Chess

BY PHILIDOR No. 1. C. MANSFIELD

BLACK. 5 men. WHITE 10 play and mate in two moves; solution next week. This superb prob- lem by our finest two - move com- poser will be well known to experts. but I hope even they will get pleas- ure from seeing It

again—and that all solvers (even un- successful ones)

In the critical Rauzer variation of the Sicilian Defence, one bad move by either player is usually enough. Here White plays this on his 15th move. Black makes a fine exchange sacrifice, which he recovers 7 moves later. leaving White with shattered pawns and a weak K position. White is unable to defend both these weaknesses and stop a formidable Black passed KRP, all at the same time.

White, KARAKLAIC. Black, JOPPrN. BELGRADE, 1954

I 13-K 4 P-Q 11 4 17 PxR B-K 21 2 Kt-K 83 Kt-Q B 3

3 P-Q 4 PxP 18 K-Kt 1 Q-Kt 3 ch

4 Kt xP Kt-B3 19 K-R 1 Kt x11 20 Q x Kt B-R 6 5 Kt-Q B 3 P-Q 3 6 B-K Kt 5 P-K 3 21 R-Kt 1 B-Kt 7 Ch 22 RxI3 7 Q-Q 2 B-K 2 QxKRc.b

8 0-0-0 0-0 23 R-Kt 1 Q-Kt 6 9 P-B 4 (a) P-K 4 24 RxP(c) QxRP

10 Kt-B 3 B-Kt 5 25 P-Q 134 P-K R 4 11 P-K R 3 B x Kt 26 P-115 Q-B 11 -Q 27 Q-Kt 5 P-R 5 12 P x B Kt 13 PxP(b) PxP 28 R-K 7 P-R 6 (1)

I R- Kt R-B I (c) 29 RxP Q-B 2

t. 15 B-K 27(d) R x Kt! 30 R-R 5 R-K 16 BxKt BxB 31 Q-Q 3 Q-B 5 32 Q-Q 1 Q-K 6

33 Resigns (g)

(a) Attacking chances are equal. Black's next move is innovation of Geller's aiming to secure Q 5 for Kt.

(b) Customary, but immediate Q —Kt 2 maY be better : text frees Black bishop.

(c) 14 . . . KtXP; 15 Q—B 2, Q—Kt 3; 16 B—K 31 is good for White.