Chess and Checkers: The Way to Mastership, Edward Lasker [psychology books to read txt] 📗

19-24

(2) 32-28 23-19

(3) 28-32 24-28

(4) 32-27 28-32

(5) 27-31 19-15

(6) 31-26 15-18

(7) 26-31 18-22

 

In the ending THREE KINGS AGAINST TWO KINGS the most favorable spots for the weaker player are the two double corners; but the three Kings will always win when handled right.

 

32 31 30

+–––––––––––––+

| | ** | | | | | | | 29

|–––––––––––––|

28 | | | | | | | | |

|–––––––––––––|

| | | | oo | | | | | 21

|–––––––––––––|

20 | | | oo | | | | | |

|–––––––––––––|

| | | | | | | | | 13

|–––––––––––––|

12 | | | | | | | | |

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| | | | | | | | | 5

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4 | | | | | | | | |

+–––––––––––––+

3 2 1

 

DIAGRAM 89.

The method which has to be employed will be evident from the play in Diagram 90. In order to win Black must exchange one King; the position is then reduced to that of Diagram 89.

 

32 31 30

+–––––––––––––+

| | | | | | | | |29

|–––––––––––––|

28 | | | oo | | | | | |

|–––––––––––––|

| | | | | | | | |21

|–––––––––––––|

20 | | | ** | | | | | |

|–––––––––––––|

| | | | ** | | | | |13

|–––––––––––––|

12 | | | | | ** | | oo | |

|–––––––––––––|

| | | | | | | | |5

|–––––––––––––|

4 | | | | | | | | |

+–––––––––––––+

3 2 1

 

DIAGRAM 90.

If it were White’s move, Black would easily win; for after (1) …, 27-32; (2) 19-24, 9-5; (3) 10-6, White cannot avoid the exchange. For instance: (3) …, 5-1; (4) 24-19. The problem reduces itself therefore to changing the move from Black to White. This is accomplished by:

 

Black White

 

(1) 15-18 27-32

(2) 19-24 9-5

(3) 10-14

 

Threatening 24-27. White can only reply

 

(3) … 32-28

(4) 24-27 5-1

 

(5) 14-9, etc., as above.

If the weaker side does not control both double corners the exchange can be forced much more easily, as an experiment will quickly show.

 

32 31 30

+–––––––––––––+

| | oo | | | | | | |29

|–––––––––––––|

28 | ** | | oo | | | | | |

|–––––––––––––|

| | | | | | | | |21

|–––––––––––––|

20 | ** | | | | | | | |

|–––––––––––––|

| | ** | | | | | | |13

|–––––––––––––|

12 | | | | | | | | |

|–––––––––––––|

| | | | | | | | | 5

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4 | | | | | | | | |

+–––––––––––––+

3 2 1

 

DIAGRAM 91.

Sometimes the stronger side has an occasion to give up two Kings for one thereby forcing a position similar to that of Diagram 88. Diagram 91 offers an example:

Black on the move wins in 5 moves, thus:

 

(1) 16-19 27-31

(2) 20-24 32-27

 

(3) 28-32 27x20

(4) 19-24 20x27

(5) 32x23

and White is pinned.

With three Kings against four a player can sometimes offer prolonged resistance. But finally the stronger player will always be able to force an exchange which secures the victory. In the position of Diagram 92 for instance Black will proceed as follows:

 

(1) 18-15 19-24

 

It would not help to play 27-24, as Black would reply 14-17 and exchange on the next move by 10-14.

 

(2) 11-16

 

limiting White’s mobility.

 

(2) … 23-26

 

In answer to 24-20 Black would play 15-19.

 

(3) 16-19 24-28

(4) 14-18 26-30

(5) 19-23 28-32

(6) 15-19 27-31

 

32 31 30

+–––––––––––––+

| | | | | | | | | 29

|–––––––––––––|

28 | | | oo | | | | | |

|–––––––––––––|

| | | | oo | | | | | 21

|–––––––––––––|

20 | | | oo | | ** | | | |

|–––––––––––––|

| | | | | | ** | | | 13

|–––––––––––––|

12 | | | * | | * | | | |

|–––––––––––––|

| | | | | | | | | 5

|–––––––––––––|

4 | | | | | | | | |

+–––––––––––––+

3 2 1

 

DIAGRAM 92.

Not 30-25 on account of 18-22.

 

(7) 10-14 31-26

(8) 14-17 26-31

(9) 17-22 31-27

(10) 19-16 27-24

 

(11) 16-19 and wins.

If, on the 10th move, White played 27-31 instead of 27-24, the game might proceed as follows:

 

(11) 18-15 32-28

(12) 15-19 28-32

 

(13) 22-26 31x22

(14) 23-27 32x23

(15) 19x17

These possibilities of exchanging “two for two” should always be looked for as they often occur, enabling a win within a few moves.

 

III

THE FIVE FUNDAMENTAL POSITIONS

 

While in the examples of elementary endings given in the previous chapter, the correct method of play was comparatively easy to find, positions with few men often occur which look very simple but which require considerable thought to be handled in the right way. The knowledge of these positions, of which there are five distinctly different types, is essential for any one who desires to become a fair player and they are, therefore, thoroughly explained in the following five characteristic examples.

 

THE FIRST POSITION

 

It does not make any difference in the method of play whether the Black man is located as shown in Diagram 93 or on 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11 16, 20 or 24. The essential point is that he must not be able to march to the King row without being intercepted by White.

The winning maneuver is this: White turns the Black King out of the double corner in the manner shown in the play from the position of Diagram 89 and thereby compels the Black man to advance, finally forcing an exchange which secures the opposition.

 

32 31 30

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| | | | | | | | | 29

|–––––––––––––|

28 | ** | | | | | | | |

|–––––––––––––|

| | | | oo | | | | | 21

|–––––––––––––|

20 | | | oo | | | | | |

|–––––––––––––|

| | | | | | | | | 13

|–––––––––––––|

12 | ** | | | | | | | |

|–––––––––––––|

| | | | | | | | | 5

|–––––––––––––|

4 | | | | | | | | |

+–––––––––––––+

3 2 1

 

DIAGRAM 93.—White to Move and Win.

This maneuver, as will be evident from a careful study of the position, is possible only in case White has the move. If Black has the move the ending is a draw.

 

Black White

 

(1) … 23-27

(2) 28-32 19-23

(3) 32-28

 

Black cannot play 12-16, as 27-24 would win a piece.

 

(3) … 27-32

(4) 28-24

 

Again 12-16 is not possible on account of 32-27 winning a piece in three moves.

 

(4) … 23-18

 

32 31 30

+–––––––––––––+

| | oo | | | | | | | 29

|–––––––––––––|

28 | | | | | | | | |

|–––––––––––––|

| | ** | | | | | | | 21

|–––––––––––––|

20 | | | | | oo | | | |

|–––––––––––––|

| | | | | | | | | 13

|–––––––––––––|

12 | * | | | | | | | |

|–––––––––––––|

| | | | | | | | | 5

|–––––––––––––|

4 | | | | | | | | |

+–––––––––––––+

3 2 1

 

DIAGRAM 94.

White played 32-28 Black would exchange by five 24-19 and draw the game.

In the position of the Diagram Black has the choice between 24-20, 12-16, 24-19 or 24-28, but he loses, no matter what move he makes as demonstrated below.

(A) (5) 24-20 32-27

 

(6) 20-16 18-15

(7) 16-20 15-18

(8) 12-16 18-15

 

(B) (5) 12-16 18-15

Now Black cannot play (6) 16-19 because of the exchange 32-27; (6) 16-20 would also lose quickly through 15-18, (7) 24-19, 32-28, (8) 19-16, 18-23. The best try is (6) 24-28.

Against 15-18 Black would now draw by (7) 16-19, 32-27; (8) 19-23.

 

The only way to win is

 

(6) … 15-11

 

after which Black can do no better than

 

(7) 16-19 32-27

(8) 28-32 27-31

(9) 32-28 11-16

 

(10) 19-24 16-19, etc.

(C) (5) 24-19 32-28

 

(6) 12-16 28-32

(7) 19-24 18-15

 

and White continues as shown before.

(D) (5) 24-28 18-15

 

(6) 28-24 32-28

(7) 24-27 15-18

(8) 12-16 28-32

(9) 27-24 18-15

 

and wins as before by 15-18 in reply to (10) 16-20 or 15-11 in reply to 24-28.

 

THE SECOND POSITION (See Diagram 95)

 

White’s advantage is that he can crown his two men while Black remains with only one King and two men. The reason why Black cannot use his two men to advantage is that they are pinned on the side of the board while White’s men are located in the center where they have much more mobility. All the same White must have the move in order to win, just as in first position.

 

Black White

 

(1) … 30-26

(2) 9-14 26-23

(3) 14-10 23-18

 

32 31 30

+–––––––––––––+

| | | | | | o | | | 29

|–––––––––––––|

28 | | | o | | | | | |

|–––––––––––––|

| | | | | | oo | | * | 21

|–––––––––––––|

20 | * | | | | | | | |

|–––––––––––––|

| | | | | | | | | 13

|–––––––––––––|

12 | | | | | | | ** | |

|–––––––––––––|

| | | | | | | | | 5

|–––––––––––––|

4 | | | | | | | | |

+–––––––––––––+

3 2 1

 

DIAGRAM 95.—White to Move and Win.

 

(4) 10-6 18-14

(5) 6-1 14-9

(6) 1-5 9-6

(7) 5-9 6-2

(8) 9-5 2-6

(9) 5-1 6-9

(10) 1-5 9-14

(11) 5-1 14-18

(12) 1-6 18-15

(13) 6-9 15-19

(14) 9-14 27-23

(15) 14-10 23-18

(16) 10-6 18-14

(17) 6-1 14-9

(18) 1-5 9-6

(19) 5-9 6-2

(20) 9-5 2-6

(21) 5-1 6-9

(22) 1-5 9-14

(23) 5-1 14-18

(24) 1-6 18-23

(25) 6-10 23-27

(26) 10-14 19-23

(27) 14-10 23-18

(28) 10-6 18-14

(29) 6-1 14-9

(30) 1-5 22-17

 

At last White has a position in which he can reduce the ending to one of the fundamental cases by exchange.

 

(31) 5-14 17-10

(32) 21-25

 

It will be noticed that through the exchange Black gained to move. White regains it by a second exchange.

 

(32) … 10-15

(33) 25-30 15-19

(34) 30-26 27-32

(35) 26-22 19-24

(36) 20-27 32-23

 

and wins.

Second position as a rule results from a “Bridge position” like the following: Black men on 20, 21, 23, Black King on 26. White men on 30 and 32, White Kings on 15 and 19. Black to move:

 

(1) 26-31 19-26

(2) 31-22 32-27

 

and White wins by “second position.”

 

THE CHANGE OF THE MOVE

 

By the exchanges of men in the foregoing example the move was altered in each case. However, exchanges of pieces often occur which do NOT change the move, and as win or loss in a great number of endings depends upon which player has the move, it is necessary for the beginner to obtain a clear insight into the questions involved. An exchange always alters the move if the capturing piece is recaptured in turn. If