A swindle in chess refers to a tactical maneuver employed by a player who finds themselves in a disadvantaged position. This clever move aims to deceive their opponent and potentially turn the expected loss into a surprising win or draw. The term can also be used in a broader sense to describe the achievement of a favorable outcome from a position that initially appeared hopeless.
Players can enhance their likelihood of executing a swindle by employing certain strategies, such as maintaining an active playing style and taking advantage of time pressure. While swindles can take various forms, common themes include employing stalemate tactics, utilizing perpetual checks, and executing unexpected mating attacks.
Frank Marshall, a highly skilled strategist recognized as one of the most formidable players during the early 20th century, has earned the title of “the most celebrated of tricksters”. For Marshall, the term “swindle” signified an exceptionally creative approach to salvaging a challenging, if not seemingly lost, position. The expression “Marshall swindle” was coined due to Marshall’s reputation for ingeniously escaping hopeless situations using such methods.
One of the most renowned examples of his numerous “Marshall swindles” took place during the Marshall–Marco match in Monte Carlo in 1904.
International Master Simon Webb in his book Chess for Tigers identified five “secrets of swindling”:
- Be objective. The first prerequisite to a swindle is to be objective enough to realize early on when you have a lost position and start playing for a swindle while your position still has resources. If you wait until your position worsens and becomes hopeless, it will be too late.
- Do not be afraid of losing. “Once you’ve accepted that your position is lost, you should be in a position of psychological strength.” The worst that can happen is that you’ll lose the game. The pressure is on your opponent to win a “won game”, and it is your opponent who will be embarrassed if unable to do so.
- Play actively. In a losing position, you cannot passively wait for your opponent to squeeze you to death. To stand a chance of pulling off a successful swindle, it is important to get the initiative, and this may involve sacrificing a pawn or two, or even the exchange, to activate your pieces.