Difference between revisions 25984 and 26150 on enwiki

=== SThis is a sample Ggame ===of [[chess]].
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 +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
 | '''r''' | '''n''' | '''b''' | '''q''' | '''k''' | '''b''' | '''n''' | '''r''' | 8
 +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
(contracted; show full) +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
 | R | N | B |   | K |   |   | R | 1
 +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
   a   b   c   d   e   f   g   h 

Black plays the best defense.
The white pawn is blocked from further advances, and the king has a new escape square on h7.
B
alack's position is still precarious, but there is no immediate way for white to force checkmate.

Now let us take a step deeper into chess reasoning.
White knows black is on the run for the moment, but if he has a chance to regroup, the game is far from over.
Three pawns for the sacrificed knight is roughly material equality.

If white brings additional forces forward with 9.Nc3 or 9.d4, the obvious developing moves, black will harass the white queen with 9... Bd6.  That would force white to lose time protecting the queen.  Black would gain time to get his pieces out and get his king to safety.

White desperately wants a quick kill, but can't see how to get it.
He is annoyed that the black bishop on c8 prevents him from playing 9.Qf5+ and administering the coup de grace.
Therefore he asks himself, what if there were no black bishop on fc8?
If only that annoyance were removed, I could do great things.

9. Bxb7

 +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
 | '''r''' | '''n''' | '''b''' | '''q''' |   | '''b''' | '''n''' | '''r''' | 8
 +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
(contracted; show full)
Finally, the black queen can't capture the white rook because she is ''pinned''.  If she moved away, the white bishop on c1 would be giving check to the black king.

Notice that, although material considerations are very important in chess thinking, you don't win by having the most pieces.
You win by delivering checkmate!
White was behind in material the entire game, including in the final position, but came away with the victory nonetheless.