CHESS by Philidor

No. 300

BLACK (8 men) C. MANSFIELD (Problemisr, March

1966)

WHITE to play and mate in two moves; solution next week. Solution to No. 299 (Marlar): R — Q 5, threat R — K 5. I ... K PxR; 2 P=Q. I...BPx R; 2RxP.x...BxR; 2 Q — B 4. K xR; 2 BxP. ... RxP;2QxB.a.— BxP; 2 Q — Kt 2. I•...KIXP;2KtX WHITE (13 men) R. K x P; a Q — B 4. Brilliant self-block problem

with four captures on each of the critical squares.

It always intrigues me to see how closely chess parallels the (other) arts, not only in the developments of new schools and styles but in the emotional reactions it draws. Petrosian's games produce in me the same mixture of reluctant admiration, stupefaction and a kind of depressed alarm at my own bafflement that a Simpson, Ionescu or Pinter play elicits; a nice old- fashioned game with P — K 4 on each side, Kts on B 3 and Bs on Kt 5 and B 4 gives me the same comfortable feeling of natural and familiar territory that one gets from, say, Shaw. Here is a game which I hope will produce in readers the same feeling of being at home as it does in me.

White, RAUTENBERG Black, SCHMID Opening, THREE KNIGHTS

(Heilbronn, 1966)

P- K 4 P- K 4

2 Kt-KB3 Kt-KB3

3 Kt - B3 . . . A passive line which should give White nothing. 3 P- Q 4 or 3 Kt xP is better. B-10 5

4 B- B 4 0 - 0

5 Kt -Q5 Kt x Kt

6 BxKt P - B 3

7 B- Kt 3 P- Q 3 All right, but 7 ... P- Q 4 is more

vigorous.

8 P- B3 B - R

9 P- Q3 P-KR3? This weakening of the King's side must be wrong when White still retains the option of Q side castling; Black should just play 9 ... Kt - Q 2 and if to Kt-Kt 3 then to ... Kt - B 3. ro P- K Re 4! . • . instantly revealing the weakness of

Black's move. If in reply so . B xP; then it R - K Kt z,

P-R 4 2; 12 BxR P, PXB; 12 Kt -R 4, P - R i3 P-KR 3 with advantage); t2P - K R 3!,ExP; 13 Kt - R 2! followed by Q x P with a winning attack. to. . K-Re

rz P-44 5 B- K Kt 5 is R-K Kt z P-R 4 R x DI PxR

14 Kt- R 4 ..,.P - K Kt 3 rs_. Q - Q 2; 1,5 Kt -B P-Kt 3; 16 QxP,PxKt; 17 Q-M3 ch, K-Kt 2; 18 Q- R 6 ch, K - Kt ; x9 P - Kt 6 and wins.

Q P K- Kt a White threatened i6 Kt xP ch!, P Kt; 17 Q - R 4 ch, K - Kt 2; 18 Q - R 6 mate.

16 P- B 4 P-Qf Or P xP; t7 BxP, B-B 2; 113 0 - 0 - 0 andhite's attack and control of the centre should win; however this would be a rather better chance than the text.

17 B P x P P- Q 5? Overlooking White's reply, but after 17 . P x P; r QxP White has a winning game.

18 Kt- B 5 ch! K-10 r .. x KtL/9 P x P and White

- B z; 22 Q - R 7, R x P ch; 23 K - and wins or 19 ...

wins e.g. 19 R - Kt ; 20 P - B 6 cy Ktz ; Q - PxP; 20 P-B 6 ch, K -Kt 1; 21 - Kt 6!; PxP ch; 22 K - K 2 and wins.

zg P- K 6! Px Kt or to P x P; 2o K - K and the position is basically unchanged. so g P K - Kt 2

21 S-KB4 P-B3 22 PxPeh RxP

23 B - h 5 PxP

PxP

22 54 KR--K K t21 ch K - B r 26 B - Q6 ch! A neat finish: naturally 26 B x R also wins easily. Resigns. 26 . . . QxB; 27 QxR ch, IC-X s; 28 R-Kt 8 ch,Q-B I; 29R orQxQmete.