rules, tactics, strategies and history

Queen Attacks

The mating positions which are discussed here in connection with attacks instituted by the Queen in the middle of the game and will often trap the beginner at an early stage of the game.

In the position below White on the move wins the exchange and thereby practically the game by playing (1) Kt-d5. With this move he attacks the Queen and at the same time the Pawn c7. Black, in order not to lose the Queen, must move her, but he cannot move her so that she will protect the Pawn c7.

								8
								7
								6
								5
								4
								3
								2
								1
a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

On the next move White will, therefore, take the Pawn calling Check and at the same time attacking the Rook a8. The King must move and the Knight takes the Rook.

Sometimes two pieces are involved in the double attack, the line of one of the pieces being discovered by the other. Thus, in the position below, which could be brought about by the moves (1) P-e4, P-d5; (2) Pxd5, Qxd5; (3) Kt-c3, Q-a5; (4) P-d4, Kt-f6; (5) B-c4, P-e6; (6) B-d2, white threatens to play (7) Kt-d5, uncovering the Bishop d2 on Black's Queen and at the same time attacking the Pawn c7, which Black cannot keep protected.

								8
								7
								6
								5
								4
								3
								2
								1
a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

Threats of this kind more frequently occur in connection with a discovered Check. As an example the following opening will serve: (1) P-e4, P-e5; (2) Kt-f3, Kt-f6; (3) Ktxe5, Ktxe4; (4) Q-e2, Kt- f6. Black's last move exposes its King to a discovered Check, and White wins the Queen by playing (5) Kt-c6+.

Next to the Knight the Queen is most frequently in a position to carry out a double attack. Two typical examples are shown in the following games.

After the opening moves (1) P-e4, P-e5; (2) P-f4, B-C5; (3) Pxe5?? the position below is reached, in which Black wins a Rook by Q-h4+. White cannot reply (4) K-e2 on account of Qxe4 mate. its only move is (4) P-g3 and then follows Qxe4 attacking King and Rook simultaneously.

								8
								7
								6
								5
								4
								3
								2
								1
a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

This opening offers another opportunity to demonstrate the dangerous mobility of the Queen. Instead of (3) Pxe5 White should have played (3) Kt-f3. The game could then have continued as follows: P-d6; (4) B-c4, Kt-f6; (5) Pxe5, Pxe5: Again White cannot win the Pawn e5 for (6) Ktxe5 would be answered by Q-d4, attacking Knight and Bishop and threatening mate on f2.