Chess 495

PHILIDOR

G. W. A. Easom (The Problemist, Nov. 1969 White to play and mate in two moves; soluu next week.

Solution to No. 494 (Anderson—ln6/rBp2PK 4pN2/3PklplibB2p1P1/1NpppR2/71t/1n50J: B5, threat 2 B-Q4ch and 3 P=Q mate. A I. Kt-B3; 2 R-R6, P xP (otherwise 3 Q-R2); 3 K Q7. B 1 Kt-Q2 or P-B3; 2 R-R8, KPx 3 R-K8. C 1 . . . BxKt; 2 P-B8=Kr, PX (otherwise Kt-Kt6); 3 R-B5. D 1 . . • I" 2QxPetc.E 1 ...PxP; 2R-B5ch.Veryd and impressive problem by one of our composers; congratulations to successful soh There is no close season for chess. As well as t great USSR v The Rest match and the .0 Benedict' West European team event, there been the final of the European ten-a-side t event—easily won by ussR—and a major women tournament in Belgrade in which the R.us Alla Kushnir ousted Nona GaprindashVlllt world champion, from first place. In this e% Mrs Hartston (wife of the Cambridge Pik W. R. 1-fartston) alias Jana Malypetrova the Czech lady champion, showed what a formidable asset she will be to British women's chess by coming fourth, losing only to Gaprindashvili.

Coming events include the Olympiad in Siegen (West Germany) and the Students' Olympiad when I hope we shall improve on last year's creditable position of 5th equal. The Students event always produces entertaining games; here is one from last year's event at Dresden.

White, Spasov. Black, Plachetka. Opening, Robatsch Defence (Dresden, 1969).

! P-K4 P-KKt3 2 P-Q4 B-Kt2

3 Kt-QB3 P-Q3 4 B-KKt5 P-QB3 5 Q-Q2 QKt-Q2 6 P-B4 P-Kt4 7 Kt-B3 KKt-B3 8 B-Q3 Kt-Kt3?

It is always tAlficult to know if and when to play P-KR3 when the WB is on Kt5; on the whole I think that Black should do it and now would be a good moment. It weakens the king's side a little, but prevents a later B-R6. It is also better to play P-Kt5 before White has played QR-K1 so as to prevent complete White centralisation.

9 0-0 0-0 10 QR-K1 P-Kt5 II Kt-Q1 P-B4 12 P-B3 P x BP

13 KtPxP PxP 14 P x P B-Kt2 15 P-B5! PxP 15,. . . P-Q4; 16 fix Kt!, Px B; 17 P-K5 is also good for White.

16 B-R6I PxP 17 Q-Kt5 Kt-K1

18 B xB Kt xB 19 Q-R61 Kt-B4

19 . . . 20 Rx PI and wins or 19 . . .

PxB?; 20 Kt-Kt5.

20 Q-R3 P-K3 '20 . . . PXB; 21 Kt-KIS!, P-R3; 22 Rx Kt and wins.

21 B xP BxB 22 RxB K-Rl

22 . . . Kt-Q4; 23 R-Kt4ch, K-RI: 24 Kt-Kt5, Kt-B3; 25 Kt-K3!, Q-Q2; 26 R x Kt!, Px R; 27 R-R4!, K-Kt2; 28 Kt xPch, K-Kt3; 29 R-R6ch, Kx Kt; 30 Q-R4ch, Kx Kt; 31 Rx Kt mate.

23 Kt-K3 Kt x Kt 24 R-R4! Q-B3 25 R x Pch K-Ktl 26 R-R6 Q-Kt2

26 . . . Q x R?; 27 Qx Q, Kt x R; 28 Kt-105.

27 R-R5 P-B3? Up to here Black has defended very well, but now 27. . . Kr x.12;

28 R-Kt5, Kt-K6; 29 RxQcli, KxR; 30 Q- Kt3c1t, K-R2; 31 Q-R4ch, K-Kt2; 32 Q-Kt5ch and 33 Qx Kt must be played, when White still has to work to win.

28 Kt-Kt5 ! Kt x R? 28 . . . P x Kt; 29 QxPch, R-B2; 30 Rx R, Rx R; 31 R xPc14 K-B!; 32 QxPch, Q-K2; 33 Q-R6ch, K-K): 34 R-K5 and should win—but this is a better line for Black.

29 Q xPch R-B2 30 Kt x R Q x Kt 31 R-R8ch K x R 32 Q x Q Kt-Q7

33 QxPch K-R2 -34 Q-B5ch Resigns.

34 . . . K-RI: 35 Q-R5c1s, K-K:!; 36 Q-Kt5ch and 37 Qx Kt winning easily. A fine attack.