Part 62
_White._ _Black._ 1. Q-B 6, ch Q-Kt 2 Q-B 6, ch Or this; 1. --------- 2. Q-K 8, ch Q-Kt’s Q-Kt 2
When the abbreviation “ch.” is placed after a move, it means “check.” If it is a mate, or a drawn game, or the player resigns, the word follows the move. When the King castles with the King’s Rook, which is the shorter move for the Rook, it is indicated by the sign O-O. When the King is castled with the Queen’s Rook, which is the longer move for the Rook, the sign O-O-O is used.
A cross, x, placed after the piece moved shows that it captured something, and the letters following the cross do not give the square to which the piece is moved, but show the piece that is captured. K B x Q P, for instance, would mean that the adversary’s Queen’s Pawn was to be taken from the board, and the King’s Bishop was to occupy the square upon which the captured Queen’s Pawn had stood.
Beginners usually have some difficulty in following the moves of the Knights, because it frequently happens that the same square can be reached by either of them. The Bishops cannot be confused in this way, because they never change the colour of the square they stand upon. In some sets of chessmen the Knights are distinguished by putting a small crown on the King’s Knight, but this is never done in the regulation Staunton model. The beginner will find it very convenient, when following out the play of published games, to screw off the bottom of one white and one black Knight, and to exchange the bases. The white King’s Knight will then have a black base, and the black King’s Knight will have a white base, and they can be easily identified at any period of the game.
_=GERMAN NOTATION.=_ Many of our standard chess books, and some of the best edited chess columns, are in German, and the student should be familiar with the German notation, which is much simpler than the English.
The white men are always considered as the side nearer the player; the vertical columns are designated from left to right by the letters a b c d e f g h; and the horizontal rows by the numbers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8, beginning at the bottom, or white side. The pieces are designated by one capital letter only, as follows:--
K for König, or King. D for Dame, or Queen. T for Thurm, or Rook. L for Läufer, or Bishop. S for Springer, or Knight.
The Pawn is called a Bauer, but when it is moved no initial is given, simply the square it comes from. In Diagram No. 12, for instance, the English notation for the first two moves made by white would be:--P-K 4, and K Kt-B 3, or, Kt-K B 3. The German notation would be:--e 2-e 4; and S g 1-f 3. The move of the Knight, it will be observed, gives the initial of the piece and the square upon which it stands, and then the square to which it is moved. A capture is indicated by the letter “n” taking the place of the dash. If the white Knight took the black King’s Pawn in Diagram No. 12, for instance, the move would be recorded: S f 3 n e 5, that is, the Springer at f 3 “nimmt” whatever it found at e 5. A check is indicated by a plus sign, +, following the move. In Diagram No. 11, for instance, the last move of the white Queen would be: D e 8-c 6 +; and Black’s reply would be: D b 8-b 7.
_=THE OPENINGS.=_ Time and experience have shown that it is best for each player to adopt certain conventional openings, in order to develop his pieces. White always has the advantage, usually believed to be equal to 55%, counting drawn games as one half. This is because White can usually take more risks in offering a gambit than Black can in accepting it, and the best judges say that they would rather give a Knight and take the white pieces, than give Pawn-and-move and take the black. _=Gambit=_ is a term used in Italian wrestling, and means that the adversary is given an apparent advantage at the start, in order more successfully to trip him up later on.
There are a great many chess openings, all of which have been analysed as far as the tenth move, including every possible variation on the way. The student who wishes to study them in detail should procure Freeborough’s “Chess Openings,” or Cook’s “Synopsis.” In these works, if either side has an advantage before the tenth move, it is indicated by a plus sign; if the position is equal, it is so marked.
In studying openings, the student should be careful always to play with the winning side next him; that is, never study how to play a losing game. If the variation ends with a plus sign, showing a win for the white, play it over with the white men next you. In selecting openings for general use in play, if it is one for the white men, take those openings that have the greatest number of variations ending in favour of white. The Ruy Lopez is a very good opening for beginners, and the Evans’ Gambit may be studied later. The French Defence and the Petroff are good openings for Black.
The theory of opening is to mobilise your forces for the attack in the fewest possible moves. Lasker thinks six moves should be enough for this purpose, and he recommends that only the King’s and Queen’s Pawns should be moved, after which each piece should be placed at once upon the square from which it can operate to the best advantage. He thinks the Knights should be first brought out, and posted at B 3, and then the K’s B, somewhere along his own diagonal. The great mistake made by beginners is that they rush off to the attack and try to capture some of the adverse pieces before they have properly prepared themselves for re-inforcement or retreat. It should never be forgotten that the game is not won by capturing the adversary’s pieces, but by check-mating his King.
Take the board and pieces, arrange them with the white men next you, and play over the following simple little game. Remember that the figures above the line are for the white men; those below for the black.
P-K4 Kt-KB3 Kt-QB3 B-B4 1 ---- 2 ------ 3 ------ 4 ----- P-K4 P-Q3 P-KR3 B-Kt5
The third move made by Black accomplishes nothing, and is simply a waste of time. He should have continued by bringing his Knights into play. His fourth move is also a mistake; he should develop the Knights before the Bishops.
KtxP BxKBP ch Kt-Q5 mate 5 ---- 6 -------- 7 ---------- BxQ K-K2
On his fifth move, Black jumps at the chance to win White’s Queen, but this is not of the slightest benefit to him, because the object of the game is not to win the Queen, but to mate the King. At the seventh move the beginner will see that the black King cannot move out of check, neither can he move into check by taking the Bishop. He has no piece that can capture the Knight that gives the check, and nothing can be interposed, so he is mated, and White wins.
Here is another simple little game. Take the black pieces this time, but make the white men move first, of course.
P-K4 Kt-KB3 KtxP 1 ---- 2 ------ 3 ------ P-K4 Kt-KB3 Kt-QB3
You don’t take the King’s Pawn; it is much more important to develop your pieces rapidly.
KtxKt P-Q3 B-Kt5 4 ----- 5 ----- 6 ----- QPxKt B-QB4 KtxP
White’s sixth move is bad, and you immediately take advantage of it. If he takes your Knight with his Pawn, you will take his K B P with your Bishop, and say “Check.” If he takes the Bishop you win his Queen. If he moves his King you check again with your other Bishop, which will force him to take your black Bishop, and lose his Queen.
BxQ K-K2 7 ------ 8 ---------- BxP ch K-Kt5 mate
If the beginner will examine the position, he will find that there is no way of escape for the King, and Black wins.
Openings are usually divided into five principal classes: Those in which the first piece developed is the _=King’s Knight=_; those in which the _=King’s Bishop=_ is the first piece brought into play; those in which a _=Gambit=_ is offered on the second move, usually a sacrificed Pawn; those which are called _=Close=_ openings, securing a good defensive game for the black pieces; and those which are _=Irregular=_.
In the following outline of fifty of the openings, only the first four moves are given, and usually only one variation is selected, the object being more to give the student an idea of the development than to exhaust the subject. The arrangement is alphabetical, that being more convenient in a book of reference. For the continuations the student is recommended to study “Freeborough,” or the “Handbuch des Schachspiels.”
Allgaier Gambit:--
P-K4 P-KB4 Kt-KB3 P-KR4 1 ---- 2 ----- 3 ------ 4 ----- P-K4 PxP P-KKt4 P-Kt5
Boden-Kieseritzky Gambit:--
P-K4 B-B4 Kt-KB3 Kt-B3 1 ---- 2 ------ 3 ------ 4 ----- P-K4 Kt-KB3 KtxP KtxKt
Berlin Defence:--
P-K4 B-B4 Q-K2 P-QB3 1 ---- 2 ------ 3 ------ 4 ----- P-K4 Kt-KB3 Kt-QB3 B-B4
Blackmar Gambit:--
P-Q4 P-K4 P-KB3 KtxP 1 ---- 2 ------ 3 ------ 4 ----- P-Q4 PxP PxP B-B4
Calabrese Counter Gambit:--
P-K4 B-B4 P-Q3 P-B4 1 ---- 2 ----- 3 ------ 4 ---- P-K4 P-KB4 Kt-KB3 P-Q4
Centre Gambit:--
P-K4 P-Q4 QxP Q-K3 1 ---- 2 ----- 3 ------ 4 -------- P-K4 PxP Kt-QB3 B-Kt5 ch
Centre Counter Gambit:--
P-K4 PxP Kt-QB3 P-Q4 1 ---- 2 ----- 3 ------ 4 ------ P-Q4 QxP Q-Q sq Kt-KB3
Classical Defence, to K. B. opening:--
P-K4 B-B4 P-QB3 P-Q4 1 ---- 2 ---- 3 ------ 4 ---- P-K4 B-B4 Kt-KB3 PxP
Cunningham Gambit:--
P-K4 P-KB4 Kt-KB3 B-B4 1 ---- 2 ----- 3 ------ 4 ------- P-K4 PxP B-K2 B-R5 ch
Cochrane Gambit:--
P-K4 P-KB4 Kt-KB3 B-B4 1 ---- 2 ----- 3 ------ 4 ----- P-K4 PxP P-KKt4 P-Kt5
Danish Gambit:--
P-K4 P-Q4 P-QB3 B-QB4 1 ---- 2 ----- 3 ----- 4 ------ P-K4 PxP PxP Kt-KB3
English Opening:--
P-QB4 P-B4 P-Q3 Kt-QB3 1 ----- 2 ---- 3 ------ 4 ------ P-QB4 P-B4 Kt-KB3 P-Q3
Evans’ Gambit:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 B-B4 P-QKt4 1 ---- 2 ----- 3 ---- 4 ------- P-K4 Kt-QB3 B-B4 BxKtP
Evans’ Gambit Declined:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 B-B4 P-QKt4 1 ---- 2 ------ 3 ---- 4 ------ P-K4 Kt-QB3 B-B4 B-Kt3
Fianchetto Opening:--
P-K3 P-QB4 Kt-QB3 PxP 1 ---- 2 ------ 3 ------ 4 ------ P-K4 Kt-KB3 P-Q4 KtxP
Fianchetto Defence:--
P-K4 P-Q4 B-Q3 Kt-K2 1 ------ 2 ---- 3 ----- 4 ------ P-QKt3 P-K3 B-Kt2 Kt-KB3
Four Knights:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 Kt-B3 B-Kt5 1 ---- 2 ------ 3 ----- 4 ------ P-K4 Kt-QB3 Kt-B3 B-Kt5
French Defence:--
P-K4 P-Q4 Kt-QB3 B-KKt5 1 ---- 2 ---- 3 ------ 4 ------ P-K3 P-Q4 Kt-KB3 B-K2
From Gambit:--
P-KB4 PxP PxP Kt-KB3 1 ----- 2 ----- 3 ----- 4 ------ P-K4 P-Q3 BxP Kt-KB3
Giuoco Piano:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 B-B4 P-B3 1 ---- 2 ------ 3 ---- 4 ----- P-K4 Kt-QB3 B-B4 Kt-B3
Greco-Counter Gambit:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 KtxP P-Q4 1 ---- 2 ------ 3 ------ 4 ------ P-K4 P-KB4 Q-B3 P-Q3
Hamppe-Allgaier Gambit:--
P-K4 Kt-QB3 P-B4 Kt-B3 1 ---- 2 ------ 3 ----- 4 ------ P-K4 Kt-QB3 PxP P-KKt4
Hungarian Defence:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 B-B4 P-Q4 1 ---- 2 ------ 3 ---- 4 ------ P-K4 Kt-QB3 B-K2 P-Q3
Irregular Openings:--
P-K4 P-QB3 Kt-B3 KtxP 1 ---- 2 ----- 3 ----- 4 ------ P-K4 P-Q4 PxP B-Q3
P-K4 P-Q4 B-Q3 P-QB3 1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------- P-Q3 Kt-KB3 Kt-QB3 P-K4
P-K4 P-Q4 PxP B-Q3 1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------- P-QB3 P-Q4 PxP Kt-QB3
P-K4 P-Q4 PxP P-KB4 1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------- Kt-QB3 P-K4 KtxP Kt-Kt3
Jerome Gambit:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 B-B4 BxP ch 1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------- P-K4 Kt-QB3 B-B4 KxB
Kieseritzky Gambit:--
P-K4 P-KB4 Kt-KB3 P-KR4 1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------- P-K4 PxP P-KKt4 P-Kt5
King’s Bishop’s Gambit:--
P-K4 P-KB4 B-B4 K-B sq 1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------- P-K4 PxP Q-R5 ch B-B4
King’s Bishop’s Pawn Game:--
P-KB4 Kt-KB3 P-K3 B-K2 1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------- P-K3 Kt-KB3 B-K2 P-QKt3
King’s Knight Opening. Irregular Defences:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 KtxP Kt-KB3 1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------- P-K4 P-KB3 Q-K2 P-Q4
P-K4 Kt-KB3 Kt-B3 P-Q4 1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------- P-K4 Q-B3 P-B3 PxP
P-K4 Kt-KB3 B-B4 P-Q4 1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------- P-K4 B-Q3 Kt-KB3 Kt-B3
P-K4 Kt-KB3 KtxP P-Q4 1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------- P-K4 B-B4 Q-K2 B-Kt3
King’s Gambit:--
P-K4 P-KB4 P-Q4 K-K2 1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------- P-K4 PxP Q-R5 ch P-Q4
P-K4 P-KB4 P-KR4 PxP 1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------- P-K4 PxP P-Q4 QxP
P-K4 P-KB4 Kt-KB3 B-B4 1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------- P-K4 PxP P-KKt4 B-Kt2
P-K4 P-KB4 P-KR4 Kt-KB3 1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------- P-K4 PxP B-K2 Kt-KB3
King’s Gambit Declined:--
P-K4 P-KB4 PxQP Kt-QB3 1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------- P-K4 P-Q4 QxP Q-K3
Max Lange’s Attack:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 B-B4 Castles 1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------- P-K4 Kt-QB3 B-B4 Kt-B3
Muzio Gambit:--
P-K4 P-KB4 Kt-KB3 B-B4 1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------- P-K4 PxP P-KKt4 P-Kt5
Petroff’s Counter Attack:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 KtxP K-KB3 1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------- P-K4 Kt-KB3 P-Q3 KtxP
Philidor’s Defence:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 P-Q4 KtxP 1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------- P-K4 P-Q3 PxP P-Q4
Pierce Gambit:--
P-K4 Kt-QB3 P-B4 Kt-B3 1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------- P-K4 Kt-QB3 PxP P-KKt4
Queen’s Pawn Counter Gambit:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 PxP P-Q4 1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------- P-K4 P-Q4 B-Q3 P-K5
Queen’s Gambit:--
P-Q4 P-QB4 P-K3 BxP 1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------- P-Q4 PxP P-K4 PxP
P-Q4 P-QB4 P-K4 P-Q5 1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------- P-Q4 PxP P-K4 P-KB4
P-Q4 P-QB4 Kt-KB3 P-K3 1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------- P-Q4 PxP P-K3 Kt-KB3
Queen’s Pawn Game:--
P-Q4 P-K3 Kt-KB3 B-K2 1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------- P-Q4 P-K3 Kt-KB3 B-K2
Ruy Lopez:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 B-Kt5 B-R4 1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------- P-K4 Kt-QB3 P-QR3 Kt-B3
Salvio Gambit:--
P-K4 P-KB4 Kt-KB3 B-B4 1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------- P-K4 PxP P-KKt4 P-Kt5
Scotch Game:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 P-Q4 KtxP 1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------- P-K4 Kt-QB3 PxP B-B4
Sicilian Defence:--
P-K4 Kt-QB3 Kt-B3 P-Q4 1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------- P-QB4 Kt-QB3 P-K3 PxP
Staunton’s Opening:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 P-B3 P-Q4 1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------- P-K4 Kt-QB3 P-B4 P-Q3
Steinitz Gambit:--
P-K4 Kt-QB3 P-KB4 P-Q4 1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------- P-K4 Kt-QB3 PxP Q-R5 ch
Three Knights’ Game:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 Kt-B3 P-Q4 1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------- P-K4 Kt-KB3 P-Q3 PxP
Two Knights’ Defence:--
P-K4 Kt-KB3 B-B4 Kt-Kt5 1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------- P-K4 Kt-QB3 Kt-B3 P-Q4
Vienna Opening:--
P-K4 Kt-QB3 P-B4 Kt-B3 1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------- P-K4 B-B4 P-Q3 Kt-KB3
Zukertort’s Opening:--
Kt-KB3 P-Q4 P-K3 B-K2 1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 -------- P-K3 Kt-KB3 P-QKt3 B-Kt2
_=GAMES AT ODDS.=_ Between unequal players it is a common practice for the stronger to give the weaker some advantage. Very few are able to give a Queen, or even a Rook, but a _=Knight=_ is quite common, and one who can concede a Knight to the weakest players in a club is usually spoken of as, “a Knight player.” The most common odds between nearly equal players is _=Pawn and Move=_; and with a player not strong enough to give a Knight, _=Pawn and Two Moves=_. The Pawn removed in each instance is Black’s K B P, and the Knight is usually the Q Kt. Here are a few examples of the openings in games at odds:--
Pawn and Move:--
P-K4 P-Q4 Q-R5 ch Q-K5 1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 ------- P-K3 P-Q4 P-KKt3 Kt-KB3
P-K4 P-Q4 Kt-QB3 P-Q5 1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 ------- P-Q3 Kt-KB3 Kt-B3 Kt-K4
P-K4 P-Q4 P-K5 B-QKt5 1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 ------- Kt-QB3 P-Q4 B-B4 Q-Q2
P-K4 P-Q4 PxP P-KB4 1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 ------- Kt-QB3 P-Q4 KtxP Kt-B2
Pawn and Two Moves:--
P-K4 P-Q4 B-Q3 P-Q5 1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 ------- P-K3 P-B4 P-Q3
P-K4 P-Q4 P-QB4 P-Q5 1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 ------- P-K3 P-B4 P-Q3
P-K4 P-Q4 P-KB4 B-Q3 1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 ------- P-Q3 P-K3 Kt-K2
P-K4 P-Q4 P-Q5 P-KB4 1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 ------- Kt-QB3 Kt-K4 Kt-B2
Odds of Queen’s Knight:--
P-K4 Kt-B3 PxP Kt-K5 1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 ------- P-K4 P-Q4 P-K5 QxP
P-K4 P-KB4 PxQP Kt-B3 1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 ------- P-K4 P-Q4 QxP P-K5
Odds of King’s Knight:--
P-K4 B-B4 Kt-B3 P-Q4 1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 ------- P-K4 P-QB3 Kt-B3 P-Q4
P-K4 B-B2 P-Q2 0-0 1 ------ 2 ------ 3 ------- 4 ------- P-K4 Kt-KB3 B-B4 0-0
In order to give the student an idea of the value and popularity of the various openings, the following table of the results of 1500 games may be useful. It is from the chess columns of the New York _Sun_:--
+----------------+--------+---------+--------- | FIRST | TOTAL |PER CENT.|PER CENT. OPENINGS. | PLAYER. | PLAYED.| WON BY | TOTAL +----+-----+-----+ | FIRST | GAMES |WON.|LOST.|DREW.| | PLAYER. | PLAYED. ---------------------+----+-----+-----+--------+---------+--------- Ruy Lopez |145 |103 | 58 | 306 | 57 | 20 Queen’s Pawn(a) | 97 | 63 | 39 | 199 | 48 | 13 French Defence | 84 | 48 | 39 | 171 | 60 | 11 Vienna | 47 | 34 | 15 | 96 | 57 | 6 Sicilian Defence | 40 | 29 | 10 | 79 | 57 | 5 King’s Gambit | 36 | 32 | 11 | 79 | 52 | 5 Giuoco Piano | 36 | 32 | 10 | 78 | 52 | 5 Evans | 34 | 20 | 12 | 66 | 61 | 4 Irregular | 29 | 31 | 14 | 74 | 49 | 5 Scotch | 22 | 26 | 9 | 57 | 47 | 4 Zukertort | 23 | 17 | 11 | 51 | 56 | 3 Two Knights Defence | 16 | 20 | 10 | 46 | 46 | 3 Staunton’s | 19 | 15 | 5 | 39 | 55 | 3 Fianchetto | 13 | 14 | 2 | 29 | 48 | 2 Petroff Defence | 15 | 9 | 3 | 27 | 61 | 2 Centre Gambit(b) | 11 | 11 | 4 | 26 | 50 | 2 Philidor Defence | 8 | 9 | 3 | 20 | 47 | 1 Miscellaneous | 22 | 29 | 6 | 57 | 44 | 4 +----+-----+-----+--------+---------+--------- Total |697 |542 | 261 | 1500 | | ---------------------+----+-----+-----+--------+---------+---------
The first player won 55.2 per cent. of games played, counting drawn games as one-half.
(a). Includes Queen’s Gambits and Queen’s Gambits declined.
(b). Includes Centre and Counter Centre Gambits.
_=THE MIDDLE GAME.=_ After a little experience with openings, the player will usually select one or two which he feels that he can handle better than others, and will make a specialty of them. Having mastered a number of variations, and learned the object of them in forming his pieces for attack or defence, he will naturally be led to the study of the middle game. In this there are a few general principles which should be steadily kept in view. For attack, the player should secure command of a wide range of the board; but for defence he should concentrate his forces as much as possible. He should be careful not to get his pieces in one another’s way, and not to leave pieces where they can be attacked and driven back by inferior pieces, because that entails a loss of valuable time. A player should never exchange a man in active service for one that is doing nothing. If several lines of play are open, the one offering the most numerous good continuations should be selected. When a player is not ready for attack, he should develop his pieces, and remember that the more of them he can get to bear on the enemy’s King, the better. Supporting pieces should be placed where they are not easily attacked, because good players attack the supports first, so as to isolate the advance guard. Beginners are usually in too great a hurry to give check; the best players do not check until they are ready to follow it up with a mate, or a winning position, or can gain time in developing their pieces.
_=END GAMES.=_ There are certain positions in which apparently equal games are not necessarily drawn, and there are others in which a player with a decided advantage cannot win, within the fifty moves which are allowed him, unless he knows exactly how to proceed. If a player is not well up in endings he may lose many a game which could be won if he only knew how to win it. The following games may be abandoned as _=drawn=_:--
King and Bishop against a King. King and Knight against a King. King and two Knights against a King. King and Queen against two Rooks. King and Queen against King and two Bishops. King and Rook against King, Rook and Pawn. King and Rook against King and Bishop. King and Rook against King and Knight. King and Rook against King, Rook and Bishop.
The following games can be _=won=_:--
King and Queen, or King and Rook, against a King. King and Queen against King and Rook. King and Queen against King and Bishop. King and Queen against King and Knight. King and Queen against King and Pawn. King and two Rooks against King and Rook. King and two Bishops against a King. King Bishop and Knight against a King.
In order to master all these endings, the student should take up Staunton’s Handbook, or the Lehrbuch des Schachspiels, in which they are given very fully. For the beginner only one or two of the most common and important are necessary.
K and Q, or K and R, against K. All that is necessary is to drive the King to the edge of the board, which may be done by holding him below a certain parallel with the Q or R, and then getting your own King in front of him; a check will then drive him one line further back, and when he arrives at the edge of the board, and can no longer go back, he is mated.