Chess and Checkers : the Way to Mastership

by Edward Lasker

HOW THE DIFFERENT MEN COOPERATE

There are two kinds of elementary attack. One when a single man attacks two or more hostile men at the same time; the other when more men are brought up to attack an opposing man than can be mustered for defense. The beginner, as a rule, makes attacks with the sole aim of driving away a hostile piece; it is clear that these attempts will in most cases be futile as they generally allow the attacked piece to move to another square just as or perhaps more favorable. The advantage of attacking two men at once is evident in that probably only one of them can be saved. The advantage of bringing up more men for attack than can be gathered for defense is not less obvious, but will be found more difficult to carry out. Using both methods of attack in conjunction is the secret of the successful cooperation of the men.

In the following diagrams simple illustrations are shown of elementary cases of such attacks. These positions often occur in games of beginners on account of their placing the men on unfavorable squares. In studying them the eye of the beginner will become accustomed to dangerous formations of the pieces and he will be able to foresee similar threats in his games.

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8 | #R | | | | #K | | #Kt| #R |
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7 | #P | #B | #P | | #B | #P | #P | #P |
|———————————————————-|
6 | | #P | #Kt| #P | | #Q | | |
|———————————————————-|
5 | | | | | #P | | | |
|———————————————————-|
4 | | | ^B | | ^P | | | |
|———————————————————-|
3 | | | ^Kt| ^P | ^B | ^Kt| | |
|———————————————————-|
2 | ^P | ^P | ^P | | | ^P | ^P | ^P |
|———————————————————-|
1 | ^R | | | ^Q | | ^R | ^K | |
+———————————————————-+
a b c d e f g h

DIAGRAM 20.

This is especially true of the mating positions which are discussed below in connection with attacks instituted by the Queen in the middle of the game. It is these attacks to which the beginner at an early stage of the game falls victim in ninety out of a hundred cases when playing against an experienced opponent.

In the position of Diagram 20 White on the move wins the exchange and thereby practically the game by playing (1) Kt-d5. With this move he attacks the Queen and at the same time the Pawn c7. Black, in order not to lose the Queen, must move her, but he cannot move her so that she will protect the Pawn c7.

+———————————————————-+
8 | #R | #Kt| #B | | #K | #B | | #R |
|———————————————————-|
7 | #P | #P | #P | | | #P | #P | #P |
|———————————————————-|
6 | | | | | | #Q | | |
|———————————————————-|
5 | | | | | #P | | | |
|———————————————————-|
4 | | | | | ^P | | | |
|———————————————————-|
3 | | | ^Kt| | | | | |
|———————————————————-|
2 | ^P | ^P | ^P | | | ^P | ^P | ^P |
|———————————————————-|
1 | ^R | | | ^Q | ^K | ^B | ^Kt| ^R |
+———————————————————-+
a b c d e f g h

DIAGRAM 21.

On the next move White will, therefore, take the Pawn calling Check and at the same time attacking the Rook a8. The King must move and the Knight takes the Rook.

Quite frequently a similar attack with the Knight is likely to win the Queen if the opponent is not familiar with situations of that kind. If in the position of Diagram 21 White plays (1) Kt- d5, Black must protect the Pawn c7 by Q-d8 or Q-d6, but not by Q- c6; for in the latter case White would continue with (2) B-b5, Qxb5; (3) Ktxc7+ and (4) Ktxb5.

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8 | #R | #Kt| #B | | #K | #B | | #R |
|———————————————————-|
7 | #P | #P | #P | | | #P | #P | #P |
|———————————————————-|
6 | | | | | #P | #Kt| | |
|———————————————————-|
5 | #Q | | | | | | | |
|———————————————————-|
4 | | | ^B | ^P | | | | |
|———————————————————-|
3 | | | ^Kt| | | | | |
|———————————————————-|
2 | ^P | ^P | ^P | ^B | | ^P | ^P | ^P |
|———————————————————-|
1 | ^R | | | ^Q | ^K | | ^Kt| ^R |
+———————————————————-+
a b c d e f g h

DIAGRAM 22.

Sometimes two pieces are involved in the double attack, the line of one of the pieces being discovered by the other. Thus, in the position of Diagram 22, which could be brought about by the moves (1) P-e4, P-d5; (2) Pxd5, Qxd5; (3) Kt-c3, Q-a5; (4) P-d4, Kt-f6; (5) B-c4, P-e6; (6) B-d2, white threatens to play (7) Kt-d5, uncovering the Bishop d2 on Black's Queen and at the same time attacking the Pawn c7, which Black cannot keep protected.

Threats of this kind more frequently occur in connection with a discovered Check. As an example the following opening will serve: (1) P-e4, P-e5; (2) Kt-f3, Kt-f6; (3) Ktxe5, Ktxe4; (4) Q-e2, Kt- f6. Black's last move exposes his King to a discovered Check, and White wins the Queen by playing (5) Kt-c6+.

Next to the Knight the Queen is most frequently in a position to carry out a double attack. Two typical examples are shown in the following diagrams.

After the opening moves (1) P-e4, P-e5; (2) P-f4, B-C5; (3) Pxe5?? the position of Diagram 23 is reached, in which Black wins a Rook by Q-h4+. White cannot reply (4) K-e2 on account of Qxe4 mate. His only move is (4) P-g3 and then follows Qxe4 attacking King and Rook simultaneously.

This opening offers another opportunity to demonstrate the dangerous mobility of the Queen. Instead of (3) Pxe5 White should have played (3) Kt-f3. The game could then have continued as follows: P-d6; (4) B-c4, Kt-f6; (5) Pxe5, Pxe5: Again White cannot win the Pawn e5 for (6) Ktxe5 would be answered by Q-d4, attacking Knight and Bishop and threatening mate on f2.

+———————————————————-+
8 | #R | #Kt| #B | #Q | #K | | #Kt| #R |
|———————————————————-|
7 | #P | #P | #P | #P | | #P | #P | #P |
|———————————————————-|
6 | | | | | | | | |
|———————————————————-|
5 | | | #B | | ^P | | | |
|———————————————————-|
4 | | | | | ^P | | | |
|———————————————————-|
3 | | | | | | | | |
|———————————————————-|
2 | ^P | ^P | ^P | ^P | | | ^P | ^P |
|———————————————————-|
1 | ^R | ^Kt| ^B | ^Q | ^K | ^B | ^Kt| ^R |
+———————————————————-+
a b c d e f g h

DIAGRAM 23.

Diagram 24 shows a typical case of a double threat with the Queen in conjunction with other pieces. White on the move plays B-d3, and now Black cannot castle as White would continue with Q-e4 threatening mate through Qxh7 and at the same time attacking the Bishop e7 for the second time who is only once protected. Black would have to defend the mate by either P-g6 or P-f5 or Q-h5 and White would capture the Bishop.

When castling on the King side a player must always beware of an attack by the Queen and another piece on the King's Rook's Pawn.

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8 | #R | | #B | | #K | | | #R |
|———————————————————-|
7 | #P | #P | #P | #P | #B | #P | #P | #P |
|———————————————————-|
6 | | | | | | | | |
|———————————————————-|
5 | | ^B | #Q | | | | | |
|———————————————————-|
4 | | | | | | | | |
|———————————————————-|
3 | | | ^P | | | ^Q | | |
|———————————————————-|
2 | ^P | ^P | ^P | | | ^P | ^P | ^P |
|———————————————————-|
1 | ^R | | ^B | | ^R | | ^K | |
+———————————————————-+
a b c d e f g h

DIAGRAM 24.

In the case illustrated above it was the Bishop who assisted the Queen. A Knight could aid in an attack on h7 from either g5 or f6. More frequently he does so from g5 as usually the square f6 is not accessible to him on account of the Pawn g7 protecting it. In the majority of cases the Knight goes to g5 from f3, and the Queen attacks h7 from h5, coming from her original square d1. Then, if Black cannot protect h7 by a Knight from f6 or by the Bishop, from f5 for instance, or from g6, the only protection as a rule is to advance the Pawn to h6. The position of Diagram 25 may serve as an example.

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8 | #R | #Kt| #B | #Q | #K | | | #R |
|———————————————————-|
7 | #P | #P | #P | #P | #Kt| #P | #P | #P |
|———————————————————-|
6 | | | | | | | | |
|———————————————————-|
5 | | | #B | | | | | |
|———————————————————-|
4 | | | ^B | #P | ^P | | | |
|———————————————————-|
3 | | | | | | ^Kt| | |
|———————————————————-|
2 | ^P | ^P | ^P | | | ^P | ^P | ^P |
|———————————————————-|
1 | ^R |^Kt | ^B | ^Q | ^K | | | ^R |
+———————————————————-+
a b c d e f g h

DIAGRAM 25

Black's last move was Kt-e7, while Kt-f6, which protects the Pawn h7 against future attacks, is generally preferable in any opening. White can now play Kt-g5, attacking the Pawn f7 for the second time, as it is already attacked by the Bishop c4. The student will, at this stage of his development, not yet know why Black should be so anxious to defend the Pawn f7, considering that he is a Pawn ahead so that the loss of a Pawn would only equalize the forces but would not give White a material advantage. However, later on, when discussing the strategy of the opening, it will become evident that in the position of the diagram Black must, under all circumstances, defend the Pawn f7 as otherwise his game would soon become hopeless on account of the exposed position of his King.

There are only two ways for Black to defend f7. One is to advance the Queen's Pawn to d5, interrupting the diagonal of White's Bishop; the other is to castle, so that the Rook procures the second protection for the Pawn f7 which is needed. It would then not be good for White to capture the Pawn because he would have to give up Knight and Bishop for Rook and one Pawn, which is not a sufficient equivalent.

Of the two ways indicated only the first one is feasible. For if
Black castles he gives White an opportunity to institute an
attack on the weak Pawn h7 with Knight and Queen against which
Black has no satisfactory defense. Play would develop as follows:

(1) Kt-g5 o-o
(2) Q-h5 P-h6

This is the only defense against the threat Qxh7 mate. But
White's Queen's move involved a double threat. It brought up a
third attack on the Pawn f7, and the latter now falls, forcing
Black to give up some more material.

(3) Ktxf7 Rxf7

Black has to sacrifice the exchange. If he moved the Queen, which is attacked by the Knight, he would expose his King to a deadly double check, viz.: (4) Ktxh6++, K-h8 or h7; (5) Kt-f7+ (discovered), K-g8; (6) Q-h8 mate. After giving up his Rook for the Knight on the third move Black has a lost game, for as explained in the previous chapter White can simply exchange all pieces and force the win in the ending with his superior material.

Another square which after castling on the King side is often the mark of attack for the Queen in connection with either Knight or Bishop, is the one immediately in front of the King in the Knight's file. Diagram 26 illustrates several possibilities of this kind. White, on the move, can play (1) Q-g5, attacking for the second time the Pawn g7 which is only once protected. The threat, however, is not only to win a Pawn, but to win the game, for in taking the Pawn with the Queen White would checkmate Black's King.

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8 | #R | | | | | #R | #K | |
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7 | #P | #P | #P | | | #P | #P | #P |
|———————————————————-|
6 | | #B | | #P | | | | |
|———————————————————-|
5 | | | #Q | | #P | ^Kt| | |
|———————————————————-|
4 | | #Kt| | | ^P | | | ^B |
|———————————————————-|
3 | | ^P | | ^P | | | | |
|———————————————————-|
2 | | ^P | ^P | ^Q | | ^P | ^P | ^P |
|———————————————————-|
1 | ^R | | | | | ^R | ^K | |
+———————————————————-+
a b c d e f g h

DIAGRAM 26

The only defense at Black's disposal is P-g6, but this move helps only temporarily. White can force the mate within a few moves in different ways. One would be the following:

(2) Kt-h6+ K-g7

If the King goes to h8 White mates by Q-f6.

(3) Q-f6+ Kxh6 (4) B-g5+ K-h5 (5) P-h3

and the mate through P-g4 cannot be protected. Another way would be:

(2) Q-h6 Pxf5 (3) B-f6

and the mate through Q-g7 cannot be protected.

The position of Diagram 26 enables another mating attack for White, demonstrating the possibility of mating with Bishop and Knight in the middle of a game, which occurs oftener than one would be inclined to think. White can play (1) B-f6 instead of Q- g5 as suggested above. Black cannot take the Bishop as White would continue Q-h6 with Q-g7 mate. Neither can Black play P-g6 as then White would mate right away with Kt-h6. The latter mate with Knight and Bishop White can force, even if Black does not move the Pawn g7 but makes some other indifferent move, as for instance Qxc2. White would then make the surprising move Q-h6, allowing Black to take the Queen. In doing so, however, Black again enables the mate Kt-h6.

The only move which Black could try in answer to (1) B-f6 is P- h6, preventing the Queen from occupying g5. Now Qxh6 would not be feasible as after Pxh6 White does not mate with Ktxh6, but leaves the square h7 open to Black's King.

+———————————————————-+
8 | #R | | #B | #Q | | #R | | #K |
|———————————————————-|
7 | #P | #P | #P | #P | ^Kt| #P | #P | #P |
|———————————————————-|
6 | | | | | | | | |
|———————————————————-|
5 | | #Kt| | | ^R | | | |
|———————————————————-|
4 | | | | | | | | |
|———————————————————-|
3 | | | | | | | | |
|———————————————————-|
2 | ^P | ^P | ^P | ^P | | ^P | ^P | ^P |
|———————————————————-|
1 | ^R | | ^B | ^Q | | | ^K | |
+———————————————————-+
a b c d e f g h

DIAGRAM 27.

However, White wins easily through (2) Ktxh6+. If Black takes the Knight, White mates with Qxh6 and Q-g7. If Black does not take but plays K-h7, White goes back with the Knight to f5, again threatening Q-g5 and Qxg7. (3) …, R-g8 is of no avail, as (4) Q-g5 threatens mate of h5 which can only be prevented by either P-g6 or a move with the Rook, after which White mates by either Q-h6 or Qxg7.

It remains to show some examples of the cooperation of Rooks with other pieces. Diagram 27 shows one of the positions in which the beginner is frequently caught.

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8 | | | #R | | | | #K | |
|———————————————————-|
7 | ^R | | | | | | | |
|———————————————————-|
6 | | | | | | | | #P |
|———————————————————-|
5 | | | | | | | | ^P |
|———————————————————-|
4 | | #B | | | ^Kt| | | |
|———————————————————-|
3 | #P | | | | | | | |
|———————————————————-|
2 | ^K | | | | | | | |
|———————————————————-|
1 | | | | | | | | |
+———————————————————-+
a b c d e f g h

DIAGRAM 28.

White plays (1) Q-h5, and if Black makes an indifferent move he mates through (2) Qxh7+, Kxh7; (3) R-h5.

Black could try to defend himself with (1) …, P-g6. White can then continue with (2) Q-h6 and again Black cannot make an indifferent move such as P-d6 for instance, as White would have another mate in two moves, namely (3) R-h5 (threatening Qxh7), Pxh5; (4) Q-f6.

More frequent than the mate with Rook and Knight shown above is one which usually occurs in the end game and which is illustrated in Diagram 28.

+———————————————————-+
8 | | | #R | | #R | | #K | |
|———————————————————-|
7 | #P | | | | | #P | | |
|———————————————————-|
6 | | #P | | | #P | | #P | |
|———————————————————-|
5 | #Q | | | #P | | | | |
|———————————————————-|
4 | | #Kt| | | | ^P | | ^B |
|———————————————————-|
3 | | ^P | | | ^P | ^R | | |
|———————————————————-|
2 | ^P | | | | ^Q | | ^P | ^P |
|———————————————————-|
1 | | | | ^R | | | | ^K |
+———————————————————-+
a b c d e f g h

DIAGRAM 29.

White plays Kt-f6+ and Black cannot go with the King into the corner as the Rook would mate him on h7. After K-f8 White draws the game through perpetual check; for after (2) Kt-h7+, K-e8; (3) Kt-f6+ the King must go back to f8 as on d8 he would be mated by R-d7. Consequently White can check the King indefinitely on h7 and f6.

An example for the cooperation of Rook and Bishop is shown in Diagram 29. White plays B-f6, and there is no way for Black to prevent the mate threatened through R-h3 followed by R-h8.

It is evident that the force of the Rooks will increase as the board gets emptier through the exchange of men, for they will then find more open lines to act in. One of the most important lines for Rooks to occupy is—especially in the ending —the one in which most of the attackable Pawns of the opponent are standing, that is in the majority of cases the second or the seventh rank respectively. If both Rooks cooperate with each other in this rank they usually decide the victory within a short time.

Following is an example which is taken from a master game. As far as the material is concerned the players are about even, as the Queen is worth as much as the two Rooks while Knight and Bishop are an approximate equivalent of the Black Rook and the Pawn which Black is ahead. The Pawn a4 is rather dangerous for White, as he needs only three more moves to reach the first rank where he can be promoted into any piece. On the other hand the Rooks doubled in the seventh rank give White so strong an attack on the Black King that he forces the mate before Black succeeds in realizing the advantage of his advanced passed Pawn.

+———————————————————-+
8 | | | | | #R | #K | | |
|———————————————————-|
7 | | #P | ^R | ^R | | #P | #P | #P |
|———————————————————-|
6 | | | | | | | | |
|———————————————————-|
5 | | | | | | | | |
|———————————————————-|
4 | #P | | | | ^P | ^Kt| | |
|———————————————————-|
3 | | | | | | | ^P | ^B |
|———————————————————-|
2 | #Q | | | | | ^P | | ^P |
|———————————————————-|
1 | | | | | | | ^K | |
+———————————————————-+
a b c d e f g h

DIAGRAM 30.

It is White's move. If Black's Queen did not protect the Pawn f7
White would be able to give a mate in five moves, thus: (I)
Rxf7+, K-g8; (2) Rxg7+, K-h8 (not K-f8 on account of Rc7-f7
mate); (3) Rxh7+, K-g8; (4) R-g7+ and Kt-g6 mate.

Therefore, White will try to interrupt the diagonal in which the Queen defends the threat, and he can do so by (1) Kt-d5. Black being unable to keep f7 protected, must defend g7 or h7, or he will be mated. In the game in question Black played Q-a1+ ; (2) K-g2, P-a3. After (3) Rxf7+, K-g8 it would not be good for White to take g7, giving up the two Rooks for the Queen, as he would then have no more attack while Black still has the dangerous Pawn in the a-line. If possible he will rather interrupt again the diagonal of Black's Queen. This suggests the move (4) Kt-f6+. After Pxf6 White's Rooks are at last free to act unmolested in the seventh rank, and they do it with deadly effect. White forces the mate through (5) R-g7+, K-h8; (6) Rxh7+, K-g8; (7) Rh7-g7+, K-h8; (8) B-f5! Now R-g4 is threatened followed by R-h7 mate, and Black has no defense.

In the opening and in the middle game the main threat of a Rook is the "pinning" of a hostile piece. What is meant by this is illustrated in Diagram 31. Supposing Black, to save his Knight f6 which White has just attacked by P-e5, plays Kt-g4 and after (2) P-h3 takes the Pawn e5 with the Knight g4, then White wins a piece by (3) Ktxe5, Ktxe5; (4) R-e1. This move "pins" Black's Knight to his place as the King would be exposed to White's Rook if the Knight moved. (4) …, P-d6 or Q-e7 is not a sufficient defense, for White continues with (5) P-f4.

+———————————————————-+
8 | #R | | #B | #Q | #K | | | #R |
|———————————————————-|
7 | #P | #P | #P | #P | | #P | #P | #P |
|———————————————————-|
6 | | | #Kt| | | #Kt| | |
|———————————————————-|
5 | | | #B | | ^P | | | |
|———————————————————-|
4 | | | ^B | #P | | | | |
|———————————————————-|
3 | | | | | | ^Kt| | |
|———————————————————-|
2 | ^P | ^P | ^P | | | ^P | ^P | ^P |
|———————————————————-|
1 | ^R | ^Kt| ^B | ^Q | | ^R | ^K | |
+———————————————————-+
a b c d e f g h

DIAGRAM 31.

Pieces that can be used for pinning a hostile man are, apart from the Rooks, the Queen and the Bishops; in fact pinning is the main activity of a Bishop throughout the game. Right after the first few moves one of the Bishops, as a rule, finds an opportunity to pin a hostile Knight. For instance: (1) P-e4, P-e5; (2) Kt-f3, Kt-c6; (3) B-b5 and as soon as the Pawn d7 moves in order to give an outlet to the Bishop c8, the Knight c6 is pinned. Or: (1) P- d4, P-d5; (2) Kt-f3, Kt-f6; (3) P-c4, P-e6; (4) B-g5 and the Knight f6 is pinned, as the Queen would be lost if the Knight moved.

+———————————————————-+
8 | #R | | | | | #R | #K | |
|———————————————————-|
7 | #P | #P | #P | #B | #Q | #P | #P | #P |
|———————————————————-|
6 | | #B | #Kt| | | #Kt| | |
|———————————————————-|
5 | | | | | #P | | ^B | |
|———————————————————-|
4 | | | | | | | | |
|———————————————————-|
3 | | ^B | ^Kt| ^P | | ^Kt| | ^P |
|———————————————————-|
2 | ^P | ^P | ^P | ^Q | | ^P | ^P | |
|———————————————————-|
1 | ^R | | | | ^R | | ^K | |
+———————————————————-+
a b c d e f g h

DIAGRAM 32.

The disadvantage arising from having a piece pinned is often that the opponent might be able to concentrate more men to attack the piece which is pinned than can be gathered for defense. The position of Diagram 32 will serve as an illustration.

Two of Black's men are pinned, namely, the Knight f6 and the Pawn e5, and of both pins White can take advantage.

The Pawn e5 is attacked twice and defended twice. White cannot take Pawn, as he would lose Knight and Rook but would get for it only Knight and Pawn. However, he can win the Pawn by playing (1) P-d4. This attacks the Pawn for the third time and although Black can defend him for the third time with R-e8, the defense is not serviceable as Black would lose Pawn, Knight and Queen for Pawn, Knight and Rook.

P-e4 in answer to P-d4 would not help either; for on e4 the Pawn is twice attacked and only once protected as the Knight f6 cannot be counted as protection on account of his being pinned by the Bishop g5. All White needs to do is to take the Knight f6 first and then to capture the Pawn e4.

It remains to examine whether in answer to (1) P-d4 Black can take the Pawn with either Bishop or Knight. Apparently this is possible as the Pawn d4 is protected only by the Knight f3 and the Queen. Indeed, the combination would be correct if the Bishop d7 were sufficiently protected. As it is White wins a piece in the following way:

(1) P-d4 Bxd4 (2) Ktxd4 Ktxd4 (3) Qxd4 Pxd4 (4) Rxe7 Pxc3

Up to this move an even exchange of pieces has taken place, but now Black loses the Bishop which is attacked by White's Rook, because White can remove the Knight which protects the Bishop.

(5) Bxf6 Pxf6 (6) Rxd7, etc.

Instead of playing (1) P-d4 and taking advantage of the fact that the Pawn e5 is pinned, White can direct his attack against the other Black man which is pinned, namely the Knight f6. He can play (1) Kt-d5 and thereby attack the Queen and at the same time the Knight f6 for the second time. It will not be evident to the beginner that White can derive any advantage from this double attack, as Black can answer either Q-d6 or Q-d8 keeping his Knight twice protected. Indeed, White does not gain anything on f6, the square itself upon which the pin is effected, but he uses the pin to force an opening into the chain of Pawns which protects Black's King by exchanging on f6, compelling Black to retake with the Pawn g7. The advantage resulting from this break in Black's Pawn position will be explained later on when discussing the strategy of the middle-game.