Chess Fundamentals Part 8

16. QUEEN AGAINST ROOK

This is one of the most difficult endings without p.a.w.ns. The resources of the defence are many, and when used skilfully only a very good player will prevail within the limit of fifty moves allowed by the rules. (The rule is that at any moment you may demand that your opponent mate you within fifty moves. However, every time a piece is exchanged or a p.a.w.n advanced the counting must begin afresh.)

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EXAMPLE 40.--This is one of the standard positions which Black can often bring about. Now, it is White's move. If it were Black's move it would be simple, as he would have to move his Rook away from the King (find out why), and then the Rook would be {63} comparatively easy to win. We deduce from the above that the main object is to force the Black Rook away from the defending King, and that, in order to compel Black to do so, we must bring about the position in the diagram with _Black_ to move. Once we know what is required, the way to proceed becomes easier to find. Thus:

1. Q - K 5 ch

Not 1 Q - R 6, because R - B 2 ch; 2 K - Kt 6, R - B 3 ch; 3 K R.

Stalemate. (The beginner will invariably fall into this trap.)

1. ........ K to R 1 or to R 2 2. Q - R 1 ch K - Kt 1 3. Q - R 5

In a few moves we have accomplished our object. The first part is concluded. Now we come to the second part. The Rook can only go to a White square, otherwise the first check with the Queen will win it. Therefore

3. ........ R - Kt 6 4. Q - K 5 ch K - R 1 best 5. Q - R 8 ch K - R 2 6. Q - Kt 7 ch K - R 1 7. Q - Kt 8 ch R - Kt 1 8. Q - R 2 mate

(The student should find out by himself how to win when 3...R - Kt 8; 4 Q - K 5 ch, K - R 2.) {64}

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EXAMPLE 41.--The procedure here is very similar. The things to bear in mind are that the Rook must be prevented from interposing at Kt 1 because of an immediate mate, and in the same way the King must be prevented from going either to R 3 or B 1.

EXAMPLE 42.--We shall now examine a more difficult position.

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Many players would be deceived by this position. The most likely looking move is not the best. Thus suppose we begin

1. Q - K 5 ch K - B 1 2. K - Kt 6 R - Q 2

The only defence, but, unfortunately, a very effective one, which makes it very difficult for White, since he cannot play 3 Q - K 6 because of 3...R - Kt 2 ch; 4 K - B 6, R - Kt 3 ch draws. Nor can he win quickly by 3 Q - Q B 5 ch because 3...K - K 1, 4 K - B 6, R - Q 3 ch ! driving back the White King.

Now that we have seen the difficulties of the situation let us go back. The best move is

1. Q - Kt 5 ch ! K - R 1

If K - R 2; 2 Q - Kt 6 ch, K - R 1; 3 K - R 6 !

2. Q - K 5 ch ! K - R 2 best 3. K - Kt 5 R - R 2 ! best

If 3...R - Kt 2 ch; 4 K - B 6 leads to a position similar to those in Examples 40 and 41.

4. Q - K 4 ch K - Kt 1 5. Q - B 4 ch K - R 2 6. K - B 6 R - K Kt 2 7. Q - R 4 ch K - Kt 1 8. Q - R 5

{66} and we have the position of Example 40 with Black to move.

Let us go back again.

1. Q - Kt 5 ch K - B 1 2. Q - Q 8 ch K - Kt 2 3. K - Kt 5 R - B 6

The best place for the Rook away from the King. 3...K - R 2; 4 Q - Q 4, R - Kt 2 ch; 5 K - B 6 would lead to positions similar to those already seen.

4. Q - Q 4 ch K - B 1 5. K - Kt 6

5 Q - Q 6 ch, K - Kt 2; 6 Q - K 5 ch, K - B 1; 7 K - Kt 6 would also win the Rook. The text move, however, is given to show the finesse of such endings. White now threatens mate at Q 8.

5. ........ R - Kt 6 ch 6. K - B 6 R - B 6 ch 7. K - K 6 R - K R 6

White threatened mate at K R 8.

8. Q - B 4 ch

and the Rook is lost.

Note, in these examples, that the checks at long range along the diagonals have often been the key to all the winning manoeuvres. Also that the Queen and {67} King are often kept on different lines. The student should carefully go over these positions and consider all the possibilities not given in the text.

He should once more go through everything already written before proceeding further with the book.

{68}

CHAPTER III

PLANNING A WIN IN MIDDLE-GAME PLAY

I shall now give a few winning positions taken from my own games. I have selected those that I believe can be considered as _types_, i.e. positions that may easily occur again in a somewhat similar form. A knowledge of such positions is of great help; in fact, one cannot know too many. It often may help the player to find, with little effort, the right move, which he might not be able to find at all without such knowledge.

17. ATTACKING WITHOUT THE AID OF KNIGHTS

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EXAMPLE 43.--It is Black's move, and as he is a Kt and P behind he must win quickly, if at all. He plays:

1. ........ Q R - Kt 1 !

2. R - B 2

If, Q Q, R P ch; K - R 1, B - Q 4 and mate follows in a few moves.

2. ........ R P ch 3. K - B 1 B - B 5 ch 4. Kt B R - Kt 8 mate

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