Puzzles XVIII

Positioning of light pieces

BISHOP

The bishop is a long-range piece. At the beginning of the game, when the center is occupied by pawns, it is preferable to place bishops on the flanks. The development of bishop has been widely practiced on the main diagonals, on the squares b2 and g2 (b7 and g7). Similar the arrangement is called fianchetting, and such a layer is called fianchetting.

At the beginning and middle of the game, the bishop can successfully interact with other pieces even when standing on the first (eighth) or second (seventh) lines. This is confirmed by the games where one of the sides fianchetted the bishop. As the position is opened, the bishops should strive for centralization, taking control of the maximum number of fields. In the center the impact and mobility of a bishop is increasing.
Like the rook, the bishop feels better on open files, i.e., diagonals free from own and other pawns. In the example, the activity of the white pieces decided the outcome of the game. 

Botvinnik - Chekhover (1938)

In open positions, the range of the bishop determines its advantage over the knight. An even bigger advantage has a side with two bishops.

By sacrificing two bishops, White fully reveals position of the Black king.

Lasker - Bauer (1889)

The two bishops helped White to gain an overwhelming advantage in the center.

Botvinnik - Ragozin (1947)

When exchanging, one should strive to save the bishop, which is opposite to the color of the squares on which one's pawns are standing. Regardless of whether or not the opponent has a bishop.

In the endgame, the bishop is considered "good" if its pawns stand on the fields of a different color.
A bishop is considered "bad" if its pawns are on the squares the same color.

In the example, White went on the defensive. Their bishop is "bad" because it rests on its own pawns. For victory Black needs to create another weakness in White's position (the pawn on a3 is already weak).

Thomas - Alekhine (1925)

When carrying out an attack, the presence of opposite-color bishops enhances its capabilities.

In the example, the far advanced White pawn allowed break through Black's defense.

Taimanov - Averbakh (1953)

TIPS: Place pawns on squares opposite to the color of your bishop! Bishop is stronger in open positions!

KNIGHT

The knight is strong in close range combat. This is a little moving piece. In the endgame, the knight with its short jumps is noticeably inferior to the bishop. But in closed positions it is superior to the bishop.

It is preferable to keep the knight in the center. On the edge of the board, especially in the corner, the knight is almost always badly placed if only it is not connected with a specific plan.

Consider examples.

Using the remoteness of the Black knight from the main place of the battle, White skillfully carries out the final attack.

Keres - Szabo (1954/55)

Knight - an ideal piece for creating a blockade. By blocking a pawn, it not only impedes its movement, but also reduces the opportunities for maneuvering enemy pieces.

Blockade - restriction of the mobility of opponent's pieces and pawns.

The knight gains special strength when, being in the center, it occupies a position untakable for opponent`s pieces and pawns. Such a knight is called "eternal". The side with the "eternal" knight, as a rule, receives a serious positional advantage.

In the example, the White knight occupies an untakable position. The attack on the Black king develops by itself.

Levenfish - Dubinin (1934)

One of the effective ways to strengthen the knight in the center is demonstrated by the outstanding Russian chess player Mikhail Chigorin.

In the example, White's threat is to push Black knight out with 1. c4 encounters decisive opposition.

Teichmann - Chigorin (1904)

When one of the sides manages to place the knight on the sixth (third) rank, significant overweight is achieved. You should strive to drive or exchange such a knight, even considering a sacrifice.

Black did not decide in time to give up a rook for a knight and gradually fell into a kind of zugzwang.

Lasker - Capablanca (1914)

TIPS: Keep your knights in the center of the board! The knight is stronger in closed positions!

Now try by Yourselves:

1. White to move. Win

2. Black to move. Checkmate in 4

3. White to move. Checkmate in 7

4. Black to move. Win

5. White to move. Checkmate in 7

6. White to move. Win

7. White to move. Win

8. White to move. Draw

9. Black to move. Win

10. White to move. Win

11. White to move. Win

12. Black to move. Win