18. Kt - Q 4

Not, of course, R - Q 4, because of Q Q; Kt Q, R - B 1; and there would be no good way to prevent R - B 7.

18. ........ Q Q 19. Kt (B 3) Q !

Notice the co-ordination of the Knights' moves. They are manoeuvred chain-like, so to speak, in order to maintain one of them, either at Q 4 or ready to go there. Now White threatens to take the open file, and therefore forces Black's next move.

19. ........ R - B 1

{211}

[Ill.u.s.tration]

The student should examine this position carefully. There seems to be no particular danger, yet, as White will demonstrate, Black may be said to be lost. If the game is not altogether lost, the defence is at least of the most difficult kind; indeed, I must confess that I can see no adequate defence against White's next move.

20. Kt - B 5 ! K - B 1

If 20...B - Q 1; 21 Kt - Q 6, R - B 2; 22 Kt B, R Kt; 23 B Kt, B B; 24 R P, R - B 2; 25 R - Q 2, and White is a p.a.w.n ahead. If 20...B moves anywhere else, then B Kt, doubling the K B P and isolating all of Black's King's side p.a.w.ns.

21. Kt B K Kt 22. Kt - Q 4 P - Kt 3

This is practically forced, as White threatened Kt - B 5 ch. Notice that the Black Knight is pinned in such a way that no relief can be afforded except by giving up the K R P or abandoning the open file {212} with the Rook, which would be disastrous, as White would immediately sieze it.

23. P - B 3 !

[Ill.u.s.tration]

23. ........ P - R 3

Black could do nothing else except mark time with his Rook along the open file, since as soon as he moved away White would take it. White, on the other hand, threatens to march up with his King to K 5 via K B 2, K Kt 3, K B 4, after having, of course, prepared the way. Hence, Black's best chance was to give up a p.a.w.n, as in the text, in order to free his Knight.

24. B P Kt - Q 2 25. P - K R 4 Kt - B 4 26. B - B 4 Kt - K 3

Black exchanges Knights to remain with Bishops of {213} opposite colours, which gives him the best chance to draw.

27. Kt Kt K Kt

27...P Kt would be worse, as White would then be able to post his Bishop at K 5.

28. R - Q 2 R - K R 1

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Black wants to force B - Kt 3. P - K Kt 3 would be bad, on account of P - Q 5; which would get the Black Bishop into the game, even though White could answer P - K 4. The text move is, however, weak, as will soon be seen. His best chance was to play P - Kt 5; and follow it up with P - R 4 and B - R 3. White meanwhile could play P - Kt 4 and R 5, obtaining a pa.s.sed p.a.w.n, which, with proper play, should win.

29. R - Q B 2 ! R - Q B 1 30. R R B R

There are now Bishops of opposite colour, but nevertheless White has an easily-won game. {214}

31. K - B 2

[Ill.u.s.tration]

31. ........ P - Q 5

Practically forced. Otherwise the White King would march up to Q 4 and then to B 5 and win Black's Queen's side p.a.w.ns. If Black attempted to stop this by putting his King at Q B 3 then the White King would enter through K 5 into Black's King's side and win just as easily.

32. P P K - Q 4 33. K - K 3 B - K 3 34. K - Q 3 K - B 3 35. P - Q R 3 B - B 5 ch 36. K - K 3 B - K 3 37. B - R 6

It is better not to hurry P - K Kt 4 because of P - B 4; for although White could win in any case, it would take longer. Now the White King threatens to help by going in through K B 4 after posting the Bishop {215} at Kt 7, where it not only protects the Q P, but indirectly also the Q Kt P.

37. ........ K - Q 4 38. B - Kt 7 Resigns.

The student ought to have realised by this time the enormous importance of playing well every kind of ending. In this game again, practically from the opening, White aimed at nothing but the isolation of Black's Q P. Once he obtained that, he tried for and obtained, fortunately, another advantage of position elsewhere which translated itself into the material advantage of a p.a.w.n. Then by accurate playing in the ending he gradually forced home his advantage. This ending has the merit of having been played against one of the finest players in the world.

GAME 10. PETROFF DEFENCE

(St. Petersburg, 1914)

White: J. R. Capablanca. Black: F. J. Marshall

1. P - K 4 P - K 4 2. Kt - K B 3 Kt - K B 3 3. Kt P P - Q 3 4. Kt - K B 3 Kt P 5. Q - K 2 Q - K 2 6. P - Q 3 Kt - K B 3 7. B - Kt 5

{216} Played by Morphy, and a very fine move. The point is that should Black exchange Queens he will be a move behind in development and consequently will get a cramped game if White plays accurately.

7. ........ B - K 3

Marshall thought at the time that this was the best move and consequently played it in preference to Q Q ch.

8. Kt - B 3 P - K R 3 9. B Kt Q B 10. P - Q 4 B - K 2 11. Q - Kt 5 ch Kt - Q 2 12. B - Q 3 !

[Ill.u.s.tration]

It is now time to examine the result of the opening. On White's side we find the minor pieces well posted and the Queen out in a somewhat odd place, it is true, but safe from attack and actually attacking a p.a.w.n.

{217} White is also ready to Castle. White's position is evidently free from danger and his pieces can easily manoeuvre.

On Black's side the first thing we notice is that he has retained both his Bishops, unquestionably an advantage; but on the other hand we find his pieces bunched together too much, and the Queen in danger of being attacked without having any good square to go to. The Bishop at K 2 has no freedom and it blocks the Queen, which, in its turn, blocks the Bishop. Besides, Black cannot Castle on the King's side because Q P, R - Kt 1; Q - K 4 threatening mate, wins a p.a.w.n. Nor can he Castle on the Queen's side because Q - R 5 would put Black's game in imminent danger, since he cannot play P - R 3 because of B P; nor can he play K - Kt 1 because of Kt - Kt 5. Consequently we must conclude that the opening is all in White's favour.

12. ........ P - Kt 4

To make room for his Queen, threatening also P - Kt 5.

13. P - K R 3 O - O

giving up a p.a.w.n in an attempt to free his game and take the initiative. It was difficult for him to find a move, as White threatened Kt - K 4, and should Black go with the Queen to Kt 2, then P - Q 5, B - B 4; Kt P ch, followed by B B. {218}

14. Q P Q R - Kt 1 15. Q - K 4 Q - Kt 2 16. P - Q Kt 3 P - Q B 4