B.A.D. targets

If we can learn something about PoPLoAFun, it will be helpful by all our moves. So let us continue the investigation.

A LoA (line of attack) works from attacker to target. So there is no need to look to the edge of the board, since it stops by the target. Without a target, a line of attack makes no sense. The same is true for the attacker. Without an attacker, a line of attack makes no sense.

Let's be more precise. A target doesn't need to be already on its target square. There are preliminary techniques to place a target on its target square (with tempo).

The same holds true for the attacker. An attacker doesn't need to be already on its attacking square. There are preliminary techniques to put an attacker on its attacking square (with tempo).

The line of attack goes from attacking square to target square and the attacker might or might not already be on its attacking square and the target might or might not be already on its target square.

Points of pressure are the squares where lines of attack change from direction. So PoP might not even be the right name for those squares. What we do know is that we must have the upper hand on those squares, otherwise our attacker cannot make use of it.

Lines of attack have their own signature, depending on the nature of the attacker. Lines for the rook, diagonals for the bishop and hops for the knight.

Which defines our area of investigation:

• techniques for placing the attacker on the attacking square with tempo
• techniques for placing the target on the target square with tempo
• techniques for getting the upper hand on the points of pressure (pivotal points of the line of attack)
• status examination of the target
• special targets (escape squares around the king, promotion square)

Today I like to talk about the status examination of the target.

Diagram 1. White to move

3r2k1/p1qr1pp1/2p1p3/2P2n2/P2bB1Q1/3R2P1/1B3P1P/3R2K1 w - - 0 1

Let's have a look at the lines of attack.

Diagram 2. White to move

What jumps into the eye is the pressure against g7. Yet these lines of attack play no role in this combination. The reason is that g7 is not B.A.D. (Barely Adequate Defended). In order to have an advantage against g7, we need to get rid of both Bd4 and Nf5, while maintaining the two attackers Bb2 and Qg4. That is a bit too much.

Diagram 3. White to move

Here we arrived at the status examination of the targets:

• Bd4 is B.A.D. (Barely Adequate Defended)
• Rd7 is B.A.D. (Barely Adequate Defended)

Bd4 is attacked 3 times and defended 3 times.

Rd7 is attacked  2 times and defended 2 times.

The first question that arises is:

• Can we undermine d4?

The first idea that comes up is 1. Bxf5. This changes the balance for Bd4 as follows: 

• attacked 4 times
• defended 2 times

But Bd4 isn't pinned because although Rd7 might be BAD, it is not insufficiënt defended yet. So a simple 1. ... Bxb2 solves blacks problem.

What about Rd7:

• Can we undermine d7?

The answer is: yes we can. By 1. Qf4 we threaten to exchange a defender of Rd7.

There are two natural replies:

• Bxb2
• Qxf4

If 1. ... Bxb2 then 2. Qxc7 then a Röntgen attack against Rd8 reveals itself. As Robert said so clear: these motifs are descriptive, not prescriptive.

If 1. ... Qxf4 2.gxf4 one defender of Rd7 is eliminated, so all of a sudden the bishop on Bd4 becomes pinned. Thus buying us time to eliminate a defender of d4 by Bxf5.

I don't want to bore your pants off by working out all details. I want to find out what can be revealed by SEEing. I find the following. What can be SEEN:

• the LoA against Bd4, Rd7 and Rd8
• Bd4, Rd7 and R8 are B.A.D. (Barely Adequate Defended)
• g7 is NOT B.A.D. (Barely Adequate Defended)

The three BAD pieces should trigger an investigation of their defenders immediately. This investigation should reveal the immanent pin and skewer, which need not to be seen beforehand.

Summarizing:

• SEE the lines of attack
• SEE the B.A.D. pieces
• SEE the defenders

Stockfish SEES the win only after 14 plies. So don't worry. Learn to SEE the basics first.