Chessville - The Great Pawn Hunter - with Manny Paddy Fealy (and Whiskey)

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The Great Pawn Hunter
with Manny Paddy Fealy (and Whiskey)

Using Bishops (Activity)

The lesson of chess is the lesson of "Activity." As fighting chess players, we need to fight for open files for our rooks and queens and open diagonals for our bishops. In diagram #1, we see the black bishop closed in by all the black pawns that are on the same color. In contrast to the black bishop, the white bishop has all the pawns on white squares. The white bishop is able to fly down his diagonals without being blocked by his own pawns. In chess, this white bishop, because his pawns are on the other colored squares, is said to be a "Good bishop." The black bishop, because his pawns block his own diagonals is said to be a "Bad bishop."

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Now, having a bad bishop does not mean the end of the world. Having a good bishop does not mean you are going to win the game. A player needs to know what to do when they have either one of them. And, the answer is "Activity."

In diagram #1, if Black could do it, he would try to make his black bishop active by getting it outside his pawns (in front of his pawns) that block his diagonals. Here in diagram #2, Black moves his bishop outside his pawns to the a7-g1 diagonal. Now, it is doing something. Here is a lesson about pieces in general: If you have an inactive piece, and it will be that way for the rest of the game, seek to exchange it off for an enemy piece. The other answer might be to give up material in order to get activity for your inactive pieces. Look back at diagram #1; Black could try to give up his (d6) pawn by pushing it to d5 to free up his bishop's diagonal. He knows he will lose the pawn (and probably the game at high levels of chess) but anything is better than sitting there waiting for something bad to happen to you.

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Many books have taught what I have just told you in a nutshell. However, I am going to let you know another little secret. Pawns placed on the same colored squares as your bishop are bad because they could have been protecting the other colored squares to ease the burden on your bishop and that is a true lesson in the endgame...The secret is: In the middle game the task is to block up your opponent's diagonals! When you do something like this you are a betting player. And, the bet is that you will finish off your opponent right there in the middle game before the endgame comes.

In diagram #3, White has just blocked up the black bishop's diagonal with 1.f6 Bh8. It is still the middle-game with major pieces on the board and a minor piece. However, the black bishop is now locked into the corner of the board. In essence, Black is playing without a bishop now. White's bad bishop that has been made "active" is fighting through the center of the board. This is a very extreme case that shows the power of going against the rules and putting your pawns on the same colored squares as your bishop. Now White trades down to the endgame because he knows that his weak pawns on the king's side can be saved if he can stop the black king from reaching the square e6, the main entry square into White's weak king's side.

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2) Qxa8!, Qxa8
3) R-b8+, R(d)-d8
4) Rxa8, Rxa8
5) R-B7!

Do you see how White controls the game? The black rook is on the defense. The black king is imprisoned on the 8th rank. White can move up his king to the center and walk his passed pawn up the board with a won game.

Special note: Did you notice that I did not move 5) R-b8+ and trade off the last remaining rook? I could have, but that would have allowed the Black king activity. He would be able to get to the e6 square and give a little bit more fight. A player should always be looking to stop any counter attack before he decides to trade down the pieces, and you do this by making the moves in your head and then evaluating the position while it is still fresh in your mind.

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I truly want you to become a better chess player.
Please let me know what you really think about this web page.
I hope it entertained you.

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Index of The Great Pawn Hunter

Direct link to The Great Pawn Hunter