Lever (chess)
a | b | c | d | e | f | G | H | ||
8th | 8th | ||||||||
7th | 7th | ||||||||
6th | 6th | ||||||||
5 | 5 | ||||||||
4th | 4th | ||||||||
3 | 3 | ||||||||
2 | 2 | ||||||||
1 | 1 | ||||||||
a | b | c | d | e | f | G | H |
When playing chess, a lever is a pair of pawns of opposite color, which are diagonally opposite each other so that each can beat the other. This makes it possible, for example, to open a line and place towers or other figures on it. In the minority attack lever play a key role.
Levers are also common in the opening . For example, the pawn pair c4 and d5 shown in the diagram often lasts for several moves when the Queen's Gambit is rejected .
example
a | b | c | d | e | f | G | H | ||
8th | 8th | ||||||||
7th | 7th | ||||||||
6th | 6th | ||||||||
5 | 5 | ||||||||
4th | 4th | ||||||||
3 | 3 | ||||||||
2 | 2 | ||||||||
1 | 1 | ||||||||
a | b | c | d | e | f | G | H |
In this position, White planned to break the g- file , which Black tried to prevent:
- 19. Kg1-h1 Ra8-g8
- 20. Rf1-g1 Kg7-f8
- 21. g2-g4 Re7-g7
- 22. Rg1-g2 Bd7-e8
- 23. Re1-g1
The pawn advance g2 – g4 was quite advantageous as it gave White control over the squares g2 and g3. Due to the exchange possibility associated with the lever, both players now had to concentrate their strengths on the g-file, with White having space advantage (White controls the squares g1, g2 and g3, Black only g7 and g8), but not implementing this afterwards and later lost to a bad game.
For Black, 19.… Ra8 – b8 20. Rf1 – g1 b7 – b5 21. g2 – g4 b5 – b4 with the leverage that is typical for a minority attack would have been an active alternative.
literature
- Hans Kmoch : The Art of Farming Leadership . Rattmann, Hamburg 1998, ISBN 3-88086-070-X .
- Aaron Nimzowitsch : My system . 3rd edition Rattmann, Hamburg 2002, ISBN 3-88086-117-X .