HOW TO WIN A CHESS GAME WITHOUT TOUCHING A PIECE

In the rich history of the game of chess, games have been won in many curious & devious ways but to win a game without touching a single piece is taking it bit too far.

But there is a way, albeit using a slight technicality in chess terms. In chess terminology, a pawn is technically not a ‘piece’. Bishops & Knights are minor pieces. Queens & Rooks are major pieces. But pawns are.... just pawns. 

But has there ever been a game when a player won by exclusively moving his pawns? 

In 1907 Hans Bruening, a German player did that in 6 moves with black pieces against an amateur.

1.   d4             d5

2.   c4              e6

3.   Nc3          c5

4.   Bf4           cxd4

5.   Bxb8?

White overlooks what follows.

5.   …           dxc3

6.   Be5       cxb2

White resigned. He must lose at least a rook in view of the threat of Bb4+

REPLAY THE MOVES

Quarter of a century later, same fate befell upon another unsuspecting player whose miserable attempt at following the best traditions of the hypermodern chess school resulted in losing a knight after 7 moves.

Borochow - Fine (1932)

1.    e4         Nf6

2.    e5         Nd5

3.    c4         Nb6

4.    d4         Nc6

5.    d5         Nxe5

6.    c5         Nbc4

7.    f4

Black resigned as losing a piece is unavoidable. (7. … e6 is met with 8. Qd4). 

REPLAY THE MOVES

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