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Shelby Lyman on Chessmmnmmmmminmmnmimmnwmrn iiii tmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm —Be alert to opening principles in game(Diagram 1)HLAtkX6 N6 86 6 X 8X NX XXQR QN Q6K KB KN KRDiagram 2)BLACK*6 N6 86 6 X 8X NX XXQR QN QBK KB KN KR(Diagram 3HLAtkX6 n6 86 6 X 8X NX XXQR QN QBK KB KN KR* HJTK* HU E* HI I EThe player alert to opening principles in particular and structural principles in general can avoid disaster on the one hand and visit it on his opponent on the other hand ... if he is lucky. For even genius itself can fail sometimes to sense an inobvious danger.It is essential during ail phases of the game to notice weaknesses of squares, vulnerability along diagonals, pins or potential pins and other danger signs.For example, look at the opening moves 1) P-Q4, P-Q4; 2) P-QB4, PxP(the Queen’s Gambit Accepted); 3) P-K3, P-QN4? (black is unwisely trying to preserve the gambit pawn); 4) P-QR4, P-QB3; 5) PxP, PxP? (black is oblivious to the vulnerability of his rook.)(DIAGRAM 1)White can now play Q-B3 and black must lose at least a piece. Notice, incidentally, that the rook is the only unprotected piece in the initial position of every chess game; this fact is the basis of a family of chess combinations.Another well-known example occurs in the King’s Gambit Declined after 1) P-K4, P-K4; 2) P-KB4, B-B4. If now PxP?? (failing to see that black can immediately exploit the exposed white king and unprotected white king pawn),(DIAGRAM 2)black wins. How? Answer 3) . . . Q-R5 check and its all over. If K-K2, for instance, black mates prettily in one move with QxP; if P-KN3, QxP check wins the rook.Our third position features the hideous “Noah’s Ark” trap. I call it “hideous” because white seems to be playing so naturally. But an unspeakable punishment follows his natural act; he loses a piece. After the following moves we reach diagram three: 1) P-K4, P-K4; 2) N-KB3, N-QB3; 3) B-N5. P-QR3; 4) B-R4, P-Q3; 5) P-Q4 the (“natural” move), P-QN4; 6) B-N3, NxP; 7) NxN, PxN; 8) QxP?? (probably the best try is P-QB3, sacrificing a piece), P-QB4; and white must lose his bishop. For example, if 9)Q*Q5,DIAGRAM 3)then . .. B-K3; 10) -Q-B6 check. B-Q2; 11) Q-Q5, P-B5; and the bishop is trapped.Believe it or not, the last trap, though ancient by chess standards arid thus a feature of numerous basic texts, has been recorded twice in world Olympic chess play.Although a trap-oriented style produces a relatively low level of chess strategy, the alertness required by the constant presence of danger in chess play is anintegral demand of creative chess struggle.LYMANISM Like the proverbial hunter, the chess player must see the trees for the forest as v.ell as the forest for the trees. Yon pawn structure like yon copse of trees may contain a concealed danger or a concealed prey.Copyright 1973 by Shelby Lyman(Shelby Lyman wiU from time to time answer readers’ questions aboout chess in this column but he cannot promise to answer all inquiries. Address your questions to Shelby Lyman, Paddock Publications, P. O. Box 280, Arlington Heights, 111. 60000.
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Wheeling Herald
Wheeling, Illinois, US
Fri, Mar 23, 1973
Page 39
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CA, USA 26 Dec 2022
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