Chess

By PHILIDOR 242. Z. E. RUJA (1st Prize, Observer, 1963) BLACK (9 men)

(15 men)

vilurE to play and mate in three moves ; solution next week. Solution to No. 241 (Ellerman) : B—R x, threat K—K 5. r R—Q R 5 ; 2 Kt —K 5. z R—Q R 4 ; 2 Kt—Kt 4. I . . . R—K R 4; 2 Kt—B 4. I . . . R—K R 5 ; Kt—B 5. . . . B—K 5 ; 2 Q—B x. White bishop must cross the 'critical square' K 5 in order that K—K 5 shall not cut its line of action. Pity there are duals after Kt—Kt 3 or Kt—B 3 : not quite the impeccable construction usually associated with Ellerman.

Spassky by his decisive victories over Keres and Geller has amply confirmed that he is one of the greatest masters in the world—perhaps the greatest, as Petrosian's form since winning the title has been unconvincing. In the following game from the Capablanca memorial tournament, he plays like a master of world class ; first he exploits with great subtlety very small errors to get a positionally won game, then he drives home his advantage with fine

WHITE

tactical play. Not a spectacular game, this is never theless one of the highest class.

White, SPASSKY. Black, PACJIMAN. Opening, QUEEN'S GAMBIT (Havana, 1962).

4 Kt— K 3 2 4 P 3 • 3 10—K B 3 P—Q 4 4 K1-113 B—K

5 B—K1 5 0-0

6 P—K 3 P—K R 3 7 B—R 4 P—Q Kt 3 7 . . . Kt—K 5 (Lasker's move) is an alternative lint, about equally good.

8 P x P KtxP 9 B x B Q x B ro Kt x Kt P x Kt

xr B—K 2 . This dull-looking position is not dead; Black has to play very well to avoid his queen's side pawns being under uncomfortable pressure. For an aggressive player like Spassky to adopt such a line shows not timidity but confidence in his ability to extract something from the position. B—Q 3 is more usual than the text, which is played to preserve the option of B—B 3 later. It . . . B—K 3 11 . . . Q—Kt 5 ch; 12 QxQ ch, K xQ gives White an edge in the ending. Kt—K 5 P—B 4 r3 0-0 R—Q r? 23 . . . Kt—Q 2 is correct. rq R—B r P—B 3 For now Kt—Q 2? is met by Kt—B 6! so Black has to weaken himself a little. 14 . . P—B 5; a5 B—B 3! (threat Kt x Q B P), P—Q Kt 4; i6 P—Q Kt 3 is also in White's favour.

15 Kr—Kt 6 Q—Q 3

r6 PxP P x P

r7 Kt —B 4 . . . Threatening 18 Kt x B, Q x Kt; 19 K x P. The 'hanging pawns' arc very weak, and Black is probably already lost.

B—B 2

.r8 Q—B 2 Kt—Q • 19 K R—Q . . . Threat 20 Kt xPl, B x Kt; 21 RxIttl,QxR; 22 B—B 4. P—Q 5 19 . . . K—R 1; 20 B—B 3

and wins a pawn.

Q—B 4 ch, K—K 1; 23 Kt—K 6.Threet 21 B x13 ch, K x B; 22 ao B—B 4! . . .

20 B x B

ar QxB ch K—R a •

22 P QKt4t Q R—B 1 22. P x Kt P; 23 Rx F, 8T;t—B a ; 26 Q—B 4 ch!). K 2; 24 (.2—Q 3 ch, K—Kt ; 23. K—B 7 and wins (25 ... 23K0---K 6 Kt—K4 23 . . . R—K a; 24 Kt xB P and wins Q P as well. Text at least gives Black some counterplay. 24 Q—B eh P—Q 6 25 Kr xR Q x Kt Not 25 ... ; 26 RxQ. a6 Q—Kt P—B 5 Black has fought back well—it is striking to see with We He ease Hhitwe adnitsspos:,s opflahyimp—deBspit: the2a7dvp_ancKediatti3wns. without allowing Kt—Kt 5., 3 28 P—Q fl 4 P—K1 4 To hold his Kt on K 4.

29 K—B r K—Kt 2

30 Q—Q 4 P—B 6 1( 3o . Q P; then 31 P—B 4, Kt—B 2; 32 R x QP, P x R; 33.R R!, Q—Kt ch; 34 K-13 2, Q—R ch; 35 K—Kt 3, Q—K 36 R—B 6 and wins. 31 RxQP! Kt.R 32 Q—Q 7 chi Resigns 32 K—Kt 3 (32 K else; 33 Q x eh and 34 x P);33 Q >, Kt ch, P—B 4; 34 B-1(1 R—K B ; 35_ Q xQ B P, P P; 36 Q—B 6 ch, Q xQ (36 . . . R—B 3; 37 Q—K 8 ch!); 37 It x Q eh, and White wins the ending with great ease.