Chess no. 356

PHILIDOR

Black White 8 men 8 men G. Bakesi (3rd prize, Hannelius Fiftieth Birthday Tourney). White to play and mate in two moves; solution next week.

Solution to no. 355 (Petrovic): K - K 41, threat B - B 3. The point of this curious little problem is the failure of other White king moves: 1 K - K 3?, B-Kt 2!; 1 K-B 4?, P-B 7!; 1 K-Kt 47, Kt-Kt 3!; 1 K-B 27, Kt-B 2!

One of the most entertaining of the medium strength national teams is the Spanish; in Diez del Corral (see his game with Langeweg published on 30 June) they have a very formidable and imag- inative attacking player and in Medina they have

• another. Medina strikes me as less deep but he is a great optimist, who never minds taking a chance; against most players outside the very top class this pays. Here is an etample from the Clare Benedict tournament in which Spain and ourselves tied for second place.

White, Medina. Black, Blau. Opening, Sicilian. (Leysin. 1967.)

P - K 4 P-Q B 4 2 Kt-K 3 P-

P - Q 4 P x Q P3

4 Kt X P Kt - K B 3 5Kt-Q 11 3 P-QR 3 6 P - B 4 P -X 4 7 K

8 B-I Q 33 Q K1t -2

Q 2 9 0 -0 B - K 2. It is generally thought better

to play this bishop to Kt 2-either with P - K Kt 3 and B- Ka 2 at once, or preceded by P - Q Kt 4 ant B - Q Kt 2: the text, however. is also Plaratdc.

10 Q - K 1 0 -0 11 1Kt - K R 4 Kt -B 4 12 P X P . . . White now embarks on an interesting idea; he exchanges his two bishops for Black's knights (usually a very poor bargain in an open position) reckoning in return to get a complete grip on the White swam, 12 . . P x P 13 13 -it Kt 5 Kt x 14 P x Kt Q - Q I, It is difficult to find • better

move-the queen is now badly placed on B 2, with W 2.1 threatening to come to Q 5 after B x Kt.

IS K - R I. . A typically bold move; White could safely play R - Q .1 with a good game.

15 . . . P - K R 3. I don't like this and would

have been inclined to play 15 • • . Q x P; lb R - Q 1, Q - B 5 and try to weather the storm (e.g. 16 B x Kt,

/11 x 17 Kt - Q S, B -Q 1). The text weakens Black's defensive position.

16 B x Kt B x B

17 Kt - B 5 B - Kt 4. Now after 17 . . . B x Kt

(17 Q x P; 18 Kt x P ch); 18 R x B. Q X P: 19 R - Q 1, Q-B 5; 20 Kt -Q S White regains the pawn and remains with pressure.

18 Kt - Q 5 P- K Kt 3. Otherwise P- K It 4 is deadly.

19P-K R4 PxKt 20Px11 RPxP20QXP; 2IPxPis less

good (21 . . . B x P7; 22 ft x B!)..

21 Q - B 3 - Q 3

22 P- Q 4 K P x P? After this move I doubt whether the game can be saved; 22 . . . P - B 3 is necessary when the position is and unclear.

23 QxQP P - B 3

24 Q R- K II . threatening 25 P x P followed by Kt - K 7 eb winning the queen.

R-Q I. 24 . . . B-Q 2; 25 P X P and 34 . .B - K 37; 25 Kt x P ch are equallymore) unsatisfactory.

25 P x PI K - 13 2. 25 . Q X Kt; 26 R - K 8 chl, K - B 2; 27 R X R 26 R- K 61 R - R 1 ch. 26 . . . Q x Kt; 27 Q X P ch, K - Kt I; 28 Q x P ch and wins quickly.

27 K - Kt 1 Q - R 7 ch 28 K - B 2 R - it 3? Immediately fatal. but 28.

Q-R 5 ch;29QXQ,PxQ; 30RxPelt,K- itt.2; 31 It - Kt 6 ch. K - B 2; 32 R - K 1 and Black is helpless. (32 . . B x P?; 33 R - B 6 ch or 32 . . R - K 11; 33 It - B 6 ch-and otherwise White will play it - K 7 ch followed by doubling on the seventh.)

29RxPch RxR 30QXRch K-Kt I 31 Kt - K 7 ch Resigns. 31 . . K - R 2; 32 Q - Kt 6 ch., K - R 1; 33 Q - Kt 8 mate.