Chess Fundamentals Part 6

[Ill.u.s.tration]

which can be called actual or close lateral opposition.

In practice they are all one and the same. The Kings are always on squares of the same colour, there is only one intervening square between the Kings, and the player who has moved last "_has the opposition_." {45}

Now, if the student will take the trouble of moving each King backwards as in a game in the same frontal, diagonal or lateral line respectively shown in the diagrams, we shall have what may be called _distant_ frontal, diagonal and lateral opposition respectively.

The matter of the opposition is highly important, and takes at times somewhat complicated forms, all of which can be solved mathematically; but, for the present, the student should only consider the most simple forms.

(An examination of some of the examples of King and p.a.w.ns endings already given will show several cases of close opposition.)

In all simple forms of opposition,

_when the Kings are on the same line and the number of intervening squares between them is even, the player who has the move has the opposition_.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

EXAMPLE 27.--The above position shows to advantage the enormous value of the opposition. The {46} position is very simple. Very little is left on the board, and the position, to a beginner, probably looks absolutely even.

It is not the case, however. _Whoever has the move wins._ Notice that the Kings are directly in front of one another, and that the number of intervening squares is _even_.

Now as to the procedure to win such a position. The proper way to begin is to move straight up. Thus:

1. K - K 2 K - K 2 2. K - K 3 K - K 3 3. K - K 4 K - B 3

Now White can exercise the option of either playing K - Q 5 and thus pa.s.sing with his King, or of playing K - B 4 and prevent the Black King from pa.s.sing, thereby keeping the opposition. Mere counting will show that the former course will only lead to a draw, therefore White takes the latter course and plays:

4. K - B 4 K - Kt 3

If 4...K - K 3; 5 K - Kt 5 will win.

5. K - K 5 K - Kt 2

Now by counting it will be seen that White wins by capturing Black's Knight p.a.w.n.

The process has been comparatively simple in the variation given above, but Black has other lines of {47} defence more difficult to overcome. Let us begin anew.

1. K - K 2 K - Q 1

Now if 2 K - Q 3, K - Q 2, or if 2 K - K 3, K - K 2, and Black obtains the opposition in both cases. (When the Kings are directly in front of one another, and the number of intervening squares between the Kings is _odd_, the player who has moved last has the opposition.)

Now in order to win, the White King must advance. There is only one other square where he can go, B 3, and that is the right place. Therefore it is seen that in such cases when the opponent makes a so-called waiting move, you must advance, leaving a rank or file free between the Kings. Therefore we have--

2. K - B 3 K - K 2

Now, it would be bad to advance, because then Black, by bringing up his King in front of your King, would obtain the opposition. It is White's turn to play a similar move to Black's first move, viz.:

3. K - K 3

which brings the position back to the first variation shown. The student would do well to familiarise himself with the handling of the King in all examples of opposition. It often means the winning or losing of a game.

{48} EXAMPLE 28.--The following position is an excellent proof of the value of the opposition as a means of defence.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

White is a p.a.w.n behind and apparently lost, yet he can manage to draw as follows:

1. K - R 1 !

The position of the p.a.w.ns does not permit White to draw by means of the actual or close opposition, hence he takes the distant opposition: in effect if 1 K - B 1 (actual or close opposition), K - Q 7; 2 K - B 2, K - Q 6 and White cannot continue to keep the lateral opposition essential to his safety, because of his own p.a.w.n at B 3. On the other hand, after the text move, if

1. ........ K - Q 7 2. K - R 2 K - Q 6 3. K - R 3 ! K - K 7 {49} 4. K - Kt 2 K - K 6 5. K - Kt 3 K - Q 5 6. K - Kt 4

attacking the p.a.w.n and forcing Black to play 6... K - K 6 when he can go back to Kt 3 as already shown, and always keep the opposition.

Going back to the original position, if

1. K - R 1 P - Kt 5

White does not play P P, because P - K 5 will win, but plays:

2. K - Kt 2 K - Q 7

If 2...P P ch; 3 K P, followed by K - K 4, will draw.

3. P P P - K 5

and mere counting will show that both sides Queen, drawing the game.

If the student will now take the trouble to go back to the examples of King and p.a.w.ns which I have given in this book,[3] he will realise that in all of them the matter of the opposition is of paramount importance; as, in fact, it is in nearly all endings of King and p.a.w.ns, except in such cases where the p.a.w.n-position in itself ensures the win.

{50}

14. THE RELATIVE VALUE OF KNIGHT AND BISHOP

Before turning our attention to this matter it is well to state now that _two Knights alone cannot mate_, but, under certain conditions of course, they can do so if the opponent has one or more p.a.w.ns.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

EXAMPLE 29.--In the above position White cannot win, although the Black King is cornered, but in the following position, in which Black has a p.a.w.n,

[Ill.u.s.tration]

White wins with or without the move. Thus:

1. Kt - Kt 6 P - R 5

{51} White cannot take the p.a.w.n because the game will be drawn, as explained before.