Chess no. 345

PHILIDOR

I. Hartong (Limburgsh Dagblad. 1939). White to play and mate in three moves; solution next week. Solution to no. 344 (Mlotkowski): K - R 2, threat Q-Q Kt 3. 1 R-Q 6; 2 Q-Q B 6. 1.,. R -K 7 ch; 2 Q X R. 1 . R -Q B 4; 2 Q - K 4.

1 R-Q 7 ch; 2 Kt x R. 1 R-Q Kt 3 or R-K 6; 2 Q x R (Q 5). Straightforward example of rook half-pin, with good key and play.

If one had a tournament champion of the world as well as a match champion, the Russian Korchnoi would have a strong claim to the title. It is curious

that despite his brilliant record as a tournament player he has not yet come really near the world championship; it may be a slight lack of sound- ness in prolonged play at the very top level or— more likely. in view of the number and closeness of top-class players now—just that so far he has not had the breaks when he has needed them. If 12 men so, I hope things begin to run his way as he is a most attractive player: here is a beautiful win from the recent Leningrad tourney which he won with the splendid score of 13/16.

White, Korchnoi. Black. Udovcic. Opening French Defence. (Leningrad, 1967.)

P - Q 4 P - K 3 2 P- K 4 P- Q 4 3 Kt - Q 2 Kt - K B 3. The strongest players sccm to avoid P - Q B 4 which gives Black a free game but a slight weakness in pawn formation.

4 P - K 5 K Kt- Q 2 5 P - Q B 3 P - Q B 4 6 K Kt - B 3 . . . Preparing the coming pawn sacrifice: the alternative is 6 B - Q 3 followed by Kt - K 2 and Q Kt - B 3 which both risks less and promises less.

6 . . . Q Kt-B 3 6 ... P-Q Kt 3 is a solid alternative, declining the challenge.

B - Q 3 Q - Kt 3 8 0-0 P X P 9PXP Kt X Q P 10 Kt x Kt Q X Kt. I don't know—nor I suspect does anyone else—whether White's pawn sacrifice is objectively sound, but it is extremely difficult to defend such a game against a stronger player; the defence is always difficult and a single error may well be fatal.

11 Kt - B 3 Q - Kt 3 12 Q - R 4 Q - Kt 5 12 .. . B - K 2; 13 Q - K Kt 4, P - Kt 3; 14 B - K R 6 is the alternative.

13 Q - B 2 P - K R 3? Better 13 . . P - K Kt 3 followed by B - Kt 2 and 0 - 0.

14 B - Q 2 Q - Kt 3 15 QR-B 1 B-K 2 16 Q- R 4 Q- Q 1 16 . . . 0 - 0?; 17 R x B and 18 Q x Kt.

17 R - B 2 K - B I. The weakness of P - K It 3 becomes apparent; if 17 . . . 0 - 0 then IS Q - K Kt 4! (threat B x P). K - R 1 (18 . P - B 4; 19 Q - Kt 6); 19 Q- R 5. P- B 4; 20 B x P x B; 21 Q x P ch, K - Kt 1; 22 Q x P ch, K - Kt 2; 23 B x P and White wins.

18 K R-B 1 Kt-Kt 3 19 Q - K Kt 4 B - Q 2 20 13 - R 5 R - B 1 21 R x R R x R 22 B - Kt 4! P - Kt 3. Black is in one of those lifeless positions where nothing is good. e.g. 22 . B x B; 23 Q , P x Q; 25 R x Kt (2

ch); 24 P- It 4 folio ow ed24 byQ P x - Kt! 5

with great advantage.

21 Q - IR 4! . . . Threatening 24 B x P! P X B7; 25 Q - B 6 ch.

23 . . P - Kt 4. Deciding to fish as best he can in troubled waters. If 23 . . R - Kt 1: 24 Q X P ch or 23 . . . - R 2; 24 Kt-Kt 5. R - Kt 2: 25 Q X P (25 . . B x B?: 26 Kt - R 7 ch).

24 Kt x P K - K 1? White threatened 25 Kt - R 7 ch, K - K 1; 26 B x B, Q x 13; 27 Q x P. But 24 . . . K - Kt 1 is a better chance.

25 B - Kt 5 ch B - Q 2 26 Kt x K P!! P x Kt. 26 . . . B x Q?: 27 Kt - Kt 7 mate and after 26 . . . B x B: White can either play 27 B x B. Q x B; 28 Kt - B 7 ch. K moves; 29 Q xQ ch.

K x Q; 30 Kt x B with a winning ending or continue the attack with Kt - Kt 7 ch - B 5 or with Q - It 5.

27 Q - R 5 ch K - B 1 28 R - B 3 R - R 2. Or 28 ... Q - K I; 29 B B eh, Q x B; 30 R- B 3 ch. K- Kt 2; 31 R - 13 6 (threat

Q - Kt 4 eh). R - R 2; 32 B - Q 3. B - K I: 33 - Kt 4 ch, K- R 1; 34 R x K P.0-02: 35 Q-B 5!, 11 - B 2; 36 R x P ch. K - Kt I; 37 Q -It 5 and wins

29 - Kt 6 R - Kt 2 30QxRP Q Bx 13 30 . . . K Bx 13; 31 R - K Kt 3, Q - K 2; 33 Q - R 8 ch.

31 It - K Kt 1 Reigns 11 B x B; 32 it X R. K - K I; 33 Q - Kt 6 ch. A splendid attack.