Part 5 (1/2)

[Ill.u.s.tration]

EXAMPLE 23.--In this position White's best line of defence consists in keeping his p.a.w.n where it stands at R 2. As soon as the p.a.w.n 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 p.a.w.n) may be divided into three parts. The first part will be to get his King to K R 6, at the same time keeping intact the position of his p.a.w.ns. (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 p.a.w.n one or two squares according to the position of the White King.)

1. K - Kt 3 K - K 6 2. K - Kt 2

If 2 K - Kt 4, K - B 7; 3 P - R 4, P - Kt 3 will win. {38}

2. ........ K - B 5 3. K - B 2 K - Kt 5 4. K - Kt 2 K - R 5 5. K - Kt 1 K - R 6

The first part has been completed.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

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

6. K - R 1 P - R 4 7. K - Kt 1 P - R 5

This ends the second part.

[Ill.u.s.tration] {39}

The third part will consist in timing the advance of the Kt P so as to play P - Kt 6 when the White King is at R 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 p.a.w.n 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 - R 7

and wins.

It is in this a.n.a.lytical 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 {40} opposition, but before we devote our time to it I wish to call attention to two things.

11. OBTAINING A Pa.s.sED p.a.w.n

When three or more p.a.w.ns 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 pa.s.sed p.a.w.n.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

EXAMPLE 24.--In the above position the way of obtaining a pa.s.sed p.a.w.n is to advance the centre p.a.w.n.

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

and as in this case the White p.a.w.n is nearer to Queen than any of the Black p.a.w.ns, White will {41} win. Now if it had been Black's move Black could play