(less 453
PHILIDOR
A. Chicco (1st Prize, L'Italia Scacchistica, 1963). White to play and mate in three moves; solution next week.
Solution to no. 452 (Savournin): Kt - B 4, threatQ-K 6.1 ...K-B 3; 2 Q-Kt 7. 1...
K Q 3; 2 Q - Kt 8. 1 K - K 5; 2 Q x R. The point of the problem is seen in the reason for the failure of other Kt moves. 1 Kt - Kt 7?, K - B 3; 1 Kt - Q 4, K - K 5; 1 Kt - B 7, Q 8, B 8, K - Q 3. A typically modem two-mover.
Einstein on chess
Einstein in his fascinating introduction to Hannak's biography of Emanuel Lasker makes two very interesting observations on chess. One is 'his [Lasker's] mind . . . had that exceptional elasticity characteristic of chess players': the other—less flattering to chess and chcssplayers- deals with Lasker as a mathematician maniple. Einstein compares Lasker's fate in having to play chess with Spinoza's in having to grind lenses for a living and says, 'Spinoza was luckier, for his business was such as to leave his mind free and independent; • whereas master-chess grips its exponent, shackling the mind and brain, so that the inner freedom and independence of even the strongest character cannot remain unaffected'.
The second remark is linked to another Einstein comment, '1 have always disliked the fierce competitive spirit embodied in that highly intel- lectual game', and I hope to comment on this on another occasion—but what exactly does Einstein mean in his first remark by 'exceptional elasticity'? 1 think that it relates to the strong element of opportunism in the game.
When one is playing a serious game one operates most of the time on strategic and tactical levels simultaneously. One has a general plan of campaign based on the inherent nature of the position—the development, the pawn structure, command of space, lasting strengths and weak- nesses of all kinds; but all the time one is (a) casting around for tactical devices through which to implement one's strategy, (b) watching for a chance to benefit, in some way that may have no connection with the general strategy, from any tactical error by the opponent. Moreover, even without a tactical slip, one kind of advantage has a way of getting converted into a quite different kind which needs a complete reorientation; you have a fierce attack on the king and the opponent wards it oft by giving up a pawn to force the exchange of queens—suddenly you must try to win an ending instead. Or your attack may be repelled and it is necessary to change over to defence; one must recognise at once when this has occurred and readjust one's whole attitude—it can be disastrous to continue even for a move or two with an attack that is no longer warranted by the position.
So the chess master has to have a dual attitude in the game; he must follow his strategic plan wholeheartedly and yet remain psychologically poised for a complete change at any moment—and perhaps more than any other master Lasker was equipped to do this. To a man like Einstein, working to much larger and more stable objectives, this must have seemed very alien and indeed distasteful; but in this dual attitude we can see part at least of the psychological mixture that goes to make up the chess master. The plan is the plan of the scientist; the elasticity is the oppor- tunism of the games player.
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