Chess

By PHILIDOR No. 237.

W. HALBERSTADT

(4th Prize, u.g.c.s., 1930 BLACK (3 men)

WHITE (4 men)

of Q 2 Q 5 or Q 8 in main play, thus allowing problem, with Black queen forced to give up control discovered mate by bishop. z B-11 5. . . . 2 ; 2 Kt—K 6. Beautiful 2 B—Kt 6. i. . . Q—R 6; 2 B—B 5. Q—R 4; 2 B—K 2. I . . . Q—R 5 2 B—K 4. i . . . K—Q• problem fot each player is to approach the knights with the kings. White must never allow Kt—Q 4 ch) Black must not permit Kt—B 4 ch—the effect pro- duced is that of a curious dance. Solution to No. 236 (Mansfield) : Q—Kt 6, threat Kt—B 6. ...QxP ch ;

worn to play and win ; solution next week. The AU openings are difficult but some are more difficult

than others, and this week's variation of the Caro- Kann is one of the hardest lines to play for either side. I remember the first time I played against it and was soundly beaten, my opponent amiably remarked that he expected me to lose because everyone lost on the first occasion they met it. However? as this game shows, it isn't only White who can make a mess of it.

Aire, MATULOVI6. Black, HORT. Opening, CARO-KANN. (Sarajevo, r965)

• P--K 4 B 3 P—Q 3 Kt—Q B 3 4 4 Kt x p Kt—B3

▪ Kt x Kt P x Kt A player of fifty years ago would never have chine this, disrupting his own pawns. However, Black gets compensation in the open lines and the text is better than 5 .. K P x Kt, which leaves White a valuable queen's aide pawn majority. 6 B—K Ki—R 3? Unnatural and bad. 6 . Q—B z; 7 Kt—B 3, B—Kt 5 followed by Q Kt—Q 2 and 0 0 0 is much better. 7 Kt—B 3 .. . 7 B x Kt would complete the ruin of Black's pawns, but his open files and two bishops would be ample compensation.

B—Kt

8 0-0One of the points one has to learn in this line is that; despite the open K Kt file, White's king is best on king's side—it is very hard for Black to break through. e Kt—B2 Q—Q a

9 P--B 4

70 B-113 P-1( 11 4? Greatly overrating his chances: the humble B—Kt 2 and 0-0 is best. • Q—Kt 3 P—Kt 3 . 0-0-0; 12 P—Q 3 threatening Q R P is also good for White. 12 P—(2.51 P—Q B 4 12. . . P x P; x3 P x P and now t3. . Q x137,_14 B—(7./ B 4! or 11 Kt xP??; x4 B—Q Kt 5! Q R—Q Q—Q .1 PUrther loss of time. Better 14 K R—K z 12—Kt

is Kt—R 4 0-0-0

16 P—Kt 31 . . Threatening 17 B x B, P xB;

18 Kt—B 5 and also 17 B—F 4.

. Q-9

17 P--R 41 P-154 i8P—R5 B x B

B—B3 Desperate fling: his game is

12 x B

hopeless anyway, as White's attack is too far advanced and too strong to be deknsible.

ao PxP P x P

at QxP Bx Kt With the idea 22 x 13, P--B 5; 23 BXK B P. Q—Kt 5 ch ; 24 13—Kt 3, R—Q 3; as Q moves, Q x R. But . 22 . . . Very fine: he threatens 23 12—R i and 24 R—R 8 eh, Kt x R; 25 Q—Kt 8 mate. P—K Nothing better.

• BxP K R—K r 24R-Ri R x

as R x R B—K 2 Black has emerged temporarily with two pieces for a rook, but his king position is too weak for him to survive.

R—R R-1

27 R—Kt 71 Q—Q 3 . Forced. 26 (2x121 Magna aS. . . xQ; ag R xik eb, It x R; 30 R x R leaves Black with an utterly hopeless ending.