Chess Strategy
simplify the middle-game by exchanging pieces, as soon as there
is an infinitesimal advantage in the pawn position (compare the
game Charousek-Heinrichsen, p. 108).
We will now turn our attention to positions in which the pawns
opposed on each wing are of equal number and no passed pawn can
be forced through. Everything depends on the relative position of
the Kings. The deciding factor in valuing the King's position is
whether pawn moves are possible, or whether they are already
entirely or nearly exhausted, so that only manoeuvres by the King
are possible. The following illustrations make the position
clear. We shall see that the importance of getting the opposition
is paramount. Diagram 60 shows a simple instance in which there
are no
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6 | | | | | #K | | | |
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5 | | | #P | | | | #P | |
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4 | | | ^P | | | | ^P | |
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3 | | | | | ^K | | | |
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A B C D E F G H
Diag. 60
more pawn moves. Whoever has the move wins by assuming the
opposition. The opposing King must then give the way free to one
of the pawns.
The state of affairs in Diagram 61 is similar to that in Diagram
60. Having the move, White plays into opposition and forces his
way to Q5, after which Black's Bishop's pawn is lost.
1. K-K4, K-Q3; 2. K-B5, K-Q2; 3. K-K5, K-B3; 4. K-K6, K-B2; 5. K-
Q5, K-Kt3; 6. K-Q6, and so on (compare Diagram 57). If Black has
the move he can only draw, because the White Bishop's pawn is
covered even though Black gains the square at Q5.
1. ... K-K4; 2. K-Q3, K-B5; 3. K-Q2!! and whatever Black plays
White wins the opposition, so that the Black King's ingress is
stopped; 2. K-K2 loses the game because of 3. ... K-K5; 4. K-Q2,
K-Q5; 5. K-B2, K-K6; 6. K-B1, K-Q6; 7. K-Kt2, K-Q7; 8. K-Kt1, K-
B6; 9. K-R2, K-B7, and wins.
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6 | | | | | #K | | | |
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5 | | | #P | | | | | |
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4 | | #P | ^P | | | | | |
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3 | | ^P | | | ^K | | | |
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A B C D E F G H
Diag. 61
I shall take this opportunity of explaining what is called
"distant opposition." In Diagram 62, White with the move wins by
1. K-K2, thus assuming "distant opposition" (squares of the same
colour!!). If Black now enters his second rank, White immediately
plays into opposition on his third rank, e.g. 1. ... K-Q2; 2. K-
Q3, and still maintains it by 3. K-K3 if Black plays a waiting
move such as 2. ... K-K2. Now Black has no further waiting moves,
as White threatens to capture one of the pawns. But playing into
the third rank is of no use, as White then assumes the direct
opposition, and wins as in Diagram 60. Black must allow White
access to one side or the other. He could not have remained on
the first rank at the outset either, for after 1. ... K-Q1, White
advances through a square, to which Black cannot assume the
opposition, namely, 2. K-B3. If now Black wishes to answer the
threat of K-B 4-Kt5 and plays K-K2, White answers 3. K-K3 as
before.
2. K-K3 or KQ3 would be wrong, as Black would then succeed in
assuming the opposition at K2 or Q2, and would be able to
maintain it. White would be unable to circumvent this or to
attack the pawns.
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8 | | | | | #K | | | |
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