Chess and Checkers : the Way to Mastership

by Edward Lasker

SACRIFICING

A player is said to SACRIFICE if he allows a certain amount of his forces to be captured without recapturing himself an equivalent amount of his opponent's forces. He will not, of course, knowingly do so unless he expects to obtain some other advantage which will at least compensate for his loss of material. Such compensation can only be afforded by a superiority of the position. In as much as a position can only be considered superior if it enables the mating of the opposing King or the obtaining of an advantage in material which will secure a win in the ending, it is evident that in sacrificing a player really never intends to give up more than he gets, but that on the contrary he expects to gain more than he loses. In other words, a sacrifice, if correct, is a sacrifice only TEMPORARILY, and very soon yields either the same, if not more material, or an attack on the King to which the latter falls victim.

The less evident the way is in which a player recovers the material sacrificed or realizes an equivalent advantage the more beautiful the sacrifice is considered. If the effect of a sacrifice is a direct mating attack on the King, it is as a rule not difficult to foresee as long as the typical mating positions are known to the player, most of which have been discussed in the previous chapter. The following diagrams illustrate examples of such sacrifices which occur fairly often in actual games.

In Diagram 33, White on the move can play for a similar mate as the one explained in the discussion of Diagram 29 by placing his Rook on g3. The best protection against Rxg7 which Black has at his disposal is P-f6. But if he does not know the mating position illustrated in Diagram 29 he is liable to play P-g6, and then White forces the mate by sacrificing his Queen on h7.

(1) R-g3 P-g6 (2) Qxh7+ Kxh7 (3) R-h3+ K-g8 (4) R-h8+

Black could have prolonged the agony one move by interposing his
Queen on h4 on the third move.

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

DIAGRAM 33

In the position of Diagram 34 White institutes a mating attack by (1) P-f6. The only move to protect the mate on g7 is P-g6. It will then be White's desire to enter with his Queen on h6 again threatening the checkmate on g7. He will, therefore, play either Q-f4 or Q-g5. Black has no other way to defend himself against White's threat than by K-h8 followed by R-g8. But after K-h8; Q- h6, R-g8 White plays R-f3 and Black is unable to prevent White from sacrificing his Queen on h7 and mating by R-h3.

If Black's Queen were standing on c5 instead of b5 he could avert the mate by moving the Rook f8 and playing the Queen to f8 thereby protecting g7.

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

DIAGRAM 34.

The mate with Rook and Knight demonstrated by the position of Diagram 28 is liable to occur in several variations of the play which might result from the following situation:

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

DIAGRAM 35.

White starts his mating attack with (1) Kt-f6. This threatens the sacrifice of the Queen on h6 followed by R-g8 mate. White's Knight move can hardly be called a sacrifice as it is quite evident that Black cannot take the Knight on account of Qxh6+, Kt-h7; Q-g7 mate. The only way to parry White's threat is (1) …, Kt-g6. However, this helps only momentarily as White continues (2) R-h3 threatening Q-g5, Rxh6+ and Qxh6 mate, a threat against which Black has no defense. White can very nearly force the mate by sacrificing his Queen on h6 instead of the Rook. But after (3) Qxh6, Pxh6; (4) Rxh6+, K-g7; (5) R-h7+, K-f8; (6) R-h8+ Black does not take the Rook as White would like him to do to enable the mate R-g8, but he goes back to g7 with the King and White could not do any better than draw by perpetual check on h7 and h8.

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

DIAGRAM 36.

In the position of Diagram 36 White can make an attack which will recall somewhat the play shown in connection with Diagram 25. (1) Kt-g5 would not lead to anything, as Black could defend himself by P-g6 or P-h6. White has a much more direct way to attack the black King. This is by the sacrifice (1) Bxh7+. After Kxh7; (2) Kt-g5+, K-g8; (3) Q-h5 Black can protect the mate only by sacrificing his Queen for White's Knight. For (3) …, R-e8 with the view to escape with the King to e7 via f8 if attacked by Q-h7 and Q-h8 would be rendered futile by White through (4) Qxf7+, K- h8; (5) Q-h5+, K-g8; (6) Q-h7+, K-f8; (7) Q-h8+, K-e7; (8) Qxg7 mate. Before making the sacrifice of the Bishop White will, of course, have to make sure that Black cannot save himself by evading altogether the attack which is threatened through Q-h5. Black could, indeed, avoid this variation by going with the King to g6 on the second move instead of g8. But in this case too White has a winning continuation. He would play (3) Q-g4 threatening to win Black's Queen by the discovered check Ktxe6. If Black moves the Queen, then White gives the discovered check in any case forcing the King to h7 and leading over to the variation which was originally intended. If, on the other hand, Black tried (3) …, P-f5, attacking White's Queen and thereby rendering the discovered check ineffective, White would first take the Pawn en passant and after (4) Pxf6, Kxf6 the Queen mates on e6.

Frequently a sacrifice is brought to maintain a pin which is bound to yield a piece in return sooner or later. The position of Diagram 37 is typical for cases of this kind.

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

DIAGRAM 37.

Supposing Black plays (1) …, P-h6; (2) B-h4, P-g5 to free himself of the pinning Bishop. Then White can sacrifice the Knight f3 for the two black Pawns and thereby maintain the pin with the threat to regain the Knight immediately through Kt-d5. The ensuing play could be the following: (3) Ktxg5, Pxg5; (4) Bxg5, Bxc3; (5) Pxc3. Now White threatens to play P-f4 and Pxe5 opening the line of his Rook and thereby attacking the pinned Knight for the second time. This threat cannot be effectively countered. Black could try to unpin the Knight by (5) …. K-g7; (6) P-f4, Q-e8. Indeed, Black saves his Knight in this way, but the exposed position of his King leads to a speedy disaster. For instance: (7) Pxe5, Kt-h7; (8) B-f6+, Ktxf6; (9) Pxf6+, K-h7; (10) Q-h5+, K-g8; (11) Q-g6+, K-h8; (12) Q-g7+/-. Black could not take White's Queen on the 11th move because the Pawn f7 was pinned by the Bishop c4.

If Black had moved his King to g8 or g6 on the 8th move instead of taking the Bishop f6, White would have forced the mate by sacrificing his Rook on f5, thereby cutting off the Bishop c8 and giving his Queen access to the square g4.

Sacrifices with the view to utilizing a pin occur in various other versions which are essentially different from the one illustrated above. Following are typical examples of the three most frequent cases.

In the position of Diagram 38 Black must not take the Pawn e4 although he can protect the Knight with B-f5 in case White pins him with R-e1.

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

DIAGRAM 38.

The way in which White would obtain the advantage is this:

(1) R-e1 B-f5 (2) Rxe4 Bxe4 (3) R-e1

Through sacrificing one Rook for the Knight White has freed the square e1 for the other Rook who now pins the Black Bishop without Black being able to protect it.

The position of Diagram 39 is somewhat related to that of Diagram 38, as far as the possibility of a sacrifice for the sake of a pin is concerned. If White plays B-b5+ Black must not interpose his Bishop, for White will give up his Rook for the Bishop in order to force the Rook d8 into a pinned position and then he will win the Rook by R-d1.

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

DIAGRAM 39.

In the position of Diagram 40 there is also a possibility of a sacrifice with the view to pin a piece that defends a certain threat as long as it is mobile. White plays (1) Q-d5, and Black dares not take White's Knight with his Queen for White would continue (2) Qxf7+, Rxf7; (3) R-e8+/-.

What Black could try is (1) Kt-h6.

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

DIAGRAM 40.

The Pawn f7 would then be three times attacked and three times protected so that White cannot take him as now the pin of the Rook resulting from Ktxf7, Ktxf7; Qxf7, Rxf7 does not lead to anything, the square e8 being protected by the Queen. However, White can force the win by (2) Ra1- e1, threatening again the sacrifice of f7, as he now controls the square e8 twice. If Black replies (2) …, Q-f6, protecting f7 for the fourth time and thereby making impossible White's sacrifice on that point, White continues with (3) R-e8. This threatens Rxf8+, Kxf8; Ktxh7+ winning the Queen. Black cannot defend himself with Q-g6 on account of (4) B-d3 followed by Bxh7+ and Rxf8, etc., nor can he play (3) …, Q-f4 on account of P-g3 followed by Qxd6, attacking the defenseless Rook f8.

A sacrifice with the view to enabling a mating attack through the cooperation of Rooks and Bishop somewhat similar to the examples discussed in the previous chapter is possible in the position of Diagram 41 which occurred in a Tournament game in London in which the author conducted the black men.

Black's combination starts with the sacrifice of the Queen on f3. After (1) …, Qxf3; (2) Pxf3, B-h3+; (3) K-g1 White's King is held in an immobile position by the Black Bishop and a check with one of Black's Rooks in the g-file would be deadly.

However, White can, for a while, protect himself against all mating attempts of Black. If Black continued (3 ) …, R-e6, White would take the Pawn d3 with the Queen thereby defending the mate R-g6. After giving up his Queen for one of Black's Rooks White would still have an advantage in material.

The correct way to carry on the attack is (3) …, Ra8-e8, as then White cannot take the Pawn d3 on account of R-e1+; Q-f1, Rxf1+; Rxf1, R-e6 and R-g6 mate.

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

DIAGRAM 41.

The main threat of Black's third move is R-e6-g6 mate. Another threat is P-d2 followed by R-e1+. The only way for White to defend himself is (4) P-f4. If now P-d2, then (5) P-f3, R-e1+; (6) K-f2 affords a sufficient protection. And if (4) …, Re8-e6, then (5) P-f5 prevents the Rook from going to g6.

However, by repeating the mating threat with (5) …, Re6-e4, which forces White to protect, g4 by (6) P-f3 Black opens the second rank for a combined assault of the Rooks similar to the one illustrated by Diagram 30. What makes matters worse for White is that with (6) …, R-g2+ he is forced into the line of the Bishop h3 so that he is exposed to a discovered check. After (7) K-f1, Rxb2 discovered check; (8) K-g1, Re4-e2 White must give up his Queen for the Rook immediately, as otherwise Black would mate in four moves by R-g2+, K-f1, Rxh2+, K-g1, Rb2-g2+; K-f1, Rxh1+/-.

Although White is still ahead in material after (9) Qxe2, Rxe2 he cannot avoid the loss of the game on account of the continued threat which Black exerts by the cooperation of his Rook and his Bishop. The only move which would save the Rook a1 from getting lost through R-g2+, followed by a discovered check with simultaneous attack of the Rook by Black's Rook would be (10) R- d1 with the idea of protecting the Rook with the King thus (10) …, R-g2+; (11) K-f1, R-d2; (12) K-e1; but this plan fails as Black checkmates with (12) …, R-e2.

A mating position which has not been discussed up to now but which occurs frequently enough in the actual game to warrant its special mention is one in which the King is deprived of all mobility by his own men who surround him and in which a hostile Knight can check the King. Diagram 42 offers an example.

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

DIAGRAM 42.

White on the move can force the mate by (1) R-d8, a very surprising sacrifice indeed, for not only can Black take the Rook with either Queen or Rook but he can also take White's Queen. In the latter case, however, he would be mated in two moves by (2) Rxe8+, Q-g8; (3) Kt-f7. This is one example of the "throttled mate" by the Knight. Another one, which is really the typical one, occurs if Black takes the Rook instead of the Queen. The mating process then is: (2) Kt-f7+, K-g8; (3) Kt-h6 double check, K-h8; (4) Q-g8+, Rxg8; (5) Kt-f7+/-. White could not have played Q- g8+ right on the second move because then Black would have taken the Queen with the King, while he could not do so with White's Knight on h6.

Sacrifices made with the view of a direct mating attack are, as a rule, the easiest to figure out, as there is no guesswork connected with them. In those cases the player does not face the question as to whether the position attained after the sacrifice will be strong enough to insure a gain of material at least equivalent to the amount of material sacrificed, a question which to answer correctly sometimes requires a good deal of instinct trained by experience; all that is necessary if to ascertain whether the opponent can be mated in a definite number of moves or not. If the mate cannot be clearly foreseen, the sacrifice must not be made. The possibility of a sacrifice with consequent forced mate is always indicated if a greatly superior force is available for attack at the part of the board where the opposing King is located. An example is offered by the position reproduced on the book cover.

[E-text editor note: The position on the book cover is:

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

This position occurred in a game between Sir G. A. Thomas of London and the author. Black has just played Q-e7 in order to protect the mate which was threatened by Ktxf6+ followed by Qxh7. If in the position of the diagram White played Kt-f6+, Black would retake with the Pawn, thereby protecting the Pawn h7 with his Queen. However, White can force the mate with a neat Queen's sacrifice which drives Black's King right into the arms of the remaining White pieces. Play continued as follows:

(1) Qxh7+ Kxh7 (2) Ktxf6++ K-h6

The King cannot go to h8 on account of Kt-g6 mate. White now continually checks Black's King in such a manner that he has only one square to go to until he is finally driven to the first rank, all White pieces participating in the chase.

(3) Kte5-g4+

In answer to Ktf6-g4+ Black would play K-h5; (4) B-g6+, K-h4; (5)
P-g3+, K-h3 and there is no mate.

(3) … K-g5 (4) P-h4+ K-f4 (5) P-g3+ K-f3 (6) B-e2+ K-g2 (7) R-h2+ K-g1 (8) K-d2 mate.

White could have forced the mate in seven instead of eight moves by playing (6) K-f1, or (6) o-o, for there was no protection against (7) Kt-h2.