Chess Strategy. Edward Lasker

| #P | #P | | | #P | #B | #P |

       |———————————————————|

       6 | #P | | | #P | | #Kt| #P | |

       |———————————————————|

       5 | | | | ^Kt| #P | | ^B | |

       |———————————————————|

       4 | | | | ^P | | | | |

       |———————————————————|

       3 | | ^B | | | ^P | | ^Kt| |

       |———————————————————|

       2 | ^P | ^P | ^P | | | ^P | ^P | ^P |

       |———————————————————|

       1 | ^R | | | ^Q | | ^R | ^K | |

      ———————————————————

       A B C D E F G H

      Diag. 10

      White's further attack on the Knight by Q-B3 forces the Rook to defend on K3, where it gets into the diagonal of the Bishop, which at present is masked by White's Knight. The sequel would be 3. QKtxKtch, RxKt (not BxKt on account of BxR winning a whole Rook), 4. BxR, and so on. A similar case is shown in Diagram 11.

      ———————————————————

       8 | | | | | | | | |

       |———————————————————|

       7 | #P | #K | #P | #Kt| | | #P | #P |

       |———————————————————|

       6 | | #P | | | | | | |

       |———————————————————|

       5 | | ^Kt| | | | | | |

       |———————————————————|

       4 | | | | | | ^B | | |

       |———————————————————|

       3 | ^P | | ^P | | | ^P | ^P | |

       |———————————————————|

       2 | #B | | | | | | | ^P |

       |———————————————————|

       1 | | | | | | | ^K | |

      ———————————————————

       A B C D E F G H

      Diag. 11

      Here, too, there is a flaw in the simple calculation, because the defending units are not secure. Beginners should devote special attention to this position, which is in practice of frequent occurrence.

      It can be easily perceived that the Bishop cannot capture the pawn at B7 on account of P-QR3. But to take with the Knight would also be an error, because Black would then keep chasing away the covering Bishop.

      1. P-Kt4; 2. B-Q6, K-B3; 3. Kt-K8, B-B2; and wins one of the pieces.

      Finally, one more example, in which one of the defending pieces being pinned makes simple calculation impracticable.

      In Diagram 12 it seems at first sight as if Black could play

       KtxP: although White can pin the Knight with R-K1

      ———————————————————

       8 | #R | | #B | | #K | | | #R |

       |———————————————————|

       7 | #P | #P | | | | #Kt| #P | #P |

       |———————————————————|

       6 | | | #P | #Kt| | | | |

       |———————————————————|

       5 | | | | | | | | |

       |———————————————————|

       4 | | | | | ^P | ^Kt| | |

       |———————————————————|

       3 | | | | | | | ^B | |

       |———————————————————|

       2 | ^P | ^P | | | | | ^P | ^P |

       |———————————————————|

       1 | ^R | ^Kt| | | | ^R | ^K | |

      ———————————————————

       A B C D E F G H

      Diag. 12

      and then attack it once more with his Knight, Black would appear to have sufficient protection available, with his Kt and B. White has no time to double Rooks, because if he does so, after his R- K2 Black would play the King away from his file and allow the Knight to escape.

      But White can, by a simple sacrifice, bring the slumbering R at

       R1 into sudden action:

      1. … KtxP; 2 R-K1, B-B4; 3. Kt-B3, Kt-Q3; 4. RxKt, KtxR; 5. R- K1, and White wins two pieces for his Rook.

      These illustrations will be sufficient to give the beginner an understanding of economy of calculation in all kinds of combinations. His power of combining will grow speedily on this basis, and thrive in the fire of practical experience. Where an opponent is missing, the gap must be filled by reference to such books as treat of the science of combination and give examples taken from actual play.

CHAPTER III

       Table of Contents

      GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF CHESS STRATEGY

      In bringing the teachings of this book under the collective heading "Chess Strategy," it was not in any way my intention to draw anything like an exact parallel between the manoeuvres on the chess-board and military operations in actual warfare. In trying to seek such analogies there is great danger of being led astray, and little likelihood of gaining knowledge that might be of use in practical play. Plain common-sense will give us all we need, without our being influenced by those tactical and strategical considerations that have been found useful in war.

      The following definition may not be out of place: Strategy sets down the whole of the problems which must be solved in war, in order to attain the ultimate result aimed at; tactics solve such problems in various ways, and according to the conditions prevailing in the particular case. Sound strategy, when setting the task, must never lose sight of tactical practicability, and only a thorough knowledge of tactical resources makes correct strategy possible.

      Now we shall not under any circumstances, as unfortunately even great chess masters have done, seek in outward similarities justification for transferring to chess the teachings of the strategy and tactics of war. It sounds pretty enough to say: Chess is a game of war—the various pieces represent the various kinds of forces: the pawns represent the infantry,