Chess lessons › Chess strategy
Making the pieces work together
Aim several pieces at one target: count attackers and defenders, then bring one more.
The idea
Aim several pieces at one target, one more than it has defenders.
- The rook on d8 and the bishop on f8 attack the pawn on d6.
- The rook on d1 and the bishop on f4 defend it: two against two.
- Qb6 brings a third attacker, and the pawn falls.
In a game: Count the attackers and defenders of a target, then bring one more piece.
How the lesson begins
One piece alone rarely wins anything. Pieces that aim at the same target do. Before you attack, count: how many of your pieces attack the target, and how many defend it?
This is Boris Verlinsky against Emanuel Lasker, Moscow 1925. White’s pawn on d6 has run far up the board. Black’s rook on d8 and bishop on f8 attack it. White’s rook on d1 and bishop on f4 defend it: two against two.
Find the move
Black to move. Bring a third piece against the pawn on d6.
A hint
Your queen on a5 does little. Where can she attack d6 in one move?
Show the answer
25... Qb6
Qb6 makes it three attackers against two defenders. The queen does a second job too: on b6 she guards the pawn on c5, which White’s queen was attacking. It is the engine’s first choice.