Chapter 1
First Principles
Endings, Middlegame and Openings
1. Simple Mates
The first thing a student should do, is to familiarize
himself with the power of the pieces. This can best be
done by learning how to accomplish quickly some of the simple mates
Ra7In this position the power of the Rook is demonstrated by the first.1 move which immediately confines the Black king to the last rank and the mate is quickly accomplished.Kg8 2.Kg2The combind action of Kind and Rook is needed to arrive at a position in which mate can be forced.The generel principle for a beginner to follow is to keep his King as much as bossible on the same rank,or,as in this case,file,as the opposing King.When,in this case the King has been brought to the sixth rank,it is better to place it,not on the same file,but on the one next to it towards the center.Kf8 3.KF3 ke84.Ke4 Kd85.Kd5 Kc8 on move 5 Black could have played5..Ke8 and,according to principle,Which would have continued6.Kd6 Kf8(the Black King will ultimately be forced to move in front of the White King and be mated by Ra8)7.Ke6 Kg8 8.Kf6 Kh8 9.Kg6 Kg8 10.Ra8#/6.Kd6 Not6.Ke6 because then the Black King will go back to Kd8 and it will take much longer to mate.6..kb8 If now the King moves back to 6...Kd8 7.Ra8# mates as once.7.Re7 Ka8 8.Kc6 Kb8 9.Kb6 Ka8 10.Rc8#/It has taken exactly ten moves to mate from the original position