22. THE FORCE OF THE THREATENED ATTACK
Failing an opportunity, in the second case, for direct attack, one must attempt to increase whatever weakness there may be in the opponent's position; or, if there is none, one or more must be created. It is always an advantage to threaten something, but such threats must be carried into effect only if something is to be gained immediately. For, holding the threat in hand, forces the opponent to provide against its execution and to keep material in readiness to meet it. Thus he may more easily overlook, or be unable to parry, a thrust at another point. But once the threat is carried into effect, it exists no longer, and your opponent can devote his attention to his own schemes. One of the best and most successful manœuvres in this type of game is to make a demonstration on one side, so as to draw the forces of your opponent to that side, then through the greater mobility of your pieces to shift your forces quickly
to the other side and break through, before your opponent has had the time to bring over the necessary forces for the defence.
A good example of positional play is shown in the following game:
Example 52.—Played at the Havana International Masters Tournament, 1913. (French Defence.) White: J. R. Capablanca. Black: R. Blanco.
| 1. P - K 4 | P - K 3 | |
| 2. P - Q 4 | P - Q 4 | |
| 3. Kt - Q B 3 | P × P | |
| 4. Kt × P | Kt - Q 2 | |
| 5. Kt - K B 3 | K Kt - B 3 | |
| 6. Kt × Kt ch | Kt × Kt | |
| 7. Kt - K 5 |
This move was first shown to me by the talented Venezuelan amateur, M. Ayala. The object is to
prevent the development of Black's Queen's Bishop viâ Q Kt 2, after P - Q Kt 3, which is Black's usual development in this variation. Generally it is bad to move the same piece twice in an opening before the other pieces are out, and the violation of that principle is the only objection that can be made to this move, which otherwise has everything to recommend it.
| 7. ........ | B - Q 3 | |
| 8. Q - B 3 |