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SOME WINNING POSITIONS
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4. SOME WINNING POSITIONS IN THE MIDDLE-GAME

By the time the student has digested all that has been previously explained, he, no doubt, is anxious to get to the actual game and play with all the pieces. However, before considering the openings, we shall devote a little time to some combinations that often arise during the game, and which will give the reader some idea of the beauty of the game, once he becomes better acquainted with it.

Example 11.

f8 black rook
g8 black king
b7 black bishop
f7 black pawn
h7 black pawn
a6 black pawn
b6 black pawn
c6 black queen
g6 black pawn
c5 black pawn
b3 white pawn
d3 white pawn
f3 white rook
h3 white queen
a2 white pawn
b2 white bishop
c2 white pawn
g2 white pawn
h2 white pawn
h1 white king


It is Black's move, and thinking that White merely threatens to play Q - R 6 and to mate at K Kt 7, Black plays 1 ... R - K 1, threatening mate by way of R - K 8. White now uncovers his real and most effective threat, viz.:

1 ... R - K 1; 2 Q × P ch, K × Q; 3 R - R 3 ch, K - Kt 1; 4 R - R 8 mate.