Black's Disposal
The only defense at Black's disposal is P-g6, but this move helps
only temporarily. White can force the mate within a few moves in
different ways. One would be the following:
(2) Kt-h6+ K-g7
If the King goes to h8 White mates by Q-f6.
(3) Q-f6+ Kxh6
(4) B-g5+ K-h5
(5) P-h3
and the mate through P-g4 cannot be protected.
Another way would be:
(2) Q-h6 Pxf5
(3) B-f6
and the mate through Q-g7 cannot be protected.
The position of Diagram 26 enables another mating attack for
White, demonstrating the possibility of mating with Bishop and
Knight in the middle of a game, which occurs oftener than one
would be inclined to think. White can play (1) B-f6 instead of Q-
g5 as suggested above.
Black cannot take the Bishop as White would continue Q-h6 with
Q-g7 mate. Neither can Black play P-g6 as then White would mate
right away with Kt-h6. The latter mate with Knight and Bishop
White can force, even if Black does not move the Pawn g7 but
makes some other indifferent move, as for instance Qxc2.
White would then make the surprising move Q-h6, allowing Black to
take the Queen. In doing so, however, Black again enables the mate Kt-h6.
The only move which Black could try in answer to (1) B-f6 is P-
h6, preventing the Queen from occupying g5. Now Qxh6 would not be
feasible as after Pxh6 White does not mate with Ktxh6, but leaves
the square h7 open to Black's King.
+---------------------------------------+
8 | #R | | #B | #Q | | #R | | #K |
|---------------------------------------|
7 | #P | #P | #P | #P | ^Kt| #P | #P | #P |
|---------------------------------------|
6 | | | | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
5 | | #Kt| | | ^R | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
4 | | | | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
3 | | | | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
2 | ^P | ^P | ^P | ^P | | ^P | ^P | ^P |
|---------------------------------------|
1 | ^R | | ^B | ^Q | | | ^K | |
+---------------------------------------+
a b c d e f g h
DIAGRAM 27.
However, White wins easily through (2) Ktxh6+. If Black takes the
Knight, White mates with Qxh6 and Q-g7. If Black does not take
but plays K-h7, White goes back with the Knight to f5, again
threatening Q-g5 and Qxg7. (3) ..., R-g8 is of no avail, as (4)
Q-g5 threatens mate of h5 which can only be prevented by either
P-g6 or a move with the Rook, after which White mates by either
Q-h6 or Qxg7.
It remains to show some examples of the cooperation of Rooks with
other pieces. Diagram 27 shows one of the positions in which the
beginner is frequently caught.
+---------------------------------------+
8 | | | #R | | | | #K | |
|---------------------------------------|
7 | ^R | | | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
6 | | | | | | | | #P |
|---------------------------------------|
5 | | | | | | | | ^P |
|---------------------------------------|
4 | | #B | | | ^Kt| | | |
|---------------------------------------|
3 | #P | | | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
2 | ^K | | | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
1 | | | | | | | | |
+---------------------------------------+
a b c d e f g h
DIAGRAM 28.
|
