Hide Article Text (OCR)
ChessRook pawn is chronic diseaseAs chess is rapidly absorbed into the culturalmainstream of America, it is finding a natural home in the educational curriculum. Courses in chess are being of* fered for academic credit in many universities and secondary schools.Looking ahead, one of my “colleagues” announced that the subject of his P.H.D. dis-s e r t a t i o n would be “The Queen Rook Pawn.” He was immediately warned that his chosen subject was too broadfor appropriate academic investigation. After seme thought, he presented his revised topic: “The Queen Rook Pawn at Rook Two for Blackin the Context of Russian National Character after the Fis-cher-Spassky Match.”Along with its other implications, this anecdote is illustrative of the fact that rook pawns are low in merit in the value hiearchies of chess players. An extra rook pawn by itself is usually insufficient material advantage for a win.(See Diagram 1)Doubtlessly, a substantial number of our readers are acquainted with the pcsilions given in diagram one. In sec-tion I. the white king cannot escape from the comer, since his only try, 1) K-R8, K-Bl 2) P-N7 is obviously a stale-tomate. In section II. althoughwhite has not been cornered, black has just as effectively blocked the advance of the pawn with his own king. Again, attempts to exploit the extra rook pawn end in stalemate, i.e., 1) K-N6, K-Nl; 2) P-R7 check. K-Rl; 3) K-R6 stalemate.(See Diagram 2)White would have cause tor special frustration, if we added a bishop to either one of our two positions. In diagram two white is a bishop and pawn ahead and cannot win, because the bishcp is of the color opposite to the queening square, QR8. The only way for white to force the black king from the corner is toknock it off the board.(See Diagram 3)Conditioned to expect a draw by previous experiences with king and rook pawn en-d g a m e s , white routinely aceded to the draw in the position (Slage - Ayers, Berlin 1921; given in diagram three He unimaginatively marched his king along the second rank and captured black’sifrook pawn. His opponent, following the path indicated in the diagram, arrived at B2 in time to achieve the drawn position of diagram one. Section 1.White could have won, if instead he had marched toward the center (with no loss oftime) as he moved toward the RP. The correct path would have been K6, Q5, B6, N7. The arrival of the white king at Q5 on move two would shoulder the black king out (he wculd lose a move in his progress toward B7) and the drawn position of diagram one would not be reached. Play through the position until vou understand it “in yourI 1 hS B *fingers.” As in our last column, the white king demonstrates a prowess in moving in two directions at once.Copyright 1973 bv Shelbv IvmaniDiagram 1’HLM K* HIT!(Diagrom 7)BUCKDiagramBLACK1 HI II
Newspaper Details
Pomona Progress Bulletin
Pomona, California, US
Sun, Jun 17, 1973
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Los A.
CA, USA 26 Dec 2022
Other Publications Near Pomona, California
Pomona Progress Bulletin
Progress Bulletin
