Chess

By PHILIDOR

No. 50. A. COTTACCIII WHITE (7 men)

BLACK 16 'tient.. WHITE to play and

mate in two moves: Far advanced pawns are sometimes a source of weakness, sometimes of strength: usually they are a tactical advantage in the middle game, since they cramp the opposition, but when forces are reduced they may become a liability, as they can often he attacked and won. It is therefore a matter of nice judgement to decide whether or not to saddle oneself with one—or to permit this mixed blessing to the opponent. In the following game Black pushes boldly on, and his judgement is triumphantly justified.

White, V. M1KENAS Black, A. KHAZ1N Opening, English

1 P-Q B 4 P-K 3 15 Kt (4)-K 5 Kt x Kt Z Itt-K B 3 Kt-K B 3 16 Kt x Kt B-K 7 3 P-Q Kt 3 P-B 4 17 R-K 1 Kt-Kt 5 4 B-Kt 2 Kt-B 3 18 Kt x Kt Q x Kt 6 P x P P x P 20 P x P(sr) Q R-I3 1 19 Q-B I P-B 51 5 Kr-B3(a) 3 (a) P-Q 4

7 P-K 3 (b) P-Q 51 21 B-Q 4 (A) R x Bl 8 Kt-Kt 1 (c) P-Q 61 (d ) 22 P x It Q x P

9 P-Kt 3 B-K 2 23 It-Kt 1(1) it x P

10 13-Kt 2 B-13 4 24 Q-Kt 2 Q x Pell! (J)

11 Kt-It 3 0-0 25 K-It 1 B-B 6 120-0 Q-I3 1 26 R-Kt 1 it-87

13 Kt-B 4(e) B-Kt 5 27 Q x P (k) B x Q

14 Q-Kt 1 R-Q1 28RxB QxRch

29 Resigns (1)

(a) As sequel shows, the might is a target here: better, therefore, 5 P-K 3. (b) 7 P-Q 4, B-Kt 51; 8 P-K 2, P x P, B-Kt 5 gives Black it strong initiative, 7 P-K Kt 3 is probably best. (c) 8 Kt-Kt 5 comes to much the same thing, as knight will go to R 3 and B 4. anyway. (d) Excellent judgement—thus pawn is safer than it looks.

(e) 13 Kt-R 4 is better, meeting B-Kt 5 by P-B 3 and preventing the bishop front reaching K 7. (f) Or 19 B x Q Kt P. Q R-Kt I; 20 13-Kt 3, P-US with ample compensation tor the pawn—nevertheless, I would have been inclined as White to try this: one may as well have something to show for a poor position. (g) 20 Q x P. Q x Q: 21 P x Q, B-Kt 51:22 B-Q B I,

Q I with much the bet ter game.

(A) Natural but fatal, but whatever he does the position is very poor. P-K R 3 is relatively best, reducing the pressure u little. (1) 23 Q-B 3, Q x P ch; leads to similar position to that in the game. (I) This must have been a thunderbolt. Of course, it 25 K x Q?? then 25 13-B ch ; 26 Q-Q 4, B x Q mate. (k) Better 27 Resigns. If 27 Q-R 1 or IC 5, then 27 it X P wins in a move or two. (1) 29 K x Q, 13-B 4 ch; 30 K-R. 1, It-B 8 ch; 31 B-B 1, it x B ch, and Black is a piece and pawn ahead with more (pawns) to come.