Chapter 2: Creating a passed pawn

25 July 1992

For the next two weeks, Snape and Harry continued practicing Wizard's Chess. Harry diligently studied his Potions notes and prepared himself for his second year at Hogwarts. He was sure that he would be able to handle any of the potions that he was assigned to work on during his second year. He was confident that he would be fine.

Harry then asked Snape for a favor.

"If it's okay with you, Professor, would it be okay if I visited Draco Malfoy and his family? I want to know how they're doing."

Snape then nodded.

"That's fine. I need to check up on Draco, anyway. He is my godson. And Lucius is one of my closest friends. That can definitely be arranged."

Snape then held out his hand. Harry took it, and Snape apparated both of them to Malfoy Manor.

Snape and Harry then walked up to the front door.

"Lucius?", Snape called out. "Narcissa?"

Mr. Malfoy then walked outside.

"Harry? Severus? How is everything?"

"Good, good", Snape said. "We just wanted to come around and see how you and everyone else were doing."

"The family is doing well", Mr. Malfoy said. "Everyone is fine."

Harry beamed.

"Why don't you two come in? Draco would be glad to see the two of you."

So, Harry and Snape walked inside.

"Dobby!", Mr. Malfoy shouted.

Dobby then appeared.

"Yes, sir."

"Make Mister Potter and Professor Snape some breakfast. And hurry!"

Dobby nodded, then apparated to the Malfoys' kitchen.

Mrs. Malfoy then walked over.

"Severus! Harry! Good to see the two of you."

"Hello, Mrs. Malfoy", Harry said.

Then, Draco walked out of his room. He beamed when he saw Harry.

The two boys then slapped hands.

"Glad you're away from those Muggles", Draco said. "They're disgusting creatures."

"I couldn't have agreed more", Harry said. "In my world, they don't exist."

Snape, Lucius, and Narcissa started talking amongst themselves.

"So, Harry. Looks like the adults are busy. Want to learn more things about Wizard's Chess?"

"Sure, Draco."

So, Harry and Draco walked towards the chess set that was in the latter's room.

"Okay, Harry. I'm going to show you a position where you have to create a passed pawn. I'm going to put black pawns on a7, b7, and c7. I'm also going to put white pawns on a5, b5, and c5. I'm going to put the black king on h6 and the white king on h1. So, Harry, can you figure out how to create a passed pawn from this position?"

Harry studied the position for a few minutes. Then, he figured out the answer. The white king was too far away from the action, but the white pawns could still cause a breakthrough in the position.

"Pawn to b6", Harry said.

The white pawn on b5 moved to b6. This move attacked the black pawns on a7 and c7. It was pretty obvious that black had to capture the white b-pawn.

The black pawn on c7 moved to b6, demolishing the white pawn that was on the b6 square with its sword.

Harry knew what move he had to play next.

"Pawn to a6", he said.

The white pawn on a5 moved to a6. This move attacked the black pawn on b7. So, if the white pawn on c5 was captured, the white a-pawn could capture the black b-pawn and promote to a queen one move later. So, capturing that white a-pawn was the only other option.

The black pawn on b7 moved to a6, breaking the white pawn on a6 into numerous pieces.

"Pawn to c6", Harry said. The white pawn on c5 moved to c6.

"Brilliant, Harry!", Draco said. "You solved the puzzle. Now, regardless of what the black king does now, the white c-pawn will queen in two moves. And, the capture of those three black pawns and checkmate will shortly follow."

Harry felt proud of himself.

"Okay, Harry. I'm going to clear the board. I'm going to show another position. I'm going to put black pawns on g6 and h7, the black king on g7, black pawns on a3 and b4, a white rook on b8, white pawns on g2 and h3, and the white king on h1. With black to move, how would you win this position for black?"

Harry studied the position for a few minutes.

Then, he figured out the answer.

"Pawn to a2", Harry said.

The black pawn on a3 moved to a2. Harry knew that if the white rook captured the black pawn on b4, the black a-pawn would immediately promote to a queen and the game would be over. So, the white rook had to stop the black a-pawn from queening.

The white rook moved from b8 to a8.

Harry then said, "Pawn to b3."

The black pawn on b4 moved to b3, defending the white pawn on a2.

The white rook on a8 moved to a3, attacking the undefended black pawn on b3.

Harry simply said, "Pawn to b2."

The black pawn on b3 moved to b2.

So, now both the black a-pawn and the black b-pawn were threatening to promote. White could not stop at least one of the pawns from becoming a queen.

The white rook on a3 moved to a2, cutting the black pawn on a2 into numerous pieces.

Harry said, "Pawn to b1, I'll promote to a queen."

So, the black pawn on b2 moved to b1 and then transformed into a queen. This move attacked both the undefended white rook on a2 and the white king on h1. So, it was obviously a winning endgame for black.

"So, Harry, what can you conclude from these two positions?", Draco asked.

"Connected passed pawns can be powerful in an endgame", Harry replied. "Connected passed pawns can often caused breakthroughs and infiltrate the enemy camp. Connected passed pawns on the sixth rank can even win against a rook."

"Good insight, Harry. The more you learn, the better. Just like in our first year."