Part 2 (1/2)

Having now seen the cases when the p.a.w.ns are all on one side of the board we shall now examine a case when there are p.a.w.ns 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:

[Ill.u.s.tration]

1. P - K Kt 4.

{18} It is generally advisable to advance the p.a.w.n 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 p.a.w.n 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 p.a.w.ns defend themselves and White can go to the other side with his King, to win the other p.a.w.n.

7. K - K 5.

Now it is time to go to the other side with the King, win the Black p.a.w.n and Queen the single p.a.w.n. 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. {19}

4. SOME WINNING POSITIONS IN THE MIDDLE-GAME

By the time the student has digested all that has been previously explained, he, no doubt, is anxious to get to the actual game and play with all the pieces. However, before considering the openings, we shall devote a little time to some combinations that often arise during the game, and which will give the reader some idea of the beauty of the game, once he becomes better acquainted with it.

EXAMPLE 11.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

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.

{20}

This same type of combination may come as the result of a somewhat more complicated position.

EXAMPLE 12.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

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