Chess no. 383

PHILIDOR

Black White

10 men

14 men

L Schor and J. R. Isleukomm (1st prize, Good Companions, 1922). White to play and mate in two moves; Solution next week.

Solution to No. 382 (Bwee): Kt - R 6, threat R-K B 5. 1 . . . P-Q 7; 2 R x P. 1 ... Kt -B 6; 2 R -Q 4. 1 ... Kt-Kt 5; 2-R -Q B 5. 1 ... Kt x P; 2 R x KL 1 ... Kt - B 5; 2Q x Kt. The thematic try 1 R -K B 5?, threat 2 Kt - R 6

is defeated only by 1 P -Q 7! Very agreeable.

When I am looking for games for publication there are some names which draw me at once; sure that the game will be worth examination; one of these is that of the Hungarian P. Dely. He often does badly—but he rarely fails to play some beautiful games. Here is a recent one.

White, P. Dely. Black, I. Farago. Opening, French Defence. (Hungarian Championship, 1967/68.) 1 P-K 4 P-K 3 2 P-Q 4 P-Q 4 3 Kt-Q 2 Kt-K B 3

4 P-K 5 K Kt-Q 2 5 P-K B 4 . . . This variation shows the standard central struggle in the French in a very clear form. White concentrates entirely on maintaining his advanced centre; if he can do this successfully he should later be able to mount a successful king's side attack.

5 . . . P-Q B 4 6 P-B 3 Q Kt-B 3 7 Q Kt-B 3 Q-Kt 3 8 P-KKt 3 B-K 2 8...P X P; 9 P X P, B - Kt 5 ch; 10 K - B 2, P - B 3 (or even P - B 4) is preferable.

9 Kt - K 2 0-0

10 B - R 3! . . . preventing P - B 3 attacking the centre.

10 . . . Q-R 3 11 0-0 P X P

-12 P X P Kt - Kt

counter-attack. 12 ... a better method.

13 Kt -K 1 Kt -B 5 14 P-Q R 3 Q-Kt 3. better.

15 P- Kt 3 Kt (5)-R 4 16 R -Kt 1 B-Q 2 17 Kt-Kt Q R-Q 1

18 Kt-K 3 Kt-B 5? 18 . . P-B 4 i= - necessary to hold up White's advance though

3. Starting an abortive P - Q Kt 4 seems to me Again, P-Q Kt 4 is White has clearly the better game anyway.

19 P X Kt! Q X R

2011 XP P X P

21 Kt -B 3 Q -Kt- 3 22 Kt (B 3)X P Q -R 4. White has only one pawn for the exchange but his central pawn mass gives him a winning game.

23 B -K Kt 2! . . . Much better than 23 P - B 5, B - Kt 4!

23 . . . B-K 3. 23 . . . B x P?; 24 Kt - B 4 24 Kt x B ch Kt x Kt 25 P-B 5 B-B 1. 25 . B-Q 4?; 26 P- B 6 26 P -B 6 .. . 26 P - Q 5 is also very strong; the text loosens White as well as Black, but his attack proves good enough to survive.

26 . . . Kt - Kt 3 27 P X P K x P 28 Kt - B 4 Q - B 6 29 Kt - Q 6 P - K R 3. White threatened 30 B - Kt 5 and 31 B - B 6 ch and if 29 . . . P- B 3; then 30 P x P ch, K- R 1 (30 . . . R x P?; 31 R x R. K x R; 32 Kt- K 4 ch); 31 Kt - K 4 and Black cannot play 31 . . .

Q x Q P? because of 32 Q X Q, R x Q; 33 B - Kt 2! winning.

30 K - R I! . . . To free bis queen to move without Q x P ch being a possible answer.

30 . . . B - K 3 31 Q-R 5 R-K R 1 32 P-Q 5! Qx K P 33 B - Kt 2! . . . This splendid decoy sacrifice is decisive.

33 . . . Q x B 34 P x B Kt - K 4. 34 . . R x Kt; 35 R x P ch.

35 Kt - B 5 ch . . . 35 R x P ch, K - Kt 1; 36 P - K 7 is another way of winning. Kt -K 7 ch, any; 37 R x P ch.

36 Q-R 4 ch K-B 3. 35 . . . K-Kt 1; 36 35 . . . K - Kt 3 37 Kt - K 7 cb K - Kt 2 38 Q-B6ch K-B I 39 Kt- Kt 6 ch! Resigns. It is mate next move.