character than that of the pieces, in consequence of the latter’s greater mobility.  When we have made a rash move with a piece, to which our attacking disposition may have tempted us, we may still have a chance of retrieving the position by timely retreat.  Once a pawn has moved it cannot turn back, and only after the greatest deliberation should we embark on changes in our pawn formation in order not to disturb the balance of this “static element” of the game.  But we shall see that the pawn skeleton which was formed in the opening often weathers the storm and stress of the middle game, and frequently preserves its character right up to the end-game.  I will therefore make pawn formation my starting-point in an attempt to show the way through the maze of the openings on the basis of general strategical principles.

If our pawn skeleton is to promote the freedom of all the pieces, we must not build it up with the narrow view of developing minor pieces only, but must consider from the very first in which way it will enable the Rooks to get into action.  We can unite these tendencies in making the centre of the board the main field of action for all our forces.  This means for both sides K4 and Q4, and also in a lesser degree QB4 and KB4.  We shall get a clear insight into the positional advantage of having command of the centre later on, when discussing the middle game.  At present I will only touch the subject in a general way, explaining it in an elementary form, which will be sufficient to develop an understanding for pawn strategy in the opening.  In the course of further deductions, after the grasp of this difficult stage of the game has become stronger, I will go into details which will allow the subject to be stated in a more precise form.

Placing the pieces in the centre is of value, because there they have more mobility than near the edge, which, of course, limits their range of action, and also because from the centre a concentration of forces on a given point can generally be effected in the quickest way.

In most cases two centre squares become inaccessible at once, through the opponent placing one of his pawns in the centre; therefore it would seem a good plan to lure that pawn away, and this is rendered feasible by playing P-K4 or P-QB4 when the opponent has a pawn on his Q4, and P-Q4 or P-KB4 when he has a pawn on K4.  In the following we will consider such manoeuvres as could apply either to White or Black, from the point of view of White, to whom the initiative is, as pointed out above, a sort of birth-right.  Naturally, should White lose a move, as, for instance, 1.  P-K4, P-K4; 2.  Kt-KB3, Kt-QB3; 3.  P-QR3? the position is reversed, and Black is bound to obtain the initiative which is White’s birthright.

The pawn moves mentioned above also have the tendency of giving the Rooks an opportunity for action.  A Rook standing behind an advanced pawn may support its further advance, or, if the pawn should be exchanged, might get an open file.