The Important Point
The important point, therefore, is to place the pieces so that
they will be in readiness for concentration on whatever part of
the board they are needed.
Moreover, it will be important to place the pieces on such
favorable squares in the shortest possible time--meaning with the
smallest number of moves--as wasting moves on maneuvers which do
not further the mobilization of the troops will give the opponent
an opportunity to gather a superior force somewhere on the board
and make an attack with the best chance in the world to succeed
before reinforcements can be brought up.
With this aim in mind the beginner will readily see that it is by
no means immaterial which Pawn moves are made in the opening. The
fact that a Pawn move opens an outlet for a piece is not
sufficient. If possible Pawn moves will have to be found which
enable the development of more than one piece for they will lead
to an advantage in the mobilization unless the opponent, too,
hastens the development of his pieces by equally good Pawn moves.
The only Pawn moves which fit this description are moves with the
King's or Queen's Pawns as they open lines for Queen and Bishop--
apart from an additional square for the Knight--while the other
Pawns cannot free the way for more than one piece. Whether the
move with the King's Pawn or the Queen's Pawn is better when
beginning the game is impossible to say.
In neither case can itbe proved that White can obtain an advantage
which is sufficientto win the game. With correct play on both sides
it can be onlyWhite who gains an advantage, for he has the first move
and so heis one move ahead of Black in the development as long as he does
not waste any time on maneuvers which do not increase the
mobility of his pieces.
By the mobility of a piece is meant the number of squares
accessible to it. A Bishop or a Rook which stands in an
unobstructed file is obviously worth more than one whose sphere
of action is limited on account of his way being blocked.
This does not mean, however, that a Bishop or a Knight to whom, at a
certain moment, three or four squares are accessible, is more
valuable than a Rook who at the same moment can go only to one or
two squares; for a few moves later the Rook might be in
possession of his full freedom while the action of the Bishop or
the Knight might be hampered.
It is, therefore, best to value the pieces according to their
latent strength, that is, the strength which is likely to show
in the ending after all temporary obstructions have been removed.
The comparative values given for the different men on page 42 will
serve as good guide in most cases.
It is not advisable though to give up a minor piece for
three Pawns or two minor pieces for a Rook and one Pawn as long
as Queens and minor pieces are on the board, as with a piece
ahead the opponent mostly succeeds in winning through a direct
attack against the King before the superiority of Pawns becomes
dangerous.
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