Chapter 3 - How To Play The White Pieces

Superior Development | Superior Mobility | Opening Mistakes

How to Exploit Your Superior Development

One of our most important tasks in the opening stage is bringing out our pieces so they will play an active and aggressive role.

Because White enjoys the theoretical advantage of moving first, there is always a likelihood that his development will proceed more rapidly than Black's. For White, neglected development may mean nothing worse than losing the initiative. For Black, the same sin may mean losing the game.

How do players go wrong in the opening? There are certain failings that we observe in game after game. One player moves the same piece again and again, neglecting to develop his other forces and neglecting to get his King into a safe haven.

Another player injudiciously spends time capturing a relatively unimportant Pawn, losing priceless time in the chase.

Other players develop hesitantly and with lack of foresight, moving pieces to squares from which they will be driven away. Soon, to their great astonishment, they find themselves in a straitjacket position which developed inexorably from their poor opening play.

In the first illustrative game White proves that Black's faulty development is definitely a case of too little and too late:

Four Knights' Game

WHITE            BLACK                          WHITE                  BLACK
1 P—K4          P—K4                            4 B—N5                N—Q5
2 N—KB3       N—QB3                         5 NxP                    Q—K2
3 N—B3          N—B3                            6 N—B3

White has given his opponent the choice between 6 . . . NxP and 6 . . . NxB. Which is right and which is wrong?
At first glance we feel rather suspicious about Black's procedure. He has moved his Queen Knight twice, and he has played out his Queen very early.

These moves are not quite so bad as they seem. The repeated moves of White's King Knight have canceled out the Black Knight's loss of time.

The position -of the Black Queen is definitely bad. Black should therefore play 6 ... NxB; 7 NxN, QxPch. This forces the exchange of Queens, so that Black no longer suffers from the disadvantage of having developed his Queen too early.

6 . . ..               NxKP?                  9 QxN                      Q—B4
7 Castles!         NxQN                   10 R—Klch              B—K2
8 QPxN           NxNch                   11 B—Q3                
 
White has powerful pressure. He is ahead in development, and if Black castles, White replies 12 Q—K4! winning a piece because Black has no time to guard his menaced Bishop on account of the mating threat.
 
11.
12 B—K3
 
P—Q4 Q-Q3
 
13 B—KB4     Q—KB3 14QxP!!

Can White afford to offer the Bishop?
 
The capture 14 ... QxB? would lead to disaster because of 15 B—N5ch! Thus if 15 ... K—Bl; 16 Q—Q8ch!! and mate next move.

Or 14 ... QxB?; 15 B—N5ch!, P—QB3; 16 BxPch, PxB; 17 QxQBPch winning the Queen Rook with easy victory in sight.

White has a powerful attack because Black's botched development has exposed the Black King to frightful dangers.
 
14                 P—B3                      15 Q—K4                B—K3
16 QR—Ql!     Castles(Q)?
 
White has disguised his attacking plan so subtly that Black is lulled into a false sense of security.

(see Diagram 17 on page 38)

17 QxBPch!!                PxQ           18 B—QR6 mate

White has set an incredibly sly trap!
 
In this game White brought about Black's downfall by exploiting his thoughtless development or no development. In the following game, Black goes Pawn-hunting, while White goes King-hunting. In this unequal struggle White naturally holds all the trumps.

Evans Gambit Declined

WHITE BLACK    WHITE                        BLACK
1 P—K4                P—K4                         4 P—QN4!?          B—N3
2 N—KB3             N—QB3                      5 P—QR4             ....
3 B—B4                B—B4

White threatens to win a piece with P—R5 etc.
 
The opening moves are extremely interesting. On move 4
White offered a Pawn in order to divert Black's pieces and gain time. (The further course of the game will show what White had in mind.)

But Black was not obliging. He simply retreated his attacked Bishop, wisely avoiding complications that might prove exceedingly troublesome.

However, in playing 5 P—QR4 White poses a new problem. If Black keeps his wits about him, he can react calmly with 5 ... P—QR3! so that if 6 P—R5, B—R2. In that case his Bishop is perfectly safe and White has made no headway.

Instead, Black becomes rattled and goes in for an orgy of Pawn captures. This is just what White was waiting for.

5....                     NxP?                        9 Castles                   PxP
6 P—R5             B—B4                      10 Q—N3                Q—K2
7 P—B3             N—QB3                   11 NxP                     P—Q3
8 P—Q4             PxP                           12 B—KN5              Q—Q2

White is considerably ahead in development as a result of Black's time-wasting Pawn captures. Black's position is already seriously compromised.

Thus, if he tries 12 ... P—B3 White wins by 13 BxN, PxB; 14 N—Q5, Q—Ql; 15 N—N6!!

Another unpleasant possibility is 12 ... N—B3; 13 N—Q5, Q—Ql; 14 NxNch, PxN; 15 BxPch etc.

13 P—K5!          PxP                           15 NxN                 BxN
14 QR—Ql!        N—Q5                     16 KR—K1           Q—B4

With all his pieces in action against only two Black pieces, White must win. White's King is quite safe, Black's King is in mortal danger.

17 BxPch!

QxB

White's Rooks are all-powerful on the center files.
18 RxPch! Resigns
 
For if 18 ... BxR; 19 R—Q8 mate.

And if 18 ... K—Bl; 19 Q—N4ch, P—B4; 20 RxB!,

PxQ; 21 R— Q8ch, Q—Kl; 22 R/K5xQch, K—B2; 23

N—K4. White comes out at least a piece ahead.

White's vigorous reaction to Black's ill-judged Pawn-grabbing was very instructive.

In the next game White demonstrates that thoughtless moves ruin Black's prospects of achieving a satisfactory development.

King's Indian Defense

WHITE            BLACK              WHITE                  BLACK
1 p—Q4          N—KB3             8 P—KR3             B—K3?
2 P—QB4       P—KN3             9 P—Q5                PxP
3 N—QB3       B—N2                10 BPxP                B—Q2
4 P—K4          P—Q3                11 Castles              N—Kl
5 P—KN3       Castles                12 B—K3              P—N3?
6 B—N2          P—B3                13 P—B4              P—B3?
7 KN—K2      P—K4

What are the factors that have provided White with such a splendid position?

White has brilliant encirclement plans —Black's pieces face a dreary prospect.
 
Black has played thoughtlessly. His eighth move was a futile provocation which lost time. The retreat 11 . . . N—Kl makes sense if followed up by ... P—B4 fighting for a foothold in the center.
But Black completely overlooks the possibility of playing . . . P—B4. First he wastes more time with 12 ... P—N3? and then he plays the timid, self-blocking 13 ... P—B3? His pieces have no future and no scope.

White's indicated strategy is to tie up Black's position still more, and that is exactly what he does.
 
14 P—B5!       P—KN4
15 p—KN4     R—B2
16 N—N3
17 R—B2
 
B—KB1
N—N2

White can go ahead with his plan, for though Black has rearranged his pieces, they have become even more ineffectual than before.
 
When you have an advantage in space and mobility—as White has here—the indicated course is to increase that advantage. White therefore plays to open up the King Rook file, which will become his exclusive property.

18 B—KB1!                B—Kl        21 PxP                   RPxP
19 R—R2                    P—QR4    22 Q—B3!            R—N2
20 P—KR4!                P—R3       23 Q—Rl!

Now that White monopolizes the open King Rook file, he is able to penetrate into Black's position with fatal effect.

 
White's attack must succeed: Black's pieces are posted too awkwardly to have any defensive value.
23. . . . N—Q2            25 Q—R7 K—K2
24 R—R8ch K—B2    26 N—R5 Resigns

For if 26 ... BxN; 27 PxB and there is no defense against White's coming P—R6 which will win a piece. White's logical and consistent play in this game is a perfect example of how to demolish a cramped position.

In this game White's prime task was to refute a development that was planless. White's hard-hitting play left Black with a middle game position which offered no hope of unscrambling his pieces.

In the next game Black embarks on a devilishly plausible counterattack. But White has a surprising refutation.

Queen's Gambit Declined

WHITE            BLACK                       WHITE         BLACK
1 p—Q4          p—Q4                         5 N—B3       PxP
2 P—QB4       P—K3                         6 P—K4       P—B4
3 N—KB3       N—KB3                      7 BxP            PxP
4 B—N5          B—N5ch                     8 NxP           Q—R4

 
Does White have a lost game as a result of Black's powerful-looking Queen move?
 
Black threatens to win a piece by ... QxB or by BxNch. But White has an extremely subtle defense!
 
9 BxN! 10 PxB
 
BxNch QxBPch
 
11 K—Bl
12 K—Nl
 
QxBch
 
Now we can appreciate the depth of White's plan:
Black is just on the point of playing 12 ... PxB with a piece to the good. But he realizes that White would continue 13 R—Bl attacking the Queen with decisive effect.

So Black concludes that he must refrain from "winning a piece" as he finally perceives the far-reaching effect of White's resourceful ninth move.

Black thought he was seizing the initiative. Actually it is White who is doing the attacking, and he presses his advantage vigorously.
 
12
13 R—Bl!
 
N—Q2 Q—R3
 
14 BxP
15 B—R6
 KR—Nl

White has shattered Black's position.
 
Thanks to White's ingenious play, the result of Black's Queen moves is that his Queen is shunted off to the side. White has seen to it that Black's King cannot possibly find a safe haven, and that his pieces cannot co-operate effectively.

White's King is quite safe and his King Rook will soon be developed in unorthodox fashion. Meanwhile White has his eye on the most serious weakness in Black's game: his isolated and indefensible King Rook Pawn.

15. ...               N—B3             18 Q—B2!      R—N3
16 P—K5        N—Q4            19 P—R5!       R—N5
17 P—KR4!    B—Q2

White has left Black no choice, for if 19 ... RxB; 20 Q—Q2! wins the Rook!
Thus White succeeds in capturing the weak King Rook Pawn, which in turn gives him a menacing passed Pawn. Black cannot put up proper resistance because his faulty development has split his forces.

20 QxP            K—K2               22 B—N7!               Q—R6
21 R_R4!         KR—Nl              23 B—B6ch!            K—Bl

White's coming attack, which relies on the power of the mighty passed Pawn, cannot be stemmed by Black's disorganized forces.

White can now play 24 R—B7U for if 24 . . . NxR; 25 P—R6H and Black is helpless against 26 QxRch!! and 27 P—R7ch etc.
 
24 R—B7!!
 
NxB 26 P—R6!!
 
25 PxN Resigns
 
Q-Q3
 
There is no defense to the coming 27 Q—N7ch!!

With this sparkling example we conclude the study of faulty development and how it can be exploited. The faulty development has taken different forms, but in each case White's resulting initiative has led to a quick decision. Study the procedure in each of these games and you will find opportunities to use similar methods in your own games.

How to Exploit Your Superior Mobility

You will find, almost without exception, that when you have the better development, your pieces have more mobility than your opponent's forces. Remember, if you are playing White, that the first move gives you a springboard for getting ahead in development—and for having more mobility than Black has.
Mobility, you must remember, is connected with having a powerful position in the center. The stronger your position in the center, the more mobility your pieces will have. In the following game White emphasizes this point very strongly.

Alekhine's Defense

WHITE                  BLACK                       WHITE            BLACK
1 P—K4                N—KB3                      3 P—Q4          P—Q3
2 P—K5                N—Q4                        4 P—QB4       N—N3

Black has developed one piece, White hasn't developed any at all. Yet White has considerable mobility, as his center Pawns dominate the center and many avenues of development are open to his pieces

Though Black is ahead in development, White has more mobility!
 
White's immediate aim is to support his powerful Pawn center by advancing his King Bishop Pawn.
 
5 P—B4
6 BPxP
 
PxP P—KN3
 
7 B—K3          B—N2
8 N—QB3 P—QB4
 
The advance of Black's Queen Bishop Pawn is logical, as it breaks up the center. (On 9 P—Q5, BxP; 10 BxP Black has a playable though clearly inferior game, as his Knight at Queen Knight 3 is sadly lacking in mobility.)

Instead, Black tries to win a Pawn outright. The attempt is disastrous, because White leaves Black with an unbearably cramped position. White now makes admirably effective use of his superior mobility.

9 p_Q5         Q—B2?                 12 NxQPch               K—Bl
10 P—Q6!    PxP                        13 NxB!                    NxN
11 N—N5!   Q—K2                  14 BxP!!                   Resigns

An extraordinary finish. If 14 . . . QxB; 15 Q—Q8 mate. Thus White wins the Queen by force.

White succeeded admirably in this game because Black started an attack on White's center and failed to follow it up. This gave White time to exploit his superior mobility to the utmost.

White is still behind in development and ahead in mobility.
 
The remaining games in this chapter are more orthodox, for White has superior development, superior mobility, and control of the center in each case.

French Defense

WHITE            BLACK                       WHITE                  BLACK
1 P—K4          P—K3                         3 N—QB3             PxP
2 P_Q4            P—Q4                         4 NxP

White's dominating position in the center makes it likely that he will have vastly superior mobility in the middle game.
 
White has a free hand in the center, thanks to Black's colorless third move.

White's Knight is strongly centralized at King 4; his Queen Pawn controls the important center square King 5.
 
4 ....                 N—Q2                     7 Castles                   NxN
5 N—KB3       KN—B3                   8 BxN                       N—B3
6 B—Q3          B—K2                      9 B—Q3

White's game is noticeably freer.

9. . . .               P—QN3?                    11 N—B6              Q—Q3
10 N—K5'      Castles                         12 Q—B3!

Very clever. White threatens to win a whole Rook by 13 NxBch.

If 12 ... B—N2?; 13 NxBch and White wins a piece.

Black must therefore develop his Queen Bishop to Queen 2, where it has no mobility. Thus White's lead in mobility becomes even more pronounced.
 
12.                               B—Q2
13 NxBch                    QxN
14 B—KN5                 QR—Bl
15 KR—Kl                  KR—Kl
16 Q—R3!

 Now White threatens 17 BxN followed by 18 QxRPch.

White's pressure against Black's King-side is irresistible.
 
White's superior mobility has provided him with a devastating King-side attack. If now 16 ... P—KR3; 17 BxP!, PxB; 18 QxRP and Black is helpless against the coming 19 R—K5 and 20 R—KN5ch.

Or if 16 ... P—N3; 17 Q—R4, K—N2; 18 R—K4! and White's pin leads to Black's downfall after 19 R—KB4.

With his next move Black admits his despair.
16 Q—Q3                   19 R—K3        QxP
17 BxN                        PxB                  20 P—QB3! Resigns
18 Q—R6!                  P—KB4

If Black retreats 20 ... Q—N2 or 20 ... Q—Q3, he must give up his Queen after 21 R—N3. Otherwise, White forces checkmate with 21 R—N3ch etc.

White had an overwhelming advantage in mobility from the third move on as a result of Black's passive play.

In the following game Black fights hard to maintain his grip on the center. But his development is slow and cramped, and White plays with masterly consistency for domination of the open lines.

Philidor's Defense

WHITE               BLACK                       WHITE                  BLACK
1 P—K4             P—K4                         5 B—QB4             B—K2
2 N—KB3 P—Q3                                 6 Castles                P—B3
3 P—Q4             N—KB3                      7 P—QR4
4 N—B3             QN—Q2

White has already put his finger on the weakness of Black's position:

The development selected by Black is slow, clumsy, and cramped. White notes especially the lack of mobility of Black's Bishops. His King Bishop is blocked by his Queen's Pawn; his Queen Bishop is blocked by his Queen Knight.

White has an advantage in the fact that Black's Bishops have very little scope.
 
White's policy from now on will be to create more open lines for his own forces and at the same time to restrain Black from freeing himself.

7 ....                 Q—B2                      12 N—R4!         N—R4
8 Q—K2         P—KR3                   13 N—B5           B—Bl
9 B—R2          N—Bl                       14 B—K3           P—KN3
10 Q—B4!      N—K3                     15QR—Ql!!
11 PxP             PxP

White's last move looks like an oversight, but it isn't. He loses no time occupying the open Queen file, even though his Knight is attacked.

This is how White reasons:

As Black has not yet castled, he is unable to bring a Rook to the Queen file to dispute White's occupation of that open line.

Furthermore, because Black's King is still in the center, he cannot hope to win a piece with impunity. Thus if 15 ... PxN; 16 PxP, N—Ql; 17 N—Q5!, Q—R4; 18 N—N6!!, PxN; 19 RxNch!, KxR; 20 QxKBP and Black's King perishes in the crossfire of the enemy pieces.

This fascinating variation, which deserves the most careful study, is a magnificent example of White's power of superior mobility.

15 B—Q2           18 P—B4!                      PxP
16 N—N3          N—B3                            19 BxBP    Q—N3ch
17 P—R3           B—N2                            20 K—Rl   N—R2

White has increased his mobility still more by opening the King Bishop file. Thus he is ready for action on two open files.
 
21 RxB!

KxR

White can now win by a very brilliant combination.

22 B—K3!! QR—KB1
 
He might just as well resign. If 22 ... QxB; 23 RxPch, K—Ql; 24 QxN forces mate.

23 RxPch!! Resigns

For if 23 ... RxR; 24 QxNch, K—Ql; 25 BxQch, PxB; 26 QxR and Black is hopelessly behind in material.

White's play was a masterpiece of consistently utilizing superior mobility. From the very start White took merciless advantage of Black's lack of mobility. He never gave Black a chance because he never allowed Black's pieces to cooperate properly.

In the next game White neatly combines superior mobility with control of the center and lasting King-side attack.

Queen's Gambit

WHITE            BLACK                       WHITE                     BLACK
1 p—Q4          p—Q4                         3 N—KB3                N—KB3
2 P—QB4       PxP                              4 N—B3                   P—K3

White now seizes on the fact that with his second move Black has given up his hold on the center. Black should therefore play . . . P—B4 as soon as possible in order to fight for a foothold in the center. Because he holds back timidly, White gains an overwhelming position in the center by energetic play.

5 B—N5!        B—K2                      8 BxP                     N—Q2
6 P__K4!         P—KR3?                  9 Castles                Castles
7 BxN              BxB                          10 P—K5!             B—K2

 
White's formation is aggressive, while the outlook for Black's pieces is very poor.
 
White has driven a wedge into Black's position by advancing his King Pawn to King 5. One important consequence is that he has prevented Black from bringing his Knight to King Bishop 3. This is the best square for a Knight defending the King-side. It follows that the combination of White's aggressive position in the center, plus the aggressive position of his pieces, foreshadows a powerful attack by White.

Note in the following play how White uses the square King 4 as a steppingstone for transporting his pieces to the Kingside. We know from the start that his onslaught will be successful because Black has so little maneuvering space for defensive purposes.

11 Q—K2       R—Kl                          14 KR—Kl         N—Bl
12 QR—Ql!     P—QB3                      15 Q—N4          P—QN3
13 Q—K4!      Q—B2                         16 Q—R5           B—N2

The position begins to look very threatening for Black. White now proceeds to bring more pieces to the King-side. Because of the cramped position of his forces, Black cannot defend with equal vigor.
 
17 R—K4!      B—N5
18 R—N4        BxN
19 PxB K—Rl

White again gets more pieces into the attack by using the square King 4.

20 N—N5!      R—K2
21 N—K4!      R—Ql
22 R—Q3!      P—QB4
 
At last Black plays the move that he should have played early in the opening. But White is now ready for the final attack, having maneuvered his Knight into position for a deadly stroke. He has also moved his Queen Rook into position for the final attack.

23 N—B6!

With the brutal threat 24 QxRPch!!, PxQ; 25 R—N8 mate. White's superior mobility has become overwhelming.

Of course, if Black tries 23 . 25 Q—N7 mate.
 
PxN then 24 QxRPch and
 
23 N—N3
 24 R—R3 Resigns

White has left Black no move to hold the position.
 
White's overwhelming plus in mobility has left Black without any satisfactory defense.

Thus if 24 . . . PxN; 25QxPch, K—N1;26Q—R8 mate.

Or 24 ... PxP; 25 Q—N5!!, QxB; 26 RxPch!, PxR; 27 QxP mate.

White never gave Black a chance after Black's all too passive handling of the opening.

In the following game White again triumphs after dominating the center and preventing Black from getting his pieces into action. White's Pawn-storming attack follows with crushing—and logical—effect.

Sicilian Defense

WHITE               BLACK                       WHITE               BLACK
1 P—K4             P—QB4                      3 P—Q4             PxP
2 N—KB3          P—Q3                         4 NxP

White has a well centralized Knight established at Queen 4. Black cannot imitate this maneuver. Note also that White controls the important center square Queen 5 with his King Pawn.

On these two grounds it seems likely that White will dominate the center and will therefore enjoy superior mobility.
 
4 N—KB3
5 N—QB3       N—B3
6 B—K2          P—K3

There are already strong indications that White may achieve an overwhelming plus in mobility.

7 B—K3          B—K2
8 Castles          Castles
 
How has the situation developed as regards mobility? Both White Bishops have free diagonals; both Black Bishops are hemmed in by Pawns. The outlook for Black's game is very unpromising.

In such positions White always has a practical problem: how can his superior mobility be increased still further? White solves this problem by a general advance of his King-side Pawns, which will achieve the following:

1. He will congest Black's position more than ever.

2. He will drive away Black's King Knight—his best defensive piece—from King Bishop 3.

3. He will subject Black's position, already cramped unbearably, to a devastating Pawn-storming attack.

9 P—B4          Q—B2                12 P—B5                 Q—Ql
10 P—KN4!    P—QR3             13 P—KR4              NxN
11 P—N5        N—Kl                14 QxN

White's plan has made considerable progress. As a result of Black's unpromising opening line of play, White has deprived Black of any constructive plan.
 
14 P—K4?
 
Very shortsighted. He drives away the Queen, but at the cost of permanently losing Pawn control of his Queen 4 square.

The formidable centralization of White's Queen provokes Black to lose his foothold in the center.

This vital center square now becomes a "hole," completely at the mercy of the White pieces.
 
15 Q—Q2       N—B2
16 B—N6!      Q—Q2
17 R—B2        B—Ql
18 QR—KB1
 
White menaces a decisive breach with 19 P—B6, P—N3; 20 P—R5. Black stops this, but White penetrates in a different way.
 
18 P—B3
19 B—B4ch     K—Rl
20 P—N6!       P—R3
21 B—B7        Q—B3
 
White can now win by 22 B—K3 and 23 BxP! He plans a much more striking finish.

There is no defense against White’s coming attack.

22 BxN            BxB     23 R—N2!      P—Q4

Desperation.

24 QxRPch!! Resigns
For if 24 ... PxQ; 25 P—N7ch, K—R2 and now White captures the Rook, promoting to a Knight (!) and giving checkmate after 25 . . . K—R1;26R—N8ch!

The games in this chapter teach a lesson of the greatest practical importance—that when White gets the initiative through superior mobility, he has a lasting advantage that he can increase systematically until he achieves victory.

The first step is to pinpoint Black's faulty strategy. Once you see how he has committed himself to a cramped position, you can find ways to increase your command of the board. You must not swerve from your determination to keep him in a vise; one thoughtless move will often allow the enemy to escape. All five games in this chapter show how you maintain and increase the pressure until Black's position collapses.

Opening Mistakes White Should Avoid

So far you have seen the methods by which White exploits Black's mistakes in the opening and the early middle game. These methods are valid and useful as long as White does not violate the rules of good opening play.

It is therefore vital for you to be forewarned against the danger of losing the initiative when you play White.

This danger comes from neglect of your development. You may damage your development by losing time or by developing pieces inefficiently.

There are some openings in which the defects are so obvious that these openings have been partly or completely discredited. Many years ago, when opening theory was not so well understood as it is today, some of these openings were popular. In the course of time their serious defects became all too clear. Such openings are described in Chapter Eight but here we want to emphasize several of them, pointing out their defects in some detail:

The Center Game offers a good example. Here are the opening moves:

WHITE                        BLACK
1 p—K4                      P—K4
2 P—Q4                      PxP
3 QxP                          N—QB3

Black's last move gains time by attacking the Queen. White must now move the Queen out of attack, giving Black another tempo for development. What usually happens is that White plays 4 Q—K3 and

Black replies 4 ... N—B3, developing another piece.

White's Queen must retreat with loss of time.

To understand what has happened, you must realize that in effect Black has taken over the role usually held by White. It is no longer White who is a move ahead; Black has the initiative.

The same mistake on White's part appears in milder form in the Scotch Game:
 
WHITE
1 P—K4
2 N—KB3
3 P—Q4
 
BLACK
P—K4 N—QB3

To advance in the center and to open up a line for the Queen Bishop seems very good on general principles. But the advance of the Queen Pawn is not well timed.
3…. 4  NxP     PxP
 
By recapturing, White moves his Knight a second time and thus wastes a move.

Black, by way of reply, develops with gain of time. He can play 4 ... B—B4, developing a new piece and gaining time by threatening to win White's Knight.

Or Black can play 4 . . . N—B3, likewise developing a new piece and gaining time by threatening to win White's King Pawn.

4 . . . .  N—B3

White is on the defensive: he must defend his King Pawn.
 
In this case White's shortcomings are not fatal. However, any possibility of keeping Black's position under pressure is gone.

Another kind of mistake to avoid with the White pieces is to develop inefficiently. Note this in Alapin's Opening:
 
WHITE
1 P—K4
2 N—K2

BLACK
P—K4
 
As you know, White almost invariably plays 2 N—KB3. You may have wondered why White should not play 2 N—K2. There are two reasons for this.

On King 2 the Knight blocks the development of White's King Bishop and thus holds up White's whole development. Furthermore, N—K2 is passive whereas N—KB3 is aggressive, attacking Black's King Pawn.

In view of these defects, N—K2 is ruled out as a worthwhile move.
 

White's last move was much too passive.
 
A similar example appears in Ponziani's Opening:
 
WHITE
1 P—K4
2 N—KB3
3 P—B3
 
BLACK
P—K4 N—QB3

White's last move blocks his development.

White's last move deprives his Queen Knight of its best square. Black replies 3 . . . P—Q4! opening up the position favorably. After 4 PxP, QxP White is unable to attack the Black Queen by 5 N—B3, because 3 P—B3 has made the Knight move impossible.

As in the previous examples, Black has an easy time of it. Black has the initiative and has nothing to fear. From the positions discussed in this chapter, you can see that White must avoid loss of time as well as ineffectual development. If White violates these simple rules, he loses his chance to exploit Black's mistakes in the opening.

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