TacticForge

Chapter 4 of 5

General Theory

The initiative, direct attacks en masse, the force of the threatened attack, giving up the initiative for material, and cutting pieces off from the action, shown in four complete games.

Every example is on its own board: click a move or use the arrows, and the notes appear beside the board. The number under the board is Stockfish's evaluation for White (minus means Black is better), or the exact result when few enough pieces are left.

Before we revert to the technique of the openings it will be advisable to dwell a little on general theory, so that the openings in their relation to the rest of the game may be better understood.

20. The initiative

As the pieces are set on the board both sides have the same position and the same amount of material. White, however, has the move, and the move in this case means the initiative, and the initiative, other things being equal, is an advantage. Now this advantage must be kept as long as possible, and should only be given up if some other advantage, material or positional, is obtained in its place. White, according to the principles already laid down, develops his pieces as fast as possible, but in so doing he also tries to hinder his opponent's development, by applying pressure wherever possible. He tries first of all to control the centre, and failing this to obtain some positional advantage that will make it possible for him to keep on harassing the enemy. He only relinquishes the initiative when he gets for it some material advantage under such favourable conditions as to make him feel assured that he will, in turn, be able to withstand his adversary's thrust; and finally, through his superiority of material, once more resume the initiative, which alone can give him the victory. This last assertion is self-evident, since, in order to win the game, the opposing King must be driven to a position where he is attacked without having any way of escape. Once the pieces have been properly developed the resulting positions may vary in character. It may be that a direct attack against the King is in order; or that it is a case of improving a position already advantageous; or, finally, that some material can be gained at the cost of relinquishing the initiative for a more or less prolonged period.

21. Direct attacks en masse

In the first case the attack must be carried on with sufficient force to guarantee its success. Under no consideration must a direct attack against the King be carried on à outrance unless there is absolute certainty in one's own mind that it will succeed, since failure in such cases means disaster.

Example 50. A good example of a successful direct attack against the King is shown in the following position. White could simply play Bc2 and still have the better position, but instead he prefers an immediate attack on the King's side, with the certainty in his mind that the attack will lead to a win.

We give, from now on, games and notes, so that the student may familiarise himself with the many and varied considerations that constantly are borne in mind by the Chess Master. We must take it for granted that the student has already reached a stage where, while not being able fully to understand every move, yet he can derive benefit from any discussion with regard to them. The game continues thus:

Example 50

A successful direct attack

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Step through the moves with the arrows, or click a move.

Example 51. Another example of this kind. In this position the simple move Nxe5 would win, but White looks for complications and their beauties. Such a course is highly risky until a wide experience of actual master-play has developed a sufficient insight into all the possibilities of a position. This game, which won the brilliancy prize at St. Petersburg in 1914, continued as follows:

Example 51

The brilliancy prize, St. Petersburg 1914

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Step through the moves with the arrows, or click a move.

The student should note that in the examples given the attack is carried out with every available piece, and that often, as in some of the variations pointed out, it is the coming into action of the last available piece that finally overthrows the enemy. It demonstrates the principle already stated:

Direct and violent attacks against the King must be carried en masse, with full force, to ensure their success. The opposition must be overcome at all cost; the attack cannot be broken off, since in all such cases that means defeat.

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 manoeuvres 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.

Example 52

Capablanca – Blanco, Havana 1913

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Step through the moves with the arrows, or click a move.

23. Relinquishing the initiative

In the third case, there is nothing to do, once the material advantage is obtained, but to submit to the opponent's attack for a while, and once it has been repulsed to act quickly with all your forces and win on material. A good example of this type of game is given below.

Example 53. From the Havana International Masters Tournament, 1913. Ruy Lopez. White: J. R. Capablanca. Black: D. Janowski.

Example 53

Capablanca – Janowski, Havana 1913

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Step through the moves with the arrows, or click a move.

24. Cutting off pieces from the scene of action

Very often in a game a master only plays to cut off, so to speak, one of the pieces from the scene of actual conflict. Often a Bishop or a Knight is completely put out of action. In such cases we might say that from that moment the game is won, because for all practical purposes there will be one more piece on one side than on the other. A very good illustration is furnished by the following game.

Example 54. Played at the Hastings Victory Tournament, 1919. Four Knights. White: W. Winter. Black: J. R. Capablanca.

Example 54

Winter – Capablanca, Hastings 1919

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Step through the moves with the arrows, or click a move.

25. A player's motives criticised in a specimen game

Now that a few of my games with my own notes have been given, I offer for close perusal and study a very fine game played by Sir George Thomas, one of England's foremost players, against Mr. F. F. L. Alexander, in the championship of the City of London Chess Club in the winter of 1919–1920. It has the interesting feature for the student that Sir George Thomas kindly wrote the notes to the game for me at my request, and with the understanding that I would make the comments on them that I considered appropriate. Sir George Thomas' notes are marked with his name, and thus will be distinguished from my own comments.

Example 55. Queen's Gambit Declined. White: Mr. F. F. L. Alexander. Black: Sir George Thomas.

Example 55

Alexander – Thomas, London 1919–20

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Step through the moves with the arrows, or click a move.