Chess and Checkers : the Way to Mastership eBook

Edward Lasker
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 158 pages of information about Chess and Checkers .

Chess and Checkers : the Way to Mastership eBook

Edward Lasker
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 158 pages of information about Chess and Checkers .
32        31        30
+---------------------------------------+
|    | oo |    |    |    |    |    |    |29
|---------------------------------------|
28 |    |    |    |    | ** |    |    |    |
|---------------------------------------|
|    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |21
|---------------------------------------|
20 |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |
|---------------------------------------|
|    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |13
|---------------------------------------|
12 |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |
|---------------------------------------|
|    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |5
|---------------------------------------|
4 |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |
+---------------------------------------+
3         2        1

Diagram 88.

With one King entrenched in the double corner it takes two Kings to force the win.  In the position of Diagram 89 for instance White would win as follows: 

          Black White

(1) ... 19-24 (2) 32-28 23-19 (3) 28-32 24-28 (4) 32-27 28-32 (5) 27-31 19-15 (6) 31-26 15-18 (7) 26-31 18-22

In the ending three kings against two kings the most favorable spots for the weaker player are the two double corners; but the three Kings will always win when handled right.

32        31        30
+---------------------------------------+
|    | ** |    |    |    |    |    |    | 29
|---------------------------------------|
28 |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |
|---------------------------------------|
|    |    |    | oo |    |    |    |    | 21
|---------------------------------------|
20 |    |    | oo |    |    |    |    |    |
|---------------------------------------|
|    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    | 13
|---------------------------------------|
12 |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |
|---------------------------------------|
|    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    | 5
|---------------------------------------|
4 |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |
+---------------------------------------+
3         2        1

Diagram 89.

The method which has to be employed will be evident from the play in Diagram 90.  In order to win Black must exchange one King; the position is then reduced to that of Diagram 89.

32        31        30
+---------------------------------------+
|    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |29
|---------------------------------------|
28 |    |    | oo |    |    |    |    |    |
|---------------------------------------|
|    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |21
|---------------------------------------|
20 |    |    | ** |    |    |    |    |    |
|---------------------------------------|
|    |    |    | ** |    |    |    |    |13
|---------------------------------------|
12 |    |    |    |    | ** |    | oo |    |
|---------------------------------------|
|    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |5
|---------------------------------------|
4 |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |
+---------------------------------------+
3         2        1

Diagram 90.

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Chess and Checkers : the Way to Mastership from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.