Chess

By PHIL1DOR

No. 191 Specially contributed by R. GUNNING

(Whit(on)

BLACK (9 men)

WHITE (7 men)

warm. to play and mate in two moves; solution next week. Solution to No. 190 (Speckmann): 1 P—Q 8 = R, K—K 2; 2 P—B 8 = Kt. Easy but amusing example of under-promotion.

One of the things that always exercises the strong player in a tournament, especially with the Black pieces, is avoiding a draw. Here is a perfect example taken—like the game of a month ago—from The Early Games of Paul Keres (Herbert Jenkins, 27s. 6d.). The loser, Sir George Thomas, was for many years one of the best British players and his play was distinguished by its soundness and good positional judgment; it is fascinating to see the apparent ease with which the genius of Keres over- comes this. White, SIR GEORGE THOMAS. Black, P. KERES, Opening, RUY LOPEZ.

(Margate, 1937; notes based on those by Keres.)

1 P—K 4 P--K4 2 Kt—KB 3 Kt—Q13 3 3 13—Kt 5 P—QR 3 4 B--R 4 Kt--B 3

5 Kt—B 3 ... a very .s03d method, t pica] of 1 hoinas's

plae.

5 . . . P—CtKt 4 b B—Kt 3 P—Q 3! Successfully tempting White.

7 Kt—Kt 5 ' . . . As Keres says, fee players could resist ,his—but now the game gets into a wild and complex situation far more suited to him than to Thomas.

7 . P—Q 4, Forced, 8 Kt X OP Against 8 PXP Keres gives S . . Kt- 5; 9 P—Q 6, Ktx13; 10 PXP, QxP: 11 RPxKt, 13—Kt 2 and Black has a fine position for the sacrificed pawn. Kt—Q 51 9 Ku-K 3 Or 9 Kt x Kt ch. QXKT; and rine 10 [C's I', Kt XB and 10 B xP ch, K—K 2; ii P—Q 3, I'--R 3 are both bad. Keres thinks 9 Kt—QB 3 is perhaps best. 9... KtxB 10 RP xKt P—R 3 11 Kt-13 3 KtxP

12 KtxP . . . If 12 P—Q 3 then 12 . . B—Kt 5 efe: I) P—B3, KtxQl3P; 14 PXKt, BxP ch; i5 B—Q 2, Bx R; 16 Q>c B, QxP with an excellent game.

12 CT-11 3 13 Kt—B 3 11—Kt 2 14 Q—K 2 0 0 0. Realising of course that White is far too behind in deselopment to be able to exploit the weakened queen's side peens and the open rook's file: a good example ot knowing %shell to break the normal rules.

15 0-0 13—Q 3

16 Kt—Kt 4 . . . 16 P—Q 3, Kt—Kt 4! and White is in great trouble.

16 .. . Q-- 114. Keres points out that 16 . 0- -let is better as then :deer 17 P---Q 3, Kt--Kt 4; 18 let—Ie 4 he can play Q—R 4.

17 P—Q 3 Kt—Kt 4 18 Kt—R 4 Q—Q 4

19 P-011 4? . . Better 19 P KB 4! Kt- -K -3 thoteth Black still has much the better of it.

19 ... Kt--R 6 chl

20K—RI 1 Q—R 4! .

21 P—B 5 . . . there is nothing better. 21 . . . • KR—K I 22 Q—B 2 not 22 B--K 3. QXKt (R 4); 23 P B P eh; 24 N xi), Kt—B 5 ch winning the queen.

22 . . . Q x Kt (R 5) 23 P X B? . 23 P—B 3 was the only chance, auainst which Keres gives 23 . .11xQBP: 24 Qx B, R—K 7 threatening Qx Kt! and Black has a winning game. Now it is mate in three. 23. x P 24 fx13 Qxlet eh.