The next step will be to find out under what conditions it is possible to gain a man and when it will be possible to avoid loss.  To understand the attacking and defensive maneuvers involved it is necessary first to become acquainted with the different ways in which the various pieces can be made to do some useful work, where their strength lies and where their weakness, and how they are able to cooperate.  Not before all this is clear to the beginner—­in the outlines at least—­will he be in a position to play a sensible game or even to understand the most elementary strategic principles.

The reader is therefore urged to study carefully the next chapter in which the characteristic features of the different men are discussed.  In this way he will much more quickly arrive at a fair playing strength than by relying on the experience which he may gain in playing a great number of games, trying to find out everything for himself instead of profiting by the knowledge which has been gathered by others in centuries of study.

HOW THE DIFFERENT MEN COOPERATE

There are two kinds of elementary attack.  One when a single man attacks two or more hostile men at the same time; the other when more men are brought up to attack an opposing man than can be mustered for defense.  The beginner, as a rule, makes attacks with the sole aim of driving away a hostile piece; it is clear that these attempts will in most cases be futile as they generally allow the attacked piece to move to another square just as or perhaps more favorable.  The advantage of attacking two men at once is evident in that probably only one of them can be saved.  The advantage of bringing up more men for attack than can be gathered for defense is not less obvious, but will be found more difficult to carry out.  Using both methods of attack in conjunction is the secret of the successful cooperation of the men.

In the following diagrams simple illustrations are shown of elementary cases of such attacks.  These positions often occur in games of beginners on account of their placing the men on unfavorable squares.  In studying them the eye of the beginner will become accustomed to dangerous formations of the pieces and he will be able to foresee similar threats in his games.

+---------------------------------------+
8 | #R |    |    |    | #K |    | #Kt| #R |
|---------------------------------------|
7 | #P | #B | #P |    | #B | #P | #P | #P |
|---------------------------------------|
6 |    | #P | #Kt| #P |    | #Q |    |    |
|---------------------------------------|
5 |    |    |    |    | #P |    |    |    |
|---------------------------------------|
4 |    |    | ^B |    | ^P |    |    |    |
|---------------------------------------|
3 |    |    | ^Kt| ^P | ^B | ^Kt|    |    |
|---------------------------------------|
2 | ^P | ^P | ^P |    |    | ^P | ^P | ^P |
|---------------------------------------|
1 | ^R |    |    | ^Q |    | ^R | ^K |    |
+---------------------------------------+
a    b    c    d    e    f    g    h

Diagram 20.