Chess no. 426

PHILIDOR

V. Bartolovic (Problem. 1951). White to play and mate in eight moves; solution next week. Solution to no. 425 (Mansfield): Q - B 5!, threat R - Q 4. 1 . Kt - K 2; 2 P - Q 3. . Kt (6) else; 2 Q x B. 1 . Q - Q 6; 2 -Kt - Q 4. 1 ...Q XPch; 2 Kt x().1...Qx Kt; 2.B x Q. I ... Kt (5) any; 2 R - /3 5. In this week's problem, if White can protect K R 2 he -can play B - Kt 2 mate; what is the right (and what the wrong) way to achieve this?

Chessman Quarterly's opening analyses remain as full and current as ever and are illustrated by a number of complete games- -such as the following.

White, Shamkovitch. Black. O'Kelly. Opening, Ruy Lopez (Breyer variation). (Palma 1966.) 1 P-K4 P-K 4 2 Kt-K B 3.-Kt-QB3 3 B- Kt 5 P-QR 3 4 B- R 4 Kt - B 3 5 0 – 0 B-K2 6 - K 1 P-QKt4 7 B-Kt 3 P-Q 3 8P-133 0-0 9 P-KR 3 Kt - Kt I The Breyar variation, the more normal "line being Kt -Q 'R 4. 10 P - Q 3 . • . 10 P - Q 4, Q Kt - Q 2 is the alternative with about equal chances for White and Black.

10 . . . QKt-Q2 11 QKt-Q2 B -Kt 2 12 Kt - B 1 Kt - B 4 13 B-B 2 R - K 1 14 Kt - Kt 3 B-K B 1 Three pages of detailed analysis are given in 'Chessman' no. 4, in getting from 10 P - Q 3 to 14 . . B - K B 1 —such is opening theory nowadays. Now White has two plans: (a) a king's side attack as in this game; (b) a queen's side advance based on P - Q Kt 4 and P - Q 4. Black should be aide to hold his own in either case.

15 Kt-R2 P-Q4 16 Q-B 3 Kt-K3

17 Kt - B 5 K - R I The best defensive line.

18 Kt - Kt 4 . . . 18 P - K Kt 4 may be a stronger way of continuing the attack.

18 . . . Kt x Kt 19 Q x Kt P - B 4 20 P-K R 4 Q - B 2 21 R - K 3 P - Kt 3

22 R - Kt 3 Kt - B 5!23 K - R 2 P - B 3.

24P-R 5 KtxP 25 R-R 3 PxKt 26 QxKt BPxP 27 PxP P-Q5

28 Q - R 4 Q - K 2? Up to here Black has played very well indeed. Now, however, he should play 28 . . . P - B 5!: 29 Q X P ch,

Q - Kt 2!, holding White on the king's side and with a very dangerous threat of his own in the centre.

29 PxP BPxP 29 . . .KPxP?; 30 P - K .51, P x P; 31 Q X P ch.

.30 B - Kt 3! . . . Instead of being shut out, as would have been the case after 28 . . . P - B 51 the bishop occupies a powerful attack- ing position—a reinforcement which proves decisive.

30 . . . B-B 1 31 R-K B 3 B-KKt2 32 P-Kt 4! R-R 2 33 P-Kt 5 P xP 34 Bx P Q-Q 3 35 R-B6! Q-Kt 5

36 R - R 1! R - B 1 He is quite lost; now comes a pretty finish.

37 Q x Pch! K X Q 38 K- Kt 3 ch B- R 3 39 1211)x13 ch Resigns. 39 . . . K - Kt 2;

R (B 6)- Kt 6 mate.