Chess no. 403
PHILIDOR
Black White 5 men 7 men
J. Berger (Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1887). White to play and mate in three moves; solution next week.
Solution to no. 402 (Loshinski): B - B 6. threat Q x Kt. 1 . Kt - B 3; 2 P - Q 7 (set Q - K 6). 1 . . . Kt - B 6; 2 P - Q 4 (set Q - Q 4). 1 . . . Kt else; 2 Q- K 4 (set R X P). Elegant changed mate problem—for technically minded readers, a changed black correction theme.
Champion and championship
Dr Jonathan Penrose, aged thirty-four, won the British Championship (at Bristol) for the ninth time in eleven years, thus confirming his position as un- questionably the best player in the country; the only player who has ever dominated the cham- pionship in the same way was the Yorkshire schoolmaster, H. E. Atkins, who also won nine times about fifty years earlier. Penrose, in my opinion, has the innate ability to reach the top international class; his limitations as a chess player lie outside the technical field. He is not, I think, robust enough physically to stand the strain of intensive competition at the highest level; nor has he quite the belief in himself, or the natural opti- mism which helps to reduce this strain. Most important of all, chess does not matter to him quite enough for him to dedicate himself to it in the way that is essential to reach the top. But he is a great player.
The performance of our young players was a very encouraging feature of the championship. The four accepted leaders of this group are Keene, Hartston, Lee and Basman; all except Hartston (who was not able to spare the time) are in the Olympic team for Lugano. In the championship Keene and Hartston shared second place with 71/11 (Penrose made 81), Lee made 7 and Basman 61; Keene played particularly well. With Clarke —the other member of the Lugano team compet- ing—scoring 7, the championship was an excellent omen for the Olympiad.
In the next fortnight there will be a double round tournament, financed by Mr J. D. Slater, at Southend between• the six leading young players—Keene, Hartston, Lee, Basman,. Whiteley and Wright. Mr Slater is not only sponsoring this event but has also offered to finance the winner over a period of one to two years in an attempt to gain the international master title. However that may turn out, the tournament is an event of great interest in the chess calendar and also a very useful preparation of the Lugano tournament in October/November.
Finally, an apology. In writing on books to read I implied that Reti's Masters of the Chess Board is out of print; this is not so—it should be obtain- able from any bookseller. I was thinking of Reti's other classic, Modern Ideas in Chess—to my mind even better than Masters of the Chess Board— which is out of print; I hope that Bell's will one day reprint this too.
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