Uttering a sentence in the chess language
The word
The previous post was about chess words. It consists of mini decision trees of one move deep. Very much like the IF THEN ELSE constructs in programming. It is important to look at the most principled variation first. If you sac a bishop on h7, you must first consider the potentially worst case scenario: that he takes it. If the worst case scenario works, then you can look at the next variation. If it doesn't work, you are wasting your time anyway.
The word consists of the conceptual pattern of the move (system 1) and its logical consequences (system 2).
The sentence
A chess sentence is the logical narrative that describes the plan.
In the beginning was the Word. But where is the beginning of a chess sentence? According to GM Smirnov you must reconsider your plan every time a piece is exchanged or a pawn is moved. These moves have in common that they are irreversible. A plan is a sentence.
In an unfamiliar situation you can start at any word in the sentence, based on the salient cues that you encounter. But in an ideal world you start at the beginning of the sentence.
How does such sentence look like?
An example
 |
| White to move |
bn2r1k1/2p2ppp/3p1b2/5N2/2q1B3/2P2Q1P/5PP1/2B1R1K1 w - - 0 24
Harikrishna, Pentala vs. Vishnu, Prasanna, Douglas 2015
The salient cues:
- Bishop e4 is cross pinned
- Rook e1 is undefended
- Rook e8 is undefended
- Bishop a8 is undefended
- Discovered attack bishop x h7+
- Clearance with tempo by Nxd6
- Nxd6
- cxd6
- Bxh7+
- Kxh7
- Qh5+
- Kg8
- Rxe8#
4.Kxh7 Worst case scenario. King accepts your sacrifice.
5.Qh5+ Chases the black king to the back rank with tempo. Frees the queen from the attack by the black bishop.
6.Kg8 Skedaddle the check
7.Rxe8# Mate.
Blacks queen is under attack. If black wants to do something different, he must at least have a counter attack against the white queen. Bxe4 or Rxe4 springs to mind (IF ... THEN ... ELSE).
4.Kxh7
The starting point for a sentence (or sentences) is an idea. Without an idea, the only thing possible is a random word-salad. The idea then constrains the words which can and must be used to convey the idea. An inadequate vocabulary limits the effectiveness of the sentence(s) that can be used to convey the idea.
ReplyDeleteI’ll limit my observations to a bare minimum, merely pointing out some omissions (perhaps intentional on your part to avoid obscuring the overall language concept; if so, please forgive my hubris).
Word for word:
1.Nxd6 This clears the diagonal e4-h7 with tempo
When I first looked at the position, I was drawn immediately to the struggle around the WBe4: it is worse than B.A.D. [2:3]. White must do something to FORCE Black to respond or he will have to protect that Bishop. Given the relative more active White pieces toward the Black King, perhaps there is a “compound word” that can do both things at once without relinquishing the initiative.
WNxd6 does three things simultaneously: (1) It forks the BQc4 and the BRe8; (2) it protects the WBe4 (temporarily); and (3) it opens the diagonal to h7 (as you noted). Generally speaking, when a single move accomplishes multiple favorable objectives, that’s an indication that it should be investigated further. Construction of the “sentence” begins.
2.cxd6 The worst case scenario. The pawn takes the knight.
This evaluation is from White’s perspective (which, obviously, we are using while trying to find a “sentence” for White’s next move sequence). From Black’s perspective, this is the only move that makes any sense, because otherwise, Black will lose the BRe8 (presuming he would rather not lose his Queen instead) while simultaneously losing the attacker-defender advantage on e4. You cover that nicely with:
Alternative responses:
2.cxd6
Blacks queen is under attack. If black wants to do something different, he must at least have a counter attack against the white queen. Bxe4 or Rxe4 springs to mind (IF ... THEN ... ELSE).
Equal or Stronger Threat: there are no immediate attacks on the White King, so the focus shifts to the White Queen. Unfortunately (for Black), the WNd6 temporarily “protects” the WBe4, removing the Black superiority on e4 [3:3].
Capturing on e4 with Bxe4 or Rxe4 would now allow WNd6xe4, which would be a simple exchange with the White Knight left in a commanding position with material equality restored. That effectively eliminates any other alternative to cxd6. Forcing moves which limit the opponent’s alternatives is another indication that this should be the principal variation and investigated further. Or, using the language metaphor, the sentence construction is conveying the idea correctly so far.
If the original triggering idea was the interrelationship between the WBe4, WRe1, BRe8 and the possible check on h7, then implementation of that idea can now be directly realized.
The relevant vocabulary words (the patterns and the pryomes associated with those patterns) are the prerequisite for constructing meaningful sentences (plans) “describing” ideas.
Congratulations! You have now successfully demonstrated the intimate connection between strategic “plans” (sentences) and tactical “ideas” (words used to construct the sentences)!
My chess games start to begin to look more like a story lately. It is easier to find the beginning of a sentence when the sentence is part of a story. If only my vocabulary wasn't so meager. But that is just a matter of time.
DeleteThe difference between trial and error and a sentence is, that the IF ... THEN ... ELSE is limited to the moves of your opponent. Your own moves are just answers to you opponents'. Except for the first move, which is based on a plan.
ReplyDeleteAnd the plan is based on the moves of your opponent that are irreversible. Like pawn moves and piece trades.
you opponents' should read as your opponents'
DeleteI pay the price now (happily) for solely focussing on tactics and developing a learning method for 23 years. I have a lot of holes in my bucket and I am plugging like a madman.
ReplyDelete