Simplify to Victory!

Few of us realize that one of the best weapons against an attack is to play for exchange of pieces. An attack flourishes on complications, on the efforts of powerfully posted pieces aimed at cramped positions.

Every time you simplify, you remove a hostile piece that might have done a great deal of damage. You are also removing a unit of your own that might have been idle or useless. But above all, you are whittling down the force of your opponent's attack; you are reducing the danger to which you are exposed.

And remember this: If you are ahead in material, simplifying is even more useful to you. For you not only smother the attack, you also bring the game to the ending stage where you can make the best use of your extra material.

In the position below Black has a piece for a pawn, but one of his Rooks is attacked and cannot move. But this attacked Rook is the key to his defensive position, guarding his attacked Bishop! In short, Black has a problem. How is he to solve it?

In this difficult defensive situation, Black can easily go wrong. For example if 1...Be6??  2.Qxd8+ Nxd8  3.Rxd8 Mate. If Black tries 1...Ne7, the sequel might be 2.Qd6 Nf5  3.Qxd7+ Rxd7 4.Rc8+ and Mate next move.

The right way is a drastic simplifying move:

(Notes by American Chess Legend Fred Reinfeld)