Clockwork attack

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This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.

In chess, a clockwork attack is an attack on the king with a pre-conceived plan, conducted slowly (in terms of tempi) and deliberately for which there is no easy defense, other than vigorous counterattack or to prevent such an attack from ever happening (prophylaxis). Such an attack can normally be seen coming far in advance, and it is at this point the defender should take steps to prevent it. Proper descriptions of clockwork attacks are not specific lines, but rather typical plans, themes, and manuevers involved in the attack. Because clockwork attacks occur on the wings, a common precondition is a locked or otherwise static center, preventing central play from disrupting the attack.

[edit] Typical clockwork attacks

In the King's Indian Defence, both White and Black follow stereotypical pawnstorming clockwork attacks, black on the kingside and white on the queenside. Black will move the f6 knight, advance f5-4, followed by g4-5, move his king to h7 or h8 and place rooks on the g-file, infiltrating with his knights and queen. White places his heavy pieces on the c-file and advances c4-5 and cxd6, and then attacks the d6 pawn (the base of black's central pawn chain) or penetrates Black's position via c7. The game is thus a balance between furthering one's own attack while fending off the opponent's.

The Stonewall Attack features a clockwork attack based around a knight at e5. The knight is very strong in its central position but Black cannot exchange it, or else fxe5 will force a knight to abandon f6 and give White an open f-file for attack besides. The queen manuver Qd1-e1-h4 is often used to bring the queen to the kingside, attacking h7.

The Yugoslav attack is a common response to the Sicilian Dragon. White plays Be3 and Qd2, castles queenside, plays Bh6 (preventing black from playing h5), and advances the h-pawn to h5. Once the h-file is opened White will trade dark-squared bishops and attempt to mate Black on the weakened dark squares or down the h-file. Given enough time White's attack will almost certainly be successful, so the Black side requires accurate defense as well as energetic counterattack on the queenside and White's king.

[edit] Clockwork attacks vs. computers

The extremely slow nature of a clockwork attack can easily beat chess engines who do not have a far enough search horizon. Because there are usually no immediate tactical threats as the attack commences, the computer does not "sense" the danger, and only starts to defend when it is too late.

For example, in Kasparov-X3D Fritz (New York, November 16, 2003), Kasparov embarked on a long-term plan to force a passed pawn on the queenside which cannot be directly prevented. In order to fight, the computer had to push his own kingside pawns and attack the White king before the queenside attack could break through--it didn't, and lost.