CAUGHT IN THE SNARE

Suppose you THREATEN a piece, say a Knight or a Bishop. What happens? Your opponent will do something about it. He'll move it, defend it or block the attack. But sometimes he can't get out of it. And that's what we're looking at in this lesson.

Pawns are often good at hunting down Minor Pieces - Bishops and Knights - in the opening. Look at this.

1. e2-e4 c7-c5

The SICILIAN DEFENCE

2. Ng1-f3 Nb8-c6

3. Bf1-b5 a7-a6

4. Bb5-a4? b7-b5

It's not the same as the RUY LOPEZ, where Black has a Pawn on e5, not c5. He should take the Knight here.

5. Ba4-b3 (Diagram)

Can you find a good move for Black here? Yes, Black can trap a Bishop by playing c5-c4. Look for yourself: it has nowhere to go.

Let's start again.

1. e2-e4 e7-e5

2. d2-d4 Nb8-c6

3. d4-d5 Nc6-d4? (Diagram)

This time White gets the chance to win a piece. How can he do it? Remember that to THREATEN a defended piece you have to ATTACK it with something weaker.

The answer is c2-c3, and, surprisingly, the Black Knight is lost. He has eight squares to go to, but whichever one he tries he gets taken.

Rooks are usually fairly safe in the corner at the start of the game, but if you move Bertie or Gerry out your Rook might fall victim to an attack along the diagonal.

1. d2-d4 d7-d5

2. c2-c4

Moving the d-pawn is just as good as moving the e-pawn, but usually leads to more closed positions where play develops more slowly. This move is the QUEEN'S GAMBIT.

2... d5xc4

3. e2-e3 b7-b5?

It's much better to play Ng8-f6 and let White have his pawn back.

4. a2-a4 c7-c6?

Trying to keep his extra pawn. If 4... a7-a6, 5. a4xb5 and Black finds that Alfie is PINNED against the Rook.

5. a4xb5 c6xb5 (Diagram)

And what does White do next?

You've had a clue so you should find the right answer: Qd1-f3, trapping the Rook in the corner. If Black prefers he can lose a Knight (by playing Nb8-c6) or a Bishop (by playing Bc8-b7), but whatever he does he's going to lose one of his big guys.

In that position it was a good idea to bring the Queen out early because it won something, but usually it isn't. If you're not careful it's likely to get trapped. Like this.

1. e2-e3

"If I move my e-pawn two squares my opponent might get Scholar's Mate so I'll move it one square instead."

1... e7-e5

2. Qd1-f3?

"Now I'll try for Scholar's Mate myself. Perhaps he won't notice."

2... d7-d5

3. Nb1-c3

"Now the Bishop goes to c4 - curses! If I go there he'll take it. Better bring out a Knight instead."

3... e5-e4 (SPACE INVADERS!)

"He's attacking my Queen. Better keep it attacking f7."

4. Qf3-f4? (Diagram)

White's broken several rules of good opening play. How does he pay the penalty?

Black plays Bf8-d6, attacking the Queen. Where can she go? There are twelve possible squares (count them) but whichever one she chooses she'll be taken.

Do you know anyone who thinks and plays chess like White did in that game? Perhaps it's you!

I repeat:

Start by moving your e-pawn TWO SQUARES.

Make sure you keep a pawn in the CENTRE.

DON'T go for SCHOLAR'S MATE.

DON'T bring your Queen out too soon.

Use your CENTRE PAWNS to drive the enemy pieces to unfavourable squares.

Here's another guy who ran into trouble by bringing his Queen out too soon.

1. e2-e4 d7-d5

The CENTRE COUNTER or SCANDINAVIAN DEFENCE. I don't recommend you to play it at the moment. Your Queen is too likely to run into trouble.

2. e4xd5 Qd8xd5

3. Nb1-c3

In this opening White gains time by attacking the Black Queen. Beginners are often tempted by a check on the e-file, but it's not a good idea. White will block the check and later gain more time by attacking the Queen again. Black's best move is Qd8-a5. What he mustn't do is play...

3... Qd5-c6 (Diagram)

Can you see why?

White plays Bc1-b5. What's happening? "My Queen's got plenty of squares to go to", says Black, "h6, g6, f6..." "No you don't", says White. "You Queen's PINNED. If you go over there it leaves you in CHECK. The only squares you can go to are d7, where I'll take you, and b5, taking my Bishop, when my Knight will take you."

You'll meet a lot of PINS in the course of these lessons. If, as here, you PIN a stronger piece you WIN it. If you PIN a weaker piece, or a piece of equal value, you MIGHT be able to win it by attacking it again. Remember, if you've PINNED a piece what do you do? ATTACK IT AGAIN WITH EVERYTHING YOU'VE GOT. (Usually starting with your weakest piece.)

Some PINS are pretty scary - you need to get out of them as soon as you can: either by moving the piece at the back of the line, by putting something else in the way, or by driving off the pinning piece.

Other PINS are just slightly annoying, while others are completely harmless. There are even PINS which can backfire, as you'll see when you learn about LEGALL'S MATE.

The next opening shows you a situation that happens all the time. Most players don't manage to find the way out.

1. e2-e4 e7-e5

2. Ng1-f3 Nb8-c6

3. Bf1-b5

The RUY LOPEZ, the world's strongest opening.

3... d7-d6

4. d2-d4 Ng8-f6

This is a mistake, but not for the reason you might think. White should probably play d4xe5, which eventually wins a pawn, rather than...

5. d4-d5 (Diagram)

White attacks the PINNED Knight. It looks like he's winning a piece but Black's got a way out. Can you help him find it?

Black can save his Knight by playing a7-a6. Now if White takes the Knight, Black takes the Bishop. And if White plays Bb5-a4, Black drives off the PINNING piece by playing b7-b5.

1. Look out for chances to trap enemy Knights and Bishops using your Pawns.

2. Look out for chances to trap the enemy Queen using your Pawns and Minor Pieces (Knights and Bishops).

3. Look out for diagonal attacks on unmoved Rooks.

4. Don't bring your Queen out too soon without a very good reason: it might get trapped or PINNED.

5. Look out for chances to PIN your opponent's pieces. If you've PINNED a piece ATTACK the PINNED piece with everything you've got.

6. Learn to tell the difference between different types of PIN. They're not always so scary so don't panic if you find one of your pieces is PINNED.