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 Contents

Introduction
Chapter One: Twenty Five Key Priyomes
Chapter Two: Twenty Five Must-Know Endgame Techniques
Chapter Three: Twenty Five Crucial Sacrifices
Chapter Four: Twenty Five Exact Endings
Quiz Answers
 Introduction

When my readers complain, I listen.

They complained about what I left out of Studying Chess Made Easy. In that book I
explained that there was a less painful – and more bene cial – way to learn how to play
the endgame:
There are some basic endings, with few pieces and pawns, that you can learn perfectly.
You can always get the optimum result – a win or a draw – no matter how strong your
opponent, I wrote.
And the good thing is there are only about two dozen of these ‘exact’ endgames that you
must know. Once you master them, you can spend your scarce time on the more important
endgame know-how, techniques.
These are the weapons, such as mismatches and opposition, shoulder blocking and
zugzwang, that you use when there are more pieces and pawns on the board. That is, when
it’s not yet an exact ending.
The complaint I got from readers?
“You didn’t tell us which exact endgames.”
“And you didn’t say which techniques.”
I also heard from my readers when I wrote What It Takes to Become a Chess Master. They
were surprised – and somewhat pleased – to learn that the most important book knowledge
was the middlegame techniques called strategic priyomes.
I gave some examples. But there are many other priyomes. Some are more important
than others, I wrote.
The complaint from readers?
“You didn’t name the most important priyomes.”
This book will answer those complaints – and some others. It provides 100 speci c
examples of master trade secrets. It’s the kind of know-how you need to become a master.
And it will help you set priorities in determining what you really need to study.
That’s di cult even for great players. Mikhail Botvinnik, for example, decided to study
an obscure exact ending before the tournament that made him world champion. It was
K+R+BP+RP -vs.-K+R.
Botvinnik felt that it was something he could study so deeply that he could play either
side perfectly. He also felt that if he were going to become the world’s best player, he
should know how to play this endgame.
But this ending is very, very rare. So let me say it one more time: There is an awful lot of
things to study in chess. It’s a classic example of Too Much Information. You have to set
priorities.
 The rst step to becoming a master is to separate the things you could know from what
you should know – and from what you must know. In this book I’ve identi ed 25 examples
each of the most valuable things to learn – priyomes, sacri ces, exact endings and endgame
techniques.
There are things that every master knows – and it’s where every would-be master can
start.
 Chapter One: Twenty Five Key Priyomes

Every serious player knows the basic tactical devices, the ones with names like pin,
skewer and fork. These have little to do with where the pawns are and everything to do
with where the pieces are.
But there are strategic devices which depend on pawn structure. The only name we have
for them is the one the Russians use: priyome.
You already know some simple examples of it even if you’ve never heard the word.
Imagine a rook endgame with one pair of pawns traded.

White to play

The priyome calls for 1 d1! and 2 d7. White gets a huge advantage.
Other priyomes are only a bit more elaborate and only slightly improve a position. After
1 e4 d6 2 d4 f6 3 c3 g6 4 f3 g7 White may want to trade o Black’s bishop. The
priyome consists of three or four steps, a bishop move such as e3 or g5 followed by d2
and h6xg7.
Alexey Suetin, one of the deans of the Soviet Chess School, said mastering priyomes was
a key to success. Each would-be master should collect his own ‘personal fund’ of priyomes,
as he put it, study them and – when the same patterns arise during a game – apply the
priyomes.
Priyomes can be very general, like seizing a le with a rook in the last diagram. They
can be described in words, not moves, as Vladimir Kramnik did in the next:
 Kramnik – Zviagintsev
Tilburg 1998
White to play

After 1 b5!, he wrote “My opponent underestimated this standard priyome.” He

explained what he meant – “the exchange of the ‘bad’ bishop but one that defends many of
his pawns.” Once the bishops are gone, Black had to lose the a- or d-pawn.
Other priyomes apply only to certain pawn structures. A priyome may consist entirely of
piece maneuvers, like b5xc6 and e5 as in the Bird Bind, the rst priyome we will look
at. Or it can begin with a piece move, followed by a pawn move, such as Harry Pillsbury’s
e5 and f2-f4. Or it may begin with a pawn move like h2-h4 in response to … g6 or …
g6.
The Russian trainer Anatoly Terekhin estimated that masters know about 100 priyomes.
But you don’t need to know nearly that many. We’ll examine 25 of the most common and
useful.
 1 Bird Bind

Henry Bird, the 19th century English master, deserves credit for popularizing a priyome
based on trading a bishop for a knight so that he could occupy the center with his own
knight.
He did it with his favorite 1 f4 and then 1 … d5 2 f3 c5 3 e3 c6 4 b5! in order
secure e5 as an outpost after xc6. An 1885 game of his went 4 … d7 5 0-0 e6 6 b3 f6
7 b2 e7 8 xc6! xc6 9 e5 c7 10 d3.

Black to play

White can continue with d2, e2 and eventually e3-e4 and/or c2-c4 with a small edge.
This priyome has been adopted in similar positions, by players from Bobby Fischer to Aron
Nimzovich, who adopted it with colors reversed in the Nimzo-Indian Defense: After 1 d4
f6 2 c4 e6 3 c3 b4 Black often equalizes with a timely … xc3 and … e4.
Aside from the strategic value, the xc6 idea can have a tactical punch:

Geller – Petrosian
Moscow 1963
Black to play

There wasn’t a vacant central square to exploit – until Black innocently played 1 …
fxe5?? and was stunned by 2 b5!.
White will win e5 for his pieces, ideally the knight. Bad would be 2 … exd4 3 xd4, e.g.
3… d6 4 xc6 xc6 5 f4! d7 6 xd5!.
And Black would be blown off the board after 2 … e4 3 e5 d6 …

White to play

…4 f4! because he has no good defense to g6.

In the game, Black tried to bail out after 2 b5 with 2 … g6. But he had no good
defense after 3 xe5 gxe5 4 xe5.
For instance, 4 … d6 5 xe6+ xe6 6 xc6+. Or 4 … e7 5 f3 f6 6 xd5! xe5 7
f6+! and 8 xc6. Or, as the game went, 4 … a6 5 xc6 xc6 6 xd5 and White won.
This priyome also works in a mirror image. In that case White wins control of d5 by
means of xf6, as in variations of the Sicilian Defense.

Tal – Najdorf
Bled 1961
White to play

White began the priyome earlier with g5 and completed it with 1 xf6! xf6 2 d3
c6 3 d5. Then 3 … xd5 4 xd5 would confer a major positional edge because of his
better bishop and the target pawn at d6.
It’s revealing that this game began as a Najdorf Variation – and that Black, Miguel
Najdorf himself, did not understand that the best defense is a counter-priyome, eliminating
the d5-knight with … g5 and … e7!.
The game went 3 … g5 4 fd1 and now instead of 4 … c8 5 c3 e7!, Black tried to
get counterplay on the f-file, with 4 … h8 5 c3 f5? 6 f3.

Black to play

Now 6 … e7 7 xe7 xe7 and 8 exf5 xf5 9 e4 allows White to exploit e4 as well as
d5.
Black ended up in a poor middlegame after 6 … xd5 7 xd5 fxe4 8 xe4 e7 9 d5
f6 10 d2!, with the idea of 11 e4.
He was headed for a bad endgame after 10 … xd2 11 xd2 c7 12 e1 af8 13 e3
g6 14 e4 g7 15 f3 xf3 16 xf3 f6 17 e4 f7 and lost.
 2 White’s a-pawn vs. … b5

Black often expands on the queenside with … a6 and … b5 in a wide variety of openings,
from the Queen’s Gambit Declined to Sicilian and King’s Indian Defenses. But this comes
with a risk: White can train more repower on b5 than Black – and that makes a2-a4!
dangerous.

Najdorf – Fischer
Santa Monica 1966
White to play

White has more of his pieces on the kingside, so 1 f4 looks natural. But after 1 … gxf4 2
xf4 e5! Black would stand well.
However, 1 a4! led to a positional rout. The problem with 1 … bxa4 is 2 c4!,
threatening to capture on d6. After 2 … e5 3 xe5! dxe5 4 xa4 White would have a big
positional edge: He has a protected passed pawn and can attack pawns at c5 and a6. Black
has a bad dark-squared bishop.
So, Black bought time with 1 … b4. But after 2 d1! and 3 e3! White had two knights
to control c4 and Black only had one.
Since 2 … xe4? 3 d3 would open the center too quickly, Black chose 2 … e5 3 e3
g6. But then came 4 ec4, attacking d6.

Black to play
 If Black has to defend it with 4 … d8 White can exploit other holes in Black’s camp with
5 b6, e.g. 5 … b8 6 xc8 and xa6 or 5 … a7 6 dc4 with the idea of xc8/ xd6 or
a5-c6.
Instead, Black chose 4 … f4 5 xf4 gxf4. But White’s knights ran riot after 6 e5! dxe5
7 f3 f8 (7 … d7? 8 d6 costs a rook) 8 xe5.
He won after 8 … b7 9 dc4 ad8 (9 … xd5 10 d7!) 10 c6.
It’s not just the square at c4 but also c5 and even b6 that can be exploited by a2-a4:

Euwe – Sanguineti
Mar del Plata 1948
White to play

White can see that c6 is potentially vulnerable and might have considered 1 a2 and 2
b4. But Black can get good play from his own priyome, the ‘Philidor Ring,’ as we’ll see,
with … b6-c4.
Instead, White played the forcing 1 a4!. Then 1 … bxa4 2 xa4 followed by 3 c5 or 3
xd7/ 4 b6 – or even 2 xa4 – assures him a small edge.
Black replied 1 … b4 and White had a choice. In many similar positions, 2 b1 followed
by d2-b3 is best. The knight can then occupy either c5 or a5 with a powerful cramping
impact.
On this day, White chose 2 e2 so that the knight can occupy d4 after 2 … xe5 3 dxe5.
Black replied 2 … df6 (not 2 … d6 3 c7!).

White to play
 White took further advantage of the priyome with 3 a5!. Both of Black’s queenside
pawns became potential targets now that … a5 is ruled out.
Black protected his a-pawn with 3 … d6 4 a4! de4. However, White made progress
with 5 c2! ac8 6 fc1 xc2 7 xc2. He would be winning if he can play c1-a2 or c1-
b3-c5.
Black lacks counter play. If he tries 7 … c8 8 xc8+ xc8 White invades with 9 c6
b7 10 b6. Black tried 7 … g4 but was lost after 8 xg4 fxg4 9 xd4 dxe4 10 c5 and
xb4.
The simplest and often best defense to a2-a4 is to liquidate, … bxa4:

Alekhine – Flohr
Bled 1931
Black to play

Black responded to a2-a4 with 1 … b4?. White established positional superiority with
routine moves: 2 bd2 0-0 3 b3 e7 4 e4 d7 5 e3 and then 5 … de5 6 xe5 xe5
7 ac1 b8 8 c5! xc5 9 xc5. Black’s weak a-pawn and bad-bishop helped cost him
the game.
How could he have improved? With 1 … bxa4!.
White’s advantage would be minimal after 2 c3 b4 3 e4 e7 for instance (4 xf6+
xf6 5 e4 b7).

White to play
 Once White retakes on a4, his b-pawn will be about as weak as Black’s a-pawn. Neither
side’s pieces are superior. Chances are roughly equal.
 3 Pillsburial

One of the most famous priyomes was popularized by Harry Nelson Pillsbury, from a
position that has been arising out of a Queen’s Gambit Declined for more than a century.
There are very similar ones with slightly di erent pawn structures, such as Black pawns at
c6 and b7.

White to play

Pillsbury played 1 e5, 2 f4! and f3. This entrenches his knight and if it’s captured he
can retake fxe5! and exploit the half-open f-file.
One of Pillsbury’s games went 1 … bd7 2 f4 c5 3 0-0. Black began his own priyome,
the queenside phalanx that we will examine later in this chapter. But this time it’s bad, 3 …
c4? 4 c2 a6 5 f3 b5.
This is a case of timing. Black’s queenside might become signi cant if it were not for
White’s initiative after 6 h3!. He targets h7 and threatens 7 xd7 (7 … xd7 8 xh7
mate; 7 … xd7 8 xh7+! xh7 9 xd7).

Black to play

His attack exploded, 6 … g6 7 f5 b4 8 fxg6! hxg6 9 h4! bxc3 10 xd7 xd7 11 xf6!
and 12 af1. Or 6 … h6 7 xh6 gxh6 8 xh6 (8 … xe5 9 fxe5 e4 10 xe4 dxe4 11
f3!). Such games were known as ‘Pillsburials.’
This priyome typically works best with at least three sets of minor pieces on the board. A
good defense was eventually found in 3 … e4, which blocks the b1-h7 diagonal and trades
pieces.
But in other forms, e5/f2-f4 remains vibrant: Pillsburials still occur.
 4 Brothers e4-e5 and … b4

Certain pairs of pawn moves, one by White and one by Black, are linked by bonds both
tactical and strategic. We saw f2-f4 and … c5 in the Pillsburial and we’ll consider that pair
in more detail later in this chapter.
In the Sicilian Defense, e4-e5 is linked with … b4, like brothers who never get along.
Often the best defense to e4-e5 is … b4. And when Black drives a knight o c3 with … b4,
the best counter may be e4-e5.

Aronin – Larsen
Moscow 1959
Black to play

At rst it seems that 1 … b4 just wins a pawn (2 a4 xe4). A further look reveals that
White has some compensation after 3 d4 f6 4 b6.
But the priyome tells us that when you see … b4, you should look for its brother. Here 2
e5! and then 2 … bxc3 3 exf6 gxf6 is promising for White after 4 b3 or 4 f5 cxb2 5 xb2.
In this case White can exploit the position tactically because he was well developed. But
if both players have their pieces well deployed, it’s usually bad to be the second to act in
the e5/… b4 chain reaction:

Boudre – Shirov
Val Maubuee 1989
White to play
 Black’s last move, … b4!, ensures an advantage. For example, 1 ce2 e5! 2 f5 b5 3
d2 c4 with favorable complications.
White tried 1 e5. He was right in thinking that if the Black knight moves from f6 he can
play a good e4. And on 1 … dxe5 2 fxe5 xe5, White can complicate with 3 xh6 and 3
… b8 4 xg7 bxc3 5 b3.
But Black replied 1 … bxc3! 2 exf6 xf6. Then 3 bxc3 or anything that allows 3 … cxb2
would weaken White’s king position considerably.
He kept the position semi-closed with 3 b3 and Black replied 3 … d5.

White to play

White’s 1 e5 has failed: Black is a pawn ahead and has the better attack, as 4 c1 0-0
and then 5 g4 b5! 6 xb5 axb5, showed. Black threatened 7 … xb3! (8 cxb3? c2+; 8
axb3 a5 and … a8) and won.
The moral is: When you see e4-e5, look for … b4, and vice versa – but be careful when
you’re the second to act.
 5 Philidor’s Ring

The Russians say a knight that is supported by two pawns inside enemy territory is a
‘ring,’ such as Pillsbury’s e5, with pawns at d4 and f4. Trainer Anatoly Terekhin named
this priyome after Andre Philidor because of this game:

Bruehl – Philidor
London 1783
Black to play

Black can claim a positional advantage but he has no point of penetration on the c- le to
make it count. On 1 … ac8 2 0-0 and 3 ac1, a swap of rooks will nudge White closer to a
draw.
Philidor’s solution was 1 … b5! 2 0-0 b6! and then 3 g3 g6 4 ac1 c4. This attacks
b2 and looks for an opportune time for … xe3. Since the le is plugged up, Black may add
to the queenside pressure with … a5-a4 or double rooks on the c- le, without allowing a
trade of rooks.

White to play

Moreover Black does not fear a capture on c4 because he would get a protected passed
pawn. After 5 xc4 he might opt for 5 … dxc4 and occupy the excellent d5 square with a
knight.
White tried to exploit the kingside, 5 xf5 gxf5 6 g3+. But 6 … g7! 7 xg7+ xg7
turned out to be an excellent endgame for Black.
 Philidor went on to win after 8 xc4 bxc4!? 9 g3 ab8 10 b3 a3 11 c2 cxb3 12 axb3
fc8 13 xc8 xc8 14 a1 b4 15 xa6 c3 and then 16 f2 d3 17 a2 xd2 18 xd2
xb3 19 c2 h4!. But the key to victory was 1 … b5, 2 … b6 and 4 … c4!.
Philidor’s Ring is often e ective after b3 and … b6 followed by a queen swap that
opens half of the a-file:

Janowski – Marshall
Match 1905
White to play

Three moves before, Black traded queens on b3. White had a choice of recaptures and
chose axb3! so that he could continue 1 b4! e8 2 b3!.
White is in no rush to dissolve his doubled pawns with b4-b5 because a pawn at b4
supports c5!. He also wants as many Black pawns left on the queenside so they can
become targets.
Black was able to defend b7 with 2 … d6 3 xd6 xd6 4 c5.

Black to play

White’s pressure increased after 4 … c7 5 fe1 c8 6 d2 e8 7 f4 f5 8 f3 e4 but

he had not broken through.
So he played 9 b5! axb5 10 xb5 with the idea of e5/ xc6 and a8/ ea1. Black
ended up in a very poor case of bad-B-versus-good-N, 10 … xc5 11 dxc5 d7 12 xc6!
bxc6 13 d4 f7 14 a6! h6 15 b4, and lost.
 6 Center Strike: … d5 vs. g2-g4

An ancient axiom says: ‘The best defense to an attack on a wing is a counterattack in the
center.’
Good advice. But how? The most common way is … d5.

Michel – Stahlberg
Mar del Plata 1947
Black to play

White’s last move, g2-g4, threatens to drive away the f6-knight, Black’s best kingside
defender. Once that is done, White can choose between promising pawn action (f4-f5) and
promising piece play (perhaps g2, h4 and f3-h3).
Black appreciated that if he was going to strike back, 1 … d5! was the right way.
Opening the long diagonal favors him (2 exd5 fxd5 3 xd5 xd5, e.g. 5 c3 c5 and …
fd8/ … xe3).
But why isn’t 2 e5 good? The center remains closed and White can continue on the
kingside after 2 … d7.
The answer is 2 … e4!. For better or worse, this is what the … d5 priyome calls for.
After 3 xe4 dxe4 4 g2 Black should have ample play with … c5, … fd8, … c4 and
… d5. (But not 4 … xc2 5 ac1.)
White preferred 3 xe4 dxe4 and then 4 h4?.
 Black to play

But this was a blunder that was punished by 4 … d8! 5 g5 (to stop 5 … xh4) and
then 5 … xd4! 6 xd4 e3+. Among the improvements is 4 ac1, to safeguard c2. But 4
… fd8 5 g1 c5 offers good chances.
There is a downside to this priyome. After … d5 Black may end up losing a pawn, either
on d5 or on e4 after … e4/ xe4. But he often gets excellent compensation because of the
loosening effect of g2-g4.

Baturinsky – Panov
Moscow 1936
Black to play

White’s last move, g2-g4?, was a mistake that was punished by 1 … d5!.
Then 2 e5 e4 3 xe4 dxe4 4 xe4 would favor Black after 4 … xd4 5 xd4 c6
because of the threats of 6 … c5 and 6 … xe4+.
White chose 2 exd5 and then 2 … xd4 3 xd4 c5!. If the queen goes to d3 or d1 he
loses the f-pawn. Worse is 4 d2?, which costs a piece (4 … b4).
Play went 4 c4 exd5 5 xd5 xd5 6 xd5 (or 6 xd5 c6 7 g5 d4!).

Black to play

White is hoping for 6 … xg4 7 f5!. Then he would threaten xg4 and survive the crisis
(7 … h5 8 c3 f8 9 xc7 and 10 c4).
 But Black shot back 6 … c6!. Thanks to opening the long diagonal, he would win after
7 ad1 xd5 8 xd5 d8 9 d1 xd5 10 xd5 d6!.
White played the forced 7 f3 but 7 … d7 threatened 8 … xf3+ 9 xf3 xg4 as well
as 8 … a3! (and the immediate 8 … xg4). Black won after 8 c3 xg4 9 xc6 xc6 10
f3 xf3+ 11 xf3 d2.
 7 Bayonet b-pawn

A queenside pawn majority is often an endgame asset. But it can also be a middlegame
target for an enemy b-pawn supporting a Philidor knight.
In the following position, Black has two good ways of proceeding. One is 1 … c4 to
force 2 e2 fc8 3 c3. Then he can favorably blow open lines with … b5-b4. But there’s a
tactical problem: 3 … c6 allows 4 b3, trapping the rook.

Platonov – Petrosian
Moscow 1964
Black to play

Black chose the alternative, 1 … c6!. His idea is 2 … a6 and 3 … b5, since that would
threaten to win the c-pawn after 4 … b4.
In this case, the tactics help Black, e.g. 2 e2 a6 3 a4 walks into 3 … b6, which
threatens … xa4 (4 b3? xc3 or 4 a5 c4).
White chose 2 h3? instead and Black made steady progress: 2 … b5 3 a3 a5 4 d2 b4 5
axb4 axb4 6 d1 a8!.

White to play

White has protected c2 but ruined his piece coordination. Black will exploit it with … a1
and … f6-e4 or … b6-c4.
White didn’t last long: 7 e3 f6 8 d3 e4 9 ed1 a1 10 h4 b6 (threat of 11 …
xd4 12 xd4 xc1). He resigned after 11 g4 h5 in light of 12 e5 f6 13 h3 xe5 14
dxe5 xf2 or 13 f4 g5. Another case:

Perelshteyn – Atalik
Philadelphia 2000
Black to play

Since White’s bishop discourages … b8 it doesn’t seem that Black can achieve much by
opening the b-file. But he got good things going with his queen, 1 … c6!.
Black readied … b5 followed by … a5, … d7, … d6, … fb8 and eventually … b4. If
White opens the center, 2 c4 dxc4 3 xc4, Black has the better of 3 … b5 and … d5.
Instead, White tried to attack the king, 2 e3 b5 3 g4 a5. But by then it was clear the
attack wasn’t working. White should have tried to cut his losses by trading queenside
pawns (4 a3 b4 5 axb4 axb4).
Instead, the game went 4 d1 b4 5 h4 a4.

White to play

Black threatens to collapse the queenside chain with … a3. For example, 6 h5 a3! 7 hxg6
fxg6 8 c2 axb2 and now 9 xg6 bxc3!. Black’s king would be safe but White has lost the
queenside.
White’s best try may be 6 xf6 xf6 7 h5. Instead, he went downhill, 6 b1 e4 7 f3
d6 8 g3 fb8 9 f2 b6 10 g2 c4 11 e1 d6, and lost.
 8 Exploiting c6

In several 1 d4 and 1 c4 openings Black’s best method of developing his light-square

bishop is a anchetto, … b7. But … b6 creates a hole at c6. How to exploit this is a trade
secret known to every master.

Botvinnik – Donner
Amsterdam 1963
White to play

The priyome typically consists of three steps: (a) trade light-square bishops, (b) secure c6
with b4-b5, and (c) occupy the hole with a knight.
White began with 1 d4! xg2 2 xg2. Black could avoid the bishop swap only through
concessions. For example, 1 … d5 2 e4! 5f6 and 3 e5! d5 4 c4 c8 5 c1 and g4
gives White a serious edge in space (3 … xg2 4 exf6!).
The trade prompted a battle for control of the g2-a8 diagonal. Play went 2 … c7 3 b3
fc8 4 fc1 b7+ 5 f3!.
Now 5 … xf3+ 6 2xf3 and c6/ c2/ ac1 is quite bad for Black. So the game
continued 5 … d5 6 e4 5f6 and now 7 b5! a6 8 c6! f8 9 a4!.

Black to play

The priyome has shut Black’s heavy pieces out of the game. Trying to oust the c6-knight
with 9 … b8? allows 10 xf6!. And if he prepares … b8 with 9 … e8 he invites 10 e5!,
threatening e7+ and xb7.
Black tried to escape via trades, 9 … axb5 10 axb5 xa1 11 xa1 a8. But 12 d1! kept
enough material on the board to make the c6-knight matter.
After 12 … e8 13 c4 c5 14 e5! there were tricks on the long diagonal (14 … c7 15
d7! xd7 16 e7+ and 17 xb7).
The end was 14 … c8 15 a1 c7 (15 … a8 16 xa8 xa8 17 e7+) 16 a7 xa7
(16 … c8 17 xb6 and wins) 17 xa7 xa7 18 xb6 resigns.
Even if White does not occupy c6, the threat to do so can be powerful:

Aronian – Carlsen
Elista 2007
White to play

There’s an alternative priyome in this kind of position. White can try to shut out Black’s
bishop and KN with f2-f3 and e3-e4. But 1 f3 is ineffective here because after 1 … d5! 2 e4
f4 gives Black kingside play he doesn’t deserve (3 e3 g5; 3 f2 e5).
White preferred targeting c6 with 1 a6!. Play went 1 … xa6 2 xa6 xc1+ 3 xc1
b8.
Before White can exploit c6 he prepared with 4 c4 d8 and 5 h3 e8 6 b5!. He may
decide to create a passed pawn with c6/ … xc6/bxc6. Or he could restrict Black further
with a3-a4 and a supported a3.

Black to play
 What’s more, White need not hurry. The game went 6 … d5 7 e2 c5 8 d1! c8 9
f3 d8 10 c1 d6 11 a4.
Black’s pieces are still restricted (11 … d7? 12 c6) and a3 is coming. Black chose to
force matters, 11 … e5 12 f5 xf5 13 xf5 f6 14 e4 f7.
But after 15 a3! h8 16 h2 g8 17 d6 White methodically enlarged his advantage
until it won.
 9 Charging h-pawn

Pushing White’s h-pawn to h5 is a fundamental idea after … g6. What makes it

particularly attractive is when Black cannot keep the file closed.

Botvinnik – Gligoric
Moscow 1956
White to play

Black has just played … h6. His goal is to occupy d4 with a knight.
But there’s a drawback: After 1 h4! Black cannot play 1 … h5. The knight move is a
priyome tipo . When a master sees … g6 and … h6 he at least looks at h2-h4. It’s simple
pattern recognition.
There followed 1 … d6 2 d3 b8. Black lacked an easy defense on the kingside because 2
… g4 3 h5! xh5? loses a piece (4 xh6 xh6 5 g4!).
The game went 3 h5 d7 and then 4 xh6 xh6 5 hxg6 hxg6.

White to play

White played the dramatic 6 c1!. It’s based on 6 … xc1?? 7 xh8 mate.
After the forced 6 … g7 and 7 xh8+ xh8 8 h6 Black could have defended better
with 8 … f6 but lost after 8 … xc3+ 9 bxc3 e6?. White can mount a strong attack with
10 d2 and h1/ g5.
 There’s another trigger that prompts a master to consider pushing his h-pawn. This
occurs when his opponent plants a knight on g3 or g6.

R. Byrne – Fischer
Sousse 1967
Black to play

White has just played g3, to protect the e4-pawn and prepare h5. His position
appears promising, e.g. 1 … b4 2 xf6 xf6 3 d5.
But after 1 … h5! he had no good answer to the threat of 2 … h4 and 3 … xe4. White
had to try 2 h4.
But this made 2 … b4! stronger because White would be losing after 3 d5 xd5 4 xd5
xg5 5 xb7?? e3+ or 5 hxg5 xd5 6 xd5 xg5.
Instead, White went 3 xf6 xf6! 4 d5 xh4 but after 5 xh5 g5! his kingside was
fatally loosened.
The h-pawn charge is a familiar priyome in many openings with an early g3. For
example, 1 d4 f6 2 c4 e6 3 c3 b4 4 e3 c6 5 e2 d5 6 a3 e7 7 g3 and now 7 …
h5! 8 d3 h4 9 ge2 h3!.
But driving away a knight should be part of a greater goal, as in that case, when Black
induced weaknesses with 9 … h3. Another example:

Geller – Flohr
Moscow 1950
White to play
 Black’s last two moves were … g6 and … 0-0. The priyome is in the air – but the timing
has to be right. White played 1 h4? and had nothing after 1 … c4! 2 h5 e7.
His attempt to force matters on the kingside, 3 g4 b5 4 g5?! c5 5 f4 f5 6 h1 hxg5
7 xg5 e7, left him overexposed and he eventually lost.
What went wrong? White should play 1 f1!. Then when h2-h4-h5 drives the knight o
g6, White can threaten mate on h7 with d3!.
 10 Anti-Isolani

An isolated d-pawn often gives a player more space and ample opportunity to attack the
wings. But there is an anti-Isolani priyome.

Korchnoi – Karpov
World Championship 1981
Black to play

The priyome calls for swapping all or most minor pieces and then tripling heavy pieces
against the pawn. Here White had helped Black by mistakenly trading a wonderful knight
on e5 for a bishop on c6.
Then came 1 … d6 2 g3 d8 3 d1 b6 (not 3 … d7? 4 a4) 4 e1 d7 5 cd3
d6. But White can defend d4 with 6 e4 and meet a knight maneuver to f5 with d4-d5!.
There followed 6 … c6 7 f4 d5! so that 8 e4 b4! forces a favorable queen trade
(9 xc6 xc6 10 d5 b4!).
White retreated 8 d2 but after 8 … b6 the threat of … b4 prompted 9 xd5 xd5
and then 10 b3 c6 11 c3 d7!.

White to play

Black is not threatening the pawn because after trades on d4 White has xb7. But Black
is threatening 12 … e5!.
White’s 12 f4 was forced and then came 12 … b6! 13 b4 b5 (threat of 14 … a5) 14 a4
bxa4 15 a3 a5 16 xa4 b5 17 d2.
Black could penetrate with his rook, 17 … c8 and … c1+. But he preferred 17 … e5!
18 fxe5 xe5 19 a1 e8! 20 dxe5 xd2 and soon won.
If no minor pieces have been traded, the priyome calls for a swap of the knights. The
reason is that knights tend to bene t from the outpost squares on the c- and e- les that the
d-pawn controls. Also knights tend to interfere with the doubling or tripling of enemy
heavy pieces.

Karpov – Spassky
Montreal 1979
White to play

White began with 1 e5!, which prepares f3 and b3/ xd5. Then came 1 … e6 2
xc6!.
Note that 2 … bxc6 would create the more easily defended ‘hanging pawns.’ But 3 a6!
would cost the Exchange.
So Black retook 2 … xc6 and then came 3 f3 b6 4 e5, raising the prospect of
xf6/ xd5 at some point.
Black felt obliged to trade knights, 4 … e4 5 e2 xc3 6 xc3 d8.

White to play

White proceeds with the tripling of heavy pieces, with the queen in the rear, 7 d3 cd6
8 fd1 6d7 9 1d2! b5 10 d1 b6.
 But Black is not vulnerable to the pin that won the previous game (11 e4? dxe4).
Instead, White probed for a kingside weakness while Black’s pieces were tied to d5: 11 g3
f8 12 g2 e7 13 h5 a6 14 h3 c6 15 h2 a5.
White’s winning plan began with 16 f4 and a threat of f5-f6. Then came 16 … f6 17 d1
b5 18 g4. Black overlooked the threat and played 18 … g5 18 h1 c6, allowing 19 f5!
f7 20 e4!. Now 20 … dxe4?? loses a rook, 21 xd7. So Black answered 20 … g7 and
was lost after 21 exd5.
 11 Confronting g2-g4 with … h5

Computers have taught us not to be afraid of advancing our g-pawn two squares. That
push is crucial in many attacks but is also useful in purely positional middlegames because
it gains so much kingside space.
Yet g2-g4 can begin a positional horror story if it’s met strongly by … h5.

Nimzovich – Capablanca
New York 1927
White to play

Textbooks used to say White was wrong for seeking g2-g4 in this much-anthologized
example. Today we know he would stand well after 1 f2 and 2 g4!. Also after 1 … h5 2
d2, 3 c1 and 4 c4.
But he rushed into 1 g4? and was met by 1 … xe3 2 xe3 h5!. Then if 3 gxh5? xh5
Black can exploit the pawn structure by securing king’s safety (perhaps … g8-g7) and
then … ah8 and … e7-f5.
The other problem for White is that 3 h3? is also poor after 3 … hxg4 4 hxg4 and 4 … 0-
0-0. Black would be able to use the h- le with … h4/ … dh8. He can also undermine the
White center with … g5!.
So, White played 3 g5. That’s an ugly move because it virtually rules out f4-f5. It’s not
easy to exploit that. But 16 moves later:

Black to play
 Black was ready to invade with heavy pieces and eventually won after … e4 and …
cc4!.
This priyome has become familiar in the Berlin Defense endgame. White often plays g2-
g4 to drive a knight off f5 and prepare f2-f4-f5.

Gligoric – Neikirch
Portoroz 1958
Black to play

White’s bishop is a bit bad and Black has a healthier pawn majority. But Black can’t
castle because his king has moved. The position is roughly equal.
White has just played 1 e2, instead of the safer 1 g2. The di erence was revealed by 1
… h5!.
White would like to maintain his pawn on g4 by means of 2 h3 hxg4 3 hxg4. But 3 … d4!
would be strong because 4 cxd4 walks into 4 … h3! 5 g 2 xf3 (6 xf3 xd4 – with
check and advantage).
White felt forced into 2 g5. Black can’t play 2 … 0-0. He might be attracted by 2 … d4 3
cxd4 cxd4 because of 4 c2 d3 5 c3 b4 6 a3 d5.
But he decided to activate his king at the cost of a pawn: 2 … d7! 3 xd5+ e6 4
xd8 xd8. Thanks to … h5/g4-g5 he prepared 5 … f5!. White replied 5 h4.

Black to play

Thanks to the f5 square that Black won with 1 … h5 and the crippled White pawn
majority, Black is at least equal.
One good winning try is 5 … d1+ followed by 6 … a1 and … a5-a4/ … a5-c4. Black
chose another, 5 … d5 6 g3 f5 7 g2 d8 – headed for c7 – and had equal chances.
 12 Knight Shift

When the e-pawns oppose one another at e4 and e5, a very common priyome is the
transfer of a White knight to f5 or a Black one to f4.
Since the kings are typically castled on this wing, the maneuver often exerts attacking
pressure in the same way that a White knight on c5 – or a Black one on c4 – exerts
positional pressure in 1 d4 d5 games.

Svidler – Jakovenko
Moscow 2008
White to play

A master knows when the kingside knight shift is e ective, such as when his opponent
has weakened his king position. Here the tipoff was Black’s last move, … h6.
White replied 1 h4! since Black cannot prevent f5 (1 … g6? 2 xg6!).
There would have been complications after 1 … xe4!?, threatening xh4, and 2 g6
xd2 3 xf8 db3!.
But Black averted g6 with 1 … h7 and 2 f5! xf5? 3 exf5 c6.

White to play

The basic priyome was over with 2 f5. But experience in this kind of position tells us to
take advantage of the pawn structure further with 4 g4!.
 White will exploit d5 and e4 once the knight is driven o f6. There followed 4 … g8 5
h4! h7 6 d5 c8 7 axb5 axb5 8 f3! b8 and now 9 g5! hxg5 10 e4!.
The attack would roll on after 10 … gxh4 11 h1! f6 12 xf6+ xf6 13 g1 or 10 …
f6 11 xf6+! xf6 12 h1! and g1.
Black tried 10 … d7 instead. After 11 hxg5 xg5 12 xg5 xg5 White eventually
won with 13 a6 e7 14 a7 – and 13 xd6! is even stronger.
But when an intruding knight can be driven back it can turn out to be liability.

Vallejo-Pons – Illescas
Dos Hermanas 2001
White to play

Black’s knight has just landed on f4. It watches g2, discourages d5, and may prepare a
pawn storm, … g5/ … h5 and … g4.
But 1 h4! was strong because it threatens 2 g3!, now that White is not losing a pawn at
h3.
Black would simply drop a pawn after 1 … e6? 2 g4. Better is 1 … d8 but Black
would be clearly in retreat after 2 g3! e6 3 a4.
So he played 1 … e7. But after 2 g3! it was clear that 2 … h5 3 h2! h7 4 hg4!
would be more than unpleasant.
The poor knight advanced, 2 … h3+ and 3 g2 g5 4 hxg5 hxg5 5 e2!.

Black to play
 White has met the threat of 5 … g4 6 -moves xf2+. He also made a threat of his own,
h2-g4/ h1, to win the trapped knight.
Black’s best practical chance would have been 5 … f4+!? 6 gxf4 exf4 – a variation on
the f5 sacrifice we’ll examine in Chapter Three.
But he underestimated how much trouble the knight at h3 is in and lost after 5 … h6 6
h2! g6 7 h1 g4!? 8 exg4 xd2 9 xd2 f5 10 exf5 xf5 11 xh3!. Or 9 … f4+ 10
gxf4 xg4 11 ag1 and White wins.
The knight shift is common on the Black side of a King’s Indian Defense and the White
side of a Ruy Lopez, Giuoco Piano or Two Knights Defense. In the latter cases, White
typically plays bd2-f1-g3-f5 or -e3-f5. In fact, Wilhelm Steinitz made the maneuver to f5
famous by adopting it even before he castled.
 13 Irregular Recapture … fxg6

‘Pawns should capture towards the center’ is sound advice to beginners. But you’re no
longer a beginner. Masters use a priyome to break the rule.

Spassky – Petrosian
World Championship 1969
White to play

White has just played e4-e5, prompting … d5. He intends to use the e4 square, after 1
xg6 hxg6, in a kingside attack.
For example, 2 e4 would prepare fg5 followed by g4-h4 and h7+. By retaking
towards the center Black can’t counter g5 with … h6!.
True, he could play 2 … f6 instead. But 3 exf6 gxf6 4 h4 favors White. Also, White has
the edge after 2 … c5 3 d6. And on 2 … e7 3 g5:

Black to play

The xe7 trade is excellent in view of d6 or fg5/ g4-h4/ a3-h3.

But this didn’t happen. Black answered 1 xg6 with 1 … fxg6!. That killed White’s
kingside hopes since g5 can now be met by … h6.
Yes, f7 and e6 are weakened. But they cannot be exploited. White tried to exert
positional pressure with 2 d2 e7! 3 e4 f8 4 a5 but ran out of steam after 4 … c8 5
fc1 a6 6 g4 h6 7 e4 d7 8 h4 ed8 and drew.
 The power of … fxg6 is so great that allowing it can be a grave mistake.

Sveshnikov – Balashov
Moscow 1976
White to play

Instead of defending the threatened e-pawn, White preferred 1 xg6.

It’s not hard to understand why: If Black castles kingside after 1 … hxg6 White would
have an easy attack based on f4, g5 and g4-h4.
White might prefer 2 g5 to stop … 0-0-0. If Black responds 2 … e7, he can land in a
bad-B-vs.-N middlegame after xe7 and bd2-b3-d4.
Nevertheless, 1 xg6? was bad because of 1 … fxg6!. Then Black can safely castle
kingside – because of … h6! – and use the half-open file.
Play went 2 f4 0-0 3 g3 e7 4 bd2 f5.

White to play

Black has a strong plan of attacking f2 with … h6!, … f7, … af8, … b6 and a
mixture of … xg3 and … g5-g4!.
White could not establish his d4 outpost with 5 b3 because of 5 … a4! and he
eventually lost after 6 h1 b6 7 c2 ad8 8 e2 h6! 9 h3 g5!.
 14 Indian Space-Grab

One of the more elaborate priyomes arises in the King’s Indian Defense/Reversed. The
key is the space-grabbing advance of the e-pawn.

E. Nikolic – Fischer
Vinkovci 1968
Black to play

By not advancing his e-pawn to e4, White reduces the center play Black gets from …
exd4. But Black gains ground for attack after 1 … e4!.
The basic moves of this priyome are … f5/ … h5 and … bd7-f8-h7. That’s a lot more
than for most priyomes. But it puts Black into position for a potent attack based on … d7/
… h3 and/or … g5/ … h4.
White has so few defensive resources that he tried to open the queenside or center to
distract Black, 2 b4! f5 3 h3 h5 4 f4 bd7 5 a4 f8.
But after 6 c5? Black sealed the center with 6 … d5!. It was evident after 7 b5 8h7 8
d2 g5 9 b2 d7 10 h2 h6 that Black’s attack was faster.
White’s last chance for play was 11 a5, intending 12 a6!.

Black to play

Black crashed through with 11 … g4! 12 hxg4 hxg4. He is preparing to invade on the
h-file with … g7/… h8 and also has … f3+ coming up.
 White was lost soon after 13 h1 f3+! 14 xf3 gxf3 15 g1 xf4! 16 exf4 g7! and
… h8.
The kingside expansion allows for a variety of sacri ces and methods to pursuing an
attack. Here’s a colors-reversed version of it.

Chuchelov – Arlandi
Mondariz 2000
White to play

White may try to push his pawn to h6. If Black replies … g6, he creates a hole at f6 that
White can exploit with d2/ g5/ xe7 and h2-g4-f6+.
Instead, White went for mate with 1 g5. Then on 2 h5 h6, he could decide whether to
retreat the knight – followed by a piece sacri ce on h6 – or 3 e3 with the idea of 3 …
hxg5 4 hxg5 and g4-f6+!.
Black met 1 g5 with 1 … e8 so that 2 h5? xg5 3 hxg5 (or 3 xg5) f5! would secure
the kingside (4 gxf6?? xh5).
After 2 e3 b4 3 g4. Black needed to take defensive steps such as 3 … h6 or 3 … h8.
Instead, he allowed a standard sacrifice, 3 … a6? 4 f6+! gxf6 5 exf6 xf6 6 h5.
White would win quickly after 6 … xg5 7 xg5+ h8 8 f6+ and h6.
Black created a flight square for his king, 6 … h6 and then 7 xh6 xg5 8 xg5+ h7.
But White finished off with 9 h5+ g8 10 h6 and a check.
 15 Undoubling Outpost

Pawns become harder to defend as they advance. Doubled pawns become even weaker.
But in this priyome, a liability becomes an asset, as a doubled pawn advances to serve as
anchor for a knight outpost.

Ross – Lesiege
Quebec 1990
Black to play

White wants to attack the e5-pawn and force … f6 or … d6. Then he can open the
center with f2-f4 or d2-d4. Or he could leave the pawn structure intact and try to exploit it
with the knight shift to f5.
Black replied with a priyome, 1 … c5! and 2 b2 f6 3 d3 b8!. He stopped d3-d4 and
readied … c6-d4, which would make the knight the best minor piece on the board.
Then if White captures the knight, … cxd4 will undouble the pawns. White would have
no compensation for his lack of space and unfavorable N-vs.-B matchup. On the other
hand, if White ousts the knight from d4 with c2-c3, he grossly weakens his d3-pawn.
Play went 4 c3 e6 5 d1 c6 6 e3.

Black to play

Now 6 … d4 would have given Black a ne game. He chose to prepare queenside

castling first, with 6 … d7 and 7 h4 g6.
 White appreciated how good 8 … 0-0-0 and … d4 would be so he tried, 8 f4 exf4 9
xf4 g5! and 10 xf6 xf6 11 xf6. But he was lost after 11 … f8! 12 xg5 g7! (13 f3
xf3 and … xg5).
This priyome has a kingside version, when xf6 and … exf6 have been played. For
example, 1 d4 f6 2 c3 d5 3 g5 c6 4 xf6 exf6 5 e3:

Black to play

Should Black make his bad bishop worse? Yes, because 5 … f5! secures a ne outpost at
e4. White will be reluctant to play f2-f3, because that weakens e3. And only one bishop is
left to attack e3 – Black’s.
In one instructive game White tried 6 d3 g6 7 ce2, preparing c2-c4. Then came 7 …
d7 8 f3 d6! and 9 0-0 0-0 10 b3 f6 11 c4 e4.

White to play

Ousting or capturing the e4-knight will favor Black. He gave his opponent another way
to undouble the pawns, after 12 cxd5 cxd5 13 f4 e6. White passed up xe6 but lost
after 14 a3 f6 15 b4 g5! and … g4.
 16 Securing e5 with … g5!?

When White trades his d-pawn in a Sicilian Defense (1 e4 c5 2 f3 and 3 d4 cxd4) he

gets a splendid square at d4 for a knight. Black has his own outpost at e5 but White can
challenge it with f2-f4. The sharpest way for Black to secure control of e5 is the doubled-
edged priyome … g5.

Milos – J. Polgar
Sao Paolo 1996
Black to play

White has a typical attacking setup that would allow him, for example, to meet … 0-0
with h2-h4 and g4-g5, with good chances.
If Black counters with the … d5 priyome she doesn’t have enough compensation for a
pawn after 1 … d5?! 2 e5 e4? 3 xe4 dxe4 4 xe4.
But 1 … g5! wins control of e5. The Black knights would take over the game after 2 fxg5
hxg5 3 xg5 e5 and then 4 g3 fxg4 5 xe7 xe7!.

White to play

Black retakes with his king because she wants her queen to threaten … b6!. For
example, 6 h3 b6! 7 e2 cg8! and White crumples.
But 1 … g5 is not just a tactical shot. It’s a strategic idea that wins e5 one way or the
other. Instead of 2 fxg5, White tried 2 f5. But after 2 … e5 3 h3 d7! it was evident
that the safer king was Black’s.
White defended his g-pawn with 4 e2 but Black had a series of blows: 4 … h5! 5 fxe6+
fxe6 6 gxh5 g4 7 g2 xc3!.
Then came 8 bxc3 xe4 9 f2 xh5 10 f4 g3! 11 hxg3 xf4 12 xf4 h1+ 13 f2
h2+ 14 e3 g5 and Black won. Or 14 g1 g2+ 15 h1 h8+.
Of course, … g5 weakens many squares in Black’s camp. When White can maintain an
initiative, this priyome can turn out badly:

J. Polgar – Topalov
Hoogeveen 2006
Black to play

Black played 1 … g5!? and then 2 e2 bd7. White rejected 3 h4 g8! 4 hxg5 hxg5
because after … e5 her own g-pawn will be under re and she hasn’t bene ted from
opening the h-file.
So the game proceeded with 3 0-0-0 e5 4 h3 fd7 5 f4! and then 5 … gxf4 6 xf4 b5
7 hf1 b7 8 f2. White is taking aim at f7 but that square is safe as long as xe5 can be
met by … xe5.
However, it is easier to play White’s position than Black’s. She executed a nice knight
maneuver, 8 … c8 9 ce2! g7?! 10 g3 h7 11 h5! h8 12 b1. An inexact move,
12 … c5?, weakened control of e5.

White to play
 White could have broken through with 13 f5! exf5 14 xe5! xe5 15 xf5 and xh7
(15 … h8?? 16 xf7 mate).
Exploring the Variety of Random
Documents with Different Content
 "Bring it, anyway. Any one can bring wine when there is wine,
but it takes a smart boy to fetch it when there is n't any."
"Hi hain't smart henuff," said Buster.
"It is of no importance, Tom," said Brummell, graciously.
"Since when?" demanded Moore in surprise. "How is that,
Sherry?"
"I never drink," said the elder man, waving aside the idea of
alcoholic indulgence with a gesture of fine contempt.
"No?" asked the poet, wonderingly. "Oh, I suppose you have it
rubbed into your skin by your valet."
At this moment Bessie, having finished setting the table, sat
down in the chair pulled out for her by Sheridan and the Beau in
gallant competition, and the supper began.
"Will you say grace, Brummell?" asked Moore.
"Say it yourself," drawled the Arbiter of Fashion, smiling lazily at
his hostess.
"But, his Highness thinks me a graceless rogue," objected the
poet, "so it would be an act of treason for me to prove him a liar."
"Well, then, I 'll say it meself," volunteered Sheridan, with a
wink at Moore.
"Good man. Hush, now, every one."
Sheridan rose from his chair and leaning over took possession of
the bread plate.
"Ah," said Moore, knowingly, "then it is to be 'Give us this day
our daily bread,' eh, Sherry?"
"You are away off the scent, Tommy," responded the dramatist
in a superior tone. "Nothing so conventional would be appropriate
for this festive occasion."
 "Do go on, Sherry," advised Brummell, "I am growing
disgracefully hungry."
"Anything to oblige, Beau. See, friends,

'There's bread here for four of us:

Thank God, there's no more of us!'"

Sheridan sat down amidst the laughing approval of the others.

"That," observed Moore, "is what I call a curst fine bit of prayer-
making. Sherry and I like our prayers like our liquor--concentrated."
"Your remark is a trifle paradoxical," commented Brummell.
"Yes, Mistress Bessie, sugar and milk both."
"Brummell has a sweet tooth," said Sheridan, taking the cup
Bessie passed him.
"And Bessie has a sweet mouth," said Moore, buttering his
bread generously.
"I suppose you know all about that, Tom?"
"Trust me for that, Sherry."
"That sort of credit is easy for an Irishman to obtain," said the
old gentleman.
"With Bessie?" inquired Moore. "That shows you have never
tried, Sherry."
"He does n't know whether I have or not, does he, Mistress
Bessie?"
"Of course he does n't," chimed in the girl, coquettishly. "We
don't have to tell him all our little frolics, do we?"
 "I 'd hate to if I hoped to retain his friendship," chuckled the
wit. "It is like confident youth to imagine itself ever the only
favored."
"Look here," said Moore, aggressively, "there will be enough of
this supper, such as it is, to go around handsomely without trying to
spoil my appetite with your base innuendoes, you old scandal-school
maker."
"He is jealous," observed Sheridan. "Just have the kindness to
remember my age, Thomas."
"How can I when you yourself do not?" asked the poet, slyly.
"Brummell, pass the butter. If it's stronger than you are, shout for
help."
"You wrong the article," said the Beau, handing over the desired
plate. "It's quiescence is most amiable."
"That reminds me," Moore remarked thoughtfully, "of a scheme
I have for increasing the volume of the milk given by the cow."
"Volume?" repeated Sheridan. "D' ye mean the way the tale is
presented to the public?"
"Well, if you let the bovine offspring remain too adjacent it's
bound in calf the lacteal fluid would be," replied Moore.
"Faith, the animal should be brought to book for that," returned
Sheridan.
"She 'd probably turn pale at the thought and kick over the
cream," retorted Moore.
"Dear me!" cried Bessie, "what brilliant gentlemen, are they not,
Mr. Brummell?"
"Yes, Mistress Dyke," answered the Beau, "they are not."
 Bessie laughed at the unexpected termination of the Beau's
remark.
"A couple of silly punsters, 'pon my honor," sighed the exquisite,
nibbling his bread daintily.
"I think, Sherry," said Moore, "after that rebuke we had better
be less witty. I 'll tell my story later on. The bill of fare includes
chicken, gentlemen."
"Oh, Tom," said Bessie, shocked, "how can you fib so?"
"In the shell, Bessie, in the shell," explained the host, holding
up an egg. "Cold and hard, but so young it would melt in your
mouth. Then comes bread-and-butter and tea."
"My favorite dish, believe me," declared Brummell.
"Then comes tea and bread-and-butter. Next, some cups and
saucers and knives and forks."
"D'ye think we are ostriches?" demanded Sheridan.
"Then comes the best of all, gentlemen, the dessert."
"And what may that be, Tommy?"
"Well, it may be custard pudding--"
"Ah!" said Brummell in an approving tone.
"But it is n't," continued Moore. "It is something even sweeter
and softer."
"Don't arouse my curiosity further," pleaded Sheridan.
"Well, then, we are to have kisses for dessert."
Sheridan and the Beau applauded noisily while Bessie blushed in
a most becoming manner.
"How is the dessert to be served, Tommy?"
"I kiss Bessie," said Moore, exultantly. "Then comes your turn,
Sherry."
 "Ah!" said that gentleman, smacking his lips in anticipation.
"Then comes your turn, Sherry. You kiss Brummell."
The wit gave an exclamation of disappointment, while the rest
of the party laughed heartily.
"Really, Tom," said the Beau, "this egg is delicious."
"Sure it is," replied his host. "We raised that one on the bottle,
didn't we, Bessie?"
Meanwhile he had helped himself to another, and cracking the
shell, turned away with an exclamation of disgust.
"Oh, Lord!" he exclaimed, holding his nose. "Bessie, I knew I
ought to have hurried home with that egg if I wanted to eat it. Faith,
it is too much a chicken to be an egg, and too much egg to be a
chicken. Buster, accept this with my compliments."
Buster obediently carried away the cause of the trouble and
stowed it outside on a corner of the window-sill, reserving it for use
as ammunition at some future time.
"I never drank such tea, Mistress Bessie," said Sheridan, passing
his cup to be refilled. "Really you are an enchantress."
"She enchanted me years ago," said Moore.
"I suited him to a tee the first time I saw him," said Bessie,
laughing.
"A pun is the lowest form of humor," said Moore, severely.
"And therefore at the bottom of all true wit," said Sheridan,
coming to his hostess's defence like the gallant old Irishman he was.
"It seems to me you two are very thick," said Moore, critically. "I
'll have you to understand, Richard Brinsley, that I am not to be
treated with contempt."
 "I think Irish whisky would be what I should treat you with,
Tommy."
"A happy thought," cried the poet. "Buster, the Dew of Heaven."
"Some 'un just knocked, Mr. Moore," said the boy.
"Then open the door, you gossoon."
Buster did so, and Lord Brooking stepped quickly into the room.

Chapter Twenty-Four
TOM MOORE HEARS OF A POLITICAL APPOINTMENT

"Lord Brooking," cried Bessie in surprise, rising from the table. "I
thought you were still on the Continent."
"Not I, Mistress Dyke. I returned yesterday. So, Mr. Moore, you
have been getting into trouble, have you?"
"Did you ever hear of an Irishman who was able to keep out of
it long?" asked Sheridan, waving his hand in greeting to the young
nobleman.
"Your lordship has come just in time. Buster, call that bulldog
away before Lord Brooking bites him. Get another plate, lad. Sherry,
move up and make room for his lordship."
"There hain't any more plites," said Buster in a hoarse whisper.
"Then get a saucer," commanded Moore, gaily.
"No, no, Tom," said his lordship. "I 've just dined."
"Oh, you know you are welcome," said Moore. "Don't be too
polite if you are hungry."
"I could n't eat a mouthful," said Lord Brooking.
 "That's d--n lucky!" whispered Moore to Sheridan.
"Tut, tut, Tom," quoth that staid old party. "Profanity is a luxury
and should be used not abused."
"That's like an obedient wife," said Moore. "Your lordship, this is
an impromptu banquet to celebrate my engagement to Mistress
Dyke."
"Is the engagement an impromptu?" asked Sheridan.
"No, we got it by heart," said Moore.
Brummell clapped his pretty hands in delight.
"Egad," said he, "I 've not heard such verbal fireworks this six
months."
"So you are betrothed, Tom?" said Lord Brooking.
"The darlin' has made me say 'Yes' at last," said Moore in an
apparently bashful tone.
"Mistress Dyke," said his lordship, taking her hand and kissing it,
"Tom is indeed a lucky man. I wish you both all the happiness you
deserve. Hang me, if I 'm not envious, Tom. I 've half a mind to
marry myself."
"It takes a smart man to marry himself," commented Moore,
"but it is economical."
Brooking sat down and crossed his legs in an easy attitude.
"I have news for you, Tom," said he. "News that I fancy will
please you."
"Have you found me a long-lost uncle, childless, wifeless, and
worth a million?"
"Not exactly."
"What, then, your lordship? Surely not a long-lost son?"
 "I have endeavored to secure you the appointment of Registrar
of the Admiralty Court at Bermuda. The salary of the office is five
hundred pounds yearly."
"Bermuda?" echoed the poet, hardly able to believe his ears.
"Where the devil is Bermuda?" asked Sheridan, taking snuff.
"That is where the onions come from, you ancient ignoramus,
but its geographical location does not matter tuppence," said Moore.
"If you get the place for me, sir, I will accept it gladly, and I thank
you more than I can tell for the attempt, whether you succeed or
not."
"Pshaw," said Lord Brooking, "wait until I put the appointment
in your hands, Tom."
"Ah," said Bessie, softly, "your lordship knows how grateful we
both are for your many kindnesses."
"Say no more about it," replied the young nobleman, blushing
like a girl. "If I may truthfully congratulate myself on having made
the world brighter and life's path easier for two such deserving
friends, I have gained a satisfaction no money could ever purchase."
Moore shook his patron's hand with a grip that conveyed more
than any words of thanks could have done.
"Tommy, my boy, don't you need a private secretary?" inquired
Sheridan.
"Thank you, I 'll have no such lady-killer in my official family,"
replied Moore.
"I congratulate you both," said Brummell, "but we will miss you
when Bermuda claims your society."
"You shall still be in touch with the world," said Sheridan. "I 'll
write you all the scandal once a week."
 "It will take a pound for postage if you write it all, Sherry," said
Moore, dubiously.
"And I," said Brummell, rising, pompously, "will keep you
informed of the changes I deem advisable to make in the fashions."
"That's mighty good of you, Beau."
"Oh, that will be splendid," said Bessie. "I will set all the styles
on the island."
"Not much," said Moore, horrified. "To do that, Bessie, you
would have to wear fig-leaves."
"Promise me, Tom, that you will let me know if the black ladies
are as pretty as they say?" said Sheridan.
"I will investigate that matter myself," responded the poet,
winking slyly at the dramatist.
"Indeed you will do nothing of the kind, Tom Moore," said
Bessie in an indignant tone.
"Certainly not," said he. "Sherry, you are a wicked old man to
even suggest such a thing."
"I was always fond of brunettes," said Sheridan, calmly, "like
you, Tom."
"What horrid things men are!"
"Old men are," assented Moore. "Sherry, you are a shocking old
rascal."
"He is no worse than you, Tom," said the girl.
"Not half so bad, on my honor," observed the elder gentleman.
"You are so, Mr. Sheridan," said the girl, changing front
immediately.
"See, Sherry, you can't abuse me with impunity," declared
Moore with a chuckle.
 "I 'll abuse you with profanity if you do not stop flaunting your
amatory success in my venerable countenance," tartly retorted the
gay old Irishman.
Lord Brooking looked at his watch.
"Jove!" he exclaimed, "I had no idea it was so late. I must be
off."
"So soon?" asked Moore, regretfully, as his lordship rose to his
feet.
"I 'm due at Lady Fancourt's amateur theatricals in ten
minutes."
"So am I," said Brummell, smoothing his ruffles.
"And I also," said Sheridan. "Is your cab waiting, Brookie, me
boy?"
"I think so," responded his lordship. "I 'll be glad of your
company. Will you risk close quarters with us, Brummell?"
"Not I, Brooking," said the Beau. "I prefer not to disarrange my
costume by crowding Sheridan."
"Aye," said Moore. "An Irishman 's a bad thing for an
Englishman to crowd too far. Since you are going to walk, George, I
'll honor myself by seeing you out of the neighborhood. Such swells
as you are tempting game, and there is many a dark alley only too
handy."
"Good night, Mistress Dyke," said Lord Brooking, bowing low
over her hand.
"Good night," she said sweetly, "and thank you again."
"Promise that once in a while you will write me how fortune
treats you if you go to Bermuda."
 "Every month," answered the girl, her eyes bright with the
gratitude which filled her heart. "God bless you, sir."
"Good night," said his lordship again, and stepped out in the
hall.
Sheridan kissed Bessie's hand, and purposely lingered over it so
long that Moore shook his fist at him.
"Easy there, Sherry, easy there."
"Selfish man!" murmured Sheridan, as he followed Brooking.
"Good night, Mistress Dyke."
Brummell bade good night to his hostess and joined the others
in their descent as Moore, after making a feint of putting a kiss upon
Bessie's hand, at the last moment transferred it to her smiling lips.
"You won't be longer than is necessary, will you, Tom?"
"I 'll not be half that long," said he, running after his guests,
who were now well on their way down the first flight of stairs.
Bessie turned from the door with a rapturous sigh, only to
receive a reproachful glance from Buster, who was sternly regarding
her.
"Wot 'll become hof my morals hif these hindearments
continyers?" thought the lad, vaguely jealous. "Hit's henuff to turn
one hagin mater-ri-mony, that's wot hit his. Hi thinks Hi 'll jine a
monkery."
"To Bessie," murmured the girl, kissing the poem as she drew it
from her breast, little suspecting Buster's doubtful frame of mind.
"Buster, you may clear away the tea-things after you have had your
supper. I must go down and tell Mrs. Malone the good news."
"Well, hif she harsks arfter me, say Montgomery Julien
Hethelbert sends 'is luv," said the boy, more cheerfully.
 "Montgomery Julien Ethelbert," said the girl, opening the door.
When she had closed it behind her, Buster addressed himself
disgustedly to his pal, Lord Castlereagh.
"Montgomery Julien Hethelbert," he repeated in high disdain.
"Hain't that an 'ell of a nime for a sporting cove like me?"
"Wuff!" barked the dog, in sympathy.
 Chapter Twenty-Five
SIR INCOGNITO RECEIVES A WARM WELCOME

The gentleman whose attentions to Jane Sweeny were causing so

much excitement in the neighborhood favored by her residence, little
suspecting that a warm welcome was there in preparation for him,
let himself quietly out of a little private door in the rear of his great
mansion and turned his steps cheerfully towards their rendezvous.
He seemed to be in fine spirits, for once or twice he checked a
whistle as it was about to escape from the lips he had unconsciously
pursed as he strode quickly along.
It seemed to be his wish to avoid recognition, for he kept his
face hidden as much as was rendered possible by his up-turned
cloak collar and wide, drawn-down hat brim, though this desire upon
his part seemed to grow less imperative as he left the fashionable
locality in which he lived, and turning down a side street, followed a
course that twisted and turned from poor neighborhood to even
poorer, then on till the respectability of the locality was once more
on the increase until he found himself on a shabby street not far
from the one on which the establishment of Mrs. Malone was
situated. The spot at which he had arranged to meet Sweeny's
daughter was now near at hand. The gentleman, who was tall and
well shaped, though slightly inclined to corpulence, strolled leisurely
along the street, evidently confident that his charmer would not fail
to be on hand promptly at their trysting place, but much to his
surprise, when he arrived there was no one waiting for him. He
paused, gave an exclamation of disappointment, and, drawing out
his watch, stepped nearer the street lamp that he might see if he
had anticipated the time appointed for his arrival. The timepiece
assured him that he was several minutes behind the chosen hour,
and after swearing softly to himself, he pocketed it and turned,
intending to stroll leisurely up and down the street until the tardy
damsel should put in an appearance.
At this moment a stalwart youth, with eyes set widely apart and
the jaw of a pugilist, walked softly across from the opposite side. So
noiseless was his tread that the first comer did not discover his
proximity until he had approached within a yard or two.
"H'are yer witing for some 'un?" demanded the unprepossessing
youth, whose name it is almost a needless formality to announce
was Isaac.
"What is that to you, sir?" replied the gentleman, haughtily,
contemptuously regarding his questioner.
"W'y, sir, Jine harsked me--"
"Oh, Jane sent you then?"
"Ha!" cried the younger man, triumphantly. "Hi wuz sure yer
wuz the cove. There hain't no doubt habout it now."
"Perhaps you will be kind enough to inform me as to the reason
for this sudden ebullition of delight?" said the gentleman, puzzled by
the youth's behavior, and, if not alarmed, not exactly at ease as to
the probable developments of the immediate future.
If his eyes had been a trifle more used to the semi-darkness of
the street, particularly at the places midway between the flickering
lanterns, on whose incompetent illumination depended the lighting
of the great city after nightfall, the elegant stranger would have
perceived that his interrogator was not alone. Several little groups
had emerged from convenient doorways and cellars, and, clustered
in the denser shadows for temporary concealment, awaited a
prearranged signal to advance. These sinister-looking individuals
were armed with weapons still more sinister,--knotty cudgels, heavy
canes, in one instance an axe handle and in another a spade, new
and unsullied as yet by labor.
"Ho, Hi 'll be kind henuff, don't 'ee fear," sneered Isaac, and
with a quick movement he snatched his felt hat from his bullet head
and slapped it viciously across the face of his companion.
Immediately he received a blow on the chin straight from the
shoulder of the insulted gallant, which dropped him, an inert bundle
of clothing, in the filth of the gutter.
"Down with the swell!" yelled an enthusiastic lad, armed with an
empty quart bottle, as the crowd surged forward from both sides,
scattering across the street to cut off all chance of their game's
escape.
The object of their hostile intentions threw a hurried glance
around him and, realizing the futility of attempting to break through
the ranks of his enemies, gave an exclamation of despair. Escape
seemed impossible, yet surrender was not to be thought of, for the
fate in store for him at their hands was only too plainly evidenced by
their demeanor. Turning, he ran up the steps of the house
immediately behind him and tried the door. It was locked and made
of material far too tough and seasoned to yield to the impact of his
weight, as he found when he had hurled himself with crushing force
against it.
 Meanwhile the mob had almost reached the steps which at their
highest point attained an altitude of about eight feet. If he ran down
to the street it would be only to rush into their clutches; unarmed as
he was he could not long successfully defend the stairs; then what
could he do?
"Watch!" he yelled at the top of his lungs. "Watch! Watch to the
rescue! Murder! Watch! Help!"
The united force of his pursuers halted in front of the house
where he had vainly endeavored to secure an entrance. The game
was trapped and their plan had met with success quite unqualified,
unless the insensibility resulting from the tremendous punch which
Isaac's jaw had received from the gentleman now at bay at the top
of the steps could be regarded in the light of a serious reverse. The
disposition of the still unconscious youth's companions seemed to be
to regard his misfortune in the light of a joke, though their obvious
intention was to add this example of the strange gallant's prowess to
the total of the score for which they expected to secure settlement
in full without further delay.
"'Ee 's an 'ansome pusson, hain't 'ee?" remarked one facetious
individual in the front rank of the crowd assembled at the bottom
step.
"A blooming Prince Charmin'," assented a heavy-browed ruffian,
resting his great cudgel on the railing. "Oh, but he are n't a
circumstance to what he will look when we have altered his
countenance a bit."
"It stroikes me the spalpeen has been powdering his mug,"
growled Sweeny, his little eyes blazing with a ferocious light. His lips,
damp and red, were wolf-like as his tusk-shaped and scattered teeth
bit deep into them in his rage. "He 's pale loike."
"Watch! Watch!"
"Call, sorr, call. It's no good the watch will do yez this noight. Ye
'll git a bating now that ye will carry the marks of to your dying day."
"I 'd rather be excused, sir," replied the gentleman, coolly.
"Unless I mistake, I have not the honor of your acquaintance."
"I 'm Sweeny, Jane's father."
"Indeed? How do you do, Mr. Sweeny?" politely inquired the
girl's admirer.
"I 'll be better when I 've pounded you to a pulp," growled the
old Irishman, taking a new and firmer grip on the club he held.
"Then why delay, friends? Let us have it over with at once,"
suggested the hunted gentleman, smiling as pleasantly as though he
were inviting divers acquaintances to partake of biscuits and tea.
"Bli' me, hif 'ee ain't a well-plucked cove," said the lad with the
bottle.
A murmur of admiring assent ran through the crowd. It would
be much greater sport to beat so valiant a gentleman to death than
to thrash a low-spirited coward such as they had anticipated
encountering. These worthy and unworthy denizens of poverty-
stricken dwellings, for in the assemblage there were both honest and
dishonest, like most of their rank in society, were firm believers in
the theory that fine clothes and a high-bred manner were reliable
indications of a cowardly spirit and physical weakness. To so
suddenly have their ideas on this subject proved incorrect was a
surprise more startling than would be at first imagined.
 Sweeny felt that his followers were wavering in their allegiance,
and fearing lest further delay might result in a behavior on their part
unsatisfactory to him personally, he gave a growl of wrath and
rushed fiercely up the steps waving his cudgel. The gentleman
calmly and skilfully kicked him in the mouth and sent him hurling
backward down on the heads of his friends, bloodstained and well
nigh insensible. This bit of battle decided the action of the mob, and,
excited by the sight of their leader's blood, they pressed resolutely
up the steps. It was quite impossible for the hunted gallant to beat
back such a force as was now attacking him, and, fully realizing this,
he made no such attempt. Instead, he tore his cloak from about his
shoulders and threw it over the heads of the foremost of his
opponents, leaped quickly on the railing of the steps and sprang
wildly and hopelessly towards the parallel flight which led to the
front door of the adjacent house. He reached the rail with his hands,
but his weight was too much for him when coupled with the terrible
force with which his body struck the side of the steps, so, with a
groan of despair, he fell in the areaway. He tumbled feet first on a
grating leading to the cellar of the house, which gave way and
precipitated him into the depths below, as his pursuers, mad with
the excitement of the chase, rushed down the stairs from which he
had made his daring leap. It looked as though it might go hard with
the unknown gentleman, valiant and resourceful though he had
proven himself.

Chapter Twenty-Six
TOM MOORE'S SERVANT PROVES A FRIEND IN NEED
Buster ate a hearty supper and fed Lord Castlereagh with the scraps.
This done, he was about to proceed with the dish-washing, a kind of
toil for which he had a more than ordinary contempt and dislike,
when the sound of shouting in the street attracted his attention.
For once in his life the boy had failed to ascertain the news of
the neighborhood of that day, and as he had been absent when Mrs.
Malone conveyed to his master the intelligence of Sweeny's
purposed ambush of Jane's unknown swain, he had had no tidings
concerning that important happening, so was not the active
participant in the adventure that he would otherwise have been. This
being the case, he was quite at a loss to account for the sounds of
tumult below.
"My heye!" he remarked to the bulldog, whose curiosity was
similarly aroused, "wot a rumpussin'. Who 's getting beat hor
married, Hi wonders?"
Sticking his head out of the window, the boy could discern
nothing down in the dark street. It was quite evident that the voices
which had attracted his attention proceeded from one of the narrow
lanes running at right angles to the larger thoroughfare on which the
lodgings of Moore fronted.
"Somebody 's risin' a bloody hole row, your lordship. Well, we
keeps hout of it this once, don't we?"
The bulldog gave a whine of dissent. He saw no reason for
remaining quiet when such unexcelled opportunities for vigorous
contention were being offered gratuitously below.
Buster shook his head sadly.
 "Halas!" he observed in a melancholy tone. "That hole
gladheateral spirit hof yourn his never horf tap. You h'are a blooming
hole pugilist, that's wot you h'are. You horter be hashamed of
yourself for wantin' to happropriate somebody else's private row."
Lord Castlereagh felt unjustly rebuked and retired to his favorite
corner, apparently losing all interest in the hubbub, which continued
below, growing gradually less noisy as though the cause were slowly
departing from the immediate neighborhood. Suddenly the dog's
quick ear detected an unwonted sound coming from the rooftops,
and with a growl, spurred on by his still unsatisfied curiosity, he ran
across the room to the window by which his master in the old days
had been wont to evade the vigilance of Mrs. Malone. Buster
followed him, and, looking across the undulating surface made by
the irregular roofs,--a sort of architectural sea rendered choppy by
uplifting ridge-poles and gables of various styles, cut into high waves
and low troughs by the dissimilar heights of sundry buildings, with
chimneys rising buoy-like from the billowy depths, which in the
darkness were blended softly together by the mellowing and
connecting shadows,--he saw the figure of a man emerge from the
scuttle of a roof perhaps two hundred feet distant. At the same
moment there came a howl of fury from the street below, which
grew louder, as though the crowd from which it emanated were
streaming back in the direction of Mrs. Malone's residence. The
fugitive, for that he was such could not be doubted, beat a hurried
retreat across the roofs, tripping, falling, crawling, but ever making
progress and nearly always hidden from the point at which he had
effected his entrance to the house-tops by the friendly shelter of
intervening chimneys and gables. All at once a burly form leaped out
of the scuttle from which the first comer had emerged. This newly
arrived individual carried a club and was followed out on the roof by
half-a-dozen companions of the same ilk. Straightening up to his full
height, while gingerly balancing on the nearest ridgepole, the fellow
caught a glimpse of their prey crawling up a steep roof quite a little
distance further on towards the window from which Buster was now
intently watching the chase.
"There he goes, lads. He is right in line with that tallest
chimbley," bellowed the leader.
"Aye, aye! After him! After him!"
An answering howl came from the street, and, sliding, running
and stumbling, the pursuers began to follow the fugitive across the
housetops. Then they lost sight of him, and for a while completely
baffled, searched in a scattered line, slowly advancing, investigating
each possible hiding-place as they came to it, urged on by the
growling of the mob patrolling the street below. Suddenly one of
their number, the lad armed with the huge bottle, tripped over a
broken clothesline and fell headlong into the V-shaped trough
formed by the eaves of the two adjacent houses. He found himself
rudely precipitated on the body of the hunted man, who had lain
snugly concealed at the very bottom of the roof-made angle, but
before he could do more than utter one choking scream, the
fugitive, despairing of further concealment, silenced his discoverer
with his fist, and with the rest of the pack in full cry at his heels,
began again his wild flight over the roofs. Fortune favored him once
more, and the band hunting him was forced for a second time to
pause and scatter in close scrutiny of the ground over which the
fleeing gallant had made his way. Then Buster saw a tall figure creep
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