Chess -- Chess Strategy

Chess Strategy

pawn does not force a win. It seems at first sight as if White
could win by simply assuming the opposition with 1. K-K4
continued: ... K-K2; 2. K-Q5, K-Q2; 3. P-B5, K-K2; 4. K-B6, etc.
But Black would reply 1. ... P-B4ch! and after 2. PxPch, K-B3
followed by KxP ensure the draw.

We come now to those end-games in which pieces as well as pawns
are left on the board.

As it is my aim to give typical examples, I shall confine myself
to positions where there is only one piece besides the King. Most
end-games with several pieces can be reduced to that.

In nearly all end-games with pieces the King's manoeuvres used in
pawn endings are of no avail, as far as opposition is concerned,
as the advantage of opposition means that the opponent is forced
to move his King, and as long as there are pieces on the board,
such "forced move" positions are infrequent. However, the
strength of the pawn position is of the same importance as in
pawn endings, just as the command of as many squares as possible
is essential for the King. A third and very important factor is
again the mobility of pieces.

A good example is found in Diagram 70, a position from a game
Post-Leonhardt (Berlin Jubilee Tournament, 1907).

        ---------------------------------------
     8 |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |
       |---------------------------------------|
     7 |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |
       |---------------------------------------|
     6 | #P |    |    | #K |    |    | #B | #P |
       |---------------------------------------|
     5 | ^P | #P |    | #P |    | #P |    |    |
       |---------------------------------------|
     4 |    | ^P |    | ^K |    | ^P |    |    |
       |---------------------------------------|
     3 |    |    |    | ^B | ^P |    |    | ^P |
       |---------------------------------------|
     2 |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |
       |---------------------------------------|
     1 |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |
        ---------------------------------------
         A    B    C    D    E    F    G    H

                Diag. 70

Black's pawn position is weaker, because the White pawns, being
on Black squares, cannot be attacked by the Bishop, whilst Black
has two isolated pawns on White squares.  Furthermore the Black
Bishop has less mobility than the White one, and finally the
Black King is tied to his Q3, to prevent White's entry at B5 or
K5. These drawbacks decide the issue. 1. ... B-R2; 2. P-R4, B-
Kt3; 3. B-B2, P-R4. (After B-R2 White would command the square at
Kt6 through P-R5); 4. B-Q3, B-R2; 5. B-B1, and Black resigns, for
White threatens to establish his Bishop at B3, where the pawns at
Q5 and R5 are both attacked, whilst the Black Bishop is at once
forced to occupy the only square from which both pawns are
covered, namely B2. As this square must be abandoned in the next
move, Black loses a pawn and the game.

5. ... B-Kt1; 6. B-K2, B-B2; 7. B-B3, and wins, or 5. ... B-Kt3;
6. B-Kt2, B-B2; 7. B-B3, and wins.

A corresponding instance of KNIGHT V. BISHOP is the end-game
Blackburne-Schlechter (p. 102).

It is difficult to gauge the relative value of Bishop and Knight
in the end-game. The Knight has the advantage of access to all
squares; against that the Bishop is able to fight at long range,
and offers opportunities of gaining moves in certain positions
where there is a "forced move" (compare p. 90).

As already stated, two Bishops are superior to two Knights
because the limitation of the colour of squares ceases. A Rook
generally wins against a Bishop or a Knight, sometimes even
against a majority of one or two pawns, provided, of course, that
there are still pawns on the Rook's side, and that their exchange
cannot be forced. The following position (Diagram 71), from a
game Moll-Post, shows how to proceed in such cases.

Here White can force a win in the following way:  1. RxP, P-Kt6;
2. R-R6, PxP; 3. RxP, K-B2; 4. R-B2, B-Kt5; 5. R-B4, B-R4; 6. P-
B4! The Black pawn position must first be torn up, if it is to be
attacked successfully.

Now Black's defeat is inevitable, whether the pawn is taken or
not. The sequel would be 6. ... PxP; 7. RxP, after which the Rook
goes to KR5 and the Rook's pawn must fall, or: 6. ... K-Kt3; 7.
PxP, PxP; 8. R-B6ch, K-Kt2; 9. R-B5, and the Bishop's pawn is
lost, unless Black gives up his passed pawn. In this case Black
loses also: 9. R-B5, B-Q1; 10. KxP, K-Kt3; 11. K-Q3, B-B3; 12. R-
B6, K-Kt2; 13. K-K4, K-Kt3; 14. R-R6, K-B2; 15. K-B5, B-Q1; 16.
R-KKt6, followed by RxP, etc.

The Queen against a minor piece wins so easily that it is not
necessary to give an example. It only remains to discuss end-

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     8 |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |