Books: Chess and Checkers: The Way to Mastership
E >>
Edward Lasker >> Chess and Checkers: The Way to Mastership
Pages:
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 | 11 |
12 |
13 |
14
DIAGRAM 71.
The position is getting very complicated indeed. The first
possibility which White will consider is (12) Kt-d6+; but after
K-e7 there seems to be no satisfactory continuation. For
instance: (13) Q-C2, Ktxd3; (14) Ktd6xf7, R-f8 winning two
Knights for the Rook. Or: (14) Ktxc8+ ?, Ra8xc8; (15) Qxd3, Pxc4
winning a piece. Therefore, White has no alternative but to
retire the Queen.
(12) Q-c2 Ktxd3
(13) Qxd3 P-a6
+---------------------------------------+
8 | #R | | #B | | #K | | | #R |
|---------------------------------------|
7 | | #P | | | | #P | #P | #P |
|---------------------------------------|
6 | #P | | | | #P | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
5 | #Q | ^Kt| | #P | | | ^Kt| |
|---------------------------------------|
4 | | #B | ^P | #P | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
3 | | | | ^Q | ^P | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
2 | ^P | ^P | | | | ^P | ^P | ^P |
|---------------------------------------|
1 | ^R | | | | | ^R | ^K | |
+---------------------------------------+
a b c d e f g h
DIAGRAM 72.
It is not easy for Black to retain tide Pawn which he has won. If
he plays (13) ..., B-e7; (14) Kt-f3, Pxe3; White can continue
(15) Pxd5 with good attacking chances on account of the open
files in the center of the board, of which Black cannot yet make
any use as he has not yet castled.
By P-a6 Black opens again the fifth rank in order to operate
against the Knight g5.
(14) Ktxd4 Pxc4
(15) Qxc4 B-d7
(16) Kt-b3
A very bad move, as it violates the general principles of
strategy. In withdrawing the Knight from the dominating center
square White decreases his mobility instead of increasing it.
The logical continuation would have been Rf1-d1 or Ra1-c1,
developing one of the Rooks.
(16) ... Qxg5
(17) Qxb4 B-c6
Black would not have been able to occupy this favorable square
with his Bishop, had not White withdrawn his Knight from d4.
(18) P-e4 P-a5
This forces the Queen out of the diagonal a3-f8 as the Pawn e4
has to be kept protected.
(19) Q-d2 Qxd2
Black demonstrates in a very simple manner that the exchange of
Queens is disadvantageous for White, a fact that White should
have foreseen as the unprotected Knight on d2 enables Black to
gain control of the d-file by castling on the Queen's side.
(20) Ktxd2 o-o-o
(21) Kt-c4
White cannot play R-d1 on account of R-d4, threatening Rh8-d8.
(21) ... Bxe4
(22) Rf1-c1
This merely drives the Black King to a safe place. Ktxa5 was
indicated. R-d2 could then have been answered by (23) R-c1+ and
(24) R-C4.
(22) ... K-b8
(23) P-f3
Again a move which helps the opponent as it drives the Bishop
where he wants to go.
(23)... B-d5
(24) Ktxa5 R-c8
(25) P-b3
This situation furnishes an instructive example of the importance
of the rules governing Pawn formations as previously discussed.
By attacking the Knight with the King Black can force the
exchange of the Bishop for the Knight on c4.
+---------------------------------------+
8 | | #K | #R | | | | | #R |
|---------------------------------------|
7 | | #P | | | | #P | #P | #P |
|---------------------------------------|
6 | | | | | #P | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
5 | ^Kt| | | #B | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
4 | | | | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
3 | | ^P | | | | ^P | | |
|---------------------------------------|
2 | ^P | | | | | | ^P | ^P |
|---------------------------------------|
1 | ^R | | ^R | | | | ^K | |
+---------------------------------------+
a b c d e f g h
DIAGRAM 73.
This leaves White with a Pawn on c4 who is weak on account of his
advanced position. Black can attack him with the King and White's
King is consequently compelled to stay on the Queen's wing
guarding the Pawn, while Black is at leisure to secure a passed
Pawn on the King's wing. These maneuvers are, of course, possible
only with the Rooks off the board. That is why Black tries to
force their exchange and why White should endeavor to prevent it.
(25) ... Rxc1+
(26) Rxc1 R-c8
(27) Rxc8+
In view of the hopeless Pawn ending it would have been best to
give up a Pawn by (27) R-d1, P-b6; (28) Kt-c4, Bxc4; (29) Pxc4,
Rxc4; (30) R-d2 in order to keep a Rook on the board, thus
obtaining a drawing chance.
(27) ... Kxc8
(28) K-f2 K-c7
(29) K-e3 K-b6
(30) Kt-c4+ Bxc4
(31) Pxc4 K-c5
(32) K-d3 P-e5
Black's strategy in this ending is clearly indicated. He will
play P-f5 and advance the e-Pawn as soon as White plays K-c3.
Instead of the latter move White could play P-a3 which would also
keep Black's King from b4; but he would soon run out of spare
moves with his Pawns necessitating a King's move. For instance,
(32) P-a3, P-f5; (33) P-g4, P-g6; (34) P-h3, P-h6; (35) P-h4, P-
h5; (36) P-g5, P-b6!; (37) K-c3, P-e4; (38) P-f4, P-e3; (39) K-
d3, P-e2; (40) Kxe2, Kxc4; (41) K-e3, P-b5.
+---------------------------------------+
8 | | | | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
7 | | #P | | | | #P | #P | #P |
|---------------------------------------|
6 | | | | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
5 | | | #K | | #P | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
4 | | | ^P | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
3 | | | | ^K | | ^P | | |
|---------------------------------------|
2 | ^P | | | | | | ^P | ^P |
|---------------------------------------|
1 | | | | | | | | |
+---------------------------------------+
a b c d e f g h
DIAGRAM 74.
Black needs now only six moves to queen the Pawn b5 while White
in the meantime cannot do more than capture the g- and h-Pawns,
and Black's Queen can naturally stop the White passed Pawns
without difficulty. The game proceeded as follows:
(33) P-g4 P-f6
(34) P-h4 P-g6
(35) K-e4 K-d6
Black could just as well have captured the Pawn c4 and permitted
(36) P-g5, Pxg5; (37) Pxg5.
+---------------------------------------+
8 | | | | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
7 | | #P | | | | | | #P |
|---------------------------------------|
6 | | | | #K | | #P | #P | |
|---------------------------------------|
5 | | | | | #P | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
4 | | | ^P | | ^K | | ^P |^P |
|---------------------------------------|
3 | | | | | | ^P | | |
|---------------------------------------|
2 | ^P | | | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
1 | | | | | | | | |
+---------------------------------------+
a b c d e f g h
DIAGRAM 75.
He would then have had a Queen in another eight moves while White
could not get farther with his Pawn than to g7, so that Black
easily wins.
To march against the Pawn b7 instead of the Pawns on the
King's side would not help White either, as he does not get back
to the King's wing in time to protect his f- and g-Pawn.
(36) P-f4 Pxf4
(37) Kxf4 K-c5
(38) P-h5 Kxc4
(39) K-e4 P-b5
(40) P-a3 K-c5
(41) Resigns.
V
PROBLEMS
To offer an exhaustive treatise on the manifold varieties of
Chess problems is not within the scope of this book. The
intention of the author is merely to make it quite clear to the
reader that the Chess problem, apart from the moves of the men,
has no relation to the game and to illustrate the vast difference
between PROBLEM combinations and positions and GAME combinations
and positions by a few typical examples from the works of master
composers.
The mating methods and mating positions in the actual game very
rarely embody an element of surprise. They are all known from
previous experience and the question is merely whether the player
concerned is familiar with them. With the problem it is
altogether different. Here the mate must be accomplished in a
certain number of moves from a given position in some ingenious
way which is not known from game practice, or, if the mating
METHOD is not extraordinary, the mating POSITION must be
surprising and unlooked for.
Moreover, a number of laws must be obeyed in problem composition,
which by the general consent of problemists, or rather by natural
evolution of a more refined taste, have become the standards by
which the merits of a problem are judged.
There is first of all the law of economy in material which
demands that the idea of the problem should be expressed with the
least possible number of men, and that no pieces should be added
for the mere sake of increasing the number of variations. Then,
of course, a problem should have only one solution. A position
which has more than one key move is not considered a problem,
because the main point at issue in a problem is not the NUMBER of
moves in which the mate is accomplished but the METHOD in which
it is accomplished, and of two possible solutions one will always
be prettier so that the existence of the other must necessarily
appear a blemish.
A very important law is that the first move of White (who by
general consent has always the attack) must not deprive the black
King of a flight square, as this would be too brutal, too obvious
a procedure. The more possibilities of defense are left to Black
the more surprising is the solution and the finer is the problem.
Many problem solvers are under the false impression that the
first move in a problem must not be a check. This argument is
valid only when by the check the number of defensive moves is
limited, but this is not necessarily the case, as can be seen for
instance in problem No. 2, in which Black has to move his King
anyway, there being no other black piece on the board.
The position of Diagram 76 is an example of how a problem should
NOT be constructed. There is a tremendous number of pieces on the
board which have nothing to do with the idea of the problem. The
latter is one of the most primitive ideas used in problem
composition and has been expressed by many composers in charming
forms, so that there was no need for the above monstrous addition
to the problem literature. The key move is Q-h7 so as to pin the
Rook f5 in case Black plays K-d3 and to enable the mate (2) Rxf3.
However, if Black replies (1) ..., P-d3 or Bxe1, neither the
Queen nor the Rook f4 are necessary, but the mate is accomplished
by some of the other white pieces which are lavishly distributed
over the board.
+---------------------------------------+
8 | | | | | | | | ^Q |
|---------------------------------------|
7 | | | | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
6 | ^Kt| | | | #P | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
5 | | | ^P | | ^P | #R | | |
|---------------------------------------|
4 | ^B | | #P | #P | | ^R | | |
|---------------------------------------|
3 | #P | | #K | | | #P | ^Kt| |
|---------------------------------------|
2 | ^P | | | #B | | ^P | | |
|---------------------------------------|
1 | ^K | #Kt| | ^R | ^B | | | |
+---------------------------------------+
a b c d e f g h
DIAGRAM 76.--Mate in Two Moves
A striking contrast will be found in the following problem which
is based on the same idea but in which all unnecessary material
is dispensed with.
The key move is B-c1, in order to mate with the Queen on b3 in
case Black takes the Rook a3. If Black moves the Rook, White
mates by Qxb6, and if the Pawn b6 advances (2) Qxe7 is mate.
+---------------------------------------+
8 | | ^K | | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
7 | | | | | #P | ^B | | |
|---------------------------------------|
6 | | #P | | | #Q | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
5 | | | | | ^P | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
4 | | #K | | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
3 | ^R | | | | ^B | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
2 | | #R | | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
1 | | | | | | | | |
+---------------------------------------+
a b c d e f g h
DIAGRAM 77.--Problem No. 1.
Mate In Two Moves.
In problem No. 2 the mating maneuver does not involve a special
trick; the idea of the composer was merely to arrive at an
extraordinary mating position, and he added considerably to the
value of the problem by producing the same mating position in
several variations. The key move is B-b3+. Black has three moves
in reply. If K-e4, White mates by (2) Q-f2, K-d3; (3) Q-f3. If K-
c6, the mate is accomplished by (2) B-b4, K-b5; (3) Q-b7; and if
K-d6, White answers (2) B-c4, K-c6; (3) Q-c7 mate.
+---------------------------------------+
8 | | | | ^K | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
7 | ^Q | | | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
6 | | | | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
5 | | | | #K | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
4 | | | | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
3 | | | ^B | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
2 | | | | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
1 | | | | ^B | | | | |
+---------------------------------------+
a b c d e f g h
DIAGRAM 78.--Problem No. 2.
Mate In Three Moves.
A favorite trick with composers is to provide a stalemate which
they relieve by obstructing the way of one of the pieces involved
in the stalemate. The move which is thereby allowed Black's King
exposes him to a discovered mate. The key move of problem No.3 is
P-g8 (becomes Knight). After P-b5 Black is stalemate, but White
relieves the stalemate by (2) Kt-e7, allowing Black to take the
Knight on b4, and then mates by Kt-c6.
In trying to solve a problem it is a good method to examine
Black's moves first. Often it will be found that whatever Black
moves White can mate in reply so that all that is necessary is to
find a first move for White, which leaves the position unchanged
as far as the different mating threats are concerned. If Black
has one or more moves at his disposal in reply to which there is
no mate, the way is indicated in which to provide for these
defenses.
+---------------------------------------+
8 | | | | | | ^B | | |
|---------------------------------------|
7 | | | | | | | ^P | |
|---------------------------------------|
6 | | #P | | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
5 | | | | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
4 | | ^Kt| | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
3 | #K | ^P | | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
2 | | | ^K | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
1 | | | | | | | | |
+---------------------------------------+
a b c d e f g h
DIAGRAM 79.--Problem No. 3.
Mate In Three Moves.
In problem No. 4 for instance, it is evident that Black has to
keep the two squares b8 and b4 guarded on which the Knight a6
threatens mate. Of course, Black can take the Bishop f5,
relieving the mating threat but White can move the Bishop to some
other square in the diagonal h3-c8. Still, Black would have the
defense Q-f8. This suggests as White's first move B-c8,
interrupting the line from f8 to b8.
+---------------------------------------+
8 | | | | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
7 | ^K | ^Kt| | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
6 | ^Kt| ^P | #K | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
5 | | #P | | #P | | ^B | | |
|---------------------------------------|
4 | | #P | | | | #Q | | |
|---------------------------------------|
3 | | ^P | | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
2 | | | | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
1 | | | | | | | | |
+---------------------------------------+
a b c d e f g h
DIAGRAM 80.--Problem No. 4.
Mate In Two Moves
The only square for Black's Queen from which to guard both b4 and
b8 is then d6; but there the Queen blocks a flight square of the
King, freeing the Knight b7 and enabling the mate Kt-a5.
The most difficult problems, of course, are those in which no
mate is threatened in the initial position and in which Black can
apparently foil all attempts to build a mating net. An example is
the following position which illustrates the so-called "Roman
idea."
+---------------------------------------+
8 | | | | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
7 | | ^Kt| | | #B | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
6 | | | | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
5 | | ^B | | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
4 | ^K | | | ^P | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
3 | | | #K | | ^P | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
2 | | | | | | ^Q | | |
|---------------------------------------|
1 | | | | | | | | |
+---------------------------------------+
a b c d e f g h
DIAGRAM 81.--Problem No. 5.
Mate In Four Moves.
Black's King is stalemate so that any check with the Knight would
settle him. However, Black's Bishop guards the squares c5 and d6
from which the Knight could threaten a mate, and if White makes a
waiting move with the Queen in the second rank to force Black's
Bishop from his defensive position, Black replies B-g5 and takes
the Pawn e3 on the following move, relieving the stalemate. The
same maneuver would foil White's attempt to checkmate by (1) Q-
e2, (2) B-d3 and (3) Q-c2, and the position really does not
betray any other mating possibility.
The key of this exceptionally fine and difficult problem is (1)
Kt-d6, forcing Bxd6. The idea of this sacrifice is to change the
line of defense of the black Bishop from the diagonal h4-d8 to
the diagonal h2-b8, so that he is compelled to defend the threat
Q-e2, etc., indicated above by moving to f4, that is to a square
on which he can be taken. After (2) Q-e2, B-f4; (3) Pxf4 the
stalemate is relieved and Black can take the Pawn d4. But a most
surprising mate is now possible, which could not possibly have
been foreseen in the original position, namely: (4) Q-e5.
Problems in which no definite number of moves are stipulated for
the mate are usually called STUDIES or ENDINGS. They are nothing
but game positions in which a maneuver forces the win that is so
well hidden that it would probably not be found by a player in an
actual game. The following two positions are examples of this
class of compositions.
The first move is evident. White must play (1) P-c7, as otherwise
Black retreats with the Rook in the d-file and occupies the c-
file so that he can be sacrificed at any time for White's
dangerous Pawn.
+---------------------------------------+
8 | | | | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
7 | | | | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
6 | | ^K | ^P | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
5 | | | | #R | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
4 | | | | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
3 | | | | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
2 | | | | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
1 | #K | | | | | | | |
+---------------------------------------+
a b c d e f g h
DIAGRAM 82.--WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN.
After (1) ..., R-d6+ White can neither go to b7 on account of R-
d7 nor can he play K-c6 or c5 on account of R-d1 followed by R-c1
whereby Black would draw. The only way to win is: (2) K-b5, R-
d5+; (3) K-b4, R-d4+; (4) K-b3, R-d3+; (5) K-c2. At last White
has succeeded in guarding his rear, and it seems as if Black
could not any longer prevent the Pawn from Queening. However,
Black plays (5) ..., R-d4 and if White queens the Pawn he gives
check on C4 forcing Qxc4 which would stalemate the King.
+---------------------------------------+
8 | | | | | | | ^K | |
|---------------------------------------|
7 | | | | | | | ^P | |
|---------------------------------------|
6 | | | #B | ^B | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
5 | | | | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
4 | | | | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
3 | | | | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
2 | | | ^Kt| | | #P | | #P |
|---------------------------------------|
1 | | | | #K | | | | |
+---------------------------------------+
a b c d e f g h
DIAGRAM 83.--White to Move and Draw.
This is the point where the problem-trick enters the game. White
does not promote the Pawn to a Queen but to a Rook, avoiding the
stalemate and threatening mate on a8. Black's only defense is R-
a4 and now White wins by (7) K-b3 attacking the Rook and
threatening mate on c1 at the same time.
In the position of Diagram 83 Black threatens to queen either of
his Pawns. White can play (1) Kt-e3+ K-e2; (2) Bxh2, but after
Kxe3 there seems to be no way of stopping the Pawn f2.
+---------------------------------------+
8 | #K | #B | | ^Q | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
7 | | #P | | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
6 | #P | ^P | | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
5 | ^P | | ^Kt| | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
4 | | ^P | | ^Kt| | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
3 | | | | | #K | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
2 | | | | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
1 | | | | | | | | |
+---------------------------------------+
a b c d e f g h
Pages:
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 | 11 |
12 |
13 |
14