Chapter 9
Endings of Games - Continued
END GAMES WITH THE KING AND PAWNS AGAINST THE KInG AND PAWNS.
A FEW examples, in which each party is left with his King and one or more Pawns. must conclude our Observations on the Endings of Games.
THE KING AND A PAWN AGAINST THE KING AND A PAWN.
When each side has a single Pawn, and both are able to Queen at the same time, the battle is mostly drawn. It
In this position you will win, notwithstanding Black plays first in consequence of your Pawn giving Check at the moment of becoming a Queen, ex. gr. : -
From this you may learn the importance of observing the relative positions of the Kings, when you are advancing a Pawn to Queen.
THE KING AND TWO PAWNS AGAINST THE KING AND A PAWN.
Although the two Pawns commonly win. there are very many cases where the game can only be drawn, especially when the single Pawn is on a Rook's file, and is opposed to an adverse Pawn on the same file, supported by the Kt.'s Pawn, as in the annexed Diagram, No. 48. In this case, whichever party plan's first, the game is drawn, and the same result occurs whether the B. King stands on his R.'s, Kt.'s, or B.'s square. Suppose you begin : -
In the following (see Diagram No. 49) the game must also be drawn, whether White or Black begins : -
And you must either abandon the Kt.'s P., or give Black Stale-mate.
VARIATION A.
And he is Stale-mated.
VARIATION A.
And the same is drawn.
The next Diagram (No. 50) exhibits a position from which White wins : -
Variation A.
THE KING AND TWO PAWNS AGAINST THE KING AND TWO PAWNS.
Although the forces here are exactly equal, many instructive cases arise, where, from an apparently trifling advantage of position, one party may win. Take the following (see Diagram No. 51) for example.
Here White, having the move, must win : -
Let us suppose Black to begin : -
The foregoing examples should suffice to afford you a tolerable insight into the movements and powers of the Chess-men individually, and prepare you to understand the more complex invaluations arising from the operation of these several forces when in combination altogether. Before advancing a step further, however, you are strongly recommended to play over the whole of the previous lessons carefully many times. When thoroughly master of the information they contain, and not till then, you may proceed to the study of the Openings.