Chess Fundamentals Part 16

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Now there would be two other moves to try: either (_a_) R - Kt 3 ch, or (_b_) R - K B 3. Let us examine them.

(a) 1. ........ R - Kt 3 ch 2. K - B 3 R - B 3 ch 3. K - K 3 R - K 3 ch

If P - Kt 6; R - R 5 ch wins, because if the King goes back, then R - R 6, and if the King goes up, then R - R 4 ch, followed by R - K B 4 wins.

4. K - Q 3 R - K B 3

If R - Q 3 ch; K - K 4 wins.

5. R - R 5 ch K moves 6. R - R 6 wins

(b) 1. ........ R - B 3 2. R - Kt 7 ! K - B 5

If P - Kt 6; R - Kt 3, and White will either capture the p.a.w.n or go to K B 3, and come out with a winning ending. {125}

3. P - R 4 P - Kt 6 4. R - Kt 4 ch K moves 5. R - Kt 3

and White will either capture the p.a.w.n or play R - K B 3, according to the circ.u.mstances, and come out with a winning ending.

Now, going back to the position shown on page 122, suppose that after 1 P - B 6, R - Q 3; 2 R - B 7 ch, Black did not realise that K - Q 5 was the only move to draw, and consequently played K - Kt 3 instead, we would then have the following position:

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Now the best continuation would be:

1. P - B 7 R - Kt 3 ch (best) 2. K - B 1 R - K B 3 3. R - K 7 ! K - B 4 (best)

White threatened to check with the Rook at K 6.

4. K - K 2 P - Kt 6

{126} Best. If K - B 5; both P - R 4 and K - K 3 will win; the last-named move particularly would win with ease.

5. R - K 3 P - Kt 7 (best) 6. R - Q Kt 3 R P 7. R P R - K R 2 8. R - Q 2 R P 9. K - K 3

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This position we have arrived at is won by White, because there are two files between the opposing King and the p.a.w.n from which the King is cut off by the Rook, and besides, the p.a.w.n can advance to the fourth rank before the opponent's Rook can begin to check on the file. This last condition is very important, because if, instead of the position on the diagram, the Black Rook were at K R 1, and Black had the move, he could draw by preventing the {127} advance of the p.a.w.n, either through constant checks or by playing R - K B 1 at the proper time.

Now that we have explained the reasons why this position is won, we leave it to the student to work out the correct solution.

The fact that out of one apparently simple ending we have been able to work out several most unusual and difficult endings should be sufficient to impress upon the student's mind the necessity of becoming well acquainted with all kinds of endings, and especially with endings of Rook and p.a.w.ns.

29. A DIFFICULT ENDING: TWO ROOKS AND p.a.w.nS

Following our idea that the best way to learn endings as well as openings is to study the games of the masters, we give two more endings of two Rooks and p.a.w.ns. These endings, as already stated, are not very common, and the author is fortunate in having himself played more of these endings than is generally the case. By carefully comparing and studying the endings already given (Examples 56 and 57) with the following, the student no doubt can obtain an idea of the proper method to be followed in such cases. The way of procedure is somewhat similar in all of them.

EXAMPLE 60.--From a game, Capablanca-Kreymborg, in the New York State Championship Tournament of 1910. {128}

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It is Black's move, and no doubt thinking that drawing such a position (that was all Black played for) would be easy, he contented himself with a waiting policy. Such conduct must always be criticised. It often leads to disaster. _The best way to defend such positions is to a.s.sume the initiative and keep the opponent on the defensive._

1. ........ Q R - K 1

The first move is already wrong. There is nothing to gain by this move.

Black should play P - Q R 4; to be followed by P - Q R 5; unless White plays P - Q Kt 3. That would _fix_ the Queen's side. After that he could decide what demonstration he could make with his Rooks to keep the opponent's Rooks at bay.

2. R - Q 4

This move not only prevents P - B 5 which Black intended, but threatens P - Kt 3, followed, after {129} P P ch, by the attack with one or both Rooks against Black's Q R P.

2. ........ R - B 3

probably with the idea of a demonstration on the King's side by R - Kt 3 and Kt 7.

3. P - Kt 3 P P ch 4. P P K - B 2 5. K - Q 3

R - Q R 1 should have been played now, in order to force Black to defend with R - K 2. White, however, does not want to disclose his plan at once, and thus awaken Black to the danger of his position, hence this move, which seems to aim at the disruption of Black's Queen's side p.a.w.ns.

5. ........ R - K 2 6. R - Q R 1 K - K 3

This is a mistake. Black is unaware of the danger of his position. He should have played P - Kt 4; threatening R - R 3, and, by making this demonstration against White's K R P, stop the attack against his Queen's side p.a.w.ns, which will now develop.

7. R - R 6 R - Q B 2

He could not play K - Q 3, because P - Q B 4 would win at least a p.a.w.n.

This in itself condemns his last move K - K 3, which has done nothing but make his situation practically hopeless.

8. R (Q 4) - Q R 4 P - K Kt 4

Now forced, but it is a little too late. He could not play 8...K R - B 2, because P - K B 4 would have {130} left his game completely paralysed.

Black now finally awakens to the danger, and tries to save the day by the counter-demonstration on the King's side, which he should have started before. Of course, White cannot play R R P, because of R R, followed by R - R 3, recovering the p.a.w.n with advantage.

9. P - K R 4 ! P - Kt 5

Black is now in a very disagreeable position. If he played 9...P P; 10 R P would leave him in a very awkward situation, as he could not go back with the King, nor could he do much with either Rook. He practically would have to play 10...P - K R 3, when White would answer 11 P - Kt 4, threatening to win a p.a.w.n by P - Kt 5, or, if that were not enough, he might play K - Q 4, to be followed finally by the entry of the King at B 5 or K 5.

10. K - K 2

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