Kindred’s Special: The Mad Queen and Her Bishop Pair Beat the Drums

The square count theory I developed in my youthful teens, forged in the study of Grandmasters, their openings, of stimulating fights by amateurs of the highest tactical skill was portrayed on the board of 64-squares. My library and love of such research far out weighs the modern computer for all it’s many benefits.  I love the written word! The dashing drama unfolding in pages filled with the unknown.  Every time I pick up a book, read before or not, gives me goose bumps. Of course this includes many topics other than chess; I find it builds strong character and enriches my spirit.  As my reminder to readers about square count covered in my earlier articles in the last lesson, I discovered two very pretty examples with the theme given this writing.  Study and enjoy!  Practice may well enable you to pull off such beauty in your own battles.  Chess, being in many ways a type of reflection of Life itself, reaffirms the Lasker view: “Chess is, above all else, a struggle.”

Taken from French Defence adventures!

1. e4  e6  2. d4  d5  3. e5  c5  4. c3  Nx6  5. Nf3  Qb6 6. Bd3  cxd4  7. cxd4  Bd7  8. O-O!  Ncxd4  9.  Nxd4  Qxd4   10. Nc3  a6  11. Re1  Bb4  12. Be3  Qh4  13. g3  Qd8.

Skipping around the board and pocketing a bit of wood along the way, the Queen finds herself back home.

14. Qg4  Bf8  15. h4  f5?  16. exf6 e.p.  Nxf6.

Black must be exuberant developing this Knight and attacking the Queen. I had said elsewhere that a King whose own pieces block escape from attack is likely to be deadly poison.  This proves it as the King is in for a lightning bolt shocker.

17. Qg6+!! 

A pretty sacrifice since the Queen must be captured.

17. … hxg6  18. Bxg6+  Ke7  19. Bc5 checkmate!!!!

Trivia question:  The winner was ?  (A) Tal   (B) Fischer   (C)  Keres   (D)  Dr. Euwe  (E) Masked Man  (F)  Not listed

The next game is an example for Black to triumph. Afterall, I have to remain colorblind! and fair to both sides.

1. e4  e6  2. d4  d5  3. e5  c5  In My System  Aron Nimzowitsch key opening lesson in theory was: “Attack a ” Pawn chain ” at it’s base.

4. c3  Nc6  5. Nf3  Qb6  6. Be2  Nh6?!  7. b3  Here, White misses a chance to disrupt the pawn structure on the K-side.  7. Bxh6 gxh6  8. Qd2  Bg7  9. O-O.  Queens should avoid pawn grabs in the opening.  What might happen when greed takes control and the Queen goes pawn grabbing? Lets analyze.  If now the Queen  goes pawn hunting with 7. … Qxb2, White saves the Bishop with 8.  Bc1  Qxa1 9. Qc2  cxd4  10. Bb5  Bd7  11. Bxc6  bxc6  12. Nfd2, or; 10. …dxc3 11. Nd4! traps her. It is not always prudent to play passively defensive moves.

7. … cxd4  8. Bxh6?!  A bad choice; correct is 8. cxd4.

8. … gxh6  9. cxd4  Bb4+ 10. Kf1  f6!  Pawn exchanges will open lines and the f-file promises a strong initiative for Black.

11. exf6  O-O  12. a3  Bd6  13. Nc3  Rxf6  14. Na4 Qc7  15. b4  Qf7.  Relocating the Queen to the K-side as it will become the field of attack.

16.  Rac1  e5  17. Rxc6  bxc6  18. dxe5  Rxf3 19. Bxf3  Bxe5  20. Nc5  Bf5  21. Be2?  No real point.  Necessary is probably 21. g4 so the King has an escape to g2.

21. …a5!  22. Qa4  Qg6  23. h4  No good is 23. bxa5 because of ….Rb8.

23. … Bd4  24. Nb3  Bd4  25. f3  Bc2  A pin is “mightier than the sword” in chess.

26. Rh3  Rae8  27. h5   Qd3!!  And White is stuck between a rock and hard place!  White surrenders as after for example, 28. Bxd3  Bxd3 checkmate.

My lesson is to instruct on the value of understanding the squares and how they interact toward achieving a just result.  Like in battles of war, the importance of terrain cannot be overly emphasized.  So, too, in chess–the squares play a silent but important role in carrying out the strategies of the parties.

For my newest readers and or students, please review the numerous lessons shown in 2007 on.