposition. 
 
 I P-QR4. 
 
 Black makes an advance on the other side, and now 
 White considers whether or not he should stop the 
 advance. In this case either way wins, but generally 
 the advance should be stopped when the opposing 
 King is far away. 
 
 2. P-QR4,K-B3; 3.P-R4,K-K3. 
 
 If 3. . .K — Kt 3, then simple counting will show that 
 White goes to the other side with his King, wms the 
 P at Q R 4, and then Queens his single Pawn long 
 before Black can do the same. 
 
 4. P-Kt 5, K-B 2; 5'K-B 5, K-Kt 2; 
 6.P — R 5, K— B 2. 
 
 If 6...P — R 3; 7 P — Kt 6, and then the two 
 Pawns defend themselves and White can go to the 
 other side with his King, to win the other Pawn. 
 
 7. K-K5. 
 
 Now it is time to go to the other side with the King, 
 win the Black Pawn and Queen the single Pawn. 
 This is typical of all such endings and should be worked 
 out by the student in this case and in similar cases 
 which he can put up.
 
 SOME WINNING POSITIONS 
 
 19 
 
 4. SOME WINNING POSITIONS IN THE MIDDLE- 
 GAME 
 
 By the time the student has digested all that has 
 been previously explained, he, no doubt, is anxious 
 to get to the actual game and play with all the pieces. 
 However, before considering the openings, we shall 
 devote a little time to some combinations that often 
 arise during the game, and which will give the reader 
 some idea of the beauty of the game, once he becomes 
 better acquainted with it. 
 
 Example 11. 
 
 ¥ ^ v;^ f Mii/l 
 
 
 ^ai 
 
 
 Z1 
 
 It is Black's move, and thinking that White merely 
 threatens to play Q— R 6 and to mate at K Kt 7, 
 Black plays 1...R— K i, threatening mate by way 
 of R — K 8. White now uncovers his real and most 
 effective threat, viz. : 
 
 I...R— Ki; 2QxPch,KxQ; 3R— Rsch, 
 K— Kti; 4R— R8 mate.
 
 20 
 
 SOME WINNING POSITIONS 
 
 This same t>^e of combination may come as the 
 result of a somewhat more compHcated position. 
 
 Example 12. 
 
 ^ i 
 
 4^^^ ^^^ |S!< ^^ <:,y>iiii. 
 
 ±m ■iBi 
 
 White is a piece behind, and imless he can win it 
 back quickly he will lose ; he therefore plays : 
 
 1. Kt X Kt B — Kt 4 
 
 He cannot take the Kt because White threatens mate 
 by Q X P ch followed by R — R 3 ch. 
 
 2. Kt— Kych QxKt 
 
 Again if B X Kt ; Q X P ch, K X Q ; R — R 3 ch, 
 King moves ; P. — R 8 mate. 
 
 3. Rx Q BxR 
 
 4. Q-Q7 
 
 and WTiite wins one of the two Bishops, remams 
 with a Q and a B against a R and B, and should 
 therefore win easily. These two examples show the
 
 IN THE MIDDLE-GAME 
 
 21 
 
 danger of advancing the K Kt P one square, after 
 having Castled on that side. 
 
 Example 13. 
 
 WM<>Mf'^. 
 
 w^ i 
 
 
 s ^ i '^ ^ ^ ^ 
 
 c^.. 
 
 w 
 
 &a^ 
 
 ^ ^i^ 
 
 This is another very interesting t>pe of combina- 
 tion. Black has a R for a Kt and should therefore 
 win, unless White is able to obtain some compensa- 
 tion immediately. WTiite, in fact, mates in a few 
 moves thus : 
 
 I. Kt — B 6ch 
 
 PxKt 
 
 Forced, otherwise Q X P mates. 
 
 2. Q— Kt 3 ch K — R I 
 
 3. B X P mate. 
 
 Example 14. — The same t\pe of combination oc- 
 curs in a more comphcated form in the following 
 position.
 
 22 
 
 SOME WINNING POSITIONS 
 
 1. B X Kt Q X B. 
 
 If . . . B X Kt ; Q — B 3 threatens mate, and there- 
 fore wins the Q, which is already attacked. 
 
 2. Kt— B 6ch Px Kt 
 
 3. R— Kt3 ch K— Ri 
 
 4. B X P mate. 
 
 Example 15. — A very frequent type of combina- 
 tion is shown in the following position. 
 
 mm: t^ wm' ^^'mm"t''"-c<m/'^^'' 
 
 i * ■ m. ^Wm.^ 
 
 
 
 'mm. m, 

 
 IN THE MIDDLE-GAME 
 
 23 
 
 Here White is the exchange and a Pawn behind, 
 but he can win quickly thus : i B x P ch, K X B. 
 (If I...K-R i; 2 Q-K R 5, P — KKta; 
 3 Q — R 6, and wins.) 
 
 2 Q— R 5 ch, K— Kt i; 3 Kt— Kt 5, and Black 
 cannot stop mate at K R 7 except by sacrificing the 
 Queen by Q — K 5, which would leave White with a 
 Q for a R. 
 
 Example 16. — This same type of combination is 
 seen in a more complicated form in the following 
 position. 
 
 
 13 
 
 m:i 
 
 ^ .cwil 
 
 
 1 
 
 ^ i fe 
 
 yi 
 
 
 1 . 
 
 ■ 
 
 B 
 
 B IL 
 
 
 i 
 
 B 
 
 m 
 
 « s ^ 
 
 ^m ^ 1^^^- 
 
 1l 
 
 J^l 
 
 i& 
 
 
 -:M^ 
 
 ss 
 
 B 
 
 
 n 
 
 1 s 
 
 White proceeds as follows : i Kt X Kt ch (this 
 clears the line for the B) ; B X Kt (to stop the Kt 
 from moving to Kt 5 after the sacrifice of the B) ; 
 2 R X B, Kt X R best ; 3 B X P ch, K X B. (If 
 3...K-R1; 4Q-R5, P-K Kt3; sBxPch, 
 K— Kt 2; 6 Q — R 7 ch, K— B 3; 7 P — Kt 5 ch, 
 K— K 3; SBxPch, RxB; 9Q— K4mate.) 
 4 Q— R 5 ch, K— Kt i; 5 Kt — Kt 5, R— B i ;
 
 24 RELATIVE VALUE OF THE PIECES 
 
 6 Q— R 7 ch, K — B i; 7 Q— R 8 ch, Kt— Kt i; 
 8 Kt — R 7 ch, K— K 2; 9 R— K i ch, K— Q i; 
 10 Q X Kt mate. 
 
 This combination is rather long and has many vari- 
 ations, therefore a beginner will hardly be able to 
 fathom it ; but, knowing the type of combination, 
 he might under similar circumstances undertake and 
 carry out a briUiant attack which he would otherwise 
 never think of. It will be seen that all the combina- 
 tions shown have for a foundation the proper co-ordi- 
 nation of the pieces, which have all been brought to 
 bear against a weak point. 
 
 5. RELATIVE VALUE OF THE PIECES 
 
 Before going on to the general principles of the 
 openings, it is advisable to give the student an idea 
 of the proper relative value of the pieces. There is 
 no complete and accurate table for all of them, and 
 the only thing to do is to compare the pieces sep- 
 arately. 
 
 For all general theoretical purposes the Bishop and 
 the Knight have to be considered as of the same value, 
 though it is my opinion that the Bishop will prove the 
 more valuable piece in most cases ; and it is well known 
 that two Bishops are almost always better than two 
 Knights. 
 
 The Bishop will be stronger against Pawns than 
 the Kjiight, and in combination with Pawns will also 
 be stronger against the Rook than the Knight 
 will be.
 
 RELATIVE VALUE OF THE PIECES 25 
 
 A Bishop and a Rook are also stronger than a Knight 
 and a Rook, but a Queen and a Knight may be stronger 
 than a Queen and a Bishop. 
 
 A Bishop will often be worth more than three PawTis, 
 but a Knight very seldom so, and may even not be 
 worth so much. 
 
 A Rook will be worth a Knight and two Pawns, 
 or a Bishop and two Pa\\Tis, but, as said before, the 
 Bishop will be a better piece against the Rook. 
 
 Two Rooks are slightly stronger than a Queen. 
 They are slightly weaker than two Knights and a 
 Bishop, and a little more so than two Bishops and 
 a Knight. The power of the Knight decreases as 
 the pieces are changed off. The power of the Rook, 
 on the contrary, increases. 
 
 The King, a purely defensive piece throughout the 
 middle-game, becomes an offensive piece once all the 
 pieces are off the board, and sometimes even when 
 there are one or two minor pieces left. The handling 
 of the King becomes of paramount importance once 
 the end-game stage is reached. 
 
 6. GENERAL STRATEGY OF THE OPENING 
 
 The main thing is to develop the pieces quickly. 
 Get them into play as fast as you can. 
 
 From the outset two moves, iP— K4oriP — Q4, 
 open up lines for the Queen and a Bishop. Therefore, 
 theoretically one of these two moves must be 
 the best, as no other first move accomplishes so 
 much.
 
 26 GENERAL STRATEGY 
 
 Example 17. — Suppose we begin : 
 
 1. P — K4 P— K4 
 
 2. Kt— KB 3 
 
 This is both an attacking and a developing move. 
 Black can now either reply with the identical move or 
 play 
 
 2 Kt— QB3 
 
 This developing move at the same time defends 
 the King's Pawn. 
 
 3. Kt-B3 Kt-B3 
 These moves are of a purely developing nature. 
 
 4. B-Kt5 
 
 // is generally advisable not to bring this Bishop 
 out until one Knight is out, preferably the King's 
 Knight. The Bishop could also have been played 
 to B 4, but it is advisable whenever possible to combine 
 development and attack. 
 
 4 B-Kt5 
 
 Black replies in the same manner, threatening a pos- 
 sible exchange of Bishop for Knight with Kt X P to 
 follow. 
 
 5- 0-0 
 
 an indirect way of preventing 5...BxKt, which 
 more experience or study will show to be bad. At 
 the same time the Rook is brought into action in the 
 centre^ a very important point.
 
 OF THE OPENING 27 
 
 5 0-0 
 
 Black follows the same line of reasoning. 
 
 6. P-Q3 P-Q3 
 
 These moves have a two-fold object, \iz. : to pro- 
 tect the King's Pawn and to open the diagonal for the 
 development of the Queen's Bishop. 
 
 7. B-Kt5 
 
 
 ■ i X i 
 
 A very powerful move, which brings us to the middle- 
 game stage, as there is already in view a combination 
 to win quickly by Kt — Q 5. This threat makes it 
 impossible for Black to continue the same course. 
 (There is a long analysis showing that Black should 
 lose if he also plays B — Kt 5.) He is now forced to 
 play 7...BxKt, as experience has shown, thus 
 bringing up to notice three things. 
 
 First, the complete development of the opening 
 has taken only seven moves. (This varies up to ten 
 or twelve moves in some very exceptional cases. As 
 a rule, eight should be enough.) Second, Black has
 
 28 CONTROL OF THE CENTRE 
 
 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 advantage for White, as the Pawn 
 is doubled towards the centre of the board.) Third, 
 White by the exchange brings up a Pawn to control 
 the square Q 4, puts Black on the defensive, as experi- 
 ence will show, and thus keeps the initiative, an unques- 
 tionable advantage.^ 
 
 The strategical principles expounded above are the 
 same for all the openings, only their tactical appli- 
 cation varies according to the circumstances. 
 
 Before proceeding further I wish to lay stress on 
 the following point which the student should bear in 
 mind. 
 
 Before development has been completed no piece should 
 he moved more than once, unless it is essential in order 
 to obtain either material advantage or to secure freedom 
 of action. 
 
 The beginner would do well to remember this, as 
 well as what has already been stated : viz., bring 
 out the Knights before bringing out the Bishops. 
 
 7. CONTROL OF THE CENTRE 
 The four squares, K 4 and Q 4 on each side respec- 
 tively, are the centre squares, and control of these 
 squares is called control of the centre. The control of 
 the centre is of great importance. No violent attack 
 can succeed without controlling at least two of these 
 ^ The value of the initiative is explained in section 20, p. 77.
 
 CONTROL OF THE CENTRE 29 
 
 squares, and possibly three. Many a manoeuvre in 
 the opening has for its sole object the control of the 
 centre, which invariably ensures the initiative. It is 
 well always to bear this in mind, since it will often be 
 the reason of a series of moves which could not other- 
 wise be properly understood. As this book progresses 
 I shall dwell more fully on these different points. At 
 present I shall devote some time to openings taken 
 at random and explain the moves according to general 
 principles. The student will in that way train his 
 mind in the proper direction, and will thus have less 
 trouble in finding a way out when confronted w^ith a 
 new and difficult situation. 
 
 Example 18. 
 
 1. P— K4 P — K4 
 
 2. Kt— KB 3 P — Q3 
 
 A timid move. Black assumes a defensive attitude 
 at once. On principle the move is wrong. In the 
 openings, whenever possible, pieces shmdd be moved in 
 preference to Paums. 
 
 3- P-Q4 
 White takes the offensive immediately and strives 
 to control the centre so as to have ample room to 
 deploy his forces. 
 
 3 Kt-Q2 
 
 Black does not wish to relinquish the centre and also 
 prefers the text move to Kt — Q B 3, which would 
 be the more natural square for the Kt. But on prin-
 
 30 CONTROL OF THE CENTRE 
 
 ciple the move is wrong, because it blocks the action 
 of the Queen's Bishop, and instead of faciHtating the 
 action of Black's pieces, tends, on the contrary, to 
 cramp them. 
 
 4. B — QB 4 P — KR3 
 
 Black is forced to pay the penalty of his previous 
 move. Such a move on Black's part condemns by 
 itself any form of opening that makes it necessary. 
 White threatened Kt — Kt 5 and Black could hot stop 
 it with 4. . .B — K 2, because of 5 P X P, Kt X P 
 (if 5...PXP, 6 Q-Q 5); 6 KtxKt, PxKt; 
 7 Q — R 5, and White wins a Pawn and has besides a 
 perfectly safe position. • 
 
 5. Kt — B3 KKt — B3 
 
 6. B — K3 B — K2 
 
 7. Q— K2 
 
 It should be noticed that White does not Castle yet. 
 The reason is that he wants to deploy his forces first, 
 and through the last move force Black to play 
 P — Q B 3 to make room for the Queen as White 
 threatens R— Q i, to be followed by P X P. Black's 
 other alternatives would finally force him to play 
 P X P, thus abandoning the centre to White. 
 
 7 P-B3 
 
 8. R— Qi Q -B 2 
 
 9. -O 
 
 With this last move White completes his development, 
 while Black is evidently somewhat hampered. A simple 
 examination will suffice to show that White's position
 
 CONTROL OF THE CENTRE 31 
 
 is unassailable. There are no weak spots in his armour, 
 and his pieces are ready for any manoeuvre that he 
 may wish to carry out in order to begin the attack on 
 the enemy's position. The student should carefully 
 study this example. It will show him that it is some- 
 times convenient to delay Castling. I have given the 
 moves as they come to my mind without following 
 any standard book on openings. \Miether the moves 
 given by me agree or not with the standard works, I 
 do not know, but at the present stage of this book 
 it is not convenient to enter into discussions of mere 
 technicalities which the student will be able to under- 
 stand when he has become more proficient. 
 
 Example 19. 
 
 1. P— K4 P— K4 
 
 2. Kt-KB3 P-Q3 
 
 3. P-Q4 B-Kt5 
 
 A bad move, which violates one of the principles set 
 down, according to which at least one Knight should 
 be developed before the Bishops are brought out, and 
 also because it exchanges a Bishop for a Knight, which 
 in the opening is generally bad, unless there is some 
 compensation. 
 
 4. PxP 
 
 BxKt 
 
 . P X P loses a Pawn. 
 
 
 5. QxB 
 
 PxP 
 
 6. B — QB 4 
 
 Q-B3 
 
 If Kt — B 3 ; Q — Q Kt 3 wins a Pa\\'n.
 
 32 
 
 TRAPS 
 
 7. Q-QKt3 P-QKt3 
 
 8. Kt-B3 P-QB3 
 
 To prevent Kt— Q 5- 
 
 li ■ ■ i i 
 
 Black, however, has no pieces out except his Queen, 
 and White, with a Bishop and a Knight already devel- 
 oped, has a chance of obtaining an advantage quickly 
 by playing Kt — Q 5 anyway. The student is left 
 to work out the many variations arising from this 
 position. 
 
 These examples will show the practical appHcation 
 of the principles previously enunciated. The student 
 is warned against playing Pawns in preference to pieces 
 at the beginning of the game, especially P — K R 3 
 and P— Q R 3, which are moves very commonly in- 
 dulged in by beginners. 
 
 8. TRAPS 
 I shall now give a few positions or traps to be avoided 
 in the openings, and in which (practice has shown) 
 beginners are often caught.
 
 TRAPS 
 
 33 
 
 Example 20. 
 
 M# A Pf# ' ■■■■■'■ A 
 
 i^m 
 
 mi. 
 
 V///^ 
 
 ^^eii 
 
 
 
 » « ^ 
 
 White plays: 
 
 1. PxP KtxP 
 Black should have recaptured with the Pawn. 
 
 2. Kt V Kt B X Q 
 
 3. BxPch K— K2 
 
 4. Kt — Q 5 mate. 
 
 Example 21. 
 
 11^ 
 
 
 
 
 i^'^*^^ » ^^":? 
 
 
 A£
 
 34 TRAPS 
 
 Black, having the move, should play P— K 3. But 
 suppose he plays Kt — K B 3 instead, then comes — 
 
 1. B X P ch 
 
 Kt — K 5 would also give White the advantage, the 
 threat being of course ifBxQ; 2BXP mate. Nor 
 does B — R 5 help matters, because of 2 Q X B, i . . . 
 B — K 3 leaves Black with the inferior position. But 
 White's move in the text secures an immediate material 
 advantage, and the beginner at any rate should never 
 miss such an opportunity for the sake of a speculative 
 advantage in position. 
 
 I KxB 
 
 2. Kt— K 5 ch K moves 
 
 3. KtxB 
 
 and White has won a Pawn besides having the better 
 position. 
 
 There are a good many other traps — in fact, there 
 is a book written on traps on the chess board; but 
 the type given above is the most common of all.
 
 CHAPTER II 
 Further Principles in End-Game Play 
 
 We shall now go back to the endings in search of a 
 few more principles, then again to the middle-game, 
 and finally to the openings once more, so that the ad- 
 vance may not only be gradual but homogeneous. In 
 this way the foundation on which we expect to build 
 the structure will be firm and solid. 
 
 9. A CARDINAL PRINCIPLE 
 
 ■ ■ 
 
 
 
 Wa 
 
 
 •_ 
 
 In the position shown above, White can draw by 
 playing P — Kt 4 according to the general rule that 
 governs such cases, i.e. to advance the Pawn that is 
 free from opposition. But suppose that White, either 
 because he does not know this principle or because he 
 
 35
 
 36 A CARDINAL PRINCIPLE 
 
 does not, in this case, sufficiently appreciate the value 
 of its application; suppose, we say, that he plays 
 I p _ Q R 4. Then Black can win by playing i . . . 
 P — Q R 4, applying one of the cardinal prmciples of 
 the high strategy of chess — 
 
 A unit that holds two. 
 
 In this case one Pawn would hold two of the op- 
 ponent's Pawns. The student cannot lay too much 
 stress on this principle. It can be applied in many 
 ways, and it constitutes one of the principal weapons 
 in the hands of a master. 
 
 Example 22. — The example given should be suffi- 
 cient proof. We give a few moves of the main vari- 
 ation : — 
 
 1. P— R4 P — QR4 
 
 2. K— Kt 2 K — B 5 
 (Best ; see why.) 
 
 3. P — Kt 4 PXP 
 (Best.) 
 
 4. P — R5 P — Kt6 
 
 5. P — R6 P — Kt 7 
 
 6. P-R7 P-Kt8(Q) 
 
 7. P-R8(Q) Q-Ksch 
 
 8. Q X Q K X Q 
 
 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 familiar with it.
 
 A CLASSICAL ENDING 
 
 37 
 
 10. A CLASSICAL ENDING 
 
 ^ ^ ™ 
 ^ / • "^^^ mm 
 
 Example 23. — In this position WTiite's best line 
 of defence consists in keeping his Pawn where it stands 
 at R 2. As soon as the Pawn is advanced it becomes 
 easier for Black to win. On the other hand, Black's 
 plan to win (supposing that WTiite does not advance 
 his Pawn) may be divided into three parts. The first 
 part will be to get his King to K R 6, at the same time 
 keeping intact the position of his Pawns, (This is 
 aU important, since, in order to win the game, it is 
 essential at the end that Black may be able to advance 
 his rearmost Pawn one or two squares according to 
 the position of the White King.) 
 
 1. K 
 
 2. K 
 
 Kt3 
 Kt 2 
 
 K — K6 
 
 If 2 K-Kt 4, K-B 7; 3 P-R 4, P-Kt 3 ^iU 
 win.
 
 38 
 
 A CLASSICAL ENDING 
 
 2 K-B5 
 
 3. K-B 2 K— Kts 
 
 4. K— Kt 2 K— R 5 
 
 5. K— Kt I K— R6 
 
 The first part has been completed. 
 
 ■ ». « If ' 
 
 
 ^ ^ ^ S 
 
 The second part will be short and will consist in 
 advancing the R P up the K. 
 
 6. K— Ri P — R4 
 
 7. K— Kt I P — R5 
 This ends the second part. 
 
 
 1 ■ ,,» 
 
 i 
 
 r^^P m 
 
 ^^^^^ ^^^^. 
 
 « __^^ ^__ 'mi_
 
 A CLASSICAL ENDING 39 
 
 The third part will consist in timing the advance of 
 the Kt P so as to play P— Kt 6 when the White 
 King is at R I. It now becomes evident how neces- 
 sary it is to be able to move the Kt P either one or 
 two squares according to the position of the WTiite 
 King, as indicated previously.^ In this case, as it is 
 White's move, the Pawn will be advanced two squares 
 since the White King will be in the comer, but if it 
 were now Black's move the Kt P should only be ad^ 
 vanced one square since the WTiite King is at 
 Kt I. 
 
 8. K— R I P — Kt4 
 
 9. K-Kt I P-KT5 
 
 10. K— Ri P — Kt6 
 
 11. Px P 
 
 If K— Kt I, P— Kt 7. 
 
 II PXP 
 
 12. K — Kt I P — Kt 7 
 
 13. K — B 2 K — R7 
 
 and wins. 
 
 It is in this analytical way that the student should 
 try to learn. He will thus train his mind to follow a 
 logical sequence in reasoning out any position. This 
 example is excellent training, since it is easy to di\ade 
 it into three stages and to explain the main point of 
 each part. 
 
 The next subject we shall study is the simple oppo- 
 
 ^ See page 37.
 
 40 
 
 OBTAINING A PASSED PAWN 
 
 sition, but before we devote our time to it I wish to 
 call attention to two things. 
 
 11. OBTAINING A PASSED PAWN 
 
 When three or more Pawns are opposed to each 
 other in some such position as the one in Example 24, 
 there is always a chance for one side or the other of 
 obtaining a passed Pawn. 
 
 
 wAm.. 
 
 m ^m... 
 
 ■ P 
 
 m mm 
 
 Example 24. — In the above position the way of 
 obtaining a passed Pawn is to advance the centre 
 Pawn. 
 
 1. P — Kt6 RPxP 
 
 If B PxP; P — R 6, 
 
 2. P — B6 PxBP 
 
 3. P — R6 
 
 and as in this case the White Pawn is nearer to 
 Queen than any of the Black Pawns, White will
 
 WHICH PAWN FIRST TO QUEEN 41 
 
 win. Now if it had been Black's move Black could 
 play 
 
 I P-Kt3 
 
 2. BPxP BPxP 
 
 It would not be advisable to try to obtain a passed 
 Pawn because the White Pawns would be nearer to 
 Queen than the single Black Pa\Mi. 
 
 3. Px P PxP 
 
 and the game properly played would be a draw. The 
 student should work this out for himself. 
 
 12. HOW TO FIND OUT WHICH PAW^ WILL 
 BE FIRST TO QUEEN 
 
 WTien two Pawns are free, or will be free, to ad- 
 vance to Queen, you can find out, by counting, which 
 Pawn will be the first to succeed. 
 
 Example 25. — In this position whoever moves first 
 wins.
 
 42 W^ICH PAWN FIRST TO QUEEN 
 
 The first thing is to find out, by counting, whether 
 the opposing King can be in time to stop the passed 
 Pawn from Queening. When, as m this case, it cannot 
 be done, the point is to count which Pawn comes in 
 first. In this case the time is the same, but the Pawn 
 that reaches the eighth square first and becomes a 
 Queen is in a position to capture the adversary's 
 Queen when he makes one. Thus : 
 
 1. P — R4 P-KR4 
 
 2. P-Rs P-R5 
 
 3. P— Kt6 PXP 
 
 Now comes a httle calculation. White can capture 
 the Pawn, but if he does so, he will not, when Queen- 
 ing, command the square where Black will also Queen 
 his Pawn. Therefore, instead of taking, he plays: 
 
 4. P-R6 P-R6 
 
 5. P — R7 P-R7 
 
 6. P — R8 (Q), and wins. 
 
 The student would do well to acquaint hunself 
 with various simple endings of this sort, so as to ac- 
 quire the habit of counting, and thus be able to know 
 with ease when he can or cannot get there first. Once 
 again I must call attention to the fact that a book 
 cannot by itself teach how to play. It can only serve 
 as a guide, and the rest must be learned by experience, 
 and if a teacher can be had at the same time, so much 
 the faster will the student be able to learn.
 
 THE OPPOSITION 
 
 43 
 
 13. THE OPPOSITION 
 
 When Kings have to be moved, and one player can, 
 by force, brmg his King into a position similar to the 
 one shown in the following diagram, so that his adver- 
 sary is forced to move and make way for him, the 
 player obtaining that advantage is said to have the 
 oi) position. 
 
 
 m 
 
 
 Example 26. — Suppose in the above position White 
 plays 
 
 I. K-Q4 
 
 Now Black has the option of either opposing the 
 passage of the White Kmg by playing K — Q 3 
 or, if he prefers, he can pass with his own King 
 by replying K — B 4. Notice that the Kings are 
 directly opposed to each other, and the number of 
 intervening squares between them is odd — one in 
 this case. 
 The opposition can take the form shown above,
 
 44 
 
 THE OPPOSITION 
 
 which can be called actual or close frontal opposition; 
 or this form: 
 
 W 
 
 ^^^ ^ ^ ^ 
 
 ^B I^S fe^ '^M/i 
 
 ^ ^ ^^ 
 
 which can be called actual or close diagonal opposition, 
 or, again, this form : 
 
 ^^^^^^^P 
 
 ,^^WmJ^ mm,^ ^^^^ 
 
 ^^ 
 
 ^, ^^, 
 
 ^ ^P ^m ^M, 
 
 which can be called actual or close lateral opposition. 
 In practice they are all one and the same. The 
 Kings are always on squares of the same colour, there 
 is only one intervening square between the Kings, 
 and the player who has moved last '^has the op position P
 
 THE OPPOSITION 
 
 45 
 
 Now, if the student will take the trouble of moving 
 each King backwards as in a game in the same frontal, 
 diagonal or lateral line respectively shown in the dia- 
 grams, we shall have what may be called distant frontal, 
 diagonal and lateral opposition respectively. 
 
 The matter of the opposition is highly important, 
 and takes at times somewhat complicated forms, all 
 of which can be solved mathematically; but, for the 
 present, the student should only consider the most 
 simple forms. {An examination of some of the examples 
 of King and Pawns endings already given will show 
 several cases of close opposition.) 
 
 In all simple forms of opposition, 
 when the Kings are on the same line and the number 
 of intervening squares between them is even, the player 
 who has the move has the opposition. 
 
 ^ ^*^, 
 
 W 
 
 m ^m, ^m 
 
 1 
 
 
 Example 27. — The above position shows to advan- 
 tage the enormous value of the opposition. The
 
 46 THE OPPOSITION 
 
 position is very simple. Very little is left on the 
 board, and the position, to a beginner, probably looks 
 absolutely even. It is not the case, however. Who- 
 ever has tlie move wins. Notice that the Kings are 
 directly in front of one another, and that the number 
 of intervening squares is even. 
 
 Now as to the procedure to win such a position. 
 The proper way to begin is to move straight up. 
 Thus: 
 
 I. K— K2 
 
 K— K2 
 
 2. K-K3 
 
 K-K3 
 
 3- K-K4 
 
 K-B3 
 
 N6w White can exercise the option of either playing 
 K — Q 5 and thus passing with his King, or of playing 
 K — B 4 and prevent the Black King from passing, 
 thereby keeping the opposition. Mere counting will 
 show that the former course will only lead to a 
 draw, therefore White takes the latter course and 
 plays : 
 
 4. K — B 4 K— Kt3 
 If4...K— K3; 5K— Kt5 will win. 
 
 5. K— K5 K— Kt2 
 
 Now by counting it will be seen that White wins by 
 capturing Black's Knight Pawn. 
 
 The process has been comparatively simple in the 
 variation given above, but Black has other Unes of
 
 THE OPPOSITION 47 
 
 defence more difficult to overcome. Let us begin 
 anew. 
 
 I. K— K2 K — Q I 
 
 Nowif 2K— Q3, K— Q 2, or if 2 K— K3, K— K 2, 
 and Black obtains the opposition in both cases. (WTien 
 the Kings are directly in Iront of one another, and the 
 number of intervening squares between the Kings 
 is odd, the player who has moved last has the 
 opposition.) 
 
 Now in order to win, the White King must advance. 
 There is only one other square where he can go, B 3, 
 and that is the right place. Therefore it is seen that 
 in such cases when the opponent makes a so-called 
 waiting move, you must advance, leaving a rank 
 or file free between the Kings. Therefore we 
 have — 
 
 2. K— B 3 K— K 2 
 
 Now, it would be bad to advance, because then Black, 
 by bringing up his King in front of your King, would 
 obtain the opposition. It is White's turn to play a 
 similar move to Black's first move, viz. : 
 
 3. K-K3 
 
 which brings the position back to the first variation 
 shown. The student would do well to familiarise him- 
 self with the handling of the King in all examples of 
 opposition. It often means the winning or losing of 
 a game.
 
 48 
 
 THE OPPOSITION 
 
 Example 28. — The following position is an excellent 
 proof of the value of the opposition as a means of 
 defence. 
 
 «,_„„«. 
 
 
 ^„„„_^„ 
 
 11 m 
 
 » ■ ^ 1 
 
 ^m^ mm^ ^m^mm 
 
 ^ » » 6 P 
 
 White is a Pawn behind and apparently lost, yet he 
 can manage to draw as follows : 
 
 1. K— Ri! 
 
 The position of the Pawns does not permit White 
 to draw by means of the actual or close opposition, 
 hence he takes the distant opposition : in effect if 
 
 1 K — B I (actual or close opposition), K — Q 7; 
 
 2 K — B 2, K— Q 6 and White cannot continue to 
 keep the lateral opposition essential to his safety, 
 because of his own Pawn at B 3. On the other hand, 
 after the text move, if 
 
 I K-Q7 
 
 2. K — R2 K— Q6 
 
 3. K-R3I K-K7
 
 THE OPPOSITION 49 
 
 4. K— Kt2 K— K6 
 
 5. K-Kt3 K-Q5 
 
 6. K— Kt4 
 
 attacking the Pawn and forcing Black to play 6 . . . 
 K — K 6 when he can go back to Kt 3 as already 
 shown, and always keep the opposition. 
 Going back to the original position, if 
 
 1. K— Ri P — Kt 5 
 
 White does not play P X P, because P — K 5 will 
 win, but plays : 
 
 2. K— Kt 2 K— Q 7 
 
 If 2...PXP ch; 3 KxP, followed by K— K 4, 
 will draw. 
 
 3. PXP P-K5 
 
 and mere counting will show that both sides Queen, 
 drawing the game. 
 
 If the student will now take the trouble to go back 
 to the examples of King and Pawns which I have 
 given in this book,^ he will reaUse that in all of them 
 the matter of the opposition is of paramount impor- 
 tance ; as, in fact, it is in nearly all endings of King 
 and Pawns, except in such cases where the Pawn- 
 position in itself ensures the win. 
 ^ See page 13.
 
 50 
 
 THE RELATIVE VALUE 
 
 14. THE RELATIVE VALUE OF KNIGHT AND BISHOP 
 Before turning our attention to this matter it is 
 weU to state now that two Knights alone cannot mate, 
 but, under certain conditions of course, they can do 
 so if the opponent has one or more Pawns. 
 
 ^^'fS ^WMSh^9 ^W 
 
 Example 29. — In the above position White cannot 
 win, although the Black King is cornered, but in the 
 following position, in which Black has a Pawn, 
 
 White wins with or without the move. Thus 
 I. Kt — Kt6 P — R5
 
 OF KNIGHT AND BISHOP 
 
 51 
 
 White cannot take the Paun because the game will 
 be drawn, as explained before. 
 
 2. Kt— K 5 
 
 3. Kt — B6 
 
 4. Kt— Kt 5 
 
 5. Kt — B 7 mate 
 
 P— R6 
 P — R7 
 
 P-R8(Q) 
 
 The reason for this peculiarity in chess is eviaent. 
 White with the two Knights can only stalemate the 
 King, unless Black has a Pawn which can he moved. 
 
 Example 30. —Although he is a Bishop and a Pa\^'n 
 ahead the following position cannot be won by WTiite. 
 
 <i&. 
 
 m.._ i 
 
 
 ■ 
 
 ^^^^ii 
 
 It is the greatest weakness of the Bishop, that when 
 the Rook's Pawn Queens on a square of opposite colour 
 and the opposing King is in front of the Pa^^^l, the 
 Bishop is absolutely worthless. All that Black has to 
 do is to keep moving his King close to the comer 
 square.
 
 52 
 
 THE RELATIVE VALUE 
 
 Example 31. — In the above position White with or 
 
 Take the most difficult 
 
 without the move can win. 
 variation. 
 
 Kt — Kt 4 ch 
 K — B I 
 K— B 2 
 Kt-K3 
 
 6. Kt — B I 
 
 7. Kt X P mate 
 
 K — R7 
 K— R8 
 P— Kt4 
 P — R7 
 P-Kt5 
 P— Kt6ch 
 
 Now that we have seen these exceptional cases, we 
 can analyse the different merits and the relative 
 value of the Knight and the Bishop. 
 
 It is generally thought by amateurs that the Knight 
 is the more valuable piece of the two, the chief reason 
 being that, unlike the Bishop, the Knight can command 
 both Black and White squares. However, the fact is 
 generally overlooked that the Knight, at any one time,
 
 OF KNIGHT AND BISHOP 
 
 53 
 
 has the choice of one colour only. It takes much longer 
 to bring a Knight from one wing to the other. Also, 
 as shown in the following Example, a Bishop can 
 stalemate a Knight ; a compliment which the Knight 
 is unable to return. 
 
 Example 32. 
 
 The weaker the player the more terrible the Knight 
 is to him, but as a player increases in strength the 
 value of the Bishop becomes more evident to him, and 
 of course there is, or should be, a corresponding decrease 
 in his estimation of the value of the Knight as compared 
 to the Bishop. In this respect, as in many others, the 
 masters of to-day 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, pre- 
 ferred Knights to Bishops, there is hardly a master of 
 to-day who would not completely agree with the state- 
 ments made above.
 
 54 
 
 THE RELATIVE VALUE 
 
 Example 33. — This is about the only case when the 
 Knight is more valuable than the Bishop. 
 
 W^ i — * 
 
 m ^"S"^ 
 
 >k 
 
 m 
 
 m 
 
 i 
 
 M ^^m 
 
 mm ^^ ^m. i 
 
 •^M m^3. 
 
 ^mmfmyW 
 
 ^P f§p mg p 
 
 m^ 
 
 1 i 
 
 i^ 
 
 It is what is called a '^Uock position ^''^ and all the 
 Pawns are on one side of the board. (If there were Pawns 
 on both sides of the board there would be no advantage 
 in having a Knight.) In such a position Black has 
 excellent chances of winning. Of course, there is an 
 extra source of weakness for WTiite in having his Pawns 
 on the same colour-squares as his Bishop. This is a 
 mistake often made by players. The proper way, 
 generally, in an ending, is to have your Pawns on 
 squares of opposite colour to that of your own Bishop. 
 When you have your Pa^Mis on squares of the same 
 colour the action of your own Bishop is limited by 
 them, and consequently the value of the Bishop is 
 diminished, since the value of a piece can often be 
 measured by the number of squares it commands. 
 While on this subject, I shall also call attention to the
 
 OF KNIGHT AXD BISHOP 
 
 55 
 
 fact that it is generally preferable to keep your Pawns 
 on squares of the same colour as that of the opposing 
 Bishop, particularly if they are passed Pawns sup- 
 ported by the King. The principles might be stated 
 thus : 
 
 When the opponent hns a BisJiop, keep your Paiims 
 on squares of the same colour as your opponent's 
 Bishop. 
 
 Whenever you have a BisJiop, ivJiether the op portent 
 has also one or not, keep your Pawns on squares of tJie 
 opposite colour to that of your own Bishop. 
 
 Naturally, these principles have sometimes to be 
 modified to suit the exigencies of the position. 
 
 Example 34. — In the following position the Pa\Mis 
 are on one side of the board, and there is no advantage 
 in having either a Knight or a Bishop. The game 
 should surely end in a draw.
 
 56 
 
 THE RELATIVE VALUE 
 
 Example 35. — Now let us add three Pawns on 
 each side to the above position, so that there are 
 Pawns on both sides of the board. 
 
 
 
 It is now preferable to have the Bishop, though 
 the position, if properly played out, should end in a 
 draw. The advantage of having the Bishop Kes as 
 much in its ability to command, at long range, both 
 sides of the board from a central position as in its 
 abihty to move quickly from one side of the board 
 to the other. 
 
 m ■»„^^ 
 
 
 ^^ '^'imm. "^WiM. '''m 
 
 P W S ^
 
 OF KNIGHT AND BISHOP 
 
 57 
 
 Example 36 — In the above position it is un- 
 questionably an advantage to have the Bishop, because, 
 although each player has the same number of Pawns, 
 they are not balanced on each side of the board. Thus, 
 on the King's side. White has three to two, while on 
 the Queen's side it is Black that has three to 
 two. Still, with proper play, the game should end 
 in a draw, though White has somewhat better 
 chances. 
 
 Example 37. — Here is a position in which to 
 have the Bishop is a decided advantage, since not 
 
 
 ■ M » t: 
 
 m ^:^ 
 
 ■ I 
 
 mm. '%, 
 m 
 
 only are there PawTis on both sides of the board, 
 but there is a passed Pawn (K R P for WTiite, 
 Q R P for Black). Black should have extreme 
 difficulty in drawing this position, if he can do it 
 at all.
 
 58 VALUE OF KNIGHT AND BISHOP 
 
 Example 38. — Again Black would have great diffi' 
 culty in drawing this position. 
 
 i 
 
 1 i ■ I 
 
 m$: 
 
 .^^-25^^ ** mmi^ ** 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 ?i 
 
 i^ 
 
 The student should carefully consider these posi- 
 tions. I hope that the many examples will help him 
 to understand, in their true value, the relative merits 
 of the Knight and Bishop. As to the general method 
 of procedure, a teacher, or practical experience, wiU 
 be best. I might say generally, however, that the 
 proper course in these endings, as in all similar end- 
 ings, is : Advance of the King to the centre of the 
 board or towards the passed Pawns, or Pawns that 
 are susceptible of being attacked, and rapid advance 
 of the passed Pawn or Pawns as far as is consistent 
 with their safety. 
 
 To give a fixed line of play would be folly. Each 
 ending is different, and requires different handhng, 
 according to what the adversary proposes to do. 
 Calculation by visuaHsuig the future positions is what 
 will count.
 
 MATE WITH KNIGHT AND BISHOP 59 
 
 15. HOW TO MATE WITH A KNIGHT AND A BISHOP 
 
 Now, before going back again to the middle-game 
 and the openings, let us see how to mate with Knight 
 and Bishop, and, then, how to win with a Queen 
 against a Rook. 
 
 With a Knight and a Bishop the mate can only he 
 givefi in the earners of the same colotir as the Bishop. 
 
 Example 39. — In this example we must mate either 
 at Q R I or K R 8. The ending can be divided into 
 two parts. Part one consists in driving the Black 
 King to the last line. We might begin, as is generally 
 done in all such cases, by advancmg the King to the 
 centre of the board : 
 
 I. K— K2 K— Q 2 
 
 Black, in order to make it more difficult, goes towards 
 the white-squared comer: 
 
 2. K-Q3 K-B3 
 
 3. B-B4 K-Q4
 
 6o 
 
 HOW TO IMATE WITH 
 
 4. Kt— K 2 K— B 4 
 
 5. Kt-B3 K-Kt5 
 
 6. K— Q4 K— R4 
 
 7. K-B5 K-R3 
 
 8. K-B 6 K-R 2 
 
 9. Kt — Qs K— Ri 
 
 The first part is now over; the Black King is in the 
 white-squared corner. 
 
 The second and last part will consist in driving the 
 Black King now from QR8toQRiorKR8m 
 order to mate him. Q R i will be the quickest in this 
 position. 
 
 10. Kt — Kt 6 ch 
 
 11. B — B 7 
 
 12. B — Kt8 
 Kt-Q5 
 
 13- 
 
 K — R2 
 K-R3 
 K — R4 
 K-R5 
 
 Black tries to make for K R i with his King. White 
 has two ways to prevent that, one by 14 B — K 5,
 
 A KNIGHT AND BISHOP 6i 
 
 K — Kt 6; 15 Kt — K 3, and the other which I give 
 as the text, and which I consider better for the student 
 to learn, because it is more methodical and more in 
 accord with the spirit of all these endings, by using 
 the King as much as possible. 
 
 14. 
 
 K- 
 
 -B5! 
 
 K- 
 
 -Kt6 
 
 15- 
 
 Kt- 
 
 -Kt 4 
 
 K- 
 
 -B6 
 
 16. 
 
 B- 
 
 -B4 
 
 K- 
 
 -Kt6 
 
 17- 
 
 B- 
 
 -K5 
 
 K- 
 
 -R5 
 
 18. 
 
 K- 
 
 -B4 
 
 K- 
 
 -R4 
 
 19. 
 
 B- 
 
 -B 7ch 
 
 K- 
 
 -R5 
 
 20. 
 
 Kt- 
 
 -Q3 
 
 K- 
 
 -R6 
 
 21. 
 
 B- 
 
 -Kt6 
 
 K- 
 
 -R5 
 
 22. 
 
 Kt- 
 
 - Kt 2 ch 
 
 K- 
 
 -R6 
 
 23- 
 
 K- 
 
 -B3 
 
 K- 
 
 -Ry 
 
 24. 
 
 K- 
 
 -B 2 
 
 K- 
 
 -R6 
 
 25- 
 
 B- 
 
 -B 5ch 
 
 K- 
 
 -R7 
 
 26. 
 
 Kt- 
 
 -Q3 
 
 K- 
 
 -R8 
 
 27. 
 
 B- 
 
 -Kt 4 
 
 K- 
 
 -R7 
 
 28. 
 
 Kt- 
 
 -B ich 
 
 K- 
 
 -R8 
 
 29. 
 
 B- 
 
 - B 3 mate 
 
 
 
 It will be seen that the ending is rather laborious. 
 There are two outstanding features : the close follow- 
 ing by the King, and the controlling of the squares of 
 opposite colour to the Bishop by the combined action 
 of the Knight and King. The student would do well 
 to exercise himself methodically in this ending, as it 
 gives a very good idea of the actual power of the pieces, 
 and it requires foresight in order to accompUsh the
 
 62 
 
 QUEEN AGAINST ROOK 
 
 mate within the fifty moves which are granted by 
 the rules. 
 
 16. QUEEN AGAINST ROOK 
 
 This is one of the most difficult endings without 
 Pawns. The resources of the defence are many, and 
 when used skilfully only a very good player will prevail 
 within the limit of fifty moves allowed by the rules. 
 (The rule is that at any moment you may demand 
 that your opponent mate you within fifty moves. 
 However, every time a piece is exchanged or a Pawn 
 advanced the counting must begin afresh.) 
 
 Example 40. — This is one of the standard positions 
 which Black can often bring about. Now, it is White's 
 move. If it were Black's move it would be simple, as 
 
 WM'^'^M "^^P "^W" '^ 
 
 
 he would have to move his Rook away from the King 
 (find out why), and then the Rook would be compara-
 
 QUEEN AGAINST ROOK 63 
 
 lively easy to win. We deduce from the above that 
 the main object is to force the Black Rook away 
 from the defending King, and that, in order to compel 
 Black to do so, we must bring about the position in 
 the diagram with Black to move. Once we know 
 what is required, the way to proceed becomes easier to 
 find. Thus : 
 
 I. Q— K 5ch 
 
 Not I Q — R 6, because R — B 2 ch ; 2 K — Kt 6, 
 R— B3ch; 3KXR. Stalemate. (The beginner 
 will invariably fall into this trap.) 
 
 I 
 
 2. Q— R I ch 
 
 3. Q-R5 
 
 K to R I or to R 2 
 K— Kt I 
 
 In a few moves we have accomplished our object. 
 The first part is concluded. Now we come to the 
 second part. The Rook can only go to a Wliite square, 
 otherwise the first check with the Queen will win it. 
 Therefore 
 
 3- 
 4. 
 
 
 R— Kt6 
 
 Q-K5ch 
 
 K — R I best 
 
 5- 
 
 Q— R8ch 
 
 K-R2 
 
 6. 
 
 Q— Kt 7ch 
 
 K-Ri 
 
 7- 
 
 Q— KtSch 
 
 R-Kt I 
 
 8. 
 
 Q — R 2 mate 
 
 
 (The student should find out by himself hovr to ^^'in 
 when 3...R— Kt S; 4 Q— K 5 ch, K — R 2.)
 
 64 
 
 QUEEN AGAINST ROOK 
 
 ■^m m 
 
 « — 
 
 
 Example 41. — The procedure here is very similar. 
 The things to bear in mind are that the Rook must 
 be prevented from interposing at Kt i because of an 
 immediate mate, and in the same way the King must 
 be prevented from going either to R 3 or B i. 
 
 Example 42. — We shall now examine a more diffi- 
 cult position. 
 
 ■ ■ ■« at
 
 QUEEN AGAINST ROOK 65 
 
 Many players would be deceived by this position. 
 The most likely looking move is not the best. Thus 
 suppose we begin 
 
 1. Q— Ksch K— B I 
 
 2. K— Kt 6 R— Q 2 
 
 The only defence, but, unfortunately, a very effective 
 one, which makes it very chfficult for White, since he 
 cannot play 3 Q — K 6 because of 3 . . . R — Kt 2 ch ; 
 4 K — B 6, R — Kt 3 ch draws. Nor can he win 
 quickly by 3 Q— Q B 5 ch because 3...K — K i, 
 4 K — B 6, R — Q 3 ch! driving back the Wliite 
 King. 
 
 Now that we have seen the difficulties of the situa- 
 tion let us go back. The best move is 
 
 1. Q— Kt 5 ch! K — Ri 
 
 IfK— R2; 2 Q— Kt6ch, K — R i; 3K— R6! 
 
 2. Q— K 5 ch! K — R2best 
 
 3. K— Kt 5 R — R2!best 
 
 If3...R— Kt2ch; 4K— B6 leads to a position 
 similar to those in Examples 40 and 41. 
 
 4. 
 
 Q-K4ch 
 
 K-Kt I 
 
 5- 
 
 Q — B 4ch 
 
 K-R2 
 
 6. 
 
 K— B 6 
 
 R— KKt 2 
 
 7- 
 
 Q— R4ch 
 
 K— Kt I 
 
 8. 
 
 Q-R5 

 
 66 QUEEN AGAINST ROOK 
 
 and we have the position of Example 40 with Black 
 to move. 
 Let us go back again. 
 
 1. Q— Kt 5 ch K— B I 
 
 2. Q— Q8ch K— Kt 2 
 
 3. K— Kt 5 R— B6 
 
 The best place for the Rook away from the King. 
 3...K — R2; 4 Q— Q 4, R— Kt 2 ch; 5 K — B 6 
 
 would lead to positions similar to those already seen. 
 
 4. Q— Q4ch K — B I 
 
 5. K— Kt6 
 
 5 Q_Q 6 ch, K— Kt 2; 6Q— K5 ch, K— B i; 
 7 K — Kt 6 would also win the Rook. The text move, 
 however, is given to show the finesse of such endings. 
 White now threatens mate at Q 8. 
 
 5 R— Kt6ch 
 
 6. K— B 6 R— B 6ch 
 
 7. K— K6 R— KR6 
 
 White threatened mate at K R 8. 
 
 8. Q— B 4ch 
 
 and the Rook is lost. 
 
 Note, in these examples, that the checks at long 
 range along the diagonals have often been the key to 
 all the winning manoeuvres. Also that the Queen and
 
 QUEEN AGAINST ROOK 67 
 
 King are often kept on different lines. The student 
 should carefully go over these positions and consider 
 all the possibilities not given in the text. 
 
 He should once more go through everything already 
 written before proceeding further with the book.
 
 CHAPTER III 
 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 beheve 
 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 
 
 68
 
 ATTACKING WITHOUT KNIGHTS 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 : 
 
 I QR— Kt i! 
 
 2. R— B 2 
 
 If, Q X Q, R X P ch ; K— R I, B - Q 4 and mate 
 follows in a few moves. 
 
 2 R X P ch 
 
 3. K— B I B — B 5ch 
 
 4. KtX B R— Kt 8mate 
 
 i#j ^ m ■ fii * 
 
 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 dra\vn the game 
 by perpetual check. White, how^ever, has a more 
 forceful move, and he mates in three moves as 
 follows :
 
 70 
 
 ATTACKING WITHOUT 
 
 1. R X P ch 
 
 2. R-QR5 
 
 3- 
 
 QxR 
 Black moves 
 
 White mates 
 
 "^ '^M^ ''ik^ t^. ^-^^-^ 
 
 I H B ife . 
 
 ft ' i * i ^ / ^ 
 
 ^fe 
 
 ^ ■ A ■ IB 
 
 i*« 
 
 IP 
 
 ^ ^^. 
 
 » « « M- 
 
 Example 45. — White has a beautiful position, but 
 stiU he had better gain some material, if he can, before 
 Black consolidates his defensive position. He there- 
 fore plays: 
 
 1. R X Kt ! P X R 
 
 2. Bx Pch K— K2 
 
 If Kt X B ; R X Kt and Black would be helpless. 
 
 3. Q-R7ch 
 
 K— Ki 
 
 4. Q X Kt ch 
 
 K— Q2 
 
 5. Q-Rych 
 
 Q-K2 
 
 6. B — B8 
 
 QxQ 
 
 7. R X Q ch 
 
 K-Ki 
 
 8. RxR 
 
 Resigns 
 
 In these few examples the 
 
 attacking has been done 
 
 by Rooks and Bishops in combination with the Queen.
 
 THE AID OF KNIGHTS 
 
 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 
 
 AW 5 
 
 WJLfci A , A 
 
 ixm 
 
 m iBj 
 
 
 
 W^'T', 
 
 
 Example 46. — White is two Pawns behind. He 
 must therefore press on his attack. The game con- 
 tinues : 
 
 I. Kt (B 5)xKtP Kt — B4 
 
 Evidently an error which made the winning easier 
 for WTiite, as he simply took the Rook with the Knight 
 and kept up the attack. Black should have played : 
 i...KtxKt. Then would have followed: 2 Kt — 
 B 6ch, K— Kt3; 3 Kt X B, P — B3 (best); 4 P — 
 
 K 5, K-B 2; 5 KtxP, R-K 2; 6 Kt-K 4, 
 and Black should lose.^ 
 
 * Full score and notes are given in My Chess Career, by J. R. 
 Capablanca (Game No. ii).
 
 72 
 
 ATTACKING WITH KNIGHTS 
 
 
 i i 
 
 mm. 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 Example 47. — The student should carefully ex- 
 amine 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 
 
 2. Kt— Kt 5 ch 
 
 KxB 
 K-Kt3 
 
 Best. If 2 . . . K — R 3 ; 3 Kt X P ch wins the Queen, 
 and if2...K — Kti; 3Q — R5, with an irresistible 
 attack. 
 
 3. Q-Kt4 P-B4 
 
 4. Q-Kt3 K-R3 
 
 White finally won.^ 
 
 * This position is elaborated under Example 50 (p 80.).
 
 WINNING BY INDIRECT ATTACK 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 im- 
 portance. 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. 
 
 
 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 WINNING BY INDIRECT ATTACK 
 
 consider this position and the subsequent moves. It 
 is a very good example of proper co-ordination in the 
 management of forces. The game contmues: 
 
 I R — Ri 
 
 2. P — QR4 
 
 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 KtxB 
 
 3. QxKt Q-B5 
 
 4. KR— Qi KR— Kt I 
 
 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 Wnite's 
 Queen side. He now threatens, among other things, 
 
 R X Kt P. 
 
 5. Q-K3 R-Kt5 
 
 Threatening to win the exchange by B — Q 5. 
 
 6. Q-Kt5 B-Qsch 
 
 7. K— Ri QR— Kt I 
 
 This threatens to win the Kt, and thus forces White 
 to give up the exchange. 
 
 8. RxB QxR 
 
 9. R-Qi Q-B5 
 
 Now Black will recover his Pawn.
 
 WINNING BY INDIRECT ATTACK 75 
 
 I wii 
 
 ^ ^ ZZ ^^ 
 
 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 iB — B4, QR — Qi; 
 2 P — Q Kt 4 would make it difhcult 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— Q4! 
 
 2. Rx B 
 
 Px Kt 
 Kt — Kt 5
 
 76 WINNING BY INDIRECT ATTACK 
 There is nothing better, as White threatened B — B 4. 
 
 3. B — B 4ch K— R I 
 
 4. R— K6 P— Q6 
 
 5. RxP 
 
 And White, with the better position, is a Pawn 
 ahead. 
 
 These positions have been given with the idea of 
 acquaintmg the student with different types of com- 
 bmations. I hope they will also help to develop his 
 imagination, a very necessary quality in a good player. 
 The student should note, m all these middle-game 
 positions, that — 
 
 once the opportunity is ojfered, 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.
 
 CHAPTER IV 
 
 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 miderstood. 
 
 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 ad- 
 vantage 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. WTiite, 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 pres- 
 sure 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 ad\-antage 
 under such favourable conditions as to make him feel
 
 78 DIRECT ATTACKS EN MASSE 
 
 assured that he will, m turn, be able to withstand his 
 adversary's thrust; and finally, through his superi- 
 ority of material, once more resume the initiative, 
 which alone can give hun 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 improvmg 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 cer- 
 tainty 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 pre- 
 fers an immediate attack on the King's side, with
 
 DIRECT ATTACKS EN MASSE 
 
 79 
 
 the certainty in his mind that the attack will lead to 
 a win. The game continues thus: ^ 
 
 12. B X P ch 
 
 13. Kt — Kt 5 ch 
 
 14. Q— Kt 4 
 
 KxB 
 K-Kt3 
 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, KxKt; 
 18 Q— K 5 ch, K — Q 2; 19 K R— Q i ch, Kt — 
 Q6; 20 Ktx P, K— B 3 (if K— K i, Kt— Q6ch 
 wins the Queen) ; 21 R X Kt, Q X R ; 22 R— B i ch, 
 K — Kt 3 (if K — Q 2 mate in two) ; 23 Q — B 7 ch 
 and mate in five moves. 
 
 ^ We give, from now on, games and notes, so that the student 
 may familiarise himself with the many and varied considerations 
 that constantly are borne in mind by the Chess Master. We must 
 take it for granted that the student has already reached a stage 
 where, while not being able fully to understand every move, yet he 
 can derive benefit from any discussion with regard to them.
 
 8o 
 
 DIRECT ATTACKS EN MASSE 
 
 15. Q-Kt3 K-R3 
 
 16. Q— R4ch K— Kt 3 
 
 17. Q— Rych K— B3 
 
 If K X Kt ; Q X Kt P ch and mate in a few moves. 
 
 18. P — K4 
 
 19. P X P 
 
 20. QR— Qi 
 
 21. Q-R3 
 
 22. Q— Kt3 
 
 23. KR— Ki 
 
 Kt - Kt 3 
 
 PxP 
 
 Kt — Q6 
 
 Kt(Q6)-B5 
 
 Q-B2 
 
 Kt — K 7 ch 
 
 This blunder loses at once, but the game could not 
 be saved in any case ; e.g. 23...B — K3; 24RXB 
 ch, Kt X R ; 25 Kt— Q 5 mate. 
 
 24. R X Kt 
 
 25. Kt— R 7 ch 
 
 26. R P X Q 
 
 27. Kt— Kt 5 ch 
 
 28. P — B 4 
 
 QXQ 
 K — B 2 
 R— Ri 
 K-B3 
 
 Resigns 
 
 Example 51. — Another example of this kind : 
 
 m H A. H » S 
 
 -1 ■ ■ iii 
 
 m 
 
 
 1^ a^ p^^" 
 
 m
 
 DIRECT ATTACKS EN MASSE 8i 
 
 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 possibiUties of a position. 
 This game, which won the brilliancy prize at St. 
 Petersburg in 1914, continued as follows: — 
 
 21. 
 
 B-R4 Q-Q2 
 
 22. 
 
 Kt X B Q X R 
 
 23- 
 
 Q— Q8ch Q— Ki 
 
 -B 
 
 2; 24 Kt — Q 6 ch, King moves; 25 
 
 24. 
 
 B — Kych K — B2 
 
 25- 
 
 Kt— Q6ch K-Kt3 
 
 26. 
 
 Kt— R4ch K— R4 
 
 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. 
 
 KtxQ 
 
 RxQ 
 
 28. 
 
 Kt X P ch 
 
 K-R3 
 
 29. 
 
 Kt (Kt 7) — B 5 ch 
 
 K-R4 
 
 30- 
 
 P— KR3! 
 
 
 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 THE FORCE OF THE 
 
 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 demon- 
 strates the principle already stated : 
 
 Direct and violent attacks against the King must he 
 carried en masse, with full force, to ensure their success. 
 The opposition must he overcome at all cost; the attack 
 cannot he broken ojf, 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 some- 
 thing 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 ma- 
 noeuvres in this type of game is to make a demon- 
 stration on one side, so as to draw the forces of your 
 opponent to that side, then through the greater 
 mobiUty of your pieces to shift your forces quickly
 
 THREATENED ATTACK 
 
 ^3 
 
 to the other side and break through, before your 
 opponent has had the time to bring over the neces- 
 sary forces for the defence. 
 
 A good example of positional play is shown in the 
 following game : 
 
 Example 52. — Played at the Havana Interna- 
 tional blasters Tournament, 1913. (French Defence.) 
 White : J. R. Capablanca. Black : R. Blanco. 
 
 I. 
 
 P-K4 
 
 P-K3 
 
 2. 
 
 P-Q4 
 
 P-Q4 
 
 3- 
 
 Kt-QB3 
 
 PxP 
 
 4- 
 
 KtxP 
 
 Kt— Q 2 
 
 5- 
 
 Kt— KB3 
 
 KKt-B3 
 
 6. 
 
 Kt X Kt ch 
 
 KtxKt 
 
 7- 
 
 Kt-K5 
 
 
 wit ^^^ 'i^*'^ t-^ 
 
 %... J 
 
 m Wi m 
 
 ^^ ^^ 
 
 
 1 m^i^wm 
 
 
 This move was first shown to me by the talented 
 Venezuelan amateur, ]M. Ayala. The object is to
 
 84 
 
 THE FORCE OF THE 
 
 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 recom- 
 mend it. 
 
 7 B-Q3 
 
 8. Q-B3 
 
 
 i 
 
 w 
 
 ^/^^j 
 
 « Tw wffc 
 
 B — K Kt 5 might be better. The text move gives 
 Black an opportunity of which he does not avail 
 himself 
 
 8 P-B3 
 
 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
 
 THREATENED ATTACK 85 
 
 in an altogether defensive position. The veiled threat 
 B X Kt ; followed by Q — R 4 ch ; is easily met. 
 
 9. P — B3 0—0 
 
 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 devel- 
 opment 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 — Q3 Kt— K I 
 
 The alternative was Kt — Q 4. Otherwise WTiite 
 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— R3 P— KB 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 un- 
 tenable, or to profit by the inactivity of the Black 
 pieces defending the PawTi, in order to improve the 
 position of White at other points. 
 
 13. BxB QxB 
 
 14. 0—0 R — B3 
 
 15. KR— K I Kt— Q3 
 
 16. R-K2 B — Q2
 
 S6 
 
 THE FORCE OF THE 
 
 At last the Bishop comes out, not as an active attack- 
 ing piece, but merely to make way for the Rook. 
 
 17. QR— K I R— Ki 
 
 18. P — QB 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 varia- 
 tion shows: 19 Kt X B, Q X Kt; 20 B x P, Kt — 
 Kt 4; 21 Q-Kt 4, RxB; 22 P— K R 4, P- 
 KR4; 23QxR,PxQ; 24RxRch,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. 
 
 
 
 19. P-Q5! KtxKt 
 
 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 ma Q B 4.
 
 THREATENED ATTACK 
 
 87 
 
 20. R X Kt 
 
 21. Q-R4 
 
 22. Q-Q4 
 
 P— KKt3 
 K-Kt2 
 P — B4 
 
 Forced, as White threatened P X K P, and also Q X P 
 23- Q-B3 P-Kt3 
 
 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 I 
 
 25. B — K 2! 
 
 The deciding and timely manoeuvre. All the Black 
 pieces are useless after this Bishop reaches Q 5.
 
 88 FORCE OF THREATENED ATTACK 
 
 25 BxP 
 
 26. B — B 3 K — B 2 
 27- B-Q5 Q-Q3 
 
 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 defend- 
 ing the King. 
 
 28. Q— K3 R— K2 
 
 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; 33P-K Kt 3,PXP; 
 34 P — B 4, and Black will soon be helpless, as he has 
 to mark time with his pieces while Wliite prepares 
 to advance P — R 5, and finally at the proper time 
 to play R X B, winning. 
 
 29. 
 
 Q-R6 
 
 K— Kt I 
 
 30- 
 
 P — KR4 
 
 P-R3 
 
 31- 
 
 P-R5 
 
 P-B5 
 
 32. 
 
 PxP 
 
 PxP 
 
 33- 
 
 RXB 
 
 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
 
 RELINQUISHING THE INITIATIVE 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— K4 P — K4 
 
 2. Kt — KB3 Kt-QB3 
 
 3. B-Kt5 Kt-B3 
 
 4. 0-0 P-Q3 
 
 5. B X Kt ch P X B 
 
 6. P— Q4 B — K2 
 
 7. Kt-B3 
 
 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 — Q2 
 
 8. PxP PxP 
 
 9. Q— K2 0—0 
 
 10. R-Qi B — Q3 
 
 11. B — Kt 5 Q— K I 
 
 12. Kt-KR4 P-Kt3
 
 90 RELINQUISHING THE INITIATIVE 
 
 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 — R6 Kt — B 4 
 
 14. R— Q 2 R— Kt I 
 
 15. Kt— Q I R— Kt 5 
 
 To force White to play P — Q B 4, and thus create a 
 hole at Q 5 for his Knight.^ Such grand tactics show 
 the hand of a master. 
 
 
 16. P-QB4 
 
 Kt-K3 
 
 
 17. Bx R 
 
 QxB 
 
 
 18. Kt— K3 
 
 
 Kt- 
 
 - K B 3 was better. 
 
 
 
 18 
 
 Kt-Q5 
 P-QB4 
 
 
 19. Q-Qi 
 
 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 I 
 
 In order to play B — Kt 2 without blocking his Rook. 
 
 ^ A "hole" in chess parlance has come to mean a defect in Pawn 
 formation which allows the opponent to establish his forces in wedge 
 formation or otherwise without the possibility of dislodging him 
 by Pawn moves. Thus, in the following diagram, Black has two 
 "holes" at K B 3 and K R 3, where White forces, e.g. a Kt or B, 
 could establish themselves, supported by pieces or Pawns.
 
 RELINQUISHING THE INITIATIVE 91 
 
 Black's manoeuvring for positional advantage is ad- 
 mirable 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. 
 
 21. Kt — B 3 
 
 22. PxP 
 
 P-B4 
 
 PxP 
 
 
 . \ W" 
 
 /mm. 
 
 ill 
 
 ■ 
 
 WM wm wm 
 
 ^P P 
 
 
 i WfA 
 
 The position begins to look really dangerous for W^ite. 
 In reality Black's attack is reaching its maximum 
 force. Very soon it will reach the apex, and then
 
 92 RELINQUISHING THE INITIATIVE 
 
 White, who is well prepared, will begin his counter 
 action, and through his superiority in material obtain 
 an undoubted advantage. 
 
 23. Kt — B I P-B 5 
 
 24. Kt X Kt B P X Kt 
 
 25. Q — R 5 B — Kt 2 
 
 26. R-K I P — B 4 
 
 He could not play R — K i because of R X Q P. Be- 
 sides, he wants to be ready to play P — K 5. At pres- 
 ent WTiite 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 ma- 
 noeuvre is founded. 
 
 27. P — B 3 R— Ki 
 
 28. R (Q2)-K2 R-K 3 
 
 W^M ji- 1 
 
 'mm k ^p ^p ^p i 
 
 m^ ^ ^m,^ ^m, ^ ^m. 
 
 ^;t^i@ 
 
 m WM. ^I^S 
 
 Now the Black Rook enters into the game, but White 
 is prepared. It is now time to give back the exchange.
 
 RELINQUISHING THE INITIATIVE 93 
 
 29. 
 
 30- 
 31- 
 32. 
 33- 
 34. 
 
 RxP 
 RxB 
 Q— K8 
 
 RX Qch 
 R— K5 
 Kt — 2 
 
 BxR 
 R-KR3 
 QxQ 
 K— B 2 
 R-QB3 
 
 R — B 5 ch might have been better. The text move 
 did not prove as strong as anticipated. 
 34 K-B3 
 
 35. R-Qs R-K3 
 
 36. Kt — K 4 ch K — K 2 
 
 R X Kt would lose easily 
 
 37. RxBP P-Q6! 
 
 Very fine. WTiite cannot play R B 7 ch because 
 of K— Q I ; R x B, R X Kt winning. 
 
 38. K - B 2 B X Kt 
 
 39. P X B RxP 
 
 40. R— Q 5 R— K6 
 
 The ending is very difficult to win. At this point 
 White had to make the last move before the game 
 was adjourned. 
 
 ^mm^wJ'''"' 
 
 ^H^ mm 
 
 aP ^/M. 
 
 WM. i 
 
 ,.MSm »
 
 94 CUTTING OFF PIECES FROM 
 
 41. 
 
 P-QKt4! 
 
 R-K5 
 
 42. 
 
 RxP 
 
 RxP 
 
 43- 
 
 R-KR3 
 
 RxP 
 
 44. 
 
 RX Pch 
 
 K-B3 
 
 45- 
 
 RxP 
 
 K— B 4 
 
 46. 
 
 K-B3 
 
 R-Kt 7 
 
 47- 
 
 R-Rsch 
 
 K-B3 
 
 48. 
 
 R — R4 
 
 K-Kt4 
 
 49. 
 
 RxP 
 
 RXRP 
 
 50. 
 
 P — R4ch 
 
 K-R4 
 
 51- 
 
 R-B 5ch 
 
 K-R3 
 
 52. 
 
 P-Kt4 
 
 Resigns 
 
 I have passed over the game Hghtly because of 
 its difficuh 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 com- 
 pletely 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.
 
 THE SCENE OF ACTION 95 
 
 Example 54. — Played at the Hastings Victory 
 Tournament, 1919. (Four Knights.) WTiite : W. 
 Winter. Black : J. R. Capablanca. 
 
 I. 
 
 P-K4 
 
 P^K4 
 
 2. 
 
 Kt - K B 3 
 
 Kt-QB3 
 
 3- 
 
 Kt-B3 
 
 Kt-B3 
 
 4. 
 
 B-Kt5 
 
 B-Kts 
 
 5- 
 
 0-0 
 
 0-0 
 
 6. 
 
 B X Kt 
 
 
 Niemzowitch's variation, which I have played suc- 
 cessfully in many a game. It gives WTiite a very solid 
 game. Niemzowitch's idea is that White will in due 
 time be able to play P — KB 4, opening a line for his 
 Rooks, which, in combination with the posting of a 
 Knight at K B 5, should be sufhcient 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. WTiether 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 QPXB
 
 96 CUTTING OFF PIECES FROM 
 
 The alternative, Kt P X B ; gives White the best of 
 the game, without doubt. ^ 
 
 7. P-Q3 B-Q3 
 
 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 i 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 i, and other times it is placed at K Kt 2, 
 but mostly at K R i. Finally, in most cases comes 
 P — KB 4, and then the real attack begins. Some- 
 times it is a direct assault against the King,^ and at 
 other times it comes simply to finessing for positional 
 advantage in the end-game, after most of the pieces 
 have been exchanged.^ 
 
 8 P— KR3 
 
 9. B — R4 P — B4 
 
 ^ See game Capablanca-Kupchick, from Havana International 
 Masters Tournament Book, 1913, by J. R. Capablanca; or a game 
 in the Carlsbad Tournament of 191 1, Vidmar playing Black against 
 Alechin. 
 
 ^ See Niemzowitch's game in the All Russian Masters Tourna- 
 ment, 1 914, at St. Petersburg, against Levitzki, I believe. 
 
 ^ See Capablanca-Janowski game, New York Masters Tourna- 
 ment, 1913.
 
 THE SCENE OF ACTION 
 
 97 
 
 1 it 
 
 l«l^ 
 
 
 
 £ 
 
 &„£■ a J rJAB 
 
 
 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. 
 
 can account for this move. 
 
 Only lack of experience 
 WTiite should have con- 
 
 sidered that a player of my experience and strength 
 could never allow such a move if it were good. 
 
 10. 
 
 P-KKt4 
 
 H : A 
 
 * i 
 
 iL*fi 
 
 p 
 
 m 
 
 I k ^-<-^ 
 
 A A i
 
 98 
 
 CUTTING OFF PIECES FROM 
 
 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. Ktx Ktch 
 
 12. B — Kt 3 
 
 13. P-KR3 
 
 14. QxB 
 
 15. PXQ 
 
 QxKt 
 
 B-Kt5 
 
 BxKt 
 
 QxQ 
 
 P-KB3 
 
 i 
 
 
 m±jM.'^^_, ^ 
 
 .,Si. M 
 
 mm WM WM^ 
 
 *«**—*?—**« 
 
 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.
 
 THE SCENE OF ACTION 99 
 
 16. K-Kt2 P-QR4 
 
 17. P— QR4 K — B 2 
 
 18. R— R I K— K3 
 
 19. P-R4 KR-QKti 
 
 There is no necessity to pay any attention to the 
 King's side, because White gains nothing by exchang- 
 ing Pawns and opening the King's Rook file. 
 
 20. PxP RPxP 
 
 21. P-Kt3 P-B3 
 
 22. R-QR2 P-Kt4 
 
 23. KR-Ri 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 PxP RxP 
 
 26. R — R4 RxP 
 
 27. P-Q4 R— Kt4 
 
 28. R— B4 R— Kt5 
 
 29. R X B P RxP 
 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 
 
 A PLAYER'S MOTIVES CRITICISED 
 
 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 ap- 
 propriate. Sir George Thomas' notes are in brackets 
 and thus will be distinguished from my own comments. 
 
 Example 55. — Queen's Gambit Declined. {The 
 notes imthin brackets by Sir George Thomas) White : 
 Mr. F. F. L. Alexander. Black : Sir George Thomas. 
 
 1. P-Q4 
 
 2. Kt — KB3 
 
 3. P-B4 
 
 4. Kt-B3 
 
 5. B-Kt5 
 
 6. P--K3 
 
 P-Q4 
 Kt— KB3 
 
 P-K3 
 QKt-Q2 
 P-B3 
 Q-R4 
 
 mm 
 
 
 mm ^p 
 
 
 i 
 
 ■•"• 
 
 
 m.' 
 
 (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
 
 IN A SPECIMEN GAME loi 
 
 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— QR3 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. PX Kt Px P 
 
 12. BxBP B — B3 
 
 (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 ac- 
 complished by playing B — Q 3. Incidentally it bears 
 out my previous statement that the B should have 
 been originally played to Q 3. 
 
 13. 0^0 
 
 The alternative was P — K 4, followed by P— K 5, 
 and then — 0. WTiite would thereby assume the 
 initiative but would weaken his Pawn position con- 
 siderably, and might be compelled to stake all on a
 
 102 A PLAYER'S MOTIVES CRITICISED 
 
 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 0-0 
 
 14. P— K4 P — K4 
 
 ^///m 
 
 15. P-Qs 
 
 (White might play 15 K R— Q i, 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,
 
 IN A SPECIMEN GAME 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 i 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 pre- 
 vent B — Kt 5 and by playing either R to Q i , followed 
 up as previously stated to force Black to play 
 P — Q Kt 4, which would weaken his Queen's side 
 PawTis. Thus by playing P — K R 3 WTiite would 
 have attained the desired object. The text move 
 blocks the action of the White B and facihtates Black's 
 development. Hereafter White will act on the defen- 
 sive, 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-Q3 
 
 (This seems wrong, as it makes the development of 
 Black's Queen wing easier. At present he carmot 
 play P— Q Kt 3, because of the reply P X P followed 
 by B-Q 5-) 
 
 16 P-QKt3 
 
 17. P — B 4 B — Kt 2 
 
 18. KR-B I 
 
 (With the idea of Q R— Kt i and P — B 5. But it 
 only compels Black to bring his B to Q B 4, which he 
 would do in any case.)
 
 I04 A PLAYER'S MOTIVES CRITICISED 
 
 i8 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 I, 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 I, 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 Une for his Rooks, which, once they 
 enter in action, should produce an advantage on ac- 
 count of the great power of the two Bishops. 
 
 21. QR— Kt I QR— Q I 
 
 22. P — QR4 B — R3 
 
 23. R-Qi 
 
 (White has clearly lost time with his Rook's moves.) 
 
 23 KR-K I 
 
 24. Q-Kt3
 
 IN A SPECIMEN GAME 105 
 
 (To bring his Queen across after Kt — R 4 and B — K 2.) 
 24 R-Q3 
 
 25. Kt— R4 
 
 26. B — K2 
 
 P-Kt3 
 
 yy/^MH ,~~ ,y//X'iiiii 
 
 i" ■•4kr^ ^m ^P. ft 
 
 mm WW-., r^ i^; 
 
 TXiJ 
 
 26. 
 
 PxP 
 
 (I thought this exchange necessary here, as WTiite 
 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 PawTi, which seemed to expose 
 him to a violent King's side attack.) Black's judg- 
 ment 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 WTiite 
 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
 
 io6 A PLAYER'S MOTIVES CRITICISED 
 
 posted Knight, and on the fact that in such posi- 
 tions as the above, the Bishop is invariably stronger 
 than the Knight. He could and should have pre- 
 vented all that, by playing B — B i, as, had White 
 then replied with Q— Kt 3, he could then play 
 P X P, and Wliite would not have been able to retake 
 with the B P on account of B X P ch winning the 
 exchange. 
 
 27. KPxP P-Ks 
 
 28. P — Kt3 P-K6 
 
 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 m 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 attack- 
 ing 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-B4 
 
 B-B I 
 
 30- 
 
 Kt-B3 
 
 B-B4 
 
 31. 
 
 R— Kt 2 
 
 R-K5 
 
 32. 
 
 K-Kt2 
 
 Q-B I 
 
 33- 
 
 Kt-Kt I 
 
 P - K Kt 4
 
 IN A SPECIMEN GAME 
 
 107 
 
 (If now 34 B-B 3, PXP; 35 B X R, BXB ch, 
 with a winning attack.) 
 
 34. P X P P X P 
 
 35. R-KB I P-Kt5 
 
 R — R 3 was the ahernative. WTiite's only move 
 would have been K — R i . The position now is evi- 
 dently 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 — Q3 R— KB3 
 
 37. Kt — K 2 Q — B I 
 
 (Again preventing B X R, by the masked attack 
 on White's Rook. WTiite 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 2,1 take pleasure
 
 io8 A PLAYER'S MOTIVES CRITICISED 
 
 in offering the position to my readers as a most beau- 
 tiful and extraordinary win for Black, beginning with 
 30. . .Q— R 6 ch ! ! ! I leave the variations for the 
 student to work out. 
 
 38. R(Kt2)-Kt I Q-R3 
 
 39. Q-B2 
 
 (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. 
 
 Q — R6ch 
 RXP!! 
 
 39 
 
 40. K — R I 
 
 (If 40...R-R3; 41 Kt-Kt I, QxKtP; 42 Q — 
 K Kt 2. Black therefore tries to get the Queen away 
 from the defence.) A very beautiful m.ove, and the 
 best way to carry on the attack. 
 
 41. QXR
 
 IN A SPECIMEN GAME 109 
 
 (The best defence was 41 R X B, but Black would 
 emerge with Queen against Rook and Knight.) 
 
 41 BxB 
 
 (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 Bx Q 
 
 43. Kt— B 4 P— K 7! 
 
 ■^ 
 
 11 ■ w ■ t 
 
 ^M3. ^m^ •>;i-.-^^^ ^mm A 
 
 Si 
 
 WWA « m 
 
 
 m 
 
 
 (The Queen has no escape, but \Miite has no time 
 to take it.) 
 
 44. R— KKt I Q-B8 
 
 WTiite resigns. A very fine finish.
 
 CHAPTER V 
 
 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 — m 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 danger- 
 ous attack made possible by the excellent manoeu- 
 vring 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 fmd 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.
 
 END-GAME STRATEGY 
 
 III 
 
 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 pre\iously stated, when speaking about 
 general theory, that at times the way to win consists 
 in attacking first on one side, then, granted greater 
 mobihty 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. 
 
 m..M t 
 
 2 i» & 
 
 .,- ^^^^^^^„ .„„M 
 
 
 ^'is.'
 
 112 THE SUDDEN ATTACK 
 
 In the above position I, with the Black pieces, 
 
 played : 
 
 I R— K 5 ch 
 
 2. R— K2 R— QRs 
 
 3. R— R2 P-KR4 
 
 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 mobihty of his 
 Rooks. 
 
 4. R-Qi R(Q4)-QR4 
 
 in order to force the Rook to Rook's square, keeping 
 both Rooks tied up. 
 
 5. R(Qi)-Ri P-R5 
 
 6. K— Q2 K— Kt 2 
 
 7. K— B 2 R— KKt4 
 
 Black begins to transfer his attack to the King's side. 
 
 8. R— KKt I 
 
 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-KB5
 
 FROM A DIFFERENT SIDE 113 
 
 Now the King cannot go to Kt 3, because of R — 
 Kt 4 ch. 
 
 9. K— Q3 R — B 6ch 
 
 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 mobiUty 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. 
 
 WW-' 
 
 ^i '• ;. i § S WM ft 
 
 il 
 
 
 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 shght 
 advantage of ha\'ing his Pawns on the Queen's side 
 united, while Black has an isolated Q R P. The
 
 114 THE SUDDEN ATTACK 
 
 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 Paums. 
 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 weak- 
 ness somewhere else. 
 
 From the position in question the game continued 
 thus : 
 
 1. R-K4 KR-Ki 
 
 with the object of repeating White's manoeuvre, and 
 also not to allow White the control of the open file., 
 
 2. QR-K I R-K3 
 
 3. QR-K3 R(Bi)-Ki 
 
 4. K-B I K-B I 
 
 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. If4...P — Q4; 5R — 
 Kt 4 ch, followed by K — K 2, would leave Black in 
 a very disagreeable position. If4...P — KB4; 5R —
 
 FROM A DIFFERENT SIDE 115 
 
 Q4! Rx R? 6PxR,RxP; 7K-B2,R-K2; 
 
 8 R — Q R 4, winning the Q R P, which would prac- 
 tically 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-K2 K-K2 
 
 6. R-QR4 R-QR I 
 
 The student should note that through the same ma- 
 noeuvre Black is forced into a position similar to the 
 one shown in the previous ending. 
 
 7- R-R5! 
 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 pre- 
 vents the advance of Black's K B Pawns, and at the 
 same time threatens the advance of White's K B 
 l^awns 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-Q4 
 
 8. P-QB4! K-Q3 
 
 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; 
 1 1 R — R 6, and Black's game is hopeless. 
 
 9. P-B 5ch K-Q 2 
 
 10. P-Q4 P-B4
 
 Ii6 
 
 THE SUDDEN ATTACK 
 
 Apparently very strong, since it forces the exchange 
 of Rooks because of the threat R — R 3 ; but in reahty 
 it leads to nothing. The best chance was to play 
 
 R-K K I. 
 
 11. RX R PxR 
 
 12. P-B4 
 
 Up to now White had played with finesse, but this 
 
 last move is weak. R - R 6 was the proper way to 
 
 contmue, so as to force Black to give up his Q R P 
 
 or Q B P. 
 
 12 K-B I 
 
 13. K-Q2 
 
 Again a bad move. 13 R — R 3 was the proper con- 
 tinuation, and if then 13. . .R-Kt i ; 14 P-Kt 3, 
 K-Kt 2; IS P-Kt 4, K-R i; 16 R-Q Kt 3, 
 with excellent winning chances; in fact, I beheve, a 
 won game. 
 
 13 K-Kt 2 
 
 Black misses his only chance. R - Kt i would have 
 drawn.
 
 FROM A DIFFERENT SIDE 117 
 
 14. R-R3 R-KKt I 
 
 15. R-R3 R-Kt2 
 
 16. K-K2 K-R3 
 
 17. R-R6 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, use- 
 less, and only White's weak play later on gives him 
 further chances of a draw. 
 
 19. P-KR4 K-Bi 
 
 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 I 
 
 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-R4 P-QR3 
 
 26. P-R5 R-R3 
 
 He can do nothing but wait for Wliite. 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 WTiite 
 could play R— Kt 7, or even P — Kt 5.
 
 ii8 
 
 THE SUDDEN ATTACK 
 
 rS til i ■ a KlJ ! 
 
 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. 
 
 RPXP 
 
 PxP R-Bi! 
 
 R-Kty R-Rich 
 
 K-Kt4 PxP 
 
 KxP R-R7 
 
 P-B6ch K-Kti 
 
 RxRP R-Ktych 
 
 K-R5 R-Rych 
 
 K-Kt4 RXP 
 
 Black misses his last chance: R-Kt 7 ch, forcing 
 the King to B 3, in order to avoid the perpetual, 
 
 28. 
 29. 
 
 30- 
 31- 
 32- 
 33- 
 34- 
 35- 
 36.
 
 FROM A DIFFERENT SIDE 119 
 
 would probably draw. The reader must bear in mind 
 that my opponent was then a very young and inex- 
 perienced player, and consequently deserves a great 
 deal of credit for the fight he put up. 
 
 37. R-K7 RxP 
 
 R— Kt 7 ch; followed by R-K R 7, offered better 
 chances. 
 
 38. 
 
 P-R6! 
 
 RX Pch 
 
 39- 
 
 K-Kt5 
 
 R-Q8 
 
 40. 
 
 P-R7 
 
 R-KtSch 
 
 41. 
 
 K-B5 
 
 R-B 8ch 
 
 42. 
 
 K-Q4 
 
 R-Q8ch 
 
 43- 
 
 K-K5 
 
 R-K8ch 
 
 44. 
 
 K-B6 
 
 R-KR8 
 
 45- 
 
 R-K8ch 
 
 K-R2 
 
 46. 
 
 P-R8 (Q) 
 
 RxQ 
 
 47- 
 
 RxR 
 
 K-Kt3 
 
 48. 
 
 KxP 
 
 KxP 
 
 49. 
 
 KxP 
 
 K-B4 
 
 50. 
 
 K-K5 
 
 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 
 
 THE DANGER OF 
 
 27. THE DANGER OF A SAFE POSITION 
 
 Example 58. — A good proof of the previous state- 
 ment is shown in the following ending between Mar- 
 shall and Kupchick in one of their two games in the 
 same Tournament (Havana, 1913). 
 
 ^P M 
 
 m .^m „.....^m 
 
 ^m Wm WM I mm'% 
 
 i « « 
 
 ■ 
 
 
 M ^ ^„,^,.^ 
 
 
 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 some- 
 thing 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 con- 
 sider the danger that actually existed. Let us see 
 how it happened. 
 
 I. P-Kt4 
 
 RXRP
 
 A SAFE POSITION i2i 
 
 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 I 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-Q4 R(R5)-R4 
 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 
 
 If4...P-B4; 5R-R8ch,K-Kt3; 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, Px R; 10 R-Kt 7 ch, 
 K — Ki; iiRxKtP, and wins easily. 
 
 5. P-R4 P-R4 
 
 6. R - R 8 ch Resigns. 
 
 The reason is evident. If 6 . . . K — Kt 3 ; 7 P x P ch,
 
 122 
 
 ENDINGS WITH ONE 
 
 RxP; 8RxR, KxR; 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 difi&cult, 
 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 thor- 
 oughly. 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 Man- 
 hattan Chess Club Championship Tournament of 
 1909-1910. 
 
 Example 59.
 
 ROOK AND PAWNS 123 
 
 In this position Marshall had a simple wm 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. 
 
 I. P-B6 R-Q3I 
 
 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-Qi! 
 
 3. R-R5ch K-B5 
 
 and White will finally have to sacrifice the Rook for 
 Black's Pawn. Or — 
 
 (6) 2. R-B 7ch K-Q5! 
 
 3. P — B 7 R— Kt3 ch! 
 
 a very important move, as against R — KB3,R— K7 
 wins. 
 
 4. K-B I R-KB3 
 
 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 
 1P-B6, R-Q3; 2P-B7, Black did not 
 realise that R — Q i was the only move to draw.
 
 124 ENDINGS WITH ONE 
 
 We would then have the following position : 
 
 Now there would be two other moves to try : either 
 (a) R-Kt 3 ch, or (6) R-K B 3. Let us examine 
 
 them. 
 
 (a) I. ...:.... R-Kt3ch 
 
 2. K-B3 R-B3ch 
 
 3. K-K3 R-K3ch 
 
 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-Q3 R-KB3 
 If R-Q 3 ch; K-K 4 wins. 
 
 5. R — R 5 ch K moves 
 
 6. R — R 6 wins 
 
 W I R-B3 
 
 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.
 
 ROOK AND PAWNS 
 
 125 
 
 3. P-R4 P-Kt6 
 
 4. R — Kt 4 ch K moves 
 
 5. R-Kt3 
 
 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 iP — B6, R — Q3; 2R — Bych, 
 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 : 
 
 Now the best continuation would be : 
 
 P-B7 R-Kt3ch (best) 
 
 R-KB3 
 
 K - B 4 (best) 
 
 I. 
 
 2. K-B I 
 
 3. R-K7! 
 
 White threatened to check wnth the Rook at K 6. 
 
 4. K-K2 P-Kt6
 
 126 
 
 ENDINGS WITH ONE 
 
 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-K3 
 
 6. R-QKt3 
 
 7. RxP 
 
 8. R-Q2 
 
 9. K-K3 
 
 P-Kt 7 (best) 
 RxP 
 R-KR2 
 RxP 
 
 , 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 im- 
 portant, because if, instead of the position on the 
 diagram, the Black Rook were at K R i, and Black 
 had the move, he could draw by preventing the ad-
 
 ROOK AND PAWNS 127 
 
 Vance of the Pawn, either through constant checks 
 or by playmg R — K B i 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 espe- 
 cially with endings of Rook and Pawns. 
 
 29. A DIFFICULT ENDING: TWO 
 ROOKS AND PAWNS 
 
 Follo^ang our idea that the best way to learn end- 
 ings 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 stud>'ing the 
 endings already given (Examples 56 and 57) \\ith 
 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-Kreym- 
 borg, in the New York State Championship Tourna- 
 ment of 1910.
 
 128 
 
 A DIFFICULT ENDING: 
 
 
 m^ 'm 
 
 ii 
 
 Bi 
 
 
 m 
 
 
 1 i S 
 
 e 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 ^ M^M^M 
 
 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. 
 
 I QR-Ki 
 
 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 j^x 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-Q4 
 
 This move not only prevents P — B 5 which Black 
 intended, but threatens P — Kt 3, followed, after
 
 TWO ROOKS AND PAWNS 129 
 
 P X P ch, by the attack with one or both Rooks 
 against Black's Q R P. 
 
 2 R-B3 
 
 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. PXP K-B 2 
 
 5. K-Q3 
 
 R — Q R I should have been played now, in order to 
 force Black to defend with R — K 2. WTiite, 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-K2 
 
 6. R-QRi K-K,3 
 
 This is a mistake. Black is unaware of the danger of 
 his position. He should have played P — Kt 4 ; threat- 
 ening R — R 3, and, by making this demonstration 
 against WTiite's K R P, stop the attack against his 
 Queen's side PawTis, w^hich will now develop. 
 
 7. R-R6 R-QB 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 
 
 A DIFFICULT ENDING: 
 
 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-KR4 
 
 P-Kt5 
 
 Black is now in a very disagreeable position. If he 
 played 9...PXP; loRxP 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, threat- 
 ening 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-K2 
 
 ^i a » 
 
 m, „, ^M ^m. mm 
 
 wm I ,„ 
 
 i ■ i ■ S ■
 
 TWO ROOKS AND PAWNS 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 WTiite'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, WTiite 
 would play P — Kt 4, threatening to win a Pa\Mi 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 botthng- 
 up system with the ending in Example 57, and it 
 will be seen that it is very similar. 
 
 11. Kx P R (B 3)-B 2 
 
 12. K — K 2 
 
 Probably wTong. P — Kt 4 at once was the right 
 move. The text move gives Black good chances of 
 
 drawing. 
 
 12 K-Q3 
 
 13. P-Kt4 R-QKt 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-R5 
 
 Not good. P-K B 4 offered the best chances of 
 winning by force. If then 14...R — Kt 2; 15 P —
 
 132 
 
 A DIFFICULT ENDING: 
 
 R5, R-Ktych; 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. 
 
 I 
 
 ^'LJ-mm. v-",r '^"'V'-r"-:^. 
 
 ^^//ii. 
 
 ^ « * S M '^ 
 
 m m. Wi ■„ 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^ M M M 
 
 14. 
 
 P-R3 
 
 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 i, 
 RxP; 17 RXP, R-K 6! 
 
 15. P-KB4 
 
 16. K-Q3 
 
 17. R-R I 
 
 18. K-Q4 
 
 19. R (R 6) - R 2 
 
 R-Kt 2 
 R (K Kt 2) - K 2 
 R-Kt 2 
 R-Kt 7 
 
 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 stu- 
 dent to work this out.) 
 
 20. K-O3! 
 
 21. RxR 
 
 RxR 
 R-K2
 
 TWO ROOKS AND PAWNS 
 
 ^33 
 
 Nothing would avail. If2i...R-Kt8;22R-R6! 
 R-Q 8 ch; 27, K-B 2, R-K R 8; 24 P-Kt 5, 
 RxP; 25 Rx 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 6ch R-K 3 
 
 26. Px Pch 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-Janow- 
 ski, New York National Tournament of 1913. 
 
 ■ i 1 1 ;i mk 
 
 \ ^^ ft ^^ ^^ ft \ 
 
 Black's game has the disadvantage of his double 
 Q B P, which, to make matters worse, he cannot
 
 134 A DIFFICULT ENDING: 
 
 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 through- 
 out on the chance of obtaining a passed Pawn on the 
 King's file, with which White expected to win. 
 
 1. P-KKt4 
 
 already preparing to play P — K Kt 5 when the tune 
 
 comes. 
 
 I P-QKt3 
 
 Black wants to play P - Q B 4, but White, of course, 
 prevents it. 
 
 2. P-Kt4! K-Kt2 
 
 This King should come to the King's side, where the 
 danger lurks. 
 
 3. K-B 2 P-QKt4 
 
 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
 
 TWO ROOKS AND PAWNS 135 
 
 on the Queen's side in order to stop White's advance 
 on the right. White, however, also prevents this. 
 
 4. P-QR4I R-Qs 
 
 Of course if P X P ; Black will have all his Pawns on 
 the Queen's side disrupted and isolated, and WTiite 
 can easily regain the lost Pawn by playing either 
 Rook on the Q R file. 
 
 5. R — Q Kt I R— K4 
 
 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-K3 R-Q2 
 
 7. P-R5 
 
 The first part of White's strategic plan is now accom- 
 phshed. Black's Pawns on the Queen's side are fixed 
 for all practical purposes. 
 
 7 R-K3 
 
 If R X R ; Kt P X R would have gi\'en WTiite a very 
 powerful centre. Yet it might have been the best 
 chance for Black. 
 
 8. R (Kt) -KBi R(Q2)-K2 
 
 9. P-Kt 5 PxP 
 10. RxP
 
 ir.6 
 
 A DIFFICULT ENDING: 
 
 '^m m 
 
 m 
 
 ^f i ^ ^ W 
 
 -"---■^■---" 
 
 The second part of White's strategical plan is now 
 accomplished. It remains to find out if the advantage 
 obtained is sufiicient to win. White not only has a 
 passed Pawn, but his King is m 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. Al- 
 together White's position is superior and his chances 
 of winning are excellent. 
 
 10 R-R3 
 
 II. R-Kt3 R(R3)-K3 
 
 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-R4 
 
 13. R-Kt5 
 
 P-Kt3 
 P-R3
 
 TWO ROOKS AND PAWNS 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 WTiite; therefore Black had 
 nothing better than to hold tight and wait. 
 R — K 4 would not help much, as WTiite would 
 simply answer R - B 8, R - K i ; 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-Kt4 R-Kt 2 
 
 15. P-Q4 K-Bi 
 
 16. R-B 8ch 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-K5 
 
 P-Kt4 
 
 18. 
 
 K-K4 
 
 R(K3)-K2 
 
 19. 
 
 PxP 
 
 PxP 
 
 20. 
 
 R-B5 
 
 K-B I 
 
 21. 
 
 R (Kt 4) X P 
 
 R-R2 
 
 22. 
 
 R-R5 
 
 K-Q 2 
 
 23- 
 
 RxR 
 
 RxR 
 
 24. 
 
 R-B 8 
 
 R-R5ch 
 
 25- 
 
 K-Q3 
 
 R-R6ch
 
 138 ROOK, BISHOP AND PAWNS v. 
 
 26. K-Q2 P-B4 
 
 27. KtPxP R-QR6 
 
 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.
 
 ROOK, KNIGHT AND PAWNS 139 
 
 
 i J 
 
 k«u * 1 
 1 W 
 
 % 
 
 
 ^_5r 
 
 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 posi- 
 tion is better than a Knight (see Section 14). It will 
 take some tune 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 WTiite's Knight and
 
 140 ROOK, BISHOP AND PAWNS v. 
 
 WTiite's Rook, while at the same time keeping freedom 
 of action for his own Rook and Bishop. 
 
 I R-Kt I 
 
 This forces P — Q Kt 3, which blocks that square 
 for the WTiite Knight. 
 
 2. P-Kt3 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-B4 R-KR4 
 
 4. K-Kt I P-B4 
 
 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-Q2 K-B 2 
 
 6. R-B I 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-K2 
 
 7. P-QR3 R-R3 
 
 Getting ready to shift the attack to the Queen's side, 
 where he has the advantage in material and position. 
 
 8. P-KR4 R-R3
 
 ROOK, KNIGHT AND PAWN'S 141 
 
 Notice how similar are the manceuvres with this Rook 
 to those seen in the previous endings. 
 
 9. R - R I B - Kt 5 
 
 Paralysing the action of the Knight and fixing the 
 whole King's side. 
 
 lo.K — B2 K— K3 
 
 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. 
 
 II. 
 
 P-R4 
 
 K-K4 
 
 12. 
 
 K-Kt 2 
 
 R-KB3 
 
 13. 
 
 R-K I 
 
 P-Q6 
 
 14. 
 
 R-KB I 
 
 K-Q5 
 
 Now the King attacks White's Pawns and all vnW 
 soon be over. 
 
 15. RxR PxR 
 
 6. K-B 2 P-B 3 
 
 Merely to exhaust WTiite's move, which \^'ill finally 
 force him to move either the King or the Knight. 
 
 17- 
 
 P- 
 
 QR5 
 
 P-QR3 
 
 18. 
 
 Kt- 
 
 -B I 
 
 KxP 
 
 19. 
 
 K- 
 
 -K I 
 
 B-K 7 
 
 20. 
 
 Kt- 
 
 -Q2ch 
 
 K-K6 
 
 21. 
 
 Kt- 
 
 -Kt I 
 
 P-B 4 
 
 22. 
 
 Kt- 
 
 -Q2 
 
 P-R4 
 
 23- 
 
 Kt- 
 
 -Kt I 
 
 K-B6 
 
 24. 
 
 Kt- 
 
 -B3 
 
 KxP
 
 142 ROOK, BISHOP AND PAWNS 
 
 25. Kt-R4 P-B5 
 
 26. KtxP P-B6 
 
 27. Kt— K4ch K — B5 
 
 The quickest way to win. White should resign. 
 
 2d>. Kt-Q6 P-B 4 
 
 29. P-Kt4 PxP 
 
 30. P-B 5 P-Kt6 
 
 31. Kt-B4 K-Kt6 
 
 32. Kt-K3 P-Kty 
 Resigns. 
 
 A very good example on Black's part of how to con- 
 duct such an ending.
 
 CHAPTER VI 
 
 Further Openings and Middle-Games 
 
 31. SOME SALIENT POINTS ABOUT PAWNS 
 
 Before going back to the discussion of openings and 
 middle-game positions, it might be well to bear in 
 mind a few facts concerning Pawn positions which 
 will no doubt help to understand certain moves, and 
 sometimes even the object of certain variations in 
 the openings, and of some manoeuvres in the middle- 
 games. 
 
 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 concentrate 
 
 U3
 
 144 
 
 SOME SALIENT POINTS 
 
 his forces against that weak point. There is also the 
 square at White's Q B 5, which is controlled by White, 
 and from where a White piece once established could 
 not be dislodged. In order to get rid of it, Black 
 would have to exchange it, which is not always an 
 easy matter, and often when possible not at all con- 
 venient. The same holds true with regard to Black's 
 K P, K B P and K Kt P, which create what is called 
 a "hole" at Black's K B 3. Such Pawn formations 
 invariably lead to disaster, and consequently must 
 be avoided. 
 
 m 
 
 m ^„ « ... 
 
 i 
 
 A i^ A 
 
 i 
 
 
 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 occurs in the 
 French Defence. In such positions White most often 
 attempts, by means of P — K B 4 and KB 5, to obtain 
 a crushing attack against Black's King, which is gen- 
 erally Castled on the King's side. To prevent that,
 
 ABOUT PAWNS 145 
 
 and also to assume the initiative or obtain material 
 advantage, Black makes a counter-demonstration by 
 P - Q B 4, followed by P X P (when White defends 
 the Pawn by P — Q B 3), and the concentrating of 
 Black's pieces against the White Pawn at Q 4. This 
 in substance might be said to be a determined attack 
 against White's centre in order to paralyse the direct 
 attack of WTiite 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 condi- 
 tion to a successful attack against the King. 
 
 In an abstract way we may say that two or more 
 Pawns are strongest when they are in the same rank 
 next to one another. Thus the centre Pawns are 
 strongest in themselves, so to speak, when placed at 
 K 4 and Q 4 respectively, hence the question of ad- 
 vancing either the one or the other to the fifth rank 
 is one that must be most carefully considered. The 
 advance of either Pawn often determines the course 
 the game will follow. 
 
 Another thing to be considered is the matter of one 
 or more passed Pawns when they are isolated either 
 singly or in pairs. We might say that a passed Pawn 
 is either ver}' weak or very strong, and that its weakness 
 or strength, whichever happens to be in the case to 
 be considered, increases as it advances, and is at the 
 same time in direct relation to the number of pieces 
 on the board. In this last respect it might be generally 
 said that a passed Pawn increases in strength as the 
 number of pieces on the board diminishes.
 
 146 SOME POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENTS 
 
 Having all this clear in mind we will now revert 
 to the openings and middle-game. We will analyse 
 games carefully from beginning to end according to 
 general principles. I shall, whenever possible, use 
 my owTi games, not because they will better illustrate 
 the point, but because, knowing them thoroughly, I 
 shall be able to explaui them more authoritatively 
 than the games of others. 
 
 32. SOME POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENTS FROM 
 A RUY LOPEZ 
 
 That some of the variations in the openings and 
 the manoeuvres in the middle-game are often based 
 on some of the elementary principles just expounded 
 can be easily seen in the following case : 
 
 Example 65. 
 
 
 I. P-K4 
 
 P-K4 
 
 2. Kt-KB3 
 
 Kt-QB3 
 
 3. B-Kt5 
 
 P-QR3 
 
 4. B-R4 
 
 Kt-B3 
 
 5. 0-0 
 
 KtxP 
 
 6. P-Q4 
 
 P-QKt4 
 
 7. B-Kt3 
 
 P-Q4 
 
 8. PxP 
 
 B-K3 
 
 9. P-B3 
 
 B-K2 
 
 10. R-Ki 
 
 Kt-B4 
 
 II. B-B 2 
 
 B-Kt5 
 
 12. QKt-Q2 
 
 0-0 
 
 13. Kt-Kt3 
 
 Kt-K3
 
 FROM A RUY LOPEZ 
 
 147 
 
 So far a very well-known variation of the Ruy 
 Lopez. In fact, they are the moves of the Janowski- 
 Lasker game in Paris, 191 2. 
 
 14. Q-Q3 P-Kt3 
 
 Let us suppose the game went on, and that in some 
 way White, by playmg one of the Knights to Q 4 
 at the proper time, forced the exchange of both Knights, 
 and then afterwards both the Bishops 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 play- 
 ing the White pieces against a consulting team headed 
 by Sal we.) 
 
 a 
 
 i<//M '/, m '/'///. 
 
 -i Vk' i si 
 
 Now we would have here the case of the backward 
 Q B P, which will in no way be able to advance to 
 Q B 4. Such a position may be said to be theoretically 
 lost, and in practice a iirst-class master will invariably 
 win it from Black. (If I may be excused the reference, 
 I will say that I won the game above referred to.) 
 
 After a few moves the position may be easily thus :
 
 148 SOME POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENTS 
 
 ^ ft m 
 
 ft i^ ft #^^f ^ 
 
 -■-"-■. 
 
 ^^ ^ 
 
 C,„„,„^^ ^^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 ■ ■&■ 
 
 ■ ■ fl 
 
 The Black pieces can be said to be ^xe^. If White 
 plays Q — Q B 3, Black must answer Q — Q 2, other- 
 wise he will lose a Pawn, and if White returns with 
 the Queen to Q R 3 Black will have again to return 
 to Q Kt 2 with the Queen or lose a Pawn. Thus Black 
 can only move according to White's lead, and under 
 such conditions White can easily advance with his 
 Pawns to K B 4 and K Kt 4, until Black will be forced 
 to stop P — B 5 by playing P — K B 4, and we might 
 finally have some such position as this : 
 
 Example 66. 
 
 a ■ ft 1^ w If^ ft "W$. 
 
 ^ _ ^i ^ m>M A ty/ZA 
 
 ^ ft ^ ft WK§y ft WM 
 
 " m'^^ tl 
 
 , I ■ B^M 
 
 ^^ ■ ■ ■ i 
 
 ^^mwwi
 
 FROM A RUY LOPEZ 149 
 
 In this situation the game might go on as follows: 
 
 I. P X P, P X P; 2. Q - K B 3, Q - Q 2 
 
 White threatened to win a Pawn by Q X P, and Black 
 could not play 2. . .R — K B i, because 3 R X B P 
 would also win a Pawn at least. 
 
 3. R(B5)-B2,R-Kt3; 
 
 5. R(B i) - KKt I, 
 
 6. Q- R5,RX R; 
 
 8. K X R, Q - Kt 2 ch; 
 10. QXQ, PX Q; II. P 
 
 4. R- Kt2,K- Ri 
 
 R (B i) - K Kt I 
 
 7. RX R, RX R 
 
 9. K - R 2, Q - Kt 3 
 
 - Kt 4, and White wins 
 
 Now suppose that in the position in the preceding 
 diagram it were Black's move, and he played R — K B i. 
 White would then simply defend his K B P by some 
 move like Q - K B 3, threatening R X Q B P, and 
 then he would bring his King up to Kt 3, and when 
 the time came, break through, as in the previous case. 
 WTiite might even be able to obtain the following 
 position : 
 
 \ ^ & ^^^ ^ ^ ft fIB 
 
 m ^
 
 I50 SOIME POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENTS 
 
 Black would now be forced to play R— B i, and 
 White could then play Q — B 2, and follow it up with 
 K B 3, and thus force Black to play P X P, which 
 would give White a greater advantage. 
 
 A careful examination of all these positions will 
 reveal that, besides the advantage of freedom of 
 manoeuvre on White's part, the power of the Pawn 
 at K 5 is enormous, and that it is the commanding 
 position of this Pawn, and the fact that it is free to 
 advance, once all the pieces are exchanged, that con- 
 stitute the pivot of all White's manoeuvres. 
 
 I have purposely given positions without the moves 
 which lead to them so that the student may become 
 accustomed to build up in his own mind possible 
 positions that may arise (out of any given situation). 
 Thus he will learn to make strategical plans and be on 
 his way to the master class. The student can derive 
 enormous benefit by further practice of this kind. 
 
 33. THE INFLUENCE OF A "HOLE" 
 
 The influence of a so-called "hole" in a game has 
 already been illustrated in my game against Blanco 
 (page 81), where has been shown the influence exer- 
 cised by the different pieces posted in the hole created 
 at White's K 5.
 
 THE INFLUENCE OF A "HOLE" 151 
 
 Example 67. — In order to further illustrate this 
 point, I now give a game played in the Havana Inter- 
 national Masters Tournament of 1913. (Queen's 
 Gambit Declined.) White: D. Janowski. Black: 
 A. Kupchick. 
 
 1. P-Q4 P-Q4 
 
 2. P-QB4 P-K3 
 
 3. Kt — QB 3 Kt — KB3 
 
 4. B — Kt5 B — K2 
 
 5. P-K3 QKt-Q2 
 
 6. B-Q3 PxP 
 
 7. BxP Kt — Kt3 
 
 Of course the idea is to post a Knight at Q 4, but as 
 it is the other Knight which will be posted there this 
 manoeuvre does not seem logical. The Knight at 
 Kt 3 does nothing except to prevent the development 
 of his own Q B. The normal course 0—0, followed 
 by P — Q B 4, is more reasonable. For a beautiful 
 illustration of how to play White in that variation, 
 see the Janowski-Rubinstein game of the St. Peters- 
 burg Tournament of 191 4. 
 
 8. B-Q3 
 
 B — Kt 3 has some points in its favour in this position, 
 the most important being the possibility of advancing 
 the Kmg's Pawn immediately after 8 . . . K Kt — Q 4 ; 
 9 BxB, QxB. 
 
 8 K Kt — Q 4 
 
 9. BxB QxB 
 10. Kt — B3
 
 152 THE INFLUENCE OF A "HOLE" 
 
 Had White's Bishop been at Q Kt 3 he could now play 
 P — K 4 as indicated in the previous note, a move 
 which he cannot make in the present position, because 
 of Kt— K B 5 threatening, not only the K Kt P, 
 but also Kt X B ch. As White's King's Bishop should 
 never be exchanged in this opening without a very 
 good reason White therefore cannot play P — K 4. 
 
 10 0-0 
 
 11. 0-0 B — Q2 
 
 12. R — B I 
 
 ^ ^Mi ^mi ^^ »» mm 
 
 ^«i 
 
 i 
 
 m m m 
 
 '<m>. 4^^A 
 
 — ^^ 
 
 m^m^i 
 
 White is perfectly developed, and now threatens to 
 win a Pawn as follows : Kt X Kt, Kt X Kt ; P — K 4, 
 followed by R X P. 
 
 12 P-QB3 
 
 The fact that Black is practically forced to make 
 this move in order to avoid the loss of a Pawn is suffi- 
 cient reason in itself to condemn the whole system 
 of development on Black's part. In effect, he plays 
 B — Q 2, and now he has to shut off the action of his
 
 THE INFLUENCE OF A "HOLE" 153 
 
 own Bishop, which thereby becomes httle more than 
 a Pawn for a while. In fact, it is hard to see how this 
 Bishop will ever be able to attack anything. Besides, 
 it can be easily seen that White will soon post his 
 two Knights at K 5 and Q B 5 respectively, and that 
 Black will not be able to dislodge them without seriously 
 weakening his game, if he can do it at all. From all 
 these reasons it can be gathered that it would probably 
 have been better for Black to play Kt x Kt and thus 
 get rid of one of the two White Knights before assum- 
 ing such a defensive position. In such cases, the 
 less the number of pieces on the board, the better 
 chances there are to escape. 
 
 13. Kt — K4 P — KB 4 
 
 This practically amounts to committing suicide, since 
 it creates a hole at K 5 for White's Knight, from where 
 it will be practically impossible to dislodge him. If 
 Black intended to make such a move he should have 
 done it before, when at least there would have been an 
 object in preventing the WTiite Knight from reach- 
 ing B 5. 
 
 14. Kt — B 5 B — K I 
 
 15. Kt — K5 
 
 The position of White's Knights, especially the one 
 at K 5, might be said to be ideal, and a single glance 
 shows how they dominate the position. The question 
 henceforth will be how is WTiite going to derive the 
 full benefit from such an advantageous situation. 
 This we shall soon see.
 
 154 THE INFLUENCE OF A "HOLE" 
 
 9 
 
 m% 4 ^p mil ■■ \l k 
 
 ''^'^''mm^'''mi m 
 
 m ^ 
 
 ^H B bi . 
 
 ■ &■ 
 
 15- 
 
 R— Kt I 
 
 There is no object in this move, unless it is to be fol- 
 owed by Kt— Q 2. As that is not the case, he might 
 have gone with the Rook to B i, as he does later. 
 
 i6. R— Ki 
 
 17. Q-B3 
 
 18. Q— Kt3 
 
 R-B3 
 
 R-R3 
 R— B I 
 
 White threatened to win the exchange by playing 
 either Kt— B 7 or Kt— Kt ^. 
 
 19. P-B3 
 
 20. P — QR3 
 
 21. P — R3 
 
 R — B 2 
 K— Ri 
 
 Perhaps all these precautions are unnecessary, but 
 White feels that he has more than enough tune to 
 prepare his attack, and wants to be secure in every 
 way before he begins.
 
 THE INFLUENCE OF A ''HOLE" 155 
 
 21 
 
 22. P — K 4 
 
 23. Q— B 2 
 
 He had better have played Kt — B 3 ; and tried later 
 on to get rid of White's Knights by means of Kt — Q 2. 
 
 P-Kt4 
 P-B5 
 Kt — K6 
 
 24. R X Kt 
 
 with this sacrifice of the Rook for a Knight and Pawn 
 White obtains an overwhelming position. 
 
 24 P X R 
 
 25. Qx P Kt — B I 
 
 Kt — Q 2 was better in order to get rid of one of the 
 two WTiite Knights. There were, however, any number 
 of good rep^lies to it, among them the following : 
 Kt(B5)xKt,BxKt; QxP, QxQ; Kt — Bych, 
 K — Kt 2 ; Kt X Q, and with two Pawns for the 
 exchange, and the position so much in his favour, 
 White should have no trouble in winning.
 
 156 THE INFLUENCE OF A "HOLE" 
 
 26. Kt— Kt4 R— Kt3 
 
 27. P— K5 R— Kt2 
 
 28. B — B4 B — B 2 
 
 All these moves are practically forced, and as it is 
 easily seen they tie up Black's position more and 
 more. White's manoeuvres from move 24 onwards 
 are highly instructive. 
 
 29. Kt — B 6 Kt — Kt 3 
 
 This wandering Knight has done nothing throughout 
 the game. 
 
 30. Kt(B5)-K4P-KR3 
 
 31. P — KR4 Kt— Q4 
 
 32. Q-Q2 R-Kt3 
 
 33. PxP Q-Bi 
 
 If P X P; K — B 2, and Black would be helpless. 
 
 34. P— B 4 Kt— K 2 
 
 35. P — KKt4 PxP 
 
 36. PxP Resigns. 
 
 There is nothing to be done. If B — Kt i ; Q — R 2 ch, 
 K— Kt 2; B X P. 
 
 The student should notice that, apart from other 
 things, White throughout the game has had control 
 of the Black squares, principally those at K 5 and 
 QB 5. 
 
 From now on to the end of the book I shall give a 
 collection of my games both lost and won, chosen so 
 as to serve as illustrations of the general principles 
 laid down in the foregoing pages.
 
 PART II
 
 PART II 
 
 GAME 1. QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLINED 
 (Match, 1909) 
 
 White : F. J. :Marshall. Black : J. R. Capablanca. 
 
 1. P— Q4 P— Q4 
 
 2. P-QB4 P-K3 
 
 3. Kt-QB3 Kt-KB3 
 
 4. B — Kt5 B — K2 
 
 5. P-K3 Kt-K5 
 
 I had played this defence twice before in the match 
 with good results, and although I lost this game I 
 still played it until the very last game, when I changed 
 my tactics. The reason was my total lack of know^l- 
 edge of the different variations in this opening, coupled 
 with the fact that I knew that Dr. E. Lasker had been 
 successful with it against jMarshall himself in 1907. 
 I thought that since Dr. Lasker had played it so often, 
 it should be good. The object is to exchange a couple 
 of pieces and at the same time to bring about a position 
 full of possibilities and with promising chances of 
 success once the end-game stage is reached. On 
 general principles it should be wrong, because the 
 
 159
 
 i6o GAME I 
 
 same Ejiight is moved three times in the opening, 
 although it mvolves the exchange of two pieces. In 
 reahty the difficulty in this variation, as well as in 
 nearly all the variations of the Queen's gambit, hes 
 in the slow development of Black's Queen Bishop. 
 However, whether this variation can or cannot be 
 safely played is a question still to be decided, and it 
 is outside the scope of this book. I may add that at 
 present my preference is for a different system of devel- 
 opment, but it is not unlikely that I should some 
 time come back to this variation. 
 
 6. BxB QxB 
 
 7. B-Q3 
 
 P X P is preferable for reasons that we shall soon see. 
 
 7 Kt X Kt 
 
 8. Px Kt Kt — Q2 
 
 Now P X P would be a better way to develop the 
 game. The idea is that after 8...PxP; qBxBP, 
 P — Q Kt 3, followed by B — Kt 2, would give Black's 
 Bishop a powerful range. For this variation see the 
 eleventh game of the match. 
 
 9. Kt-B3 0-0 
 
 No longer would 9. . .P X P ; 10 B X P, P — Q Kt 3 
 be good, because 11 B — Kt 5 would prevent B — Kt 2 
 on account of Kt — K 5.
 
 QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLINED i6i 
 
 10. P X P P X P 
 
 11. Q— Kt3 Kt — B 3 
 
 12. P — QR4 P-B4 
 
 Played with the intention of obtaining the majority 
 of Pawns on the Queen's side. Yet it is doubtful 
 whether this move is good, since it leaves Black's 
 Queen 's-side PawTis disrupted in a way. The safer 
 course would have been to play P — B 3. 
 
 13. Q-R3 P-QKt3 
 
 This exposes Black to further attack by P — R 5 
 without any compensation for it. If I had to play 
 this position nowadays I would simply play 13... 
 R— K I. Then after 14 Q X P, Q X Q would follow, 
 and I believe that Black would regain the Pawn. 
 If, instead, White played 14 P X P then B — Kt 5 
 would give Black an excellent game. 
 
 14. P — R 5 B — Kt 2 
 
 15. 0—0 Q — B 2 
 
 16. KR— Kt I Kt — Q 2
 
 l62 
 
 GAME I 
 
 E 
 
 
 
 
 Black's position was bad and perhaps lost in any 
 case, but the text move makes matters worse. As a 
 matter of fact I never saw White's reply B — B 5. 
 It never even passed through my mind that this was 
 threatened. Black's best move would have been 
 16. . .K R— Kt I. If that loses, then any other move 
 would lose as well. 
 
 17. B — B 5 KR — B I 
 
 From bad to worse. Kt— B 3 offered the only hope. 
 
 18. 
 
 BX Kt 
 
 QxB 
 
 19. 
 
 P — R6 
 
 B-B3 
 
 20. 
 
 PxP 
 
 PxP 
 
 21. 
 
 QxP 
 
 QR — Kt I 
 
 The game was lost. One move was as good as another. 
 
 22. RxR RxR 
 
 23. Kt-K5 Q-B4 
 
 24. P— KB4 R— Kt3 
 
 25. Q X R ! Resigns.
 
 QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLINED 163 
 
 Of course, if 25 Kt X B, R — Kt 8 ch would have 
 drawn. The text move is pretty and finishes quickly. 
 A well-played game on Marshall's part. 
 
 GAME 2. QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLINED 
 (San Sebastian, 191 1) 
 
 White : A. 
 
 K. 
 
 , Rubinstein. 
 
 Black : J. R. ( 
 
 I. 
 
 P-Q4 
 
 P-Q4 
 
 2. 
 
 Kt-KB3 
 
 P-QB4 
 
 3- 
 
 P — B 4 
 
 P-K3 
 
 4. 
 
 PxQP 
 
 KPxP 
 
 5- 
 
 Kt-B3 
 
 Kt-QB3 
 
 6. P— KKt3 B— K3 
 
 Kt — B 3 is the normal move in this variation. WTiite's 
 development was first introduced by Schlechter and 
 elaborated later on by Rubinstein. It aims at the 
 isolation of Black's Q P, against which the White 
 pieces are gradually concentrated. In making the 
 text move I was tr>'ing to avoid the beaten track. 
 Being a developing move there should be no objection 
 to it in the way of general principles, except that the 
 Knights ought to come out before the Bishops. 
 
 7. B — Kt2 B — K2 
 
 8. 0-0 R-B I 
 
 In pursuance of the idea of changing the normal
 
 164 
 
 GAME 2 
 
 course of this variation, but with very poor success. 
 The move in theory ought to be unsound, since Black's 
 K Kt is yet undeveloped. I had not yet learned of 
 the attack founded on Kt — Kt 5 and the exchange 
 of the B at K 3. Either Kt — B 3 or P— K R 3; 
 to prevent either B or Kt — K Kt 5, was right. 
 
 Pip 
 
 
 9^, 
 
 ._ J - ^J -= 
 
 m g t:l^M 
 
 
 ^P 
 
 m mxmxm 
 
 1 tgiW|;;iSj'&i 
 
 9- 
 
 PXP 
 
 BxP 
 
 10. 
 
 Kt— KKt5 
 
 Kt-B3 
 
 II. 
 
 KtxB 
 
 PxKt 
 
 12. 
 
 B-R3 
 
 Q— K2 
 
 13- 
 
 B-Kt5 
 
 0-0 
 
 This is a mistake. The right move was R — Q i in 
 order to get the Rook away from the line of the Bishop 
 at R 3 and at the same time to support the Q P. Inci- 
 dentally it shows that White failed to take proper 
 advantage of Black's weak opening moves. Against 
 the text move White makes a very fine combination
 
 QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLINED 165 
 
 which I had seen, but which I thought could be 
 defeated. 
 
 14. B X Kt Q X B 
 
 I considered P X B, which it seemed would give me 
 a playable game, but I thought WTiite's combination 
 unsound and therefore let him play it, to my lasting 
 regret. 
 
 
 i S ■ am' 
 
 ^.. 
 
 15. KtXP! Q-R3 
 
 ' ^y/////i ~ y . 
 
 
 ^1 
 
 L,_ 
 
 
 A.^^ 
 
 
 & 
 
 
 
 ^;- 
 
 .^M
 
 i66 GAME 2 
 
 i6. K — Kt2! 
 
 This is the move which I had not considered. I thought 
 that Rubinstein would have to play B — Kt 2, when 
 I had in mind the following winning combination : 
 16 B — Kt 2, Kt — K 4! 17 Kt — B 4 (if R-B i, 
 QXR!! QxQ, BxPch wins), Kt — Kt 5 ; 
 18 P — K R 3 (if Kt — R 3, B X P ch wins the ex- 
 change), Kt X P ; 19 R X Kt, B X R ch ; 20 K x B, 
 P — K Kt 4, and Black should win. It is curious that 
 this combination has been overlooked. It has been 
 taken for granted that I did not see the 17th 
 move Q — B i. 
 
 16 QR — Qi 
 
 After White's last move there was nothing for me to 
 do but submit to the inevitable. 
 
 17. 
 
 Q — B i! 
 
 Px Kt 
 
 18. 
 
 QxB 
 
 Q-Q7 
 
 19. 
 
 Q-Kt5 
 
 Kt-Qs 
 
 20. 
 
 Q-Q3 
 
 QxQ 
 
 21. 
 
 PxQ 
 
 KR-Ki 
 
 22. 
 
 B — Kt4 
 
 
 This gives Black a chance. He should have played 
 K R— K I. If then Kt — B 7 ; R X R ch, R X R ; 
 R-QBi,R-K7; K-B i, Kt- Q 5 (if R- Q 7 ; 
 B — K 6 ch, K— B I ; B X P would win) ; R— B 8 ch, 
 K — B 2; R— B 7 ch, R— K 2; R — B 5 wins.
 
 QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLINED 
 R-Q3 
 
 167 
 
 22. 
 
 23- 
 
 24. 
 
 25- 
 
 26. 
 27. 
 28. 
 29. 
 
 30- 
 
 KR— K I 
 RxR 
 R-K5 
 RxP 
 B — K 6 ch 
 R — B 5 ch 
 B — B 7 ch 
 B — B4 
 
 RxR 
 
 R-QKt3 
 
 RxP 
 
 Kt-B3 
 
 K — B I 
 
 K— K I 
 
 K-Q2 
 
 30. 
 
 P-QR3 
 
 A bad move, which gives away any legitimate 
 chance Black had to draw. It loses a very important 
 move. In fact, as the course of the game will show, 
 it loses several moves. The proper way was to play 
 K— Q 3. If then R — Q Kt 5, RxR; B x R, 
 Kt— Q 5; followed by P — Q Kt 4; and WTiite 
 would have an exceedingly difficult game to draw on 
 account of the dominating position of the Knight at
 
 i68 
 
 GAME 2 
 
 Q 5 in conjunction with the extra Pawn on the Queen's 
 side and the awkward position of White's King. (See 
 how this is so.) 
 
 R — B 7 ch 
 
 R X K Kt P 
 
 B — Kt8 
 
 31- 
 32. 
 33- 
 34. 
 35- 
 36. 
 37. 
 38. 
 
 K-Q3 
 P— Kt4 
 
 P-QR4 
 
 P-RS 
 
 P-Kt5 
 
 K— B4 
 K-Kt3 
 
 RXP 
 P — R4 
 R — R6ch 
 R — R5 ch 
 
 B-Q5 
 
 With these last three moves White again gives Black 
 a chance. Even before the last move B — B 4 would 
 have won with comparative ease, but the text move 
 is a downright blunder, of which, fortunately for him, 
 Black does not avail himself. 
 
 38 P— Kt6 
 
 R X P would make it practically impossible for 
 White to win, if he can win at all. White's best con-
 
 QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLINED 169 
 
 tinuation then would have been : 39 B — B4, R — By; 
 40 R— Kt 5 ch, K — B 2; 41 B — Kt 8, P — R 6; 
 42 P — R 5, P — R 7 ; 43 B X P, R X B, and if there 
 is a win it is very difficult to find it, as against 
 44 P — R 6, R — R 3! offers excellent chances for a 
 draw. 
 
 39. Px P P — R6 
 
 40. B X Kt R X Kt P 
 
 If 40...P — R 7; 41 R— Kt 5 ch, K — R 3; 
 42 R— Kt 8. 
 
 41. B-Q5 P-R7 
 
 42. R— R6ch Resigns. 
 
 As an end game, this is rather a sad exhibition for 
 two masters. The redeeming feature of the game is 
 Rubinstein's fine combination in the middle game, 
 beginning with 14 B x Kt. 
 
 GAME 3. IRREGULAR DEFENCE 
 (Havana, 1913) 
 White : D. Janowski. Black : J. R. Capablanca. 
 
 I. 
 
 P-Q4 
 
 Kt-KB 3 
 
 2. 
 
 Kt-KB3 
 
 P-Q3 
 
 3- 
 
 B-Kt5 
 
 Q Kt — Q 2 
 
 4. 
 
 P-K3 
 
 P-K4 
 
 5- 
 
 Kt-B3 
 
 P-B3 
 
 6. 
 
 B-Q3 
 
 B — K 2 
 
 7. 
 
 Q— K2 
 
 Q-R4 
 
 8. 
 
 0-0 
 
 Kt-B I 
 
 9- 
 
 KR-Qi 
 
 B-Kt5
 
 lyo GAME 3 
 
 At last Black is on his way to obtain full develop- 
 ment. The idea of this irregular opening is mainly 
 to throw WTiite on his own resources. At the time 
 the game was played, the system of defence was not 
 as well known as the regular forms of the Queen's 
 Pawn openings. Whether it is sound or not remains 
 yet to be proved. Its good features are that it keeps 
 the centre intact without creating any particular weak- 
 ness, and that it gives plenty of opportunity for deep 
 and concealed manoeuvring. The drawback is the 
 long time it takes Black to develop his game. It is 
 natural to suppose that White will employ that time 
 to prepare a weU-conceived attack, or that he will use 
 the advantage of his development actually to prevent 
 Black's complete development, or failing that, to 
 obtain some definite material advantage. 
 
 lo. P-KR3 
 
 B — R4 
 
 II. PxP 
 
 PxP 
 
 12. Kt— K4 
 
 
 » mm 
 
 i «» &i^ i 

 
 IRREGULAR DEFENCE 171 
 
 12 Kt X Kt 
 
 A very serious mistake, I considered castling, which 
 was the right move, but desisted because I was afraid 
 that by playing 13 B X Kt, P x B ; 14 Kt — Kt 3, 
 B — Kt 3; 15 Kt— B 5, White would obtain a win- 
 ning position for the end game. Whether right or 
 wrong this shows how closely related are all parts of 
 the game, and consequently how one will influence 
 the other. 
 
 13. BxB KxB 
 
 14. B X Kt B — Kt 3 
 
 Not good. The natural and proper move would have 
 been Kt — K 3, in order to bring all the Black pieces 
 into play. B x Kt at once was also good, as it would 
 have reHeved the pressure against Black's King's Pawn, 
 and at the same time have simplified the game. 
 
 Here it is seen how failure to comply wdth the ele- 
 mentary logical reasons, that govern any given posi- 
 tion, often brings the player into trouble. I was no 
 doubt influenced in my choice of moves by the fear 
 of B — B 5, which was a very threatening move. 
 
 15. Q-B4 Kt-K3 
 
 16. P — QKt 4 Q — B 2 
 
 17. B X B RPx B 
 iS. Q— K4 K— B 3
 
 172 
 
 GAME 3 
 
 mm 
 
 i 
 
 • iW 
 
 ^i 
 
 
 i ^ 
 mm: 
 
 
 
 ^^ -^ ^ Si_, 
 
 19. R-Q3 
 
 P — K R 4, to be followed by P — Kt 4, might have 
 been a more vigorous way to carry on the attack. 
 Black's weak point is unquestionably the Pawn at 
 K 4, which he is compelled to defend with the King. 
 The text move aims at doubling the Rooks, with the 
 ultimate object of placing one of them at Q 6, sup- 
 ported by a Pawn at Q B 5, Black could only stop 
 this by playing P — B 4, which would create a "hole" 
 at Q 5 ; or by playing P— Kt 3, which would tie the 
 Black Queen to the defence of the Q B P as well as 
 the K P, which she already defends. Black, how- 
 ever, can meet all this by offering the exchange of 
 Rooks, which destroys White's plans. For this reason 
 P — K R 4 appears the proper way to carry on the 
 attack. 
 
 19 QR-Qi 
 
 20. QR — Qi P — KKt4 
 
 This move is preparatory to P — K Kt 3, which would
 
 IRREGULAR DEFENCE 
 
 173 
 
 make Black's position secure. Unfortunately for Black, 
 he did not carry out his original plan. 
 
 21. P — B4 
 
 RxR 
 
 P — K Kt 3 would have left Black with a perfectly 
 
 safe game. 
 
 22. RxR R— Q I 
 
 A very serious mistake, which loses a Pa^\^^. P — 
 K Kt 3 was the right move, and would have left Black 
 with a very good game. In fact, if it should come to 
 a simple ending, the position of the Black King would 
 be an advantage. 
 
 23. RxR 
 
 Ktx R 
 
 24. P — KR4 
 
 This wins a Pawn, as will soon be seen. Black cannot 
 reply 24...Kt — K 3 ; because 25 P X P ch, Kt x P; 
 26 Q— R 4 wins the Knight.
 
 174 GAME 4 
 
 24. 
 
 
 P X P 
 
 25- 
 
 Q X P ch 
 
 -■- •N -■- 
 
 K-K 3 
 
 26. 
 
 Q— Kt4ch 
 
 K-B3 
 
 27. 
 
 Q— Ktsch 
 
 K-K3 
 
 28. 
 
 QxP 
 
 Q-Q3 
 
 29. 
 
 P-B5 
 
 Q-Q4 
 
 30- 
 
 P — K4! 
 
 Q — Q8ch 
 
 31- 
 
 K— R2 
 
 P-B3 
 
 32- 
 
 Q— Kt4ch! 
 
 K — K2 
 
 33- 
 
 KtxP 
 
 QXQ 
 
 34. 
 
 KtxQ 
 
 Kt-K3 
 
 35- 
 
 P-K5 
 
 PxP 
 
 36. 
 
 KtxP 
 
 Kt-Q5 
 
 The game went on for a few more moves, and, 
 there being no way to counteract the advance of 
 White's two passed Pawns, Black resigned. 
 
 GAME 4. FRENCH DEFENCE 
 
 (St. Petersburg, 1913) 
 
 WTiite : J. R. Capablanca. Black : E. A. Snosko-Borovski. 
 
 1. P-Q4 P-K3 
 
 2. P — K4 P— Q4 
 
 3. Kt-QB3 Kt-KB3 
 
 4. B — Kt 5 B — Kt 5 
 
 This constitutes the McCutcheon Variation. It aims 
 at taking the initiative away from White. Instead
 
 FRENCH DEFENCE 175 
 
 of defending, Black makes a counter demonstration 
 on the Queen's side. It leads to highly interestuig 
 games. 
 
 5- PXP 
 
 At the time this game was played the variation 5 P — 
 K 5 was in vogue, but I considered then, as I do now, 
 the text move to be the stronger. 
 
 5 QxP 
 
 This is considered superior to P x P. It has for its 
 object, as I said before, to take the initiative away 
 from White by disrupting White's Queen's side. WTiite, 
 however, has more than ample compensation through 
 his breaking up Black's King's side. It might be 
 laid down as a principle of the opening that the breaking 
 up of the King^s side is of mme impartan^e tlmn a simi- 
 lar occurrence on the Queen^s side. 
 
 6. 
 
 BxKt 
 
 B X Kt ch 
 
 7- 
 
 PXB 
 
 PxB 
 
 8. 
 
 Kt-B3 
 
 P-QKt3 
 
 The plan of Black in this variation is to post his 
 Bishop on the long diagonal so as to be able later on, 
 in conjunction with the action of his Rooks along 
 the open K Kt's file, to make a violent attack against 
 White's King, It is, of course, expected that \Miite 
 will Castle on the King's side because of the broken-up 
 condition of his Queen's side Pa\\-ns.
 
 176 
 
 
 GAIME 
 
 4 
 
 9- 
 
 Q-Q2 
 
 
 B — Kt 2 
 
 lO. 
 
 B — K2 
 
 
 Kt-Q2 
 
 II. 
 
 P-B4 
 
 
 Q-KB4 
 
 12. 
 
 0-0- 
 
 
 
 
 An original idea, I believe, played for the first time 
 in a similar position in a game against Mr. Walter 
 Perm 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 posi- 
 tion of White's King. Two possibihties must be con- 
 sidered. Firstly : If Black Castles on the Queen's 
 side, as in this game, it is evident that there is no danger 
 of an attack. Secondly : If Black Castles on the King's 
 side, WTiite 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, which will serve 
 him to develop whatever plan he may wish to 
 evolve. 
 
 12 0—0—0 
 
 13. Q— K3 KR— Kt I 
 
 14. P-Kt3 Q-QR4 
 
 Unquestionably a mistake, overlooking White's fine
 
 FRENCH DEFENXE 
 
 177 
 
 reply, but a careful examination will show that WTiite 
 already has the better position. 
 
 15. R-Q3! 
 
 16. KR— Q I 
 
 K— Kt I 
 Q-KB4 
 
 L.! 
 
 
 Jy 
 
 
 17. Kt — R4 
 
 This move has been criticised because it puts the 
 Knight out of the way for a few moves. But by forc- 
 ing Q — K Kt 4 ; WTiite gains a \try important move 
 with P — B 4, which not only consohdates his position, 
 but also drives the Queen away, putting it out of the 
 game for the moment. Certainly the Queen is far 
 more valuable than the Knight, to say nothing of the 
 time gained and the freedom of action obtained thereby 
 for WTiite's more important pieces. 
 
 17 Q— K Kt 4 
 
 18. P — B 4 Q— Kt 2 
 
 19. B-B3
 
 178 GAME 4 
 
 In such positions it is generally very advantageous 
 to get rid of the Black Bishop controlling his Q R 3 
 and Q B 3, which form "holes" for White's pieces. 
 The Bishop m such positions is of very great defensive 
 value, hence the advantage of getting rid of it. 
 
 19 
 
 20. B X B 
 
 21. P-QB5! 
 
 KR— Ki 
 
 KxB 
 
 P-B3 
 
 White threatened P — B 6 ch. 
 
 22. Kt — B 3 
 
 Q-Bi 
 
 To prevent the Knight from moving to Q 6 via Q 2 
 and K 4 or Q B 4. It is self-evident that White has a 
 great advantage of position. 
 
 
 23. Kt— Q2? 
 
 I had considered R— Kt 3, which was the right 
 move, but gave it up because it seemed too slow, and
 
 FRENCH DEFENCE 
 
 179 
 
 that in such a position there had to be some quicker 
 way of winning. 
 
 23 P X P 
 
 24. Kt — B 4 
 
 Kt — K 4 or Kt — Kt 3 would have brought about 
 an ending advantageous to White. 
 
 24 Kt— Kt3 
 
 25. Kt— R 5 ch K — R I 
 
 26. Px P Kt— Q4 
 
 27. Q— Q4 R — B I 
 
 If R — Kt i; 28 KtxP, R (Kt i) — B i; 29 Kt x 
 P would win. 
 
 28. P— B 4 
 
 Kt — B 4 was the right move. I was, however, still 
 looking for the "grand combination," and thought 
 that the Pawn I would later on have at Q 6 would 
 win the game. Black deserves great credit for the 
 way in which he conducted this exceedingly difficult
 
 I So 
 
 GAME 4 
 
 defence. He could easily have gone wrong any num- 
 ber of times, but from move 22 onwards he always 
 played the best move. 
 
 ?8 
 
 
 P-K4! 
 P-K5 
 
 29. 
 
 Q— Kt I 
 
 30- 
 
 PxKt 
 
 PXR 
 
 31- 
 
 P — Q6 
 
 R— K7 
 
 32. 
 
 P-Q7 
 
 R— B 7ch 
 
 33- 
 
 K— Kt I 
 
 R— Kt ich 
 
 34. 
 
 Kt — Kt3 
 
 Q— K2 
 
 35. RxP 
 
 The position is most interesting. I believe I lost 
 here my last chance to win the game, and if that is 
 true it would vindicate my judgment when, on move 
 28, I played P — B 4. The student can find out what 
 would happen if White plays Q — Q 4I at once. I 
 have gone over the following variations: 35 Q — Q 4, 
 R X K R P (of course ifRxBP, P — Q8 wins) ;
 
 FRENCH DEFENCE 
 
 I8l 
 
 36QXQP! R-Q i; 37 Q-R6, K-Kt I best 
 (if Q— Q 5 ch ; K— R I, K— Kt I ; R— Q Kt I wins) ; 
 38 Q X B P and Wliite will at least have a draw. 
 
 35- 
 36. 
 
 
 R-K 7 
 R-Qi 
 
 Q-Q4 
 
 37- 
 
 Q— R4 
 
 Q-K5 
 
 38. 
 J 1 • 
 
 Q-R6 
 J 1 1 
 
 K-Kt I 
 
 There is nothing to be done against this simple move, 
 since Wliite cannot play Kt — Q 4, because Q — R 8 
 mates. 
 
 39. K— B I 
 
 40. Kt— Q4 
 
 Resigns. 
 
 A very interesting battle. 
 
 RxQP 
 R— K8ch 
 
 GAME 5. RUY LOPEZ 
 
 (St. Petersburg, 1914) 
 
 White : Dr. E. Lasker. Black : J. R. Capablanca. 
 
 1. P— K4 P— K4 
 
 2. Kt— KB 3 Kt— QB 3 
 
 3. B-Kt5 P-QR3 
 
 4. BxKt 
 
 The object of this move is to bring about speedily 
 a middle-game without Queens, in which WTiite
 
 i82 GAME 5 
 
 has four Pawns to three on the King's side, while 
 Black's superiority of Pawns on the other side is 
 somewhat balanced by the fact that one of Black's 
 Pawns is doubled. On the other hand, Black has 
 the advantage of remaining with two Bishops while 
 White has only one. 
 
 4 QPXB 
 
 5. P-Q4 PxP 
 
 6. QxP QxQ 
 
 7. KtxQ B-Q3 
 
 Black's idea is to Castle on the King's side. His 
 reason is that the King ought to remain on the weaker 
 side to oppose later the advance of White's Pawns. 
 Theoretically there is very much to be said in favour 
 of this reasoning, but whether in practice that would 
 be the best system would be rather difficult to prove. 
 The student should notice that if now all the pieces 
 were exchanged White would practically be a Pawn 
 ahead, and would therefore have a won ending. 
 
 8. Kt — QB3 Kt — K2 
 
 A perfectly soimd form of development. In any other 
 form adopted the Black Kt could not be developed 
 either as quickly or as well. K 2 is the natural position 
 for the Black Kt in this variation, in order not to 
 obstruct Black's Pawns, and also, in some event- 
 ualities, in order to go to K Kt 3. There is
 
 RUY LOPEZ 
 
 183 
 
 also the possibility of its going to Q 5 via Q B 3 after 
 P-QB4. 
 
 9. 0-0 
 
 10. P — B 4 
 
 0-0 
 
 This move I considered weak at the time, and I do 
 still. It leaves the K P weak, unless it advances to 
 K 5, and it also makes it possible for Black to pin the 
 Kt by B — Q B 4. 
 
 10. 
 
 R— K I 
 
 Best. It threatens B — B4; B — K3, Kt — Q4. 
 It also prevents B — K 3 because of Kt — Q 4 or B 4. 
 
 II. Kt — Kt 3 
 
 B3 
 
 Preparatory to P — Q Kt 3, followed by P — Q B 4 
 and B — Kt 2 in conjunction with Kt — Kt 3, which 
 would put WTiite in great difficulties to meet the 
 combined attack against the two centre Pawns. 
 
 12. P-B5 
 
 KW ft 1 <^ 
 
 Bi k H |f|i 
 
 * ■ * » Mi m 
 
 ^^ ^^ ^S a ^^ 
 
 r'^4 
 
 .W3 m 
 mm m 
 
 % wm 
 
 
 &
 
 1 84 GAME 5 
 
 It has been wrongly claimed that this wins the game, 
 but I would like nothing better than to have such a 
 position again. It required several mistakes on my 
 part finally to obtain a lost position. 
 
 P-QKt3 
 
 12 
 
 13. B-B4 
 
 13- 
 
 B — Kt2 
 
 Played against my better judgment. The right move 
 of course was B X B. Dr. Lasker gives the follow- 
 ing variation: i3...BxB;i4RxB, P — B 4; 
 15 Q R— Q I, B — Kt 2; 16 R— B 2, Q R — Q i; 
 17RXR, RxR; 18R — Q2, RxR; 19 Kt x R, 
 and he claims that White has the best of it. But, 
 as Niemzovitch pointed out immediately after the 
 game, 16...Q R — Q i given in Dr. Lasker's varia- 
 tion, is not the best. If 16... Q R — B i! then 
 WMte will have great difficulty in drawing the game,
 
 RUY LOPEZ 185 
 
 since there is no good way to stop Black from playing 
 Kt — B 3, followed by Kt — K 4, threatening Kt~ 
 B 5. And should White attempt to meet this ma- 
 noeuvre by withdrawing the Kt at Kt 3 ; then the 
 Black Knight can go to Q 5, and the White Pawn at 
 K 4 will be the object of the attack. Taking Dr. 
 Lasker's variation, however, whatever advantage there 
 might be disappears at once if Black plays 19. . .Kt — 
 B 3, threatening Kt — Kt 5 and also Kt — Q 5, neither 
 of which can be stopped. If White answers 20 Kt — 
 Q 5, Kt — Q 5 for Black will at least draw. In fact, 
 after 19. . .Kt — B 3 Black threatens so many things 
 that it is difficult to see how Wliite can prevent the 
 loss of one or more Pawns. 
 
 14. B X B P X B 
 
 15. Kt-Q4 
 
 It is a curious but true fact that I did not see this 
 move when I played 13 . . .B — Kt 2, otherwise I would 
 have played the right move 13. . .B X B. 
 
 15 QR-Qi 
 
 The game is yet far from lost, as against the entry 
 of the Knight, Black can later on play P — B 4, fol- 
 lowed by P — Q 4. 
 
 16. Kt— K6 R— Q2 
 
 17. QR-Qi
 
 i86 
 
 GAME 5 
 
 
 m m m%^'m 
 
 '4,c/ii£^ 
 
 wy 
 
 ^ ifcsi^ 
 
 
 
 mJ^wi 
 
 I now was on the point of playing P — B 4, to be 
 followed by P — Q 4, which I thought would give me 
 a draw, but suddenly I became ambitious and thought 
 that I could play the text move, ly.-.Kt — B i, 
 and later on sacrifice the exchange for the Knight 
 at K 6, winning a Pawn for it, and leaving White's 
 K P still weaker. I intended to carry this plan either 
 before or after playing P — K Kt 4 as the circumstances 
 demanded. Now let us analyse : 1 7 . . . P — B 4. If 
 
 18 Kt— Q 5, Bx Kt; 19 PxB, P — QKt 4; and a 
 careful analysis wall show that Black has nothing to 
 fear. Black's plan in this case would be to work his 
 Kt around to K 4, via Q B i, Q Kt 3, and Q B 5 or 
 Q 2. Again, 17...P — B 4; 18 R — B 2, P -Q 4; 
 
 19 P X P, B X P ; 20 Kt X B (best, since if R (B 2) — 
 Q 2, B X Kt give Black the advantage), RxKt; 
 21 R X R, Kt X R; and there is no good reason why 
 Black should lose. 
 
 Kt — Bi 
 
 17 
 
 18. R — B 2 
 
 P-QKt4
 
 RUY 
 
 LOPEZ 
 
 19. KR — Q 2 
 
 R (Q 2) - K 2 
 
 20. P — QKt4 
 
 K-B2 
 
 21. P-QR3 
 
 B-Ri 
 
 187 
 
 Once more changing my plan and this time without 
 any good reason. Had I now played R X Kt; P X R ch, 
 R X P ; as I intended to do when I went back w^ith 
 the Knight to B i, I doubt very much if White would 
 have been able to win the game. At least it would 
 have been extremely difficult. 
 
 22. 
 
 K— B 2 
 
 R-R2 
 
 23- 
 
 P— Kt4 
 
 P-R3 
 
 24. 
 
 R-Q3 
 
 P-QR4 
 
 25- 
 
 P— KR4 
 
 PxP 
 
 26. 
 
 PxP 
 
 R (R 2) - K 2 
 
 This, of course, has no object now. Black, with a 
 bad game, flounders around for a move. It would 
 have been better to play R — R 6 to keep the open 
 file, and at the same time to threaten to come out 
 with the Knight at Kt 3 and B 5. 
 
 27. K — B 3 R— Kt I 
 
 28. K — B 4 P — Kt 3 
 
 Again bad. Wliite's last two moves were weak, since 
 the White King does nothing here. He should have 
 played his Rook to Kt 3 on the 27th move. Black 
 now should have played P — Kt 4 ch. After missing 
 this chance White has it all his own way, and finishes 
 the game most accurately, and Black becomes more
 
 i88 GAME 5 
 
 helpless with each move. The game needs no further 
 comment, excepting that my play throughout was of 
 an altogether irresolute character. When a plan is 
 made, it must be carried out if at all possible. Regard- 
 ing the play of White, I consider his loth and 12th 
 moves were very weak ; he played well after that up 
 to the 27th move, which was bad, as well as his 28th 
 move. The rest of his play was good, probably 
 perfect. 
 
 29. 
 
 R-Kt3 
 
 P — Kt4ch 
 
 30- 
 
 K-B3 
 
 Kt— Kt3 
 
 31- 
 
 PxP 
 
 RPXP 
 
 32. 
 
 R-R3 
 
 R— Q2 
 
 33- 
 
 K-Kt3! 
 
 K— Ki 
 
 34. 
 
 QR-KRi 
 
 B — Kt2 
 
 35- 
 
 P-K5 
 
 QPXP 
 
 36. 
 
 Kt— K4 
 
 Kt-Q4 
 
 37. 
 
 Kt(K6)-B5 
 
 B — B I 
 
 38. 
 
 KtxR 
 
 BX Kt 
 
 39- 
 
 R— R7 
 
 R— B I 
 
 40. 
 
 R— Ri 
 
 K— Qi 
 
 41. 
 
 R — RSch 
 
 B — B I 
 
 42. 
 
 Kt-B5 
 
 Resigns.
 
 FRENCH DEFENCE 189 
 
 GAME 6. FRENCH DEFENCE 
 (Rice Memorial Tournament, 191 6) 
 
 White : O. Chajes. Black : J. R. Capablanca. 
 
 I. 
 
 P— K4 
 
 P-K3 
 
 2. 
 
 P-Q4 
 
 P-Q4 
 
 3- 
 
 Kt-QB3 
 
 Kt — KB 3 
 
 4- 
 
 B-Kt5 
 
 B-Kt5 
 
 Of all the variations of the French Defence I like 
 this best, because it gives Black more chances to 
 obtain the initiative. 
 
 5- P-K5 
 
 Though I consider P X P the best move, there is much 
 to be said in favour of this move, but not of the vari- 
 ation as a whole, which WTiite adopted in this game. 
 
 5- 
 
 
 P-KR3 
 
 6. 
 
 B-Q2 
 
 Bx Kt 
 
 7. 
 
 PxB 
 
 Kt-Ks 
 
 8. 
 
 Q— Kt 4 
 
 K — B I 
 
 The alternative, P — K Kt 3 ; leaves Black's King's 
 side very weak. White by playing P — K R 4 would 
 force Black to play P — K R 4 ; and later, on WTiite's 
 Bishop by going to Q 3, would threaten the weakened 
 K Kt P. By the text move Black gives up Castling, 
 but gains time for an attack against White's centre 
 and Queen's side.
 
 190 
 
 GAME 6 
 9. B — B I P— QB4 
 
 Threatening Q — R 4 and stopping thereby White's 
 threat of B — R 3- It demonstrates that White's 
 last move was a complete loss of time and merely 
 weakened his position. 
 
 10. 
 
 B-Q3 
 
 Q-R4 
 
 II. 
 
 Kt— K2 
 
 PxP 
 
 12. 
 
 0-0 
 
 PxP 
 
 13- 
 
 BxKt 
 
 PXB 
 
 14. 
 
 QXP 
 
 Kt-B3 
 
 M W ft W W Ml 
 
 m 1^ 
 
 M,^m........MAm.. 
 
 m 
 
 « ^^^^w 
 
 
 ^ . PI ^ ^ til 
 
 i ^A mm. ^^^ ^ i^i 
 
 Black has come out of the opening with a Pawn 
 to the good. His development, however, has suffered 
 somewhat, and there are Bishops of opposite colour, 
 so that it cannot be said as yet, that Black has a 
 won game ; but he has certainly the best of the posi- 
 tion, because, besides being a Pawn to the good, he 
 threatens White's K P, which must of course be de-
 
 FRENCH DEFENCE 191 
 
 fended, and this in turn will give him the opportunity 
 to post his Knight at Q 4 via K 2. When the Black 
 Knight is posted at Q 4, the Bishop will be developed to 
 B 3 via Q 2, as soon as the opportunity presents itself, 
 and it will be Black that will then have the initiative, 
 and can consequently decide the course of the game. 
 
 15. R-Qi 
 
 To prevent Kt — K 2 ; which would be answered by 
 Kt X P, or still better by B — R 3. The move, how- 
 ever, is strategically wrong, since by bringing his 
 pieces to the Queen's side, White loses any chance 
 he might have of making a determined attack on the 
 King's side before Black is thoroughly prepared for it. 
 
 15 P-KKt3 
 
 16. P — B 4 K— Kt 2 
 17- B-K3 
 
 Better would have been P — Q R 4, in order to play 
 B — R 3. The WTiite B would be much better posted 
 on the open diagonal than here, where it acts purely 
 on the defensive. 
 
 17 Kt— K2 
 
 18. B — B 2 Kt — Q4 
 
 This Knight completely paralyses the attack, as it 
 dominates the whole situation, and there is no way 
 to dislodge it. Behind it Black can quietly develop 
 his pieces. The game can now be said to be won 
 for Black strategically.
 
 192 
 
 GAME 6 
 
 19. R— Q3 B — Q2 
 
 20. Kt — Q4 QR-QB I 
 
 21. R— Kt3 K— R 2 
 
 22. P— KR4 KR— Kti 
 
 23. P-R5 Q-Kt5 
 
 In order to pin the Knight and be ready to come back 
 to either K 2 or B i. Also to prevent Q R— Kt i. 
 In reaUty nearly all these precautions are unnecessary, 
 since White's attack amounts to nothing. Probably 
 Black should have left aside all these considerations, 
 and played Q — R 5 now, in order to follow it up with 
 p — B 4, as he did later, but under less favourable 
 circumstances. 
 
 24. R-R3 
 
 ^ Wi^ 1/ 
 
 m ^^M ^ 'tyyy/i 
 
 ^ ■ ft ■ i ^^4 
 
 m " rj 
 ^ ill ^^..,.,..^^_ 
 
 1^^^^^ ™^^^ 
 
 24. 
 
 P-B4 
 
 Not the best, as White will soon prove. Q — B i 
 would have avoided everything, but Black wants to 
 assume the initiative at once and plunges into com-
 
 FRENCH DEFENCE 
 
 193 
 
 plications. However, as will soon be seen, the move 
 is not a losing one by any means. 
 
 25. P X P e.p. Kt X P (B 3) 
 
 26. PxPch RxP 
 
 
 m 
 
 A 
 
 '■'iM 
 
 
 J: 
 
 Ma 
 
 '^^M. ^wm /^m 
 
 W '^^ 
 
 27. RxP ch 
 This wins the Queen. 
 
 27 KxR 
 
 28. Kt — B 5ch Px Kt 
 
 29. QxQ
 
 194 GAME 6 
 
 The position looks most interesting. I thought it 
 would be possible to get up such an attack against 
 the White King as to make it impossible for him to 
 hold out much longer, but I was wrong, unless it 
 could have been done by playing B — B 3 first, forcing 
 P — Kt 3 and then playing K — R 4. I followed a 
 similar plan, but lost a very important move by play- 
 ing Q R — K Kt I ; which gave White time to play 
 R — Q I. I am convinced, however, that B — B 3 
 at once was the right move. White would be forced 
 to play P — Kt 3, and Black would reply with either 
 K — R 4; as already indicated, which looks the best 
 (the plan, of course, is to play R — K R i ; and follow 
 it up with K — Kt 5 ; threatening mate, or some 
 other move according to circumstances. In some 
 cases, of course, it will be better first to play K — Kt 5), 
 or Kt — K 5, which will at least give him a 
 draw. There are so many possibilities in this posi- 
 tion that it would be impossible to give them 
 all. It will be worth the reader's time to go 
 carefully through the Unes of play indicated above. 
 
 29 QR— KKt I 
 
 As stated B — B 3 was the best move. 
 
 30. P-Kt3 B-B3 
 
 31. R— Q I K— R4 
 
 The plan, of course, as explained above, is to go to 
 Kt 5 in due time and threaten mate at K R 8, but 
 it is now too late, the White Rook having come in
 
 FRENCH DEFENCE 195 
 
 time to prevent the manoeuvre. Instead of the text 
 move, therefore, Black should have played Kt — K 5; 
 which would have given him a draw at the very least. 
 After the text moves the tables are turned. It is now 
 White who has the upper hand, and Black who has 
 to fight for a draw. 
 
 32. R— Q6 B — K5 
 
 Kt — K 5 was still the right move, and probably 
 the last chance Black had to draw against White's 
 best play. 
 
 33. QxBP Kt-Q4 
 
 34. RxR KxR 
 
 Kt X Q ; R X R, Kt X P was no better. 
 
 35- 
 
 Q- 
 
 -K5 
 
 K- 
 
 -B2 
 
 36. 
 
 p- 
 
 -B4 
 
 R- 
 
 -K I 
 
 37- 
 
 Q- 
 
 -Kt 2 
 
 Kt- 
 
 -B3 
 
 38. 
 
 B- 
 
 -Q4 
 
 R- 
 
 -KRi 
 
 39- 
 
 Q- 
 
 -Kt5 
 
 R- 
 
 -R8ch 
 
 40. 
 
 K- 
 
 -B 2 
 
 P- 
 
 -R3 
 
 41. 
 
 Q- 
 
 -Kt6 
 
 R- 
 
 -R7ch 
 
 42. 
 
 K- 
 
 -K I 
 
 Kt- 
 
 -Q2 
 
 43- 
 
 Q- 
 
 -Q6 
 
 B- 
 
 -B3 
 
 44. 
 
 P- 
 
 -Kt 4 
 
 Px 
 
 P 
 
 45- 
 
 P- 
 
 -KB5 
 
 R- 
 
 -R8ch 
 
 46. 
 
 K- 
 
 -Q2 
 
 K- 
 
 -K I 
 
 47. 
 
 P- 
 
 -B6 
 
 R- 
 
 -R2 
 
 48. 
 
 Q- 
 
 -K6ch 
 
 K- 
 
 -B I 
 
 49. 
 
 B- 
 
 -K3 
 
 R- 
 
 B 2 
 
 50- 
 
 B- 
 
 -R6ch 
 
 K- 
 
 -Kt I
 
 196 GAME 6 
 
 Most players will be wondering, as the spectators 
 did, why I did not resign. The reason is that while 
 I knew the game to be lost, I was hoping for the fol- 
 lowing variation, which Chajes came very near playing : 
 5iQxPch,K-R2; 52Q-R5,RxP; 53 B- 
 Kt 5 ch, K— Kt 2 ; 54 B X R ch, K X B; and while 
 White has a won game it is by no means easy. If 
 the reader does not believe it, let him take the White 
 pieces against a master and see what happens. My 
 opponent, who decided to take no chances, played 
 51 B — Kt 7, and finally won as shown below. 
 
 51. 
 
 B — Kt 7 
 
 P — Kt6 
 
 52. 
 
 K— K2 
 
 P — Kt 7 
 
 53- 
 
 K— B 2 
 
 Kt — B I 
 
 54. 
 
 Q-Kt4 
 
 Kt — Q2 
 
 55- 
 
 K— Kt I 
 
 P — R4 
 
 56. 
 
 P — R4 
 
 BxP 
 
 57. 
 
 Q-R3 
 
 RxP 
 
 58. 
 
 BxR 
 
 KtxB 
 
 59- 
 
 QX Pch 
 
 K— B I 
 
 60. 
 
 QxP 
 
 
 and after a very few more moves Black resigned. 
 
 A very fine game on Chajes' part from move 25 
 on, for while Black, having the best of the position, 
 missed several chances. White, on the other hand, 
 missed none.
 
 RUY LOPEZ 197 
 
 GAME 7. RUY LOPEZ 
 (San Sebastian, 191 1) 
 White : J. R. Capablanca. Black : A. Bum- 
 
 1. P — K4 P— K4 
 
 2. Kt— KB 3 Kt — QB 3 
 
 3. B-Kt5 P-QR3 
 
 4. B — R4 Kt — B 3 
 
 5. P-Q3 
 
 This is a very solid development, to which I was 
 much addicted at the time, because of my ignorance 
 of the multiple variations of the openings. 
 
 5 P-Q3 
 
 6. P — B3 B — K2 
 
 In this variation there is the alternative of developing 
 this Bishop via Kt 2, after P — K Kt 3. 
 
 7. QKt— Q 2 0—0 
 
 8. Kt — B I P— QKt4 
 
 9. B — B 2 P— Q4 
 
 10. Q— K 2 Px P 
 
 11. Px P B — QB 4 
 
 E\'idently to make room for the Queen at K 2, but 
 I do not think the move ad\asable at this stage. B — 
 K 3 is a more natural and effective move. It develops 
 a piece and threatens B — B 5, which would have 
 to be stopped. 
 
 12. B — Kt 5 B — K3
 
 198 GAME 7 
 
 Now it is not so effective, because White's Q B is out, 
 and the Kjiight, in going to K 3 to defend the square 
 Q B 4, does not block the Q B. 
 
 13. Kt — K3 R— Ki 
 
 14. — Q— K2 
 
 This is bad. Black's game was already not good. 
 He probably had no choice but to take the Knight 
 with the Bishop before making this move. 
 
 wm s. 
 
 15. Kt — Qs BxKt 
 
 16. PxB Kt— Kt I 
 
 in order to bring it to Q 2, to support the other Knight 
 and also his King's Pawn. White, however, does not 
 allow time for this, and by taking advantage of his 
 superior position is able to win a Pawn. 
 
 17. P-QR4 P-Kt5 
 
 Since he had no way to prevent the loss of a Pawn, 
 he should have given it up where it is, and played 
 Q Kt— Q 2, in '.order to make his position more solid.
 
 RUY LOPEZ 199 
 
 The text move not only loses a Pawn, but leaves 
 Black's game very much weakened. 
 
 18. PXP BxP 
 
 19. B X Kt Q X B 
 
 20. Q-K4 B-Q3 
 
 21. QxPch K — B I 
 
 With a Pawn more and all his pieces ready for action^ 
 while Black is still backward in development, it only 
 remains for White to drive home his advantage before 
 Black can come out with his pieces, in which case, 
 by using the open K R file, Black might be able to 
 start a strong attack against WTiite's King. WTiite 
 is able by his next move to eliminate all danger. 
 
 22. Kt — R4 
 
 Q-R3 
 
 This is practically forced. Black could not play 
 P — Kt 3 because of BxP, and Wliite meanwhile 
 threatened Q — R 8 ch followed by Kt — B 5 ch and 
 QXP.
 
 200 GAME 7 
 
 23. Q X Q 
 
 PxQ 
 
 24. Kt-B5 
 
 P— KR4 
 
 25. B-Qi 
 
 Kt-Q 2 
 
 26. BxP 
 
 Kt-B3 
 
 27. B — K 2 
 
 KtxP 
 
 28. KR-Qi 
 
 Kt-B5 
 
 29. B — B 4 
 
 KR-Qi 
 
 30. P-R4 
 
 P-R4 
 
 Black must lose time assuring 
 
 the safety of this Pawn. 
 
 31. P-KKt3 
 
 Kt-K3 
 
 32. B X Kt 
 
 PXB 
 
 33- Kt-K3 
 
 KR— Kt I 
 
 34. Kt-B4 
 
 K— K2 
 
 Black fights a hopeless battle. He is two Pawns down 
 for all practical purposes, and the Pawns he has are 
 isolated and have to be defended by pieces. 
 
 35. QR— B I R — R 2 
 White threatened Kt X B, followed by R— B 7 ch. 
 
 36. 
 
 R— Ki 
 
 K- 
 
 -B3. 
 
 37- 
 
 R— K4 
 
 R- 
 
 -Kt5 
 
 38. 
 
 P— Kt4 
 
 R- 
 
 -R3 
 
 If R X R P ; Kt X B of course would win a piece 
 
 39. R-B3 B-B4 
 
 40. R — B 3ch K — Kt 2 
 
 41. P-Kt3 B-Q5 
 
 42. K— Kt2 R-Ri
 
 
 CENTRE 
 
 GAME 
 
 43. 
 
 P-Kt5 
 
 R-R3 
 
 44. 
 
 P-R5 
 
 Rx Kt 
 
 45- 
 
 PxR 
 
 R-B3 
 
 46. 
 
 P-Kt6 
 
 Resigns. 
 
 201 
 
 GAMES. CENTRE GAIVIE 
 
 (Berlin, 1913) 
 
 White : J. Mieses. Black : J. R. Capablanca. 
 
 1. P— K4 P— K4 
 
 2. P— Q4 Px P 
 
 3. QxP Kt-QB3 
 
 4. Q-K3 Kt-B3 
 
 5. Kt-QB3 B-Kt5 
 
 6. B — Q2 — 
 
 7. 0—0—0 R— K I 
 
 In this position, instead of the text move, P — Q t, 
 is often played in order to develop the Q B. My idea 
 was to exert sufficient pressure against the K P to win 
 it, and thus gain a material advantage, which would, 
 at least, compensate whatever slight advantage of 
 position WTiite might have. The plan, I think, is 
 quite feasible, my subsequent difficulties being due 
 to faulty execution of the plan. 
 
 8. Q-Kt3 
 
 KtxP 
 
 9. Kt x Kt 
 
 RxKt 
 
 10. B — KB 4 

 
 202 
 
 GAME 8 
 
 %i i : 1 i B i HI i 
 
 » ^« 
 
 ^" \mhW' 
 
 % 
 
 m §^«^^^M ^^^^^ 
 
 10 Q-B3 
 
 White's threat to regain the Pawn was merely with 
 the idea of gaining time to develop his pieces. Black 
 could have played P — Q 3 ; opening the way for his 
 Q B, when would have followed, 11 B — Q3, R — Ki; 
 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 accordance with the principles laid down in this 
 book. 
 
 II. Kt — R3 
 
 If B X P, P — Q 3 ; and White's Bishop would be 
 completely shut off, and could only be extricated, 
 if at all, with serious loss of position. The text 
 move aims at quick development to keep the initiative. 
 
 II P-Q3 
 
 This now is not only a developing move, but it also 
 threatens to win a piece by B x Kt.
 
 CENTRE GAME 203 
 
 12. B-Q3 Kt-Q5 
 
 This complicates the game unnecessarily. R — K i; 
 was simple, and perfectly safe. 
 
 13. B-K3 
 
 
 13 B-Kt5 
 
 This is a serious mistake. The position was most 
 interesting, and though in appearance dangerous for 
 Black, not so in reality. The right move would have 
 been 13. . .R — Kt 5, when we would have 14 B X Kt, 
 RXB; i5P-QB3,BxP; 16 P x B, R- K Kt 5 ; 
 17 Q— K 3 (best), Qx P ch; 18B — B2, QxQ; 
 19 P X Q, R X P, and Black has the best of the game 
 with four Pawns for a Knight, besides the fact that 
 all the White Pawns are isolated. 
 
 14. Kt— Kt 5! Rx B 
 
 There was nothing better. 
 
 15. QXB! 
 
 Kt — K 7 ch
 
 204 
 
 GAME 8 
 
 iBi 
 
 „^ ^ ^ ^ „J^^ 
 
 
 i6. BxKt! 
 
 17. Kt— K4! 
 
 18. QxR 
 
 19. P — KB4 
 
 20. P — B3 
 
 21. KR— Ki 
 
 22. R-Q5 
 
 RxB 
 RxKt 
 Q— Kt4ch 
 Q-Kt4 
 B — B4 
 Q-B3 
 
 Q X Q would have given White a decided advan- 
 tage, enough to win with proper play. Mieses, however, 
 feared the difficulties of an ending where, while having 
 the exchange, he would be a Pawn minus. He pre- 
 ferred to keep the Queens on the board and keep up 
 the attack. At first sight, and even after careful 
 thought, there seems to be no objection to his plan ; 
 but m truth such is not the case. From this point 
 the game will gradually improve in Black's favour 
 until, with the exchange ahead, White is lost.
 
 CENTRE GAME 
 
 205 
 
 22 
 
 23. P-B5 
 
 24. R-Q2 
 
 Q-Q2 
 
 P-QB3 
 
 P-Q4 
 
 
 i 
 
 ^ 
 
 t ] *.i^ B ^ 
 
 
 wm m 
 
 m 
 
 J S MAMI 
 
 i i^ ^J , ^ 
 
 My plan for the moment is very simple. It ^ill 
 consist in bringing my Bishop around to B 3. Then 
 I shall try to paralyse White's attack against my 
 King by playing P — K R 3, and also prevent White 
 from ever playing P — K Kt 5. Once my King is 
 safe from attack I shall begin to advance my Queen's 
 side Pawns, where there are four to three ; and that 
 advantage, coupled with the enormous attacking power 
 of my Bishop at B 3, will at least assure me an even 
 chance of success. 
 
 25- Q-B3 
 
 26. QR— K 2 
 
 27. Q-R5 
 
 28. P — KKt4 
 
 B — K2 
 B-B3 
 P — KR3 
 K — R2!
 
 2o6 GAME 8 
 
 To prevent P — K R 4, which I would answer with 
 P — K Kt 3, winning the Queen. It can now be 
 considered that my King is safe from attack. White 
 will have to withdraw his Queen via R 3, and Black 
 can use the time to begin his advance on the Queen's 
 side. 
 
 29. K— Kt I R— Qi 
 
 30. R— Q I P — B 4 
 
 Notice that, on assuming the defensive, White has 
 placed his Rooks correctly from the point of view of 
 strategy. They are both on white squares free from 
 the possible attack of the Black Bishop. 
 
 31. Q-R3 Q-R5 
 
 This gains time by attacking the Rook and holding 
 the White Q at R 3 for the moment, on account of 
 the K Kt P. Besides, the Queen must be in the middle 
 of the fray now that the attack has to be brought 
 home. WTiite has actually more value in material, 
 and therefore Black must utilise everything at his 
 command in order to succeed. 
 
 32. R(K2)-Q2 Q-K5ch 
 
 33- K-Ri P-QKt4 
 
 threatening P — Kt 5 ; which would open the line 
 of action of the Bishop and also secure a passed Pawn. 
 
 34. Q-Kt2 Q-R5 
 
 indirectly defending the Q P, which White cannot 
 take on account of Q X R ch.
 
 CENTRE GAME 207 
 
 35. K-Kti P-Kt5 
 
 The attack increases in force as it is gradually brought 
 home directly against the King. The position now 
 is most interesting and extremely difficult. It is 
 doubtful if there is any valid defence against Black's 
 best play. The variations are numerous and difficult. 
 
 36. PXP 
 
 QxP 
 
 Black has now a passed Pawn, and his Bishop exerts 
 great pressure. White cannot very well pla>' now 
 37 RxP because of RxR; 38 R x R, B x P ; 
 and WTiite could not take the Bishop because Q — 
 K 5 ch would win the Rook, leaving Black a clear 
 passed Pawn ahead. 
 
 P-QR3 Q-R5! 
 
 RxP R-QKti 
 
 R(Ql)_Q2 P-B5 
 
 Q — K:t3 R— Kt6 
 
 Q-Q6 
 
 37 
 38 
 
 39 
 
 40 
 
 41
 
 208 
 
 GAME 8 
 
 wM.. 
 
 "^m^m^"^' 
 
 
 Nj^i" 
 
 8 PH »i 
 
 ^H IH ^^ If^i 
 
 ^^ '%^Mi^ i^^P ^^^ 
 
 41. 
 
 P — B6 
 
 B X P would also win, which shows that White's 
 game is altogether gone. In these cases, however, 
 it is not the prettiest move that should be played, 
 but the most effective one, the move that will make 
 your opponent resign soonest. 
 
 42. R— QB 2 
 
 43. R-Q3 
 
 44. R-Qi 
 
 Resigns. 
 
 PxP 
 
 Q-K5! 
 R — QB6 
 
 Of course White must play Q— Q 2, and Black then 
 plays R X P.
 
 QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLINED 209 
 
 GAME 9. QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLINED 
 (Berlin, 1913) 
 
 White: J. R. Capablanca. Black: R. Teichmann. 
 
 I. 
 
 P-Q4 
 
 P-Q4 
 
 2. 
 
 Kt— ".KB3 
 
 Kt— KB 3 
 
 3- 
 
 P-B4 
 
 P-K3 
 
 4- 
 
 B-Kt5 
 
 B — K2 
 
 5- 
 
 Kt-B3 
 
 QKt-Q2 
 
 6. 
 
 P-K3 
 
 0-0 
 
 7- 
 
 R — B I 
 
 P-QKt3 
 
 8. 
 
 PxP 
 
 PxP 
 
 9- 
 
 B-Kt5 
 
 
 An invention of my own, I believe. I played it 
 on the spur of the moment simply to change the normal 
 course of the game. Generally the Bishop goes to Q 3, 
 or to R 6, after Q — R 4. The text move is in the 
 nature of an ordinary developing move, and as it 
 violates no principle it cannot be bad. 
 
 9- 
 
 10. 
 
 
 B — Kt 2 
 
 0-0 
 
 P-QR3 
 
 II. 
 
 B-R4 
 
 R-B I 
 
 12. 
 
 Q-K2 
 
 P-B 4 
 
 13- 
 
 PxP 
 
 KtxP 
 
 If P X P ; K R — Q I, and WTiite would play to wm 
 one of Black's centre Pawns. The drawback to the
 
 210 GAME 9 
 
 text move is that it leaves Black's Q P isolated, and 
 consequently weak and subject to attack. 
 
 14. KR— Q I Ktx B 
 
 The alternative would have been 14...P — Kt4; 
 15 B — B 2, P — Kt 5; 16 Kt — Q R 4, Kt (B 4) — 
 
 15. Kt X Kt P — Kt 4 
 
 16. R X R Q X R 
 
 17. Kt-B3 Q-B5 
 
 Black aims at the exchange of Queens in order to 
 remain wdth two Bishops for the ending, but in this 
 position such a course is a mistake, because the Bishop 
 at Kt 2 is inactive and cannot come into the game 
 by any means, unless Black gives up the isolated 
 Queen's Pawn which the Bishop must defend. 
 
 18. Kt — Q4 
 
 Not, of course, R — Q 4, because of Q X Q ; Kt X Q, 
 R — B I ; and there would be no good way to prevent 
 R-B 7. 
 
 18 QxQ 
 
 19. Kt(B3)xQ! 
 
 Notice the co-ordination of the Knights' moves. 
 They are manoeuvred chain-like, so to speak, in order 
 to maintain one of them, either at Q 4 or ready to go 
 there. Now White threatens to take the open file, 
 and therefore forces Black's next move. 
 
 19 . R — B I
 
 QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLINED 211 
 
 The student should examine this position carefully. 
 There seems to be no particular danger, yet, as Wliite 
 will demonstrate. Black may be said to be lost. If 
 the game is not altogether lost, the defence is at least 
 of the most difficult kind; indeed, I must confess 
 that I can see no adequate defence against White's 
 next move. 
 
 20. Kt — B 5! K — B I 
 
 If2o...B — Qi; 21 Kt— Q6,R — B 2; 22 Kt x B, 
 R X Kt; 23 B X Kt, B X B; 24 R X P, R — B 2; 
 25 R — Q 2, and White is a Pawn ahead. If 20. . .B 
 moves anywhere else, then B X Kt, doubling the 
 K B P and isolating all of Black's King's side Pawns. 
 
 21. Kt X B K X Kt 
 
 22. Kt — Q4 P— Kt 3 
 
 This is practically forced, as WTiite threatened Kt — 
 B 5 ch. Notice that the Black Knight is pinned in 
 such a way that no relief can be afforded except by 
 gi\Tng up the K R P or abandoning the open file
 
 212 GAME 9 
 
 with the Rook, which would be disastrous, as White 
 would immediately sieze it. 
 
 23. P-B3I 
 
 ^Z- 
 
 P-R3 
 
 Black could do nothing else except mark time with 
 his Rook along the open file, since as soon as he moved 
 away White would take it. White, on the other 
 hand, threatens to march up with his King to K 5 
 via KB2,KKt3, KB4, after having, of course, 
 prepared the way. Hence, Black's best chance was 
 to give up a Pawn, as in the text, in order to free his 
 Knight. 
 
 24. B X P Kt — Q 2 
 
 25. P — K R4 Kt— B 4 
 
 26. B — B 4 Kt— K3 
 
 Black exchanges Knights to remain with Bishops of
 
 QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLINED 273 
 
 opposite colours, which gives him the best chance to 
 draw. 
 
 27. Kt X Kt K X Kt 
 
 27. . P X Kt would be worse, as WTiite would then 
 be able to post his Bishop at K 5. 
 
 28. R — Q2 R— KRi 
 
 Black wants to force B — Kt3. P — KKt3 would 
 be bad, on account of P — Q 5 ; which would 
 get the Black Bishop into the game, even though 
 White could answer P — K 4. The text move is, 
 however, weak, as will soon be seen. His best chance 
 was to play P — Kt 5 ; and follow it up with P — R 4 
 and B — R 3. White meanwhile could play P — Kt 4 
 and R 5, obtaining a passed Pawn, which, with proper 
 play, should win. 
 
 29. R— QB 2! R — QB I 
 
 30. R X R B X R 
 
 There are now Bishops of opposite colour, but never- 
 theless White has an easily -won game.
 
 2 14 
 
 GAME 9 
 31. K— B 2 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 :i.i 
 
 i 
 
 m 
 
 i 
 
 ■ *,^. 
 
 
 
 II a a ■ 
 
 ^^ ^^ 
 
 
 
 31 P-Qs 
 
 Practically forced. Otherwise the White King would 
 march up to Q 4 and then to B 5 and win Black's 
 Queen's side Pawns. If Black attempted to stop 
 this by putting his King at Q B 3 then the White King 
 would enter through K 5 into Black's King's side 
 and win just as easily. 
 
 32. 
 
 PxP 
 
 K-Q4 
 
 33- 
 
 K-K3 
 
 B-K3 
 
 34- 
 
 K-Q3 
 
 K-B3 
 
 35- 
 
 P-QR3 
 
 B-B 5ch 
 
 36. 
 
 K-K3 
 
 B-K3 
 
 37. 
 
 B-R6 
 
 
 It is better not to hurry P — K Kt 4 because of P — B 4 ; 
 for although White could win in any case, it would 
 take longer. Now the White King threatens to help 
 by going in through K B 4 after posting the Bishop
 
 QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLINED 215 
 
 at Kt 7, where it not only protects the Q P, but indi- 
 rectly also the Q Kt P. 
 
 37 K-Q4 
 
 38. B — Kt 7 Resigns. 
 
 The student ought to have reahsed by this time 
 the enormous importance of playing well every kind 
 of ending. In this game again, practically from the 
 opening, White aimed at nothing but the isolation 
 of Black's Q P. Once he obtained that, he tried for 
 and obtained, fortunately, another advantage of posi- 
 tion elsewhere which translated itself into the ma- 
 terial advantage of a Pawn. Then by accurate playing 
 in the ending he gradually forced home his advantage. 
 This ending has the merit of having been played against 
 one of the finest players in the world. 
 
 GAME 10. PETROFF DEFENCE 
 (St. Petersburg, 1914) 
 
 White: J. R. Capablanca. Black: F. J. Marshall. 
 
 1. P — K4 P — K4 
 
 2. Kt— KB 3 Kt — KB 3 
 
 3. KtxP P-Q3 
 
 4. Kt — KB 3 Ktx P 
 
 5. Q-K2 Q-K2 
 
 6. P — Q3 Kt — KB 3 
 
 7. B-Kts
 
 2l6 
 
 GAME lo 
 
 Played by Morphy, and a very fine move. The point 
 is that should Black exchange Queens he will be a 
 move behind in development and consequently will 
 get a cramped game if White plays accurately. 
 
 7 B-K3 
 
 Marshall thought at the time that this was the best 
 move and consequently played it in preference to 
 Q X Q ch. 
 
 8. Kt — B 3 P — KR3 
 
 9. BxKt QxB 
 
 10. P — Q4 B — K2 
 
 11. Q— Kt 5ch Kt— Q2 
 
 12. B-Q3! 
 
 
 mxm'imxm 
 
 ^^^^ 
 
 ik: 
 
 MB W. 
 
 I m% 
 
 WW 
 
 mwm,. 
 
 ^^,. ;§Mj^ ^^^^^^^^^^ «i 
 
 It is now time to examine the result of the opening. 
 On White's side we find the minor pieces well posted 
 and the Queen out in a somewhat odd place, it is true, 
 but safe from attack and actually attacking a Pawn.
 
 PETROFF DEFENCE 217 
 
 White is also ready to Castle. White's position is 
 evidently free from danger and his pieces can easily 
 manoeuvre. 
 
 On Black's side the first thing we notice is that 
 he has retained both his Bishops, unquestionably an 
 advantage ; but on the other hand we find his pieces 
 bunched together too much, and the Queen in 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 Castle on the King's side be- 
 cause QxP, R — Kti; Q— K 4 threatening mate, 
 wins a Pawn. Nor can he Castle on the Queen's side 
 because Q — R 5 would put Black's game in imminent 
 danger, since he cannot play P — R 3 because of B x P ; 
 nor can he play K— Kt i because of Kt — Kt 5. 
 Consequently we must conclude that the opening is 
 all in White's favour. 
 
 12 P— Kt 4 
 
 To make room for his Queen, threatening also P — 
 Kt 5. 
 
 13. P-KR3 0-0 
 
 giving up a Pawn in an attempt to free his game 
 and take the initiative. It was difficult for him to 
 find a move, as White threatened Kt — K 4, and should 
 Black go with the Queen to Kt 2, then P — Q 5, B — 
 B 4; Kt X P ch, followed by B x B.
 
 2l8 
 
 GAME lo 
 
 14. QxP 
 
 15. Q-K4 
 
 16. P - Q Kt 3 
 
 QR-Kt I 
 Q— Kt 2 
 P-QB4 
 
 In order to break up White's centre and bring his 
 Knight to B 4 and thus lay the foundation for a violent 
 attack against WTiite's King. The plan, however, 
 fails, as it always must in such cases, because Black's 
 development is backward, and consequently his pieces 
 are not properly placed. 
 
 17. 0—0 
 
 18. Kt-Qs! 
 
 PXP 
 
 A simple move, which destroys Black's plan utterly. 
 Black will now have no concerted action of his pieces, 
 and, as his Pawns are all weak, he will sooner or later 
 lose them. 
 
 IMi 
 
 m 
 
 
 m 
 
 C..„«^B ill 
 
 ■ fe' 
 
 
 m 
 
 m 
 
 i 
 
 
 19. B — B 4 
 
 20. QxP 
 
 B-Qi 
 Kt — B4 
 
 QxQ
 
 PETROFF DEFENCE 219 
 
 The fact that he has to exchange Queens when he is 
 a Pawn behind shows that Black's game is lost. 
 
 21. Kt X Q B X Kt 
 
 22. B X B B — B 3 
 23- QR-Qi BxKt 
 
 The Knight was too threatening. But now the 
 ending brought about is one in which the Bishop 
 is stronger than the Knight; which makes Black's 
 plight a desperate one. The game has no further 
 interest, and it is only 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 WTiite's part. The 
 rest of the moves are given merely as a matter of form. 
 
 24. 
 
 RxB 
 
 K-Kt2 
 
 25- 
 
 B-B 4 
 
 R-Kt3 
 
 26. 
 
 R— Ki 
 
 K-B3 
 
 27. 
 
 P-B4 
 
 Kt-K3 
 
 28. 
 
 PxPch 
 
 PxP 
 
 29. 
 
 R-B I ch 
 
 K— K2 
 
 30- 
 
 R— Kt 4 
 
 R— KKt I 
 
 31. 
 
 R-B5 
 
 R-B3 
 
 32- 
 
 P-KR4 
 
 KR-QB I 
 
 33' 
 
 PxP 
 
 R — B4 
 
 34. 
 
 Bx Kt 
 
 PxB 
 
 35- 
 
 RxR 
 
 RxR 
 
 36. 
 
 P-Kt6 
 
 K-B I 
 
 37- 
 
 R-QB4 
 
 R-QR4
 
 220 GAME lo 
 
 38. 
 
 P — R4 
 
 K— Kt2 
 
 39- 
 
 R-B6 
 
 R-Q4 
 
 40. 
 
 R— B 7 ch 
 
 KxP 
 
 41. 
 
 RXP 
 
 R— Q8ch 
 
 42. 
 
 K-R2 
 
 P-Q4 
 
 43- 
 
 P-R5 
 
 R-QB8 
 
 44. 
 
 R— B 7 
 
 R — QR8 
 
 45- 
 
 P— QKt4 
 
 R-R5 
 
 46. 
 
 P-B3 
 
 P-Q5 
 
 47- 
 
 R— B 6 
 
 PxP 
 
 48. 
 
 RxP 
 
 RxKtP 
 
 49. 
 
 R-QR3 
 
 R— Kt 2 
 
 50- 
 
 P — R6 
 
 R — QR2 
 
 51- 
 
 R-R5 
 
 K-B3 
 
 52. 
 
 P— Kt4 
 
 K— K2 
 
 53- 
 
 K-Kt3 
 
 K-Q3 
 
 54. 
 
 K— B 4 
 
 K — B 2 
 
 55- 
 
 K-K5 
 
 K— Q 2 
 
 56. 
 
 P-Kt5 
 
 K — K2 
 
 57. 
 
 P— Kt6 
 
 K-B I 
 
 58. 
 
 KxP 
 
 K— K I 
 
 59. 
 
 P— Kt7 
 
 RxP 
 
 60. 
 
 P — R7 
 
 R— Kt3ch 
 
 61. 
 
 K -B's 
 
 Resigns.
 
 RUY LOPEZ 221 
 
 GAME 11. RUY LOPEZ 
 (St. Petersburg, 191 4) 
 
 White: J. R. Capablanca. Black: D. Janowski. 
 
 1. P-K4 P — K4 
 
 2. Kt— KB 3 Kt — QB 3 
 
 3. B-Kt5 P-QR3 
 
 4. B X Kt Q P X B 
 5- Kt-B3 
 
 I played this move after having discussed it with 
 Alechin on several occasions. Alechin considered it, 
 at the time, superior to P — Q 4, which is generally- 
 played. He played it himself later on in the Tourna- 
 ment, in one of his games against Dr. E. Lasker, 
 and obtained the superior game, which he only lost 
 through a blunder. 
 
 5 B-QB4 
 
 P — B 3 is probably the best move in this position. 
 I do not like the text move. 
 
 6. P — Q3 B — KKt 5 
 
 7. B — K3 BxB 
 
 This opens the K B file for White, and also reinforces 
 his centre, but Black naturally did not want to make 
 a second move with this Bishop. 
 
 8. PxB Q— K 2 
 
 9. 0-0 0-0-0 
 
 Bold play, typical of Janowski.
 
 222 
 
 GAME II 
 lo. Q— Ki Kt-R3 
 
 
 The problem for White now is to advance his Q Kt P 
 to Kt 5 as fast as he can. If he plays P — Q Kt 4 
 at once, Black simply takes it. If he plays first P — 
 Q R 3 and then P — Q Kt 4, he will still have to protect 
 his Q Kt P before he can go on and play P — Q R 4 
 and P— Kt 5. As a matter of fact White played a 
 rather unusual move, but one which, under the cir- 
 cumstances, was the best, since after it he could at 
 once play P — Q Kt 4 and then P — Q R 4 and P — 
 
 Kt 5. 
 
 11. R— Kt i! P — B 3 
 
 12. P — Kt4 Kt — B 2 
 
 13. P — QR4 B X Kt 
 
 He simplifies, hoping to lighten White's attack, which 
 will have to be conducted practically with only the 
 heavy pieces on the board. He may have also done 
 it in order to play Kt — Kt 4 and K 3.
 
 RUY LOPEZ 
 14. R X B 
 
 223 
 
 Taking with the Pawn would have opened a possi- 
 bihty for a counter attack. 
 
 14. 
 
 P-QKt3 
 
 He is forced to this in order to avoid the breaking up 
 of his Queen's side Pawns. The only alternative 
 would have been P — Q Kt 4 ; which on the face of 
 it looks bad. 
 
 IS- 
 16. 
 
 17- 
 18. 
 
 P-Kt5 
 PxP 
 Kt-Qs 
 P-B4 
 
 BPxP 
 
 P-QR4 
 
 Q-B4 
 
 
 p 
 
 mm. « ^'^. ^ w^ 
 
 The WTiite Klnight is now a tower of strength. Be- 
 hind it WTiite will be able to prepare an attack, 
 which will begin with P — Q 4, to drive away the 
 Black Queen and thus leave himself free to play P — 
 B 5. There is only one thing to take care of and that
 
 224 GAME II 
 
 is to prevent Black from sacrificing the Rook for the 
 
 Knight and a Pawn. 
 
 ^to' 
 
 i8 Kt— Kt4 
 
 19. R— B 2 Kt— K3 
 
 20. Q — B 3 R— Q2 
 
 Had White on his 19th move played K R — B i in- 
 stead of R — B 2, Black could have played now 
 instead of the text move, R X Kt ; K P X R, Q X P ch ; 
 followed by Kt — B 4 with a winning game. 
 
 21. R— Q I K— Kt 2 
 
 It would have been better for Black to play K — Q i. 
 The text move loses very rapidly. 
 
 22. P-Q4 Q-Q3 
 
 23. R — B 2 Px P 
 
 24. Px P Kt — B 5 
 
 25. P — B 5 Kt X Kt 
 
 26. P X Kt Q X Q P 
 
 27. P — B 6ch K— Kt I 
 
 28. P X R Q X P (Q 2) 
 
 29. P — Q5 R— K I 
 
 30. P — Q6 PxP 
 
 31. Q— B 6 Resigns.
 
 FRENCH DEFENXE 
 
 225 
 
 GAME 12. FRENCH DEFENCE 
 (New York, 191 8) 
 
 White: J. R. Capablanca. Black: O. Chajes. 
 
 1. P— K4 
 
 2. P-Q4 
 
 3. Kt-QB3 
 
 4. B-Q3 
 
 P— K3 
 
 P-Q4 
 Kt— KB 3 
 
 Not the most favoured move, but a perfectly natural 
 developing one, and consequently it cannot be bad. 
 
 4 PXP 
 
 P — Q B 4 is generally played in this case instead of 
 the text move. 
 
 5. KtxP 
 
 6. Kt X Kt ch 
 
 7. Kt-B3 
 
 QKt— Q2 
 Ktx Kt 
 B — K2 
 
 W^ 
 
 sj^: 
 
 '■m 
 
 
 M_ 
 
 wm- 
 
 ^8-«-C, 
 
 F^^ 
 
 IS. 

 
 226 
 
 GAME 12 
 
 8. Q— K2 
 
 This is played to prevent P — Q Kt 3, followed by 
 B — Kt 2, which is the general form of development 
 for Black in this variation. If Black now plays 8 . . . P — 
 Q Kt 3 ; 9 B — Kt 5 ch, B — Q 2 ; 10 Kt— K 5 and 
 White obtains a considerable advantage in position. 
 
 8 0-0 
 
 9. B-KKt 5 P — KR3 
 
 Of course Black could not play P — Q Kt 3 because 
 of B X Kt, followed by Q— K 4. 
 
 10. B X Kt B X B 
 
 11. Q-K4 P — KKt3 
 
 This weakens Black's King's side. R — K i was 
 the right move. 
 
 12. P — KR4 
 
 12. 
 
 P-K4 
 
 This is merely giving up a Pawn in order to come 
 out quickly with his Q B. But as he does not obtain
 
 FRENCH DEFENCE 227 
 
 any compensation for his Pawn, the move is bad. 
 He should have played Q — Q 4 and tried to fight 
 the game out that way. It might have continued 
 thus: 13 Q — B 4, B — Kt 2; 14QXBP, BxP; 
 i5KtxB,QxKt; 16O— O— O with considerable 
 advantage of position for White. The text move 
 might be considered a mild form of suicide. 
 
 13- 
 
 PxP 
 
 B — B 4 
 
 14. 
 
 Q-KB4 
 
 BxB 
 
 15- 
 
 0-0-0 
 
 B — Kt 2 
 
 16. 
 
 RxB 
 
 Q— K2 
 
 17. 
 
 Q-B4 
 
 
 In order to keep the Black Queen from coming into 
 the game. 
 
 17 QR-Qi 
 
 18. KR— Q I 
 
 A better plan would have been to play R — K i, 
 threatening P — K 6. 
 
 18 Rx R 
 
 19. Rx R R— K I 
 
 20. P— B 3 P— QB 3 
 
 Of course if BxP; Kt x B, Q x Kt ; R— K 3. 
 Black with a Pawn minus fights very hard. 
 
 21. R— K3 
 
 The PawTi had now to be defended after Black's 
 last move, because after BxP; KtxB, QxKt;
 
 228 
 
 GAME 12 
 
 R— K 3, Black could now play Q— Kt i defending 
 
 the Rook. 
 
 21 P-QB4 
 
 22. K — B 2 P — Kt3 
 
 23. P-R4 
 
 White's plan now is to fix the Queen's side in order 
 to be able to manoeuvre freely on the other side, where 
 he has the advantage of material. 
 
 Q-Q2 
 Q— B I 
 
 Q-K3 
 K— B I 
 K -Kt I 
 
 Black sees that he now stands in his best defensive 
 position, and therefore waits for White to show how 
 he intends to break through. He notices, of course, 
 that the White Knight is in the way of the K B P, 
 which cannot advance to K B 4 to defend, or support 
 rather, the Pawn at K 5.
 
 FRENCH DEFENCE 
 
 229 
 
 28. 
 
 P-QKt3 
 
 K- 
 
 -B I 
 
 29. 
 
 K-Q3 
 
 K- 
 
 -Kti 
 
 30- 
 
 R— Q6 
 
 Q- 
 
 -B I 
 
 31- 
 
 R-Q5 
 
 Q- 
 
 -K3 
 
 32. 
 
 P-KKt4 
 
 K- 
 
 -B I 
 
 33- 
 
 Q-B4 
 
 K- 
 
 -Kt I 
 
 34. 
 
 Q-K4 
 
 K- 
 
 -B I 
 
 ^ 5- V^ ..y;J^ 
 
 Black persists in waiting for developments. He sees 
 that if P — K R 5, P X P; P X P, the Queen goes 
 to R 6, and White will have to face serious difficulties. 
 In this situation White decides that the only course 
 is to bring his King to K Kt 3, so as to defend the 
 squares K R 3 and K Kt 4, where the Black Queen 
 might otherwise become a source of annoyance. 
 
 35. K-K2 
 
 36. K — B I 
 
 37. K-Kt2 
 
 38. K-Kt3 
 
 K— Kt I 
 K — B I 
 K— Kt I 
 K— B I
 
 >30 
 
 GAME 12 
 
 Now that he has completed his march with the King, 
 White is ready to advance. 
 
 i m 
 
 wm. 
 
 m. •' %m 
 
 H 
 
 mm 
 
 ^p p 
 
 
 ^ ^^^mf^^^^-m^^^^ 
 
 39. P— KR5 'Px P 
 
 39...P — K Kt 4 would be answered by Q— B 5, 
 with a winning game. 
 
 40. PxP Q— K2 
 
 Against K — Kt i ; White would play Q — Kt 4, 
 practically forcing the exchange of Queens, after 
 which White would have Httle trouble in winning the 
 ending, since Black's Bishop could not do much damage 
 in the resulting position. 
 
 41. Q— B 5 K— Kt I 
 
 Black overlooks the force of 42 R— Q 7. His best 
 defence was R — Q i ; against which White could 
 either advance the King or play Kt — R 4, threaten- 
 ing Kt — Kt 6 ch. 
 
 42. R— Q7 BxPch
 
 FRENCH DEFENCE 231 
 
 This loses a piece, but Black's position was altogether 
 hopeless. 
 
 43. K-Kt4 Q-B3 
 
 44. Ktx B Q— Kt 2ch 
 45- K — B4 Resigns. 
 
 The interest of this game centres mainly on the 
 opening and on the march of the White King during 
 the final stage of the game. It is an instance of the 
 King becoming a fighting piece, even while the Queens 
 are still on the board. 
 
 GAME 13. RUY LOPEZ 
 
 (New York, 191 8) 
 
 White: J. S. Morrison. Black: J. R. Capablanca. 
 
 1. P— K4 P — K4 
 
 2. Kt— KB3 Kt — QB3 
 
 3. B-Kt5 P-Q3 
 
 4. Kt — B 3 B — Q2 
 
 5. P-Q4 PxP 
 
 6. KtxP P— KKt3 
 
 In this form of defence of the Ruy Lopez the devel- 
 opment of the K B via Kt 2 is, I think, of great im- 
 portance. The Bishop at Kt 2 exerts great pressure 
 along the long diagonal. At the same time the posi- 
 tion of the Bishop and Pawns in front of the King, 
 once it is Castled, is one of great defensive strength. 
 Therefore, in this form of development, the Bishop,
 
 232 GAME 13 
 
 we might say, exerts its maximum strength (Compare 
 this note mth the one in the Capablanca-Burn game 
 at San Sebastian, page 197.) 
 
 7. Kt — B3 B — Kt2 
 
 8. B — Kt 5 Kt— B 3 
 
 Of course not K Kt— K 2; because of Kt — Q 5. 
 The alternative would have been P — B 3; to be 
 followed by K Kt — K 2 ; but m this position it is 
 preferable to have the Kt at K B 3. 
 
 9. Q-Q2 P-KR3 
 
 10. B — KR4 
 
 An error of judgment. White wants to keep the 
 Knight pinned, but it was more unportant to prevent 
 Black from Castling immediately. B — K B 4 would 
 have done this. 
 
 10 0—0 
 
 11. 0—0—0 
 
 Bold play, but again faulty judgment, unless he in- 
 tended to play to win or lose, throwing safety to 
 the winds. The Black Bishop at Kt 2 becomes a 
 very powerful attacking piece. The strategical dis- 
 position of the Black pieces is now far superior to 
 White's, therefore it will be Black who mil take the 
 offensive. 
 
 II R— Ki 
 
 12. KR— Ki
 
 RUY LOPEZ 
 
 233 
 
 i i'.i i. ,.i'-i 
 
 1 
 
 
 A.^A-fi cifii 
 
 i 
 
 WTiite wanted to keep his Q R on the open file, and 
 consequently brings over his other Rook to the centre 
 to defend his K P, which Black threatened to win by 
 P— K Kt 4, followed by Kt X P. 
 
 12 P— Kt 4! 
 
 Now that the K R is in the centre, Black can safely 
 advance, since, in order to attack on the King's side, 
 White would have to shift his Rooks, which he cannot 
 do so long as Black keeps up the pressure in the centre. 
 
 13. B — Kt 3 Kt — K R 4 
 
 Uncovering the Bishop, which now acts along the 
 long diagonal, and at the same time preventing P — 
 K 5, which would be answered by Kt X B ; P X Kt, 
 Kt X P ; etc., winning a Pawn. 
 
 14. Kt-Qs P-R3 
 
 Black drives the Bishop away so as to impin his 
 pieces and be able to manoeuvre freely.
 
 234 GAME 13 
 
 15. B-Q3 B-K3 
 
 Preparing the onslaught. Black's pieces begin to bear 
 against the King's position. 
 
 16. P — B 3 
 
 
 mAAi ■ ^ i^ 
 
 «^ 
 
 A ■^™jl« ill 
 
 ^. 
 
 i^S 
 
 ^^■^^„^H. H^aH 
 
 With the last move White not only blocks the action 
 of Black's K B, but he also aims at placing his Bishop 
 at Q Kt I and his Queen at Q B 2, and then advancing 
 his K P, to check at K R 7. 
 
 16 P — B4! 
 
 Initiating an attack to which there is no reply, and 
 which has for its ultimate object either the winning 
 of the White Q B or cutting it off from the game. 
 (Compare this game with the Winter-Capablanca 
 game at Hastings.) 
 
 17. P — KR4 P — B 5 
 
 The Bishop is now out of action. White naturally 
 counter attacks violently against the seemingly ex-
 
 RUY LOPEZ 
 
 235 
 
 posed position of the Black King, and, with very good 
 judgment, even offers the Bishop. 
 
 11 
 
 
 1^^ ^.iiJKt 
 
 
 
 
 1^^ i--! ^i£^^ 
 
 18. PX P! 
 
 PXP! 
 
 Taking the Bishop would be dangerous, if not actually 
 bad, while the text move accomphshes Black's object, 
 which is to put the Bishop out of action. 
 
 19. R— R I 
 
 20. K — Kt I 
 
 B — B 2 
 
 This move unquestionably loses time. Since he would 
 have to retire his Bishop to R 2 sooner or later, he 
 might have done it immediately. It is doubtful, how- 
 ever, if at this stage of the game it would be possible 
 for White to save the game. 
 
 20 
 
 21. Kt X Kt 
 
 Kt— K 4 
 R X Kt 
 
 It was difficult to decide which way to letake. 1
 
 236 GAME 13 
 
 took with the Rook in order to have it prepared for 
 a possible attack against the King. 
 
 22. B — R2 Kt— B 3 
 
 Now that the White Bishop has been driven back, 
 Black wants to get rid of White's strongly posted 
 Knight at Q 5, which blocks the attack of the Bishop 
 at B 2. It may be said that the Knight at Q 5 is 
 the key to White's defence. 
 
 ^* 4/imi i^m 
 
 A mm. ^m.M^ 
 
 %yA * iil .■JL^^y., 
 
 23. P— KKt3 
 
 White strives not only to have play for his Bishop, 
 but also he wants to break up Black's Pawns in order 
 to counter-attack. The alternative would have been 
 23 Kt X Kt ch, Q X Kt; and Black would be threat- 
 ening R — R 4, and also Q — K 3. The student should 
 notice that Black's drawback in all this is the fact 
 that he is playing minus the services of his Q R. It 
 is this fact that makes it possible for White to hold 
 out longer.
 
 RUY LOPEZ 
 
 237 
 
 23 Kt X P 
 
 24. B X Kt R X B 
 
 25. PxP P-B3 
 
 * 
 
 !*i 
 
 i 
 
 ',/'yM ^-//-y,. 
 
 imv"*''- 
 
 
 1^ 
 
 l*BiHJ 
 
 26. Kt — K3 
 
 Kt — Kt 4 was the alternative, but in any event 
 White could not resist the attack. I leave it to the 
 reader to work this out for himself, as the variations are 
 so numerous that they would take up too much space. 
 26 Q— R4 
 
 27. P-B4 QxQ 
 
 28. R X Q PxP 
 
 29. Kt — Kt 4 B — Kt 3 
 
 This forces the King to the corner, where he will be 
 in a mating net. 
 
 30. K— Ri QR — K I 
 
 Now at last the Q R enters into the game and soon 
 the battle is over. 
 
 31- P-R3 
 If RxP, R— K 8 ch; R— Q i, R (K i) — K 7.
 
 2^8 GAME 14 
 
 31 R— K8ch 
 
 32. R X R R X R ch 
 
 33. K— R 2 B — B 2 
 
 34. K-Kt3 P-Q4 
 
 the quickest way to finish the game. 
 
 35. B X P 
 
 PX Pch 
 
 36. K— Kt4 
 
 P — B6 
 
 37- PXP 
 
 R— K5ch 
 
 38. P-B4 
 
 RX Pch 
 
 39. K-R5 
 
 RXB 
 
 40. R— QSch 
 
 K — R2 
 
 41. R-Q 7 
 
 B-K 3 
 
 Resigns. 
 
 
 A very lively game. 
 
 
 GAME 14. QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLIN: 
 
 (New York, 191 8) 
 White : F. J. Marshall. Black : J. R. Capablanca. 
 
 1. P-Q4 P-Q4 
 
 2. Kt— KB 3 Kt — KB3 
 
 3. P-B4 P-K3 
 
 4. Kt-B3 QKt-Q2 
 
 5. B — Kt5 B — K2 
 
 6. P — K3 0—0 
 
 7. R — B I P — B 3 
 
 This is one of the oldest systems of defence against 
 the Queen's Gambit. I had played it before in this 
 Tournament against Kostic, and no doubt Marshall 
 expected it. At times I change my defences,
 
 QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLINED 239 
 
 or rather systems of defence ; on the other hand, 
 during a Tournament, if one of them has given me 
 good results, I generally play it all the time. 
 
 8. 
 
 Q-B 2 
 
 PxP 
 
 9- 
 
 BxP 
 
 Kt-Q4 
 
 10. 
 
 BxB 
 
 QxB 
 
 II. 
 
 0-0 
 
 Ktx Kt 
 
 12. 
 
 QX Kt 
 
 P-QKt3 
 
 This is the key to this system of defence. Having 
 simplified the game considerably by a series of ex- 
 changes, Black will now develop his Q B along the 
 long diagonal without having created any apparent 
 weakness. The proper development of the Q B is 
 Black's greatest problem in the Queen's Gambit. 
 
 13. P— K4 B — Kt 2 
 
 14. KR— K I KR— Qi 
 
 iJ^ 
 
 ^M.i 
 
 mm 
 
 'M ft Wi^^ ft fi ^ ft 
 
 The developing stage can now be said to be complete 
 on both sides. The opening is over and the middle- 
 game begins. WTiite, as is generally the case, has
 
 240 GAME 14 
 
 obtained the centre. Black, on the other hand, is 
 entrenched in his first three ranks, and if given time 
 will post his Q R at Q B I and his Knight at K B 3, 
 and finally play P — Q B 4, in order to break up 
 White's centre and give full action 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's K P. 
 
 IS- P-Qs 
 
 Kt-B4! 
 
 Against Kostic in a previous game I had played 
 Kt — B I. It was carelessness on my part, but Mar- 
 shall believed differently, otherwise he would not have 
 played this variation, since, had he analysed this move, 
 he would, I think, have realised that Black would 
 obtain an excellent game. Black now threatens not 
 only B P X P ; but also Kt X P ; followed by B P X P. 
 The position is very interestmg and full of possibiUties. 
 
 !■ m I 
 
 

 
 QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLINED 241 
 
 16. P X K P Kt X P (K 3) 
 
 17. B X Kt Q X B 
 
 played under the impression that White had to lose 
 time in defending his Q R P, when I could play P — 
 Q B 4, obtaining a very superior game. But, as will 
 be seen, my opponent had quite a httle surprise for 
 me. 
 
 18. Kt — Q4! 
 
 Pi A 1 
 
 
 
 ftJiB* 
 
 '^m. m 
 
 ""^^ ''^m. ^^M 
 
 i^l ^^ ffa'^ 
 
 18 Q— K4! 
 
 Of course, if 18. . .Q x R P; 19 R— R i would wan 
 the Queen. The text move is probably the only satis- 
 factory move in the position. The obvious move would 
 have been Q— Q 2 to defend the Q B P, and then 
 would have come 19 Kt — B 5, P — B 3; 20 Q — 
 KKt3 (threatening QR—Q i), K — R i; 21 QR — 
 Q I, Q— KB2; 22P— KR4, with a tremendous 
 advantage in position. The text move, on the other 
 hand, assures Black an even game at the very least, 
 as will soon be seen.
 
 242' GAME 14 
 
 19. KtxP QxQ 
 
 20. RxQ R-Q7 
 
 21. R— Kt I 
 
 A very serious error of judgment. White is under 
 the impression that he has the better game, because 
 he is a Pawn ahead, but that is not so. The power- 
 ful position of the Black Rook at Q 7 fully com- 
 pensates Black for the Pawn minus. Besides, the 
 Bishop is better with Rooks than the Knight (see pages 
 48-56, where the relative values of the Knight and 
 Bishop are compared), and, as already stated, with 
 Pawns on both sides of the board the Bishop is superior 
 because of its long range. Incidentally, this end- 
 ing will demonstrate the great power of the Bishop. 
 White's best chance was to take a draw at once, thus. 
 21 Kt — K 7 ch K — B i; 22 R — B 7 R — K i 
 (not B X P ; because P — B 3 would give White the 
 best of it); 23 RxB (best; not Kt — Kt 6 ch, be- 
 cause of B P X Kt; foUowed by R X K P), R X Kt; 
 24 R — Kt 8 ch, R — K i; 25 RxR ch, K X R, 
 and with proper play White will draw. 
 
 It is curious that, although a Pawn ahead, White 
 is the one who is always in danger. It is only now, 
 after seeing this analysis, that the value of Black's 
 1 8th move Q — K 4 can be fully appreciated. 
 
 21. 
 
 R-Ki 
 
 With this powerful move Black begins, against White's 
 centre, an assault which will soon be shifted against
 
 QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLINED 
 
 24^ 
 
 the Kmg itself. White is afraid to play 22 P — B 3 
 because of P — B 4. 
 
 22. 
 
 K5 
 
 P— KKt4 
 
 To prevent P — B 4. The White Knight is practically 
 pinned, because he does not dare move on account 
 of R X K P. 
 
 23. P — KR4 
 
 This is a sequel to the previous move. WTiite expects 
 to disrupt Black's Pawns, and thus make them weak. 
 
 23. 
 
 P xP 
 
 Though doubled and isolated this Pawn exercises 
 enormous pressure. Black now threatens R — K 3; 
 to be followed by R — Kt 3 and P — R 6 and R 7 at 
 the proper time. 
 
 24. R — K I 
 
 White cannot stand the slow death any longer^
 
 244 GAME 14 
 
 He sees danger everyw^here, and wants to avert it 
 by giving up his Queen's side Pawns, expecting to 
 regain his fortunes later on by taking the initiative 
 on the King's side. 
 
 24 R-K3! 
 
 Much better than taking Pawns. This forces White 
 to defend the Knight with the Rook atK i, because 
 of the threat R— Kt 3. 
 
 25. R (Ki) — QB I K — Kt 2 
 
 Preparatory to R— Kt 3. The game is going to be 
 decided on the King's side, and it is the isolated double 
 Pawn that will supply the finishing touch. 
 
 26. P — QKt4 P — Kt 4 
 
 To prevent P — Kt 5, defending the Knight and lib- 
 erating the Rooks. 
 
 27. P-R3 
 
 28. K— B I 
 
 R-Kt3 
 R-R7 
 
 gS^SS^ iJiSiSJ^is? fmy/^i '///////, 
 
 m 
 
 m^mm 
 
 ■ ■ ■ 
 
 M '^^mm, 
 
 li 
 
 — ■ " ^ ^ 
 
 »1 <^ ^ ^ 
 »■ ■ ■ 8 P
 
 QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLINED 245 
 
 Notice the remarkable position of the pieces. White 
 cannot move anything without incurring some loss. 
 His best chance would have been to play 29 P— K 6, 
 but that would only have prolonged the game, which 
 is lost in any case. 
 
 29. K— Kt I P-R6 
 
 30. P-Kt3 P-QR3 
 
 Again forcing White to move and to lose something 
 thereby, as all his pieces are tied up. 
 
 31. P-K6 
 
 RxKP 
 
 Not even now can WTiite move the Knight because 
 of P — R 7 ch; KxP, R — R 3 ch; K— Kt i, 
 R— R 8 mate. 
 
 32. 
 33- 
 
 P-Kt4 
 P-B3 
 
 R-R3 
 
 If 33 P-Kt 5, P-R 7 ch; 34K-R1, RxKt; 
 35 R X R, R X P, winning easily.
 
 246 
 
 
 GAME 
 
 14 
 
 33- 
 
 34. 
 
 
 R-Q3 
 R(Q3)-Q7 
 
 Kt— K7 
 
 35- 
 
 Kt-B 5ch 
 
 K-B3 
 
 36. 
 
 Kt — R4 
 
 K— Kt4 
 
 37- 
 
 Kt-B 5 
 
 R— Kt 7ch 
 
 38. 
 
 K— B I 
 
 P-R7 
 
 39- 
 
 P-B4ch 
 
 KxBP 
 
 40. 
 
 Resigns. 
 
 
 An ending worth very careful study. 
 
 fiNIS
 
 University of California 
 SOUTHERN REGIONAL UBRARVFACUr^ 
 
 '"' %rANG°^Lls:crF?.RN.AW-,388