Chess no. 375

PHILIDOR

Black White

13 men

13 men

Ua Tane (Good Companions, 1920). White to play and mate in two moves; solution next week. The composer was the Gauguin of the chess world, settling in the South Sea Island of Moorea and being given the name Ua Tane (instead of James F. Stimson) on his marriage there.

Solution to no. 374 (Guidelli): Q - B 6, threat Q x Kt P. 1 . . . B - Q 6 ch; 2 Kt - B 4. 1 . . .

B x Kt eh; 2 Kt - K 4. 1 B else, ch; 2 P -B 4. 1 . . . Kt x Kt; 2 Kt - B 1. A masterpiece.

I always think that one of the most interesting types of game is that in which a player loses be- cause he has a wrong idea about a position—where he misjudges the relative importance of the various factors involved. In this week's game Black allows White a considerable advantage in space and time in the hope that White's advanced pawn centre will prove weak and that he can smash it. Un- fortunately for him, the price is too heavy.

White, Platonov. Black, Jefimov. Opening, Alek- hine's Defence. (Jaroslawl, 1966.)

I P-K 4 Kt-K B 3 2 P-K 5 Kt-Q 4 3 P-Q 4 P-Q 3 4 P-Q B 4 Kt-Kt 3 S P - B 4 . . . This double-edged advance of all four pawns has been much—and inconclusively—analysed. 5 . . . B - B 4 6B-0 3 BxB

7 QxB P X P? He plays this in order that the White P shall be under pressure, but it is too dangerous to open the K B file for White.

SBPxP P - Q B 4 9 Kt.- K 13 3 P-I intended 9 . . . P - K 3; 10 P - Q 6, P - B 3; 11 B - B 4, P x P; 12 B x P, Kt- B 3 with a difficult game for both sides.

9. . P - K 3 10 0 - 0 Kt - B 11 Kt -B 3!. Far better than 11 B - K 3?, P X P; 12 Kt x P, Kt x Kt; 13 B X Kt, B - B 4!

11 . .. Kt x Q P 12 B -Kt 51 Q - Q2. And not 12 . . Kt X Kt ch?;

13 Q X Kt, Q x B?; 14 Q X P eh, K-Q.1; 15 R - Q 1 ch.

K -B 16 Q-K 8 ch, K -B 2; 17 R -B 7 ch and wins. If 12. . . B - K 2; then 13 B x B!. x ,11

(13 . . . K X13; 14 Kt - K 4 leaves White with a great advantage); 14 Kt - K 4 and now (a) 14 . . . 0 - 0 -0; 15 Kt -0 6 ch, K -B 1; 16 Kt X Kt, P x Kt; 17 K x P or (b) 14. . . 0 - 0; 15 Kt x Kt, P x Kt; 16 Kt- B 6 ch! P x Kt; 17 Q- Kt 3 ch, K- R I; P X P. winning in Caber case. 13 Kt - K 4 P - K R 3 14 B- B 6! Q- B 3 14 . P x Kt??; 15 Kt X P ch.

15 Kt x Kt P X Kt 16 B x PI BxB

17 Kt -Q 6 ch K - BI? 17 . . . K -0 1 is the only chance. The simple 18 Kt x P 'ch. K - Q 2; 19 Kt x R, B x Kt; 20 R - B 7 ch gives White some advantage and 18 Q X P, R - K B 1! may give White a winning attack but there is nothing nearly so clear as in the game. Black's king is moving not to safety but to suffocation.

18 R x P ch K -Kt I 19 Q - Kt 6 R - R 2

20 Q R-KB1R-

22 R x R eh, K x R; 23 Q-B 7 mate.

20 . K - R I •

21 R - K 7. Another good way of winning is 21 Kt - K 4, Kt -0 2 (what else?); 22 Kt - B 6. Kt x Kt;

23 P x Kt, R -K Kt 1; 24 P x B eh and mate in two more moves.

21 . . . Kt X P. If Rome is irretrievably alight, one may as well fiddle.

22 Kt - B 7 ch K - Kt I

23 Kt x P ch Resigns. 23 . . K - R 1; 24 Kt - B 7 ch, K - Kt 1; 25 Kt - Kt 5! and mate is forced.