14.  P-KR3

Now the square at KKt3 is unprotected, and this is serious in view of a probable Knight’s ending, where, moreover, it will sooner or later be necessary to play P-KKt3 in order to support the KBP.  Both the KKtP and KBP would be weak, with the King on the other wing, and be under constant threat of being captured.  The game does proceed as indicated, and the simple and logical manner in which Marshall brings home his advantage in a very short time shows convincingly how fatal a shattered pawn position can be for the end-game.  Instead of the move in the text, White should have played BxB followed by Kt-B3, which would have completed his development without making another pawn move.

14. ...  BxB 15.  KtxB QR-Q1 16.  KR-KI RxR 17.  RxR QKtxP 18.  KtxKt KtxKt 19.  P-KKt3 P-KR3

making a loophole for the King.  In this case the move is correct, as the threat of mate ties the Black Rook to his rank.  It is wrong to make a loophole, as weak players are fond of doing, as early as possible “in case,” before it is shown that there will be a need for it, or that there will be a Rook ending.

          20.  P-R3

White is afraid of playing 20.  QxP on account of Kt-Kt5, which threatens KtxBP followed by Q-QB3. 21.  QxP would not be a sufficient defence because of Q-B4 threatening mate, and on the other hand 21.  Q-R4 would conjure up a dangerous attack, beginning with P-QKt4.  When the players castle on different wings, there is always the danger of the opponent sacrificing pawns and opening up files for his Rooks and Q against the castled King.  The game then assumes a wild character, and as matters are generally settled one way or another in the middle-game, end-game considerations, both with regard to number and position of pawns, can be disregarded.  Experience has shown that the player who develops his attack first is likely to win, and that it is of little use to submit tamely to an assault of this kind without attempting a counter attack.

Such games are very difficult for the beginner to understand.  There is about them something violent and difficult to estimate, and years of practice are necessary in order to gain the judgment required for weighing up the possibilities of attack and counter attack, where the Kings have castled on opposite wings.

20. ...  P-R3 21.  R-Q1 Kt-B3 22.  QxQ RxQ 23.  RxR PxR 24.  Kt-Q4 Kt-K5 25.  Kt-K2 K-B1

The Black King now pushes forward irresistibly, and attacks the weakened pawns on the King’s wing.  The White King cannot get any nearer, as a check by the Black Kt would win a pawn at once.  The end is easy.

26.  P-B3 K-K2 27.  K-B2 K-K3 28.  P-Kt3 Kt-B7 29.  Kt-Q4ch K-B3 30.  P-KR4 P-KR4

Now the P at Kt3 is “backward” and therefore lost.