Chess

By P HI LIDOR

No. 108. E. HOLLADAY (American Chess Bulletin, Sept., 1956) BLACK (7 men) WHITE (8 men) WHITE to play and mate in two moves: solution next week. Solution to last week's problem by Bunting: QB-B 5, threat R-K 7. An example of the 'double shut-off' key. At first sight B-R 3 or B-B 8, threatening Q-K 5 as well as R-K 7 look even stronger; but both are defeated by 1 ... Q-R 41 White's key shuts off his Q from K 5 but also, more important, shuts off black Q also and now 1 Q-R 4 is met by 2 Q-K 21 Note also

the 'try' B-Kt 4 for White, defeated by 1 R-Q R 81 Very interesting problem.

The two strongest regular tournaments in the world are the three-yearly candidates' tournament to choose a challenger for the world championship and the annual championship of the USSR—which the cham- pion of the world quite often fails to win! This year's Russian championship was particularly close and, as usual, young players did very well. Tal (age twenty) was 1st (Smyslov and Botwinnik not playing, but—even so!), Spassky (twenty-two) was 4th and the range of scores was only from 14 out of 21 to 711 out of 21— an indication of the great strength of all the players. The following original game with its problem-like finish is from the championship.

White, FURMAN; Black, SPASSKY; Opening, SICILIAN (by transposition).

1 Kt-K B 3 2 P-B 4 3 P-K 4 4 P-Q 4 5 KtxP 6 B-K 3 7 Kt-Q B 3 8 B-K 2 9 P x P 10 B x Kt

11 B-B 57(b)

12 B-R 3 P-Q B 4 P-K Kt 3 B-Kt 2

P x P Kt-Q B 3 Kt-R 31 (a) 0-0 P-B 4 Kt xKt

Kt x P P-Q 3? Kt-Q 5 130-0 14 R-B 1 15 Kt-Q 5 16 P-Q Kt 3 17 B-Kt 2

IS P-Q Kt 4 (d) 19 B-Q 3 (e) 20 P-B 3 (f)

21 P x P

22 K-12. 1 (g) 23 R-K B 2 (h)

24 Resigns 11-B 4

Q-Q 2 R-B 2 (c) Q R-K B 1 P-K 4 B-K 3 B-Kt 51 B x Pl KtxPch Q-R 6 Kt-K 811(1)

(a) The modern form of this variation. If Kt-B 3, White plays Kt-Q B 3 with well-known 'Maroczy Bind' on the centre. As played, Black is able to counter-attack vigorously at once.

(b) This is the kind of mistake White is inclined to make when he feels he should make something out of the opening and there is nothing to be made. II BxB is much better. Incidentally I am quite baffled as to why 131ack does not reply 11 ... Q-R 4, which appears to win at oncel

c) Beginning of a formidable attacking build-up on K B file.

d) He has no time for his counter-attack, 18 Kt-K 3, followed by B-K Kt 4 is better.

e) Hero again Kt-K 3 is preferable.

f) Fatal. He must play 20 Q-Q 2 after which his position, although uncomfortable, is tenable. 20 . . . B-B 6, suggested by Deutsche Schachzeltung, seems to fail against 21 B x Kt, Q-Kt 5;

22 Kt-K 3. (g) 22 R x Kt is the only chance, but not much of one. Black remaining with R plus 2 Ps for B and Kt, and retaining a powerful attack.

(h) If 23 Q-K 2 or 0-B 2, then 23,.. P-K 5; 24 B x P, Kt x P and wins at once: and 23 R-Q B 2, Kt x P is similarly fatal. Finally

23 R x Kt, R x R; 24 B-K 2 or K 4, R-B 7 and wins.

(I) Catastrophic—threatening not only R x R but also Kt x B. and the rook being tied to the second rank by the threat of Q-Kt mate. Not perhaps a very good game (especially on White's part), but an entertaining struggle.