Part 10 (1/2)
That, at least, is what the ideal middle-game play should be, if it is not so altogether in these examples.
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CHAPTER IV
GENERAL THEORY
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 first of all to control the centre, and failing this to obtain some positional advantage that will make it possible for him to keep on hara.s.sing the enemy. He only relinquishes the initiative when he gets for it some material advantage under such favourable conditions as to make him feel {78} a.s.sured that he will, in turn, be able to withstand his adversary's thrust; and finally, through his superiority of material, once more resume the initiative, which alone can give him the victory. This last a.s.sertion 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, finally, that some material can be gained at the cost of relinquis.h.i.+ng the initiative for a more or less prolonged period.
21. DIRECT ATTACKS _EN Ma.s.sE_
In the first case the attack must be carried on with sufficient force to guarantee its success. Under no consideration must a direct attack against the King be carried on _a 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 {79} the certainty in his mind that the attack will lead to a win. The game continues thus:[6]
[Ill.u.s.tration]
12. B P ch K B 13. Kt - Kt 5 ch K - Kt 3 14. Q - Kt 4 P - B 4
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 five moves.
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15. Q - Kt 3 K - R 3 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 - B 2 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 - R 1 27. Kt - Kt 5 ch K - B 3 28. P - B 4 Resigns
EXAMPLE 51.--Another example of this kind:
[Ill.u.s.tration] {81}
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 sufficient 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 - Q 2 22. Kt B Q R 23. Q - Q 8 ch Q - K 1