Part 18 (1/2)

The winning tactics in all these endings have merely consisted in keeping the opponent's Rooks tied to the defence of one or more p.a.w.ns, 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 manoeuvre 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 p.a.w.nS _v._ ROOK, KNIGHT AND p.a.w.nS

We shall now examine an ending of Rook, Bishop and p.a.w.ns against Rook, Knight and p.a.w.ns, 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 first game of the Lasker-Marshall Champions.h.i.+p Match in 1907. {139}

[Ill.u.s.tration]

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 p.a.w.n 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 {140} 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 p.a.w.ns 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 p.a.w.ns.

3. P - B 4 R - K R 4 4. K - Kt 1 P - B 4

Note that the White Knight's sphere of action is very limited, and that after Kt - Q 2 White's own p.a.w.ns are in his way.

5. Kt - Q 2 K - B 2 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 - K 2 7. P - Q R 3 R - R 3

Getting ready to s.h.i.+ft the attack to the Queen's side, where he has the advantage in material and position.

8. P - K R 4 R - R 3

{141}

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

9. R - R 1 B - Kt 5

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