_ POINT COUNT CHESS An Accurate Guide to Winning Chess by I. A. Horowitz. and Geoffrey Mott-Smith With a foreword by Samuel Reshevsky : London. George Allen & Unwin Ltd ' Ruskin House Museum StreetFirst published in Great Britain in 1973, ‘This book is copyright under the Berne Convention, ‘All ight are reserved, Apart from any fair dealing for the ‘purpose of private study, rereareh, criticism or review 2 Pesmited under the Copyright Act, 1956, no art of this Publication may be eprodaced, stored ims retrieval Eretem, or uansmitted in any form or By say aneans, lestronie, lecteeal,cheenial, mehantea, optical, Photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prog Permission of the copyrigh owner, Enquiries should be Eddreaed tothe publishers. © 1960 1. A. Horowitz ISBN 0 04 794003 4 ‘This book was originally published in the USA. and American spelling and usage have been retained Printed in Great Britain by Lowe & Brydone (Printers) Ltd, ‘Thetford, Norfolk Foreword WHEN I was a child prodigy many years ago, chess players were amazed at the ease and accuracy of my play against the veritable giants of chessdom. To be perfectly frank, T was no less amazed, and J have thought about this over and over again. What was it that I had which has been variously described as talent or genius or the divine afflatus which enabled me to select the proper move or line in a given situation? The answer to this question, of course, should prove enlightening. I discovered that I had the happy faculty of being able to spot weak and strong points in a position merely by a glance at its contour. Having done so, I could go on to the next step and enkance my strong points, while sur- veying my weak ones and/or contain my opponent's strong points and exploit his weak ones. T fear that I cannot account for this fortuitous bounty. 1 do know, however, that the foundation of chess logic is the perception of weak and strong points on the board or pro- jected a few moves from possibility to reality. Point Countef FoREWoRD Chess exactly coincides with my reflections on this matter. Not only does it define the salient features, but also it evalu. ates them. It is unique in the annals of chess literature in that itis the first and only book that does so. Indeed, it is a great Contents stride forward in bringing the essential ideas to the ordinary player. Samuet Resiievsiy FoREWonD by Samuel Reshevsky 1. The Point Count Method Purpose ofthe Point Count - Winning with the Point Count = The tmportance of Strategy: The Avth, metic of the Point Count ” Positional Point Count Table « Material Point Count - The Strategicel Plan - Scope of the Point Count “Pictorial” anal “Dy namic” Points - Before and After ” Winning aWon Game 2. Pawn Formations Criteria of Pawn Moves - Definitions - The Center - Center Control by Pawns - What Center Control is nor - Center Liquidation - Paton on Fourth v. Pawen (on Third - Two Against One - sumaaany 3. Advanced Chains and Salients The French Defense Chain Attacking an Advanced Chain - Capitalizing an Advanced Chain - The In. secure Chain - The Chain in the King’s Gambit De- lined - The Chain on Q5 - Salient v, Reverse Salient 4: The Advanced Pawn The Benoni Pawn at QS - Black PQS against the English - P - 05 in the Ruy Lopez -Securing en \ Outpost Station - P ~KS to Chase the King Knight ~ 18 297 10. CONTENTS P~KS in the French Defense - The Pawn at KS by Capture - The Pawn at KBS by Capture - sunsian¥ Delayed Central Pawn Advances 60 The English Opening - The Benoni Defense - The Giuoco Pianissimo - The King’s Indian « The Colle System - Hypermodernism and Its Dangers - Too ‘Much Preparation ~ soxentany The Mobile Pawn Wing 72 A Typical Morphy Attack - The Cramped Position - Expansion on “General Principles” - The Potential Passed Pawn ~ Restraint of a Paton Wing - suscany The Backward Pawn 81 The Crippled Majority - The Queen Bishop Pawn in the Queen's Gambit - The King Pawn in a Classical King Side Attack «The Acceptable Backward Pown - ‘The Queen Pawn in the Sicilian Defense ~ Suna4any The Doubled Pawn 92 Endgame Weakness - The Doubled Queen Bishop Pawn in the Queen Pawn Opening - The “Ruy Lopez” Question - Fle-Opening - The Pinned King Knight - Doubling Asay from the Center - scneaeant The Isolated Pawn 103 The Isolated Queen Pawn - Blockade, Attack, De- stroy! - The Mobile Isolani - The Role of the Initi- ative - Inviting the Isolont - susescany Hanging Pawns 14 A Connected Phalanx Can Hang - Shaky Center Pawns - Inviting Pawn Advances - Criteria - susan Holes 124 The Holes ofter P~N3 - Exploiting Holes Despite the Bishop - Holes in the Center - The Hole at Q3 - The Weak Square Complex - suntntant 12, 33 14 16. ay. 18, coNTENTS The Outpost Station Station in Front of an Islan - The Fourth-Rank Out- post - The Station at KS - The Station at Q5 - Stations ‘on the Sixth Rank ~ Plugging the Outpost Station - The Batile of Outposts = suststans The Compromised King-Side ‘The Doubled King Bishop Pawn - The Holes after P—KN& - File-Opening after P~KN3 - Loosening Up KN3 - Inducing P= KN3 - P- KR3: Pro and Con - The Pin of the King Knight - P- KR3 by the Book - suseatany The King in the Center ‘The Check at RS ~ Sacrfcing to Hold the King - Cramping of the Rook ~ Voluntory Forfeiture of Gastling = susoaany Development The Numerical Lead - The Qualitative Lead - Count- ing Tempos - The Tally of Developed Pieces - tiple oce by th Sime Pete Exchanges - Superior Development - Every Little Move Has a Meaning All Its Oun - susestany Space The Cramped Position - The Strategy of Restraint - Expansion - The Open Board - susentan Minor Pieces The Triumph of the Bishop - The Triumph of the Knight = The Bad" Bishop - The Bishop Patr The Ruy Lopez Question - The Bishop Pair in the Queen's Gambit- The Minor Exchange " sosenany The Half-Open File Queen Bishop File in Queen's Gambit - The Minort Stock Preneal Prenore on'n Peon Wing Ho? Open Files in the Siclion - Queen File in the Ruy Lopez - King Bishop File tn the King's Gambit - Hol ‘Open King Rook Pile - suniwany 137 153 168 190 199 213ag. 21. 22, 23. 25. CONTENTS The Open File The Doubled Rooks - Control of an Open File - The Fight to Open a File - Neutralizing an Open File - The Rook on the Seventh Rank ‘The Confined King - Rook-and-Pawn Endings - Brief Tenure of the Seventh - Gaining the Seventh Rank The Passed Pawn Actual and Potential Passed Pawns - The Midgame Passed Pawn - The Protected Passed Pawn - The Out- side Passed Pawn - The Crippled Majority - susastany King Position and Offside Majority Mobility of the King - Improving the King Postion - The Offside Majority - The Four-to-Three Wing Gaining the Offside Majority - Offside Majority v. Minority Attack ~ susstany’ Relative Values Acceptable Doubled Pawns - Acceptable Isolant - Acceptable Doubled Isolani - Transforming Adverse Weakness - Transforming a Plus - Pawns for Points ~ The Intangible Point Practical Value and Application of Point Count You Are More Than Four Net Points Plus - You Are Four Points Plus or Minus - You Are Two Points Plus or Minus - You Are One Point Plus or Minus Illustrative Games 1. Atkins v. Capablanca - 1, Horowits v. Przepiorka - a Richter v. Tarrasch - 1v. Capablanca v, Jonowsky - v. Canal v. Rubinstein - vi. Jonowsky v. Capa blanca ~ vit. Nimzovich v. Sakwe ~ vit. Pilnik v. Olefsson - xx. Horowits v. Bean - x, Horowitz v Martin - xi. Kashdan v. Horowitz - xn. Reshevsky ¥. Horowitz ~ xu. Spassky v. Suttles - stv. Fischer v. Benko - xv. Byrne v. Fischer - xv. Letelier v. Fischer - xvi. Byrne v. Fischer - xvi. Fischer v, Robatsch - xx, Unzicker v. Fischer cLossany 228 239 246 255 267 286 POINT COUNT CHESS1. The Point Count Method POINT COUNT is a coined term borrowed from the game of bridge. There, it is an evaluation of the cards based upon the experience of leading masters. The count of each hand is high, average or low, depending upon the chance of the deal. In chess, however, the element of chance is at an absolute minimum. The players begin even, and any and all advantages are attained by sheer skill. These advantages, from the gross material ones to the small and often subtle positional pluses, yield a determinable appraisal which can be translated into units of points. And these points must be earned—they are not furnished or withheld by a whim of fate, This book tells you how to earn them. Purpose of the Point Count ‘The average chess player is familiar with a few guiding principles. He soon discovers the relative value of the men, and his first concept is to steal a profit, relying more or less on his ‘opponent's obtuseness or his own guile, or resorting to what he considers to be a clever bit of horse-trading, As he progresses and his horizon enlarges, he rejects these tricky designs for sounder ‘ones, He learns to bring out his men, possibly to control the center. Unfortunately, one or two elementary ideas often remain the sum and substance of his knowledge. What he needs is a systematic method of augmenting his under standing, It is not enough to know, for example, what a queen or a rook is worth, or, for that matter, the complete table of relative4 POINT CouNT cHESS values of the chessmen, While this information is essential, it is hardly sufficient for forming gainful plans. Nor is it enough to obtain a scattered knowledge about any other factors in chess without grasping their interrelationships. We have observed « player actually parting with a pieco—a whole piece, mind you-merely for the purpose of avoiding doubled pawns! He had been warned against the horrendous evils of weak pawn structure but forgot (or never fully realized) the absurdity of giving up nine or ten points represented by the piece in order to avoid incurring the one minus point of the doubled pawns. Similarly, we have seen players sacrifice scads of material for the purpose of maintaining the center, or refuse to move an attacked piece for fear of losing a tempo. These unprofitable trades, in a game where successful trading is of the essence, can be put in proper focus by a more accurate idea of what you are giving up for what you are getting. Distorted ideas such as those illustrated above are more widespread than is generally supposed and pin- point the need for a systematic Point Count. Winning with the Point Count What, then, will the Point Count do for you? First of all, it will see you safely through the normal vicissitudes of a game of chess. It will enable you to play more surely and forcefully in the light of a precise guide. No longer will you be stumped by a paucity of things to do. Rather, each position will open up rich possibilities for action, enabling you to steer the game int channels familiar and favorable to you. Even “masterly inactivity will be thought of more as watchful waiting than dull passivity. ‘We must not suppose that the Point Count will do away with experience, intuition, genius; but genius itself can create only through the medium of rules and techniques, pretty much as a musician requires a knowledge of notes and musical structure before he can compose a symphony. The watchword, therefore, will be: Appraise, act, win! To illustrate what Point Count can do for you, examine the THE POINT COUNT METHOD 5 four following positions, selected at random from the text. Check the material and positional values and then determine what plan ‘you would pursue if you were playing these games. Bear in mind that where strategy predominates the game does not necessarily conclude with @ crusher, though the plan you inaugurate may very well do so, Then compare your ideas with those of the text. NO. 152. Minority Attack No. 167. Rook on the White to move Seventh White to move Solution appears on page 216. Solution appears on page 239. No. xB. After 23 K-N2 No. xus. After 23 KPxB Solution appears on page 324, Solution appears on page 329.6 POINT COUNT CHESS The Importance of Strategy ‘This book offers a systematic treatment and evaluation of the strategy of chess as distinguished from tactics. Many books have been written on chess tactics, few on strategy. In many sources you can find explanations of the minor tactics—the pin, the fork and so on—as well as of major tactics—the sacrificial attack leading to checkmate or the gain of material. It is axiomatic that a tactical combination can work only when based on a suflicient strategical advantage. In other words, a combination may intensify but cannot create a winning superi- ority: the advantage must be there initially to admit of a winning combination Most of what you can read about strategy is contained in asides to the discussion of tactics. There is a natural reason for this pre- occupation with tactics. A winning advantage is useless if you do not know how to capitalize on it. Even to hold equality you must continually detect and parry your opponent's short threats. At every move you must be alert to see whether there is a tactical threat more urgent than the remoter strategical considerations. For example, after 1 P-Ké P-K4 2 B-Bs N-QB3 3 Q-RS no. a. Black to move it is useless to weigh-the merits of 3... N-K3 and 3. BB. Both are good developing moves, serving long-term strate- gical puxposes, But both are tactically faulty: if you want to play ‘on, you must parry White's threat of 4 QxBP mate. THE POINT COUNT METHOD 7 Nevertheless, there are times in a game when you are not faced with any immediate threat, and where, therefore, the choice of a move may be more difficult because less restricted. Here you have need of strategic judgment. And, even in meeting short threats, tuifling though they may be, you mast choose the answer that best serves your long-range plan, The process of improviug your chess game is essentially a ‘matter of adding to the list of positions that you fully understand. In other words, you must sharpen your power of evaluation. To pick the right move you must examine the positions that can result from various moves and thus discover which position will be the most favorable to you. One is reminded in this connection of Spielmann’s well-known comment on Alekhine’s virtuosity. “Given Alekhine’s positions, 1 could see the brilliancies as well as Alekhine,” said Spielmann, “but my trouble is that T can't reach the positions.” Aye, there’s the rub-to get the sort of game that will enable you to win, We believe the Point Count will be an effective instrament for ac- complishing just that, though you will assuredly not gain a “Master's degree” without experience and study. Many of the strategical factors are no doubt familiar to you through the catch-phrases “control of the center,” “the two bishops,” “the outside passed pawn” and so on. This book under- takes to give a comprehensive list of these factors, to explain how to determine their merits and to provide a simple system of evaluation.8 POINT COUNT CHESS POSITIONAL POINT COUNT TABLE Plus Points Control of the center Rook(s) on the seventh rank Pawn on fourth p. pawn on third Passed pawn Mobile pawn wing Outside passed pawn Strong outpost station Protected passed pawn Superior development Advanced pawn Greater space Qualitative pawn majority Bishop-pair Advanced chain Bishop ©. knight Advanced salient Half-open file Better king position Control of useful open file Offside pawn majority Minus Points WEAK PAWNS Backward pawn Hanging pawns Doubled pawn Hanging phalanx Isolated pawn Crippled majority wing WEAK SQUARES “Weak-square complex” King held in center Holes Cramped position Compromised king-side Bad bishop The Arithmetic of the Point Count ‘The Point Count Table is given in full above. Read it over and pver until you are thoroughly familiar with i. On the basis of pretested experience, each of the positional factors there listed is rated as one point, If the human mind were capable of a sufficiently intricate calculus, then in a given position, a strong outpost station, for example, might be seen to be worth, not one point, but nine tenths of a point, while in other circum- stances the same outpost might be figured as exceeding the value ‘of one point by a small fraction. Such refinements, however, are neither possible nor necessary, and for all practical purposes it is THE POINT COUNT METHOD 9 quite satisfactory to deal in full points, plus or minus. Need we stress once again that the Point Count System is not presented to you as the “solution” of chess? The game is too pro- found for that; it is not ticktacktoe, and no mind has plumbed the depths of the events on the sixty-four squares. This is as it should be, for the very uncertainties and mysteries of the game provide its greatest charm, To “solve” chess would be to kill it ‘and what chess player would relish that? But if the Point Count System will not give you what has been denied the world cham- pion—namely, total mastery-it can and does act like a rudder on a ship, performing an indispensable function even if not synony- ‘mous with the entire science of navigation. Here you are handed a powerful weapon. By its means you will be able to plan for victory. ‘The by-product of Point Count, incidentally, may be of greater value than the net of its pluses and minuses. It is the assimilation by the learner of the varying ideas which form the strategic base of the chess game. ‘To apply the system, examine the positions of your forces and your opponent's forces. Credit yourself with one point for every item due you on the plus list and deduct one for every due lia- bility on the minus list. Do the same for your opponent's position. ‘Then compare his net score with yours. The difference measures the strategic superiority, if any, that one of you enjoys. Here are two examples to illustrate this simple arithmetic. No. 1 is the position after QUEEN’s CAMBIT 1P-Q4 N-KB3 2 N-KBS P-K3 3 PBA P-O4 4.N-B3 B-N5 5 B-NS BsNch 6 PxB No. 1. Black to move10 POINT COUNT CHESS Without plunging at once into a discussion of strategic motifs, which will be examined in detail in the following chapters, let us simply say at this juncture that White counts one plus point for having the bishop-pair (for definition of “bishop-pait” and other terms, see Glossary) less one point for impaired queen-side pawns, a net of zero. Black counts one plus for the qualitative majority of pawns on the queen-side, less one for a bad bishop, again a net of zero, The game is even, No. 2is the position after KING'S GAMBIT 1P-Ké P-K4 2 P-KBA PxP No. 2. White to move White is entitled to a point for center superiority (two center pawns against one), another for the half-open king bishop file and a third for lead in development. This last point consists of more than the initial lead that is always White's by virtue of his first move. It is foreseeable, and experience proves, that White can bring out his minor pieces rapidly to good posts (N~ KB3, N—QBS, B~ QB4), whereas the Black minor pieces will be some- what constricted (N-KB3 has to reckon with P-K5 and the Black king bishop cannot advance yet beyond the second rank). Further, if Black wants to save his advanced pawn, he must ex- pend one or two turns"ii pawn moves at the expense of piece ‘Thus, White has three countable points. What does Black have? Nothing on our list! But he has an extra pawn. | THE POINT COUNT METHOD uw ‘We know from experience that position No. 2 is an even game. From this instance and many others, we conclude that THREE POINTS ARE EQUIVALENT TO A PAWN. Four net points certainly constitute a winning advantage, allow- ing for a slim surplus margin, since a master would ordinarily find three points sufficient. In view of the three material points assigned to a pawn, we evaluate the other men approximately as follows: MATERIAL POINT COUNT Pawn = Three points Nine points Nine points It will be seen that each 16-man army totals 126 points, Since the loss of a single pawn without compensation is so serious as to be well-nigh fatal, the loss of a piece, with its tre- mendous Point Count, is entirely catastrophic unless heavy coun- terbalancing advantages are present in the position. ‘The king is included in the table even though it is not subject to capture because, on a relatively peaceful board, it is both a powerful offensive and defensive unit. The bishop, as a rule, is stronger than a knight. Because of numerous exceptions detailed in the text, it is rated on a par, sub- ject to modification according to specific circumstance, The Btrategic Plan Why use the Point Count? ‘We have previously indicated one answer. In order to choose between two plausible moves, you have to be able to assess prop- erly the different positions that may result from each. A second and equally important answer is that accurate assessment of the present positions is the basis of a strategical plan.2 POINT COUNT CHESS We need hardly point out that you cannot play chess from move to move; you must follow some general plan. Let us examine Nos. 1 and 2 to see how the mere recognition of the points indicates the proper strategical plans A plan should naturally try to capitalize plus points and elimi nate or neutralize minus points. In No. 1, after completing his development, Black should try to advance pawns on the queen- side, perhaps ultimately to get a passed pawn, and as soon as possible to give scope to his bad bishop. White, upon getting out his pieces, should try to work up a king-side attack with his two bishops, plus his more advanced center pawns (which do not yet give him a countable point for “center control” but give him the edge toward acquiring it). Similarly, in No. 2 White should try to work up an attack on Black's most vulnerable square, his KB2, by moving B-B4, and also by trying to force off the advanced Black king bishop pawn so that his rook can operate on the file. If Black loses this pawn, he will have nothing but minuses to show for 2... PxP; therefore he should try to maintain it or to gain equivalent compensation. Experience has shown that his “mobile pawn wing” (P—KN4~—N5) cannot be ignored, and his lag in development can be repaired by an early P-Q4, even at the cost of a pawn. Scope of the Point Count It cannot be too much emphasized that the Point Count is intended to be used when strategic considerations are uppermost. It cannot be expected to give a true pieture when tactical urgen- cies supervene, as during the discharge of accumulated advan- tages by a combination, Look at No. $A. White has an overwhelming material superi- ority: a queen against a bishop. He also has a protected passed pawn, plus a queen-side majority of pawns as soon as he captures the Black weakling on his QB4. Black has minuses for his weak isolated pawns, and also for the wretched deployment of his THE POINT COUNT METHOD 43 picces-his knight goes lost as soon as attacked, for it can neither retreat nor be defended. ‘Thus White has a lead of four points in position and the equiv- alent of about eighteen points in material. Buthe happens to be checkmated. ‘Torre v. Alekhine 1922 No. 3A. Black has moved No. 38. Black to ‘The absurdity arises because we have applied the Point Count where it is not intended: at the end of a sacrificial mating com- bination. If we go back to the position just before Black launched his combination, we will see that the Point Count yields a true appraisal The earlier position is No. 8B. Here we would credit White with a point for his protected passed pawn and another for his outpost at Q4, with possibly a debit for a somewhat bad bishop. Black counts plus points for his bishop-pair, outpost knight, mobile queen-side pawns and superior development (all his pieces are active, bearing upon the center or king-side, whereas White's only aggressive piece is his queen knight, while his queen rook as yet does nothing). At first sight, then, we judge that Black is two or three points ahead. When we examine the points dy- namically (see p. 14 for a definition of this term), we see that14 POINT COUNT CHESS his lead is even greater. His outpost knight is unassailable, whereas the White outpost can be expelled by P~ QB4. The mo- bile Black pawns are, indeed, an acute menace, supported as they are by three minor pieces and a rook, whereas the White center pawns are stopped. The passed pawn is but a remote asset, far from realization because Black strongly controls the squares from which its advance might otherwise be supported. On this reassessment, we would conclude that Black's net plus is so great that he probably can evolve a combination for a quick win, And he did: 1... . P— Bd; 2N~N3, P—BS; 3 N(NS) — Q4, P—B4; 4 N—K2, followed, after some preparation, by P—Q5 and ‘a queen sacrifice by QxN (at KRS) “Pictorial” and “Dynamic” Points ‘As we see from No. 8B, the points are not actually all of equal value. White's passed pawn has no fighting force at the ‘moment, whereas Black’s two bishops are very much “present and voting,” Even the same point may have different values in dif- ferent circumstances. Black’s outpost knight would be worth ‘more than White's even if the latter could be maintained, because it is farther advanced, But White's point for an outpost is obvi- ously transient, for the knight can be immediately ousted, However, the valuation of each point as one plus or minus will yield an accurate assessment, most of the time, if you are careful to count the points dynamically rather than pictorially ‘That means, look at more than the static picture presented by the White and Black pieces. Look ahead a few moves to see whether an advantage is enduring or transient, real or an optical illusion. You are not asked to make an exhaustive analysis of all possible ines of play. Far from it! You are asked merely to keep in mind the broad lines of the Battle, plus the immediate tactical situation. The latter you have to examine anyhow to choose your next move. Your purpose as to the Point Count is to avoid gross errors, such as counting the bishop-pair in your favor when you intend or can THE POINT COUNT METHOD 45 be forced to swap one bishop for a knight, or counting that you have control of an open file when your opponent can immediately challenge it ‘The difference between the “pictorial” and the “dynamic” count will be illustrated by No. 4. xo. 4. White fo move White has a knight for two pawns. Since a knight is generally worth three pawns, White has a material superiority of one pawn, ‘which is a point superiority of three. Black has a point for control of the king bishop file, That leaves White with a net of two. We might deduct another point because he seems to control less space than does Black. So much for the “pictorial” count: White is one ahead, Now look at it dynamically. What move will you make for White? IF you try every possible piece move, you will discover that every one leads to the loss of a piece. The only safe moves are pawn moves, and after White exhausts them he will have to hurl himself on the sword, The fact is that, dynamically, there is only one point to be counted, since it is decisive: the White cramp. In No. 4 White resigned. Before and After To reap the benefit of the Point Count, apply it to positions before they arise. Project the future position in your mind.36 POINT COUNT CHESS Let us compare two positions, Nos. 5A and 5B. Prins 0. Kinal 1955 No. 5p. White to move No. 5. White to move In No.5A, the game appears to be even. Black is a tempo ahead in development, since all his minor pieces are out while the White queen bishop is still at home. But White has given the tempo to «get an edge in the center by P - KB4. In No. 5B White can count a decided center superiority which will tum into full control when he can advance his pawns, plus ‘two half-open files, plus bishop o. knight, plus a big lead in de- velopment (his rooks already stand on the open files; his bishop can reach the strong square R3 in one move; the Black knight is “undeveloped”). By our precepts, White is ahead 4-0, so he has won game. What Black player would want to tum No, 5A into No. 5B? Yet a player did, by the following moves: 1 P-KR3 BxKN 4 REN BxN 2 QB N-OR¢ 5 PB N-K1 3 B-NS _ NXB 6 PxP. PP ‘We can conclude only that Black forgot to examine the resultant position, ‘The road to chess mastery is not to forget! Apply the Point THE POINT COUNT METHOD a7 Count faithfully a few moves ahead of time, and you will avoid such debacles as this. Winning a Won Game Proverbially the hardest game to win is a “won game.” The reason is, perhaps, that you incline to think that a won game will play itself. Not so: you still have to make tactical calculations just as at any other time. Since the Point Count does not deal with tactics, it cannot tell you how to win a won game, But we cannot resist pointing out that tactical problems often solve themselves if you keep in mind at all times your strategical objectices. From that viewpoint you often uncover the best of parries to a threatened adverse move— which is to perceive a reason why your opponent cannot profitably make it! For example, in No. 5B, the Point Count has suggested White's logical line of play-to advance his mobile queen-side pawns, taking command of the center and threatening to smash up the Black queen-side. The natural first step is P~Q4, but at the moment it seems to lose a pawn. Does it, though? Looking at his other assets, White discovers a reason why Black cannot play PxP, so. 7 P-QH Q-K2 17... PxP, then 8 B—RS, N~Q3; 9 P-K5 winning the ex- change. 8 RRS P-KBS 9 rw P-qus IE8 . . . PxP, then 9 RXKP, RxQ; 10 FxQ, ete. 10 0-93 K-RI If10. . . P~QNS; 11. Q- Q5ch, 11 9-5 White wins a pawn and still keeps his great positional advantage,2. Pawn Formations IN military usage, “strategy” refers to measures of prepa- ration for battle, such as the mobilization and deployment of troops. “Tactics” refers to maneuvers executed during and as part of a battle. In chess, the two terms have analogous meanings. Chess strategy is concerned with long-range plans based on the more enduring features of positions. Now, the least transient feature of any position is the paton formation, which changes at a slower pace than the positions of the pieces. It is not surprising, therefore, that in the Point Count (or any other method of weigh- ing strategic factors) fully half of the points arise from aspects of the pawn formation, Criteria of Pawn Moves ‘The move of a pawn differs in an important way from the move of a piece: it is not retractable. Every pawn move makes ‘a permanent change in the position. You should weigh every con templated pawn move by these criteria: sarerx of the pawns themselves from attack and capture. consarawp of squares on which your opponent might otherwise post pieces advantageously. SPAGE created for the deployment of your pieces. stosrirry of your pawns to penetrate the opponent's territory and spearhead an attack. PAWN FORMATIONS 19 ‘The pawn is paralleled only by the knight in that its move nee- cessarily abandons the guard of squares previously guarded. Under the criterion of conan, consider not only the new squares that a pawn will guard after its advance but also the squares it relin- quishes. A pawn thrust into enemy territory may be intrinsically desirable yet inadvisable because of the “holes” it leaves at home. Probably in no phase of chess can you get something for nothing. Certainly in a pawn move you have to “give to get.” This does not at all mean that you should be a Timid Soul, afraid to extend your front line. It does mean that you should weigh each pawn advance to be sure that you do not give away more than ‘you get. Definitions ‘The following terms are used in describing pawn struc- tures: ‘The PHALANX comprises two or more pawns on the same rank and adjacent files, as the White pawns in No. 6. The cat comprises two or more pawns on a diagonal across adjacent files, as the Black pawns in No. 6. No. 6. A. Chain », Phalanx20 POINT COUNT CHESS No. 7. A. Salient B. Reverse Salient ‘The saute comprises three pawns in a V pointing forward, as the White pawns in No. 7. The mevense satret comprises three pawns in a V pointing backward, as the Black pawns in No. 7. No. 8. Backward Pawns ‘The Backwann Pawn is one that cannot be guarded by a fellow pawn and cannot advance without being susceptible to capture by an enemy pawn, as the Black queen knight pawn in No. 8. ‘The White queen bishop pawn is not backward, although it can- not advance without 1éss, since it can be guarded by P—QN3 Pawns on their home squares are sometimes exempted from the definition, since they cannot be guarded by fellow pawns anyhow, but one under actual restraint, as the king pawn in No. 8, may PAWN FORMATIONS 22 well be called backward. The king knight pawns in No. 8, though neither can be guarded by a fellow nor advanced without loss, are not regarded as backward, for the reason that both are shielded from frontal and forward-diagonal attack ‘The pounten PawN comprises two pawns of the same color on the same file, as the queen bishop pawns in No. 9. NO. 9. 4. Isolated Pawn 8, Doubled Pawn c. Hole The 1soLaTeD pawn (or isolani) is a pawn that cannot be guarded by another because the pawns on the adjacent files have disappeared, as the queen rook pawn in No. 9. ‘A noe, in the narrowest sense, is a square in front of an un- moved pawn, no longer guarded by any adjacent pawn, as Black's KN3 in No. 9. But the term is broadly applied to any square in one’s own territory from which an adverse piece cannot be ex: pelled by a pawn. HANGING PAWNS are a group (usually a phalanx) susceptible lo frontal attack and in soime danger of capture, The question whether pawns hang or not depends on the dynamics of the par ticular position, See Chapter 10, page 114. ‘A sTopPED PAWN is one whose advance is halted by an enemy pawn directly ahead of it on the file. In No. 6 the queen pawns are stopped. A BLOCKADED PAWN is one whose forward advance is prevented by an enemy piece directly ahead of it on the file.22 POINT COUNT CHESS The Center ‘The cavrEn comprises the four squares Q4, Q5, K4, K5. In No. 10 the center is indicated by the solid black square. No. 10. A. Center 3. Subcenter ‘The twelve other squares adjacent to these central four comprise the supcEwTEn. One strategic purpose dominates the opening and, usually, all of the early play until the issue is settled—that is, control of the center. ‘The importance of the center is obvious. A piece standing there has its maximum range and may attack both enemy wings simul- taneously. The lateral shift of pieces to defend a threatened wing is much impeded if the enemy controls the center. In extreme cases, a drive forward in the center may split the enemy forces into two groups, each impotent to help the other. ‘The question “How do you gain control of the center?” leaps to mind, It would seem that the answer is to be found in tactics. Yet, as we shall show, the path to the answer lies through strategy. There is a previous question to be answered, “What constitutes control of the center?” After you have studied the factors in this ‘matter, you will know a great deal about the tactics necessary to gain control. White and Black begin a game on equal terms, except that PAWN FORMATIONS 23, White, having the first move, is a tempo ahead in development. There is no formula, however, by which either side ean gain un- disputed control of the center. The proper aim is more modest to maintain at least equality in the center. This means that you should aim 4] To exclude enemy pieces from taking permanent posts in the center. If total exclusion is impossible, through the dissolution of central pawns, the aim becomes 3] To gain at least as many, or as effective, piece-posts in the center as does your opponent. Center Control by Pawns ‘What may be called the normal course to effect aim [a] is to advance one or both of your center pawns to the fourth rank Thus you exclude enemy pieces from the fifth-rank squares guarded by your pawns. The great preponderance of games in fact begin with I P—K4 or I P—Q4. Most of the others begin with the advance of a subcenter pawn, I P~QB4 or 1 P—KB4, followed soon by a central advance. The strongest formation of two pawns for offensive purposes is the phalanx, which attacks four squares on the next rank. If a phalanx pawn is attacked by an enemy pawn, it may have choice of PsP or advancing to form a chain. Enduring advantages are ue, above all, to the acquisition of such options. The chain is essentially a defensive formation: the advanced Pawn is guarded by the other. It obviously has less offensive power than the phalanx, since it leaves squares of one color un- guarded. White, by virtue of his frst move, is often able to form a central phalanx early, whereas Black, to challenge it, can form only a chain, Here are some opening possibilities: French Defense: I P—K4, P—K3; 2 P—Q4, P— Q4; 3 N- QBS. Philidor's Defense: 1 P—K4, P~K4; 2 N-KB3, P~Q3; 3 P-Q4. King’s Indian Defense: 1 P ~ Q4, N- KB3; 2 P— QB4, P—KN3; 3. N—QBS, B-N2; 4 N—B3, P-Q3; 5 PKA.24 POINT COUNT CHESS [Against all three defenses, White's best line is to form the fourth-rank phalanx immediately. What Center Control is NOT Let us clear away two possible misconceptions. First, occupation of the center by pawns does Nor represent control of the center. You want central squares as posts or avenues for your pieces. Your own pawns in the center exclude your pieces as effectively as would enemy pawns. No; occupation of the center by pawns is a means to an end. To gain control of the center you have first got to fight the enemy pawns that try to exclude you. This is not to deprecate central advances. On the contrary, your chances of winning the fight are the better, as a rule, the more pawns you can bring to bear on central squares, and the farther your pawns can penetrate safely into the enemy half of the board. Second, the possession of a fourth-rank phalanx opposed only by a chain does nor represent control of the center. But it does afford the better chance of winning that control. Center Liquidation If all the pawns disappear from the king file and queen file, the pieces take over the center fight. Development and time become the governing factors. A slight lead in development be- ‘comes magnified. A player who has established an early lead will therefore strive to liquidate the center while his opponent stoutly resists. ‘The same “open game” characteristics are often observable when the center becomes stabilized, as by the formation of stopped chains which neither side can well break up. In considering a pawn advance that may lead to a swap or to stabilization of the center, give due regard to the present status and future prospects of your piece development. For example: Center Game: I P~K4, P—K4; 2 P-Q4. By analogy, with the French Defense and Philidor's Defense, PAWN FORMATIONS 25 White may argue, “Why shouldn't I form the phalanx while I can?” But then follows 2 . . . PxP; 3 QxP, N - QBS. Black gains 1 tempo in development, the importance of which is that he can soon enforce P ~ Q4 if he pleases and so equalize the center com- mand. Thus 2 P—Q4, while not actually bad, is inferior to other moves (as 2 N-KB3, 2 B-BA, etc.) because it gives away White's initial advantage. Pawn on Fourth v. Pawn on Third In view of what has just been said, the reader may well ask what is the percentage for White in P- Q4 in the given lines of the French Defense and Philidor’s Defense. Black can play PxP, just as in the Center Game. After White recaptures with the knight the position is No. 11 HA seo eA ate ent mm. No. 11. French Defense No. 12. Philidor's Defense for No, 12. White has @ center pawn on the fourth rank ©. @ Black center pawn on the third rank. The difference is a superi- ority for White in center command that many times has helped White to acquire other advantages and eventually to win the game. Dr. Tarrasch went so far as to proclaim the pawn on fourth v. pawn on third a winning advantage in itself. While this view has been shown to be too extreme, itis a fact that the more restricted side faces a long uphill battle. ‘The only reliable equalizer is to get the third-rank pawn to the fourth or to liquidate the enemy fourth-rank pawn. In No. 11,26 POINT COUNT CHESS Black cannot move P—K4 without loss until he has brought guards to bear on K4, but White can pile up attackers faster. Thus, if 4... N—QBS; 5 N-KB3, what next? After 5. B~Q3 White has choice among B- QN5, Q~ K2, NxB followed by B-KB4, and even P—B4 (preparing P—Q5). In No. 12, if Black plays 4... P~Q4 (at cost of a tempo) he faces further loss of time after 5 PxP, QxP; 6 N—QB3, B- QN5; 7 Q- Q3 fol- lowed by B-K3 and O-O—O. If instead 4... N-KB3; 5 N-QB3, Black's problem is not only to enforce P—Q4 but also to neutralize White's possible reply P—K5. A picture significantly different from Nos. 11 and 12 is pre- sented by No. 13, which arises in the Scotch Game: 1 P-K4, P—K4; 2 N—KB3, N—-QB3; 3 P-Q4, PAP; 4 NaP. No. 13, Scotch Game Black can eventually move . . . P~Q4 because White's king knight is loose. The attack on this knight, indeed, permits Black to delay P—Q4 in favor of piece play: 4... B~B4; 5 B-K3, QBS, etc. If White retreats his knight from Q4, he gives away his initial tempo; if White plays NxN, Black recaptures with the knight pawn and can soon play P—Q4. Thus White's 3 P—-Q4 leads merely, if Black so wills, to liq dation of the center. Sich an early liquidation is almost inva ably in Black's favor, since it relieves him of any development cramp. The Scotch Game, though better for White than the Center Game, is regarded as objectively inferior to the Ruy Lopez and other lines in which the center tension is longer maintained, PAWN FORMATIONS 27 Two Against One In connection with the King’s Gambit (No. 2) we said that after 2... PxP White has two pawns in the center against Black's one. We indicated that this is a countable point in the system. The realizable value of this point, however, varies widely in different positions. In the King’s Gambit, we see that White can immediately capi- talize his two-against-one: he ean complete his center phalanx by P—Q4 and maintain a good grip on the center. The fact is that Black is well-advised to play an early P—Q4, even at cost of a pawn, to break up the phalanx and also to let out his queen bishop. The situation is somewhat different in the Sicilian Defense: 1 P—K4, P-QB4; 2 N-KB3, P-Q3; 3 P-Q4, PxP; 4 NeP. No. 14. Sicilian Defense White must sooner or later dispute Black's command of his (Q4, and the simpler course is to do it sooner, as shown, Now Black has two-for-one in the center, plus a half-open queen bishop file, His general plan is to bring a rook to this file, advance his queen-side pawns in a minority attack (see p. 215), and support the operation (if feasible) by fianchettoing his king bishop. White's assets in No. 14 are the pawn on fourth . pawn on third, the half-open queen file, and greater space for develop.28 POINT COUNT CHESS ment. His natural plan is to get his pieces out quickly, castle, and advance his king-side pawns. Tt may seem strange to grant both sides points for their central pawn formation—but that is how itis! White's pawn on the fourth is of immediate value. It restrains Black’s center pawns and so somewhat cramps his bishops. The Black two-for-one is of potential value, It may enable him later to swap off White's king pawn and remain with greater center control through his own remaining pawn. He cannot play 4 P—Q4 (5 B-N5ch! gives White a gain of material) and White can quickly mass pieces to restrain the queen pawn (N—QB3, B~QB4, also queen and rook on the queen file). Experience corroborates that the realization of Black’s assets is a lengthy process; White's king-side attack hits first. Short Sicilian games are mostly won by White; long ones by Black. A hazard of the retarded two-for-one center is that the oppo- nent, by a winig advance, may threaten to smash it up. In the Sicilian, White often moves P~ KB4, establishing a wing phalanx that largely devalues the Black center. A typical position is shown in No, 31, page 52. White threatens P~K5 or P~ BS accord- ing to citcumstances, and in either case Black’s center is a target of attack rather than a source of strength. SUMMARY The possession of a phalanx 0. a chain in the center is Nor a countable point. But it does afford the better prospect of gaining center control Count one point for a center pawn on the fourth rank opposed only by a pawn on its third rank. Count one point for having two center pawns against one. In both cases, be ready to discount the point if it is remote rather than imme- diate, transient rathér than permanent. Examine the dy- namies of the position sufficiently to form a judgment on this character. Advanced Chains and Salients AN advanced pawn group, as we here use the term, is one that has encroached on enemy territory—that is, whose vanguard pawn has reached at least the fifth rank, White, as we have said, can often form a central phalanx on the fourth, while Black can oppose only by a chain. Thereafter, Black usually has no option but to try to maintain his single pawn con the fourth, or to bring up a subcenter pawn. To play PxP. ‘would Jeave White with pawn on fourth o. pawn on third. ‘White's advantage is mainly that he has 2 real option between PxP and an advance to change the phalanx into a chain. So long as he can defer the decision, Black has got to be prepared to meet the tactical consequences of either course. The French Defense Chains ‘The main line of the French Defense begins 1 P-K4 P-K3 2P-Q4 P-Q4 3. N-QB3 ~KB3 4 B-KNS B-Ka No. 154. White to move30 POINT COUNT CHESS Since Black now threatens to win the king pawn, White must make a decision. The swap PsP is safe but unenterprising, since it gives Black equality in the center at once. The defense of the king pawn by B—Q8 allows Black, by PxP, to force two minor- piece swaps, easing his game greatly. The sharpest line is P—K5, leading to No. I5B: 5 P-KS KN-2 6 BB xB xo. 158. White to move ae wy SOnE Does White now have “control of the center” countable as a point? Well, the purpose of this chapter is to investigate that question. To anticipate, the answer is “No!” When opposing chains are stopped, one of them is bound to be ‘more advanced than the other. The advanced chain enjoys greater space, which may or may not be worth a point. But the issue of center control remains in abeyance until the subcenter fight is decided. Attacking an Advanced Chain In No. 158 Black must promptly attack the White chain, to weaken if not to destroy it. Its cramping effect is otherwise un- endurable, We can generalize: an advanced chain (or salient) invites attack, and in many instances the opponent must attack it quickly to avoid strangelation Now, the most effective attack on a chain is on its base, the pawn at the rear. The threat is to leave the van pawn isolated and defenseless. ADVANCED CHAINS AND SALIENTS 31 Black’s natural counter in No. 15B is P— QB4, and his pieces are poised to support this thrust at once. White has one tempo to initiate a defense of his queen pawn, Several plans have been twied. One is 7 N-N5, vacating QBS for the queen bishop pawn, Black has then to stop NxBPch. White therefore gets time to play P-QB3, N-QR3—B2, ete, in order to maintain a pawn at his Q4. But this is not a manual of openings. You can study the in- tricacies of the French Defense elsewhere. We wish merely to indicate the strategic lines consequent from No. 15B. Capitalizing an Advanced Chain ‘White's pawn at K5 cramps the Black king-side, The natu- ral way to capitalize this situation is to throw forward the White king-side pawns: P—KB4, P—KN4, P—KB5, The effect may be to compromise the castled king if Black plays OO, of to open a file for White penetration, or merely to weaken the Black pawn structure. In any event, White is likely to benefit from the known fact that a cramped pawn wing usually needs more pieces for de- fense than for attack, because the cramp prevents the defenders from operating at full capacity. The force of the pawn at K5 is illustrated by the following game, in which White apparently abandons his Q4 to concentrate on the wing advance. Continuing from No. 15B: 7 PBA P-QRa 8.N-BS P-QB4 9 PsP NxBP 10 B-Q8 NxBeh Black cannot have his cake and eat it too. If he lets the bishop live, it menaces his king-side. But the capture brings reinforce- ‘ment to the White center.32 POINT COUNT CHESS ADVANCED CHAINS AND SALIENTS 33 I Px! N-B3 ‘ 22 NXBP! IN 12 Q-@ 0-0 33 P-BS N-K2 13 0-0 B-Q2 24 Pach KP 14 RB Q-BA : 25 QxPch PQ 15 R-QBI 26 RBG mate White delays P- Q4 in order not to cede Black his QBS as an The Insecure Chain ‘outpost station. . 1... Q-R ‘The foregoing game shows the triumph of an advanced freon chain (and its logical follow-up) over the counterattack. To balance the picture, here is an instance of the defeat of the chain, Now Black cannot try to get his knight to BS by N—Rd be- cause then White wins a pawn by NxP. (a Nex Kopylov ©. Taimanov 1949 ae Rea 1 P-Qb4 N-Kn3 wr Aw tat : 2. N-KB3 P-BS \20) it Wl ic... N-K2 3 P-a4 P-94 4 PAKS B-B No. 15¢. White to move 5 Q-N3 Q-Ns No. 16. White to move (Parenthetically, let us say that this is a typical position in which neither side wants to play QxQ, because the resulting half- White is now ready to resume the king-side push, and Black open file outweighs the doubled pawn.) belatedly goes to the defense. It is probable that White, at his next move, suffered an attack ae entan | of “chess blindness,” thinking the exchange of queens was forced, 18 R-QL Ras 6 P—ns? 19 @-3 KR-BIP After 6... QxQ, White would indeed have a queen-side bind 20 N-KNS N-N3 and Black could not hope to enforce P— K4 to weaken the White Forced, since P~KN3 obviously fails against Q~R3. Now if chain. But— at once 21 P— BS Black gets counterplay by NxKP. Geese Oa 21 Q-K3 P-RS ‘The reductio cd absurdum. In a few moves Black can enforce Suicide, but nothing avails, P_K4, after which (if White plays PxP) White's pawn at QBSof POINT COUNT CHESS {goes lost, or Black moves P~K5 and establishes an impregnable advanced chain, The actual continuation was 7 N-BS QN-2 8 B-Q2 P-K4 and Black, already having the upper hand, eventually won. ‘Another instance of an unwise advance arose in No. 17. Ee A Geen Shiva v. Szabo 1955 mrOraes £i202a a vase oa eee tm Maa ou & og ose eS [At the moment White has an imposing phalanx on the fourth, more space, and an outpost knight. But he cannot keep all these points: the Black pawns are yet to be heard from. on P-@3 2N-O3 P-O4 3 PH ‘White hopes to keep the Black bishops locked up. His salient Jooks powerful but is not. White had nothing better than 3 Q~ N3. Bowes Pond! Of course! ‘The merit of an advenced chain or salient depends on whether it can survive the attack on its base. The reply that White should have examined first of all was 3 . . . P~QR4; had he done so, he would have discovered that the position of his ‘queen compromises him badly. 4.Q-N3 Either pawn capture costs White some material ADVANCED CHAINS AND SALIENTS 35 Geen RPXP 5 QaNP, Qn-02, 6N-RA PxP! For if 7 QxB, RxN; 8 QxP, RxQP. 7 N(4P B-RS 8 B-NS NaN 9 PaN a Now Black controls the center while White has two weak isolated pawns. The Chain in the King’s Gambit Declined When Black declines the King’s Gambit, White has a chance to form an advanced chain by P~KBS, if he wishes. The merit of the move depends on (a) whether the chain is safe against the counterattack, P— (4, etc., and (b) whether the king bishop pawn exerts any real pressure, as by threat of P-B6 or of a pawn storm (P—KN4—N5, ete.). BGM) copsbtencae. allies 914 No. 18. White to move In No. 18, White has a choice between PxP and P—B5 to lay the foundation for a king-side attack. Both moves are good; White (Capablanca) actually chose P-B5. We can see that the move is both safe and useful. Though Black can move P= Q4 imme- diately, White can cheerfully let Black play PxP, for White can36 POINT COUNT CHESS easily defend his K4. The king bishop pawn cramps Black's queen bishop, which in turn blocks the operation of heavy pieces in the center. If Black delays P—Q4, White can stop it forever by P-QB4, even though he thereby makes his own bishop “bad.” (Capablanca did just that! For a discussion of the “bad” bishop, see page 203 in Chapter 17.) ‘The continuation was 1 P-BS P-B3 5 Q-KI Q-KI 2 B-Bich K-RI 6 Q-R4 N-Qr 3 P-QR3 B-KI 7 B-R2 B-B2 4 B-K6 B-Rt 8 P-BAIP Shortly afterward White played P—_KN4—N5, and the regula- tion king:side attack won. Alapin v. Rubinstein 1g08 Xo. 19. White to move Contrast No. 18 with No. 19. In the latter, also, White played PBS, But what 2 difference! The move is suspect on its face, for (a) Black's queen bishop is not on the board to be cramped; (b) Black’s P—Q4 can be backed up by heavy pieces quickly, since his center is not obstructed, and in fact his minor pieces are {ideally posted; (c) Black threatens N ~ Q5, which at the very least will get rid of White's king bishop; (d) White is too undeveloped to dream of a quick king-side pawn storm, The continuation was ADVANCED CHAINS AND SALIENTS 37 1 P-BS? N-O5 2 Q-N3 NB It is well known that 2... NxPchs 3 K— Ql, NaR is not good for Black; the White attack is too strong, [Link] P-KBS Having got rid of the White king bishop, Black « rake this ‘move without serious weakening. Then in case of K- °5 he can defend by R-B2. No longer having the means for an attack, White has to get rid of Black’s king bishop, which bores into his idl. 4 B-K3 5 QB 60-0 7N-RS How the picture has changed since the ill-advised 9 P— BS! Now Black has the central phalanx, White has merely an over- extended chain. After the forced swap of queens, Black doubles rooks on the queen file, opens it when he pleases, and crashes through the White center. The Chain on Q5 The possibility of forming a chain with its van on Q5 arises in various openings. Let us apply the principle of evaluation to some of these cases. No. 20 arose from a King’s Gambit Declined. The position has a superficial resemblance to No. 19, with the vital difference that here White has achieved P-Q4, forming a triple phalanx. The continuation was 1P-O5 N-NI 2 B-Q3 We can see that the advance is powerfully cramping, Black’s natural counter, P—KB4, is prevented, White, indeed, threatens38 POINT COUNT CHESS Rubinstein ». Salwe 2907 No. 20. White to move to set up a reverse salient by P- KBS, since the flank attacks on it by P- QBS and P—KN3 can safely be met by P- QB4 and P—KN4 (if nothing better offers). Black can give himself an out- post station (see Chapter 12) at K4 by PxP, but cannot well move N—K4 until he has backed up the knight by one more piece, else White's NxN will force PxN, plugging the station and also mask- ing White's backward king pawn. Virtually the only tactical cal- culation White has to make in weighing I P—Q5 is to see that his backward king pawn will not be a serious weakness. Bee PR 5 N-B4 Qn-@2 3 BP N-KB3 6 NB RPxN 4 QN-Q2 B-N5 70-0 White's center is strong; he has much greater space. ‘Tarrasch v. Teichmann 1905 No. 21. White to move ADVANCED CHAINS AND SALIENTS 39 No. 21 is a regular position in an old defense to the Ruy Lopez, White (Tarrasch) proceeds to show that it is unsatisfactory. 1 P-Qt Superficially attractive, since it gains a tempo and leaves Black momentarily very cramped. Yet the move requires rather precise calculation that White's queen-side pawn storm will become menacing before Black can do any harm on the king-side, Thus, to enforce P—KB4 with the threat of P—B5, Black has got to play N-KNI, R-KB1, and K~RI, at the very least. White has time for N-R2, P—B3, and B~B2, after which his position is proof against sudden shocks, and no piece necessary to his queen: side operations has had to withdraw. In the actual play, Black made no effort at a king-side counterattack but tried to stop the queen-side advance. 1. N-Qu 2 PBA P-QRe 3 P-N3 A necessary preliminary to P—R3 and P-N4. If at once 3 P-R3, then P—R5 prevents White from ever getting a pawn to na. a... P-N3 4P-R3 N-N2 5 P-N4 R-R2 Preparing to double rooks. White immediately guards his QRI to prevent Black from getting command of the file 6 Q-B3 N-NL 7N-Q2 KR-RI 8 P-B3. Black has for the moment prevented the break P—B5 but has thus renounced all hope of a king-side counter. White has the ‘means to strengthen his position (by bringing rooks to the queen40 POINT COUNT CHESS No. 22. White to move bishop file) while Black has not. White won in a protracted game, keeping the upper hand all the way. No. 22 arises in another line of the Ruy Lopez. Here P—Q5 confers no advantage on White—he cannot follow up with a queen-side pawn storm. The move is not actually bad but is un- enterprising, Black has @ clear-cut strategie objective, which he ean reach—to enforce P—-KB4. The preparation is long-winded: N-KI, P—KN3, N-KN2, B-Q2, and (if necessary) Q— QBL Since White might move B ~ R6 after P—KN3 and then pluck off the knight after N-N2, Black may choose to preface P- KN3 with P-KB3, N-Q1—B2 so as to stop B-R6. The process eventually may bring five pieces to bear on KB4. No, 23 arises from the Giuoco Piano. White has the usual edge of center phalanx v. chain, An attempt to capitalize it by P—Q5 is futile. In two moves Black can attack the chain by P—KB4 No. 23. White to move ADVANCED CHAINS AND SALIENTS 41 White is far from being able to storm the queen-side with his pawns; here the Black king bishop is a powerful counterattacker, anyhow. The effect of White's P-Q5 would be to open the line for this bishop, close the line for the White king bishop and leave White with a precarious chain. The proper course for White in No. 23 is to maintain the center tension, develop his pieces and jockey for position, Salient v. Reverse Salient ‘A moot question is: which is stronger, a central salient or reverse salient? Most experienced players will probably vote for the salient, But the matter is arguable. The salient is the more fre- quent, if only because easier to achieve. Sturpers 9. Bouwmeester 1955 No. 24. White to move In the crucial case where a salient and a reverse salient are directly opposed, as in No. 24, one is necessarily more advanced than the other. Analysis will show, we believe, that the more ad. vanced formation. whichever type it is. usually has the edge ‘Thus in No. 24 White has more space; Black consequently has a more restricted development. Nevertheless, there is a peculiarity of this formation that favors the reverse salient. The flank attacks by White pawns will hit the van of the Black reverse salient, whereas the flank attacks by Black pawns will hit the base of the White salient. The attack on the base of a chain is generally more serious than the attack on the van.2 POINT COUNT CHESS This slight edge enjoyed by the reverse salient can overcome the opposing point for greater space only in special circumstances. ‘The present game shows how it ean happen. 1 P-QR3 R-BI White aims for P— QN4 and Black for P - KB4. Perhaps White hhas already gone astray. The opening of lines against his castled king seems more dangerous than his queen-side counter 2 P-QNA N-KI 3.R-NI Here is spotlighted the inferiority of the frontal attack. By 3 PxP, PxP, White can establish a protected passed pawn and also somewhat weaken the defense of Black's forward pawns: yet these gains are trifling compared to Black’s gain of the “eternal square” Q3 for his knight, whence it hits both bases of the White phalanx, Hence White defers PxP until he can muster a raiding party on the queen-side. But then he is constrained to take defen- sive measures on the king-side~starting them too late. Beer P-N3 4R-BL P-KR3 5N-KI Q-K2 6 P-NB P-BS 7 PBs KPsP! If White retakes on B4 with a piece, Black will have a mighty outpost station on his K4. If 8 NPxP, then PxKP, and White is left with an isolated pawn on an open file. In either case Black has gained an important point and has nullified White’s initial superiority in space. No doubt White could have retained his advantage; neverthe- less, the game shows that the reverse salient has more bite than you might think! ADVANCED CHAINS AND SALIENTS 43 SUMMARY ‘An advanced chain, salient or reverse salient is countable as a point for greater space. You must often discount this point, however, because you can foresee that it is transient. Like the fourth-rank phalanx, the advanced group does not represent control of the center but usually is an edge toward establishing control. The issue is not settled until the oppo- nent’s flank pawns have had their day. If your advanced group survives the flank attack, you are then entitled to count ‘one point for center control. In extreme cases, where your advanced pawns achieve a permanent bind, you are entitled to debit your opponent one point for his cramped position.4. The Advanced Pawn IN the last chapter we saw that an advanced chain ot salient does not necessarily spell center control, though it usually does imply greater space. in this chapter we consider the question of when an advanced formation is countable as center control The question hinges primarily on the influence exerted by the advanced pawn. If that influence is sufficiently great, and if the pawn itself is sufficiently secure, then it spells center control The matter of influence is qualitative, not quantitative. At maxi- mum, a pawn affects three squares, guarding two and plugging a third (against the advance of an enemy pawn). This number is, trifling as compared with the average scope of a piece, But the pawn control of a single vital square may outweigh the command ‘of many nonessential squares. The Benoni Pawn at Q5 Against 1 P~Q4, the Benoni Defense of 1... P—QB4 attempts to swap a wing pawn for an adverse center pawn (with 2 potential advantage that we have discussed in connection with the Sicilian Defense and the King’s Gambit). White moves 2 THE ADVANCED PAWN 45 P—Q5 (no other move is worth a moment's consideration) and the position is No. 25 The advanced pawn prevents the development of Black’s queen knight at B3, wherefore it has to come out at R3, an inferior post, or at Q2, blocking the queen bishop. The Black queen pawn can advance no farther than Q3 in order to Jet out the queen-side minor pieces, with the result that the king bishop is practically compelled to come out at KN2. Efforts to dislodge White's advanced pawn by N~ KB, P-K3, etc., are clearly futile, since the pawn can be supported quickly by P—QB4, N-QB3, P-K4, and already is guarded by the queen. From this cursory analysis of No. 25 we would conclude that White already, at the second move, has control of the center. Al- though the Black center pawns are yet to have their word, we judge that they cannot break the cramp—and experience has not ade No. 25, Advanced Pawn Black to move yet upset that verdict, though the Benoni Defense continues to be tried by venturesome souls. To show how the cursory analysis of No. 25 is bome out, we give the beginning of two crucial games. In the first, Black tries to relieve his center cramp by swapping his king pawn for the White queen bishop pawn, but then White's early P—KB4 estab- lishes the long-lasting threat of P— KS to create a mighty phalanx