Chess Strategy - Edward Lasker (icecream ebook reader .txt) 📗

four pawns to three on the King’s side, while his three pawns on the Queen’s side are able to hold the four opposing pawns, one of which is doubled. But this weakness can only tell in the end-game, which is too far ahead for practical purposes, and to which it may not come at all. An example of the usual line of play will be found in Game No. 18.

 

4. … Kt-B3

5. Castles B-K2

6. R-K1 P-QKt4

7. B-Kt3 P-Q3

8. P-B3

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8 | #R | | #B | #Q | #K | | | #R |

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7 | | | #P | | #B | #P | #P | #P |

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6 | #P | | #Kt| #P | | #Kt| | |

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5 | | #P | | | #P | | | |

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4 | | | | | ^P | | | |

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3 | | ^B | ^P | | | ^Kt| | |

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2 | ^P | ^P | | ^P | | ^P | ^P | ^P |

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1 | ^R | ^Kt| ^B | ^Q | ^R | | ^K | |

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A B C D E F G H

 

Diag. 116

 

8. … Castles

In Capablanca’s opinion Black should not castle before White’s intentions in the centre have been made clear. It makes a great difference whether White plays his QP to Q4 or to Q3 only.

If after 8. … QKt-R4; 9. B-B2, P-B4 White plays: 10. P-Q4, his intention is to move his pawn further to Q5 as soon as Black has castled, and then to attack on the King’s wing with QKt-Q2-B1-K3, P-KKt4 and Kt-B5. For this reason Black should force White to disclose whether he intends to exchange his QP or to advance it to Q5. In the latter case Black can refrain from castling altogether and counter-attack on the King’s wing, e.g., 10. P-Q4, Q-B2; 11. P-KR3, B-Q2; 12. QKt-Q2, R-QB1; if now: 13. P-Q5 then P-R3 followed by P-Kt4-Kt5 gives Black many chances. If on the contrary 13. PxP, then Black need no longer fear an attack on the King’s side after he has castled, as his Rooks will have a favourable opportunity for operating on the open Queen’s file. However, there is still the disadvantage for Black of having advanced Queen’s side pawns, which are liable to attack (P-QR4).

The game takes a different course when Black exchanges the pawns in the centre. The continuation would then be: 11. … Kt-B3; 12. Q Kt-Q2, B-Q2; 13. Kt-B1, PxP; 14. PxP, PxP; 15. B-Kt5, Q-Kt3. It is difficult to decide which side has the advantage. Black has an extra pawn, but White has the initiative.

If in Diag. 116, after 8. … Castles White plays 9. P-Q4 at once, Black has an opportunity for the following interesting attack: 9. P-Q4, B-Kt5; 10. B-K3, KtxKP; 11. B-Q5, Q-Q2; 12. BxKKt, P-Q4; 13. B-B2, P-K5 14. P-KR3, B-R4; 15. Kt-K5, BxQ; 16. KtxQ, BxB; 17. KtxR, RxKt. White cannot take advantage of his Rooks, as there is no open file, whilst Black threatens to initiate a strong attack with P-B4.

Aljechin has analysed a variation of this line of play, which he thinks leads finally to White’s advantage: 12. PxP, Kt-Kt4; 13. BxKt, BxB; 14. P-KR3, BxKt; 15. QxB, KtxP; 16. RxKt, PxR; 17. BxR, B-B8; 18. Kt-R3, Q-Q7. I doubt that White can win this game.

 

9. P-Q3

In this less aggressive continuation, in which nothing is immediately attempted against Black’s centre, White prepares gradually for a King’s side attack, as in this game with Kt-Q2- B1-Kt3. But Black should obtain time for operations in the centre.

 

9. … Kt-QR4

10. B-B2 P-B4

11. QKt-Q2 Kt-B3

12. P-QR4

In many variations of the Ruy Lopez, this advance is always good, if Black cannot avoid exchanging the pawn, because the White Queen’s Rook, which only gets into play with difficulty, can either be exchanged or hold the Rook’s file. In any case the Black Knight’s pawn is weak for the end-game. If, as in the present game. Black can play P-Kt5, P-R4 is useless and even doubtful, as the Rook’s pawn itself may become weak in the end-game.

 

12. … B-Kt2

This causes the loss of the game. In the Ruy Lopez the Bishop is nearly always needed on the diagonal QB1-KR6, to prevent a Knight from settling at White’s KB5, which otherwise cannot be repelled except by P-KKt3, a most undesirable consummation. The proper continuation would have been P-Kt5, B-K3, Q-B2 and P-Q4, capturing the Queen’s file. Compare note to move 13 in the next game.

 

13. Kt-B1 Q-B2

14. Kt-Kt3 P-Kt3

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8 | #R | | | | | #R | #K | |

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7 | | #B | #Q | | #B | #P | | #P |

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6 | #P | | #Kt| #P | | #Kt| #P | |

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5 | | #P | #P | | #P | | | |

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4 | ^P | | | | ^P | | | |

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3 | | | ^P | ^P | | ^Kt| ^Kt| |

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2 | | ^P | ^B | | | ^P | ^P | ^P |

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1 | ^R | | ^B | ^Q | ^R | | ^K | |

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A B C D E F G H

 

Diag. 117

Here is the weakness. White first provides against Black’s P-Q4, and then starts a sharp attack on the King’s side.

 

15. B-Kt5 QR-Q1

P-Q4 at once is not feasible, because of BxKt.

 

16. PxP PxP

17. Q-B1

This brings the Q away from her file, which Black could now secure by P-Q4, followed by PxP.

 

17. … KR-K1

The proper continuation is the one outlined in the note above.

 

18. P-R3

White has now ample leisure to prepare the advance of his KBP.

 

18. … R-R1

19. RxR RxR

20. Kt-R2 B-QB1

21. P-KB4 Kt-K1

22. P-B5 BxB

23. QxB Q-K2

Black seeks salvation in exchanges, which White, of course, tries to avoid, having good prospects of driving home his attack. His pieces are concentrated on the King’s side, whilst the Black forces are scattered, and unable to get back in time for the defence. Moreover, it is likely that the weakness at Black’s KR3 and KB3 will prove fatal as the Black KB is exchanged.

 

24. Q-R6 Q-B1

25. Q-B1 Q-Kt2

26. R-B1 P-Kt4

White was threatening to play Kt-Kt4 with PxP and Kt-R6.

 

27. Kt-Kt4 Kt-B3

28. KtxKtch QxKt

One of the attacking Knights is eliminated. But there is another, which forces the entry at KB6 and KKt6.

 

29. P-R4

to gain access for the White Queen at KR6. If Black, captures there follows: 30. Kt-R5, Q-Q1; 31. Q-R6, Q-B1; 32. Kt-B6ch, an instructive example of the weakness created by P-KKt3.

 

29. … P-R3

30. Kt-R5 Q-Q1

31. P-B6

All this is easy to understand.

 

31. … K-R2

32. PxP B-Kt5

33. Kt-Kt7 K-Kt3

34. B-Q1 Q-Q2

35. Kt-B5 BxKt

36. PxBch Resigns.

The conclusion might be: K-R2; 37. B-R5, PxP; 38. QxP, R-KKt1; 39. B-Kt6ch, PxB; 40. Q-R4 mate.

 

GAME No. 13

 

White: Teichmann. Black: Schlechter.

 

Ruy Lopez (see p. 37).

Move 1-8 as in Game No. 12.

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8 | #R | | #B | #Q | | #R | #K | |

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7 | | | #P | | #B | #P | #P | #P |

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6 | #P | | #Kt| #P | | #Kt| | |

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5 | | #P | | | #P | | | |

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4 | | | | | ^P | | | |

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3 | | ^B | ^P | | | ^Kt| | |

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2 | ^P | ^P | | ^P | | ^P | ^P | ^P |

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1 | ^R | ^Kt| ^B | ^Q | ^R | | ^K | |

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A B C D E F G H

 

Diag. 118

 

9. P-Q3 Kt-QR4

10. B-B2 P-B4

11. QKt-Q2 Q-B2

Supporting, as it does, the KP, this is not a lost move, although White has not played P-Q4. It prepares Black’s P-Q4 (after Kt-B3), the KP being fully protected against White’s double attack by PxP.

 

12. Kt-B1 Kt-B3

13. Kt-K3 B-Kt2

The logical move would have been B-K3, to enforce P-Q4. Black is then very well developed, whilst White labours under a somewhat undeveloped Queen’s side. An attempt to exert pressure in the centre with P-Q4 in order to prevent Black’s P-Q4 would be belated. Black would gain the advantage by: l4. … KPxP; 15. PxP, PxP; 16. KtxP, KtxKt; 17. QxKt, Kt-Kt5! Nor would B-Kt5 before Kt-K3 be more successful; after B-K3; 14. Kt-K3, QR-Q1; 15. P-Q4, BPxP; 16. PxP, PxP; 17. KtxP, KtxKt; 18. QxKt, Q-B4, Black has the better chances in the end-game. The move in the text is not good because, as we saw before, the Bishop is wanted on the other diagonal to cover the square at KB4.

 

14. Kt-B5 KR-K1

15. B-Kt5 Kt-Q2

Even now it was desirable to aim at P-Q4, therefore QR-Q1 was preferable.

 

16. B-Kt3

The position of the White pieces points to a dangerous menace to the opposing King’s side.

 

16. … Kt-B1

17. B-Q5!!

The beginning of a brilliant combination. BxKt is threatened, and Black must first cover his B at K2.

 

17. … Kt-Kt3

18. BxB KKtxB

QKtxB is not feasible, because of BxB and KtxQP.

 

19. BxPch!! KxB

20. Kt-Kt5ch

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8 | #R | | | | #R | | | |

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7 | | #B | #Q | | #Kt| #K | #P | #P |

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6 | #P | | #Kt| #P | | | | |

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5 | | #P | #P | | #P | ^Kt| ^Kt| |

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4 | | | | | ^P | | | |

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3 | | | ^P | ^P | | | | |

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2 | ^P | ^P | | | | ^P | ^P | ^P |

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1 | ^R | | | ^Q | ^R | | ^K | |

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A B C D E F G H

 

Diag. 119

Quite a number of charming combinations are hidden in this position. If K-Kt3 or Kt1, then 21. KtxKtP! If K-B3 White can capture the RP first with check.

 

20. … K-Kt1

21. Q-R5 KtxKt

22. QxRPch K-B1

23. QxKtch K-Kt1

24. Q-Kt6!!!

The point. This prevents P-Kt3, which would allow Black to bring up his Q for the defence at Kt2. Now nothing can be done against the threatening R-K3-B3 or R3.

 

24. … Q-Q2

25. R-K 3 Resigns

A wonderful game in which Teichmann, the great judge of position, proves himself also a master in hand-to-hand fighting, in the wild chaos of sacrificial combinations.

 

GAME No. 14

 

White: Spielmann. Black: Tarrasch.

 

Ruy Lopez (see p. 41).

 

1. P-K4 P-K4

2. Kt-KB3 Kt-QB3

3. B-KT5 P-QR3

4. B-R4 Kt-B3

5. Castles Kt-P

6. P-Q4

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8 | #R | | #B | #Q | #K | #B | | #R |

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7 | | #P | #P | #P | | #P | #P | #P |

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6 | #P | | #Kt| | | | | |

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5 | | | | | #P | | | |

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4 | ^B | | | ^P | #Kt| | | |

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3 | | | | | | ^Kt| | |

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2 | ^P | ^P | ^P | | | ^P | ^P | ^P |

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1 | ^R