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The Great Pawn Hunter
Chess Tutorial

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Time

Time tempos can be measured, during the opening, by taking a snapshot of the current position and counting the number of pieces that have left their home positions. In the opening, we must strive not to lose these precious tempos to our opponent.

The opening in diagram #1, called the Center Counter, was used by the great chess teacher Siegbert Tarrasch (1862-1934) to show his ideas on time tempos. His ideas are the ones I will be demonstrating.

The position in diagram #1 was reached by the moves:
1) e4 d5
2) exd5 Qxd5
The Pawn on the d file and the Queen are the only visible moves made by Black. The only visible move by White is the Pawn on the e file. Black is said to be ahead of White by one tempo.
When White attacks the Queen with
3) Nc3
then White will force the Queen to move a second time. If Black moves the Queen from d5 back to d8 then the snapshot of the position in diagram #2 will result and can be counted for tempos.

The Pawn on the d file is Black's only visible move on the board. The Knight and the Pawn on the e file are White's visible moves. White is now ahead of Black in tempos two to one. Clearly Black should not return the Queen back to its home square.

Siegbert believed that a Knight on the
second or third rank = 1 tempo
fourth or fifth rank = 2 tempos
sixth or seventh rank = 3 tempos
He also believed that Pawn moves such as h6 and h3 did not gain any tempos since the object of the opening was the center.

Meek vs Morphy

Mobile 1855

With the proper use of time comes the attack. No one appreciated this fact more than the legendary Paul Morphy (1837-1884).

In diagram #4, all of White's developed minor pieces have disappeared leaving only the undeveloped ones. White has moved the Queen, the e Pawn, and the d Pawn for a total of three tempos. Black has moved the King, the e Pawn, the f Pawn, the Knight on c6, and the g Pawn for a total of five tempos.
9) d6
10) Qb5 Re8
11) Qb3+ d5
12) Pf3 Na5
13) Qd3 dxe4
14) fxe4 Qh4+
15) g3 Rxe4+
16) Kf2 Qe7
17) Nd2 Re3
18) Qb5 c6
19) Qf1 Bh3
20) Qd1 Rf8
Black brings the final undeveloped piece into play.
21) Nf3 Ke8
22) resign

One final tempo count...6 to10!