Part 27 (1/2)

18. Kt - Q 4

Not, of course, R - Q 4, because of Q Q; Kt Q, R - B 1; and there would be no good way to prevent R - B 7.

18. ........ Q Q 19. Kt (B 3) Q !

Notice the co-ordination of the Knights' moves. They are manoeuvred chain-like, so to speak, in order to maintain one of them, either at Q 4 or ready to go there. Now White threatens to take the open file, and therefore forces Black's next move.

19. ........ R - B 1

{211}

[Ill.u.s.tration]

The student should examine this position carefully. There seems to be no particular danger, yet, as White will demonstrate, Black may be said to be lost. If the game is not altogether lost, the defence is at least of the most difficult kind; indeed, I must confess that I can see no adequate defence against White's next move.

20. Kt - B 5 ! K - B 1

If 20...B - Q 1; 21 Kt - Q 6, R - B 2; 22 Kt B, R Kt; 23 B Kt, B B; 24 R P, R - B 2; 25 R - Q 2, and White is a p.a.w.n ahead. If 20...B moves anywhere else, then B Kt, doubling the K B P and isolating all of Black's King's side p.a.w.ns.

21. Kt B K Kt 22. Kt - Q 4 P - Kt 3

This is practically forced, as White threatened Kt - B 5 ch. Notice that the Black Knight is pinned in such a way that no relief can be afforded except by giving up the K R P or abandoning the open file {212} with the Rook, which would be disastrous, as White would immediately sieze it.

23. P - B 3 !

[Ill.u.s.tration]

23. ........ P - R 3

Black could do nothing else except mark time with his Rook along the open file, since as soon as he moved away White would take it. White, on the other hand, threatens to march up with his King to K 5 via K B 2, K Kt 3, K B 4, after having, of course, prepared the way. Hence, Black's best chance was to give up a p.a.w.n, as in the text, in order to free his Knight.

24. B P Kt - Q 2 25. P - K R 4 Kt - B 4 26. B - B 4 Kt - K 3

Black exchanges Knights to remain with Bishops of {213} opposite colours, which gives him the best chance to draw.

27. Kt Kt K Kt

27...P Kt would be worse, as White would then be able to post his Bishop at K 5.

28. R - Q 2 R - K R 1

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Black wants to force B - Kt 3. P - K Kt 3 would be bad, on account of P - Q 5; which would get the Black Bishop into the game, even though White could answer P - K 4. The text move is, however, weak, as will soon be seen. His best chance was to play P - Kt 5; and follow it up with P - R 4 and B - R 3. White meanwhile could play P - Kt 4 and R 5, obtaining a pa.s.sed p.a.w.n, which, with proper play, should win.

29. R - Q B 2 ! R - Q B 1 30. R R B R

There are now Bishops of opposite colour, but nevertheless White has an easily-won game. {214}

31. K - B 2