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Locking the invader in

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Submitted by Sas3 on Mon, 09/08/2008 at 4:15am.

I sometimes see my opponents charging in to attack with just one piece. That usually happens when I make a mistake (yeah, I tend to do those a lot) and leave a door open.

It is good for them if they cash in on my mistake and withdraw. They usually gain material; at best, I might regain tempo while they withdraw (or build an attack around the invading piece) But sometimes, they give me a small chance to fight back. I get a chance to lock the invader in and nix it

Conclusion: Look for ways to lock-in an attacking piece.

I got this idea when I read about an article somewhere about "Queen Hunt", where the Queen is the lone invader and it gets hunted inside the enemy territory. Here is my own version of it in a recent game with his knight. Hope you find it entertaining enough.

Please feel free to share your experiences and comments.

PS: The theme is somewhat similar to mauerblume's posts on "outlocked" bishop and "Euwe's bad bishop in prison". There are already too many diagrams on those articles making them difficult to load - hence this separate article.

» posted in Strategy
| 842 reads | 8 comments |
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Comments:

by figrock - 6 months ago
United States
Member Since: Jul 2008
Member Points: 1438

The "my system" lesson by likesforests also has been very useful for me as well..! Cool

by Sas3 - 13 months ago
Hyderabad India
Member Since: Jun 2008
Member Points: 1806

Heinrich:

Yes, ...c5 could've given the way out for Nc2. But if black played that line, my plan was to switch the hunt focus to the black king with first dxc6, then follow up with Bh6+, Bf4+ and Ng4, cornering the king. My thoughts were that if I shift focus, black wouldn't have the time to liberate the Nc2 even when the d4 square became available (and if I could nail the king, why would I hunt the knight?)

Unfortunately, my planning has always been only along 'broad lines' and not specific moves... Still working on that.Smile

by mauerblume - 13 months ago
Duesseldorf Germany
Member Since: May 2008
Member Points: 5306

I like your first move Nxe5. It seems to work.You gain definitely a pawn!-

But black`s knight invasion with Nc2 was really bad! This knight does on d4 a great job. Instead of this he should do something for quick development of his other pieces. For example 0-0-0 directly!

After d4 there was perhaps a way out for Nc2 by playing c5! After 2.dxc5 Nxc5 (2. ...Bc5 3.Na4!) 3.Bh3+ Ne6  knight seems to get out of "death room". But after 3. Bg5 game remains complicated!

by Sas3 - 13 months ago
Hyderabad India
Member Since: Jun 2008
Member Points: 1806

You are right, Nick. The rooks were not forked. I noticed it only last night and felt downright silly about it. You beat me to the edit. Embarassed

by nhw - 13 months ago
Wellington New Zealand
Member Since: Aug 2008
Member Points: 10

Your rooks were not forked by 12.Nc2, otherwise thanks for the post

by lapin - 13 months ago
Thessaloniki Greece
Member Since: Apr 2008
Member Points: 2013

nice game Sas3. I enjoyed it so far.

by Sas3 - 13 months ago
Hyderabad India
Member Since: Jun 2008
Member Points: 1806

BTW, the game did end by resignation at 16. b4, though I showed one more move. Another step would've helped illustrate Black's predicament - by maximzing my gain. My plan was to continue with 17. Nb5 Bf6 18. Nxa7+ Kb8 19. Nb5 (gained a pawn & weakened the Black King's castle without change in position & tempo), etc..

wilsonho:

Yes, Knights are easier to trap, like you said - but to do it, the knack is different from the way you trap other pieces - i.e., not by getting close in.

I too was surprised when black played 12 ...Nc2, because it seemed pointless. But at that time, it didn't quite deserve the "??" that you gave it, I think. It was the castling later, that nixed it. If he had withdrawn in immediately (13. ...Nd4), black would've been 2 tempi down, but otherwise unhurt.

by wilsonho - 13 months ago
Singapore Singapore
Member Since: Jun 2008
Member Points: 147

Very good play exploiting Nc2?? by Black.

Much easier locking knights in than other pieces though. I an OTB game I played where I used my rook to defend my pawn only to lose it because it was trapped. >.<

Always a strong tactic to look out for.

 
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