Chess

WHITE (to men) mum to play and mate in two moves ; solution next week. Solution to No. zzo (King) : K—Kt 3, no

threat. K—Q 5 ch ; 2 P—B 4. K—B 3 ch ; 2 P—K 5. z .. . P—B 3; 2 Kt—B 3. . . . P—B 4 ; 2 Qx P. z ...B any ; 2 Kt—B 3. This is Mr. King's first emblem and is one that would do credit to an experienced composer.

The pleasant Reggio del Emilia tournament divided sheep from goats rather more sharply than usual, with four players scoring 8i out of it, one 8, and no other score above 53. The following game was won by one of the four winners against one of the leading also-rans : yet another Sicilian, I'm afraid (astonishing how many lively games this cut-and-thrust opening produces), this time illustrating typically the way Black often gets the upper hand if he can force P—Q 4.

White, BARCZAY. Black, MINIC. Opening, SICILIAN.

z P—K 4 P-4B 4 2 Kt—K B 3 P 3

3 P--04 - P x

4 Kt x P Kt—K B3 5 Kt—Q B3 P—Q R3 6 p:—Kt 5 P—K 3

7 P—B 4 13-1( a

8 Q—B 3 Q Kt—Q .9 P-13 g . . . Here White seems to me to be mixing up two rather different plans. The very early P—I3 5 goes better with the 6 B—Q B 4 and 7 B—Kt 3 line for two reasons: (a) After P—K 4 by Black, White has K 2 or K B 3 available for the Kt's retreat; (b) The Black P—K 4 opens up White K B's line—and this bishop helps to prevent the freeing P—Q 4. In the text variation I prefer 9 0-0-0 preserving options: Black cannot then proceed at once with P—Q Kt 4 bceause of so P—K S or so Kt—B 6.

P—K 4 toKt—Kt 3 P—Kt 4

zr P—Q R 3 . . . I prefer is 11—Q 3, avoiding weakening the Q side. If ix . . . p—Kt 5; then 12 Kt—K 2 or Kt—Q t—K 3.

B—Kt a

1.2 P—Ks 4 R—Q B 11 Threatening R x Kt, following

by Ktor B xK P.

13 B—Q 3? • He must play 13 13—Kt 2. LLB x Kt . . . . If 14 Kt x P? then 14 . . . Kt x Kt wins a piece or 14 P xP, R x Kt I; 15 P x R, BxQ P with a winning game—e.g. 16 Q—I3 t, Kt xP; 57 B x B, Q x B; t8 R—K Kt t; and now either . Kt x P; 59 Q moves, Kt—B 6 th or 18 Q—R 5 ch is good enough. Jr4 • • • 'Kt x.B r5 0-0-0 0-0 r6 P—Kt 5 . . . He may as well go for it. 16 P xP, R x Kt is still useless. 16 • KP

tx

17 P—B 6? . . . The kind of error for which readers should be grateful. He could lose more peacefully by 17 Kt X Kt, P x Kt; ZSB x K P, B x P ch; 19 K—Kt r, B x11; 20 Q x B, Q—B a, and White has nothing to show for his lost pawn.

R xKt1

P x R . . . P x B, Q x P, and White's position is hopeless (59 P x R ?, Q x P eh; 20 K—Kt I, Kt X P mate). z8 . . .Bx.P eh 19 K—Kt 1 Kt x Pch 20 K—R r P—K g There is no more mercy in him than milk in a male tiAcr. ar Q—R s

PxP

23 ch QxQ Resit,.. im . eo . . I think I vrould have played 24 R x B and allowed 34 . . . Q—R 6 mate. Black had earned it.