Page 56 - Learning Chess Workbook Step 5

Draw

In bad positions you can try to play f o r a draw. This can be achieved by f o rcing stalemate or by
making sure that your opponent is left with insufficient material to win.

Forcing stalemate The king can still play A piece can still play
When your own king cannot The black bishop can take the On the left, Black can still
play anymore, the strategy to queen, but the retulting pawn play with his king, his queen,
f o rce stalemate is simple: give ending is totally lost. Again, and his a-pawn. However, he
away your last pieces. Black can save himself by can obtain a draw with 1 . ...
On the left, White gives away stalemating his king. Qa3+. If the queen is taken,
his pawns: 1. d8Q+ Kxd8 2. After 1. ... Kh8 White has the pawn on a3 blocks the a­
c7+ and Black is f o rced to nothing better than 2. Qxti pawn and takes away b4 f o r
take the pawn now or on the (after a king move Black the king. After 2. bxa3 b2+
next move. would be winning! ) and Black escapes with a draw.
On the right, Black gives up Black is stalemated. On the right, the g-pawn is
his rook: 1. ... Rg2+ 2. Kh3 pinned. White can save
Rg3+. If White takes, it is himself with the strong 1 .
stalemate. Black has what is Qf4+. After 1. ... Qxf4 it is
called a ' r ampant rook'. stalemate.

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Mate is no longer possible The pawn has advanced too Insufficient material plus
Winning with a knight alone far Being an exchange up in the
is impossible. All White has In both parts a 4-point mate­ absence of pawns is usually
to do is get the black a-pawn. rial plus does not suffice for a insufficient for a win. On the
After 1. Kb3 Nc + 2. Ka4 win. On the left, the black left, White obtains a draw
1
White wins the a-pawn or is king is trapped after 1. Kc . after 1 . Nb6+ Kb7 2. Nc4 and
1
stalemated after 2 . ... Kb6. The knight is unable to chase 3. Nxa3.
On the right, White is after the the king away f r om both c 1 On the right, White wins the
f - pawn. He can obtain a draw and c2. On the right, Black h-pawn after 1. Bh4 Kg6 2.
with 1 . Ne7 f4 2. Ng6 f3 3. keeps moving his king f r om Bg3 Kg5 3. Kxh3. With
Ne5 f2 4. Ng4 flQ (4 ... . fi N g7 to h8 and back. White correct play, Black's material
6
5 . Nf ! ) 5. Ne3+. must lose the h-pawn or allow plus is insufficient.
stalemate.
50 Fifth step