Chess

By PHILIDOR No. 272. F. FLECK (1st Prize, Magya, Sakkalct, 19641 WHITE to play and mate in two moves ; solution next week. Solution to No. 271 (Orlimont). x R— Q B 6!, R—R 4 ; 2 R—Kt 4 ch !, R xR ; 3 Q—K 8!! and now (a) 3 . . .

R (R 4) any ; 4 R- R 6, (b) 3 . . . R (Kt 5) any ; 4 R— B 4, (c) 3 . . . K— Kt 4; 4 Kt—B 3. til.ACK 9 Men) WHITE :7 men) If R—K B 5 ; then 2 Kt— D 3 ch, K—R 6; 3 Q—K 7 ch—or i. . . R—R I ; 2 Kr—B 3 ch. Marvellous problem, ending in an astonishing Zug.swang with 3 Q—K 8.

At the advanced age of twenty-two, Bobby Fischer has won the championship of the US for the eighth consecutive time; this time (the onset of senility?) not quite so convincingly as last year—a difficult feat to achieve as he then scored rrirr—but comfortably enough with 8 wins, 2 losses (to Reshevsky and Robert Byrne) and one draw. Here is a very fine win against Benito.

White, FISCHER. Black, BENKti. Opening, RUY LOPEZ.

(New York, 1965).

I P—K 4 - P—K 4

2 Kt—K B 3 Kt—QB 3

.7 B—K PKPIQt—QB KR3 : 4 t 5 4 B—R 4 5 0-0 B—K 2

6 R—K r

7 B—Kt 3 P—Q 3

8 P—B 3 0-0

y P—K R 3 Kt—Kt i Now rather more fashionable than 9 . . . KT—R 4, but this game casts some doubt on the variation.

ro P—Q 4 Q Kt—Q a It Kt—R 4! Kt—Kt 3 It is probably better to play it ... P x P; 12 P x P, Kt—Kt 3. As played White gets his knight to K B 5 with considerable effect, whereas after the pawn exchange Kt—B5 ..would lead to a weakened White pawn structure. K 12 2--Q 2 P—B 4 Not the plausible 72 . . . Kt x P!?; r3 Kt x Kt, B x Kt; 14 Q—R 5! threatening 15 B—Kt 5! and White has a strong attack. But 12. .. P x P! would be better than the text (see last note).

13 PxB P PxP 14 Kt—B 5! B x Kt

• 15 P x B Q—B z 16 P—Kt" g Now White has a strong snacking position while S. lack's game is lifeless. 16 ._. . P—R 3? This and the subsequent re- treat to R 2 make matters worse. A better chance was K Kt—Q 4 —B 5.

17 P—K R 4 P—B 5 r8 B—B 2 Kt—R 2

ry Kr—B3! P—B 3 ry . .. Kt—Q 2; 20 P—Kt 5 is equally unpleasant: now however Black's pawn position is hopelessly bad, the white squares being dominated by Fischer. 20 Kt—Q 2!It has done its work on B 3. 20 .. . ii a--f 2 r 21 Q—B 3 P—K R 4 This loses, but SO Will the alternative of doing nothing—White will play Kt—K 4 and break through when he is ready with P—Kt 5. 22 PxP Kt—Q4 23 Kt—K 4 Kt—or 5 24 B,. Kt p•13

25 K—R 1 K—R r 26 R—K Kt r R—B z 27 R—Kt 6 B—Q 3

28 Q R—K Kit B—B, Hastening the end a little but P—R 6 followed by Q—R 5 will win for White anyway: one of Black's troubles is that he will never be able to exchange on Kt 3 Without giving White overwhelming pawns so he cannot hope evt:r to break free.

zy P—R 6 Q—K 4 30 Q—K1 4 R (r)—Q 2 31 P—B 3. . . No hurry. If Black doss no- thing White now wins by P x P ch followed by P—R 5—R 6.

3, , . B—B 4

32 fet x B Q . Kt 33 R , Kt P R . R 34 P -' It ch K—Kt 1 35 (1—lit 6 R—Q r

, 36 B—K 4 Q—QB r? Putting an end to his misery. sg---Q 3 i5 necessary but White can then win by K—R 2—R 3— K! 4—R 5—I: 6 winning the knight! 37 Q--K 8 eh!! Resigns 37 . . . R xQ; 311 B-41) 5 ds, R.--K 3;39 6,‘Rch,QxB;4oPxQ.