TeX User Group >> PracTeX Journal >> Issue 2007/1 >> Square Concepts

Solution for: Task A

Bxa3 uncovers the weak point in White's position.

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The pawn b2 is (or better: was) responsible for covering the pawn at a3 and the Nc3, which is attacked by the Rc8. He can not do both at the same time, so after taking the black bishop with b2xa3...

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...Black captures the knight with Rxc3, is a pawn ahead and additionally attacks the white pawn on a3.

This all happened because White tried to develop his rook on a1. While moving it to c1 he did not realize that it had a task to attend to: covering the pawn a3. Instead of sharing work with his buddy, it said: ``Goodbye, I'm off.'' Not really a nice thing to do, is it?

My advice in general is: before making a move, check that the piece does not have a concrete task. This can be covering an own piece, but also attacking an important square such that your opponent can not easily take it under his control. In the same way you can ask the following questions after each move of your contrahent: ``Did he leave one of his pieces uncovered?'' ``Is a square unoccupied now, such that I can safely place one of my figures on it?''

Try to find out what has changed on the board and how you can exploit the new situation!

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