Chess no. 325

PHILIDOR

H. V. Tuxen (1st Prize, Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1919). White to play and mate in two moves; solution next week.

Solution to no. 324 (Hartong): K x P. threat - Kt 5. 1 . . . P x Kt ch; 2 R -B 6. 1 . . . Kt (R 7) x Kt ch; 2 R - R 5. 1 . . . Kt (K 7) x Kt I . P x Kt; 2 R - Kt 5. Superb cross-checker

with a magnificent key.

If asked who were the players of genius in the present generation most of us would have little hesitation in naming Fischer and Tal. Bobby Fischer, messianic, obsessive, driven by a belief in his inherent superiority which leads him to invent fantastic and childish excuses when he fails—still capable of being world champion if he can harness and discipline his powers without losing the impe- tus his daemon now gives him. Mikhail Tal is brilliant, mercurial, moving in chess as a fish moves in the sea, dazzling combinations and sacri- fices flowing from him without apparent effort. Here is a recent specimen of his style, from the Majorca tournament which he won with 12/15 ahead of Pomar (11) and Portisch (10).

White, Tal. Black, Wade. Opening, Sicilian. (Majorca 1966.)

P - K 4 P - Q B 4 To play this against Tal is an act of heroism. quixotry or folly according to taste. One's best chance against Tal is to bore him, then to relieve the tedium he may overreach himself. But the Sicilian. which immediately produces a conflict, suits him down to the ground; further. Tal is a great opening student and innova- tor—and the Sicilian is a happy hunting ground in this respect. too.

2Kt-K83 P-Q 3 3 P -Q4 PXP 4 Kt X P Kt - K B 3 5 Kt-063 P-KKt 3 6 B - K 3 B - Kt 2 6 . . Kt - Kt 5?; 7 - Kt 5 ell, B - Q 2; 8 Q X Kt. 7 P - B 3 Kt - B 3 8 Q - Q 2 0 - 0 9 B - Q B 4 . . . Played no doubt with his innovation on move 16 in mind. 9 0 - 0 - 0 followed b) P - K R 4 is a strong alternative.

9 . . . B -Q 2 10 P - K R 4 R - B 1 11 B - Kt 3 0- R 4 Kt - K 4 Is a good alternative.

12 P - R 5! Kt x R P 13 P - Kt 4 Kt - B 3 14 0 - 0 - 0 Kt - K 4 15 B - R 6 BXB 16 R X IV . . . The natural 16 Q X B is less good because then the exchange sacrifice on Q B 3 is more effective.

16 . . . R x Kt Probably still best—it sedum the attack and Black does not stand badly for the cod game.

17 P X R R - B 1 18 K - Kt 2 P - Q Kt 4? Too slow—he should Play 18 . . . Kt - B 5 eh; 19 B X Kt. R x B threatening R - R 5. Text lases an important tempo.

19 QR-KR 1 Kt-B5 20 B x Kt P x B 21 R x P Kt x R

22 Q - R 6 P - K 37 Missing his last chance He should play 22 ." . Q - K 4. No doubt he rejected it because of 23 Q x Kt ch. K - B 1; 24 Q - R 8 ch. 0 x 0: 25 R x 0 ch. K - Kt 2: 26 it x R. B x 11; 27 Kt - B 6. K - B 3: 28 Kt x R P but now 28 ." . B -0 2! and the ending is by no means clearly won for White.

23 P - B 4! P - K 4 23 . . . R - Kt 1 ch: 24 K - B 1. Q x BP: 250 x Kt cll. K - B 1; 26 Q - R 8 ch. K -K 2. 27 Kt - B 5 ch and 280 x Q. 24 P - Kt 5! B-K 124 ...PXKt; 25QxKtch K - B 11; 26 0 - R 8 ch, K - K 2:27 Q - B 6 ch. K - K 1 28 R - R 8 mate.

25 Kt - K 6! Resigns 25 . . . P X Kt (forced): 26 Q x Kt ch. K - B I; 27 Q - R Sets. K - K 2:28 R - R 7 eh. B - B 2: 29 Q - B 6 ch. K - 0 2: 300 x B els, K - B 3; 310- Kt 7 ch, K. - B 4; 32 Q X R ch etc.