The shuttle - Weakening the opponent’s position

    Strategy - the magical side of chess.

1.3. The shuttle

Maneuver that aims to force our opponent to weaken his pawn structure and worsen the position of his pieces. The concept of the maneuver is that a piece moves to a square from which it comes back to the original square after fulfilling the task. The maneuver is similar to “the disappearing move”, with the difference being that the piece doesn’t come back to a new square. In chess composition, the maneuver is often referred to as “the switchback”. Less formally, it is known as “The Hobbit or There and Back Again”.

Sapis Witalis - Wiech Grzegorz
Police (Poland) 1997

White to move
White has a small edge due to a nicely placed knight on d4, a better bishop, and an isolated black pawn. In exchange, Black has his rooks doubled on the “c” file. By playing 1.Bh3 Rxc1 2.Rxc1 Rc4 3.Bf1 Rc7 4.Rxc7 Qxc7 5.Nb5 Qb8 6.Qc2, White is gaining control over the “c” file, increasing advantage.

Macieja Bartlomiej - Ivanchuk Vassily
Moskwa (Russia) 2001

White to move
After 1.Ne3, Black doesn’t have a good response. After the chosen 1...c6 2.Nc4, the knight has come back to attack the b6 pawn, which is already unprotected.

( "Chess Strategy Explained" - Bartłomiej Macieja Witalis Sapis - Sawit 2021)

"These strategic manuals by two experienced trainers are a must for any instructor! 
I recommend using them for students with USCF ratings ranging from 1300 to 2500. 
I have read many instructional books since my junior years but never have I come 
across such an easy-to-digest way of presenting examples—only a few moves with 
simple, clear verbal explanations of the ideas from the players themselves! The 
examples used vary in level of difficulty and going through all of them will only 
solidify one’s strategic understanding. The exercise chapters (Chapter 3 for Vol 1 
and Chapter 7 for Vol 2) add more instructive value as it can be used either as in-class 
group exercises or individual homework. Any club leader, camp instructor or chess 
coach will be able to find the topical chapters useful when preparing for their regular 
lessons. And I won’t be surprised if they improve their strategic intuition as well in 
the process!”

GM Julio Sadorra

Coach of University of Texas Dallas Chess Team