Table of Contents

CHESS FUNDAMENTALS
PREFACE
CHESS FUNDAMENTALS
PART I
CHAPTER I
CHAPTER II
CHAPTER III
CHAPTER IV
CHAPTER V
CHAPTER VI
PART II
JOSE R. CAPABLANCA
 CHESS FUNDAMENTALS
BY JOSE R. CAPABLANCA

CHESS CHAMPION OF THE WORLD

PREFACE
Chess Fundamentals was irst published thirteen years ago. Since then
there have appeared at different times a number of articles dealing
with the so-called Hypermodern 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 everything 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 irmly believes that it is the one standard work of its
kind now.

J. R. CAPABLANCA

New York

Sept. 1, 1934
 CHESS FUNDAMENTALS
PART I

CHAPTER I
F P :E ,M -G O

The irst thing a student should do, is to familiarise himself with the
power of the pieces. This can best be done by learning how to
accomplish quickly some of the simple mates.

1. SOME SIMPLE MATES

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 board.
In this position the power of the Rook is demonstrated by the irst
move, R - R 7, which immediately con ines the Black King to the last
rank, and the mate is quickly accomplished by: 1 R - R 7, K - Kt 1;
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
follow is to

keep his King as much as possible on the same rank, or, as in this case, ile,
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 ile, but on the one next to it towards
the centre.

2...K - B 1; 3 K - B 3, K - K 1; 4 K - K 4, K - Q 1; 5 K - Q 5, K - B 1; 6 K - Q 6.
Not K - B 6, because then the Black King will go back to Q 1 and it will
take much longer to mate. If now the King moves back to Q 1, R - R 8
mates at once.

6...K - Kt 1; 7 R - Q B 7, K - R 1; 8 K - B 6, K - Kt 1; 9 K - Kt 6, K - R 1;
10 R - B 8 mate.

It has taken exactly ten moves to mate from the original position. On
move 5 Black could have played K - K 1, and, according to principle,
White would have continued 6 K - Q 6, K - B 1 (the Black King will
ultimately be forced to move in front of the White King and be mated
by R - R 8); 7 K - K 6, K - Kt 1; 8 K - B 6, K - R 1; 9 K - Kt 6, K - Kt 1;
10 R - R 8 mate.

Example 2.

Since the Black King is in the centre of the board, the best way to
proceed is to advance your own King thus: 1 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 con ined 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 opposing King. Now White mates
in three moves thus: 9 R - R 4 ch, K - Kt 8; 10 R - any square on the
Rook's ile, forcing the Black King in front of the White, K - B 8;
11 R - R 1 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 1 B - Q 3, K - Kt 2;
2 B - K Kt 5, K - B 2; 3 B - B 5, and already the Black King is con ined 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 the
Black King's movements to as few squares as possible.

We might now continue: 3...K - Kt 2; 4 K - 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 corner, 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 iles; 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 1; 9 K - R 6, K - B 1. White must now
mark time and move one of the Bishops, so as to force the Black King to
go back; 10 B - R 5, K - Kt 1; 11 B - K 7, K - R 1. Now the White Bishop
must take up a position from which it can give check next move along
the White diagonal, when the Black King moves back to Kt 1.
12 B - K Kt 4, K - Kt 1; 13 B - K 6 ch, K - R 1; 14 B - B 6 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 on to the
last rank, or to an outside ile, e.g. K R 5 or Q R 4, K 1 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:
A good way to begin is to make the irst move with the Queen, trying to
limit the Black King's mobility as much as possible. Thus: 1 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); 6 Q - 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 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-operation 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 suf icient to win, even when the
Pawn is the only remaining unit, apart from the Kings. It is essential,
speaking generally, that

the King should be in front of 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 explained by the following examples.

Example 5.

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 instance 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: 1 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 White
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 cannot be brought up to the Pawn.

6 P - K 5 ch, K - K 3; 7 K - K 4, K - K 2; 8 K - Q 5, K - Q 2; 9 P - K 6 ch,
K - K 2; 10 K - K 5, K - K 1; 11 K - Q 6, K - Q 1. 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 King, as
before, should the latter advance.

The whole mode of procedure is very important and the student should
become thoroughly conversant 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 White 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:

1. K - K 4, K - K 3.

Black does not allow the White 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 - B 3; 3. K - Q 5, K - K 2.

If Black had played 3...K - B 4, then White would be forced to advance

the Pawn 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 further
forward. Thus:

4. K - K 5, K - Q 2; 5. K - B 6, K - K 1.

Now the White Pawn is too far back and it may be brought up within
protection of the King.

6. P - K 4, K - Q 2.

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.
Therefore he must continue.

7. P - K 5, K - K 1.

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 - K 6.

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 1; 9. K - Q 7.

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
explanations 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
realise by long and bitter experience the practical application of the
many things explained in the book.

Example 7.
In this position White cannot win by playing 1 P - B 6, because Black
plays, not P × P, which would lose, but 1...K - Kt 1, and if then 2 P × P,
K × P, and draws, as shown in a previous case. If 2 P - B 7 ch, K - B 1, and
White will never be able to Queen his Pawn without losing it. If
2 K - K 7, P × P; 3 K × P, K - B 1, and draws. White, however, can win the
position given in the diagram by playing:

1 K - Q 7, K - Kt 1; 2 K - K 7, K - R 1; 3 P - B 6, P × P. If 3...K - Kt 1;
4 P - B 7 ch, K - R 1; 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.

Example 8.—In the above position White can't win by 1 P - B 5. Black's

best answer would be P - Kt 3 draws. (The student should work this
out.) He cannot win by 1 P - Kt 5, because P - Kt 3 draws. (This, because
of the principle of the "opposition" 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: 1 K - K 4, K - K 3. (If 1...P - Kt 3;

2 K - Q 4, K - K 3; 3 K - B 5, K - B 3; 4 K - Q 6, K - B 2; 5 P - Kt 5, K - Kt 2;
6 K - K 7, K - Kt 1; 7 K - B 6, K - R 2; 8 K - B 7 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; 5 P - B 6,
K - K 3; 6 K - K 4, K - B 2; 7 K - K 5, K - B 1. White cannot force his
Bishop's Pawn into Q ( ind out why), but by giving his Pawn up he can
win the other Pawn and the game. Thus:

8 P - B 7, K × P; 9 K - Q 6, K - B 1; 10 K - K 6, K - Kt 2; 11 K - K 7, K - Kt 1;
12 K - B 6, K - R 2; 13 K - B 7, K - R 1; 14 K × P , K - Kt 1.

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 White must get back to

the actual position, as against 16 P - Kt 6 ch, K - R 1 draws), K - R 1;
16 P - Kt 6, K - Kt 1; 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 dif iculties to be surmounted, even when there are hardly
any pieces left, when playing against 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

White can win by advancing any of the three Pawns on the irst move,
but it is convenient to follow the general rule, whenever there is no
good reason against it, of advancing the Pawn that has no Pawn
opposing it. Thus we begin by—

1. P - B 5, K - K 2.

If P - Kt 3, P - B 6; and we have a similar ending to one of those shown

above. If 1...P - R 3; 2 P - Kt 5.

2. K - K 5, K - B 2; 3. P - Kt 5, K - K 2.

If 3...P - Kt 3; 4 P - B 6, and if 3...P - R 3; 4 P - Kt 6 ch, and in either case we

have a similar ending to one of those already shown.

4. P - R 5,
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 × P, P × P; P - B 6 ch with
the same result.

Having now seen the cases when the Pawns 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 superior forces. Thus we have:

1. P - K Kt 4.

It is generally advisable to advance the Pawn that is free from

opposition.

1. ........ P - Q R 4.
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 - Q R 4, K - B 3; 3. P - R 4, K - K 3.

If 3...K - Kt 3, then simple counting will show that White goes to the
other side with his King, wins 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 - K 5.

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.

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.
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 1, threatening mate
by way of R - K 8. White now uncovers his real and most effective
threat, viz.:

1 ... R - K 1; 2 Q × P ch, K × Q; 3 R - R 3 ch, K - Kt 1; 4 R - R 8 mate.

This same type of combination may come as the result of a somewhat

more complicated position.

Example 12.
White is a piece behind, and unless he can win it back quickly he will
lose; he therefore plays:

1. Kt × Kt B - Kt 4

He cannot take the Kt because White threatens mate by Q × P ch

followed by R - R 3 ch.

2. Kt - K 7 ch Q × Kt

Again if B × Kt; Q × P ch, K × Q; R - R 3 ch, King moves; R - R 8 mate.

3. R × Q B×R
4. Q - Q 7

and White wins one of the two Bishops, remains with a Q and a B
against a R and B, and should therefore win easily. These two examples
show the danger of advancing the K Kt P one square, after having
Castled on that side.

Example 13.

This is another very interesting type of combination. Black has a R for a

Kt and should therefore win, unless White is able to obtain some
compensation immediately. White, in fact, mates in a few moves thus:

1. Kt - B 6 ch P × Kt

Forced, otherwise Q X P mates.

2. Q - Kt 3 ch K - R 1
3. B × P mate.

Example 14.—The same type of combination occurs in a more

complicated form in the following position.
 1. B × Kt Q × B.

If ...B × Kt; Q - B 3 threatens mate, and therefore wins the Q, which is

already attacked.

2. Kt - B 6 ch P × Kt
3. R - Kt 3 ch K - R 1
4. B × P mate.

Example 15.—A very frequent type of combination is shown in the

following position.
Here White is the exchange and a Pawn behind, but he can win quickly
thus: 1 B × P ch, K × B. (If 1...K - R 1; 2 Q - K R 5, P - K Kt 3; 3 Q - R 6, and
wins.)

2 Q - R 5 ch, K - Kt 1; 3 Kt - Kt 5, and Black cannot stop mate at K R 7

except by sacri icing 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.
White proceeds as follows: 1 Kt × Kt ch (this clears the line for the B);
B × Kt (to stop the Kt from moving to Kt 5 after the sacri ice of the B);
2 R × B, Kt × R best; 3 B × P ch, K × B. (If 3..K - R 1; 4 Q - R 5, P - K Kt 3;
5 B × P ch, K - Kt 2; 6 Q - R 7 ch, K - B 3; 7 P - Kt 5 ch, K - K 3; 8 B × P ch,
R × B; 9 Q - K 4 mate.) 4 Q - R 5 ch, K - Kt 1; 5 Kt - Kt 5, R - B 1;
6 Q - R 7 ch, K - B 1; 7 Q - R 8 ch, Kt - Kt 1; 8 Kt - R 7 ch, K - K 2;
9 R - K 1 ch, K - Q 1; 10 Q × Kt mate.

This combination is rather long and has many variations, 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 brilliant attack which he would otherwise never think of. It
will be seen that all the combinations shown have for a foundation the
proper co-ordination 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 separately.

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 Knight, and in
combination with Pawns will also be stronger against the Rook than
the Knight will be.

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 Pawns, 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
Pawns, 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, 1 P - K 4 or 1 P - Q 4, open up lines for the

Queen and a Bishop. Therefore, theoretically one of these two moves
must be the best, as no other irst move accomplishes so much.

Example 17.—Suppose we begin:

1. P - K 4 P-K4
2. Kt - K B 3

This is both an attacking and a developing move. Black can now either
reply with the identical move or play

2. ........ Kt - Q B 3

This developing move at the same time defends the King's Pawn.

3. Kt - B 3 Kt - B 3

These moves are of a purely developing nature.

4. B - Kt 5
It 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 - Kt 5

Black replies in the same manner, threatening a possible exchange of

Bishop for Knight with Kt × P to follow.

5. O - O

an indirect way of preventing 5...B × Kt, 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.

5. ........ O-O

Black follows the same line of reasoning.

6. P - Q 3 P-Q3

These moves have a two-fold object, viz.: to protect the King's Pawn
and to open the diagonal for the development of the Queen's Bishop.

7. B - Kt 5
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...B × Kt, 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
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 experience will show, and thus keeps the initiative, an
unquestionable advantage.[1]
The strategical principles expounded above are the same for all the
openings, only their tactical application 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 be 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 respectively, 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 squares, and possibly
three. Many a manœuvre 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 otherwise 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 inding a way out when confronted with a new and dif icult
situation.

Example 18.

1. P - K 4 P-K4
2. Kt - K B 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 should be
moved in preference to Pawns.

3. P - Q 4

White takes the offensive immediately and strives to control the centre
so as to have ample room to deploy his forces.

3. ........ Kt - Q 2

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 principle the move is wrong, because it blocks the action of the
Queen's Bishop, and instead of facilitating the action of Black's pieces,
tends, on the contrary, to cramp them.

4. B - Q B 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 not stop it with
4...B - K 2, because of 5 P × P, Kt × P (if 5...P × P, 6 Q - Q 5); 6 Kt × Kt,
P × Kt; 7 Q - R 5, and White wins a Pawn and has besides a perfectly safe
position.

5. Kt - B 3 K Kt - B 3
6. B - K 3 B-K2
7. Q - K 2

It should be noticed that White does not Castle yet. The reason is that
he wants to deploy his forces irst, and through the last move force
Black to play P - Q B 3 to make room for the Queen as White threatens
R - Q 1, to be followed by P × P. Black's other alternatives would inally
force him to play P × P, thus abandoning the centre to White.

7. ........ P-B3
8. R - Q 1 Q-B2
9. O - O

With this last move White completes his development, while Black is
evidently somewhat hampered. A simple examination will suf ice to
show that White's position is unassailable. There are no weak spots in
his armour, and his pieces are ready for any manœuvre 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 sometimes convenient to delay Castling. I have given the moves as
they come to my mind without following any standard book on
openings. Whether 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 understand when he has become more
pro icient.

Example 19.

1. P - K 4 P-K4
2. Kt - K B 3 P-Q3
3. P - Q 4 B - Kt 5

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. P × P B × Kt

4...P × P loses a Pawn.

5. Q × B P×P
6. B - Q B 4 Q-B3

If Kt - B 3; Q - Q Kt 3 wins a Pawn.

7. Q - Q Kt 3 P - Q Kt 3
8. Kt - B 3 P-QB3

To prevent Kt - Q 5.
Black, however, has no pieces out except his Queen, and White, with a
Bishop and a Knight already developed, 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 application 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 indulged 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.

Example 20.
White plays:

1. P × P Kt × P

Black should have recaptured with the Pawn.

2. Kt × Kt B×Q
3. B × P ch K-K2
4. Kt - Q 5 mate.

Example 21.
Black, having the move, should play P - K 3. But suppose he plays
Kt - K B 3 instead, then comes—

1. B × P ch

Kt - K 5 would also give White the advantage, the threat being of course
if B × Q; 2 B × P mate. Nor does B - R 5 help matters, because of 2 Q × B,
1... 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.

1. ........ K×B
2. Kt - K 5 ch K moves
3. Kt × B
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
F P E -G P

We shall now go back to the endings in search of a few more principles,

then again to the middle-game, and inally to the openings once more,
so that the advance may not only be gradual but homogeneous. In this
way the foundation on which we expect to build the structure will be
irm and solid.

9. A CARDINAL PRINCIPLE
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 does not, in this
case, suf iciently appreciate the value of its application; suppose, we
say, that he plays 1 P - Q R 4. Then Black can win by playing 1... P - Q R 4,
applying one of the cardinal principles of the high strategy of chess—

A unit that holds two.

In this case one Pawn would hold two of the opponent'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 suf icient proof. We give a

few moves of the main variation:—
 1. P - R 4 P-QR4
2. K - Kt 2 K-B5
(Best; see
why.)
3. P - Kt 4 P×P
(Best.)
4. P - R 5 P - Kt 6
5. P - R 6 P - Kt 7
6. P - R 7 P - Kt 8 (Q)
7. P - R 8 (Q) Q - K 5 ch
8. Q × Q K×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.

10. A CLASSICAL ENDING

Example 23.—In this position White'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 White does not advance his Pawn) may be
divided into three parts. The irst part will be to get his King to K R 6, at
the same time keeping intact the position of his Pawns. (This is all
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 - Kt 3 K-K6
2. K - Kt 2

If 2 K - Kt 4, K - B 7; 3 P - R 4, P - Kt 3 will win.

2. ........ K-B5
3. K - B 2 K - Kt 5
 4. K - Kt 2 K-R5
5. K - Kt 1 K-R6

The irst part has been completed.

The second part will be short and will consist in advancing the R P up
the K.

6. K - R 1 P-R4
7. K - Kt 1 P-R5

This ends the second part.

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 1. It now becomes evident how
necessary it is to be able to move the Kt P either one or two squares
according to the position of the White King, as indicated previously.[2]
In this case, as it is White's move, the Pawn will be advanced two
squares since the White King will be in the corner, but if it were now
Black's move the Kt P should only be advanced one square since the
White King is at Kt 1.

8. K - R 1 P - Kt 4
9. K - Kt 1 P - Kt 5
10. K - R 1 P - Kt 6
11. P × P

If K - Kt 1, P - Kt 7.
 11. ........ P×P
12. K - Kt 1 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 divide it
into three stages and to explain the main point of each part.

The next subject we shall study is the simple opposition, 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.
Example 24.—In the above position the way of obtaining a passed
Pawn is to advance the centre Pawn.

1. P - Kt 6 RP×P
If B P × P; P - R 6,
2. P - B 6 P×BP
3. P - R 6

and as in this case the White Pawn is nearer to Queen than any of the
Black Pawns, White will win. Now if it had been Black's move Black
could play

1. ........ P - Kt 3
2. B P × P BP×P

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 Pawn.
 3. P × P P×P

and the game properly played would be a draw. The student should
work this out for himself.

12. HOW TO FIND OUT WHICH PAWN WILL BE FIRST TO QUEEN

When two Pawns are free, or will be free, to advance to Queen, you can
ind out, by counting, which Pawn will be the irst to succeed.

Example 25.—In this position whoever moves irst wins.

The irst thing is to ind out, by counting, whether the opposing King
can be in time to stop the passed Pawn from Queening. When, as in this
case, it cannot be done, the point is to count which Pawn comes in irst.
In this case the time is the same, but the Pawn that reaches the eighth
square irst and becomes a Queen is in a position to capture the
adversary's Queen when he makes one. Thus:

1. P - R 4 P-KR4
2. P - R 5 P-R5
3. P - Kt 6 P×P

Now comes a little calculation. White can capture the Pawn, but if he
does so, he will not, when Queening, command the square where Black
will also Queen his Pawn. Therefore, instead of taking, he plays:

4. P - R 6 P-R6
5. P - R 7 P-R7
6. P - R 8 (Q), and wins.

The student would do well to acquaint himself with various simple

endings of this sort, so as to acquire the habit of counting, and thus be
able to know with ease when he can or cannot get there irst. 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.

13. THE OPPOSITION

When Kings have to be moved, and one player can, by force, bring his
King into a position similar to the one shown in the following diagram,
so that his adversary is forced to move and make way for him, the
player obtaining that advantage is said to have the opposition.
Example 26.—Suppose in the above position White plays

1. K - Q 4

Now Black has the option of either opposing the passage of the White
King 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, which can be called
actual or close frontal opposition; or this form:
which can be called actual or close diagonal opposition, or, again, this
form:

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
opposition."

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 diagrams, 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.
Example 27.—The above position shows to advantage the enormous
value of the opposition. The 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. Whoever has the 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:

1. K - K 2 K-K2
2. K - K 3 K-K3
3. K - K 4 K-B3

Now 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 - Kt 3

If 4...K - K 3; 5 K - Kt 5 will win.

5. K - K 5 K - Kt 2

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 lines of defence more dif icult to overcome.
Let us begin anew.

1. K - K 2 K-Q1

Now if 2 K - Q 3, K - Q 2, or if 2 K - K 3, K - K 2, and Black obtains the

opposition in both cases. (When the Kings are directly in front 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 ile free between the
Kings. Therefore we have—

2. K - B 3 K-K2

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 irst move, viz.:

3. K - K 3

which brings the position back to the irst variation shown. The
student would do well to familiarise himself with the handling of the
King in all examples of opposition. It often means the winning or losing
of a game.

Example 28.—The following position is an excellent proof of the value

of the opposition as a means of defence.

White is a Pawn behind and apparently lost, yet he can manage to draw
as follows:

1. K - R 1 !
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 1 (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

1. ........ K-Q7
2. K - R 2 K-Q6
3. K - R 3 ! K-K7
4. K - Kt 2 K-K6
5. K - Kt 3 K-Q5
6. K - Kt 4

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 - R 1 P - Kt 5

White does not play P × P, because P - K 5 will win, but plays:

2. K - Kt 2 K-Q7

If 2...P × P ch; 3 K × P, followed by K - K 4, will draw.

3. P × P 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,[3] he will realise that in
all of them the matter of the opposition is of paramount importance;
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.

14. THE RELATIVE VALUE OF KNIGHT AND BISHOP

Before turning our attention to this matter it is well 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.

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:

1. Kt - Kt 6 P-R5

White cannot take the Pawn because the game will be drawn, as
explained before.

2. Kt - K 5 P-R6
3. Kt - B 6 P-R7
4. Kt - Kt 5 P - R 8 (Q)
5.
Kt - B 7 mate

The reason for this peculiarity in chess is evident.

White with the two Knights can only stalemate the King, unless Black has
a Pawn which can be moved.
Example 30.—Although he is a Bishop and a Pawn ahead the following
position cannot be won by White.

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 Pawn, the Bishop is absolutely worthless. All that Black has to do
is to keep moving his King close to the corner square.
Example 31.—In the above position White with or without the move
can win. Take the most dif icult variation.

1. ........ K-R7
2. Kt - Kt 4 ch K - R 8
3. K - B 1 P - Kt 4
4. K - B 2 P-R7
5. Kt - K 3 P - Kt 5
6. Kt - B 1 P - Kt 6 ch
7. Kt × P mate

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, 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,
preferred Knights to Bishops, there is hardly a master of to-day who
would not completely agree with the statements made above.
Example 33.—This is about the only case when the Knight is more
valuable than the Bishop.

It is what is called a "block 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 White 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 Pawns 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 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 supported by the King. The principles might be stated
thus:

When the opponent has a Bishop, keep your Pawns on squares of the
same colour as your opponent's Bishop.

Whenever you have a Bishop, whether the opponent has also one or not,
keep your Pawns on squares of the opposite colour to that of your own
Bishop.

Naturally, these principles have sometimes to be modi ied to suit the

exigencies of the position.

Example 34.—In the following position the Pawns 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.
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
lies as much in its ability to command, at long range, both sides of the
board from a central position as in its ability to move quickly from one
side of the board to the other.
Example 36.—In the above position it is unquestionably 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 only are there Pawns on both sides of the
board, but there is a passed Pawn (K R P for White, Q R P for Black).
Black should have extreme dif iculty in drawing this position, if he can
do it at all.

Example 38.—Again Black would have great dif iculty in drawing this
position.
The student should carefully consider these positions. 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, will be best. I might say
generally, however, that the proper course in these endings, as in all
similar endings, 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 ixed line of play would be folly. Each ending is different, and
requires different handling, according to what the adversary proposes
to do. Calculation by visualising the future positions is what will count.

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 be given in the corners of
the same colour as the Bishop.

Example 39.—In this example we must mate either at Q R 1 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 advancing the King to the centre of the board:

1. K - K 2 K-Q2

Black, in order to make it more dif icult, goes towards the white-
squared corner:

2. K - Q 3 K-B3
 3. B - B 4 K-Q4
4. Kt - K 2 K-B4
5. Kt - B 3 K - Kt 5
6. K - Q 4 K-R4
7. K - B 5 K-R3
8. K - B 6 K-R2
9. Kt - Q 5 K-R1

The irst 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
Q R 8 to Q R 1 or K R 8 in order to mate him. Q R 1 will be the quickest in
this position.

10. Kt - Kt 6 chK - R 2
 11. B - B 7 K-R3
12. B - Kt 8 K-R4
13. Kt - Q 5 K-R5

Black tries to make for K R 1 with his King. White has two ways to
prevent that, one by 14 B - K 5, 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 - B 5 ! K - Kt 6
15. Kt - Kt 4 K-B6
16. B - B 4 K - Kt 6
17. B - K 5 K-R5
18. K - B 4 K-R4
19. B - B 7 ch K-R5
20. Kt - Q 3 K-R6
21. B - Kt 6 K-R5
22. Kt - Kt 2 ch K - R 6
23. K - B 3 K-R7
24. K - B 2 K-R6
25. B - B 5 ch K-R7
26. Kt - Q 3 K-R8
27. B - Kt 4 K-R7
28. Kt - B 1 ch K - R 8
 29. B - B 3 mate

It will be seen that the ending is rather laborious. There are two
outstanding features: the close following 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 accomplish the mate within the ifty moves which are granted by the
rules.

16. QUEEN AGAINST ROOK

This is one of the most dif icult 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 ifty moves allowed by the rules.
(The rule is that at any moment you may demand that your opponent
mate you within ifty 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 he would have to move his Rook away from the
King ( ind out why), and then the Rook would be comparatively 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 ind. Thus:

1. Q - K 5 ch

Not 1 Q - R 6, because R - B 2 ch; 2 K - Kt 6, R - B 3 ch; 3 K × R. Stalemate.

(The beginner will invariably fall into this trap.)

1. ........ K to R 1 or to R 2
2. Q - R 1 chK - Kt 1
 3. Q - R 5

In a few moves we have accomplished our object. The irst part is

concluded. Now we come to the second part. The Rook can only go to a
White square, otherwise the irst check with the Queen will win it.
Therefore

3. ........ R - Kt 6
4. Q - K 5 ch K - R 1 best
5. Q - R 8 ch K-R2
6. Q - Kt 7 ch K - R 1
7. Q - Kt 8 ch R - Kt 1
8. Q - R 2 mate

(The student should ind out by himself how to win when 3...R - Kt 8;
4 Q - K 5 ch, K - R 2.)
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 1
because of an immediate mate, and in the same way the King must be
prevented from going either to R 3 or B 1.

Example 42.—We shall now examine a more dif icult position.

Many players would be deceived by this position. The most likely

looking move is not the best. Thus suppose we begin

1. Q - K 5 ch K-B1
2. K - Kt 6 R-Q2

The only defence, but, unfortunately, a very effective one, which makes
it very dif icult 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 1, 4 K - B 6, R - Q 3 ch ! driving back the
White King.

Now that we have seen the dif iculties of the situation let us go back.
The best move is

1. Q - Kt 5 ch ! K - R 1

If K - R 2; 2 Q - Kt 6 ch, K - R 1; 3 K - R 6 !

2. Q - K 5 ch ! K - R 2 best
3. K - Kt 5 R - R 2 ! best

If 3...R - Kt 2 ch; 4 K - B 6 leads to a position similar to those in

Examples 40 and 41.

4. Q - K 4 ch K - Kt 1
5. Q - B 4 ch K-R2
6. K - B 6 R - K Kt 2
7. Q - R 4 ch K - Kt 1
8. Q - R 5

and we have the position of Example 40 with Black to move.

Let us go back again.

1. Q - Kt 5 ch K - B 1
2. Q - Q 8 ch K - Kt 2
3. K - Kt 5 R-B6
The best place for the Rook away from the King. 3...K - R 2; 4 Q - Q 4,
R - Kt 2 ch; 5 K - B 6 would lead to positions similar to those already
seen.

4. Q - Q 4 ch K-B1
5. K - Kt 6

5 Q - Q 6 ch, K - Kt 2; 6 Q - K 5 ch, K - B 1; 7 K - Kt 6 would also win the

Rook. The text move, however, is given to show the inesse of such
endings. White now threatens mate at Q 8.

5. ........ R - Kt 6 ch
6. K - B 6 R - B 6 ch
7. K - K 6 R-KR6

White threatened mate at K R 8.

8. Q - B 4 ch

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 manœuvres. Also
that the Queen and 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
P W M -G P

I shall now give a few winning positions taken from my own games. I
have selected those that I believe 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 ind, with little effort, the right
move, which he might not be able to ind at all without such knowledge.

17. ATTACKING WITHOUT THE AID OF KNIGHTS

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:

1. ........ Q R - Kt 1 !
 2. R - B 2

If, Q × Q, R × P ch; K - R 1, B - Q 4 and mate follows in a few moves.

2. ........ R × P ch
3. K - B 1 B - B 5 ch
4. Kt × B R - Kt 8 mate
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 drawn the game by perpetual
check. White, however, has a more forceful move, and he mates in three
moves as follows:

1. R × P ch Q×R
2. R - Q R 5 Black moves
3. White mates
Example 45.—White has a beautiful position, but still he had better
gain some material, if he can, before Black consolidates his defensive
position. He therefore plays:

1. R × Kt ! P×R
2. B × P ch K-K2

If Kt × B; R × Kt and Black would be helpless.

3. Q - R 7 ch K-K1
4. Q × Kt ch K-Q2
5. Q - R 7 ch Q-K2
6. B - B 8 Q×Q
7. R × Q ch K-K1
8. R × R Resigns
In these few examples the attacking has been done by Rooks and
Bishops in combination with the Queen. 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

Example 46.—White is two Pawns behind. He must therefore press on

his attack. The game continues:

1. Kt (B 5) × Kt PKt - B 4

Evidently an error which made the winning easier for White, as he

simply took the Rook with the Knight and kept up the attack. Black
should have played: 1 ... Kt × Kt. Then would have followed: 2 Kt - B 6 ch,
K - Kt 3; 3 Kt × B, P - B 3 (best); 4 P - K 5, K - B 2; 5 Kt × P, R - K 2;
6 Kt - K 4, and Black should lose.[4]

Example 47.—The student should carefully examine the position, as

the sacri ice 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 × P ch K×B
2. Kt - Kt 5 ch K - Kt 3

Best. If 2...K - R 3; 3 Kt × P ch wins the Queen, and if 2...K - Kt 1; 3 Q - R 5,

with an irresistible attack.

3. Q - Kt 4 P-B4
4. Q - Kt 3 K-R3
White inally won.[5]

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 importance. 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 consider this position and the
subsequent moves. It is a very good example of proper co-ordination in
the management of forces. The game continues:

1. ........ R-R1
2. P - Q R 4

White's best move was P - Q Kt 3, when would follow Kt × B; 3 Q × 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. ........ Kt × B
3. Q × Kt Q-B5
4. K R - Q 1 K R - Kt 1

Black could have regained the Pawn by playing B × Kt, but he sees that
there is more to be had, and therefore increases the pressure against
White's Queen side. He now threatens, among other things, R × Kt P.

5. Q - K 3 R - Kt 5

Threatening to win the exchange by B - Q 5.

6. Q - Kt 5 B - Q 5 ch
7. K - R 1 Q R - Kt 1
This threatens to win the Kt, and thus forces White to give up the
exchange.

8. R × B Q×R
9. R - Q 1 Q-B5

Now Black will recover his Pawn.

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 1 B - B 4,
Q R - Q 1; 2 P - Q Kt 4 would make it dif icult 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 - Q 4 ! P × Kt
2. R × B Kt - Kt 5

There is nothing better, as White threatened B - B 4.

3. B - B 4 ch K-R1
4. R - K 6 P-Q6
5. R × P

And White, with the better position, is a Pawn ahead.

These positions have been given with the idea of acquainting the
student with different types of combinations. I hope they will also help
to develop his imagination, a very necessary quality in a good player.
The student should note, in all these middle-game positions, that—

once the opportunity is offered, 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
G T

Before we revert to the technique of the openings it will be advisable to

dwell a little on general theory, so that the openings in their relation to
the rest of the game may be better understood.

20. THE INITIATIVE

As the pieces are set on the board both sides have the same position
and the same amount of material. White, however, has the move, and
the move in this case means the initiative, and the initiative, other
things being equal, is an advantage. Now this advantage must be kept
as long as possible, and should only be given up if some other
advantage, material or positional, is obtained in its place. White,
according to the principles already laid down, develops his pieces as
fast as possible, but in so doing he also tries to hinder his opponent's
development, by applying pressure wherever possible. He tries irst of
all to control the centre, and failing this to obtain some positional
advantage that will make it possible for him to keep on harassing the
enemy. He only relinquishes the initiative when he gets for it some
material advantage under such favourable conditions as to make him
feel assured that he will, in turn, be able to withstand his adversary's
thrust; and inally, through his superiority of material, once more
resume the initiative, which alone can give him the victory. This last
assertion is self-evident, since, in order to win the game, the opposing
King must be driven to a position where he is attacked without having
any way of escape. Once the pieces have been properly developed the
resulting positions may vary in character. It may be that a direct attack
against the King is in order; or that it is a case of improving a position
already advantageous; or, inally, 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 irst case the attack must be carried on with suf icient force to
guarantee its success. Under no consideration must a direct attack
against the King be carried on à outrance unless there is absolute
certainty in one's own mind that it will succeed, since failure in such
cases means disaster.

Example 50.—A good example of a successful direct attack against the

King is shown in the following diagram:

In this position White could simply play B - B 2 and still have the better
position, but instead he prefers an immediate attack on the King's side,
with the certainty in his mind that the attack will lead to a win. The
game continues thus:[6]
 12. B × P ch K×B
13. Kt - Kt 5 chK - Kt 3
14. Q - Kt 4 P-B4

Best. P - K 4 would have been immediately fatal. Thus: 14...P - K 4;

15 Kt - K 6 ch, K - B 3; 16 P - B 4 ! P - K 5; 17 Q - Kt 5 ch, K × Kt;
18 Q - K 5 ch, K - Q 2; 19 K R - Q 1 ch, Kt - Q 6; 20 Kt × P, K - B 3 (if K - K 1,
Kt - Q 6 ch wins the Queen); 21 R × Kt, Q × R; 22 R - B 1 ch, K - Kt 3 (if
K - Q 2 mate in two); 23 Q - B 7 ch and mate in ive moves.

15. Q - Kt 3 K-R3
16. Q - R 4 ch K - Kt 3
17. Q - R 7 ch K - B 3

If K × Kt; Q × Kt P ch and mate in a few moves.

 18. P - K 4 Kt - Kt 3
19. P × P P×P
20. Q R - Q 1 Kt - Q 6
21. Q - R 3 Kt (Q 6) - B 5
22. Q - Kt 3 Q-B2
23. K R - K 1 Kt - K 7 ch

This blunder loses at once, but the game could not be saved in any case;
e.g. 23...B - K 3; 24 R × B ch, Kt × R; 25 Kt - Q 5 mate.

24. R × Kt Q×Q
25. Kt - R 7 ch K - B 2
26. R P × Q R-R1
27. Kt - Kt 5 chK - B 3
28. P - B 4 Resigns

Example 51.—Another example of this kind:

In the above position the simple move Kt × 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 suf icient
insight into all the possibilities of a position. This game, which won the
brilliancy prize at St. Petersburg in 1914, continued as follows:—

21. B - R 4 Q-Q2
22. Kt × B Q×R
23. Q - Q 8 ch Q - K 1

If K - B 2; 24 Kt - Q 6 ch, King moves; 25 mate.

24. B - K 7 ch K - B 2
25. Kt - Q 6 ch K - Kt 3
26. Kt - R 4 ch K - R 4
If 26...K - R 3; 27 Kt (Q 6) - B 5 ch, K - R 4; 28 Kt × P ch, K - R 3;
29 Kt (R 4) - B 5 ch, K - Kt 3; 30 Q - Q 6 ch and mate next move.

27. Kt × Q R×Q
28. Kt × P ch K-R3
29. Kt (Kt 7) - B 5 chK - R 4
30. P - K R 3 !

The climax of the combination started with 21 B - R 4. White is still

threatening mate, and the best way to avoid it is for Black to give back
all the material he has gained and to remain three Pawns behind.

The student should note that in the examples given the attack is
carried out with every available piece, and that often, as in some of the
variations pointed out, it is the coming into action of the last available
piece that inally overthrows the enemy. It demonstrates the principle
already stated:

Direct and violent attacks against the King must be carried en masse,
with full force, to ensure their success. The opposition must be overcome
at all cost; the attack cannot be broken off, since in all such cases that
means defeat.

22. THE FORCE OF THE THREATENED ATTACK

Failing an opportunity, in the second case, for direct attack, one must
attempt to increase whatever weakness there may be in the
opponent's position; or, if there is none, one or more must be created.
It is always an advantage to threaten something, but such threats must
be carried into effect only if something is to be gained immediately. For,
holding the threat in hand, forces the opponent to provide against its
execution and to keep material in readiness to meet it. Thus he may
more easily overlook, or be unable to parry, a thrust at another point.
But once the threat is carried into effect, it exists no longer, and your
opponent can devote his attention to his own schemes. One of the best
and most successful manœuvres in this type of game is to make a
demonstration on one side, so as to draw the forces of your opponent
to that side, then through the greater mobility of your pieces to shift
your forces quickly to the other side and break through, before your
opponent has had the time to bring over the necessary forces for the
defence.

A good example of positional play is shown in the following game:

Example 52.—Played at the Havana International Masters

Tournament, 1913. (French Defence.) White: J. R. Capablanca. Black: R.
Blanco.

1. P - K 4 P-K3
2. P - Q 4 P-Q4
3. Kt - Q B 3 P×P
4. Kt × P Kt - Q 2
5. Kt - K B 3 K Kt - B 3
6. Kt × Kt ch Kt × Kt
7. Kt - K 5
This move was irst shown to me by the talented Venezuelan amateur,
M. Ayala. The object is to prevent the development of Black's Queen's
Bishop viâ Q Kt 2, after P - Q Kt 3, which is Black's usual development in
this variation. Generally it is bad to move the same piece twice in an
opening before the other pieces are out, and the violation of that
principle is the only objection that can be made to this move, which
otherwise has everything to recommend it.

7. ........ B-Q3
8. Q - B 3
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
dif icult. The text move accomplishes nothing, and puts Black in an
altogether defensive position. The veiled threat B × Kt; followed by
Q - R 4 ch; is easily met.

9. P - B 3 O-O
10. B - K Kt 5 B - K 2

The fact that Black has now to move his Bishop back clearly
demonstrates that Black's plan of development is faulty. He has lost too
much time, and White brings his pieces into their most attacking
position without hindrance of any sort.
 11. B - Q 3 Kt - K 1

The alternative was Kt - Q 4. Otherwise White would play Q - R 3, and

Black would be forced to play P - K Kt 3 (not P - K R 3, because of the
sacri ice B × P), seriously weakening his King's side.

12. Q - R 3 P-KB4

White has no longer an attack, but he has compelled Black to create a

marked weakness. Now White's whole plan will be to exploit this
weakness (the weak K P), and the student can now see how the
principles expounded previously are applied in this game. Every move
is directed to make the weak King's Pawn untenable, or to pro it by the
inactivity of the Black pieces defending the Pawn, in order to improve
the position of White at other points.

13. B × B Q×B
14. O - O R-B3
15. K R - K 1 Kt - Q 3
16. R - K 2 B-Q2

At last the Bishop comes out, not as an active attacking piece, but
merely to make way for the Rook.

17. Q R - K 1 R - K 1
18. P - Q B 4 Kt - B 2

A very clever move, tending to prevent P - B 5, and tempting White to

play Kt × B, followed by B × P, which would be bad, as the following
variation shows: 19 Kt × B, Q × Kt; 20 B × P, Kt - Kt 4; 21 Q - Kt 4, R × B;
22 P - K R 4, P - K R 4; 23 Q × R, P × Q; 24 R × R ch, K - R 2; 25 P × Kt, Q × 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 - Q 5 ! Kt × Kt

Apparently the best way to meet the manifold threats of White. B P × P

would make matters worse, as the White Bishop would inally bear on
the weak King's Pawn viâ Q B 4.

20. R × Kt P - K Kt 3
21. Q - R 4 K - Kt 2
22. Q - Q 4 P-B4

Forced, as White threatened P × K P, and also Q × P

 23. Q - B 3 P - Kt 3

Q - Q 3 was better. But Black wants to tempt White to play P × 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 × P B-B1

25. B - K 2 !

The deciding and timely manœuvre. All the Black pieces are useless
after this Bishop reaches Q 5.

25. ........ B×P

26. B - B 3 K-B2
 27. B - Q 5 Q-Q3

Now it is evident that all the Black pieces are tied up, and it only
remains for White to ind the quickest way to force the issue. White will
now try to place his Queen at K R 6, and then advance the K R P to R 5 in
order to break up the Black Pawns defending the King.

28. Q - K 3 R-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; 33 P - K Kt 3, P × P; 34 P - B 4, and Black will
soon be helpless, as he has to mark time with his pieces while White
prepares to advance P - R 5, and inally at the proper time to play R × B,
winning.

29. Q - R 6 K - Kt 1
30. P - K R 4 P-R3
31. P - R 5 P-B5
32. P × P P×P
33. R × B Resigns.

Commenting on White's play in this game, Dr. E. Lasker said at the time
that if White's play were properly analysed it might be found that there
was no way to improve upon it.

These apparently simple games are often of the most dif icult nature.
Perfection in such cases is much more dif icult to obtain than in those
positions calling for a brilliant direct attack against the King, involving
sacri ices of pieces.
 23. RELINQUISHING THE INITIATIVE

In the third case, there is nothing to do, once the material advantage is
obtained, but to submit to the opponent's attack for a while, and once it
has been repulsed to act quickly with all your forces and win on
material. A good example of this type of game is given below.

Example 53.—From the Havana International Masters Tournament,

1913. (Ruy Lopez.) White: J. R. Capablanca. Black: D. Janowski.

1. P - K 4 P-K4
2. Kt - K B 3 Kt - Q B 3
3. B - Kt 5 Kt - B 3
4. O - O P-Q3
5. B × Kt ch P×B
6. P - Q 4 B-K2
7. Kt - B 3

P × P might be better, but at the time I was not familiar with that
variation, and therefore I played what I knew to be good.

7. ........ Kt - Q 2
8. P × P P×P
9. Q - K 2 O-O
10. R - Q 1 B - Q3
11. B - Kt 5 Q-K1
12. Kt - K R 4 P - Kt 3
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 justi ied
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 bene it of numerical superiority.

13. B - R 6 Kt - B 4
14. R - Q 2 R - Kt 1
15. Kt - Q 1 R - Kt 5

To force White to play P - Q B 4, and thus create a hole at Q 5 for his

Knight.[7] Such grand tactics show the hand of a master.

16. P - Q B 4 Kt - K 3
17. B × R Q×B
18. Kt - K 3

Kt - K B 3 was better.

18. ........ Kt - Q 5
19. Q - Q 1 P-QB4

In order to prevent R × Kt giving back the exchange, but winning a

Pawn and relieving the position.

20. P - Q Kt 3 R - Kt 1

In order to play B - Kt 2 without blocking his Rook.

Black's manœuvring for positional advantage is admirable throughout
this game, and if he loses it is due entirely to the fact that the sacri ice
of the exchange, without even a Pawn for it, could not succeed against
sound defensive play.
21. Kt - B 3 P-B4
22. P × P P×P
The position begins to look really dangerous for White. In reality
Black's attack is reaching its maximum force. Very soon it will reach the
apex, and then White, who is well prepared, will begin his counter
action, and through his superiority in material obtain an undoubted
advantage.

23. Kt - B 1 P-B5
24. Kt × Kt B P × Kt
25. Q - R 5 B - Kt 2
26. R - K 1 P-B4

He could not play R - K 1 because of R × Q P. Besides, he wants to be

ready to play P - K 5. At present White cannot with safety play R × 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
manœuvre is founded.

27. P - B 3 R-K1
28. R (Q 2) - K 2R - K 3
Now the Black Rook enters into the game, but White is prepared. It is
now time to give back the exchange.

29. R × P B×R
30. R × B R-KR3
31. Q - K 8 Q×Q
32. R × Q ch K-B2
33. R - K 5 R-QB3
34. Kt - Q 2

R - B 5 ch might have been better. The text move did not prove as
strong as anticipated.

34. ........ K-B3

35. R - Q 5 R-K3
 36. Kt - K 4 ch K - K 2

R × Kt would lose easily

37. R × B P P-Q6!

Very ine. White cannot play R B 7 ch because of K - Q 1; R × B, R × Kt

winning.

38. K - B 2 B × Kt
39. P × B R×P
40. R - Q 5 R-K6

The ending is very dif icult to win. At this point White had to make the
last move before the game was adjourned.

41. P - Q Kt 4 ! R - K 5
 42. R × P R×P
43. R - K R 3 R×P
44. R × P ch K-B3
45. R × P K-B4
46. K - B 3 R - Kt 7
47. R - R 5 ch K - B 3
48. R - R 4 K - Kt 4
49. R × P R×RP
50. P - R 4 ch K - R 4
51. R - B 5 ch K - R 3
52. P - Kt 4 Resigns

I have passed over the game lightly because of its dif icult 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 con lict. Often a Bishop or a Knight
is completely put out of action. In such cases we might say that from
that moment the game is won, because for all practical purposes there
will be one more piece on one side than on the other. A very good
illustration is furnished by the following game.
Example 54.—Played at the Hastings Victory Tournament, 1919. (Four
Knights.) White: W. Winter. Black: J. R. Capablanca.

1. P - K 4 P-K4
2. Kt - K B 3 Kt - Q B 3
3. Kt - B 3 Kt - B 3
4. B - Kt 5 B - Kt 5
5. O - O O-O
6. B × Kt

Niemzowitch's variation, which I have played successfully in many a

game. It gives White a very solid game. Niemzowitch's idea is that
White will in due time be able to play P - K B 4, opening a line for his
Rooks, which, in combination with the posting of a Knight at K B 5,
should be suf icient to win. He thinks that should Black attempt to stop
the Knight from going to K B 5, he will have to weaken his game in
some other way. Whether this is true or not remains to be proved, but
in my opinion the move is perfectly good. On the other hand, there is no
question that Black can easily develop his pieces. But it must be
considered that in this variation White does not attempt to hinder
Black's development, he simply attempts to build up a position which
he considers impregnable and from which he can start an attack in due
course.

6. ........ QP×B

The alternative, Kt P × B; gives White the best of the game, without

doubt.[8]
 7. P - Q 3 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 1 and K 3. Then, if possible, the K Kt is
linked with the other Kt by placing it at either K R 4, K Kt 3, or K 3 as the
occasion demands. The White King sometimes remains at Kt 1, and
other times it is placed at K Kt 2, but mostly at K R 1. Finally, in most
cases comes P - K B 4, and then the real attack begins. Sometimes it is a
direct assault against the King,[9] and at other times it comes simply to
inessing for positional advantage in the end-game, after most of the
pieces have been exchanged.[10]

8. ........ P-KR3
9. B - R 4 P-B4
To prevent P - Q 4 and to draw White into playing Kt - Q 5, which would
prove fatal. Black's plan is to play P - K Kt 4, as soon as the
circumstances permit, in order to free his Queen and Knight from the
pin by the Bishop.

10. Kt - Q 5

White falls into the trap. Only lack of experience can account for this
move. White should have considered that a player of my experience
and strength could never allow such a move if it were good.

10. ........ P - K Kt 4
After this move White's game is lost. White cannot play Kt × Kt P,
because Kt × Kt will win a piece. Therefore he must play B - Kt 3, either
before or after Kt × Kt, with disastrous results in either case, as will be
seen.

11. Kt × Kt ch Q × Kt
12. B - Kt 3 B - Kt 5
13. P - K R 3 B × Kt
14. Q × B Q×Q
15. P × Q P-KB3
A simple examination will show that White is minus a Bishop for all
practical purposes. He can only free it by sacri icing 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.

16. K - Kt 2 P-QR4
17. P - Q R 4 K-B2
18. R - R 1 K-K3
19. P - R 4 K R - Q Kt 1

There is no necessity to pay any attention to the King's side, because

White gains nothing by exchanging Pawns and opening the King's Rook
ile.
 20. P × P RP×P
21. P - Kt 3 P-B3
22. R - Q R 2 P - Kt 4
23. K R - R 1 P-B5

If White takes the proffered Pawn, Black regains it immediately by

R - Kt 5, after P × B P.

24. R P × P P × P (Kt 6)
25. B P × P R×P
26. R - R 4 R×P
27. P - Q 4 R - Kt 4
28. R - B 4 R - Kt 5
29. R × B P R×P
Resigns

25. A PLAYER'S MOTIVES CRITICISED IN A SPECIMEN GAME

Now that a few of my games with my own notes have been given, I offer
for close perusal and study a very ine 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 interesting feature for the student that
Sir George Thomas kindly wrote the notes to the game for me at my
request, and with the understanding that I would make the comments
on them that I considered appropriate. Sir George Thomas' notes are in
brackets and thus will be distinguished from my own comments.

Example 55.—Queen's Gambit Declined. (The notes within brackets by

Sir George Thomas.) White: Mr. F. F. L. Alexander. Black: Sir George
Thomas.

1. P - Q 4 P-Q4
2. Kt - K B 3 Kt - K B 3
3. P - B 4 P-K3
4. Kt - B 3 Q Kt - Q 2
5. B - Kt 5 P-B3
6. P - K 3 Q-R4

(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 × P. But 7 Kt - Q 2 is probably a
strong way of meeting this threat.) There are, besides, two good
reasons for this method of defence; irst, 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 × Kt Kt × B
8. P - Q R 3 Kt - K 5
9. Q - Kt 3 B-K2

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 × Kt
11. P × Kt P×P
12. B × B P 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 accomplished by playing B - Q 3. Incidentally it bears out my
previous statement that the B should have been originally played to
Q 3.

13. O - O

The alternative was P - K 4, followed by P - K 5, and then O - O. White

would thereby assume the initiative but would weaken his Pawn
position considerably, and might be compelled to stake all on a violent
attack against the King. This is a turning point in the game, and it is in
such positions that the temperament and style of the player decide the
course of the game.

13. ........ O-O

14. P - K 4 P-K4

15. P - Q 5

(White might play 15 K R - Q 1, keeping the option of breaking up the

centre later on. I wanted him to advance this P as there is now a ine
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:
irst, P - Q R 4, in order to maintain the White B in the dominating
position that it now occupies. This would have been met by Q - B 2;
second, either of the Rooks to Q 1 in order to threaten 16 P × P, B × P;
17 Kt × B, Q × Kt; 18 B × P ch. This would have been met by B - Kt 5; and
third, P - K R 3 to prevent B - Kt 5 and by playing either R to Q 1,
followed up as previously stated to force Black to play P - Q Kt 4, which
would weaken his Queen's side Pawns. Thus by playing P - K R 3 White
would have attained the desired object. The text move blocks the
action of the White B and facilitates Black's development. Hereafter
White will act on the defensive, and the interest throughout the rest of
the game will centre mainly on Black's play and the manner in which he
carries out the attack.

15. ........ Q-B2

16. B - Q 3

(This seems wrong, as it makes the development of Black's Queen wing

easier. At present he cannot play P - Q Kt 3, because of the reply P × P
followed by B - Q 5.)

16. ........ P - Q Kt 3
17. P - B 4 B - Kt 2
18. K R - B 1

(With the idea of Q R - Kt 1 and P - B 5. But it only compels Black to

bring his B to Q B 4, which he would do in any case.)

18. ........ B-K2

19. R - B 2 B-B4
20. Q - Kt 2 P-B3
(It would have been better, probably, to play 20...K R - K 1, with the idea
of P - B 4 presently.) Black's play hereabout is weak; it lacks force, and
there seems to be no well-de ined plan of attack. It is true that these are
the most dif icult positions to handle in a game. In such cases a player
must conceive a plan on a large scale, which promises chances of
success, and with it all, it must be a plan that can be carried out with
the means at his disposal. From the look of the position it seems that
Black's best chance would be to mass his forces for an attack against
White's centre, to be followed by a direct attack against the King. He
should, therefore, play Q R - K 1, threatening P - K B 4. If White is able to
defeat this plan, or rather to prevent it, then, once he has ixed some of
the White pieces on the King's side, he should quickly shift his attack to
the Queen's side, and open a line for his Rooks, which, once they enter
in action, should produce an advantage on account of the great power
of the two Bishops.

21. Q R - Kt 1 Q R - Q 1
22. P - Q R 4 B-R3
23. R - Q 1

(White has clearly lost time with his Rook's moves.)

23. ........ KR-K1

24. Q - Kt 3

(To bring his Queen across after Kt - R 4 and B - K 2.)

24. ........ R-Q3

 25. Kt - R 4 P - Kt 3
26. B - K 2

26. ........ P×P

(I thought this exchange necessary here, as White is threatening to play

his Bishop via Kt 4 to K 6. If he retook with the Bishop's Pawn I
intended to exchange Bishops and rely on the two Pawns to one on the
Queen's wing. I did not expect him to retake it with the King's Pawn,
which seemed to expose him to a violent King's side attack.) Black's
judgment in this instance I believe to be faulty. Had White retaken with
the B P, as he expected, he would have had the worst of the Pawn
position, as White would have had a passed Pawn well supported on
the Queen's side. His only advantage would lie in his having a very well
posted Bishop against a badly posted Knight, and on the fact that in
such positions as the above, the Bishop is invariably stronger than the
Knight. He could and should have prevented all that, by playing B - B 1,
as, had White then replied with Q - Kt 3, he could then play P × P, and
White would not have been able to retake with the B P on account of
B × P ch winning the exchange.

27. K P × P P-K5
28. P - Kt 3 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 in due time by P - K Kt 4 and
P - B 5, after having placed the Q at Q 2, K B 2, or some other square as
the occasion demanded. The text move blocks the action of the
powerful B at Q B 4, and tends to make White's position safer than it
should have been. The move in itself is a very strong attacking move,
but it is isolated, and there is no effective continuation. Such advances
as a rule should only be made when they can be followed by a concerted
action of the pieces.

29. P - B 4 B-B1
30. Kt - B 3 B-B4
31. R - Kt 2 R-K5
32. K - Kt 2 Q-B1
33. Kt - Kt 1 P - K Kt 4

(If now 34 B - B 3, P × P; 35 B × R, B × B ch, with a winning attack.)

34. P × P P×P
35. R - K B 1 P - Kt 5
R - R 3 was the alternative. White's only move would have been K - R 1.
The position now is evidently won for Black, and it is only a question of
inding the right course. The inal attack is now carried on by Sir
George Thomas in an irreproachable manner.

36. B - Q 3 R-KB3
37. Kt - K 2 Q-B1

(Again preventing B × R, by the masked attack on White's Rook. White

therefore protects his Rook.) If Kt - B 4, P - K 7 !; 39 Kt × P, R × Kt ch;
40 R × R, B - K 5 ch !!; 41 B × B, best, R × R and White is lost. If, however,
against 38 Kt - B 4, Black plays Q - R 3, and White 39 Q - B 2, I take
pleasure in offering the position to my readers as a most beautiful and
extraordinary win for Black, beginning with 39...Q - R 6 ch !!! I leave the
variations for the student to work out.

38. R (Kt 2) - Kt 1Q - R 3
 39. Q - B 2

(Making a double attack on the Rook—which still cannot be taken—

and preparing to defend the K R P.) If either the Rook or Bishop are
taken White would be mated in a few moves.

39. ........ Q - R 6 ch
40. K - R 1 R × P !!

(If 40...R - R 3; 41 Kt - Kt 1, Q × Kt P; 42 Q - K Kt 2. Black therefore tries

to get the Queen away from the defence.) A very beautiful move, and
the best way to carry on the attack.

41. Q × R

(The best defence was 41 R × B, but Black would emerge with Queen
against Rook and Knight.)
 41. ........ B×B

(Again, not R - K R 3; because of P - Q 6 dis. ch.)

42. R × R

(If 42 Q × B, then, at last, R - R 3 wins.)

42. ........ B×Q

43. Kt - B 4 P-K7!

(The Queen has no escape, but White has no time to take it.)

44. R - K Kt 1 Q - B 8

White resigns. A very ine inish.

 CHAPTER V
E -G S

We must now revert once more to the endings. Their importance will
have become evident to the student who has taken the trouble to study
my game with Janowski (Example 53). After an uneventful opening—a
Ruy Lopez—in one of its normal variations, my opponent suddenly
made things interesting by offering the exchange; an offer which, of
course, I accepted. Then followed a very hard, arduous struggle, in
which I had to defend myself against a very dangerous attack made
possible by the excellent manœuvring 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 irst
appeared, and inally—perhaps through one weak move on my part—it
became a very dif icult matter to ind 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 irst rank are at times not
free. Incidentally, I might call attention to the fact that all the world's
champions of the last sixty years have been exceedingly strong in the
endings: Morphy, Steinitz, and Dr. Lasker had no superiors in this
department of the game while they held their titles.

26. THE SUDDEN ATTACK FROM A DIFFERENT SIDE

I have previously stated, when speaking about general theory, that at

times the way to win consists in attacking irst on one side, then,
granted greater mobility of the pieces, to transfer the attack quickly
from one side to the other, breaking through before your opponent has
been able to bring up suf icient forces to withstand the attack. This
principle of the middle-game can sometimes be applied in the endings
in somewhat similar manner.

Example 56.

In the above position I, with the Black pieces, played:

1. ........ R - K 5 ch
2. R - K 2 R-QR5
3. R - R 2 P-KR4

The idea, as will be seen very soon, is to play P - R 5 in order to ix

White's King's side Pawns with a view to the future. It is evident to
Black that White wants to bring his King to Q Kt 3 to support his two
weak isolated Pawns, and thus to free his Rooks. Black, therefore,
makes a plan to shift the attack to the King's side at the proper time, in
order to obtain some advantage from the greater mobility of his Rooks.

4. R - Q 1 R (Q 4) - Q R 4

in order to force the Rook to Rook's square, keeping both Rooks tied
up.

5. R (Q 1) - R 1P - R 5
6. K - Q 2 K - Kt 2
7. K - B 2 R - K Kt 4

Black begins to transfer his attack to the King's side.

8. R - K Kt 1

A serious mistake, which loses quickly. White should have played

8 K - Kt 3, when Black would have answered 8...R (R 5) - R 4; 9 P - B 3,
and Black would have obtained an opening at K Kt 6 for his King, which
in the end might give him the victory.

8. ........ R-KB5

Now the King cannot go to Kt 3, because of R - Kt 4 ch.

9. K - Q 3 R - B 6 ch
10. K - K 2

If P × R, R × R; followed by R - K R 8 winning,
 10. ........ R×RP

and Black won after a few moves.

Example 57.—Another good example, in which is shown the

advantage of the greater mobility of the pieces in an ending, is the
following from a game Capablanca-Kupchick played at the Havana
Masters Tournament, 1913. The full score and notes of the game can be
found in the book of the tournament.
White's only advantage in the above position is that he possesses the
open ile and has the move, which will secure him the initiative. There
is also the slight advantage of having his Pawns on the Queen's side
united, while Black has an isolated Q R P. The proper course, as in the
previous ending, is to bring the Rooks forward, so that at least one of
them may be able to shift from one side of the board to the other, and
thus keep Black's Rooks from moving freely. What this means in
general theory has been stated already; it really means: keep harassing
the enemy; force him to use his big pieces to defend Pawns. If he has a
weak point, try to make it weaker, or create another weakness
somewhere else and his position will collapse sooner or later. If he has a
weakness, and he can get rid of it, make sure that you create another
weakness somewhere else.

From the position in question the game continued thus:

1. R - K 4 KR-K1
with the object of repeating White's manœuvre, and also not to allow
White the control of the open ile.

2. Q R - K 1 R-K3
3. Q R - K 3 R (B 1) - K 1
4. K - B 1 K-B1

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 justi ied
at least on the general rule that in such endings the King should be in
the middle of the board. He does nothing after all but follow White's
footsteps. Besides, it is hard to point out anything better. If 4...P - Q 4;
5 R - Kt 4 ch, followed by K - K 2, would leave Black in a very
disagreeable position. If 4...P - K B 4; 5 R - Q 4! R × R? 6 P × R, R × P;
7 K - B 2, R - K 2; 8 R - Q R 4, winning the Q R P, which would practically
leave White with a passed Pawn ahead on the Queen's side, as the three
Pawns of Black on the King's side would be held by the two of White.

5. K - K 2 K-K2
6. R - Q R 4 R-QR1

The student should note that through the same manœuvre Black is
forced into a position similar to the one shown in the previous ending.

7. R - R 5!

This move has a manifold object. It practically ixes all of Black's Pawns
except the Q P, which is the only one that can advance two squares. It
specially prevents the advance of Black's K B Pawns, and at the same
time threatens the advance of White's K B Pawns to B 4 and B 5. By this
threat it practically forces Black to play P - Q 4, which is all White
desires, for reasons that will soon become evident.

7. ........ P-Q4
8. P - Q B 4! K-Q3

Evidently forced, as the only other move to save a Pawn would have
been P × P, which would have left all Black's Pawns isolated and weak. If
8...P - Q 5; 9 R - K 4, K - Q 3; 10 P - Q Kt 4! R - K 4; 11 R - R 6, and Black's
game is hopeless.

9. P - B 5 ch K-Q2
10. P - Q 4 P-B4

Apparently very strong, since it forces the exchange of Rooks because

of the threat R - R 3; but in reality it leads to nothing. The best chance
was to play R - K K 1.

11. R × R P×R
12. P - B 4

Up to now White had played with inesse, but this last move is weak.
R - R 6 was the proper way to continue, so as to force Black to give up
his Q R P or Q B P.

12. ........ K-B1

13. K - Q 2

Again a bad move. 13 R - R 3 was the proper continuation, and if then

13...R - Kt 1; 14 P - Kt 3, K - Kt 2; 15 P - Kt 4, K - R 1; 16 R - Q Kt 3, with
excellent winning chances; in fact, I believe, a won game.

13. ........ K - Kt 2

Black misses his only chance. R - Kt 1 would have drawn.

14. R - R 3 R - K Kt 1
15. R - R 3 R - Kt 2
16. K - K 2 K-R3
17. R - R 6 R-K2
18. K - Q 3 K - Kt 2

He goes back with the King to support his K P, and thus be able to
utilise his Rook. It is, however, useless, and only White's weak play later
on gives him further chances of a draw.

19. P - K R 4 K-B1
 20. R - R 5

To prevent the Black Rook from controlling the open ile

20. ........ K-Q2

21. R - Kt 5 R-B2
22. K - B 3 K-B1

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-B3
24. K - R 5 K - Kt 2
25. P - R 4 P-QR3
26. P - R 5 R-R3

He can do nothing but wait for White. The text move stops White from
moving his Rook, but only for one move.

27. P - Kt 4 R-B3

The only other move was K - R 2; when White could play R - Kt 7, or

even P - Kt 5.
 28. P - Kt 5

A weak move, which gives Black a ighting chance. In this ending, as is

often the case with most players, White plays the best moves whenever
the situation is dif icult and requires careful handling, but once his
position seems to be overwhelming he relaxes his efforts and the result
is nothing to be proud of. The right move was 28 R - Kt 7.

28. ........ RP×P

29. P × P R-B1!
30. R - Kt 7 R - R 1 ch
31. K - Kt 4 P×P
32. K × P R-R7
33. P - B 6 ch K - Kt 1
34. R × R P R - Kt 7 ch
 35. K - R 5 R - R 7 ch
36. K - Kt 4 R×P

Black misses his last chance: R - Kt 7 ch, forcing the King to B 3, in order
to avoid the perpetual, would probably draw. The reader must bear in
mind that my opponent was then a very young and inexperienced
player, and consequently deserves a great deal of credit for the ight he
put up.

37. R - K 7 R×P

R - Kt 7 ch; followed by R - K R 7, offered better chances.

38. P - R 6! R × P ch
39. K - Kt 5 R-Q8
40. P - R 7 R - Kt 8 ch
41. K - B 5 R - B 8 ch
42. K - Q 4 R - Q 8 ch
43. K - K 5 R - K 8 ch
44. K - B 6 R-KR8
45. R - K 8 ch K - R 2
46. P - R 8 (Q) R × Q
47. R × R K - Kt 3
48. K × P K×P
49. K × P K-B4
50. K - K 5 Resigns.
This ending shows how easy it is to make weak moves, and how often,
even in master-play, mistakes are made and opportunities are lost. It
shows that, so long as there is no great advantage of material, even
with a good position, a player, no matter how strong, cannot afford to
relax his attention even for one move.

27. THE DANGER OF A SAFE POSITION

Example 58.—A good proof of the previous statement is shown in the

following ending between Marshall and Kupchick in one of their two
games in the same Tournament (Havana, 1913).

It is evident that Marshall (White) is under great dif iculties in the

above position. Not only is he bound to lose a Pawn, but his position is
rather poor. The best he could hope for was a draw unless something
altogether unexpected happened, as it did. No reason can be given for
Black's loss of the game except that he felt so certain of having the best
of it with a Pawn more and what he considered a safe position, that he
became exceedingly careless and did not consider the danger that
actually existed. Let us see how it happened.

1. P - Kt 4 R×RP

The mistakes begin. This is the irst. 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 × P. If
instead White played K - K 4, then R - K 4 ch followed by R × R P.

2. R - Q 1 R - R 5 ch

Mistake number two, and this time such a serious one as to almost lose
the game. The proper move was to play P - B 4 in order to break up
White's Pawns and at the same time make room for the Black King,
which is actually in danger, as will soon be seen.

3. R - Q 4 R (R5) - R 4

Mistake number three and this time fatal. His best move was
R (Kt 4) - R 4. After the text move there is no defence. Black's game is
lost. This shows that even an apparently simple ending has to be played
with care. From a practically won position Black inds himself with a
lost game, and it has only taken three moves.

4. R (Q 4) - Q 8R - Kt 2

If 4...P - B 4; 5 R - R 8 ch, K - Kt 3; 6 R (B 8) - Kt 8 ch, K - B 3; 7 R × P ch,

R - Kt 3; 8 P - Kt 5 ch, K - K 2; 9 R (R 6) × R, P × R; 10 R - Kt 7 ch, K - K 1;
11 R × Kt P, and wins easily.

5. P - R 4 P-R4
6. R - R 8 ch Resigns.

The reason is evident. If 6...K - Kt 3; 7 P × P ch, R × P; 8 R × R, K × R;

9 R - R 8 ch, K - Kt 3; 10 P - R 5 mate.

28. ENDINGS WITH ONE ROOK AND PAWNS

The reader has probably realised by this time that endings of two
Rooks and Pawns are very dif icult, and that the same holds true for
endings of one Rook and Pawns. Endings of two Rooks and Pawns are
not very common in actual play; but endings of one Rook and Pawns
are about the most common sort of endings arising on the chess board.
Yet though they do occur so often, few have mastered them thoroughly.
They are often of a very dif icult nature, and sometimes while
apparently very simple they are in reality extremely intricate. Here is
an example from a game between Marshall and Rosenthal in the
Manhattan Chess Club Championship Tournament of 1909-1910.

Example 59.
In this position Marshall had a simple win by R - B 7 ch, but played
P - B 6, and thereby gave Black a chance to draw. Luckily for him Black
did not see the drawing move, played poorly, and lost. Had Black been
up to the situation he would have drawn by playing R - Q 3.

1. P - B 6 R-Q3!

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-Q1!
3. R - R 5 ch K-B5

and White will inally have to sacri ice the Rook for Black's Pawn. Or—

(b) 2. R - B 7 ch K-Q5!
3. P - B 7 R - Kt 3 ch !
a very important move, as against R - K B 3, R - K 7 wins.

4. K - B 1 R-KB3
5. R - Kt 7 K-B6

and White will inally have to sacri ice the Rook for the Pawn, or draw
by perpetual check.

If there were nothing more in the ending it would not be of any great
value, but there are other very interesting features. Now suppose that
after 1 P - B 6, R - Q 3; 2 P - B 7, Black did not realise that R - Q 1 was the
only move to draw. We would then have the following position:

Now there would be two other moves to try: either (a) R - Kt 3 ch, or
(b) R - K B 3. Let us examine them.

(a) 1. ........ R - Kt 3 ch
2. K - B 3 R - B 3 ch
 3. K - K 3 R - K 3 ch

If P - Kt 6; R - R 5 ch wins, because if the King goes back, then R - R 6,

and if the King goes up, then R - R 4 ch, followed by R - K B 4 wins.

4. K - Q 3 R-KB3

If R - Q 3 ch; K - K 4 wins.

5. R - R 5 ch K moves
6. R - R 6 wins

(b) 1. ........ R-B3

2. R - Kt 7 ! K-B5

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.

3. P - R 4 P - Kt 6
4. R - Kt 4 ch K moves
5. R - Kt 3

and White will either capture the Pawn or play R - K B 3, according to

the circumstances, and come out with a winning ending.

Now, going back to the position shown on page 122, suppose that after
1 P - B 6, R - Q 3; 2 R - B 7 ch, Black did not realise that K - Q 5 was the
only move to draw, and consequently played K - Kt 3 instead, we would
then have the following position:
Now the best continuation would be:

1. P - B 7 R - Kt 3 ch (best)
2. K - B 1 R - K B 3
3. R - K 7 ! K - B 4 (best)

White threatened to check with the Rook at K 6.

4. K - K 2 P - Kt 6

Best. If K - B 5; both P - R 4 and K - K 3 will win; the last-named move

particularly would win with ease.

5. R - K 3 P - Kt 7 (best)
6. R - Q Kt 3 R × P
7. R × P R-KR2
 8. R - Q 2 R×P
9. K - K 3

This position we have arrived at is won by White, because there are

two iles 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 ile. This
last condition is very important, because if, instead of the position on
the diagram, the Black Rook were at K R 1, and Black had the move, he
could draw by preventing the advance of the Pawn, either through
constant checks or by playing R - K B 1 at the proper time.

Now that we have explained the reasons why this position is won, we
leave it to the student to work out the correct solution.

The fact that out of one apparently simple ending we have been able to
work out several most unusual and dif icult endings should be
suf icient to impress upon the student's mind the necessity of
becoming well acquainted with all kinds of endings, and especially with
endings of Rook and Pawns.

29. A DIFFICULT ENDING: TWO ROOKS AND PAWNS

Following our idea that the best way to learn endings as well as
openings is to study the games of the masters, we give two more
endings of two Rooks and Pawns. These endings, as already stated, are
not very common, and the author is fortunate in having himself played
more of these endings than is generally the case. By carefully
comparing and studying the endings already given (Examples 56 and
57) with the following, the student no doubt can obtain an idea of the
proper method to be followed in such cases. The way of procedure is
somewhat similar in all of them.

Example 60.—From a game, Capablanca-Kreymborg, in the New York

State Championship Tournament of 1910.
It is Black's move, and no doubt thinking that drawing such a position
(that was all Black played for) would be easy, he contented himself with
a waiting policy. Such conduct must always be criticised. It often leads
to disaster. The best way to defend such positions is to assume the
initiative and keep the opponent on the defensive.

1. ........ QR-K1

The irst 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 ix the Queen's side. After that he could
decide what demonstration he could make with his Rooks to keep the
opponent's Rooks at bay.

2. R - Q 4

This move not only prevents P - B 5 which Black intended, but

threatens P - Kt 3, followed, after P × 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 × P ch
4. P × P K-B2
5. K - Q 3

R - Q R 1 should have been played now, in order to force Black to defend

with R - K 2. White, however, does not want to disclose his plan at once,
and thus awaken Black to the danger of his position, hence this move,
which seems to aim at the disruption of Black's Queen's side Pawns.

5. ........ R-K2
6. R - Q R 1 K-K3

This is a mistake. Black is unaware of the danger of his position. He

should have played P - Kt 4; threatening R - R 3, and, by making this
demonstration against White's K R P, stop the attack against his
Queen's side Pawns, which will now develop.

7. R - R 6 R-QB2

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 4P - 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 left his game completely paralysed. Black
now inally 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 × R P, because of R × R,
followed by R - R 3, recovering the Pawn with advantage.

9. P - K R 4 ! P - Kt 5

Black is now in a very disagreeable position. If he played 9...P × P;

10 R × P would leave him in a very awkward situation, as he could not
go back with the King, nor could he do much with either Rook. He
practically would have to play 10...P - K R 3, when White would answer
11 P - Kt 4, threatening to win a Pawn by P - Kt 5, or, if that were not
enough, he might play K - Q 4, to be followed inally by the entry of the
King at B 5 or K 5.

10. K - K 2
 10. ........ P × P ch

Again he cannot play P - K R 4, because P - K B 4 would leave him

paralysed. The advance of his K R P would make White's K R P safe, and
consequently his K R would have to retire to K B 2 to defend the Q R P.
That would make it impossible for his King to go to Q 2, because of the
Q R P, nor could he advance a single one of his Pawns. On the other
hand, White would play P - Kt 4, threatening to win a Pawn by P - Kt 5,
or he might irst play K - Q 4, and then at the proper time P - Kt 5, if
there was nothing better. Black meanwhile could really do nothing but
mark time with one of his Rooks. Compare this bottling-up system with
the ending in Example 57, and it will be seen that it is very similar.

11. K × P R (B 3) - B 2
12. K - K 2

Probably wrong. P - Kt 4 at once was the right move. The text move
gives Black good chances of drawing.

12. ........ K-Q3

13. P - Kt 4 R - Q Kt 2

This could never have happened had White played 12 P - Kt 4, as he

could have followed it up by P - Kt 5 after Black's K - Q 3.

14. P - R 5

Not good. P - K B 4 offered the best chances of winning by force. If then

14...R - Kt 2; 15 P - R 5, R - Kt 7 ch; 16 K - Q 3, R - K R 7; 17 R × P, R × R;
18 R × R, R × P; 19 R - R 6, with winning chances.

14. ........ P-R3

Black misses his last chance. P - B 5 would draw. If then 15 P × P,

R (Kt 2) - K 2 ch !; 16 K - B 1, R × P; 17 R × P, R - K 6 !

15. P - K B 4 R - Kt 2
16. K - Q 3 R (K Kt 2) - K 2
17. R - R 1 R - Kt 2
18. K - Q 4 R - Kt 7
19. R (R 6) - R 2R (Kt 2) - Kt 2

R (Kt 7) - Kt 2 would have offered greater resistance, but the position is

lost in any case. (I leave the student to work this out.)

20. K - Q 3 ! R×R
 21. R × R R-K2

Nothing would avail. If 21...R - Kt 8; 22 R - R 6 ! R - Q 8 ch; 23 K - B 2,

R - K R 8; 24 P - Kt 5, R × P; 25 R × 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-K2
24. R - Kt 8 P-B4

Black is desperate. He sees he can no longer defend his Pawns.

25. R - Kt 6 ch R - K 3
26. P × P ch K-Q2
27. R - Kt 7 ch K - B 3
28. R × P K×P
29. R - K B 7 Resigns.

Example 61.—From the game Capablanca-Janowski, New York

National Tournament of 1913.
Black's game has the disadvantage of his double Q B P, which, to make
matters worse, he cannot 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
inally 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 ile. It will be
seen that this plan was carried out during the course of the game, and
that White obtained his winning advantage in that way. The play was
based throughout on the chance of obtaining a passed Pawn on the
King's ile, with which White expected to win.

1. P - K Kt 4

already preparing to play P - K Kt 5 when the time comes.

1. ........ P - Q Kt 3
Black wants to play P - Q B 4, but White, of course, prevents it.

2. P - Kt 4 ! K - Kt 2

This King should come to the King's side, where the danger lurks.

3. K - B 2 P - Q Kt 4

With the object of playing K - Kt 3 and P - Q R 4, followed by P × P, and

thus have an open ile for his Rook and be able to make a counter-
demonstration on the Queen's side in order to stop White's advance on
the right. White, however, also prevents this.

4. P - Q R 4 ! R-Q5

Of course if P × P; Black will have all his Pawns on the Queen's side
disrupted and isolated, and White can easily regain the lost Pawn by
playing either Rook on the Q R ile.

5. R - Q Kt 1 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 - K 3 R-Q2
7. P - R 5

The irst part of White's strategic plan is now accomplished. Black's

Pawns on the Queen's side are ixed for all practical purposes.

7. ........ R-K3
If R × R; Kt P × R would have given White a very powerful centre. Yet it
might have been the best chance for Black.

8. R (Kt) - K B 1R (Q 2) - K 2
9. P - Kt 5 P×P
10. R × P

The second part of White's strategical plan is now accomplished. It

remains to ind out if the advantage obtained is suf icient to win. White
not only has a passed Pawn, but his King is in a commanding position
in the centre of the board ready to support the advance of White's
Pawns, or, if necessary, to go to Q B 5, or to move to the right wing in
case of danger. Besides, White holds the open ile with one of his Rooks.
Altogether White's position is superior and his chances of winning are
excellent.
 10. ........ R-R3
11. R - Kt 3 R (R 3) - K 3

to prevent P - Q 4. Also Black fears to keep his Rook in front of his two
King's side Pawns which he may want to utilise later.

12. P - R 4 P - Kt 3
13. R - Kt 5 P-R3

White threatens P - R 5, which would inally force Black to take, and

then White would double his Rooks against the isolated Pawn and win
it, or tie up Black's Rooks completely. The text move, however, only
helps White; therefore Black had nothing better than to hold tight and
wait. R - K 4 would not help much, as White would simply answer
R - B 8, R - K 1; R (Kt 5) × R, and whichever Rook Black took, White
would have an easy game. (The student should carefully study these
variations.)

14. R - Kt 4 R - Kt 2
15. P - Q 4 K-B1
16. R - B 8 ch K - Kt 2

K - Q 2 would not help much, but since he made the previous move he
should now be consistent and play it.

17. P - K 5 P - Kt 4
18. K - K 4 R (K 3) - K 2
19. P × P P×P
 20. R - B 5 K-B1
21. R (Kt 4) × PR - R 2
22. R - R 5 K-Q2
23. R × R R×R
24. R - B 8 R - R 5 ch
25. K - Q 3 R - R 6 ch
26. K - Q 2 P-B4
27. Kt P × P 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 manœuvre 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 irst game of the Lasker-Marshall

Championship Match in 1907.

In this position it is Black's move. To a beginner the position may look

like a draw, but the advanced player will realise immediately that there
are great possibilities for Black to win, not only because he has the
initiative, but because of White's undeveloped Queen's side and the
fact that a Bishop in such a position is better than a Knight (see Section
14). It will take some time for White to bring his Rook and Knight into
the fray, and Black can utilise it to obtain an advantage. There are two
courses open to him. The most evident, and the one that most players
would take, is to advance the Pawn to Q B 4 and Q B 5 immediately in
conjunction with the Bishop check at R 3 and any other move that
might be necessary with the Black Rook. The other, and more subtle,
course was taken by Black. It consists in utilising his Rook in the same
way as shown in the previous endings, forcing White to defend
something all the time, restricting the action of White's Knight and
White's Rook, while at the same time keeping freedom of action for his
own Rook and Bishop.

1. ........ R - Kt 1

This forces P - Q Kt 3, which blocks that square for the White Knight.

2. P - Kt 3 R - Kt 4

bringing the Rook to attack the King's side Pawns so as to force the
King to that side to defend them, and thus indirectly making more
secure the position of Black's Queen's side Pawns.

3. P - B 4 R-KR4
4. K - Kt 1 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 - Q 2 K-B2
6. R - B 1 ch

This check accomplishes nothing. It merely drives Black's King where it

wants to go. Consequently it is a very bad move. P - Q R 3 at once was
the best move.

6. ........ K-K2
7. P - Q R 3 R-R3
Getting ready to shift the attack to the Queen's side, where he has the
advantage in material and position.

8. P - K R 4 R-R3

Notice how similar are the manœuvres with this Rook to those seen in
the previous endings.

9. R - R 1 B - Kt 5

Paralysing the action of the Knight and ixing the whole King's side.

10. K - B 2 K-K3

White cannot answer Kt - B 3, because B × Kt followed by K - K 4 will

win a Pawn, on account of the check at K B 3 which cannot be stopped.

11. P - R 4 K-K4
12. K - Kt 2 R-KB3
13. R - K 1 P-Q6
14. R - K B 1 K-Q5

Now the King attacks White's Pawns and all will soon be over.

15. R × R P×R
16. K - B 2 P-B3

Merely to exhaust White's move, which will inally force him to move
either the King or the Knight.

17. P - Q R 5 P-QR3
 18. Kt - B 1 K×P
19. K - K 1 B-K7
20. Kt - Q 2 ch K - K 6
21. Kt - Kt 1 P-B4
22. Kt - Q 2 P-R4
23. Kt - Kt 1 K-B6
24. Kt - B 3 K×P
25. Kt - R 4 P-B5
26. Kt × P P-B6
27. Kt - K 4 ch K - B 5

The quickest way to win. White should resign.

28. Kt - Q 6 P-B4
29. P - Kt 4 P×P
30. P - B 5 P - Kt 6
31. Kt - B 4 K - Kt 6
32. Kt - K 3 P - Kt 7
Resigns.

A very good example on Black's part of how to conduct such an ending.

 CHAPTER VI
F O M -G

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 manœuvres 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 ile concentrate 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 convenient. 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.

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 K B 5, to obtain a crushing attack against Black's King,
which is generally Castled on the King's side. To prevent that, and also
to assume the initiative or obtain material advantage, Black makes a
counter-demonstration by P - Q B 4, followed by P × 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 White 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 condition 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 advancing either the one or the
other to the ifth 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 very 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.

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 own
games, not because they will better illustrate the point, but because,
knowing them thoroughly, I shall be able to explain 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 manœuvres 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.

1. P - K 4 P-K4
2. Kt - K B 3 Kt - Q B 3
3. B - Kt 5 P-QR3
4. B - R 4 Kt - B 3
5. O - O Kt × P
6. P - Q 4 P - Q Kt 4
7. B - Kt 3 P-Q4
8. P × P B-K3
9. P - B 3 B-K2
10. R - K 1 Kt - B 4
11. B - B 2 B - Kt 5
12. Q Kt - Q 2 O - O
13. Kt - Kt 3 Kt - K 3

So far a very well-known variation of the Ruy Lopez. In fact, they are the
moves of the Janowski-Lasker game in Paris, 1912.

14. Q - Q 3 P - Kt 3
Let us suppose the game went on, and that in some way White, by
playing 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 playing the White pieces against a
consulting team headed by Salwe.)

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 irst-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:

The Black pieces can be said to be ixed. If White plays Q - Q B 3, Black
must answer Q - Q 2, otherwise 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 inally have some such position as
this:

Example 66.
In this situation the game might go on as follows:

1. P × P, P × P; 2. Q - K B 3, Q - Q 2

White threatened to win a Pawn by Q × P, and Black could not play

2...R - K B 1, because 3 R × B P would also win a Pawn at least.

3. R (B 5) - B 2, R - Kt 3;
4. R - Kt 2, K - R 1;
5. R (B 1) - K Kt 1,R (B 1) - K Kt 1;
6. Q - R 5, R × R;
7. R × R, R × R;
8. K × R, Q - Kt 2 ch;
9. K - R 2, Q - Kt 3;
 10. Q × Q, P × Q;
11. P - 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 1. White would then simply defend
his K B P by some move like Q - K B 3, threatening R × 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. White might even be able to obtain the
following position:

Black would now be forced to play R - B 1, and White could then play
Q - B 2, and follow it up with K B 3, and thus force Black to play P × P,
which would give White a greater advantage.

A careful examination of all these positions will reveal that, besides the
advantage of freedom of manœuvre 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 constitute the pivot of all White's manœuvres.

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 bene it by further
practice of this kind.

33. THE INFLUENCE OF A "HOLE"

The in luence of a so-called "hole" in a game has already been

illustrated in my game against Blanco (page 81), where has been
shown the in luence exercised by the different pieces posted in the
hole created at White's K 5.

Example 67.—In order to further illustrate this point, I now give a

game played in the Havana International Masters Tournament of 1913.
(Queen's Gambit Declined.) White: D. Janowski. Black: A. Kupchick.

1. P - Q 4 P-Q4
2. P - Q B 4 P-K3
3. Kt - Q B 3 Kt - K B 3
4. B - Kt 5 B-K2
5. P - K 3 Q Kt - Q 2
6. B - Q 3 P×P
7. B × P Kt - Kt 3
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 manœuvre does not seem logical. The
Knight at Kt 3 does nothing except to prevent the development of his
own Q B. The normal course O - O, 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. Petersburg
Tournament of 1914.

8. B - Q 3

B - Kt 3 has some points in its favour in this position, the most

important being the possibility of advancing the King's Pawn
immediately after 8. ... K Kt - Q 4; 9 B × B, Q × B.

8. ........ K Kt - Q 4
9. B × B Q×B
10. Kt - B 3

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 × 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. ........ O-O

11. O - O B-Q2
12. R - B 1
White is perfectly developed, and now threatens to win a Pawn as
follows: Kt × Kt, Kt × Kt; P - K 4, followed by R × 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 suf icient 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 own Bishop, which thereby
becomes little 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 × Kt and thus get rid of one of the two White Knights
before assuming 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 - K 4 P-KB4

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 White Knight from reaching B 5.

14. Kt - B 5 B-K1
15. Kt - K 5

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 White going to derive the full
bene it from such an advantageous situation, This we shall soon see.
 15. ........ R - Kt 1

There is no object in this move, unless it is to be followed by Kt - Q 2. As

that is not the case, he might have gone with the Rook to B 1, as he does
later.

16. R - K 1 R-B3
17. Q - B 3 R-R3
18. Q - Kt 3 R-B1

White threatened to win the exchange by playing either Kt - B 7 or

Kt - Kt 4.

19. P - B 3 R-B2
20. P - Q R 3 K-R1
21. P - R 3

Perhaps all these precautions are unnecessary, but White feels that he
has more than enough time to prepare his attack, and wants to be
secure in every way before he begins.

21. ........ P - Kt 4
22. P - K 4 P-B5
23. Q - B 2 Kt - K 6

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.
 24. R × Kt

with this sacri ice of the Rook for a Knight and Pawn White obtains an
overwhelming position.

24. ........ P×R

25. Q × P Kt - B 1

Kt - Q 2 was better in order to get rid of one of the two White Knights.
There were, however, any number of good replies to it, among them the
following: Kt (B 5) × Kt, B × Kt; Q × P, Q × Q; Kt - B 7 ch, K - Kt 2; Kt × Q,
and with two Pawns for the exchange, and the position so much in his
favour, White should have no trouble in winning.

26. Kt - Kt 4 R - Kt 3
27. P - K 5 R - Kt 2
28. B - B 4 B-B2
All these moves are practically forced, and as it is easily seen they tie
up Black's position more and more. White's manœuvres 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) - K 4P - K R 3
31. P - K R 4 Kt - Q 4
32. Q - Q 2 R - Kt 3
33. P × P Q-B1

If P × P; K - B 2, and Black would be helpless.

34. P - B 4 Kt - K 2
35. P - K Kt 4 P × P
36. P × P Resigns.

There is nothing to be done. If B - Kt 1; Q - R 2 ch, K - Kt 2; B × 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 Q B 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
GAME 1. QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLINED

(Match, 1909)

White: F. J. Marshall. Black: J. R. Capablanca.

1. P - Q 4 P-Q4
2. P - Q B 4 P-K3
3. Kt - Q B 3 Kt - K B 3
4. B - Kt 5 B-K2
5. P - K 3 Kt - K 5

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 knowledge
of the different variations in this opening, coupled with the fact that I
knew that Dr. E. Lasker had been successful with it against Marshall
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 same Knight is
moved three times in the opening, although it involves the exchange of
two pieces. In reality the dif iculty in this variation, as well as in nearly
all the variations of the Queen's gambit, lies 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 development, but it is not unlikely that I should
some time come back to this variation.

6. B × B Q×B
7. B - Q 3

P × P is preferable for reasons that we shall soon see.

7. ........ Kt × Kt
8. P × Kt Kt - Q 2

Now P × P would be a better way to develop the game. The idea is that
after 8...P × P; 9 B × B P, 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 - B 3 O-O

No longer would 9...P × P; 10 B × P, P - Q Kt 3 be good, because

11 B - Kt 5 would prevent B - Kt 2 on account of Kt - K 5.

10. P × P P×P
11. Q - Kt 3 Kt - B 3
12. P - Q R 4 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 Pawns disrupted in a way. The safer course
would have been to play P - B 3.
13. Q - R 3 P - Q Kt 3
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 1. Then after 14 Q × P, Q × Q would follow, and I
believe that Black would regain the Pawn. If, instead, White played
14 P × P then B - Kt 5 would give Black an excellent game.

14. P - R 5 B - Kt 2
15. O - O Q-B2
16. K R - Kt 1 Kt - Q 2
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 1. If that
loses, then any other move would lose as well.

17. B - B 5 KR-B1

From bad to worse. Kt - B 3 offered the only hope.

18. B × Kt Q×B
19. P - R 6 B-B3
20. P × P P×P
21. Q × P Q R - Kt 1

The game was lost. One move was as good as another.

 22. R × R R×R
23. Kt - K 5 Q-B4
24. P - K B 4 R - Kt 3
25. Q × R ! Resigns.

Of course, if 25 Kt × B, R - Kt 8 ch would have drawn. The text move is

pretty and inishes quickly. A well-played game on Marshall's part.

GAME 2. QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLINED

(San Sebastian, 1911)

White: A. K. Rubinstein. Black: J. R. Capablanca.

1. P - Q 4 P-Q4
2. Kt - K B 3 P-QB4
3. P - B 4 P-K3
4. P × Q P KP×P
5. Kt - B 3 Kt -Q B 3
6. P - K Kt 3 B-K3

Kt - B 3 is the normal move in this variation. White's development was

irst 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 trying 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 - Kt 2 B-K2
8. O - O R-B1

In pursuance of the idea of changing the normal 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.

9. P X P B×P
10. Kt - K Kt 5 Kt - B 3
11. Kt × B P × Kt
12. B - R 3 Q-K2
 13. B - Kt 5 O-O

This is a mistake. The right move was R - Q 1 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. Incidentally it shows that White failed to take proper advantage
of Black's weak opening moves. Against the text move White makes a
very ine combination which I had seen, but which I thought could be
defeated.

14. B × Kt Q×B

I considered P × B, which it seemed would give me a playable game, but

I thought White's combination unsound and therefore let him play it, to
my lasting regret.

15. Kt × P ! Q-R3
 16. K - Kt 2 !

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 1, Q × R !! Q × Q,
B × P ch wins), Kt - Kt 5; 18 P - K R 3 (if Kt - R 3, B × P ch wins the
exchange), Kt × P; 19 R × Kt, B × R ch; 20 K × 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 1.

16. ........ QR-Q1

After White's last move there was nothing for me to do but submit to
the inevitable.

17. Q - B 1 ! P × Kt
 18. Q × B Q-Q7
19. Q - Kt 5 Kt - Q 5
20. Q - Q 3 Q×Q
21. P × Q KR-K1
22. B - Kt 4

This gives Black a chance. He should have played K R - K 1. If then

Kt - B 7; R × R ch, R × R; R - Q B 1, R - K 7; K - B 1, Kt - Q 5 (if R - Q 7;
B - K 6 ch, K - B 1; B × P would win); R - B 8 ch, K - B 2; R - B 7 ch, R - K 2;
R - B 5 wins.

22. ........ R-Q3

23. K R - K 1 R × R
24. R × R R - Q Kt 3
25. R - K 5 R×P
26. R × P Kt - B 3
27. B - K 6 ch K - B 1
28. R - B 5 ch K - K 1
29. B - B 7 ch K - Q 2
30. B - B 4
 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, R × R; B × R, Kt - Q 5; followed by P - Q Kt 4; and White would
have an exceedingly dif icult game to draw on account of the
dominating position of the Knight at 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.)

31. R - B 7 ch K - Q 3
32. R × K Kt P P - Kt 4
33. B - Kt 8 P-QR4
34. R × P P-R5
35. P - R 4 P - Kt 5
 36. R - R 6 ch K - B 4
37. R - R 5 ch K - Kt 3
38. B - Q 5

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 - Kt 6

R × P would make it practically impossible for White to win, if he can

win at all. White's best continuation then would have been: 39 B - B 4,
R - B 7; 40 R - Kt 5 ch, K - B 2; 41 B - Kt 8, P - R 6; 42 P - R 5, P - R 7;
43 B × P, R × B, and if there is a win it is very dif icult to ind it, as
against 44 P - R 6, R - R 3 ! offers excellent chances for a draw.

39. P × P P-R6
 40. B × Kt R × Kt P

If 40...P - R 7; 41 R - Kt 5 ch, K - R 3; 42 R - Kt 8.

41. B - Q 5 P-R7
42. R - R 6 ch Resigns.

As an end game, this is rather a sad exhibition for two masters. The
redeeming feature of the game is Rubinstein's ine combination in the
middle game, beginning with 14 B × Kt.

GAME 3. IRREGULAR DEFENCE

(Havana, 1913)

White: D. Janowski. Black: J. R. Capablanca.

1. P - Q 4 Kt - K B 3
2. Kt - K B 3 P-Q3
3. B - Kt 5 Q Kt - Q 2
4. P - K 3 P-K4
5. Kt - B 3 P-B3
6. B - Q 3 B-K2
7. Q - K 2 Q-R4
8. O - O Kt - B 1
9. K R - Q 1 B - Kt 5
At last Black is on his way to obtain full development. The idea of this
irregular opening is mainly to throw White 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 weakness, and
that it gives plenty of opportunity for deep and concealed manœuvring.
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 well-
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 de inite material advantage.

10. P - K R 3 B-R4
11. P × P P×P
12. Kt - K 4
 12. ........ Kt × Kt

A very serious mistake. I considered castling, which was the right

move, but desisted because I was afraid that by playing 13 B × Kt, P × B;
14 Kt - Kt 3, B - Kt 3; 15 Kt - B 5, White would obtain a winning 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
in luence the other.

13. B × B K×B
14. B × 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 × Kt at once was also
good, as it would have relieved the pressure against Black's King's
Pawn, and at the same time have simpli ied the game.

Here it is seen how failure to comply with the elementary logical

reasons, that govern any given position, often brings the player into
trouble. I was no doubt in luenced in my choice of moves by the fear of
B - B 5, which was a very threatening move.

15. Q - B 4 Kt - K 3
16. P - Q Kt 4 Q - B 2
17. B × B RP×B
18. Q - K 4 K-B3
 19. R - Q 3

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, supported 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, however, 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-Q1

 20. Q R - Q 1 P - K Kt 4

This move is preparatory to P - K Kt 3, which would make Black's

position secure. Unfortunately for Black, he did not carry out his
original plan.

21. P - B 4 R×R

P - K Kt 3 would have left Black with a perfectly safe game.

22. R × R R-Q1

A very serious mistake, which loses a Pawn. 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. R × R Kt × R

24. P - K R 4
This wins a Pawn, as will soon be seen. Black cannot reply 24...Kt - K 3;
because 25 P × P ch, Kt × P; 26 Q - R 4 wins the Knight.

24. ........ P×P

25. Q × P ch K-K3
26. Q - Kt 4 ch K - B 3
27. Q - Kt 5 ch K - K 3
28. Q × P Q-Q3
29. P - B 5 Q-Q4
30. P K 4 ! Q - Q 8 ch
31. K - R 2 P-B3
32. Q - Kt 4 ch ! K - K 2
33. Kt × P Q×Q
34. Kt × Q Kt - K 3
35. P - K 5 P×P
36. Kt × P Kt - Q 5

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)

White: J. R. Capablanca. Black: E. A. Snosko-Borovski.

 1. P - Q 4 P-K3
2. P - K 4 P-Q4
3. Kt - Q B 3 Kt - K B 3
4. B - Kt 5 B - Kt 5

This constitutes the McCutcheon Variation. It aims at taking the

initiative away from White. Instead of defending, Black makes a
counter demonstration on the Queen's side. It leads to highly
interesting games.

5. P × P

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. ........ Q×P

This is considered superior to P × P. It has for its object, as I said before,

to take the initiative away from White by disrupting White's Queen's
side. White, 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 more importance
than a similar occurrence on the Queen's side.

6. B × Kt B × Kt ch
7. P × B P×B
8. Kt - B 3 P - Q Kt 3

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 ile, to make a violent attack against
White's King. It is, of course, expected that White will Castle on the
King's side because of the broken-up condition of his Queen's side
Pawns.

9. Q - Q 2 B - Kt 2
10. B - K 2 Kt - Q 2
11. P - B 4 Q-KB4
12. O - O - O

An original idea, I believe, played for the irst time in a similar position
in a game against Mr. Walter Penn 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
position of White's King. Two possibilities must be considered. 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, White begins the attack irst, 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. ........ O-O-O

13. Q - K 3 K R - Kt 1
14. P - Kt 3 Q-QR4
Unquestionably a mistake, overlooking White's ine reply, but a careful
examination will show that White already has the better position.

15. R - Q 3 ! K - Kt 1
16. K R - Q 1 Q - K B 4

17. Kt - R 4

This move has been criticised because it puts the Knight out of the way
for a few moves. But by forcing Q - K Kt 4; White gains a very important
move with P - B 4, which not only consolidates 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
White's more important pieces.

17. ........ Q - K Kt 4
18. P - B 4 Q - Kt 2
 19. B - B 3

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 in such positions is of very great defensive
value, hence the advantage of getting rid of it.

19. ........ KR-K1

20. B × B K×B
21. P - Q B 5 ! P - B 3

White threatened P - B 6 ch.

22. Kt - B 3 Q-B1

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 - Q 2 ?

I had considered R - Kt 3, which was the right move, but gave it up

because it seemed too slow, and that in such a position there had to be
some quicker way of winning.

23. ........ P×P

24. Kt - B 4

Kt - K 4 or Kt - Kt 3 would have brought about an ending advantageous

to White.

24. ........ Kt - Kt 3
25. Kt - R 5 ch K - R 1
26. P × P Kt - Q 4
27. Q - Q 4 R-B1

If R - Kt 1; 28 Kt × P, R (Kt 1) - B 1; 29 Kt × 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 dif icult defence. He could easily have
gone wrong any number of times, but from move 22 onwards he always
played the best move.

28. ........ P-K4!

29. Q - Kt 1 P-K5
30. P × Kt P×R
31. P - Q 6 R-K7
32. P - Q 7 R - B 7 ch
33. K - Kt 1 R - Kt 1 ch
 34. Kt - Kt 3 Q-K2

35. R × P

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 ind out what would
happen if White plays Q - Q 4 ! at once. I have gone over the following
variations: 35 Q - Q 4, R × K R P (of course if R × B P, P - Q 8 wins);
36 Q × Q P ! R - Q 1; 37 Q - R 6, K - Kt 1 best (if Q - Q 5 ch; K - R 1, K - Kt 1;
R - Q Kt 1 wins); 38 Q × B P and White will at least have a draw.

35. ........ R-K7

36. Q - Q 4 R-Q1
37. Q - R 4 Q-K5
38. Q - R 6 K - Kt 1
There is nothing to be done against this simple move, since White
cannot play Kt - Q 4, because Q - R 8 mates.

39. K - B 1 R×QP
40. Kt - Q 4 R - K 8 ch
Resigns.

A very interesting battle.

GAME 5. RUY LOPEZ

(St. Petersburg, 1914)

White: Dr. E. Lasker. Black: J. R. Capablanca.

1. P - K 4 P-K4
2. Kt - K B 3 Kt - Q B 3
3. B - Kt 5 P-QR3
4. B × Kt

The object of this move is to bring about speedily a middle-game

without Queens, in which White 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. ........ QP×B
5. P - Q 4 P×P
 6. Q × P Q×Q
7. Kt × Q 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 dif icult 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 - Q B 3 Kt - K 2

A perfectly sound 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 eventualities, in order to go
to K Kt 3. There is also the possibility of its going to Q 5 via Q B 3 after
P - Q B 4.

9. O - O O-O
10. P - B 4

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-K1

Best. It threatens B - B 4; B - K 3, Kt - Q 4. It also prevents B - K 3

because of Kt - Q 4 or B 4.
 11. Kt - Kt 3 P-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 White in great dif iculties
to meet the combined attack against the two centre Pawns.

12. P - B 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 inally to obtain a lost position.

12. ........ P - Q Kt 3
13. B - B 4
 13. ........ B - Kt 2

Played against my better judgment. The right move of course was B × B.

Dr. Lasker gives the following variation: 13...B × B; 14 R × B, P - B 4;
15 Q R - Q 1, B - Kt 2; 16 R - B 2, Q R - Q 1; 17 R × R, R × R; 18 R - Q 2,
R × R; 19 Kt × R, and he claims that White has the best of it. But, as
Niemzovitch pointed out immediately after the game, 16...Q R - Q 1
given in Dr. Lasker's variation, is not the best. If 16...Q R - B 1 ! then
White will have great dif iculty in drawing the game, 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 manœuvre
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 dif icult to see how White can
prevent the loss of one or more Pawns.

14. B × B P×B
15. Kt - Q 4

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 × B.

15. ........ QR-Q1

The game is yet far from lost, as against the entry of the Knight, Black
can later on play P - B 4, followed by P - Q 4.

16. Kt - K 6 R-Q2
17. Q R - Q 1
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, 17...Kt - B 1, and later on
sacri ice 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: 17...P - B 4. If 18 Kt - Q 5, B × Kt; 19 P × B, P - Q Kt 4; and a
careful analysis will 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 1, Q Kt 3, and
Q B 5 or Q 2. Again, 17...P - B 4; 18 R - B 2, P - Q 4; 19 P × P, B × P;
20 Kt × B (best, since if R (B 2) - Q 2, B × Kt give Black the advantage),
R × Kt; 21 R × R, Kt × R; and there is no good reason why Black should
lose.

17. ........ Kt - B 1
18. R - B 2 P - Q Kt 4
19. K R - Q 2 R (Q 2) - K 2
20. P - Q Kt 4 K - B 2
21. P - Q R 3 B - R 1

Once more changing my plan and this time without any good reason.
Had I now played R × Kt; P × R ch, R × P; as I intended to do when I went
back with the Knight to B 1, I doubt very much if White would have
been able to win the game. At least it would have been extremely
dif icult.

22. K - B 2 R-R2
23. P - Kt 4 P-R3
 24. R - Q 3 P-QR4
25. P - K R 4 P × P
26. P × P R (R 2) - K 2

This, of course, has no object now. Black, with a bad game, lounders
around for a move. It would have been better to play R - R 6 to keep the
open ile, 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 1
28. K - B 4 P - Kt 3

Again bad. White'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 inishes the game most
accurately, and Black becomes more 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. Regarding the play of White, I consider
his 10th 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 - Kt 3 P - Kt 4 ch
30. K - B 3 Kt - Kt 3
31. P × P RP×P
32. R - R 3 R-Q2
 33. K - Kt 3 ! K-K1
34. Q R - K R 1 B - Kt 2
35. P - K 5 QP×P
36. Kt - K 4 Kt - Q 4
37. Kt (K 6) - B 5B - B 1
38. Kt × R B × Kt
39. R - R 7 R-B1
40. R - R 1 K-Q1
41. R - R 8 ch B-B1
42. Kt - B 5 Resigns.

GAME 6. FRENCH DEFENCE

(Rice Memorial Tournament, 1916)

White: O. Chajes. Black: J. R. Capablanca.

1. P - K 4 P-K3
2. P - Q 4 P-Q4
3. Kt - Q B 3 Kt - K B 3
4. B - Kt 5 B - Kt 5

Of all the variations of the French Defence I like this best, because it
gives Black more chances to obtain the initiative.
 5. P - K 5

Though I consider P × P the best move, there is much to be said in

favour of this move, but not of the variation as a whole, which White
adopted in this game.

5. ........ P-KR3
6. B - Q 2 B × Kt
7. P × B Kt - K 5
8. Q - Kt 4 K-B1

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
White'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.

9. B - B 1 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 - Q 3 Q-R4
11. Kt - K 2 P×P
12. O - O P×P
13. B × Kt P×B
14. Q × P Kt - B 3
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 position, because, besides
being a Pawn to the good, he threatens White's K P, which must of
course be defended, 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 - Q 1

To prevent Kt - K 2; which would be answered by Kt × P, or still better

by B - R 3. The move, however, 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 - K Kt 3
16. P - B 4 K - Kt 2
17. B - K 3

Better would have been P - Q R 4, in order to play B - R 3. The White B

would be much better posted on the open diagonal than here, where it
acts purely on the defensive.

17. ........ Kt - K 2
18. B - B 2 Kt - Q 4

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.

19. R - Q 3 B-Q2
20. Kt - Q 4 QR-QB1
21. R - Kt 3 K-R2
22. P - K R 4 K R - Kt 1
23. P - R 5 Q - Kt 5

In order to pin the Knight and be ready to come back to either K 2 or

B 1. Also to prevent Q R - Kt 1. In reality 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 - R 3

24. ........ P-B4

Not the best, as White will soon prove. Q - B 1 would have avoided
everything, but Black wants to assume the initiative at once and
plunges into complications. However, as will soon be seen, the move is
not a losing one by any means.

25. P × P e.p. Kt × P (B 3)
26. P × P ch R×P
 27. R × P ch

This wins the Queen.

27. ........ K×R

28. Kt - B 5 ch P × Kt
29. Q × Q
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 irst, forcing P - Kt 3 and then playing
K - R 4. I followed a similar plan, but lost a very important move by
playing Q R - K Kt 1; which gave White time to play R - Q 1. 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 1; 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 irst to play K - Kt 5), or Kt - K 5, which will at least give
him a draw. There are so many possibilities in this position that it
would be impossible to give them all. It will be worth the reader's time
to go carefully through the lines of play indicated above.
 29. ........ Q R - K Kt 1

As stated B - B 3 was the best move.

30. P - Kt 3 B-B3
31. R - Q 1 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 time to prevent the manœuvre. 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 ight for
a draw.

32. R - Q 6 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. Q × B P Kt - Q 4
34. R × R K×R

Kt × Q; R × R, Kt × P was no better.

35. Q - K 5 K-B2
36. P - B 4 R-K1
37. Q - Kt 2 Kt - B 3
 38. B - Q 4R - K R 1
39. Q - Kt 5 R - R 8 ch
40. K - B 2 P-R3
41. Q - Kt 6 R - R 7 ch
42. K - K 1 Kt - Q 2
43. Q - Q 6 B-B3
44. P - Kt 4 P×P
45. P - K B 5 R - R 8 ch
46. K - Q 2 K-K1
47. P - B 6 R-R2
48. Q - K 6 chK - B 1
49. B - K 3 R-B2
50. B - R 6 ch K - Kt 1

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 following variation, which Chajes came very near playing:
51 Q × P ch, K - R 2; 52 Q - R 5, R × P; 53 B - Kt 5 ch, K - Kt 2; 54 B × R ch,
K × 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 inally won as shown below.

51. B - Kt 7 P - Kt 6
52. K - K2 P - Kt 7
 53. K - B 2 Kt - B 1
54. Q - Kt 4 Kt - Q 2
55. K - Kt 1 P-R4
56. P - R 4 B×P
57. Q - R 3 R×P
58. B × R Kt × B
59. Q × P ch K-B1
60. Q × P

and after a very few more moves Black resigned.

A very ine 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.

GAME 7. RUY LOPEZ

(San Sebastian, 1911)

White: J. R. Capablanca. Black: A. Burn

1. P - K 4 P-K4
2. Kt - K B 3 Kt - Q B 3
3. B - Kt 5 P-QR3
4. B - R 4 Kt - B 3
 5. P - Q 3

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 - B 3 B-K2

In this variation there is the alternative of developing this Bishop via

Kt 2, after P - K Kt 3.

7. Q Kt - Q 2 O-O
8. Kt - B 1 P - Q Kt 4
9. B - B 2 P-Q4
10. Q - K 2 P×P
11. P × P B-QB4

Evidently to make room for the Queen at K 2, but I do not think the
move advisable 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

Now it is not so effective, because White's Q B is out, and the Knight, in

going to K 3 to defend the square Q B 4, does not block the Q B.

13. Kt - K 3 R-K1
 14. O - O 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.

15. Kt - Q 5 B × Kt
16. P × B Kt - Kt 1

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 - Q R 4 P - Kt 5

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. The text move not only loses a Pawn, but leaves Black's
game very much weakened.
 18. P × P B×P
19. B × Kt Q×B
20. Q - K 4 B-Q3
21. Q × P ch K-B1

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 ile, Black might be able to start a strong attack
against White's King. White is able by his next move to eliminate all
danger.

22. Kt - R 4 Q-R3

This is practically forced. Black could not play P - Kt 3 because of B × P,

and White meanwhile threatened Q - R 8 ch followed by Kt - B 5 ch and
Q × P.
 23. Q × Q P×Q
24. Kt - B 5 P-KR4
25. B - Q 1 Kt - Q 2
26. B × P Kt - B 3
27. B - K 2 Kt × P
28. K R - Q 1 Kt - B 5
29. B - B 4 KR-Q1
30. P - R 4 P-R4

Black must lose time assuring the safety of this Pawn.

31. P - Kt 3 Kt - K 3
32. B × Kt P×B
33. Kt - K 3 K R - Kt 1
34. Kt - B 4 K-K2

Black ights 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. Q R - B 1 R-R2

White threatened Kt × B, followed by R - B 7 ch.

36. R - K 1 K-B3
37. R - K 4 R - Kt 5
38. P - Kt 4 R-R3
If R × R P; Kt × B of course would win a piece

39. R - B 3 B-B4
40. R - B 3 ch K - Kt 2
41. P - Kt 3 B-Q5
42. K - Kt 2 R-R1
43. P - Kt 5 R-R3
44. P - R 5 R × Kt
45. P × R R-B3
46. P - Kt 6 Resigns.

GAME 8. CENTRE GAME

(Berlin 1913)

White: J. Mieses. Black: J. R. Capablanca.

1. P - K 4 P-K4
2. P - Q 4 P×P
3. Q × P Kt - Q B 3
4. Q - K 3 Kt - B 3
5. Kt - Q B 3 B - Kt 5
6. B - Q 2 O-O
7. O - O - O R-K1
In this position, instead of the text move, P - Q 3 is often played in order
to develop the Q B. My idea was to exert suf icient pressure against the
K P to win it, and thus gain a material advantage, which would, at least,
compensate whatever slight advantage of position White might have.
The plan, I think, is quite feasible, my subsequent dif iculties being due
to faulty execution of the plan.

8. Q - Kt 3 Kt × P
9. Kt × Kt R × Kt
10. B - K B 4
 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 - Q 3, R - K 1;
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.

11. Kt - R 3

If B × 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.

11. ........ P-Q3

This now is not only a developing move, but it also threatens to win a
piece by B × Kt.

12. B - Q 3 Kt - Q 5

This complicates the game unnecessarily. R - K 1; was simple, and

perfectly safe.

13. B - K 3

13. ........ B - Kt 5

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 × Kt,
R × B; 15 P - Q B 3, B × P; 16 P × B, R - K Kt 5; 17 Q - K 3 (best), Q × P ch;
18 B - B 2, Q × Q; 19 P × Q, R × 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 ! R × B

There was nothing better.

15. Q × B ! Kt - K 7 ch

16. B × Kt ! R×B
17. Kt - K 4 ! R × Kt
18. Q × R Q - Kt 4 ch
19. P - K B 4 Q - Kt 4
20. P - B 3 B-B4
21. K R - K 1 Q - B 3
22. R - Q 5
Q × Q would have given White a decided advantage, enough to win with
proper play. Mieses, however, feared the dif iculties of an ending where,
while having the exchange, he would be a Pawn minus. He preferred to
keep the Queens on the board and keep up the attack. At irst sight, and
even after careful thought, there seems to be no objection to his plan;
but in 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.

22. ........ Q-Q2

23. P - B 5 P-QB3
24. R - Q 2 P-Q4

My plan for the moment is very simple. It will 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 - B 3 B-K2
26. Q R - K 2 B - B 3
27. Q - R 5 P-KR3
28. P - K Kt 4 K - R 2 !

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 1 R-Q1
30. R - Q 1 P-B4

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 - R 3 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.
White has actually more value in material, and therefore Black must
utilise everything at his command in order to succeed.
 32. R (K2) - Q 2Q - K 5 ch
33. K - R 1 P - Q Kt 4

threatening P - Kt 5; which would open the line of action of the Bishop

and also secure a passed Pawn.

34. Q - Kt 2 Q-R5

indirectly defending the Q P, which White cannot take on account of

Q × R ch.

35. K - Kt 1 P - Kt 5

The attack increases in force as it is gradually brought home directly

against the King. The position now is most interesting and extremely
dif icult. It is doubtful if there is any valid defence against Black's best
play. The variations are numerous and dif icult.
 36. P × P Q×P

Black has now a passed Pawn, and his Bishop exerts great pressure.
White cannot very well play now 37 R × P because of R × R; 38 R × R,
B × P; and White could not take the Bishop because Q - K 5 ch would
win the Rook, leaving Black a clear passed Pawn ahead.

37. P - Q R 3 Q-R5!
38. R × P R - Q Kt 1
39. R (Q 1) - Q 2P - B 5
40. Q - Kt 3 R - Kt 6
41. Q - Q 6

41. ........ P-B6

B × 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 - Q B 2 P×P
43. R - Q 3 Q-K5!
44. R - Q 1 R-QB6
Resigns.

Of course White must play Q - Q 2, and Black then plays R × P.

GAME 9. QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLINED

(Berlin, 1913)

White: J. R. Capablanca. Black: R. Teichmann.

1. P - Q 4 P-Q4
2. Kt - K B 3 Kt - K B 3
3. P - B 4 P-K3
4. B - Kt 5 B-K2
5. Kt - B 3 Q Kt - Q 2
6. P - K 3 O-O
7. R - B 1 P - Q Kt 3
8. P × P P×P
 9. B - Kt 5

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. ........ B - Kt 2
10. O - O P-QR3
11. B - R 4 R-B1
12. Q - K 2 P-B4
13. P × P Kt × P

If P × P; K R - Q 1, and White would play to win one of Black's centre

Pawns. The drawback to the text move is that it leaves Black's Q P
isolated, and consequently weak and subject to attack.

14. K R - Q 1 Kt × B

The alternative would have been 14...P - Kt 4; 15 B - B 2, P - Kt 5;

16 Kt - Q R 4, Kt (B 4) - K 5.

15. Kt × Kt P - Kt 4
16. R × R Q×R
17. Kt - B 3 Q-B5

Black aims at the exchange of Queens in order to remain with 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 - Q 4

Not, of course, R - Q 4, because of Q × Q; Kt × Q, R - B 1; and there would

be no good way to prevent R - B 7.

18. ........ Q×Q

19. Kt (B 3) × Q !

Notice the co-ordination of the Knights' moves. They are manœuvred

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 ile, and
therefore forces Black's next move.

19. ........ R-B1

The student should examine this position carefully. There seems to be
no particular danger, yet, as White will demonstrate, Black may be said
to be lost. If the game is not altogether lost, the defence is at least of the
most dif icult kind; indeed, I must confess that I can see no adequate
defence against White's next move.

20. Kt - B 5 ! K-B1

If 20...B - Q 1; 21 Kt - Q 6, R - B 2; 22 Kt × B, R × Kt; 23 B × Kt, B × B;

24 R × P, R - B 2; 25 R - Q 2, and White is a Pawn ahead. If 20...B moves
anywhere else, then B × Kt, doubling the K B P and isolating all of
Black's King's side Pawns.

21. Kt × B K × Kt
22. Kt - Q 4 P - Kt 3

This is practically forced, as White threatened Kt - B 5 ch. Notice that

the Black Knight is pinned in such a way that no relief can be afforded
except by giving up the K R P or abandoning the open ile with the
Rook, which would be disastrous, as White would immediately sieze it.

23. P - B 3 !
 23. ........ P-R3

Black could do nothing else except mark time with his Rook along the
open ile, 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 K B 2,
K Kt 3, K B 4, 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 × P Kt - Q 2
25. P - K R 4 Kt - B 4
26. B - B 4 Kt - K 3

Black exchanges Knights to remain with Bishops of opposite colours,

which gives him the best chance to draw.

27. Kt × Kt K × Kt
27...P × Kt would be worse, as White would then be able to post his
Bishop at K 5.

28. R - Q 2 R-KR1

Black wants to force B - Kt 3. P - K Kt 3 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 - Q B 2 ! R - Q B 1
30. R × R B×R

There are now Bishops of opposite colour, but nevertheless White has
an easily-won game.
31. K - B 2

31. ........ P-Q5

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. P × P K-Q4
33. K - K 3 B-K3
34. K - Q 3 K-B3
35. P - Q R 3 B - B 5 ch
36. K - K 3 B-K3
37. B - R 6

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 at
Kt 7, where it not only protects the Q P, but indirectly also the Q Kt P.

37. ........ K-Q4

38. B - Kt 7 Resigns.

The student ought to have realised 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 position elsewhere which translated
itself into the material 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 inest players in the
world.

GAME 10. PETROFF DEFENCE

(St. Petersburg, 1914)

White: J. R. Capablanca. Black: F. J. Marshall

1. P - K 4 P-K4
2. Kt - K B 3 Kt - K B 3
3. Kt × P P-Q3
4. Kt - K B 3 Kt × P
5. Q - K 2 Q-K2
6. P - Q 3 Kt - K B 3
7. B - Kt 5

Played by Morphy, and a very ine 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 × Q ch.

8. Kt - B 3 P-KR3
 9. B × Kt Q×B
10. P - Q 4 B-K2
11. Q - Kt 5 ch Kt - Q 2
12. B - Q 3 !

It is now time to examine the result of the opening. On White's side we

ind 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.
White is also ready to Castle. White's position is evidently free from
danger and his pieces can easily manœuvre.

On Black's side the irst thing we notice is that he has retained both his
Bishops, unquestionably an advantage; but on the other hand we ind
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 because
Q × P, R - Kt 1; 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 × P; nor can
he play K - Kt 1 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 - K R 3 O-O

giving up a Pawn in an attempt to free his game and take the initiative.
It was dif icult for him to ind 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 × P ch,
followed by B × B.

14. Q × P Q R - Kt 1
15. Q - K 4 Q - Kt 2
16. P - Q Kt 3 P - Q B 4

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 White'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. O - O P×P
18. Kt - Q 5 !
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.

18. ........ B-Q1

19. B - B 4 Kt - B 4
20. Q × P Q×Q

The fact that he has to exchange Queens when he is a Pawn behind

shows that Black's game is lost.

21. Kt × Q B × Kt
22. B × B B-B3
23. Q R - Q 1 B × Kt
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 ight it out until the sixtieth move
on account of some poor play on White's part. The rest of the moves
are given merely as a matter of form.

24. R × B K - Kt 2
25. B - B 4 R - Kt 3
26. R - K 1 K-B3
27. P - B 4 Kt - K 3
28. P × P ch P×P
29. R - B 1 ch K - K 2
30. R - Kt 4 R - K Kt 1
31. R - B 5 R-B3
32. P - K R 4 KR-QB1
33. P × P R-B4
34. B × Kt P×B
35. R × R R×R
36. P - Kt 6 K-B1
37. R - Q B 4 R-QR4
38. P - R 4 K - Kt 2
39. R - B 6 R-Q4
40. R - B 7 ch K × P
41. R × P R - Q 8 ch
42. K - R 2 P-Q4
43. P - R 5 R-QB8
44. R - B 7 R-QR8
45. P - Q Kt 4 R - R 5
46. P - B 3 P-Q5
47. R - B 6 P×P
48. R × P R × Kt P
49. R - Q R 3 R - Kt 2
50. P - R 6 R-QR2
51. R - R 5 K-B3
52. P - Kt 4 K-K2
53. K - Kt 3 K-Q3
54. K - B 4 K-B2
55. K - K 5 K-Q2
56. P - Kt 5 K-K2
57. P - Kt 6 K-B1
58. K × P K-K1
59. P - Kt 7 R×P
60. P - R 7 R - Kt 3 ch
61. K - B 5 Resigns.
 GAME 11. RUY LOPEZ

(St. Petersburg, 1914)

White: J. R. Capablanca. Black: D. Janowski.

1. P - K 4 P-K4
2. Kt - K B 3 Kt - Q B 3
3. B - Kt 5 P-QR3
4. B × Kt QP×B
5. Kt - B 3

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 Tournament, 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 - Q 3 B - K Kt 5
7. B - K 3 B×B

This opens the K B ile for White, and also reinforces his centre, but
Black naturally did not want to make a second move with this Bishop.

8. P × B Q-K2
 9. O - O O-O-O

Bold play, typical of Janowski.

10. Q - K 1 Kt - R 3
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 irst
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
circumstances, 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 1 ! P-B3
12. P - Kt 4 Kt - B 2
13. P - Q R 4 B × Kt

He simpli ies, 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.

14. R × B
Taking with the Pawn would have opened a possibility for a counter
attack.

14. ........ P - Q Kt 3

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.

15. P - Kt 5 BP×P
16. P × P P-QR4
17. Kt - Q 5 Q-B4
18. P - B 4

The White Knight is now a tower of strength. Behind it White 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 is to prevent Black from sacri icing
the Rook for the Knight and a Pawn.

18. ........ Kt - Kt 4
19. R - B 2 Kt - K 3
20. Q - B 3 R-Q2

Had White on his 19th move played K R - B 1 instead of R - B 2, Black

could have played now instead of the text move, R × Kt; K P × R,
Q × P ch; followed by Kt - B 4 with a winning game.

21. R - Q 1 K - Kt 2

It would have been better for Black to play K - Q 1. The text move loses
very rapidly.

22. P - Q 4 Q-Q3
23. R - B 2 P×P
24. P × P Kt - B 5
25. P - B 5 Kt × Kt
26. P × Kt Q×QP
27. P - B 6 ch K - Kt 1
28. P × R Q × P (Q 2)
29. P - Q 5 R-K1
30. P - Q 6 P×P
31. Q - B 6 Resigns.
 GAME 12. FRENCH DEFENCE

(New York, 1918)

White: J. R. Capablanca. Black: O. Chajes.

1. P - K 4 P-K3
2. P - Q 4 P-Q4
3. Kt - Q B 3 Kt - K B 3
4. B - Q 3

Not the most favoured move, but a perfectly natural developing one,
and consequently it cannot be bad.

4 ........ P×P

P - Q B 4 is generally played in this case instead of the text move.

5. Kt × P Q Kt - Q 2
6. Kt × Kt ch Kt × Kt
7. Kt - B 3 B-K2
 8. Q - K 2

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. ........ O-O
9. B - K Kt 5 P-KR3

Of course Black could not play P - Q Kt 3 because of B × Kt, followed by

Q - K 4.

10. B × Kt B×B
11. Q - K 4 P - K Kt 3

This weakens Black's King's side. R - K 1 was the right move.

 12. P - K R 4

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 any compensation for his Pawn, the
move is bad. He should have played Q - Q 4 and tried to ight the game
out that way. It might have continued thus: 13. Q - B 4, B - Kt 2;
14. Q × B P, B × P; 15. Kt × B, Q × Kt; 16. O - O - O with considerable
advantage of position for White. The text move might be considered a
mild form of suicide.

13. P × P B-B4
14. Q - K B 4 B × B
15. O - O - O B - Kt 2
16. R × B Q-K2
17. Q - B 4
In order to keep the Black Queen from coming into the game.

17. ........ QR-Q1

18. K R - Q 1

A better plan would have been to play R - K 1, threatening P - K 6.

18. ........ R×R

19. R × R R-K1
20. P - B 3 P-QB3

Of course if B × P; Kt × B, Q × Kt; R - K 3. Black with a Pawn minus ights

very hard.

21. R - K 3

The Pawn had now to be defended after Black's last move, because
after B × P; Kt × B, Q × Kt; R - K 3, Black could now play Q - Kt 1
defending the Rook.

21. ........ P-QB4

22. K - B 2 P - Kt 3
23. P - R 4

White's plan now is to ix the Queen's side in order to be able to

manœuvre freely on the other side, where he has the advantage of
material.

23. ........ Q-Q2

24. R - Q 3 Q-B1
25. Q - K 4 Q-K3
 26. R - Q 5 K-B1
27. P - B 4 K - Kt 1

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.

28. P - Q Kt 3 K - B 1
29. K - Q 3 K - Kt 1
30. R - Q 6 Q-B1
31. R - Q 5 Q-K3
32. P - K Kt 4 K - B 1
33. Q - B 4 K - Kt 1
34. Q - K 4 K-B1
Black persists in waiting for developments. He sees that if P - K R 5,
P × P; P × P, the Queen goes to R 6, and White will have to face serious
dif iculties. 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 - K 2 K - Kt 1
36. K - B 1 K-B1
37. K - Kt 2 K - Kt 1
38. K - Kt 3 K-B1

Now that he has completed his march with the King, White is ready to
advance.
 39. P - K R 5 P×P

39...P - K Kt 4 would be answered by Q - B 5, with a winning game.

40. P × P Q-K2

Against K - Kt 1; White would play Q - Kt 4, practically forcing the

exchange of Queens, after which White would have little trouble in
winning the ending, since Black's Bishop could not do much damage in
the resulting position.

41. Q - B 5 K - Kt 1

Black overlooks the force of 42 R - Q 7. His best defence was R - Q 1;

against which White could either advance the King or play Kt - R 4,
threatening Kt - Kt 6 ch.

42. R - Q7 B × P ch
This loses a piece, but Black's position was altogether hopeless.

43. K - Kt 4 Q-B3
44. Kt × B Q - Kt 2 ch
45. K - B 4 Resigns.

The interest of this game centres mainly on the opening and on the
march of the White King during the inal stage of the game. It is an
instance of the King becoming a ighting piece, even while the Queens
are still on the board.

GAME 13. RUY LOPEZ

(New York, 1918)

 White: J. S. Morrison. Black: J. R. Capablanca.

1. P - K 4 P-K4
2. Kt - K B 3 Kt - Q B 3
3. B - Kt 5 P-Q3
4. Kt - B 3 B-Q2
5. P - Q 4 P×P
6. Kt × P P - K Kt 3

In this form of defence of the Ruy Lopez the development of the K B via
Kt 2 is, I think, of great importance. The Bishop at Kt 2 exerts great
pressure along the long diagonal. At the same time the position 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,
we might say, exerts its maximum strength (Compare this note with
the one in the Capablanca-Burn game at San Sebastian, page 197.)

7. Kt - B 3 B - Kt 2
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 in this position it is
preferable to have the Kt at K B 3.

9. Q - Q 2 P-KR3
10. B - K R 4

An error of judgment. White wants to keep the Knight pinned, but it

was more important to prevent Black from Castling immediately.
B - K B 4 would have done this.

10. ........ O-O

11. O - O - O

Bold play, but again faulty judgment, unless he intended 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 disposition of the Black
pieces is now far superior to White's, therefore it will be Black who will
take the offensive.

11. ........ R-K1

12. K R - K 1

White wanted to keep his Q R on the open ile, 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 × 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 × B;
P × Kt, Kt × P; etc., winning a Pawn.

14. Kt - Q 5 P-R3

Black drives the Bishop away so as to unpin his pieces and be able to
manœuvre freely.

15. B - Q 3 B-K3

Preparing the onslaught. Black's pieces begin to bear against the King's
position.

16. P - B 3
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 1 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 - K R 4 P-B5

The Bishop is now out of action. White naturally counter attacks

violently against the seemingly exposed position of the Black King, and,
with very good judgment, even offers the Bishop.
 18. P × P ! P×P!

Taking the Bishop would be dangerous, if not actually bad, while the
text move accomplishes Black's object, which is to put the Bishop out
of action.

19. R - R 1 B-B2
20. K - Kt 1

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, however, if at this stage of the game it would be possible for
White to save the game.

20. ........ Kt - K 4
21. Kt × Kt R × Kt
It was dif icult to decide which way to retake. I took with the Rook in
order to have it prepared for a possible attack against the King.

22. B - R 2 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.

23. P - Kt 3

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 × Kt ch, Q × Kt; and Black would be threatening
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.
 23. ........ Kt × P
24. B × Kt R×B
25. P × P P-B3

26. Kt - K 3

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 - B 4 Q×Q
28. R × Q P×P
29. Kt - Kt 4 B - Kt 3

This forces the King to the corner, where he will be in a mating net.

30. K - R 1 QR-K1
Now at last the Q R enters into the game and soon the battle is over.

31. P - R 3

If R × P, R - K 8 ch; R - Q 1, R (K 1) - K 7.

31. ........ R - K 8 ch
32. R × R R × R ch
33. K - R 2 B-B2
34. K - Kt 3 P-Q4

the quickest way to inish the game.

35. B × P P × P ch
36. K - Kt 4 P-B6
37. P × P R - K 5 ch
38. P - B 4 R × P ch
39. K - R 5 R×B
40. R - Q 8 ch K - R 2
41. R - Q 7 B-K3
Resigns.

A very lively game.

GAME 14. QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLINED

(New York, 1918)

 White: F. J. Marshall. Black: J. R. Capablanca.

1. P - Q 4 P-Q4
2. Kt - K B 3 Kt - K B 3
3. P - B 4 P-K3
4. Kt - B 3 Q Kt - Q 2
5. B - Kt 5 B-K2
6. P - K 3 O-O
7. R - B 1 P-B3

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, 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 P×P
9. B × P Kt - Q 4
10. B × B Q×B
11. O - O Kt × Kt
12. Q × Kt P - Q Kt 3

This is the key to this system of defence. Having simpli ied the game
considerably by a series of exchanges, 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 - K 4 B - Kt 2
14. K R - K 1 K R - Q 1

The developing stage can now be said to be complete on both sides.

The opening is over and the middle-game begins. White, as is generally
the case, has obtained the centre. Black, on the other hand, is
entrenched in his irst three ranks, and if given time will post his Q R at
Q B 1 and his Knight at K B 3, and inally 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.

15. P - Q 5 Kt - B 4 !

Against Kostic in a previous game I had played Kt - B 1. It was

carelessness on my part, but Marshall 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 × P; but also Kt × P; followed by
B P × P. The position is very interesting and full of possibilities.

16. P × K P Kt × P (K 3)
17. B × Kt Q×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 little surprise for me.

18. Kt - Q 4 !
 18. ........ Q-K4!

Of course, if 18...Q × R P; 19 R - R 1 would win the Queen. The text move

is probably the only satisfactory 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 - K Kt 3 (threatening Q R - Q 1), K - R 1;
21 Q R - Q 1, Q - K B 2; 22 P - K R 4, 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.

19. Kt × P Q×Q
20. R × Q R-Q7
21. R - Kt 1

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
powerful position of the Black Rook at Q 7 fully compensates 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 ending 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 1; 22 R - B 7 R - K 1 (not B × P; because P - B 3 would
give White the best of it); 23 R × B (best; not Kt - Kt 6 ch, because of
B P × Kt; followed by R × K P), R × Kt; 24 R - Kt 8 ch, R - K 1; 25 R × R ch,
K × 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 18th move Q - K 4 can be fully appreciated.

21. ........ R-K1

With this powerful move Black begins, against White's centre, an

assault which will soon be shifted against the King itself. White is
afraid to play 22 P - B 3 because of P - B 4.

22. P - K 5 P - K Kt 4

To prevent P - B 4. The White Knight is practically pinned, because he

does not dare move on account of R × K P.
 23. P - K R 4

This is a sequel to the previous move. White expects to disrupt Black's

Pawns, and thus make them weak.

23. ........ P×P

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 1

White cannot stand the slow death any longer. He sees danger
everywhere, 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 at K 1, because of the threat R - Kt 3.

25. R (K1) - Q B 1K - 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 inishing
touch.

26. P - Q Kt 4 P - Kt 4

To prevent P - Kt 5, defending the Knight and liberating the Rooks.

27. P - R 3 R - Kt 3
28. K - B 1 R-R7

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 1 P-R6
30. P - Kt 3 P-QR3

Again forcing White to move and to lose something thereby, as all his
pieces are tied up.

31. P - K 6 R×KP

Not even now can White move the Knight because of P - R 7 ch; K × P,
R - R 3 ch; K - Kt 1, R - R 8 mate.

32. P - Kt 4 R-R3
33. P - B 3

If 33 P - Kt 5, P - R 7 ch; 34 K - R 1, R × Kt; 35 R × R, R × P, winning easily.

 33. ........ R-Q3
34. Kt - K 7 R (Q3) - Q 7
35. Kt - B 5 ch K - B 3
36. Kt - R 4 K - Kt 4
37. Kt - B 5 R - Kt 7 ch
38. K - B 1 P-R7
39. P - B 4 ch K × B P
40. Resigns.

An ending worth very careful study.

André Hoffmann - 46535 Dinslaken - Dammweg