Basic row matt
The basic row matt is a tactical twist in the game of chess . A lady or a tower insists on the opponent's home row and sets the castled king , who is trapped behind a wall of farmers, matt . One also speaks of a weakness in the basic row of the opponent.
example
After the white queen has pushed the black king off by a check bid, white penetrates the 8th row and checkmates the king there.
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1. Qf3 – f7 + Kg8 – h8
2. Qf7 – f8 + Re8xf8
3. Rf1xf8 #
Countermeasures
To remedy a weakness in the basic row, the defender has the following options:
- He can pull a pawn forward in front of the castled king and thus create an air hole ( eviction ). In the example above, if it was Black's turn to move, he could move h7 – h6 so that the black king can evade to h7.
- It can cover the basic row. Again in the example above, if it was Black's turn, he could move his queen to b8 and defend the back row against the break-in on f8.
The disadvantage of both methods is that they are passive defensive measures and cost time that the opponent can often use for actions elsewhere. Therefore, a counterattack is often the method of choice. In the example above, if it were Black's turn:
- move his pawn on b1 and convert to a queen . The new queen creates a decisive material excess and ties the white rook on f1 so that he can no longer checkmate.
- move the queen to c5 and deal check. Black thus gains a move of time and at the same time covers the field f8. With the confrontation Re8 – f8 he can force the exchange of one of the two white attacking pieces.
In the example above, these possibilities are obvious. In concrete, more complicated game situations, they are often more difficult to discover. It is important for the defending player in such positions that he recognizes all these resources and takes the time to weigh up their advantages and disadvantages.
Game example
An illustrative example of the use of the home row weakness is found in the (fictional) game Adams - Torre, New Orleans in 1920 , in which several times the white lady without chess bid as a victim is presented.
literature
- David Hooper, Ken Whyld: The Oxford Companion to Chess . Oxford University Press, 2nd Edition 1992, ISBN 0-19-866164-9 , pp. 25-26.