Chess no. 336

PHILIDOR

B. Harley (The Globe, 1911). White to play and mate in three moves; solution next week.

Solution to no. 335 (Gamage): R -B 5, threat R-Q5.1...Qx R;2Kt-B4.1...Qx KKt;

2 Kt-K 4. 1 Q x P; 2 Kt - K 4. 1 ... K x R; 2 Kt-Q 3. 1 . . . Q X Kt ch; 2 Q x Q. White

In the Malaga tournament, O'Kelly (81/11) and Pomar (8) outclassed the field, neither losing a game; some readers may remember Arturo Pomar playing as a fourteen year old in the London 1946 tournament, even then with the maturity of a veteran.

White, Pomar. Black, Toran. Opening, Grtinfeld.

P - Q 4 Kt - K B 3 2 P-Q B4 P-K Kt 3 3 Kt-K B 3 P-Q 4

4 B - B 4 . . . In the more active line 4 x P, Kt x P; 5 P - K 4 Black gets enough pressure against the White centre to hold his own. 4... B - Kt 2

-IC 3 0-0 6 Q - Kt 3 PXP

7 K B x P Kt - B 3 7 .. P- B 4 challenging the centre is preferable.

B - K 2 P - Q R 4 9 Kt - B 3 Kt- Kt 5 10 P - K 41 . . . anticipating 10 . . . B - K 3 and

11 . . . Q Kt - Q 4 and securing a firm central grip. 10... P - B 3

11 - 12 Q - Q 1 P - Q_Kt 4 13 P- Q R 3 Kt - It 3 Black's an beginning with

7 4 . . . Kt - B 3 has been largely refuted.

1

15 Q - 2 Q -Kt5 3

16 B - R 6 K R - Q 1 17 Q - B 4 Kt - B 2 18 Q - R 4 B - Kt 6 19 B - K 3 . . . not inconsistent; the bishop moves

have let the queen through to the king's Wing.

19 . . . Q - Kt 2 20 Kt - Kt 5 P - K R 3 Otherwise 21 P - K 5. 21 Kt - R 3 Kt -K 3 21. . K -R 2; 22 P -Kt 4.

Kt - Kt 1; 23 P - Q 5!, P X P; -24 Kt - Kt 5 ch. K - R 1; 25 Kt X P ch.

22BxRP Kt X Q P 23 Kt - Kt 5I — . threat P - K 5. 23 . . . Kt - R 4 A miscalculation—he reckoned

on 24 B x B, K X B; 25 B X Kt, R - R 1! However, he has a bad game in any event.

24 B x Kt! B x B 25 B X PI B - Kt 2

26 P - B 41 P-B 3 26 . . . PxB; 27 P-B 51. P x P; 28 P x P gives White a winning attack, e.g. 28 ... B - B 3; 29 Q - R 7 eh, K - B I; 30 Kt - K 6 ch. Kt X Kt (30...K-KI; 3IQ-Kt6ch,K-Q 2; 32Kt-B 5 ch); 31 P X Kt, B x P: R x B ch! 27 Kt - Q 5!! . . the climax of a brilliant series of moves. If 27. . . B P X Kt then 28 Q - R 7 ch, K - B I; 29 B - B 7, P- K 3; 30 Q - Kt 8 ch, K - K 2; 31 Q X B. P X Kt; 32 B— R 5 ch, K— Q 3; 33 P- K 5 mate.

27 . . B x Kt

28 P x*B Q - Kt3 3 29 Q K R 1 7 K - B 1 30 - R P -K Nothing to do

31 PXKP R- R 2 32 B -B 7 P x Kt

33 P .pt P— Here Black exceeded the time limit, he-is threatened with 34 B - Kt 6 eh and 35 Q X B ch'and if 33 : ..., B - K 4; 34 B - Kt 6 ch will mate hint. A bac game by Pomar.