Part 17 (1/2)

{131} /* 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 p.a.w.ns. On the other hand, White would play P - Kt 4, threatening to win a p.a.w.n by P - Kt 5, or he might first 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 - Q 3 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 {132} 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.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

14. ........ P - R 3

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 2 R (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 - K 2

{133} 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 - K 2 24. R - Kt 8 P - B 4

Black is desperate. He sees he can no longer defend his p.a.w.ns.

25. R - Kt 6 ch R - K 3 26. P P ch K - Q 2 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.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Black's game has the disadvantage of his double Q B P, which, to make matters worse, he cannot {134} 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 p.a.w.ns from advancing, and will then bring his own King to K 3. Then in due time he will play P - Q 4, and finally P - K 5, or P - K Kt 5, thus forcing an exchange of p.a.w.ns and obtaining in that way a clear pa.s.sed p.a.w.n on the King's file. 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 pa.s.sed p.a.w.n on the King's file, 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