Chess Thinking-Bruce Pandolfini

TDINUIN(;

THE VISUAL DICTIONARY OF OVER 1,000 MOVES,RULES, STRATEGIES,AND CONCEPTS

ALSO BY BRUCE PANDOLFINI:

Chess Target Practice Pandolfini's Chess Complete Beginning Chess Chessercizes More Chessercizes: Checkmate! Chess Openings: Traps and Zaps More Chess Openings: Traps and Zaps 2 Bobby Fischer's Outrageous Chess Moves Square One Principles of the New Chess Pandolfini's Endgame Course T he ABC's of Chess One-Move Chess by the Champions Weapons of Chess Russian Chess Kasparov's Winning Chess Tactics

BRUCE PANDOLFINI

A FIRESIDE BOOK Published by Simon & Schuster NEW YORK

LONDON

TORONTO

SYDNEY

TOKYO

SINGAPORE

FIRESIDE

Rockefel ler Center 1230 Avenue of the Americas New York, New York 10020 Copyright © 1995 by Bruce Pandolfini All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form whatsoever. FI RESIDE and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster Inc. Designed by Stanley S. Orate/Folio G raphics Co. I nc. Manufactured in the United States of America 10

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Pu blication Data Pandolfini, Bruce. Chess thinking I Bruce Pandolfini. p. cm. NA Fireside book." 1. Chess-Dictionaries. I. Title. GV1314.5.P36 1995 794.1 '03-dc20

ISBN: 0-671-79502-3

94-36737 CIP

For Harry Fajans and Raymond Weinstein

ACKNOW L E DGM E N TS •

My thanks to Larry Tamarki n fo r prod u c i n g the d i agrams with Chess Base, and to J udy S h i pman and I nte rnational Maste r Walte r S h i pman fo r thei r research and i n si ghts on the openi ngs i ndex. I wou l d also l i ke to than k B ru ce Alberston , Carol Ann Caro n i a , Dei rdre H a r e , R o b H e n d e rso n , Bu rt Hochberg, and I d e l l e Pandolfi n i fo r the i r i nval uable contri butio ns t o t h e man u script, a n d m y ed ito r Kara Leverte fo r ove rsee i n g t h e enti re p roject.

CONTENTS •

Introduction 11

Algebraic Notation 13

Other Symbols 15

The Glossary with Diagrams 19

Appendices A-L 273

INTRODUCTION •

Chess Thinking i s not an encycloped i a . You won't fi nd i n it b i ograph ies

of Alek h i ne , Botvi n n i k , o r Capablanca. Nor i s Chess Thinking a problem book , b u t somehow more than a h u nd red p roblems have s l i pped i n . I t ' s not even a book pu rely of i n structio n , though certai n ly my i ntent i s to s h ow and teach . I p refe r to th i n k of it as m o re of a d i ctionary. Concepts are arranged alphabetical ly for ease of u se , with a b u n dant cross- refe rences . Te rms are defi ned and compared to oth e r pe rti nent word s . But l i ke a q u iz book , some are d i ag ram med with posed q u estio n s , the an swe rs to wh ich a re right u nderneath or on the ve ry n ext page . Fi nal ly, there's plenty of explanation and advice, j u st l i ke a book of i n struction . What k i n d s of entries a re there? A l l the standard chess words I cou ld th i n k of, b u t a l so i n c l u ded are slang, chess variants, recu rri ng expres­ sions and p h rases, and h e l pfu l max i m s and principles. There's also a smatte r i n g of items about com p u ters, game theo ry, ed u catio n , and gen e ral th i n ki n g w h i c h , though not rea l ly chess terms , are u sed q u ite often by chess teachers, writers , and playe rs . Any chessplaye r can tap i nto Chess Thinking. Whether you start at the begi n n i ng and read th rough , or r u n checks on parti c u l a r wo rd s , I bel i eve you ' l l fi nd a wealth of i nformation to e n h ance yo u r enjoyment of the game . However you expe rience chess-playi ng, read i ng, or th i n ki n g-you can expect to enco u n ter semantic road blocks to u nderstand i n g . I offe r Chess Thinking as a too l to clear the way.

11

ALGEBRAIC N OTATION •

You can get more fro m t h i s book if you u nderstand algeb raic notatio n , w h i c h i s a way t o reco rd moves u s i n g l etters a n d n u m bers . To sta rt with , view the c hessboard as an eight-by-eight gri d . Eve ry squ are on the grid has its own name, de rived from the con n ecti ng files and ran k s . Files, the l i nes of sq u ares goi ng u p and down , are lette red a t h rough h. Ran ks, the l i nes of s q u a res goi ng across , are n u m bered 1 th rough 8 . Squares a r e designated b y com b i n i n g lette rs a n d n u m bers ; t h e lette r i s lowe rcase and appears fi rst . T h u s , i n the starti ng position , White's q u een occu pies d1 and B l ack's q ueen occupies d8. A l l squ ares i n the algeb raic system are named from Wh ite's side. The algebraic grid given below i n d icates the names of all the sq uares . You might fi nd it h e l pfu l to p hotocopy the grid and use it as a bookmark, so it's always there for review.

The algebraic grid. Every square has a unique name.

13

OTHER S YMBO L S •

You wi l l fi nd it u sefu l to learn the fol l owi ng sym bol s : SYMBOL

MEA NING

K

king

Q

q u een

R

roo k

B

b i s hop

N

k n i ght moves to

x

captu res

+

check

+ +

checkmate

0-0

castles ki ngside

0-0-0

castles q ueenside

Note that pawns are not identified by a sym bol . If no i nd icati on of the movi ng u n it is give n , it m u st be a pawn .

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THINKING

A

Absolute Pin

A p i n of a u n it to its k i n g . I n t h i s situation the

p i n ned u n it can n ot legal ly move . See

Absolute Seventh Rank

See

PIN

and

RELATIVE PI N .

S EVENTH RANK ABSOLUTE.

Accumulation of Advantages

The strategy of b u i l d i n g a po­

sition by g rad ual ly accu m u l ati ng advantages , especial ly s m a l l o r i ntan­ gible ones . The concept was origi nal ly stated by Wi l h e l m Stei n i tz (1 836-1 900), the fi rst wo rld champion . He argued that, though none of these " s l ight" p l u ses are necessarily i m portant in themselves, thei r com­ bi ned weight cou l d l ead to a wi n n i ng positio n . They m i ght not seem l i ke m uc h i ndividual ly, b u t havi ng j u st a l ittle bette r mob i l ity, space, k i n g safety, flex i b i l ity, dynam i s m , and pawn structu re often t ran s l ates i nto a tremendo u s ove ral l s u perio rity. See 19

POSITION PLAY.

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BRUCE

Activate

PA N D O L FI N I

To develop, i m p rove the position of, mob i l ize, o r make

m o re agg ressive .

QUESTION :

W: Ke2 Ra1 P s a2 b 2 d 4 e 3 f2 g2 h2

(9)

B:

(9)

Kg8 Ra8 Ps a7 b7 dS e6 f7 g7 h7

What is W h i te's best move ?

Pieces can be activated by transfe rri ng them to bette r squares or by moving someth i n g , u s u al ly a pawn , out of thei r way. Kn ights, b i s hops, and q u eens are mai n ly activated by movi ng them off the home ran k toward t h e opponent. Roo ks, on t h e other hand , become effective along the home ran k when s h i fted to open or half-open fi les in order to attack the enemy positi o n . ANSWER:

W h i te gets the u pper hand by activati n g the roo k on a1 to the

open fi le, 1 . Rc1 .

CH ESS

Active

TH I N KI NG

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Aggress ive, as i n active move, piece , variatio n , defense, or

placement.

QUESTION :

W: Kg2 Rf1 Bb3 Ps a2 b2 e2 f2 g3

(8)

B:

(8)

Ke8 Ra8 BhS Ps a6 b7 c7 e6 f7

How s h o u l d W h i te defe n d the e-pawn ?

An active piece i s one that attack s . It asserts itself, as opposed to a passive p i ece, wh ich m e rely defends o r marks t i m e . S i m i larly, an active defense deals with an e nemy th reat by com b i n i n g p rotection with cou nterattack o r by p resenti ng a more i m med iate, seri o u s , o r rele­ vant th reat . ANSWER:

B l ack's b i shop menaces Wh ite's e-pawn , which can be saved

in a n u mbe r of ways . The most active is not to guard the e-pawn b u t t o h it b a c k w i t h 1 . Rh1 ! . The b i s h op i s then l o s t , fo r if it captu res on e2 o r moves to safety, Wh ite's roo k checks on h8, skewe r i n g Black's king and roo k .

Active Defense Active Rook ROOK

O n e that com b i nes defense with cou nte rattack .

A rook pos itioned t o attack , a s opposed t o a

that i s tied to defen se; one that has the

CHECKING DISTANCE.

PASSIVE

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PA N D 0 L F I N I

BRUCE

Actual Play

The real m oves of a game, i n contrast to poss i b l e

variatio n s .

Adjourn

To b reak off a g a m e i nte n d i n g t o conti n u e it late r.

Adjou rned Position is sealed . See

The position on the board befo re a move

ADJ O U R N M ENT.

Adjou rnment

A suspension of play u nt i l a late r t i m e .

I n most tou rnaments and matches, a game may b e adjou rned after a specified n u mber of m oves and a certai n amount of time has elapsed . The p l ayer to move writes down his next move and seals it i n an envelope , wh ich i s not opened u nt i l the resu m ption of play. The seal i n g and s u bseq uent open i ng of the envelope m u st be done i n acco rdance with the official rules o f chess . To fi nd out more about the official ru les, contact the U . S. Chess Fede ratio n , 1 86 Route 9W, New Windsor, N .Y. , 1 2550 (or cal l 91 4-562-8350) .

Adjudicate

To decide the resu lt of a game when c i rcu mstances

prevent it from be i n g concl u ded by actual play. T h i s i s done either by the tou rnament d i recto r o r playe r designated by h i m .

Adjudication

The act of deci d i ng the resu lt of a game without

playi n g it o u t to a concl u s i o n .

Adjust

To center a piece or pawn p recisely on its square . Befo re

d o i n g so o n e says " I adj u st, " "j'ad o u be , " or someth i n g else clearly mean i n g the same th i n g . See

Advance

TO UCH-MOVE .

To m ove toward the enemy with a si ngle pi ece or pawn

or with seve ral u n its in a gen e ral assa u l t in a defi n ite area of t h e board , as i n " q u ee n s i d e advance, " mean i n g q u ee n s i d e attack .

CHESS

Adva nced Pawn

TH I N KI NG

•

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One that has reached its fifth ran k o r farther,

an d t h u s has crossed the frontier l i n e i nto enemy territo ry.

W:

Ke1 Qd1 Ra1 Rh1 Bc1 Bf1 N b1 Nd4 Ps a2 b2 c2 eS f2 g2 h2

(1 S)

B:

Ke8 Qd8 Ra8 Rh8 Bc8 Bf8 N b8 Nf6 Ps a7 b7 d7 e6 f7 g7 h7

(1 S)

QUESTION:

H ow s h o u l d Black save the attacked k n i g h t ?

An advan ced pawn confers a spatial advantage along the fi le it occu­ pies . Fo r exa m p l e , if t h e re i s a B l ac k pawn on c3 , Wh ite typically has access to the two s q u a res i n fro n t of it (c1 and c2), wh i l e be i n g able to assai l a th i rd (c3 ) . Black meanwh i l e cou l d uti l ize the five squares beh i n d the pawn (c4, cs , c6, c7, and c8), eventually capital i z i n g on t h i s c-fi le mobi l ity edge . An advanced pawn i s d i sadvantageou s , howeve r, when it's been p u s hed too far o r without sufficient preparation . I n such cases , the pawn , closer to the enemy and f ur th er from its l i nes of su pport, is ove rexte nded and prone to assai l i ng forces and exploiting tactic s . See OVEREXTE N S I O N . ANSWER:

I n t h e d i ag ram , reac hed afte r the moves 1 . e4 cs 2 . Nf3 e6 3 . d 4 cx d4 4. N xd4 Nf6 S . es , B lack doesn't have t o move t h e endange red

kn i g ht to save it. I n stead Black can e l i m i nate the attac k i n g u n i t . Wh ite's p re m atu rely advanced e-pawn i s vict i m ized by a fo rk, S . . . . QaS + , fol l owed by 6 . . . . QxeS + .

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Advantage

PA N D O L F I N I

Any k i n d of s u periority, specific or overal l .

The te rm especially app l ies, i n d ividually o r i n combi nati o n , to the elements of

S PACE, T I M E , MATE RIAL, PAWN STRU CTURE,

and

K I N G SAFETY.

By hav­

i n g the fi rst move , Wh ite begi n s with a s l ight advantage i n time, which he wi l l try to convert i nto someth i ng more tan g i b l e .

Agreed Draw

A prearranged d raw i n wh ich the players fo l l ow a

choreographed game or d o n 't even bothe r to play. The p ractice i s u s u a l ly i l legal a n d i s always agai nst t h e spi rit o f t r u e com petitio n . An

AGREED DRAW

i s not t h e same th i n g a s a

DRAW B Y AG REEMENT.

I n the

former, the p l aye rs con s p i re before the game i s played . In the latte r, they decide to d raw d u ri ng the cou rse of play.

Ahead

I n chess, h avi n g an advantage i n material , position , or t i m e .

Aim less Development

Development fo r development's sake,

not as part of an ove ral l plan .

Algebraic Notation

A method of reco rd i n g chess moves i n

which t h e board i s viewed a s a coord i nate gri d . A square i n alge b raic n otation i s designated b y com b i n i n g the lette r of its fi l e (a th ro u g h h ) with the n u m ber of its i n tersecting ran k (1 th rough 8). A m o re com p l ete exp lanation of the system , also known as standard notation or

COORDI NATE NOTAT I O N ,

can be fou n d on page 1 3 .

C u ri o u s ly, the term algebraic n otation i s a m i snomer, fo r i t has noth i ng to do with algebra . See

Aligned B ishops

DESCR I PTIVE NOTATI O N .

Two friendly b i s h ops on adjacent d i agonals at­

tac k i n g in u n i so n , often toward a parti c u l a r secto r, such as the ki ng­ side . See

Allies

TWO-B I S H O P SACRI F I C E .

Two o r m o re players wo rking as a team , either con s u lti ng on

each move o r playi ng moves alternately. If they have the white pieces they are the "wh i te a l l ies" and if t h e blac k pieces the "black al lies . "

CHESS

Alternation

TH I NKI NG

•

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Relyi n g on a spatial edge to s h i ft attacks between two

different enemy weak n esses u nt i l the defender m u st make a conces­ sion . A te rm u sed by Aron N i mzovi ch (1 886-1 935), a great player and i n fl uential theorist.

Amateu r

A chessplaye r who does not make a l ivi ng from chess.

Anyone who plays j u st fo r fu n . See

Amaurosis Schacchistica

PRO FESS I O NAL .

Tarrasch's h u moro u s expression fo r

the " d i sease" of b l u nderi ng repeatedly. Literally translated , it means "chess b l i nd ness . " S i egbert Tarrasch (1 862-1 934), a great playe r early i n t h i s centu ry, was a p ract i c i n g physician . Al so, the s u ccession of wh i te and black m oves .

Ambush

A term u sed i n chess com positio n . It refe rs to a situation

i n which a p i ece m oves beh i n d a second piece, wh ich when movi ng allows the fi rst p iece to come i nto play. Problem i sts cal l t h i s a

BATTERY

if both pieces are the same col o r.

Analogue

A com parabl e position or situation . A problem whose

solution can be h e l pfu l in solvi n g a related o n e .

Analysis

The p rocess of dete rm i n i ng t h rough carefu l exami nation

the best m oves i n a variation o r positio n . The easiest s ituatio n s t o analyze are forced seq u ences , where the enemy has o n ly one legal o r reasonable move at each turn . In most positions you r opponent has a n u m ber of decent responses, and if you try to look too far ahead you r analys i s becomes c u m bersome, confused , t i m e con s u m i ng, and even cou nterprod uctive . The trick i s t o start b y m a k i n g a m ental l ist o f

CAN D I DATE MOVES

befo re analyz i n g

any o n e m ove i n depth . T h e a r t o f it i s decid i n g w h i c h moves are relevant e n o u g h to be i nc l u ded on t h i s l i st .

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Analyst fic i e n cy. A

PA N D 0 L F I N I

O n e who analyzes chess pos i t i o n s , parti c u larly with pro­ THEORETICIAN .

Analytic Method

A tech n i q u e fo r d ete rm i n i ng the best cou rse

of action by as k i n g oneself pe rtinent q uesti o n s . A method fo r p l an n i ng .

Analyze

To i n vesti gate a position i n deta i l t o fi nd t h e best conti n u ­

ati o n s a n d t o get a t t h e truth .

Anastasia's Mate

A parti c u l a r mati ng patte rn relyi ng on a rook

and k n i g h t and typically req u i ri n g a set u p q u een sacrifice.

QU ESTION :

W: Kb1 Qd3 Re1 Nd5 Ps a3 b2 c4 f3 g2

(9)

B:

(9)

Kg8 Qa5 Rf8 Ba6 Ps a4 c5 f7 g7 h7

Can Wh ite fo rce mate ?

The name i s taken from the 1 803 novel Anastasia und das Schach­ spiel, by W i l h e l m H e i n se , b u t the mate refe rred to in the book (W :

Kc7 B b7 Pb6 B: Ka7) is not the one com m o n ly s i g n i fied as the patte r n . · ANSWER:

W h i te c a n fo rce Anastasia's Mate i n th ree moves: 1. Ne7 +

CH ESS

TH I N KI NG

•

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Kh8 2 . Qxh7 + Kxh7 3 . Rh1 #. The k n ight i s positioned to guard g8 and g6, the q u een i s sacrificed to open the h-fi le, and the roo k gives the mati ng check-Anastasia's Mate .

Annihi lation

A k i n d of u nd e rm i n i ng tactic whereby s h ie l d i n g de­

fen ses are destroyed o r cleared away, u s u a l ly by d i rect captu re .

W: Kg1 Qg4 Rd1 Rg3 Ne4 P s a2 c3 d 4 f2 g2 h4

(1 1 )

B:

(1 1 )

QUESTION:

Kf7 QdS Rd8 Be7 Nf8 Ps a7 b7 c6 e6 g7 h6

H ow does White force mate ?

An n i h i lation has another mean i n g i n problem com position . There it refe rs to a theme by wh i c h a piece movi ng on a parti c u l a r l i n e is sacrificed so that anothe r friendly piece may be able to u se the same l i ne . T h i s is al so cal led ANSWER:

CLEARANCE.

In the d i agra m , Wh ite wi n s by den u d i ng the Black king of

necessary cove r : 1 . Qxg7 + Ke8 2. Qxe7 + ! ! Kxe7 3. Rg7 + Ke8 4. Nf6# . By capt u r i n g the g7-pawn and the e7- b i s h op, White an n i h i lates B l ack's control of f6, enab l i n g Wh ite's kn ight to mate on that sq u a re .

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B RU C E

PA N D 0 L F I N I

Annotated Game Annotation

A game with co mmentary. See

ANNOTAT I O N .

An expl a n ati o n , c l arificatio n , note , aside, or s i m p l e

com ment o n a move o r va riatio n .

Announced Mate

A playe r ' s open declaration that mate can be

fo rced in a specified n u m be r of moves . The practice is frowned u po n i n tou rnament play.

Answer

The solution to a problem or the reply to a move o r

va riati on .

Ant

A d i sparag i n g term fo r a playe r who memo rizes open i n g moves

but has no real u nd e rsta n d i n g of them . Diverg i n g from the book moves makes such a playe r fee l lost. See

Anti-Positional Move

FISH

and

F I S HCAKE.

A move that violates the spi rit of a pos i­

tion by fol l owi ng t h e wro n g strategy.

W: Kg1 Qd2 Re1 Bes Ps e3 f2 g2 h3

(8)

Kg8 Qb7 Rf7 NfS Ps dS e4 g7 h6

(8)

B:

CH ESS

QU ESTION:

TH I N KI NG

•

29

S h o u l d Wh ite play 1 . g4 to d rive away the k n i g h t ?

U s u a l ly an anti-positional move i s a pawn move made pu rely fo r i mmediate attack and without regard to l o n gterm con seq uences . Anti­ positional m oves tend to p rod u ce c h ro n i c p roblems, fo r once a pawn moves past a sq uare it can neve r p rotect it agai n . ANSWER:

The advance 1 . g4, though i t attacks the k n i ght, i s anti­

positional because it permanently weakens f3 , which can then be u sed by Blac k as a base of operatio n s . The i nvas ion 1 . . . . N h4 soon gai ns at l east the exchange.

Any

When u sed i n the l i ne sco re of a variation it means "any move , "

i n d i cati n g that it i s i rrel evant. In

KRI EGSP I E L

it's a typ i cal q u estion add ressed to the refe ree , mean i n g

"are there a n y legal captu res ? "

Arabian Mate

A mate given b y a roo k a n d kn ight i n which the

k n i ght su pports the roo k wh i l e also guard i n g a potential escape square .

W: Kh1 Rg7 Nf6

(3)

Kh8 Ra2 Nf3

(3)

B:

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QUESTION:

PA N D O L F I N I

How many poss i b i l ities for Arabian Mate do you see?

The name u ndou bted ly comes from the occu rrence of this mati ng patte rn in certai n 13th-century Arabic shatranj problem s .

ANSWER:

There are a total o f th ree Arabian Mates . Wh ite can mate by

either 1. Rg8# or 1. Rh7# ; a n d , if it's Black's move , B lack can give an Arabian Mate by 1 . . . . Rh2 # .

Arbiter

A tou rnament d i recto r or someone em powered t o settle

d i sputes and make dec i s i o n s concern i n g an official event.

Arithmetic Array

Another word fo r

CALCULAT I O N .

The starti ng set u p at the begi n n i ng of a game . Also cal l ed

the ORIGINAL POSITION.

Artificial Castling

See

Associative Memory

cA sTU N G ev HAND.

A memory that stores data in paral l e l , so

that one thought automatically tri ggers another. Chessplayers tend to memorize t h i s way, gro u p i n g i n formation to­ gether in ch u n ks so that one th i n g stands fo r many thi ngs . For exam­ ple, if the situation i s logically based , the placement of certa i n pawns s h o u l d i mply a re l ations h i p to the position i ng of specific pieces with correspo n d i n g tactical possi b i l ities .

Asymmetry

The term u s u a l ly refe rs to an open i ng strategy (play­

i n g for asy m m etry) in which one avoids a l ifeless positio n , where both sides have s i m i lar dep loyments, by playi n g a move or fol l owi ng a plan that can not be cop i ed without d i sadvantage . I t also de notes any gen­ e ral i m balance i n a position that gives it characte r.

CHESS

QUESTION:

•

TH I N KING

W: Kg1 Qd2 Ra1 Rf1 Bd3 Ps a2 c2 f2 g2 h2

(1 0)

B:

(1 0)

Kg8 Qd7 Ra8 Rf8 Bd6 Ps a7 c7 f7 g7 h7

31

S h o u l d Wh ite b reak the sym m etry by Bd3-e4 ?

Typical ways t o d i stu rb sym metry i n c l ude chec k i n g , capt u ri n g, o r merely th reate n i n g , but someti mes it's j u st a matte r o f playi ng a d i ffer­ ent move . I n tryi n g to m a i n tai n sym metry the second player m u st be particu larly carefu l , fo r once mated he doesn't get last l i cks . ANSWER:

I t ' s true that B l ac k shou l d n 't fol low s u i t and play 1 .

.

.

.

Bes ,

for that wou ld expose the q ueen to a free captu re (2 . Qxd7) . But White's move (1. Be4) i s a q u een-los i n g b l u nd e r : 1 . . . . Bxh2 + ! 2. Kxh2 Qxd2 .

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PA N D 0 L F I N I

BRUCE

Attack

A move or series of moves to mate, gai n material , or obtai n

advantage . It a l so means to make or th reaten such moves.

QUESTION:

W: Ke1 Bf1 Nf3 Ps b2 c3 e4 f2

(7)

B:

(7)

Ke7 Bes N c6 Ps b6 c7 e6 f7

Can W h i te wi n material ?

More narrowly, an attack i s the m e re placement of a u n it i n position to captu re anot h e r, not n ecessarily with advantage . You "attack " when positioned to captu re , b u t "th reaten " only if the planned captu re i s des i ra b l e . ANSWER:

I n the d i agram , Wh ite's k n i ght i s attack i n g Black's bishop b u t

doesn 't th reaten it because the b i s hop i s sati sfacto rily defended fo r the moment. Howeve r, with 1. BbS White attacks the c6-kn i ght and th reaten s to remove the eS-b i s hop's s u pport. Even if B lack guards c6 with his k i ng, Wh i te exchanges b i s hop for k n i ght (BbSxc6), and then captu res o n es fo r free . ·1 ._

,

!V

CH ESS

Attack at the Base of the Pawn Chain

TH I N KI NG

•

33

A max i m encaps u ­

l ati n g a strategy fi rst articu l ated b y Aron N i mzovich .

W: Ke1 Qd1 Ra1 Rh1 Bc1 Bf1 N b1 N g1 Ps a2 b2 c2 d4 eS f2 g2

(16)

h2

B:

Ke8 Qd8 Ra8 Rh8 Bc8 Bf8 N b8 N g8 Ps a7 b7 c7 dS e6 f7 g7

(16)

h7

QUESTION:

H ow shou l d B l ack p roceed ?

When a c h a i n of Wh ite pawn s are held i n place by a chai n of Black ones, so that none of them can move, it's u s u a l ly advi sable to attac k the enemy pawns at the base of thei r chai n (the pawn closest to the opponent's home ran k). The poi nt i s to u nderm i ne the chai n by knock­ i n g out its fou ndati o n . For exam ple, i n the Advance Variation of the French Defense (1. e4 e6 2 . d4 dS 3. eS), Wh ite's base i s the pawn at d4, and Black's is the pawn at e6 . The pawn at f7 is tech n i cally not part of the b lack chai n because it can move (no white pawn blocks it). ANSWER:

Black shou l d start the assa u l t aga i n st the base of White's pawn

chai n by p l ayi ng 3 . . . . cs , with the i dea of weake n i n g Wh ite's su pport of es . By the same toke n , White wou l d l i ke to push the pawn on f2 to fS , attack i n g Black's base; but this takes an extra move and is not i m med i ately practical .

34

•

BRUCE

Attraction

PA N D O L F I N I

Forc i n g a u n it to a parti c u l a r square i n o rd e r to exploit

it. Also cal led DRIVING ON.

QUESTION:

W: Ke1 Nf4 Pg2

(3)

B:

(3)

Kc8 Ne3 Ph4

Does Black h ave a wi n n i ng tactic ?

Attractions d raw defend i n g u n its to vu l n e rable poi nts s o that other tactical poss i b i l ities emerge . A com m o n attraction theme i s to force a square to be blocked , as a q u een sacrifice does i n a typical SMOTH­ ERED MATE. ANSWER:

Black wi n s by 1 . . . . Nxg2 + ! , when 2 . Nxg2 is m u rd e red by

2 . . . . h3, l ead i ng to a new q ueen .

B

B

The standard abb reviation fo r b i s h o p .

Back Rank

The ran k occ u p i ed by the eight en emy pieces in the

starti n g positi o n ; a playe r ' s last ran k . Less p recisely, either the fi rst or eighth ran k . Also cal led

BACK Row.

35

36

B RU C E

•

PA N D 0 L F I N I

Back-Rank Mate

A c o R R 1 00R MATE given by a q ueen or rook along

the enemy's home ran k when the losing king i s u nable to escape beca u se i t ' s b l oc ked or trapped . Also cal l ed a

QUESTION:

W: Kh5 Qh1

(2)

B:

(1 )

Kh8

BACK-Row MATE.

H ow can White mate i n two move s ?

Chessplayers often m i s u se t h i s t e r m fo r a n y l i n e-mate by a q ueen or rook along any edge of the board , whether ran k o r fi l e . All q ueen and rook l i n e-mates are co rridor mates, but o n ly those given along outside ran ks are a l so back-ran k mate s . ANSWER:

I n the d i agram , Wh ite c a n force a back- ra n k mate i n two

m oves by 1. Kg6 + Kg8 2 . Qa8# .

Back Rook

When fri e n d l y rooks are dou b l ed on a l i ne, the back

rook i s the seco n d o n e , the one that s u pports the i nvasion of the forward rook . See

Back Row

F R O N T ROOK.

Another name fo r

BACK RANK.

CHESS

TH I N KI N G

•

37

Back- Row Mate

Another name fo r

Backward Pawn

A pawn whose neighbori ng pawns are too fa r

BACK-RA N K MATE.

advan ced to p rotect it.

QUESTION:

W: Kg2 Rb6 Rf1 Nf3 Ps c5 d4 e3 f2 g3 h2

(10)

B:

(1 0)

Kg8 Rb8 Re8 Bg7 Ps b7 c6 d5 f7 g6 h7

Can Wh ite wi n a pawn ?

A backward pawn i s u s u a l ly a weakness, especial ly if it is restra i n ed by enemy p ieces and pawns and i s s u bject to frontal attack by maj o r pieces along the fi l e . The backward pawn's actual o r practical i na b i l ity to move renders it a target and ten d s to p rod u ce a defe n s ive, cram ped position with b l oc ked l i nes and l i m ited scope. ANSWER:

A backward pawn's i n herent weakness may res u l t i n the v u l ­

nerab i l ity of nearby fri e n d l y pawn s . I n the d i agram , Black h a s a back­ ward b-pawn obstructed by a White rook . After 1 . Rfb1 , attack i n g b7 fo r a seco n d t i m e , B l ack m u st lose a pawn . The b-pawn 's only defense 1 . . . . Re7, i s an swered by 2 . Rxc6, when 2 . . . . bxc6 a l l ows 3. Rxb8 + .

38

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B RU C E

Bad B ishop

PA N D O L F I N I

A b i s h o p whose mob i l ity i s red u ced by b l ocked o r

fixed pawns on s q uares t h e same co l o r a s those u sed b y t h e b i s h o p .

QUESTION :

W : KgS N e4 P s a S b 4 c S

(S)

8:

(6)

Kg7 Bc8 Ps a6 bS c6 d7

H ow can Wh ite exp loit the bad b i s h o p ?

A bad b i shop c a n be opposed b y a good bishop or a good k n i ght. In either case, the defe n d e r ' s remedy tends to be an exchange of m i n o r pieces , though t h i s is harder to effect when the pi eces are u n­ al i ke ( b i s h o p vs . k n i ght). ANSWER:

In the d i agram , B l ack's bad bishop i s obstructed by its own

pawns . If the k n ight i nvades (1 . Nd6), the bi shop is lost.

Bad Check

A check that wastes time o r i ncu rs di sadvantage . See

POI NTLESS C H ECK.

Knowi ng when to check i s a fi ne art. As a ru l e , if you don't see that a check res u lts i n ce rtai n advantage , don't give it. Save it for a m o re pivotal t i m e , when you need it or you r opponent has fo rgotten abou t it.

CHESS

Balance

TH I N KI NG

•

39

Eq u i l i b ri u m ; a gene ral eq ual ity, where one side's advan­

tages a re rou g h ly offset by the oppone n t ' s .

Balance of Position

The s ituation o f hav i n g com parable advan­

tages and wea k n esses , so that neither side has a d i st i n ct edge . See EQ U I LI BR I U M .

Balanced Pawn Structu re

A pos ition i n which every white

pawn i s on the same fi l e as a black pawn .

Bare King

A k i n g by itself, without any other same-col o r u n its on

the board . Also cal led a

Barrier

LO N E K I N G .

U s u a l ly a ran k o r fi l e occ u p i ed and control led by either a

q u een o r roo k , p reventi n g the enemy k i n g from escap i n g or partici­ pat i n g . See

CUTOF F .

W: Kg2 Ra1 Rd4 Ps a2 b3 g3 8:

QUESTION:

Kh8 Ra8 Re8 Ps a7 e6 f7

(6) (6)

H ow s h o u l d White snare the b l ack king ?

40

•

B RU C E

PA N D O L F I N I

Actually, any l i n e pi ece can estab l i s h a barrier, s i n ce q u een s and bishops can form them o n d iagonal s . A pa rticu l arly powerful barrie r i s a d o u b l e one c reated b y two friendly b i s hops occu pyi ng consecu­ tive d i agonal s . ANSWER:

B y playi n g 1 . Rg4, Wh ite traps t h e black k i n g on t h e h-fi l e .

Next move Wh ite mates b y checki ng on h1 .

Base of the Pawn Chai n

I n a fixed chai n of i nte rlocked black

and white pawn s , the base i s the pawn , for each side, closest to its own home ran k . See

QUESTION:

PAWN CHAI N

and

AlTACK AT TH E BAS E OF THE PAWN CHA I N .

W: Ke1 Ps d5 e4 f3

(4)

B:

(4)

Ke8 Ps c7 d6 e5

Where i s the base of the pawn chai n ?

A true pawn chai n con s i sts of l i n ked black and white strand s . There are two bases, one fo r Wh ite and one for Black. ANSWER:

In the d i ag ram , Wh ite's base i s at e4 and Black's at d6. Note

that though the pawns at f3 and c7 are con nected to other pawn s , neither i s con s i d e red part o f t h e c h a i n because they can move .

CHESS

Basic Center

TH I N KI N G

•

41

The actual center of the board , con s i sti ng of the

fou r squares d4, dS, eS , a n d e4 .

Basic Mate

Any of fou r eleme ntary checkmates that can be forced

aga i n st a lone k i n g by fou r d i fferent com b i nations of pieces .

QUESTION :

W: Kf7 BgS Ne7

(3)

B:

(1 )

Kh8

H ow can White mate i n th ree moves ?

The fou r standard basic mates are k i n g and q u een vs. k i n g ; k i n g a n d rook vs . k i n g ; k i n g and two b i s hops vs . k i n g ; and k i n g , b i s hop, and kn ight vs . k i n g . ANSWER:

I n t h e d i agram , Wh ite can force a typ ical bishop-and - k n ight

basi c mate in th ree moves : 1 . Ng6 + Kh7 2 . Nf8 + Kh8 3. Bf6# .

Basics

N ecessary i nfo rmation that eve ry chessplaye r s h o u l d know,

i n c l u d i n g the moves and r u l e s , s i m p l e mates and tactics, essential endgames , and u sefu l ope n i n g p r i n c i p l e s . S i m i l a r to

F U N DAMENTALS .

42

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BRUCE

Battery

PA N D 0 L F I N I

I n problem com positi o n , an

AMBUSH

i n which both pieces

are of the same color. In o rd i nary u sage , two o r more pi eces of l i ke power attack i n g s u p portively along the same l i n e .

QUESTION :

W: Kg1 Q b 3 Re2 Ba2 NgS P s f4 g3

(7)

B:

(7)

Kh8 Qd6 Rf8 Bc7 Nd4 Ps g7 h7

How can White mate in two moves ?

Two rooks or a q u een and roo k can fo rm batte ries along ran ks and fi les, and a q u een and bishop can be a batte ry on a diagonal . ANSWER:

White's q ueen-and-bishop batte ry forces mate : 1 . Qg8 + Rxg8

2 . Nf7# .

Bayonet Attack

I n any ope n i n g or va riatio n , the sharp pawn

th rust g2-g4 played to open the g-fi le, to seize control mai n ly of fS , and/or to th reate n to d i s lodge the f6-kn ight, gai n i ng control of dS and

e4. Also, the com parabl e advance fo r Black (g7-g5) with s i m i lar th reats .

BB

Abbreviation fo r b lack b i s h o p .

TH I N KI NG

CHESS

Beauty Prize

43

A p rize someti mes awa rded i n to u rnaments fo r the

most beautifu l o r b ri l l iant game . See

Begi nner

•

B R I LLIANCY PRIZE.

Someone who i s j u st begi n n i n g to l earn about the gam e .

Although a begi n n e r k n ows l ittle a b o u t chess, it's n o t fai r t o describe a n ewcom e r as weak . To be con s i d e red "weak" one m u st have stu d i ed or played seriously fo r years with no vi s i b l e i m p rovement.

Behind a Passed Pawn

A p h rase u s u ally app l i ed to rook end­

i n g s , descri b i n g the most effective placement fo r a roo k with regard to a passed pawn .

QUESTION:

W: Ke3 Ra2 Ps b7 f2 g3 h4

(6)

B:

(5)

Ke7 Rb8 Ps f7 g6 h5

H ow s h o u l d White defe n d the b-pawn ?

When a rook i s stationed beh i n d a passed pawn on the same fi l e , the m o b i l ity o f the rook i n c reases as the pawn advances . T h i s i s t r u e whether the roo k i s attack i n g an e n e m y pawn o r s u pporti ng the ad­ vance of a fri e n d ly o n e . The oppos i te res u lts when a rook is positioned i n front of a pawn . The roo k's mobi l ity along the same fi le dec reases as the pawn advances .

44

•

ANSWER:

B RU C E

PA N D O L F I N I

1 . Rb2 ! freezes Black's roo k i n place . I f it moves, u n less it

can do so with check, Wh ite's b-pawn p romotes with p rotection . So Black's frag i l e defe n se wi l l h i n ge solely on the k i n g-a seve re d i sadvantage .

Best by Test

A fam o u s p h rase u sed by Bobby Fischer i n a 1 964

Chess life article to describe White's fi rst-move choice 1 . e4 .

Riffi ng the B ishop

Attack i n g an aggressively posted bishop that

is attac k i n g one's own k n i ght, attem pti ng to force it either to take the k n i ght o r retreat. See

Bind

PUTII NG THE Q U ESTION T O THE B I SHOP.

A situation in which one side's space i s greatly red u ced by the

opponent's fo rces , especially restra i n i n g pawns, maki ng it difficu lt to rel i eve the cram ped situation by a l i be rati n g advance . I f you h ave you r opponent i n a b i n d , avoid free i n g exchanges . Don't re l ease the cramp u nt i l yo u can convert you r spatial edge i nto some­ th i ng m o re concrete . I f you are in a b i n d , seek to exchange pieces fo r b reath i n g room , especially you r most i neffective u n its . Make s u re to do so, howeve r, without p rec i pitat i n g othe r pro b l e m s .

Bishop

A m i no r piece, o n e o f the six d i ffe re nt types o f c h e s s u n its .

B i shops m ove o n l y on d i agonal s . Each side starts with two, a dark­ square b i s h o p and a l i ght-sq uare b i s h o p . A bishop i s about equal to a k n i ght, wh i c h i s wo rth about th ree pawn s . The standard abbreviation fo r bishop i s s.

Bishop Ending

An e n d i n g characte rized b y b i s h ops and pawn s .

CHESS

Bishop of the Wrong Color

TH I N KI NG

•

45

Also cal l ed wRoNG-cmoR BISHOP

or WRONG BISHOP. A b i s h o p that can't guard a fri e n d ly rook-pawn's p ro­ motion square. See FORTRESS and POSITIONAL

DRAW.

•• •• •• •. • .•. . • • . . .

!! · ·· · · . ·� If!. �.······ ,.�•··.···· !· ·· QUESTION:

W: Ka1 Bd1

(2)

B:

(4)

Kc6 BdS Ps a3 bS

Can White salvage a d raw?

A position i n which o n e side has a bishop and two pawns (one of wh ich i s a rook-pawn whose promotion sq uare can't be protected by its own b i shop) and the oth e r side has a lone m i n o r piece may present an u n usual opportu n ity fo r the weaker s i d e . If ci rc u m stances a l l ow, the playe r witho u t the pawns m ight be able to sacrifice the m i n o r pi ece fo r t h e opposi n g "good pawn , " leavi ng t h e opponent with a rook-pawn whose p romotion square can 't be co ntro l l ed . To d raw, the defe n d i n g king m e rely occu pies the co rner p romotion sq uare, and the attacker i s u nable to fo rce it away without al lowi ng stalemate . ANSWER:

I n the d i agram , Wh ite, though b e h i n d by two pawn s , can fo rce

a d raw by the p i n n i ng 1 . Ba4 ! . H oweve r B l ack respo n d s , h i s b-pawn d i sappears (or becomes an a-pawn by tak i n g the bi shop), and W h i te d raws by keepi n g the k i n g i n contact with a1 , mai ntai n i n g the fo rtres s .

46

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BRUCE

Bishop Pai r

PA N D O L F I N I

The advantage of havi ng two b i shops agai n st the op­

position's b i s h o p and k n i ght o r two kn ights . See

Bishop-Pawn

iwo B I S H O PS .

A pawn on the c-fi le o r the f-fi l e .

Bishops of Opposite Colors

A l s o cal led opposite-co/or bish­

ops . A situati o n , partic u larly germane to the endgame, in which one

p l ayer has a bishop movi ng on l i ght squares and the other playe r has a bishop m ovi n g on dark s q uares .

QUESTION :

W: Ke1 Ba7

(2)

8:

(4)

Kc2 Bc4 Ps d3 e2

Can Wh ite stop the pawn s ?

S i n ce b i shops o f opposite co l o rs can never attack each other d i ­ rectly, end i n gs i n c l u d i n g them often e n d i n blood less d raws , with the defender sett i n g u p b l ockades on squares guarded by its b i s h o p . ANSWER:

I n the d i agram , Wh ite c a n d raw b y 1 . Be3 , stoppi ng the ad­

vance of the d-pawn . Wh ite holds by s u stai n i n g his d o u b l e guard on d2, safely m a rk i n g t i m e with the bishop along the d2-h6 d iagonal . Black's b i s h o p can o n ly watch id ly, u nable to check the wh i te ki ng

.

CHESS

Biting on G ranite

TH I N KI N G

•

47

A way to characte rize a bishop that lacks

scope. A b i shop o n a d iagonal that i s blocked by enemy pawns i s so frustrated that it m ight as wel l be attac k i n g rock . Also u sed to describe a rook on a half-open fi le assai l i ng an enemy pawn sol idly p rotected by one or two other pawns .

BK

The abb reviation fo r b lack k i n g .

Black

The p l aye r who goes second at the start of the game and

who has the dark-co l o red pi eces . The dark-co l o red pi eces are refe rred to as black regard less of thei r actual color. Fo r i n structional pu rposes it h e l ps to d i sti ngu i s h between pi eces and squares . Pieces are white and black, squares are l i ght and dark.

Black-Square B ishop Black Squares

Another name for

Also cal l ed

Black to Play and Win

DARK-SQUARE B I SH O P .

DARK SQUARE S .

Also given as Black to move and win .

A sti p u l ation o r caption i n d i cati n g that B l ack plays a move that forces a wi n n i n g situatio n . T h i s i s seen far less often than the conventional WH ITE T O P LA Y AND W I N

B l indfold Chess

o r White to move and win .

Standard chess where at least one of the co m­

batants plays witho u t sight of the board . A b l i n dfo ld playe r either s its with h i s bac k to the board o r is actually b l i ndfo l ded . In either case the moves are conveyed by chess notation .

48

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BRUCE

B l i nd Side

PA N D O L F I N I

The most v u l n e rable side i n situatio n s i n wh i ch a de­

fen d i n g u n it m u st ward off i nvasi o n s from either of two sides.

QUESTION:

W: Kf5 Ps b6 e7 f6

(4)

B:

(3)

Kd7 Ps b7 f7

H ow s h o u l d White proceed ?

I n pawn e n d i ngs, the stro n ge r k i n g u s u a l ly tries to i nvade on the defender's b l i nd side when such an option exi sts . ANSWER:

I n the d i agram , Wh ite wi n s by i nvad i ng with the k i n g on the

blind side ( h e re , toward the k i n gside), goi ng from fS to gS to h6 to g7 (and even to g8 if White needs to gai n a te mpo).

Bl i ndsided

To be attacked where least expected o r on the side

most d i ffi c u l t to defend .

CHESS

B l ind Swine Mate

TH I N KI NG

•

49

A mate given by a batte ry of two roo ks alo ng

the seventh ran k .

QUESTION:

W: Kh1 Ra7 Rf7

(3)

8:

(3)

Kh8 Ra8 Rf8

H ow can W h i te mate in two moves ?

Two rooks on the seventh ran k are an awesome fo rce even when they can 't b r i n g abo u t i m m ed i ate mate . The rooks s u p port each other and the th reat to mate i s always the re-one rook ready to s h ift to the last ran k , the othe r retai n i ng control of the seventh . ANSWER:

Wh ite has a b l i nd swi ne mate by 1 . Rh7 + KgB 2 . Rag7# .

B l itz

S peed chess . See

B lock

To

O BSTRUCT

RAPI D TRAN S I T C H E S S .

a s q u a re or l i n e . Al so, the obstruction itself.

SO

•

BRUCE

Blockade

PA N D 0 L F I N I

A strategy to p revent the advance of an enemy pawn ,

particu larly a passed o r isolated o n e , by positio n i n g a piece, especially a kn ight, in front of the pawn and guard i ng that square with other pieces and pawns .

QUESTION:

W: Ka6 Rb1 P s a7 eS

(4)

B:

(4)

Kg8 Rf7 Ba8 Pe6

How does Wh ite b reak the b l ockad e ?

An i solated pawn s h o u l d be b lockaded t o p revent i t s advance a n d s u bseq uent exchange for a healthy fri endly pawn. A passed pawn s h o u l d be blockaded to stop it from beco m i ng a th reat to q u een . ANSWER:

Not a l l pieces b lockade wel l . I n the d iagra m , the bishop s u c­

cessfu l ly blockades White's a-pawn . White wi n s by replaci ng the good blockader (the b i shop) with a bad one (the rook) : 1 . Rb8 + Rf8 2 . Rxa8 ! . A l i kely con c l u s i o n i s 2 . . . . Rxa8 3 . Kb7 Rf8 4. a8/Q Rxa8 5 . Kxa8 Kf7 6 . Kb7 Kg6 7. Kc6 KfS 8. Kd6 . Wh ite wi n s Black's pawn and soon makes a new q u een .

Blocked

O bstru cted ; i m mobi l ized by pawn s , Without a clear path .

A l i ne i s especially b l ocked if friendly pawns get i n the way, because you can 't go t h ro u g h you r own pawn s . To u nclog such a l i ne, l oo k to exchange off the pawn i m ped i ments .

CHESS

Blocked Center

TH I N KI NG

•

51

A situation i n w h i c h i nterlocked wh ite and black

pawns p revent access o r m ovement t h rough the cente r.

B locked Pawn

A pawn that can 't move because the squ are i n

front o f it i s occ u p i ed b y an enemy u n it.

Blunder

A seri o u s m i stake o r gross ove rs i ght that either loses or

th rows away a wi n n i ng game .

BN

The abbreviation for b lack k n i ght.

Board

S h o rt fo r cHEsssoARD.

Boden's Mate

A mate , typical ly set u p by a q u een sacrifice, given

by the crisscross action of two b i s h o p s .

W : Kd2 Qf3 Be2 Bf4 N c3 P s b 2 b4 c 2 d 4 f2 g 2 h3

(12)

B:

(13)

QUESTION :

Kc8 Qh1 Rd8 Rh8 N d 7 Ng8 Ps a7 b7 c6 e6 f7 g7 h 7 H ow can W h i te fo rce mate in two moves ?

The name comes from Sam u e l Boden (1826-82) who in 1853 p l ayed an offhand game i n Lo ndon (Schu lde r-Boden) that went 1. e4 es 2.

•

52

BRUCE

PA N D 0 L F I N I

Nf3 d6 3 . c3 f5 4. Bc4 Nf6 5 . d4 fxe4 6. dxe5 exf3 7. exf6 Qxf6 8. gxf3 N c6 9. f4 Bd7 1 0 . Be3 0-0-0 1 1 . Nd2 Re8 1 2 . Qf3 Bf5 1 3 . 0-0-0 d5 1 4 . Bxd5 Qxc3 + 1 5 . bxc3 Ba3 # . ANSWER:

White mates b y 1 . Qxc6 + bxc6 2 . Ba6# . T h e pos ition i s from

the game Canal-Amateu r, B udapest 1 934 .

Book

P u b l i shed theo ry, mai n ly of the open i n g and sometimes the

endgame.

Book Draw Book End i ng in

endgame

A position that endgame books give as d rawn .

A positi o n , u s u a l ly a gen e ral case, that can be fou nd

texts with

approp riate

p roced u res

and

s u ppor tive

variation s .

Book Move

I n a specific ope n i n g variation , the recom mended o r

most u s u a l m ove given i n t h e standard critical man ual s .

Book Player

O n e w h o rel ies m o re on p u b l i s hed analys i s than on

original ideas . General ly, a p red ictable, u n i magi native player who l ets oth e rs do the th i n ki n g .

BP

T h e abb reviation for black pawn . Also t h e abbreviation fo r

b i s hop-pawn (one on the a-fi l e or the f-fi le).

BQ BR

The abb reviation fo r black q ueen .

T h e abb reviation fo r b l ack roo k .

B reak

A free i n g m ove o r mane uver, u s u a l l y a pawn advance .

CHESS

Breaking the Pin

TH I N KI NG

•

53

I n serti ng a fri e n d ly piece on the line of the

pin so that the pin no l o n ge r has any fo rce . Also, d rivi ng away the pi n n i n g piece .

Breakth rough

Typical ly a pawn move (o r moves) to clear l i nes

fo r penetration i nto enemy territo ry, often by mean s of a sacrifice .

QUESTION:

W: Kh1 Ps as bS cs

(4)

8:

(4)

Kh3 Ps a7 b7 c7

Can Wh ite s n eak a pawn th rough to q u een ?

Some b reakth rou g h s are targeted fo r aggressio n , to release at­ tac k i n g forces agai n st the opposi n g k i n g, but many are made to create a passed pawn that wi l l go on to q u een . ANSWER:

The d i agram i l l u strates a com mon b reakth rough com b i nation .

White starts by advanci n g the m i d d l e pawn , 1. b6. If 1 . . . . axb6, then 2 . c6 bxc6 3. a6 wi n s . O r if 1 . . . . cxb6, then 2. a6 bxa6 3. c6 does

th e tri c k .

Br eakthrough Combination

See

BREAKTHRoucH.

54

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BRUCE

Brevity

PA N D 0 L F I N I

A s h o r t game, typically 20 moves or fewer, contai n i n g i nc i ­

sive tactics and u s u a l l y s h owi ng how t o exploit violations o f p r i n c i p l e .

QUESTION:

W : Kc1 Q b3 R d 1 BgS P s a2 b 2 c 2 e 4 f2 g 2 h 2

(1 1 )

B:

(1 0)

Ke8 Qe6 Rh8 Bf8 Nd7 Ps a7 eS f7 g7 h 7

H ow d i d Pau l Morphy mate in two moves ?

Pe rhaps the most fam o u s b revity of a l l time was a game played at the Paris Opera i n 1 8S8 between Pau l Morphy (Wh ite) and a team of two amateu rs ( B lack), Count l souard and the D u ke of Bru n swi c k . I t began 1 . e 4 e S 2 . Nf3 d6 3 . d 4 Bg4 4 . dxeS Bxf3 5 . Qxf3 dxeS 6 . Bc4 Nf6 7. Qb3 Qe7 8. N c3 c6 9. BgS bS 1 0 . NxbS cxbS 1 1 . BxbS + N bd7 1 2 .

0-0-0 Rd8 1 3 . Rxd7 Rxd7 1 4 . Rd1 Qe6 1 5 . Bxd7 + Nxd7 (see d i agram) . ANSWER:

M o rphy won b y sacrifi c i n g h i s q u een to clear t h e d-fi le for h i s

roo k : 1 6. Q b8 + Nxb8 1 7. Rd8# .

Bridge

A block i n g move , u s u a l l y by a rook , to stop enemy checks ,

u s u a l ly fro m a roo k . See

LUCENA'S POSITION

and

B U I LD I N G A B R I D G E .

CH ESS

Bri l l iancy

TH I N KI NG

55

A b ri l l iant com b i nation lead i ng to a q u ick victo ry. Al so,

a short game contai n i ng i nge n i o u s tactics . S i m i l ar to

BREVITY.

W: Kg1 Qf2 Ra1 Rd1 Ba3 N c3 N d4 Ps a2 b3 g3 h2

(1 1 )

B:

(1 1 )

QU ESTION :

•

Kg8 Qh3 Ra8 Re8 Bb7 Bg7 Ps a7 b6 f7 g6 h7 How does B l ack fo rce a wi n ?

An exam p l e of a s h o r t game offering b ri l l iant play i s the contest between Robert Byrne (Wh i te) and Bobby Fischer ( B lack) p l ayed in the U . S . Cham p i o n s h i p, 1 963-64. I t started 1 . d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 c6 4. Bg2 d5 5. cxd5 cxd5 6. N c3 Bg7 7. e3 0-0 8. Nge2 Nc6 9 . 0-0 b6 1 0 . b 3 Ba6 1 1 . Ba3 Re8 1 2 . Qd2 e 5 1 3 . dxe5 Nxe5 1 4 . Rfd1 N d 3 1 5 . Qc2 Nxf2 1 6 . Kxf2 Ng4 + 1 7. Kg1 Nxe3 1 8 . Qd2 Nxg2 1 9 . Kxg2 d4 20. Nxd4 Bb7 + 21 . Kf1 Qd7 and Wh ite resigned (0-1 ) . ANSWER:

T h e d iag ram position wou l d have been reached if t h e game

had conti n ued with the moves 22 . Qf2 Qh3 + 23 . Kg1 . Fischer wo u l d have won b y 2 3 . . . . Re1 + ! ! 24. Rxe1 Bxd4, when t h e p i n ned white queen is u nable to thwart Black's mate at g2 .

Bri l l iancy Prize

An award someti mes given at the end of a to u r­

nament fo r the most i ngen i o u s attac k i n g gam e .

56

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BRUCE

Brute Force

PA N D 0 L F I N I

A term describing the way some computer programs

determine their moves: by sheer calculation of all possibilities. See PARALLEL ARCH ITECTU R E .

Bughouse

Team chess played on two or more boards in which

captured pieces are given to teammates to be used on their own boards when needed. Each putback counts as a move. The first player to mate wins for his team. Also called

DOUBLE BUGHOUSE

and

TANDEM

PUTBACK.

Building a Bridge

In rook endings, a technique to create shelter

for a king and/or passed pawn.

QUESTION:

W: Kb8 Rd1 Pb7

(3)

B:

(2)

Ke7 Ra2

How does White shield the king from checks?

In the diagram, White's king is unable to move from in front of the pawn without being harassed by rook checks. White solves this prob­ lem by deploying the rook so that it can eventual'ly block the checks.

CHESS

ANSWER:

TH I N KI NG

•

57

White first stations the rook on its fourth rank, 1. Rd4!. An

illustrative variation from there is: 1. . . . Ra1 2. Kc7 Rc2 + 3. Kb6 Rb2 + 4. Kc6 Rc2+ 5. KbS! Rb2+ 6. Rb4, and the pawn promotes.

Bust

A refuted opening line or tactic. Also, to show to be unsound

or wrong.

Busted Position Bust U p

A hopeless, resignable situation.

To ruin the enemy's pawn structure, particularly in front

of the castled king, either by capture or sacrifice.

Busted Variation Bye

A refuted line that should be abandoned.

In tournaments, advancing to the next round without playing

because a pairing isn't possible or for some other practical reason approved by the director. Players receiving byes get either a full or half point depending on the rules of the event.

c

Caissa

The muse or goddess of chess, from an 18th-century poem

by Sir William Jones.

Calculation

The process of analyzing and evaluating specific

moves and variations, as opposed to making general judgments and assessments. Sometimes called

ARITHMET I C .

Calculation of Variations Camp

See

cALcu LAT10N .

A player's half of the board; later on, a player's main strong­

hold, especially around the king.

Candidate

See

CANDIDATE MOVE

and

58

CANDIDATE PASSED PAWN.

CHESS

Candidate Move

TH I N KI NG

•

59

A reasonable move, worthy of analysis or con­

sideration. Also called

CAN D I DATE .

Before analyzing a situation in depth, whether during a game or while solving a problem, start by forming a mental list of moves to be considered-the candidate moves. Although the list might be superfi­ cial, it fulfills several functions. You can't analyze every move in a position, so it makes sense to determine the most relevant ones before proceeding. The forming of a list tends to reduce possibilities even further, for some moves may be rejected on immediate comparison. The list can be a reminder. If an initial selection gets nowhere, turn back to the list for other candidates. During clock games the list lets you apportion time better. The list can be a synthesizer, allowing sev­ eral moves to be combined in an overall solution. Finally, forming any kind of list imposes order, which can only be helpful.

Candidate Passed Pawn

In any group of pawns, the one likely

to become passed, that is, with no enemy pawn in front of it on the same file. Also called

QUESTION :

CAN D I DATE .

Which pawn i s the candidate ?

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PA N D O L F I N I

The chief advantage of a candidate passed pawn is that it could be converted into an endgame weapon-a passed pawn, which could then be advanced. The pawn then might be promoted directly or, in its inexorable march, divert enemy forces from other chores. ANSWER:

Black's f-pawn is the candidate. With correct play it has a

chance to emerge as a passed pawn.

Capablanca's Rule

A rule of thumb, attributed to Jose Raul Ca­

pablanca (1 888-1 942), that recommends mobilizing a pawn majority by first advancing the unopposed pawn-the one with no enemy pawn in front of it on the same file.

QUESTION :

W: Ka1 Ps g3 h3

(3)

B:

(2)

Kc1 Pg6

Which pawn should White advance first?

A typical way to create a passed pawn is by applying Capablanca's Rule. Once you have a passed pawn, try to shepherd it toward promo­ tion in a timely yet prudent way. It either becomes a new queen or is used as a

DECOY

to score elsewhere on the board.

CHESS

ANSWER:

•

TH I N KI N G

61

In the diagram, White wins by advancing the h-pawn first (1.

h4), and then the other pawn (2. g4). Starting instead with the g-pawn (1. g4?) allows 1. . . . gS !, and both white pawns are held back.

Capture

The removal of an enemy unit. Also, to take an opposing

piece or pawn.

Castle and

To move the king and rook on the same turn. See

LOST THE RIGHT T O CASTLE.

CASTL I N G

Also, a common but unofficial name for

the rook.

Castle by Hand

To achieve the effect of castling by moving the

king and rook individually over the course of several moves, usually done after the king has

LOST THE R I G HT TO CASTLE .

Also called

ARTI F I C IAL

CASTLI NG .

Castle Early

A maxim advising castling as soon as feasible to in­

sure king safety. Unfortunately, it can't be applied indiscriminately. There are plenty of times when you should delay castling or not castle at all. Probably a better principle would be to prepare to castle-to get the ability to castle-fairly quickly, just in case castling suddenly becomes desirable or necessary.

Castle into Check

A violation of the rules. The king may never

move into check.

Castle Ki ngside

To castle using the king-rook. The move is writ­

ten "0-0 . " Also called

CASTLE S H O RT.

Castle Long

To

CASTLE Q u E E N s 1 0 E .

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PA N D 0 L F I N I

Castle on Opposite Sides

White castles on the queenside

and Black on the kingside, or Black on the queenside and White on the kingside. It's often recommended by teachers to develop attacking skills. Stu­ dents castle on opposite sides and advance pawns against the enemy king to create tactical opportunities.

Castle out of Check

A violation of the rules.

A king in check must get out of check without castling. If the king doesn't move, it may be able to castle later.

Castle Queenside

To castle using the queen-rook. The move is

written "0-0-0 . " Also called

Castle Short

To

CASTLE LONG.

cAsTLE K 1 N c s 1 m .

Castle Through Check

In the act of castling, to move the king

over a square guarded by the enemy, a violation of the rules even though the king doesn't stop on this attacked square.

Castling

Playing the king and rook on the same move, which is

the only time two pieces can be moved on the same turn. Castling is possible on either the kingside or the queenside. It is achieved by transferring the king two squares toward the rook (to the g-file if cas­ tling kingside, to the c-file if castling queenside) and then putting the rook on the square next to the king on its other side. Castling is permitted only if certain conditions are met. The in­ tervening squares between the king and castling rook must be unoccu­ pied. Both the king and the rook must not have moved in the game. You can't castle if you're in check (it is legal, however, to castle on a subsequent move if the king hasn't moved) or if the king must pass through check (over a square guarded by the opponent), or if the king is in check after completing castl ing.

CH ESS

Casual Game

TH I N KI NG

•

63

An offhand or friendly game played for entertain­

ment. See

SKITILES.

Ce nter

The four squares in the very middle of the board, namely

d4, dS, es, and e4. Also the region containing this block of four as well as the twelve squares surrounding it: c3, c4, cs, c6, d6, e6, f6, fS, f4, f3, e3, and d3.

Central

Of the center ; concerning the middle of the board.

Central ization

In the opening and middlegame, a principle rec­

ommending the development of pieces toward the center for general readiness. In the endgame, the process of bringing the king and other pieces back to the center before commencing certain plans or campaigns.

Central ize

To move toward the center, usually to prepare for criti­

cal or final stages.

Central Zone to c3. Also called

The area contained within the square c6 to f6 to f3 E N LARGED CENTER.

64

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PA N D O L F I N I

Centurini's Position

A famous ending of king, bishop, and

knight-pawn vs. king and bishop, in which an elaborate bishop maneu­ ver gains a

QUESTION :

TEMPO

and wins.

W: Kc8 Bg3 Pb7

(3)

8:

(2)

Kc6 Ba7

What tactic enables White to promote his pawn?

Centurini's actual starting position (W : Kc8 Bd8 Pb7 B : Kc6 Bh2)

leads to the diagram after 1. Bh4 Kb6 2. Bf2+ Kai 3. Bes Bg3 4. Be7 Kb6 5 . Bd8+ Kc6 6. Bh4! Bh2 7. Bf2 Bf4 8. Ba7 Bh2 9 . Bb8 Bg1 1 0. Bg3 Ba7. ANSWER:

White wins by a deflection, 1 1 . Bf2. If Black takes White's

bishop, the pawn queens. Otherwise, White simply captures Black's bishop and promotes after that.

Chaturanga

The earliest known forerunner of chess, which ap­

pears to have originated in the fifth century A. D. in the Indus Valley.

Chain

Short for

PAWN CHAI N .

CH ESS

Ch eapo

TH I N KI NG

•

65

Slang for an on obvious trap or one-move setup . See

SU CKER PUNCH.

Check

A direct attack or threat to the king.

When one of your units checks the opposing king, you are in posi­ tion to capture the king on the next move (though the rules actually prevent a king from being captured). A king "in check" must get "out of check" immediately.

Checking Distance

The minimum distance a rook needs to at­

tack without being in danger of counterattack from the approaching enemy king.

QU ESTION:

W: Kd8 Rc2 Pd7

(3)

B:

(2)

Kb7 Rh2

Can Black play to draw?

In most cases the rook has the checking distance if it's at least four squares from its target along the line of attack . The target is either the enemy king, a passed pawn, or the complex of both. If the rook is only three squares away, the opposing king may be able to chase the rook without endangering the pawn, which can then proceed to­ ward promotion.

66

•

ANSWER:

BRUCE

PA N D O L F I N I

Black's rook has the checking distance from the flank,

allowing it to pester the White king into a draw. A reasonable variation is 1 . . .

.

Rh8 + 2 . Ke7 Rh7 + 3 . Ke6 Rh6 + 4. Kf7 Rh7 + , forcing the

king back to the pawn's defense. Worse is 4. Kf5, when 4. . .

.

Rd6

wins the pawn.

Checkmate

A situation in which an attacked king has no legal way

to get out of check. The game ends at this point, before the check­ mated king is actually captured. (If the rules permitted it, the king would be taken on the next turn. )

Chessboard

The playing surface, which is a square board consist­

ing of 64 smaller squares, 32 light and 32 dark, arranged in an alternat­ ing pattern. At the start the board is placed with a light square in the corner to each player's right.

Chess by Mai l Chess C lock

See

CORRESPO N DENCE c H E s s .

A timing device with two clocks, one for White and

one for Black. When it's your move, your time runs and your opponent's doesn't. After completing your move, you can stop your clock and start your opponent's. Then it's your opponent's turn to move and, after mov­ ing, he stops his clock and starts yours.

Chessmaster Chessmen

See

NATI ONAL MASTER .

Pieces and pawns considered as a group. See

Chess Problem

See

PROBLEM.

U N ITS .

CHESS

Circuit

TH I N KI NG

•

67

In certain knight endings, a ci rcu lar path of four squares

connected by knight moves.

QUESTION :

W: Kg6 Ph6

(2)

B:

(2)

Ka1 NgS

Can Black move and draw?

If the defending knight can get on the circuit it can stop the pawn from safely advancing. In the diagram the circuit consists of the squares h7, f8, e6, and gs. Although the knight must move, it can stay on the circuit and draw. ANSWER:

The position is held by 1. . . . Ne6!, when 2. h7 encounters 2.

. . . Nf8+ 3 . Kg7 Nxh7 4. Kxh7, and the game is drawn due to

1 NSUFFl­

c1 ENT MAT I N G MATERIAL.

Classical

Pertaining to a style favoring straightforward play, includ­

ing direct occupation of the center, especially with pawns; rapid devel­ opment; early castling; and adherence to standard principles. Also, the style itself.

Classical Pawn Center

A l i gned center pawns on a playe r 's

fo u rth rank. For Wh ite, pawn s on d4 and e4 ; fo r B lack, pawn s on dS

and es.

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PA N D O L F I N I

This is called a classical pawn center because such a formation was the aim of the early generations of good players in the 17th and 18th centuries. They laid down the "classical principles" in their games and analyses.

Classic Bishop Sacrifice Clean Mate

See

G RECO's sAcR 1 F 1 cE .

A problem composition term. A mate in which unoc­

cupied squares near the mated king are each guarded only once, none of the units in the pattern have unnecessary functions, and the mating move is not a double check. Also called

Clear

PURE MATE.

See

MODEL MATE.

Unblocked, as a clear line. Also, definite, as a clear

advantage.

Clearance

A tactic by which a square or line is evacuated, typically

by a compelling sacrifice, so that a friendly unit can occupy the same square or line. See

QUESTION:

AN N I H I LAT I O N .

W: Ka1 Qa6 Bb1 Pa2

(4)

B:

(4)

Kh8 Rb5 Ba7 Nd4

H ow can B l ac k mate in two moves ?

CH ESS

TH I N KI NG

•

69

Annihilation is a form of clearance. But whereas clearance is the unblocking of either a square or line, annihilation refers specifically to a line. ANSWER:

Black mates by the sacrifice 1. . . . Nc2 + . After 2. Bxc2, Black's

bishop mates on d4, the square just cleared by the knight.

Clearance Sacrifice Clock

See

See

CLEARANC E .

C H E ss cLocK.

Clock Game

A game using a chess clock to make sure the players

complete a certain number of moves in a specified period. A player failing to make the

T I M E CONTROL

Closed Center

forfeits the game.

A center blocked by chains of black and white

pawns. Loosely, any center through which movement is hindered by pawns. A typical closed center has white pawns at dS and e4 interlocked with black pawns at d6 and eS; or white pawns at d4 and es versus black pawns at dS and e6. When the middle of the board is obstructed by pawns, play tends to take place behind the lines, around the pe­ rimeter of the center, or on the flanks. The action is correspondingly slower, since it's harder to transfer pieces through the central barri­ cade, and intricate maneuvers are common. It's not unusual to see knights, with their ability to pirouette, get the better of bishops. Fi­ nally, the blocked center often enables the kings to remain uncastled into the early middlegame and even beyond in preparation for transi­ tion to the endgame. See CHAI N , CLOSED GAME ,

Closed File

and

PAWN CHAI N , ATTACK AT THE BASE OF THE PAWN

FIXED PAW N S .

A file occupied by both white and black pawns, so

that rooks and queens cannot move along it completely. See and

HALF-OPEN F I L E .

Close Game

Another name fo r

cLosED GAM E .

OPEN F I LE

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PA N D 0 L F I N I

Closed Game

One with a

CLOSED CENTER

(obstructed by white and

black pawns), in which few, if any, exchanges have taken place. Also called

CLOSE GAME

or

CLOSED POS I TI O N .

Closed Open ing 1. c4. Also called

A game that begins with 1. d4, or sometimes

CLOSE OPE N I NG .

Queen-pawn openings, in contrast to those beginning with the king­ pawn, are more likely to produce closed games if played automatically. But they are conducted so actively these days, and with such vigor and creativity, that the distinction has become more a convenience of classification than a reliable rule of thumb.

Closed Position

See

Coffeehouse Chess

cLo s E D GAME.

A type of chess typical of coffeehouses,

characterized by risky unsound play that in those circumstances (noisy, smoky, confused) can be difficult to refute.

Color Weakness

A difficulty in adequately guarding, occupying,

or influencing squares of one color.

W: Kd1 BdS Ps b3 d3 fS h6 B:

Kf8 Bb6 Ps b4 d6 eS f6

(6) (6)

CH ESS

QUESTION:

TH I N KI NG

•

71

Can White force a win?

A color weakness tends to be pronounced when one's pawns are fixed on squares of the other color and one's minor pieces are power­ less to help. A balancing act occurs with opposite-color bishops, when both players may be weak and strong on different color squares. It all depends on circumstances. ANSWER:

Black can't stop a white king trek to g6 (Kd1-e2-f3-g4-h5-g6)

and the subsequent pawn advance h6-h7.

Column

Another name for

Combination

FILE.

A sequence of forced moves, usually involving sac­

rifice, always leading to an improvement of one's situation.

QUESTION :

W: Kg1 Qa6 Bg2 Ng6 Ps f2 g3

(6)

B:

(8)

Kg8 Qa8 Bd6 Nh7 Ps a7 c7 dS g7

Does White have a winning combination?

The word "combination" implies a synthesis of several tactical themes. T h e usual aims are checkmate or gain of materia l . A t rue co m bi n ation req uires sacrifice , but of a pa rtic u l a r kind . Com binative

sacrifices wo rk by fo rce . They are not

REAL SACRIFICES,

whe re the out-

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•

PA N D 0 L F I N I

BRUCE

come is in doubt, but

SHAM SACRI FI C E S ,

where favorable results have

been foreseen. ANSWER:

After 1 . Qc8 + ! Black must abandon his queen, for 1 . . . . Qxc8

allows 2. BxdS + and mate next move.

Companion Squares

Also called

coNJUGATE s Q uAREs, cooRDI NATE

SQUARES , CORRESPO N D I N G SQUARES, REIATED SQUARES,

and

S I STER SQUARE S .

See

THEORY OF CORRESPO N D I N G S Q UARES .

Compensation

A counterbalancing advantage to offset one or

more disadvantages. The term is based on a comparison of different elements, such as material vs. time. A player might have an extra pawn to compensate for the opponent's initiative. It's also possible to have compensation within the same element, such as material. One side gets a knight, for example, for his opponent's three pawns.

Complicate

To keep the position complex by avoiding trades and

retaining tension ; to initiate risky, hard-to-analyze lines, possibly in­ volving sacrifice.

Complications

Unanticipated difficulties or tactics that confuse

and jeopardize the outcome.

CH ESS

Composed Problem

TH I N KI NG

•

73

A deliberately created position, not neces­

sarily reflecting a real game situation, that sets out in a clever or artistic way a particular technique or theme. Like puzzles, they are meant to be solved. A problem often must be solved in a specified number of moves. See

QUESTION:

COMPO S I TI O N , PROBLEM,

and

STUDY.

W: Kg1 Qh8 Rh7 Pa6

(4)

B:

(4)

Ka8 Bb8 Ps a7 g2

How does White force mate in two moves?

In an artfully composed problem everything meshes perfectly, noth­ ing is wasted, every unit has a definite purpose, and, ideally, there is only one answer. Alternative solutions, known as cooks, mar the problem. ANSWER:

In this version of a famous problem composed by Sam Loyd

(1 841 -1 91 1 ), White mates by 1 . Rh1 !, followed by 2 . Qxh1#.

Composition

A

coMPosm PROBLEM

or

sTuDY.

See

cooK.

All kinds of creations may be considered compositions, including forced mates, endgame studies, tasks, instructional examples, mathe­ matical/logical puzzles, chess jokes, and who knows what. Some of

•

74

BRUCE

PA N D O L F I N I

these are quite fantastic, having unusual stipulations and bearing little resemblance to actual competition.

Computer Notation

The barest form of algebraic notation, giv­

ing only the moving unit's starting and destination squares. Piece symbols are not used, nor are there indications for captures or checks. For example, if a White knight on e4 captures a Black knight on f6, giving check, the move is simply written "e4-f6" or " E4- F6. "

Concrete Advantage

A tangible advantage, like material or

pawn structure, that tends to be long-lasting .

Conditional Problem

A kind of problem in which standard

pieces have enhanced or restricted powers.

Confl icti ng Principles

General guidelines that seem to dis­

agree. An example is being ahead by a pawn with a powerful attack and having the opportunity to trade pieces. One principle recommends exchanging when ahead, the other says to avoid trades if pressing an attack. What do you do ? Try thinking and figuring out what 's really best.

Conjugate Square

Also called coMPAN10N SQUARES, cooRDI NATE

SQUARES , CORRESPONDING SQUARES, RELATED SQUARES, and SISTER SQUARES. See TH EORY OF CORRESPONDING SQUARES.

Connected

For pieces, occupying the same line and capable of

supporting each other (see CONN ECTING THE ROOKS) ; for pawns, occu­ pying adjacent files and capable of defending each othe r (see CON­ NECTED PASSED PAWNS ) .

CHESS

Connected Passed Pawns cent files. See

QUESTION :

TH I N KI NG

•

75

Two friendly passed pawns on adja­

PAS SED PAWN .

W: Kf3 Ps a7 b5

(3)

B:

(1)

Kb7

How does White win this ending?

Connected passed pawns are often a vital endgame weapon because they can advance with mutual support. When one of them is placed to protect the other, the opposing king can't capture the protecting back pawn without allowing the protected front one to run toward promotion. ANSWER:

White secures the day by 1. b6 . A possible conclusion is 1 .

. . . Ka8 2. Kf4 Kb7 3. Ke5 Ka8 4. Kd6 Kb7 5 . a8/Q + Kxa8 6. Kc6 Kb8 7. b7 Ka7 8 . Kc7 Ka6 9. b8/Q Ka5 10 . Qb3 Ka6 11 . Qa4# (or 11 . Qb6#) .

Connecting the Rooks

Clearing the home rank by developing

the queen and minor pieces and castling, so that the rooks defend each other. The situation signifies a state of read iness and usually marks the end of the opening and the start of the middlegame.

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Consol idate

To stabilize a loose or uncoordinated position.

One usually consolidates with several defensive or simplifying moves, exchanging off menacing or clumsy pieces while completing development and safeguarding the king. The concept most often ap­ plies after risking the win of material or surviving an intense period of attack.

Consol idation

The process of stabilizing and refocusing a posi­

tion, especially after a period of activity, by insuring king safety, de­ fending weak points, completing development, repositioning certain pieces, and warding off potential enemy threats.

Consultation Game

A game in which two or more players work

as a team, discussing their moves before playing them. The opponent may be a single player or another consultation team.

Continuation

A follow-up to a move or series of moves.

Convergent Thi nking

In chess, working out the precise moves

when we already know what to do. It is linear and one-dimensional, as opposed to DIVERGENT TH I N K I N G .

Cook

In composed problems, an alternative solution, often requir­

ing fewer moves, usually missed by the composer. A cook spoils the validity of a composition.

Coordinate Notation

Any notation that views the board as a

coordinate grid, such as ALGEBRAIC NOTATI O N .

Coordi nate Squares

Also cal led coMPAN 10N sQuAREs, coNJUGATE

SQUARES, CORRESPONDING SQUARES , RELATED SQUARES, and S I STER SQUARES. See THEORY OF CORRESPONDI NG SQUARES .

CHESS

Cordon

TH I N KI N G

•

77

In the endgame, a boundary line, consisting of guarded

squares and sometimes the board's edge, that confines a king within a particular area.

Cor ral

The trapping of a knight by a bishop along the edge. Also

referred to as CORRALLING A KNIGHT.

QUESTION:

W: Kd7 Bh2 Pg2

(3)

B:

(3)

Ka7 Nh5 Pa6

How does White win?

This is one reason to avoid positioning a knight along the board's perimeter. A knight has such reduced mobility there that a smartly placed bishop can usurp all of its possible moves. ANSWER:

After 1. Be5!, the knight is helpless against the pending ad­

vance g2-g4.

Correspondence Chess

Chess played by mailing each move

in a letter or on a postcard . Correspondence chess requires a real investment in time . In today 's high-tech age, where info rmation is conveyed i mmediately by tele­ phone, fax, or compute r mode ms, it may have seen its day.

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PA N D 0 L F I N I

Cor respond ing Squares

Also called COMPAN ION sQUAREs, coNJu­

GAL SQUARES, COORDI NATE SQUARES, RELATED SQUARES, and S I STER SQUARES. See THEORY OF CORRESPONDING SQUARES .

Cor ridor Mate

A line mate by a rook or queen, given along any

file or rank when possible escape squares are guarded or obstructed. See BACK-RANK MATE.

Counter

An answer or response. See couNTERATTACK.

Counterattack

An attack mounted by the defender or the player

apparently on the defensive. Also, one of a certain class of opening variations initiated by Black. A good counterattacker adequately answers the opponent's threats while generating some of his own. It's a mistake just to strike out blindly, however ferociously. You can't ignore enemy plans, even if they seem trivial or unimportant, especially when they come first.

Counterchances Countergambit

Opportunities for cou NTERATTACK.

Generally, an opening gambit offered by Black

in response to White's opening gambit; thus, an attempt to seize the initiative and blunt White's attack.

Counterplay

The possibility for the defending side to undertake

aggressive action, usually by opening another front. A player who has counterplay is said to have overall chances roughly equal to the opponent's.

Counting

With regard to material, comparing. pieces and pawns

to see who's ahead; with regard to pawn races, determining which

CHESS

TH I N KI NG

•

79

side promotes first; with regard to maneuvers, especial ly for the king, figuring how many moves it takes to reach a certain square .

Cramped

Constricted; especial ly, blocked or restrained by pawns

that fix one's pawns to the third rank , leaving very little room for positioning behind the lines.

Cramped Position

A position in which one side in particular

has reduced space.

Crippled Majority

A pawn majority incapable of producing a

candidate, usually because of doubled or isolated pawns.

Critical Diagonal of Retreat

In pawn endings, the shortest

path for the defending king to the promotion square; the diagonal the king needs to traverse to stop the pawn from queening.

QUESTION:

W: Kf1 Ps a2 d4

(3)

B:

(3)

Kf3 Ps e6 f7

How does White play and win?

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PA N D O L F I N I

A key battle often revolves around the attacker's attempt at blocking a critical diagonal, preventing the defending king's auspicious retreat. ANSWER:

White wins by blocking the diagonal line with a pawn sacrifice,

1. dS! , and after 1 . . . . exdS 2. a4 d4 3. a5 d3 4. Ke1 , there's no catching the a-pawn.

Critical

Opposition

In endgame

theory,

allowing a king to occupy a critical square. See OF CRITICAL SQUARES.

Also called

Critical Position

the opposition

OPPOSITION

and

THEORY

KEY OPPOSITI O N .

That point in a theoretically important line,

usually in the opening and more or less forced from the preceding moves, the evaluation of which determines whether the sequence fa­ vors White or Black. Also, any decisive turning point in a game.

Critical Square

A square whose occupation by the superior

side's king insures the completion of a task. An endgame concept.

Critical Thinking

Abstract reasoning used to solve problems ;

higher thought processes marked by careful analysis and evaluation of alternatives before deciding on the optimal course of action. See ANALOGUE

and

LATERAL TH I N K I N G .

CHESS

Cross-Check

QUESTION:

TH I N KI N G

•

81

A check that blocks a check by the opponent.

W: Ka8 Qf4

(2)

B:

(3)

Kf2 Qd3 Pe2

How does Black end the checks?

In addition to cross-checking by interposition, it is possible to move the king and discover check or to capture the checking unit with check. The most typical cross-checking situation occurs in queen end­ ings to avoid perpetual check. ANSWER:

Black wins by 1

.

.

.

.

Qf3 + , blocking check with check and

forcing a trade of queens. The pawn then promotes.

82

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Crossover

PA N D 0 L F I N I

A maneuver by a king in front of and across the path

of one of its own passed pawns to reach the OUTS I DE CRITICAL SQUARE. Also called the OVERPASS, in contrast to the U N DERPASS .

QUESTION:

W: Kf3 Pd4

(2)

B:

(1 )

Kg7

How does White insure the pawn's promotion?

White's king must get to any of the pawn's three critical squares to guide the pawn home. In this situation, with the passed pawn on its fourth rank, the critical squares are c6, d6, and e6. ANSWER:

A direct diagonal crossover to c6 does the job: 1 . Ke4 Kf6 2.

KdS Ke7 3. Kc6. A possible finish is 3. . . . Kd8 4. dS Kc8 5. d6 Kd8 6. d7 Ke7 7. Kc7 and the pawn promotes next move.

CHESS

Cross-Pin

QUESTION :

TH I N K I N G

•

83

A counter-pin . Answering a pin with a pin .

W: Kh1 Rb1 Bf1 Nc6 Ps e6 hS

(6)

B:

(7)

Kc8 Rh8 Bb7 Nh4 Ps a6 c7 cS

How does White mate in two moves?

The cross-pin idea is more prevalent in problem composition, though it does arise in ordinary play as well, especially in situations needing a defensive fix. ANSWER:

White's 1 . Bxa6! cross-pins Black's bishop (which is pinning

White's knight) to its king and mates next move. If 1 . . . . Bxa6, then 2. Rb8#. Otherwise, White's bishop captures on b7, giving mate with support from the rook .

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Crosstable

PA N D O L F I N I

A chart or table showing the results of every player in

a tournament.

c ·a;

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"O ::I

iii

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"(ij

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Q) ..... u.

Cl

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WL

Albert Einstein

x

1

112

1

2112-112

Sigmund Freud

0

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112

1

1 v� 1 112

Charles Darwin

112

112

x

1

2-1

Mark Twain

0

0

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Cutoff

A queen, rook, or bishop barrier that the opposing king

can't cross.

QUESTION:

W: Kh8 Rg8

(2)

B:

(2)

Kb6 Pas

How does White force a win?

Cutoffs tend to be most valuable in rook endings-, where it becomes necessary to prevent the opposing king from supporting or trying to

CHESS

TH I N KI NG

•

85

stop a passed pawn's advance. The cutoff should be maintained unti l the last possible moment to give your own forces a chance to join the fray. ANSWER:

White wins by cutting off the Black king with 1 . RgS ! , when

Black is dead after 1 .

.

.

.

a4 2. Kg7 a3 3. Rg3 a2 4. Ra3.

D

Dance of Death

A phrase capturing the spirit of the oppositional

fight between two kings. See OPPOSITI ON.

Dangerous Diagonal

Either of the two diagonals on which the

FOOL'S MATE can occur. White can be so mated along the e1-h4 diagonal,

Black along the e8-h5 diagonal.

Dark-Square

B ishop

A bishop that moves only on dark

squares. For White, the queenside bishop starting on c1; for Black, the kingside bishop starting on f8.

Dark-Square Game

An opening plan to control the dark

squares. A type of ga m e with this the m e . I f yo u ' re p laying a da rk-s q u a re ga m e , t r y t o contro l es peci a l l y the s q u a res on the a1 -h8 diagonal , which co me unde r the i nfl u ence of the 86

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TH I N KI NG

•

67

dark-square bishops. When both sides have developed their kingside bishops on the flank (White's at g2, Black's at g7), Black is equipped for a dark-square game and White for a light-square one. A typical dark-square setup for Black has a bishop at g7, a knight at c6, and pawns on cS, d6, and e7. A similar scheme for White offers a bishop on b2, a knight on f3, and pawns on d2, e3, and f4.

Dark Squares

The 32 squares of the same co lor as a1 . Also called

black squares, even if they're not black.

D ecoy

A distant pawn offered as a sacrifice to lure an enemy piece

(usually the king) out of position. See OUTSIDE PASSED PAWN and DEFLECTIO N .

QUESTION :

W : Ke3 Ps c3 h4

(3)

B:

(3)

KeS Ps bS c4

How should White continue ?

A decoy becomes more valuable the farther it is from the main sec­ tor of dispute, especial ly when the only defender is the enemy king. ANSWER:

White sho u l d play 1 . h5 . After 1

.

. . . Kf5 2 . Kd4 KgS 3. Kc5

KxhS 4. Kxb5 Kg5 5 . Kxc4 White wins the ending .

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PA N D O L F I N I

Deductive Reasoning

In chess, the mental process of proceed­

ing logically from one or more related ideas to a goal that seems to follow necessarily. This is what chessplayers do, for example, when they analyze forcing variations that lead to mate or other definite posi­ tions that can be understood and evaluated with certainty. See I NDUC­ TIVE REASON I NG .

Defender

The player under attack. At the start o f the game, White

is the attacker and Black the defender. Also, any unit that protects another unit.

Defense

A move or series of moves designed to meet opposing

threats and attacks, whether immediate or long range. In the open­ ings, a defense is a system of play whose characteristic positions are determined largely by Black.

Deflection

Forcing an enemy unit from its post, leaving a certain

square or set of squares inadequately guarded. See DECOY.

Demo Board

Short for DEMONSTRATION soARD.

Demonstration

Board

A large chessboard with movable

pieces, mounted upright for display and instruction.

Derivative

Not original; usually said of opening ideas developed

by others.

Descriptive N otation

A system of notating moves in which

every square has two names depending on whos� move it is. For exam­ ple, P-K4 when played by White is a pawn advance from e2 to e4; when played by Black it's a pawn move from e7 to es . The algeb raic system is preferred today. See

ALG E B RA I C NOTAT I O N .

CH ESS

Des perado

TH I N KI NG

•

89

A tactic by which a threatened or trapped piece is

sacrificed to minimize loss, inflict damage, or gain material.

QUESTION:

W: Ka1 Qd5 Bb2 Ps a2 b3

(5)

8:

(5)

KeB Qa3 Be6 Ps d7 f7

Who wins?

Sometimes desperado possibilities arise when, instead of extricating an attacked piece, you let it hang and threaten a comparable piece, of the opponent's. The player who goes first in such circumstances has a great advantage because of the possibility of getting something for the attacked piece with a gain of time, while the opponent gets nothing. ANSWER:

Whoever moves wins by sacrificing the queen for the oppo­

nent's bishop and then capturing the other side's queen.

Develop To improve a piece's scope or potential, or both, by mov­ i ng it to a better square or by moving something, especially a pawn, out of its way. In the opening, to move a piece off its home rank or shift a rook to an unblocked file.

Developing Sacrifice See

SAC R I F I C E .

A sacrifice to gain time for development .

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Development

PA N D O L F I N I

The process of increasing the mobility of pieces

by moving them from their original squares to more active ones or by moving pawns out of their way. In the opening it usually i mplies mov­ ing pieces, other than rooks, off their home rank. Rooks are developed when placed on open, half-open, or about-to-open files.

Develop Toward the Center

A maxim advising players to

develop pieces toward the middle in the opening.

Diagonal

A slanted row of same-colored squares. There are 26

different diagonals on the chessboard. See B I SHOP.

Diagonal March

A maneuver enabling a king to approach two

widely separated squares simultaneously by traveling along a diagonal that is equidistant from both.

QUESTION:

W: Ka3 Ph4

(2)

B:

(2)

Kh1 Pc3

If it's Black's move, can Black draw?

The diagram is a famous endgame study composed by Richard Reti. Black's k i ng can't catch the h-pawn, nor can it get ove r in time to

CHESS

TH I N KI NG

•

91

defend the black c-pawn ; but by threatening both Black can save the g a me. ANSWER:

Black draws with a diagonal march : 1. . . . Kg2 2. hS Kf3 3. Kb3

Ke4! 4. h6 Kd3 5. h7 c2 6. h8/Q c1/Q, and White's checks are useless; o r 3. h6 Ke2 4. h7 c2 and draws.

Diagonal Opposition

An opposition in which the kings are

separated by one, three, or five squares along the same diagonal. It i n cludes diagonal opposition (one square in between the two kings), distant diagonal opposition (three square in between), and long­ distant diagonal opposition (five squares in between). See OPPOSITI O N .

D iagram

A pictorial representation of the chessboard and pieces.

The white pieces usually start at the bottom and the black at the top.

Didactic Position

A position used for instruction. It could be

created, adapted, or taken from real play.

D irect Attack

The placement of a unit in position to capture

another with advantage.

Direct Opposition

An opposition in which the kings are sepa­

rated by one square on a file, rank, or diagonal. Direct vertical opposi­ tion is along a file, direct horizontal opposition is along a rank, direct di agonal opposition is along a diagonal. See OPPOS ITI O N .

Direct Protection

Guarding a unit by moving another one into

position to recapture.

Dis covered Attack

An attack by a piece created when a friendly

Piece moves out of its way. This often results in two si multaneous

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PA N D 0 L F I N I

attacks: one from the stationary unit and one from the moving one. Also called

DI SCOVERY.

Discovered Check gives check. See

QUESTION :

A discovery in which the stationary attacker

D I SCOVERED ATTACK.

W: Kg4 Rd4 BaS PfS

(4)

B:

(1 )

KeS

How can White force mate in two moves?

A discovered check can be quite potent. While the defender must take the time to get out of the stationary unit's check, the moving unit has virtual carte blanche, capturing and threatening with abandon. ANSWER:

It's mate after 1 . Bc3 Kf6 2 . Rd7#. Here the moving unit is

used to close the door.

Discovery

Another name for

D 1 scovERED ATTACK.

Distant Diagonal Opposition

g

A dia onal opposition in

which the kings are separated by three or five squares. See

OPPOSITION .

CHESS

Distant Opposition

TH I N KI NG

•

93

An opposition in which the kings are sepa­

rated by three or five squares on a file, rank, or diagonal. Distant horizontal opposition is along a file, distant vertical opposition is along a rank, and distant diagonal opposition is along a diagonal. See OP POSITI O N .

Divergent Th inking

In chess, multidimensional thinking, not

bound by circumstances, open to sudden shifts in context and view­ point, and drawing upon unexpected moves and resources creatively to solve complex problems. Also called GENT

LATERAL TH I N K I N G .

See

CONVER­

TH I NKING.

D omination

In endgame studies, a tactic by which a piece is

trapped and won by a combination of direct attack and other, indirect, methods that take away all flight squares.

Double a

BATTERY.

To put two pieces of like power on the same line. To form For example, to double rooks on a file.

Double Attack

Two or more attacks stemming from the same

move. Usually, a simultaneous attack against two separate targets either by one unit against two (a

FORK )

or by two against two (a

DISC OVERY) .

D ou ble- B ishop Sacrifice Do uble Bughouse

See

iwo-B 1 s H o P sAcR 1 F 1 c E .

Another name for

BUGHousE.

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Double Check

A discovery in which both the moving and sta­

tionary attackers give check.

QUESTION:

W: Kg1 Qe2 Ne4 Pg2

(4)

B:

(5)

Ke8 Qd8 Bf3 Nf8 Pf7

How should White take the bishop on f3?

Double check is often described as the most powerful move in chess. The only way to get out of it is to move the king. ANSWER:

Why take the bishop? You can mate in one move with 1 . Nf6#.

Double Fianchetto

An opening or defense in which a player

develops both bishops on the flanks.

Doubled Isolated Pawns

Two pawns of the same color on the

same file, neither of which is capable of being defended by a pawn because no friendly pawns occupy adjacent files.

Doubled Pawns

Two friendly pawns occupying the same file and

therefore incapable of protecting each other.

CHESS

Doubled Rooks Double Leap

TH I N KI NG

Two rooks on the same rank or file . A

•

95

BATTERY.

For each pawn, the initial possibility of moving

two squares.

Double-Rook Sacrifice mate at the other end . See

D ouble Threat

The sacrifice of two rooks to exact

IMMORTAL GAM E .

Two different simultaneous threats, not necessar­

ily of the same type or given by the same unit . See

QUESTION:

W: KfS Ra3 Rc2

(3)

B:

(2)

Kd1 Qh4

DOU B L E ATTACK .

How can White force a win?

Most double attacks are really simple forks given by one unit . But a double threat can be another story, involving several friendly units and radically different tactics. ANSWER:

White wins with 1 . Rh2 ! , which sets up the double threat of

taking the queen and mating at a1 . I f 1 . . . . Qd4 (1 . . . . Qxh2 2 . Ra1

+

Ke2 3 . Ra2 + s k ewe rs kin g and q u ee n ) 2 . Ra1 + ! Qxa1 3 . Rh1 + , win ­

n i ng the q u ee n afte r al l .

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Doubling

PA N D O L F I N I

Placing two major pieces on the same rank or file or a

queen and bishop on the same diagonal.

Down

Behind, as in material. Also, toward the enemy, as in "down

the board. "

Down the Exchange

Having only a minor piece against the

opponent's rook.

Down a Pawn

Behind by a pawn. Having one less pawn than

the opponent.

Down a Piece

Behind by a knight or a bishop, not by a queen

or a rook, which would be specifically indicated ("down a rook").

Draw

A chess game that is not won by either player. There are five

ways to draw : agreement, threefold repetition, SO-move rule, insuffi­ cient mating material, and stalemate. In tournament or match competi­ tion each player receives half a point for drawing.

Draw by Agreement

A draw in which one player proposes a

draw and the other accepts.

Draw by I nsufficient Mating Material

See

1 N su F F 1 c 1 ENT

MATING MATERIAL.

Draw by Perpetual Check Draw by Repetition

See

PERPETUAL cH EcK.

A draw by repeati � g the same position

(not the same move) on three separate occasions, not n ecessari ly con­ secutive. The draw must be claimed by the playe r befo re mak ing the

CHESS

move that brings about the third repetition. See RULE

and

TH I N KI NG

•

97

RE PETITI O N O F POSITION

THREEFOLD REPETIT I O N .

D raw by Stalemate

See

STALEMATE .

D raw by the 50-Move Rule

See

Draw by Threefold Repetition Drawing Chance Drawn Game

so-MovE RULE.

See

THREEFOLD REPETITI O N .

A possibility to save a lost game.

A game ending in a draw. See

Drawn Position

DRAWN POSITI O N .

A position in which neither player has real

chances to win. The game should end in a draw if both play the best moves.

Dresden Stonewal l

A type of Stonewall setup, with white

pawns at c4, d3, and e4 vs. black pawns at cS, d6, and eS . Compare to the D UTCH STON EWALL.

Dresden Stonewall Formation Driv i ng Back

See

DRESDEN srn N EWALL.

Forcing a retreat, often by attacking with a pawn .

Driv i ng Off

Another name for

DEFLECT I O N .

Dr iv i ng On

Another name for

ATTRACT I O N .

Du ffer

A weak player. See

FISH.

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Dutch Stonewall

The typical Stonewall setup, with white pawns

at d4, e3 , and f4 vs. black pawns at dS, e6, and fS. See

Dutch Stonewal l Formation Dynamic

See

STO N EWALL.

ouTcH smN EWALL

Active; with mobile forces.

Dynamic Center

A pawn center with tension or that hasn't yet

assumed definite form. It could become any of four different centers : an

OPEN CENTER, CLOSED CENTE R , FIXED CENTER,

Dynamic Factors

or

M O B I LE CENTE R .

Elements that contribute to attack, including

time ( i nitiative and development), mobility, control of open lines and key squares, and healthy pawns capable of vigorous advance.

Dynamics

All aspects of movement and attack taken together.

E

Echo

The recurrence of the same or a similar theme in a single

game. In problem composition, the purposeful imitation of a certain theme in different variations of the same problem, not necessarily by the same color. Commonly, the purposeful or incidental occurrence of the same idea in any two chess situations.

Eclectic

With regard to opening repertoire and style, selecting and

playing dissimilar lines that have no common thread for the sake of variety and interest.

Economy

The achievement of a task with minimum effort and re­ sources. In problem composition, the use of the least amount of force necessary to accomplish the goal with no superfluous material on the board, a necessary ingredient of artistry. 99

1 00

•

Edge

BRUCE

PA N D O L F I N I

Any of the board's four outside rows : the a-file, the eighth

rank, the h-file, or the first rank. Also, an advantage .

Eighth Rank

In algebraic notation, the rank occupied by Black's

pieces in the original position. In descriptive notation, the rank oc­ cupied by the opponent's pieces at the game's start.

Eight-Queens Problem

A famous chess puzzle. The solver

must place eight queens on an empty chessboard so that no queen is in position to capture any other. One of the 92 solutions : queens on b1, d2, f3, h4, a6, c5, e8, and g7.

Element See

A constituent of the overall advantage; one of its aspects.

ELEMENTS .

Elements

The factors that determine which side has the advantage.

There are many elements, but the five fundamental ones are TIME, PAWN STRUCTU RE, MATERIAL,

Elo Rating

and

SPACE,

KING SAFETY.

A method of rating chessplayers developed by Profes­

sor Arpad Elo of the U nited States.

FIDE

uses a slightly modified form of

it for its international tournaments and matches. Also called F I D E RATI N G .

Endgame

The final phase of a chess game, after the opening and

middlegame. See

End i ng

ENDING.

Another name for

ENDGAME,

but it also refers to a specific

endgame position.

Enemy

The opponent, but it's also used adjectivally as in "enemy

attack " or "enemy position. "

CHESS

Enlarged Center

TH I N KI NG

•

1 01

An area consisting of the four middle squares,

d4, dS, e4, and eS, plus the 1 2 squares surrounding them: c3, c4, cS, c6, d6, e6, f6, fS, f4, f3, e3, and d3. It can't hurt to dominate this region.

En Passant

A type of pawn capture. If a pawn is already on its fifth

rank, and an enemy pawn on an adjacent file advances two squares so that both pawns occupy the same rank, the first pawn may capture the second as if it had moved only one square. The option must be exer­ cised on the first opportunity or not at all.

Enveloping Attack

An attack from behind the enemy forces.

Enveloping Maneuver

A redeployment of a piece, either from

the front or flank, to a more aggressive position in the rear.

Epau let Mate

A mate by a queen or rook, in which two possible

escape squares, to the immediate left and right of the mated king, are blocked by the king's own forces. The losing king is usually mated on the edge of the board.

W: Kh2 Qc7 Rh1 Ps g2 h3 B:

Kg8 Q e 3 Rf3 Pg7

(5) (4)

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QUESTION:

PA N D 0 L F I N I

How should Black save his rook?

An epaulet (or epaulette) is the French word for the ornamental shoulder piece on certain military uniforms. In the epaulet mate, the blocking pieces evoke that image. ANSWER:

Don't save the rook. Instead, throw it away to rip open the

seventh rank for an epaulet mate : 1 . . . . Rxh3+ ! 2. gxh3 Qf2#.

En Prise

" In take. " A French term indicating an undefended unit

in position to be captured.

Equal

Even in material and having approximately the same chances

of winning as the opponent.

Equality

A situation in which both sides have roughly the same

chances to win.

Equalize

To reach a position of dynamic equilibrium and/or mate­

rial equality with more or less the same winning chances.

Equ i l ibrium

A balanced position, in which each side's advantages

offset the opponent's and both players have comparable attacking and counterattacking chances. Disturbing the equilibrium can be very risky.

Er ror

A mistake, but not quite as bad as a blunder. Loosely, any

faulty play, whether it loses or merely lets slip the advantage : an over­ sight, miscalculation, misjudgment, getting into time-trouble, not tak­ ing the opponent seriously, etc.

CH ESS

E scape Square

TH I N KI NG

•

1 03

A square to which the king could flee in avoid­

ance of mate, especially against back-rank threats.

QUESTION:

W: Ke6 Ra8 Ne8

(3)

B:

(3)

Kg8 Rg7 Bb2

Should the knight take the rook?

When an escape hatch is created for a castled king by advancing a pawn, the player is "making ANSWER:

LUFT. "

No way. Forget the rook. Mate by 1 . Nf6#. The knight check

usurps the h7 escape square.

Evaluation

In chess analysis, judging or determining the worth of

a move, variation, plan, or position.

Even Exchange Ev en Game

See

EVEN TRAD E .

A game with no material or positional advantages for

either side.

Even

Position

Essentially the same as

EVEN GAM E .

1 04

•

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Even Trade

PA N D O L F I N I

An exchange of comparable material, such as a queen

for a queen, a rook for a rook, or a minor piece for a minor piece. Also, the exchange of dissimilar material of equivalent values, such as a bishop for three pawns, or a rook for a knight and two pawns.

Exchange

An equal trade; also, to trade equal amounts of mate­

rial. THE EXCHANGE, however, is the difference in value between a rook and a minor piece, as in "to win the exchange. "

Exchange Down

Behind by the exchange. Having only a minor

piece for a rook. Also, to trade.

Exchange Sacrifice

To sacrifice a rook for a bishop or knight.

See RUSSIAN EXCHANGE SACRIFICE.

QUESTION:

W: Kg1 Qc4 Rf1 Bc2 Ps d4 g2 h3

(7)

B:

(8)

Kh8 Qb7 Rf8 Nf6 Ps c6 c7 f7 g7

How should White push the attack?

Exchange sacrifices are not uncommon with the defending queen removed from play. Sometimes you have to be daring.

CHESS

A NSWER:

TH I N KI NG

•

1 05

White should sacrifice the exchange, 1 . Rxf6! gxf6, and follow

with 2. Qd3, menacing mate at h7. A possible conclusion is 2. . . . fS 3 . QxfS Kg7 4 . Qg5 + Kh8 5. Qh6 + Kg8 6. Qh7#.

Exchange Val ues

The relative values of pieces and pawns; a

pawn is worth one pawn, a bishop or knight three pawns, a rook five, and a queen nine. Also called

Exhibition

RELATIVE VAL U E S OF THE PIECES.

A game or set of games played for public presentation

and entertainment and not for professional advancement or qualifica­ tion. See

S I M U LTAN E O U S EXH I B IT I O N .

Exhibition Game

A game without official sanction played for

public display and not usually governed by strict tournament rules.

Exhibition Match

A game or series of games played between

two players, possibly for stakes, but not for official distinctions or titles. Also, a similar confrontation between teams.

Exposed King

Generally, a king without proper pawn shields and

therefore subject to attack. Also, a king in an open center and unable to find shelter or castle quickly enough.

F

Fami ly Check

A knight fork that attacks the opposing king,

quee n , and at least one rook. A triple fork. See

ROYAL FORK

or

FAM I LY

FORK.

Family Fork Fast Move

Same as

FAM I LY CH ECK

and

ROYAL FORK.

A forcing move, usually a check, but also any capture

or powerful threat that requires immediate response. See and

Q U I ET MOVE

S LOW MOVE .

Fegatel lo Attack

The Italian name for the

FR1 m

uvER ATTACK

of

the Two Knights Defense, 1 . e4 es 2. Nf3 N c6 3 . Bc4 Nf6 4 . N gS dS 5. exdS NxdS 6 . Nxf7, a line of play po p u l a r with newco m e r s . 1 06

CHESS

Fei nt

TH I N KI NG

•

1 07

A maneuver that seems to threaten one thing so as to gain

time to carry out the real threat somewhere else. Usually it involves faking movement in one direction in order to move toward another. Similar to Reti's

QUESTION :

DIAGONAL MARC H .

W: Kd8 Pa4

(2)

B:

(2)

Kb4 Pf6

How can White play and draw?

White cannot catch the Black pawn directly, for 1. Ke7 is met by 1 . . . . fS . The key is to gain time by first threatening to support the a-pawn. ANSWER:

After 1. Kc7! (seemingly moving away from the f-pawn) 1 . . . . fS

2. Kb6!!, Black must either capture the a-pawn, allowing his own to be overtaken, or continue 2 . . . . f4, when 3. aS f3 4. a6 f2 5. a7 f1/Q 6. a8/Q ends in a drawn position.

Fianchetto A variation of the Italian word for "flank, " used in chess to signify a bishop's development toward the flank (usually g2, g7, b2, or b7) rather than toward the center.

•

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BRUCE

PA N D O L F I N I

F I D E The abbreviation fo r the French Federation I nternationale des E checs, the Wo rld Chess Federation , an i n ternati onal body that gov­ erns the p l ay of the gam e . The

Fl D E Laws of Chess 50-Move Rule

u scF

See

is America's rep resentative i n F I D E .

LAws o F c H E s s .

One of the five ways to d raw a chess game . A

playe r may c l a i m a d raw if 50 moves have been played with out a cap­ tu re or a pawn move . The playe r m u st claim the d raw j u st before maki n g the 50th m ove , or any later move . I f a captu re or a pawn move is p l ayed d u ri n g the i nte ri m , the cou nt m u st start a l l ove r agai n . See

DRAW.

File

A ve rtical row o f sq u a res .

Fi nger-Feh ler TOUCH-MOVE

Finesse

German fo r " fi n ger s l i p . " An obvi o u s m i stake o r

b l u nder.

A s u btle tactic. Al so, to play s u c h a stratagem . See

TACTI ­

CAL F I N ES S E .

Finite

Capable of bei n g dete r m i ned , calc u l ated , meas u red , o r de­

fi n ed , as is chess itself accord i n g to game theo ry. Theo retical ly, if we cou l d see far e n o u g h , eve ry chess situation cou l d be analyzed to its concl u s i o n .

Fi rst Move

W h i te's fi rst play, the move that starts the game .

Loosely, i t ' s also u sed to refer to B l ack's fi rst move response.

Fi rst-Move Advantage starti n g the gam e .

The natu ral i n itiative that Wh ite has i n

CHESS

Fi rst-Move Option

TH I N KING

•

1 09

Fo r each pawn's fi rst move, the choice of

movi n g o n e o r two sq u ares .

Fish

S l a n g for a weak playe r; one who th i n ks he's a lot bette r than

he i s and i s the refo re a prime target fo r chess gam b l e rs and h u st l e rs . See

DUFFER, WOODPU S H E R ,

Fishcake

and

PATZER.

A weak playe r ; a

Five-Minute Chess

FISH .

A fo rm of rapid tran sit chess i n which each

side has but five m i n utes to play the enti re gam e . See

RAPID TRAN SIT

and

SPEED C H E S S .

Fixed

B l ocked o r held i n place, especially referri ng to m utually i m ­

ped i n g white a n d b lack pawn s .

Fixed Center

A center contai n i n g a pai r o f fixed pawn s . The typ i ­

cal plan fo r s u c h centers i s to play t o occ u py you r strongpoints-those sq uares guarded by you r fixed cente r pawn .

Fixed Pawns

Two pawn s-one wh i te and one b lack-faci n g and

bloc k i n g each other on the same fi l e , so that neither can move .

Flag

A tab o r pen d u l u m at the top of a clock face that fal l s to i n d i ­

cate that t i m e h a s expi red . A chess clock has two faces , each with a flag.

Flank

Par t i c u l a rly the two outer rows on either side of the board ;

i n c l u s ively, the adjace n t b i shop fi les as wel l . See

WING.

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BRUCE

Flank Attack

PA N D O L F I N I

An assa u l t on either flan k , often with pawns to d rive

back enemy p i eces that i n fl u e nce the center. In endgames, a roo k attack along the ran k .

Flanking a B ishop Flank Opening

Developi n g a b i s h o p in a

An ope n i n g a l i g n ment i n wh ich the c h i ef featu re

is a fianchettoed b i s h o p . See

Flight Square See

ESCAPE SQUARE

Fool's Mate

FIANCHEno .

HYPERMODERN O PEN I NG

and

I N DIAN SYSTEM.

Any square to which the king can flee fo r safety. and

L U FT.

A q u ick mate with the q u een along the K1 -KR4

d i agonal .

W: Ke1 Qd1 Ra1 Rh1 Bc1 Bf1 Nd2 N g1 Ps a2 b2 c2 e2 eS

(16)

f2 g2 h3

B:

Ke8 Qd8 Ra8 Rh8 Bc8 Bf8 N b8 Ng4 Ps a7 b7 c7 d7 f7 g7 h 7

QUESTION:

H ow d o e s B lack wi n Wh ite's q u ee n ?

(15)

CHESS

TH I N KI NG

•

111

I n a versi o n of the s h o r test game poss i b l e , B l ack mates Wh ite i n two moves : 1 . f3 e S 2 . g4 Q h4# . Fo r Wh ite t o mate B lack comparably it takes th ree moves : 1 . e4 gS 2. d4 f6 3. QhS# . The p reced i ng moves were 1 . d4 Nf6 2. Nd2 e5 3 . dxeS N g4

ANSWER:

4. h3. Now Black has the dead ly i ntrusion 4 . . . . Ne3 ! , when 5 . fxe3 ru n s i nto S . . . . Q h4 + 6. g3 Qxg3#, exploiti n g the e1 - h4 d i agonal . To avo i d th i s mate, W h i te m u st a l l ow h i s q ueen to be capt u red .

Force

Material . Also, to red u ce the opponent to a s i ngle legal o r

practical move beca u se the alternatives a r e u nacceptabl e .

Forced Mate

A mate that can not b e stopped if the attack i s con­

d u cted correctly, n o matte r how accu rate o r resou rcefu l the defense. See MATI NG N ET.

Forci ng

Compel l i ng the respo nse, either because there are no

oth e r moves o r because n o othe r m oves make sense.

Forcing Move

A m ove fo r w h i c h the poss i ble responses are l i m ­

ited a n d determ i na b l e . A forc i n g m ove l eaves no legal or practical choice.

For Free

Without giv i n g u p anyt h i n g i n exchange . It refe rs to cap­

t u r i n g without bei n g recapt u red . See

Forfeit DI RECTO R

Fork

FOR

NOTH I NG .

To l o s e o n t i m e o r b y a penalty i m posed b y the or

TOU RNAMENT

ARBITER.

An attack o n at least two enemy u n its by a s i ngle u n it with a

s i n gl e move . A fo rm of

D O U B L E ATTACK.

112

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PA N D O L F I N I

Forking C heck

A fork i n which one of the attacked u n its i s the

k i n g . A for k that's a l so a check.

QUESTION:

W: Kf6 Bd3 Pg4

(3)

B:

(2)

Kh6 Rd1

Can Wh ite e ke out a d raw?

The best forks are checks because they fo rce the enemy to save the k i ng, w h i c h may resu l t i n the abandonment of the other attacked enemy u n i t . ANSWER:

W h i te does bette r t h a n a d raw with 1 . g S + KhS 2 . Be2 + , a

forking check m i n c i n g the rook .

Fork Trick

A com b i n ation that wi n s a pawn o r trades center pawns

favorably. In a fork trick a pi ece ( u sually a k n ight) i s temporarily sacri­ ficed and then rega i n ed by a s u bseq uent pawn fo r k . An exam ple : 1 . e4 eS 2 . Nc3 N f6 3 . Bc4 N xe4 4. Nxe4 dS .

For Noth ing

A p h rase descri b i n g a one-sided exchange i n which

a player captu res without bei n g recaptu red . See

F O R FREE.

CHESS

Fortress

TH I N KI N G

•

113

I n the endgame, a situation i n which an i n ferior fo rce , by

sett i n g up a defe n s ive wal l or barrier, can p revent a s u pe ri o r force from wi n n i ng the gam e . See

QUESTION :

B I S H O P O F TH E WRONG COLOR

W: Kh1 Q b4 Bg2 N c3

(4)

8:

(3)

Kh6 Qg3 Bd6

and

POSITI ONAL DRAW.

Can Wh ite to p l ay save the game ?

I t ' s t r u l y amaz i n g how an i m p regnable defensive setup can some­ times be real ized from skeletal fo rce s . H e re Wh ite's situation looks hopeless because it seems h e m u st extri cate his q u een and also guard agai n st mate at h 2 . Though it see m s i m poss i b l e , he can salvage a d raw ! ANSWER:

Wh ite d raws b y sacrifi c i n g t h e q u een fo r the b i s hop, 1 .

Q xd6 + ! Qxd6 and fo l lowi ng with 2 . N e4, and Black wi l l be u nable to penetrate Wh ite's fo rtress .

Forward

Toward the opponent's s i d e . The o n ly d i rection i n which

pawns can m ove .

Freeing

Advance

A pawn move that unblocks a c ra m pe d pos i­

tion and releases one's pieces . Often an equalizing move o r the sta rt of meani n gfu l co unterp l ay.

114

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PA N D O L F I N I

Freeing Maneuver

A series of moves to exchange off a c u m be r­

some p i ece or reposition it to i m p rove m o b i l ity. The p rocess may also enhance the scope of seve ral oth e r pieces .

Freeing Move

Either a pawn advance o r piece exchan ge that

gives b reat h i n g space to co nstricted fo rce s .

Fried Liver Attack Friend ly Forces

See

FEGATELLo AnAcK.

The pieces and pawns of one col o r ; one side's

col lective material .

Friend ly Game Front

An offhand game played fo r fu n . See

sKIITLEs.

The war zon e ; the a rea of d i rect confrontatio n , as deter­

m i ned by the placement of the pawn s .

Frontal Attack

A d i rect attack by a roo k o n a passed pawn along

the fi le i n front of the pawn , as opposed to a rear attack from be h i n d . Also, a b l ockad i n g k i n g attack i n front o f a pawn . See

Frontier

REAR AITACK.

An i maginary l i ne divi d i n g the board in half h o rizontally,

separati n g the wh ite side from the black. Also cal l ed term was coi n ed by Aron N i mzovic h .

Frontier Line

See

FRONTI ER.

FRONT I E R L I N E ,

the

CHESS

TH I N KI NG

•

115

B 7 6

Frontier Line

5 4 3 z

a

Front Rook

b

c

d

e

g

h

When rooks are doubled on a fi le or ran k , the fi rst

rook . The front rook is the one capable of captu ring with bac k u p from the other. See BACK ROOK.

Fu l l Move

A move by both White and Black. Either move sepa­

rately is cal led a HALF-MOVE o r a PLY.

Fundamentals

The BAs1cs. N ot j u st the moves and rules, but also

the elementary princi ples of com mendable play.

•

G

Gain a Move

To estab l i s h the same position but with the othe r

playe r t o m ove . To com p l ete an acti o n , seq uence, o r p l a n i n one less move than apparently n eeded o r expected . To fo rce the opponent to waste a m ove . Also cal l ed

Gain a Tempo Gambit

See

GAI N A TEMPO .

GAI N A MovE .

A vol u ntary sac rifice i n the ope n i ng, u s u a l ly of a pawn ,

offered to gai n a positional advantage, b u i l d the i n i tiative , or b l u nt the opponent's attack .

Gambiteer

A special i st i n open i n g gam bits who enjoys playi n g

the m ; often , a wi l d attacker.

116

CHESS

Game

of

the Centu ry

TH I N KI N G

•

117

A game played between Donald Byrne

an d Bobby Fischer ( B l ack) in N ew Yo rk in 1 9S6 when Fischer was o n ly th i rteen years old .

W: Kf1 Qa3 Rd1 Rh1 Bc4 BcS N f3 Ps a2 d4 f2 g2 h2

(1 2)

8:

(1 3)

Kg8 Q b 6 Ra8 Re8 Bg4 B g 7 N c3 Ps a 7 b7 c 6 f 7 g 6 h7

QUESTION:

What b ri l l iant move does Black play?

The game was played i n the Rosenwald To u rnament held at the Mar­ shall and Manhattan Chess C l u b s . The appe l l ation "game of the cen ­ tu ry" was coi n ed b y the theo reti cian H a n s Kmoc h , who, l i ke most peopl e , was enth ral l ed by the gen i u s of the yo u n g Fischer. ANSWER:

Fischer's extrao rd i nary com b i n ation began with 1 . . . . Be6 ! ! .

Play conti n ued 2 . Bxb6 (2 . Bxe6 l oses to 2 . . . . QbS + 3 . Kg1 Ne2 + 4. Kf1 N g3 + S . Kg1 Qf1 + 6. Rxf1 Ne2#) 2 . . . . Bxc4 + 3 . Kg1 N e2 + 4. Kf1 Nxd4 + S . Kg1 N e2 + 6. Kf1 N c3 + 7. Kg1 axb6, and Bobby gets clear mate rial and positional advantages . The game concl uded 8. Qb4 Ra4 9 . Qxb6 Nxd1 1 0 . h3 Rxa2 1 1 . Kh2 Nxf2 1 2 . Re1 Rxe1 1 3 . Qd8 + Bf8 14 . N xe1 BdS 1 S . N f3 N e4 1 6 . Q b8 bS 1 7. h4 hS 1 8 . NeS Kg7 1 9 . Kg1 Bes + 20. Kf1 N g3 + 21 . Ke1 Bb4 + 22 . Kd1 Bb3 + 23. Kc1 Ne2 + 24 . Kb1 N c3 + 2S . Kc1 Rc2# .

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Game Theory

PA N D O L F I N I

A b ranch of mathematics that deals with decision­

maki n g i n con fl i ct situation s .

General Principles

G u idel i nes, maxi ms, r u l es o f th u m b , and

p ractical advice . The same as

PRI N C I PLES.

Geometric Maneuver

A series of m oves that trace a patte rn .

G ive Odds

To start a game with the han d i cap of less material ,

a l l owi n g the opponent extra moves or t i m e , or accept i n g some othe r n o n standard l i m itation o r sti p u l ati o n .

GM

The abbreviation fo r g randmaste r. The official title conferred

by

is

FIDE

I NTERNATI ONAL G RAN DMASTER .

Good Bishop

A bishop that i s u n i m peded by its own pawns and

i s therefo re wel l p l aced , with clear d i agonals fo r attac k . A good bishop i s u s u a l ly opposed by a

BAD B I SH O P .

G rande Combinaison

A com p l ex com b i n ation , b l e n d i n g d i f­

fe rent motifs, often profo u n d , exte n d i n g fo r five moves or more.

G randmaster

A loose refe rence to

I NTERNATIONAL G RAN DMASTER,

h ighest title awarded by the Wo rld Chess Federation

G randmaster Draw

the

(FIDE).

A l ife less d raw in the ope n i n g of early m i d ­

d l egam e . I t ' s cal led a g ra n d m aste r d raw because i t seems t o the u n ­ knowi n g p u b l ic that grand maste rs d raw m a n y o f thei r games i n t h i s man n e r. (Th e re may be reason s fo r such d raws t h a t amateu rs fai l to perceive, b u t sometimes t h ey ' re right . )

CHESS

G reco's Mate

TH I N KI N G

•

1 19

A standard mati n g attack i n i tiated by a bishop sac­

ri fice on h7 (or h2). Also cal l ed

CLAS S I C B I S H O P SACRI F I C E .

W: Ke1 Qd1 Ra1 Rh1 Bc1 Bd3 N b1 N f3 Ps a2 b2 c2 d4 eS

(1 6)

f2 g2 h4

B:

Kg8 Qd8 Ra8 Rf8 Bc8 Be7 N c6 NdS Ps a7 b7 c7 d7 e6

(1 6)

f7 g7 h7

QUESTION:

H ow can W h i te beg i n a wi n n i ng attack ?

G reco's sacrifice req u i res a b i s h o p that can b e sacrifi ced on h 7 (or h2), and at least two, if not th ree o r fou r, s u pporti n g u n its, especially the q u een and the k i n g- k n i ght. ANSWER:

2

.

The wi n n i n g attack goes 1 . Bxh7 + Kxh7 2 . NgS + BxgS (if

. . . Kh8, then 3 . Ng5); 3 . hxgS + Kg6 4 . QhS + KfS 5 . Qh3 + Kg6

6. Q h 7# .

0. ri :, · -

Gueridon Mate

A mati n g position that resemb les a tab le, with

the mate del ive red by a q ueen and the two potential escape squares diagonally beh i n d the mated k i n g b l ocked by its own forces. I t comes fro m the F rench term gueridon, mean i n g pedestal tab l e , and i s the same patte rn as a

SWALLOW'S-TAI L MATE.

H

Half Move

A move by White o n ly or by Black on ly, which i s one

PLY. A FULL MOVE i s a move for both White and Black, which i s two PLY.

Half-Open File

A fi l e , occ u p i ed only by pawns of one color, that

the opponent's maj o r p i eces can use fo r attack .

Half-Pin

A position with two fri e n d ly pi eces o n the same l i ne so

that, if either moved off the l i ne , the other wou l d fi nd itself in a pi n .

Handicap

Usual ly, a mate rial d i sadvantage o r a time d iffe rential at

the start of a game offe red to a weaker playe r to equal ize the chances .

120

CHESS

Hanging

TH I N KI NG

•

1 21

U n p rotected and exposed to capt u re . A related term i s

EN P R I S E .

Hanging Pawns

Two adjacent friendly pawns occu pyi n g the

same ran k , u s u a l ly s u bject to attack b u t someti mes capable of advanc­ ing with advantage .

Head Pawn

The most advanced in any fo rmatio n . A term coi n ed

by Hans Kmoch (1894-1973) i n h i s classic work Pawn Power in Chess .

Heavy Piece Helpmate

A

MAJO R PIECE;

a q u een or a roo k .

A com posed problem i n which Black moves fi rst and

cooperates with W h i te to get mated in a specified n u mber of moves . Also, i n ord i nary chess tal k , an epithet fo r a b l u nder lead i n g to mate , especially if it's the o n l y m ove a l l owi n g mate . See

Heuristics

SELFMATE.

The art of p ro b l e m solvi ng. In chess, the u se of a vari­

ety of tech n iques and method s , such as trial and e rro r and posi n g prob i n g q u esti o n s , t o test certai n moves a n d variations, a n d t o u n ­ earth u sefu l i nfo rmation about t h e positi o n .

1 22

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Hold

PA N D O L F I N I

To s u rvive an attack ; to defend s uccessfu l ly.

QUESTION:

W: Kc1 Bh3 Pd6

(3)

B:

(3)

Kh4 Bc6 Ph2

Can Wh ite h o l d ?

The d i ag ram is from the end of a study by M . S . L i b u rki n . White seem s to be i n d i re straits, b u t a cleve r rejoi nder saves the day. ANSWER:

W h i te holds by the s pectac u l a r 1 . Bg2 ! ! , when 1 . . . . Bxg2

2. d7 h1 + 3 . Kd2 l eads to the promotio n of the d-pawn .

Holding-Off Maneuver

I n t h e endgame, an active defe n se by

a k i n g to p revent the app roach of its cou nte rpa rt.

Hole

A weakness, u s ual ly a square on a playe r ' s th i rd o r fou rth

ran k , that can not be defended by a pawn and is therefo re ideal fo r occu pation by e n e my pieces .

Home Analysis

Open i n g analys i s "cooked u p " before playi ng a

gam e , enab l i ng o n e to ach i eve a certai n des i red position witho ut m uch wo rk at the board . See

PREPARED ANALYS I S .

CHESS

Horizontal Opposition

TH I N KI NG

•

1 23

An opposition i n which the ki ngs l i n e

u p o n t h e same ran k , separated b y o n e , t h ree, or five squares . D i rect ho rizontal opposition has one square between , d i stant hori­ zontal oppos ition th ree squares, and long-d i stant h orizontal opposi­ tion five squares . See

Horizontal Row

OPPOSITI O N .

A

RAN K .

Starti ng from Wh ite's side o f the board ,

the ran ks are n u m be red from o n e to eight.

Hor rwitz Bishops H ung H u rdle

See

RA K I N G e 1 sH0Ps.

Left u n p rotected , as i n " h u ng a pawn . " See

Another n a m e fo r

Hypermodern

EN PRISE.

SKEWE R .

A school o r style advocat i n g seve ral ideas op­

posed to classical p r i n c i ples, mai n ly to control the center i n itial ly from the flan k rather than to occu py it d i rectly. The term was fi rst u sed by Savie l ly Tartakowe r (1 887-1 956) in the 1 920s . See

H ypermodern Defense

I N DIAN .

A defe n se by Black that lets Wh ite set

up a classical pawn center (pawns at d4 and e4) so that it can be underm i n ed with off-center advances s u ppo rted by a fianchettoed bi s h o p . After gai n i ng control of the center, the hype rmodern defender h op es to occu py it with his own force s . See

Hyperm odern Opening

See

I N DIAN DEFENSE.

F LA N K OPEN I N G

and

1 N o 1AN svsTE M .

I

Ideal Mate

A

PURE MATE

reason fo r bei n g there. See

I l legal

i n which eve ry u n i t on the board has a MODEL MATE.

I n violation of the m oves and r u l e s . See

I l legal Move

LEGAL.

A m ove that violates the rules of the game and

therefore can't be played . See

LEGAL MOVE .

I f an i l legal move is played ,

it m u st be retracted .

I l legal Position

A position n ot capab le of occu rri n g i n a rea l

chess gam e . Either the r u l e s wo u l d have to have been b roken or the situation i s logica l l y i m poss i b l e . See 1 24

LEGAL

POSITION .

CHESS

IM

The abb reviation fo r

I m mortal Game

I NTERNATI ONAL MASTE R,

TH I N KI NG

•

a title conferred by

1 25

FIDE.

An offhand game played between Anderssen

(W h i te) and Kieseritz ky in London in 1 8S1 i n which Anderssen sacri­ fic ed his q u ee n and two rook s .

W : Ke2 Qf3 B d 6 N d S NfS P s a2 c 2 d3 e S g4 hS

(1 1 )

B:

(14)

Ke8 Qa1 Ra8 Rh8 Bc8 Bg1 Na6 Ng8 Ps a7 bS d7 f7 g7 h7

QUESTION:

H ow does Wh ite mate in th ree moves ?

The sco re of the game u p to the d i agram : 1 . e4 es 2 . f4 exf4 3 . Bc4 Q h4 + 4. Kf1 bS S . BxbS Nf6 6 . Nf3 Q h 6 7. d3 NhS 8. N h4 QgS 9. NfS c6 1 0 . g4 Nf6 1 1 . Rg1 cxbS 1 2 . h4 Qg6 1 3 . hS QgS 1 4 . Qf3 Ng8 1 S . Bxf4 Qf6 1 6. Nc3 BcS 1 7. NdS Qxb2 1 8 . Bd6 Bxg1 1 9 . eS Qxa1 + 20 . Ke2 . B lack res i gned h e re , but con s i de red playi n g 20 . . . . Na6 (the d i agram) . ANSWER:

Ande rssen wi n s afte r 21 . Nxg7 + Kd8 22 . Qf6 + ! , with mate

n ext m ove on e7.

I n accu racy h ol d a d raw.

A s l i ght error that makes it harder to ach i eve a win o r

1 26

•

BRUCE

PA N D 0 L F I N I

I n-Between Move

A move that i nterru pts an apparently forced

seq uence. A finesse that gai n s t i m e or some other advantage . Also cal led

ZW I S C H E NZU G .

I ndian

A term descri b i n g open i ng setu ps that run counter to trad i ­

t i o n a l p r i n c i p l es by relyi n g o n fianchettoed b i shops, central pawn ad­ van ces of o n l y one sq u are, off-center pawn thrusts , especial ly with the c-pawn , and i n itial ly a l l ow i n g the opponent to establ i s h a classical pawn center. The point of the I n d ian system s i s to u nderm i n e t h i s center and then take it ove r. S e e

HYPERMODERN .

T h e term also refe rs to

any I nd i a n syste m .

I nd ian Defense

Any defense that an swe rs 1 . d4 with 1 . . . . Nf6.

Often Black fol l ows with a fla n k development o n the k i ngside or q ueens i d e , tryi ng to exe rt piece p ressu re aga i n st the white center. See

I N DIAN .

I ndian System

An ope n i n g set u p fo r Wh ite o r Black havi ng the

characte ristics of an I nd i a n defense. See I N DIAN .

I ndi rect

N ot i m med i ate o r obviou s , as in an

I ndi rect Defense

I N D I RECT TH REAT.

Defend i n g a u n it by preventi ng its capt u re

tactical ly o r p ractical ly i n stead of actual ly guard i ng it. An i n d i rect defe nse m i ght req u i re a d i rect cou nterth reat, the re­ moval or d i slodgi n g of the opponent's attac k i n g u n it, the set u p of a clever concealed parry, or the exploitation of an al ready existi ng weak­ ness that becomes vu l n e rable if the opponent routinely fol l ows th rough with h i s own th reat .

I ndi rect Threat

A h idden attack, often p repared o r set u p by

a d i rect o n e ; the p retense of i ss u i n g one th reat only to gai n t i m e fo r anothe r.

CHESS

I nductive Reasoning

TH I N KI NG

•

1 27

I n chess, a method of fo rmu lati ng a st rat­

e gy based on i nt u i t i o n and expe rience with s i m i lar situatio n s by men­ ta l ly tryi n g out moves to determ i n e thei r wo rth . What chessplayers d o, for exa m p l e , when they search fo r cand idate moves . See

omuc­

TI VE REASO N I N G .

I n Front

Ahead of or befo re , especial ly appl icable to pawn s , as in

statio n i n g the king i n front of a passed pawn .

QUESTION:

W: KbS Pc4

(2)

B:

(1 )

Kd7

S h o u l d Wh ite advance the pawn ?

As a r u l e , the k i n g s h o u l d try to clear a path i n front of the passed pawn so that it can then advance with protectio n , convoyed to p romotio n . ANSWER:

White seizes a critical square, 1 . Kb6, a n d t h e pawn can not be

stopped . A pos s i b l e concl u s i o n i s 1 . . . . Kc8 2 . Kc6 Kd8 3. Kb7 Kd7 4.

cs , and the pawn goes in by force .

1 28

•

BRUCE

I nitiative element of

PA N D O L F I N I

The abi l ity to attack and force the play. An aspect of the TIME.

The attacker has the i n itiative, the defender tries to

b l u nt it and seize it.

I nnovation

A n ew move i n an estab l i shed open i n g , defense, or

variation that often has theoretical val u e .

I nnovative

C reative, especially in the ope n i ngs.

I nsan ity Chess

A form of amate u r tou rnament chess played

u nder wi l d and d i ffi c u l t co nditions, i n c l u d i n g rid i c u lously fast time contro l s , i l logical pai r i n gs (such as playi n g the same playe r twice), and com peti n g ove r n i ght.

I nsufficient Mating Material

O n e of the five ways to d raw a

chess gam e . A game is d rawn if neither side has enough mate rial to force mate . The term also refe rs to either side that is u nable to fo rce mate with what's l eft on the board .

I n Tandem

Cooperatively; said of two or more players playi n g as

a tea m , b u t normally not con s u l t i n g . See

I ntangible Advantage

ALLI E S .

Any positional (non material , nonstruc­

t u ral) s u perio rity that co u l d eventually d i s s i pate u n less converted i nto someth i n g co ncrete .

I nterference

The tactic of i nterpos i n g a u n it to cut an enem y

piece's l i ne of powe r, often with a time-gai n i n g th reat .

CHESS

QUESTION:

TH I N KI NG

•

1 29

How can Wh ite wi n a piece ?

I n most i nte rfe rences the key is to bloc k the l i n e with a gai n of t i m e , particu larly b y givi ng a c h e c k . F o r the defender, getting out o f check m u st take precedence over defe n d i n g a piece . ANSWER:

White wi n s the kn ight by i nterfering with the B lack q u een 's

defense by a bishop check at dS . Afte r 1 . BdS + Kh8, White's q ueen can take the k n i gh t.

I nternational G randmaster

The h ighest title awarded by

F I DE,

the World C hess Federation .

I nternational Master MASTER,

The title j u st below

I NTERNAT I O NAL GRAND­

confe rred by the Wo rld Chess Federation .

I nte rpose

To b lock an attack by movi ng a u n i t between the at­

tack i n g p iece and what it's attac k i n g .

1 30

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BRUCE

I nterposition

PA N D 0 L F I N I

A block c reated to s h i eld a fri endly piece, espe­

cial ly the k i n g .

QUESTION:

W : Kd3 Ba2 N c4 Pd4

(4)

B:

(4)

KdS Rh3 Bc6 Pd6

How s h o u l d W h i te get out of check?

Not a l l i nte rpositions are p u rely defen s ive . Some conta i n an element of cou nterattack and even a l ittl e poi so n . ANSWER:

I nterpo s i n g t h e k n ight on e3, Wh ite gets o u t o f check and

i n cidental ly d i scovers mate !

I ntuitive Player

Someone who moves by i ntel l i gent i m p u lse

rather than meti c u l o u s cal c u l ation . A natu ral , who has a good fee l for positio n s ; often a good speed player.

I r regular Opening

A loose exp ression to characte rize ope n i ngs

not begi n n i ng with d o u b l e q ueen-pawn (1 . d4 dS) or double k i n g­ pawn (1 . e4 eS) move s . Not a very h e l pfu l classi fication .

Island

S h o r t for

PAWN 1 s LA N D .

CHESS

lsolani

TH I N KI N G

•

1 31

N i mzovic h ' s term fo r the i solated q ueen-pawn , which can

be a weakness o r a strength , depend i n g on ci rc u m stances . Ofte n u sed to sign ify any isolated pawn .

Isolated D-Pawn Isolated Pawn

See

1 s o LATED Q U EE N-PAWN .

A pawn with no fri e n d ly pawns on adjacent fi les

and therefo re i ncapab le of bei n g d efended by a pawn . U s u a l l y a weakness .

Isolated Pawn Pai r

A weakness : two same-color, adjacent

pawns , one p rotect i n g the other, neither of which can move because the opponent contro l s or occupies the squares i m med iately in front of them . The isolated pawn pai r strives to become

HAN G I NG PAWN S,

when

although it may sti l l be a weak com p l ex it wou l d have greate r potential to advance .

Isolated Queen- Pawn

A special i solated pawn case . U s u a l ly

it's an isolated wh ite pawn at d4, though it co u l d also refe r to an isolated black pawn at d5 . I n the open i n g and m i d d l egame it te n d s to be an asset conferri n g a spatial edge (open files and more room beh i nd the l i nes) wh i l e provi d­ i n g anchor for a central ized k n ight i n the enemy half of the board . But i n the endgame it's a d i sadvantage because it can 't be protected by a pawn .

J

J 'Adoube

A French term that mean s " I adj u st" or s i m p ly "adj u st . "

Any o f those te rms are u sed t o i nfo rm t h e opponent that yo u i ntend to straighten a piece, not move it. It's said i m med iately before touch­ ing the piece i n q u estio n . See

TO UCH-MOVE .

1 32

CHESS

Jettison

TH I N KI N G

•

1 33

To abandon mate rial to save the k i n g or avoi d loss of even

g reater material . Also, the name of the com p u l sory defe n s ive tactic itself.

W: Kg1 Qg7 ReS Ra1 Bc1 Bc4 N b1 Ps a2 b2 d3 f2 g2 h3

(13)

B:

(12)

Ke8 Qd8 Ra8 Rf8 Be7 Nc2 NdS Ps a7 b7 c6 f7 h7

QUESTION :

How s h o u l d W h i te conti n u e ?

If you r k i n g needs i m m ed i ate shelter o r escape you may have to jettison a piece to s u rvive . That was the case in the d iagra m , wh ich stems fro m a game played by Dan i s h s u pe rstar Bent Larsen (1 935-

ANSWER:

).

White wi n s with 1 . RxdS ! , when 1 . . . . cxdS encou nters 2 .

BbS + , a n d B l ack i s fo rced t o j ettison h i s q u een on d 7 .

J udgment

A gene ral eva l u ation not necessari ly based on concrete

an aly s i s but rather on expe rience with s i m i lar situatio n s . See TIV E REASON I N G .

1 N ouc­

K

K

The abbreviation fo r

KB

T h e abbreviation fo r

KB-File KBP

KING.

KING-BISHOP.

The f-fi l e ; descri ptive notation for

The f-pawn ; the abbreviation fo r

KI NG-B I S H O P F I L E .

KI NG- B I S H O P PAWN

i n descri p­

tive notation .

Keep Score Key

To write the moves down .

The correct fi rst m ove of the sol ut i o n to a com posed chess 1 34

CHESS

TH I N KI NG

•

1 35

problem . I f another move also wo rks, the problem i s said to have a

COOK.

Key Opposition squares, lead i n g to a

The opposition between the two outer critical TURN I N G MAN EUVER.

The opposition needed to

ach i eve the goa l , u s ually the occu pation of a critical square . See TION

and

OPPO S I ­

CRITICAL SQUARE S .

•• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• • -.� . 1111.

._ ,, fl!,···· !ii

QUESTION:

W: Kd2

(1 )

B:

(2)

Kc4 PdS

What is Black's co rrect move ?

The opposition i s the tool u sed to fight fo r the critical squares . I n the d i agram the dS-pawn 's critical squares are c3 , d3, and e3 . By tak i n g t h e key opposition B l ack's k i n g i n s u res a wi n n i ng t u rn i n g maneuver. ANSWER:

Blac k plays 1 . . . . Kd4, seiz i n g the critical opposition with the

king between the two outer critical squares, c3 and e3 . The game m i g h t conti n u e : 2. Kc2 Ke3 3. Kd1 d4 4. Ke1 d3 5. Kd1 d2 6 . Kc2 Ke2 and Black promotes n ext move .

key Sq uare

Anothe r name fo r CRITICAL SQUARE.

1 36

•

PA N D 0 L F I N I

BRUCE

Kibitz

A Yi d d i s h word that i n chess means to make com ments to

the playe rs d u ri ng thei r gam e . A

K I B ITZE R

m ight do so afte r the game

as wel l , when it's bei n g analyzed .

Kibitzer

A bystander who makes u n so l icited com m ents on a game

being played by others .

Kick

To d rive back an enemy p i ece, especial ly a m i nor piece, that

has crossed the frontier l i ne , by attac k i n g it with a pawn . As a r u l e of th u m b , d o n 't let enemy pieces stand i n you r half of the board . If you have the time, and the situation a l l ows , d rive them away, " kick" them o u t . See

Killer I nsti nct

PUTI I N G THE Q U ESTI O N TO THE B I S H O P .

The des i re to put the game away once you 've

ach i eved a wi n n i n g positio n . T h i s i s what Bobby Fischer s u pposed ly has i n abu ndance, a n d , ac­ co rd i n g to h i m , either you have it or you don't. Some chessplaye rs are content to get a wi n n i ng game, and then they let down thei r guard , th i n ki n g they 've al ready won .

King

The focu s of the game of chess. Each side tries to checkmate

the othe r side's k i n g . The k i n g moves one square in any d i rection but i s not a l l owed to move i nto check. Abb reviated

King and Pawn Endgame King- B ishop

See

K.

PAWN E N D I N G .

For either side, the b i s hop that starts the game on

the k i ngside-f1 fo r Wh ite a n d f8 fo r B l ac k .

CH ESS

King- B ishop F i le

TH I N KI NG

•

1 37

The f-fi l e , as it i s cal led i n descri ptive notation .

King- B ishop Pawn

For either side, an f-pawn , as it is cal led i n

descri ptive notation .

King F i le King H unt

Descri ptive n otation fo r the e-fi l e .

A series of moves that chase a k i n g aro u nd t h e board

u nt i l it i s mated o r its owner is fo rced to s u rrender gobs of material . See

·

MATING AITACK .

W: Ke1 QhS Ra1 Rh1 Bd3 Ne4 N eS Ps a2 b2 c2 dS f2 g2 h2

(14)

8:

(14)

Kg8 Qe7 Ra8 Rf8 Bb7 Bf6 N b8 Ps a7 b6 c7 d7 e6 g7 h7

QU ESTION:

Does Wh ite mate by tak i n g o n f6 with check?

The d i ag ram comes from a fam o u s game between Edward Las ker (Wh ite) and S i r Geo rge Thomas in London i n 1 91 2 . Afte r 1 . Nxf6 + , th reate n i n g to fol l ow with a captu re o n h7, B lack retakes with the g­ pawn , suddenly a l l owi n g the q u ee n to defend along its second ran k . ANSWER:

1.

.

Las ker's

b ri l l i ant wi n n i ng

move was

1.

Qxh7 + ! ! .

Afte r

. . Kxh 7 Wh ite let loose a ferocio u s k i ng h u n t : 2. Nxf6 + Kh6

1 38

•

PA N D 0 L F I N I

BRUCE

3 . Neg4 + KgS 4. h4 + Kf4 5 . g3 + Kf3 6 . Be2 + Kg2 7. Rh2 + Kg1 8. Kd2# . Yes , 8. 0-0-0 is also mate .

King-Knight File

The descri ptive name fo r the g-fi l e .

King-Knight Pawn

The descri ptive n a m e fo r e i t h e r side's g ­

pawn .

King March

A k i n g maneuve r, often along a critical d iagonal , u p

and/o r across t h e board .

King-Pawn

The descri ptive name for either side's e-pawn .

King-Pawn Game

A game or open i n g begi n n i n g with the two­

square advance of Wh ite's e-pawn , 1 . e4 .

King-Pawn Opening King-Rook File

K I N G-PAWN GAM E .

The descri ptive name fo r the h-fi l e .

King-Rook Pawn King Safety

See

The descri ptive name for either s i de's h-pawn .

The degree to wh ich a k i n g i s safe from attack , largely

determ i ned by the secu rity of shelteri ng pawn s . One of the five m a i n elements o f c h e s s , along w i t h

T I M E , S PACE, PAWN STRUCTU RE,

and

MATERIAL.

CHESS

King's Field

TH I N KI N G

•

1 39

A l l the squares adjacent to the k i n g . U sed as a te rm

in tacti cs to describe general attacks to the k i n g and the s u rrou n d i n g area .

QUESTION:

W: Kb1 QeS Ba1 Nd4 Ps a2 b3 g2 hS

(8)

B:

(7)

Kg8 Qc7 Rc8 Rf8 Ps f7 g7 h7

How can W h i te mate in th ree moves ?

Black's k i n g looks a l l n i ce and cozy beh i nd the cove r of th ree k i n g­ side pawns , but n ow i t ' s Wh ite's m ove . ANSWER:

I t ' s mate afte r detonati n g the k i ng's fi e l d : 1 . Qxg7 + ! ! Kxg7

2. NfS + Kg8 3. N h6# .

Kingside

The half of the board occ u pied by the k i ngs at the sta rt,

cons i st i n g of the e- , f- , g-, and h -fi l e s . I t i s cal led the ki ngside even if the k i ngs eventually wi n d u p on the

QUEENSIDE.

1 40

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BRUCE

PA N D O L F I N I

8 7 6 s 4 3 2

a

b

c

d

e

g

h

Kingside

Queenside

Kin gside Attack A general attack of a n u mber of u n its ai med at the enemy ki ng's positio n , u s u a l ly after it's castled k i n gside.

Kin gside Castl i n g

Castl i n g with the k i ng-rook , toward the h-fi l e .

T h e move i s written " 0-0. " See

Kin g 's Win g

KN

CASTL I N G .

The k i n gs i d e , u s u al ly not cou n t i n g the e-fi l e .

The descri ptive abbreviation for

K N - F i le

Kni g ht

KI NG-KN IGHT.

The descri ptive abbreviation fo r

KI NG-KN IGHT F I L E .

O n e of the six d i fferent types of chess u n its . The move of

the k n i ght rese m bles a capital L.

CHESS

TH I N KING

•

1 41

Each side starts the gam e with two k n ights. White's beg i n on b1 and g1 , B l ack's o n b8 and g8. It's sym bol ized the sym bol for k i n g ,

N

to avoid confu s i o n with

K.

Knight Cor ral

A b i s h o p trap of a knight on the edge . See

Knight Ending

An e n d i n g w i t h k n i ghts and pawn s .

Knight Fork

Any d o u b l e attack by a kn ight. See

CORRAL.

FAM I LY FORK

and

ROYAL FORK.

QUESTION:

W: Kb4 Nd3 Pg2

(3)

B:

(3)

Ka6 Qf6 Pa7

Can White to m ove s u rvive ?

You can 't expect k n i ght fo rks to be se rved to you on a plate . Often yo u have to set them u p . ANSWER:

Wh ite s u rvives a n d then some with 1 . Nc5 + Kb6 2 . N d 7 + , a

devastat i n g k n i ght fo r k .

1 42

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BRUCE

Knight Odds

PA N D O L F I N I

A typ i cal h a n d i cap, i n which the odds giver ( u sual ly

White) starts the game without the q ueen - k n i ght.

Knight on the Rim I s Dim

A max i m adv i s i n g agai n st movi ng . k n i ghts to the edge , where thei r mob i l ity i s red u ced (though it's often n ecessary to move them to the o uter fi les). Someti mes given as "a k n i ght o n the r i m i s g ri m . "

Knights Before Bishops

A n open i n g max i m s u ggesti ng that

the best way to develop the m i no r pieces i s to b r i n g out at least one k n i ght befo re developi ng a b i s h o p . Wh i l e the concept seems to apply to many situati o n s , it's actually a ve ry i nexact p r i n c i p l e that s h o u l d not be app l i ed rigid ly.

Kn ight's Jump Away

An expressi o n sign ifyi ng the le ngth and

shape of a kn ight's move . A u n it that's a k n i ght's j u m p away from a k n i ght i s i n position to be captu red by the kn ight if ci rc u m stances perm i t . Also descri bed as " k n ight's move away. "

Knight's Move Opposition

An oppos ition i n which the ki ngs

are separated by the d i stance of a k n i ght's move . It app l i es i n situati o n s where standard straight- l i n e oppos itions a re not available because fixed pawns block and guard typi cal oppositional squares . See CHET

and

TR E BU­

THEORY O F CORRESPO N D I N G S Q UARES.

Knight's Tour

A puzz l e o r tas k i n wh ich a kn ight i s t o b e moved

ove r an otherwise em pty board , vi siti n g each square on ly once.

KN-Pawn KP

The descri ptive name fo r either s i de's g-pawn .

The descri ptive abbreviation fo r

open i n g d i sc u s s i o n s .

K I N G - PAWN .

Especially u sefu l fo r

CHESS

KR

T h e descri ptive abb reviation fo r

Kriegspiel

TH I NKI NG

•

1 43

KI NG-ROOK.

A fo rm of chess in which players sit at separate boards

and play standard chess without see i n g the i r opponent's move s . The actual moves by both s i des are made on a master board by the arbiter, who says o n ly whether o r not a move i s legal . There is no penalty for play i n g an i l legal m ove . In fact, del i berately i l legal moves are how the players learn the l ocations of enemy pieces .

KRP

The descri ptive abbrevi ation fo r

KI NG-ROOK PAWN .

L

Lateral Thinking

The creative use of knowledge and i n si ght i n

o n e area t o solve a prob lem i n another; non l i near reaso n i n g ; sh ifting perspective to get a fresh viewpo i n t . Chessplayers do t h i s with faci l i ty. Also cal led

D I VERGENT TH I N K I N G .

Laws of Chess applied by

FIDE,

The

See

ANALOGU E

M OVES AND RULES

and

CRITICAL TH I N K I N G .

as official ly sancti oned and

the Wo rld Chess Federatio n . R u l es fo r tou rnament

com petition in the U n i ted States are defi ned by its affi l iate , the Al so cal led

Le gal

uscF.

F I D E LAWS O F C H E S S .

A perm i ss i b l e move o r a position reached via legal moves. A

legal move may be played ; an i l l egal move may not. A legal position may be ach i eved i n a real chess gam e ; an 1 44

I LLEGAL POSITION

may not.

CHESS

Legal Move

A move a l l owed by the

Legal's Mate

TH I N KI NG

•

1 45

LAws O F c H E s s .

A mate with two or th ree m i no r pieces aga i n st an

u n castled k i n g ste m m i n g from an u n p i n n i n g com b i nation , d i scove red by a famous 1 8th-centu ry player named Legal . See

LEGAL'S SACR I F I C E .

An example of Lega l ' s mate occ u rs i n the fol l owi ng game : 1 . e4 es 2. N f3 d6 3. Bc4 Bg4 4. N c3 g6 ? S . NxeS ! Bxd1 6. Bxf7 + Ke7 7. NdS # .

Legal's Sacrifice

An u n pi n n i ng com b i nation . It either entai l s the

sacrifice of a pi ece ( u s u a l ly a b i s hop) with a

S E T U P CH ECK

to be fo l l owed

by an u n p i n n i n g check that rega i n s the p iece ( u s ually the opponent's p i n n i n g b i s hop), o r s i m ply u n p i n s , offe ri n g the q u een with a sti ng : take the queen and fal l i nto Lega l ' s mate .

QUESTION :

W: Kg1 Qd1 Ra1 BgS Nf1 Ps dS e4 f2 g2

(9)

B:

(9)

Kg7 Qe7 Rh8 Bb6 Nf6 Ps c7 d6 eS g6

What s h o u l d Black do about the p i n on h i s kn ight?

Newcom e rs often stu m b l e i nto Lega l ' s sacrifice by deve l o p i n g the q ueen-bi s hOfJ prematu rely to pin the opponent's ki ng-knight. Not a l l pi n s are g reat.

1 46

•

BRUCE

PA N D 0 L F I N I

B l ack s h o u l d u n leash an u n pi n n i ng com b i nati o n , conti n u i ng

ANSWER:

1 . . . . Bxf2 + ! 2 . Kxf2 Nxe4 + , regai n i n g the sacrifi ced bishop with a powerfu l attack . Blac k also wi ns by 1 . . . . Nxe4 !

Lever

A pawn attack at the base of an opponent's pawn chai n . More

often , any pawn advance lead i n g to

Lightni ng Chess

BREAKTHRO U G H

S peed chess. See

Light on the Right Rule

pawn exchanges .

RAPI D TRAN SIT C H E S S .

The rule determ i n i n g the board's

correct placement at the game's start : with a l i ght square in the near co rner at each playe r ' s right.

Light Pieces

B i s hops and k n i ghts . Also cal led

M I N O R PI ECES.

Some­

times, i nexactly, the wh ite p i eces .

Light-Square B ishop

A b i s hop that travel s o n ly on

l ight

squares . For Wh ite, the b i s h o p starti ng on f1 ; for Black, the bishop starti n g on c8 .

Light-Square Game

A game i n wh ich the most des i rable plan

seems to be to contro l , occu py, and i nfl uence the central l i ght squares, especially i nvolv i n g a fianchettoed l ight-square bishop. See

DARK­

SQUARE GAM E .

Light-Square Rule Line

See

L I G HT O N THE R I G H T R U L E .

Any n u m be r of con secutive squares along a ran k , fi le, or

d iagonal .

CHESS

Linear Thinking

TH I N KI N G

•

1 47

Reaso n i n g one-d i mensionally with strict ad her­

ence to seq uence and the attai n ment of a defi n i te goal . What chess­ players do, fo r exam p l e , when solv i n g a posed tactical p roblem with known con seq u ences . See

Line-Piece

LATERAL TH I N K I N G .

Any piece capable of movi n g along a l i ne of squares ;

a q ueen , a roo k , or a b i s h o p .

Liquidate

To exchange, especial ly i n t h e s e n s e o f ridd i ng oneself

of a weakness or p rob l e m .

Liquidation

Exchan g i n g to red uce the i nte n s i ty of you r oppo­

nent's attack and/or s i m p l ify to a s u perior, manageab le en dgam e . The pol i cy of trad i n g to establ i s h clarity.

QUESTION:

W: Kh1 Rb2 Pa4

(3)

B:

(2)

Kh6 Rg4

S h o u l d Wh ite p u s h the pawn or protect it?

I nstead of p rotecti n g an attacked u n it, get rid of the attacker and there may be no need to p rotect .

1 48

•

ANSWER:

BRUCE

PA N D O L F I N I

The best conti n u ation i s 1 . Rh2 + ! KgS 2 . Rg2 , p i n n i n g Black's

roo k and fo rc i n g a trade, afte r which the pawn goes i n to q ueen u n contested .

Little Center

A pos ition i n which a pai r of central pawn s have

been traded so that o n e side has a pawn on its fou rth ran k vs. an oppos i n g pawn on its th i rd ran k . A n exam p l e i s a wh ite pawn at e4 vs . a Black pawn at d6. Whoeve r has the m o re advanced pawn (Wh ite h e re) reta i n s a spati al edge and perhaps the bette r chances , wh i l e the side with the less advanced pawn ( B lack) is con s i d e red to have the l ittle center.

Live Side

I n pawn e n d i n gs , the side of the board closest to the

PROTECTED PASS E D PAWN

o r attac k i n g zone. The

B L I N D S I DE

te n d s to be the

m o re d i stant area, away from the i m med iate fi ght.

Living Chess

An exh i bition chess game between two players o r

teams, u s u a l ly played on a f i e l d o r i n a very large roo m , i n which people d ressed i n costu mes portray the pi eces and move as d i rected by the playe rs .

Long Diagonal

Either o f t h e two longest d iagonal s : a1 -h8 o r a8-

h1 . Loosely, the l o n gest of any two intersecti n g diagona l s .

Long- Distant

Diagonal

Opposition

See

LONG-DI STANT

OPPOSITI O N .

Long- Distant Horizontal Opposition

See

LONG-DI STANT

OPPO S I TI O N .

Long- Distant Opposition

An opposition along a fi le, ran k , or

d i agonal in wh ich the k i ngs are separated by five squares . VERTICAL

OPPOSITION i s a l o n g a fi l e ,

LONG-DISTANT

LON G - D I STANT HORIZONTAL O PP O SITION

is

CHESS

along a ran k , and See

TH I N KI N G

LONG-D I STANT DIAGONAL O PPOS ITI O N

•

1 49

is along a d iago n al .

OPPOSITI O N .

Long- Distant Vertical

Opposition

A l o n g-di stant opposi­

tion along a fi l e .

QUESTION :

W : Kg2 P s c4 d5

(3)

B:

(2)

Kf8 Pd6

H ow does W h i te p lay and wi n ?

I t may seem that W h i te s h o u l d s i m ply charge u p the board and advance the c-pawn , effect i n g an exchange that p rod u ces a passed d­ pawn . B u t that doesn't wo rk because the b l ack k i n g can eventual ly get a mean i n gfu l oppos i t io n . ANSWER:

White wi n s b y tak i n g t h e long-d i stant ve rtical oppos ition with

1 . Kf2 ! . After 1 . . . Ke7 2 . Kg3 Kf7 3 . Kf3 White has the d i stant opposi.

tio n . And after 3 . . . . Ke7 4. Kg4 Kf6 5. Kf4 Wh ite has the d i rect oppos i tion , wh ich i s transferred fu rther u p the board after 5 . . . . Ke7 6 . Kg5 Kf7 7. Kf5 . B l ack m u st then give way and a l l ow Wh ite to outfl a n k h i m : 7 . . . . Ke7 8 . Kg6 Ke8 9. Kf6 Kd7 1 0 . Kf7, fo rci n g the gai n of the d-pawn .

Long- Range Piece

Any l i ne-piece ;

a

q ueen ,

a

roo k, or

a

bishop.

1 50

B RU C E

•

Long Side

PA N D 0 L F I N I

The s i d e of the board with the greate r n u m ber of fi les

fro m a pawn to the edge of the board . See

S H O RT

s 1 DE .

The concept i s partic u l a rly i m portant i n roo k en dgames i n wh ich the roo k m u st be far e n o u g h from the opposi n g king to give a s u ccess­ fu l fla n k attack . Th u s the s u ggestion " m ove you r roo k to the long side . " See

Lose

CHECKING DI STANCE.

To get checkmated , resi g n , fo rfeit on time, or be d i sq u a l i fied

fo r violati n g the r u l e s . In chess com petitio n , a player gets noth i n g fo r a loss and o n e poi n t for a wi n . Each playe r gets half a poi n t on a

Lose a Move

To c reate

zuGZWANG

DRAW.

by m a k i n g it you r opponent's

turn to move , especially at an u n d es i rable moment.

Lose on Time

To fo rfeit a game by fai l i ng to com p l ete a specified

n u mber of moves in the a l lotted t i m e . Th i s i s a facto r i n tou rnament play, where clocks are u sed to keep track of each playe r ' s t i m e .

Losi ng the Exchange

Los i n g a roo k fo r a m i nor piece . See

EXCHANG E .

Lost

Said of a position that s h o u l d lose if the opponent plays cor­

rectly. Also, said of the player with s u c h a pos iti o n , as in "yo u ' re lost . "

Lost the Right to Castle

A ph rase mean i n g that the king has

al ready m oved and can no l o n ger castle. The right to castle i s also lost on either s i d e by movi n g the rook on that s i d e .

Lucena's Position

I n e n d i ngs, a tech n i q u e t o create sh elter fro m

roo k checks . Wrongly attri b u ted t o L u i s Ram i rez Lucena (1 5th-1 6th centu ry), i t was fi rst p u b l i s hed by Alessand ro Salvio (1 575-1 640) .

CHESS

QUESTION :

W: Kf2 Rb8

(2)

B: Kc1 Re6 Pc2

(3)

TH I N K I N G

•

1 51

How does B lack fi nd shelte r fo r h i s k i n g ?

T h e tech n iq u e i s a l so known a s " b u i l d i ng a bridge , " w h i c h i s how N i mzovich refe rred to it. It i nvolves l ifti ng the attack i n g roo k to the fou rth ra n k , where i t can be used to i nte rpose aga i n st enemy rook checks. See ANSWER:

B R I DG E

and

B U I LD I NG A B R I DGE.

B lack wi n s after 1 . Res Rb7 2. Kd2 Rd7 + 3. Kc3 Kc8 + 4. Kd3

Rd8 + 5. Kc4 Rc8 + 6. Rc4-e nd of sto ry.

Luft

A German term mean i ng "ai r" o r, figu ratively, b reath i n g space .

An escape square fo r the k i n g . When you move a pawn to create an escape sq uare in front of you r castled k i n g you " make l u ft . " A way to avoid back-ra n k mate s .

Lust to Expand

A col o rfu l exp ression with which N i mzovich

characterized the val u e of a passed pawn : its need to advance to­ ward p ro moti on .

M

Main Line Major,ty

The pri mary variation , especially i n an open i n g .

Ove r a n y con secutive set o f fi les, a gro u p o f pawns that

outn u m ber thei r enemy cou nterparts . See

Major Piece Make Luft

A qu een or rook . Also cal led a

H EAVY PIECE.

In a castled pos ition , to create an escape hatch fo r the

king by movi n g a pawn . See

Man

PAWN MAJ ORITY.

L U FT .

Any of the 32 chess u n its that con stitute a chess set . A sho rt­

ened vers ion of the sex i st term "chessman . " 1 52

CHESS

Maneuver

TH I N KING

•

1 53

The reposition i n g of a p i ece, u s u a l ly over the cou rse

of several m ove s . Al so, to transfer a piece mai n ly with

Q U I ET MOVES

to

a s u perior square .

QUESTION :

W: Kh1 Ra1 N e7 P s a4 b 3 c 2 d3 e2 f4 f 6 g2

(1 1 )

B:

(9)

Kh8 Ps a5 b4 c3 d4 e3 f7 g4 g3

How can Wh ite mate i n eight moves ?

Of cou rse Wh ite can w i n the above position by b r i n g i n g the kn ight back to wi n a few pawns , b u t checkmate i s so m u c h more fi nal . ANSWER:

I t ' s s i mp l e . Maneuver the wh ite k i n g to a2 (that takes seven

moves) and then use an e i ghth move to mate with the rook at h1 .

Maroczy B ind

A type of pawn position i n which white pawns at

c4 and e4 ( n o d-pawn) restra i n Black's pawns at d6 and e7. The term al so appl i es to a com parable setup with co lors reversed . Named afte r th e H u n garian grand m aster Geza Ma r6czy (1 870-1 951 ) .

Master EL O RAT I N G

An u nofficial title fo r a strong playe r, not necessarily with of 2200 o r m o re . See

NAT I O NAL MASTE R.

1 54

•

Match

BRUCE

PA N D 0 L F I N I

A set of games between the same two playe rs or teams, as

opposed to tou rnaments, i n which each com petito r plays d iffe rent playe rs .

Mate

The end of the game. Short fo r

Material

CH ECKMATE.

Pieces and pawns co l lectively or i n d ividual ly.

Material Advantage

Havi n g more mate rial and a greate r poi nt

cou nt u s i n g the re lative exchange val u e s . See

Material Superiority

The same as

MATERIAL SUPERIORITY.

MATE RIAL ADVANTAG E .

U s u al ly a

decisive facto r.

Mating Attack

A general assau lt aga i n st the k i n g that leads to

mate or s i g n i ficant gai n of materia l .

Mating Material

E n o u g h material t o force checkmate . A typical

m i n i m u m mat i n g force i s a rook , though an extra pawn may be suffi­ cient becau se it can be p romoted .

CHESS

Mating Net

QUESTION:

TH I N KI NG

•

1 55

A position i n which mate is fo rced .

W: Kg1 Ra7 Bb1 Ne5 Pg2

(5)

B:

(5)

Kf8 Rb2 Ba8 Ne8 Ph7

S h o u l d Wh ite's rook take the b i s h o p ?

A d i st i n ction i s m a d e between mati ng attacks and mati ng nets . I n a mat i n g attack mate i s n 't forced because the defender can abandon mate rial to postpon e d efeat. B u t no d efense can stave off a mati ng net. ANSWER:

Why take the bishop when you can force mate ? Wh ite does

so by 1 . Rf7 + Kg8 2 . Bxh7 + Kh8 3. Ng6# .

Meaningfu l Opposition

In ce rta i n endgames, the opposition

that enables either the attacker to ach i eve a wi n n i n g entry or the de­ fen d e r to bar the door to the i nvas i o n . Not eve ry

OPPOSITION

i s des i r­

ab l e or mean i ngfu l .

Men

The 32 pi eces and pawns con s i d e red co l l ectively.

Methodical

I n chess, executi n g a plan in a carefu l , d e l i b e rate

m a n n e r ; systematic .

1 56

•

PA N D 0 L F I N I

BRUCE

Middlegame

The second phase of a chess game, after the open­

ing and before the endgame, characte rized by plan n i n g and maneu­ veri n g , and by tryi ng to ach i eve a smooth tran sition to the endgam e .

Miniatu re

A short c h e s s g a m e that featu res n i ce tactical poi nts .

Also, a com posed p ro b l e m with no more than seven u n its on the board ( i n c l u d i ng the ki ngs) . See

QUESTION :

BRI LLIANCY

and

BREVITY .

W: Ka8 Qe6 N e8 Ps a7 b7

(5)

B:

(2)

Kf8 Pe7

How can Wh i te mate in two moves?

I t was o n ce thought that com posed p roblems have l ittle p ractical val u e because the positions tend to be materially one-sided . Fu rther­ more , the asto n i s h i n g solutions never seem to occu r over the board . Teachers are now reco n s i d e ri n g the i s s u e , reaso n i n g that the atyp ical situatio n s posed by p ro b l e m s and especially stud ies can sti m u l ate the student's c reativity. ANSWER:

W h i te wi n s with the u nderp romotion 1 . b8/N ! After 1 . . . . Kxe8

the p ro b l e m concl udes with 2. Q g8# .

.

CHESS

Mining Operation

TH I N KI N G

•

1 57

A pawn advance to engage enemy pawn s ,

lead i ng t o a trade a n d t h e ope n i n g o f a fi l e . A term u sed b y N i mzovich .

Minor Exchange

A term s i g n i fyi ng the s l i g ht mate rial edge a

b i s hop has ove r a k n i ght. You w i n the m i nor exchange if yo u gai n a bishop fo r a k n i ght.

Minority Attack

An assault by seve ral pawns agai nst a larger

gro u p of pawn s , atte m pti n g to i nfl i ct weakn esses that can then be attacked by pieces .

Minor Pieces Mobi le Center

B i s hops and k n i ghts .

The same as

Mobile Pawn Center

MOBILE PAWN CENTE R .

A center with two con nected pawn s , u s u ­

a l l y al igned on the i r fou rth ran k , opposed b y a s i ngle enemy pawn , u s u a l ly on its t h i rd ran k , when the u n i ted pawns have the poss i b i l ity of advanc i n g .

Mobi l ity

Freedo m of movement. T h e n u mber o f squ ares and/o r

optio n s avai lable to a p i ece . An aspect of

S PAC E .

1 58

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BRUCE

Model Mate

PA N D 0 L F I N I

A pro b l e m composition term : a p u re mate i n which

there are n o extraneous o r s u perfl uo u s u n its or function s and i n wh ich a l l of the attacker's u n its (in some cases except i n g the king and pawns) are req u i red . See

QUESTION:

CLEAN MATE, PURE MATE,

and

I D EAL MATE.

W: Ka1 Qh1 Rg1 B b4

(4)

B:

(2)

Kc2 Bd1

How does Wh ite mate in two moves ?

T h i s is a version of a p rbblem p u b l i shed by P. H . Wi l l iams i n 1 897. I ts art see m s removed from actual game positions, s i n ce Black prob­ ably wou l d have resigned a long time ago . ANSWER:

The key i s 1 . Rg4 . If 1 . . . . b i s hop moves, then 2 . Qb1 # ; if

1 . . . . Kc1 , then 2 . Rc4 # ; if 1 . . . . Kb3 , then 2. Qxd1 # ; and if 1 . . . . Kd3 , t h e n 2 . Qe4 # .

CHESS

Monster Chess

TH I N KI NG

•

1 59

A teac h i n g tec h n i q u e , developed by B ruce Al­

berston , i n wh ich students p ractice maki n g captu res in seq uence, lead i ng to the removal of the enemy king. Monster pawn i l l u strates the use of the pawn ; M o n ster b i s h o p shows how to captu re with a bishop; Monste r rook with a roo k , etc.

W: Pb2

(1 )

B:

(1 6)

Kh2 Qg1 Re3 Rf2 BgS Bf4 Ps g7 h6 Nd8 f8 Ps a3 b4 a5 b6 c7 e7

QUESTION :

What i s the ri ght seq u e n ce for capt u r i n g eve ryt h i n g ?

Don't apply t h e ru les o f standard chess i n attempti ng t o solve t h i s problem . I n Monster chess pawns may captu re backward a n d may move to the back ran k and then retu rn the other way, and the k i n g i s allowed t o stay i n check . Moreover, Wh ite's k i n g c a n be absent. ANSWER:

Starting from b2 the pawn goes to a3 to b4 to aS to b6 to c7

to d8 to e7 to f8 to g7 to h6 to gs to f4 to e3 to f2 to g1 to h2 .

Move

A tu rn fo r either s i d e , or a turn for both sides. A tu rn fo r

one side is m o re p recisely cal led a a

F U L L MOVE .

HALF MOVE

Al so, to make a move . See

PLY.

and a tu rn fo r both sides

1 60

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BRUCE

PA N D O L F I N I

Move on Move

A fo rm of s peed chess i n which each player

responds to the opponent's m ove i n stantly. The games can be q u ite exciti ng.

Moves and Rules

The l aws of the gam e ; how to play the game ,

b u t not how to p l ay it wel l .

Mysterious Rook Move

A roo k move to a closed fi le o r ran k,

which seems to make no sense beca u se the rook's line of attack i s b l ocked . B u t the player h a s fo reseen a poss i b i l ity for attack or deter­ rence and wants to be p repared . A term coi ned by N i mzovich .

QUESTION:

W: Kg1 Rf1 Bg2 Ps a2 b3 c4 e2 f2 g3 h2

(10)

B:

(9)

Kg8 Rb4 Ba6 Ps a4 a7 c7 e6 g7 h7

How can W h i te defe nd h i s q ueen side pawn s ?

The above position comes from the game Vaganyan-Noguei ras , Montpe l i e r 1 985 . If Wh ite plays 1 . Rb1 B l ack can cou nter 1 . . . . Bxc4 becau se W h i te's b-pawn i s pi n n ed ; and 1 . bxa4 leaves a l l the q ueen­ side pawns v u l n e rab l e .

CHESS

ANSWER:

TH I N KI N G

•

1 61

White holds with the myste rious roo k move , 1 . Ra1 ! , when

1 . . . . axb3 2 . axb3 sudde n ly opens the a-fi le fo r rook cou nte rplay. Vaganyan eventually won after 2 . . . . Bb7 3 . Bxb7 Rxb7 4. Kf1 as S . Ke1 Kf7 6. Kd2 axb3 7. axb3 Rxb3 8. Rxa5 Rb2 + 9. Kd3 Ke7 1 0 . h4 Rb3 + 1 1 . Kc2 Bb7 1 2 . f3 Kd6 1 3 . hS h6 1 4 . Ra8 c6 1 S . Kc3 Rf7 1 6 . Kd4 eS + 1 7 . Ke4 Re7 1 8 . Ras Re7 1 9 . RxeS (1 -0) .

N

N

Abbreviation for

K N I G HT.

National Master chess o rgan izatio n . See

NN

U sually the h ighest title awarded by a national I NTERNATI ONAL MASTER.

An abb reviation that i nd i cates a player whose name is not

known , someti mes u sed in the sco re of an exh i b ition game agai n st an amate u r.

1 62

CH ESS

Noah 's Ark Trap

TH I N KI N G

•

1 63

I n the Ruy Lopez (1 . e4 es 2. Nf3 Nc6 3 . BbS)

a fam o u s trap of the Wh ite ki ng-b ishop by Black's q u eenside pawn s .

W: Kg1 Qd4 Ra1 Rf1 Bb3 Bc1 N b1 P s a2 b 2 c 2 e4 f2 g2 h2

(14)

B:

(14)

Ke8 Qd8 Ra8 Rh8 Bc8 Be7 Nf6 Ps a6 bS c7 d6 f7 g7 h7

QUESTION:

H ow can B l ack play and wi n a piece ?

Starti n g from the Ruy Lopez the d i agram i s reached after 3 . . . . a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 S . 0-0 d6 6 . d4 bS 7. B b3 exd4 8 . Nxd4 Nxd4 9. Qxd4 . Actual ly, s i m i lar traps can occ u r in oth e r ope n i ngs, but the most fam i l i a r devel­ ops in th i s open i ng . ANSWER:

B l ack wi n s a p iece with 9 . . . . cs , a n d when Wh ite retreats the

quee n , then 10 . . . . c4, s n a ri n g the b i s h o p .

Notation

NP

Any method for record i n g the moves of a chess game .

The descri ptive abbreviation for k n i ght-pawn , which has partic u ­

lar uti l ity i n the classification o f certai n e n d i ngs.

0

Objective

Bas i n g moves, eval uatio n s , and deci sions on the actual

facts and c i rcu mstances and not on personal considerations or for arbitrary reaso n s . See

S U BJ ECTIVE.

Obl ique Opposition Obstruct

Anothe r name for

RECTANGULAR oPPo s 1 T 1 0 N .

To fo rce an enemy u n it to a partic u l a r squ are so that no

other enemy u n it can u se the sq u a re o r pass across it.

Obstruction

A piece o r pawn that b l ocks the movement of an ­

other piece. Also, the name of the tactic.

Occupation

D i rect p l acement of a pi ece o r pawn on a specific

square. Also, abso l u te contro l of a fi l e . 1 64

CHESS

Odds

See

TH I N KI N G

•

1 65

HAN D I CAP.

Offhand Games

Games played without tou rnament conditions.

Friend ly, casual games p l ayed fo r fu n . See

One-Mover

SKIITLES.

A p roblem that can be solved in one move . Also, a

d i rect th reat with an obvio u s poi nt, as i n a "one-move th reat . "

QUESTION:

W: Kg1 Qf8 Ra4

(3)

B:

(1 )

Kg3

H ow can W h i te mate i n one move ?

Some one-movers are so u nexpected that they escape o u r notice . But they ' re there, wait i n g to be m i ssed . ANSWER:

It's a l l over after 1 . Qa3 # .

Open Board

A board with few o r no obstructi ng pawn s , allowi ng

pieces to traverse it easi ly.

Open Center

A center u n b l ocked by pawn s .

Open centers a re con d u cive t o s u d d e n attacks , s o development and

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PA N D O L F I N I

k i n g safety are i m portant. Afte r castl i ng, it's usually u nwise to move the pawn s i n front of the k i n g , because the u n blocked center offe rs poss i b i l ities for fast mat i n g attacks.

Open F i le

A fi le devo i d of pawns. Sometimes a half-open fi l e i s

descri bed as "ope n " for the p l aye r a b l e t o u se i t .

Open Game

A game o r open i n g i n which a t least a pai r o f center

pawns have been exchanged , so that movement t h rough the center is poss i b l e . Open games nat u ral ly develop from the begi n n i n g moves 1 .

e4 e5 . Also cal l ed

Openi ng

OPEN POS I T I O N .

The begi n n i n g p hase of a chess game, usually last i n g 1 0

o r 1 5 moves, someti mes longer. Development, contro l o f t h e center, k i n g safety, and the fight fo r the i n i tiative are its paramount concern s .

Opening Line

A variation i n any ope n i ng .

Opening a File

General ly, cleari ng a fi le for you r own use by

exchangi ng away a pawn blocking it. An action partic u larly h e l pfu l to rooks.

Opening Repertoire

T h e set o f open i n g l i nes fo r White and

B l ack that a player reg u larly uses.

Openings

The moves by both sides at the begi n n i ng of a game

that h ave been analyzed and played so often that they have become standard .

Open Line

A ran k , fi l e , or d i agonal u nobstructed by pawns .

CHESS

Open Position

TH I N KI NG

•

1 67

The type of pos ition l i kely to arise from an

OPEN

GAM E .

Open Tou rnament

A tou rnament open to players of any

strength who are m e m bers of the gove r n i n g chess fede ratio n .

Opposite-Color Bishops

Also cal l ed Opposite- Colored Bi­

shops. See B I S H OPS OF OPPOS ITE COLORS.

Opposition

In endgames, a

zuGZWANG

relation s h i p between op­

pos i n g k i n gs that confers an advantage on the playe r not on the move . If the ki ngs " stan d i n oppositi on , " whichever moves is at a d i sadvan­ tage because i t m u st give gro u n d . The k i n gs u se the opposition in the i r fight to control a passed pawn's

CRITICAL SQUARES.

The attack i n g

k i n g "takes t h e oppositi on , " tryi n g t o occ u py a critical sq uare, a n d the defe n d i n g king tries to " keep the oppositi o n " to p revent the enemy king from occu pyi n g that critical square o r others. In standard oppos i ­ tion s (vertica l , ho rizontal , o r d i agonal ; a n d di rect, d i stant, a n d long­ di stant), the ki ngs occu py squares of the same co lor separated by one, th ree , or five squares along the same fi l e , ran k, or d i agonal . See OPPOSITI O N , DI STANT OPPOSITI O N , DIAG O NAL OPPOS ITI O N ,

and

D I RECT

RECTANG U LAR

OPPOSITI O N .

Oppositional Field

The i nterrelation of eve ry pos s i b l e opposi ­

tio n , taken i n series, exte n d i n g across t h e enti re board . T h u s , a player with the long-di stant opposition can convert it to a d i stant oppos ition as the opponent's king approaches, and then to a d i rect oppos ition if the k i n g steps even closer. See

OPPOSITI O N .

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PA N D 0 L F I N I

Original Position

The i n itial placement of the board and ar­

ran gement of fo rces at the begi n n i n g of a game . See

Outflanking

In endgames with fixed pawns, a flan k i nvasion by

one k i n g aga i n st the othe r, u s u a l ly to gai n material .

QUESTION:

ARRAY.

W: l