CHESS by Philidor

No. 301. D. Mcbrirvax (Natal Mercury, 195

to2p)lay and ate in three moves; lution next week. olution to No. 300 Mansfield): R-B 8, o threat. z . . . xQP; 2 Kt-K 4. BxB P; (3)-K 5. I . . t (3) any; 2Q-Q . . KtxB; 2 -B 8. . Kt (i) Ise ; 2 Kt-R 6. BLACK (3 men) made try Kt- WHITE (4 men) 4(I BxQP; 2 R-B 6 and t BxB P; R-Kt 2) is defeated by I I. . . Kt x B.

In every generation there seem to be players whose aginations are too fertile—who are too much in love th the myriad possibilities of the chess board to hannel and discipline their abilities in the way that necessary for a world champion. Dr. Savielly artakower was the outstanding pre-war example ;

with abundant innate ability and general intelligence, he was too wayward ever to challenge for the title. David Bronstein, a greater player—because more stable—has nevertheless a streak of the same wayward- ness ; he seems to be more interested in producing beautiful and original positions than in winning. But how he can play ! Here is an example—not Bronstein at his best, but showing his creative, imaginative style.

White, BRONSTEIN Black, FURMAN Opening, SICILIAN (Moscow v. Leningrad 1965)

r P-K 4 P-Q B 4 Kt-K 13 3 Kt-Q 3 3 P-Q 4 PxP 4 Kt xP P-Q 3 5 Kt-Q B 3 P-1C 3 6 B-K Kt-B3 Now the position is kle the Paulsen variation, except that in this Black's Q Kt would still be at home and he would have played P-Q R 3 instead: this would imply that, with P-Q Kt 4 and B-Kt 2 to follow, Black could more rapidly put pressure on White K P than in present line, which may therefore be slightly better for White.

7 PQ-B-B 4

8 3 P-K 4 KKt-Ka PxP zo Kt xP 0-0 zz P-K R 3 Kt-K

• Q-B 2 Now the Black queen's side pawns are

put under some restraint. P-Q Kt 3

r3 B-Q 4. . . The immediate 0-0-0 is more natural and, I think, better. This manoeuvre and the later R-K a do not lead anywhere.

B-Kt a 14 0-0-0 Q-B a

15 R-K r B-B 3 It is interesting to compare the effects a the isolated pawns (White K P, Black Q P) on the game.

Both sides have strong squares for the knights, White has more space because his pawn is on the fourth rank but, for the same reason his pawn is the more vulnerable.

r6 P-K Kt 4 Q-Kt 2 17 Q-Kt 2 Ke (3)-Q 2 z8 P-Kt_5 4211-K z za P-K R 4 B--Q r

20 Kt-R5 . . . A difficult position: the rather artificial text move has a subtle hidden point and is probably best.

20 . . P-B41 az PxPs.p. Kt xP 22 Kt-Kt 3 P-Q Kt 4 23 Kt-BS!' . The point of White's 20th move; few players would. have envisaged the scheme, involving as it does the loss of White's K P and the breaking open of the unpleasant long diagonal.

KtxP 24 Kt-R 6 ch K-R z 25 Kt x Kt PxKt as . . . B x KO; 26 R x B, PxKt; 27 RxKtl 26 KtxPExQ 26 ... Q-R 27 R xKt, BxQ; 28 R-K 7 ch,R-Kt ; 28 R-Kt 7 ch, K-R t; 29 B x B and wins. 27 Kix Q Bx R 27 . . . B xKt; 28 RxKt, RxR; 29 B xR ch, B-B 3 is the alternative, when it will not be easy for White to win.

a8 KexB K-Kt z

ay B x Kt P Kt-Q 6 eh? The move Black has been relying on—but White has seen deeper. 29 . . . R x Kt; 3o B x Kt, B-Q 4 is correct, though White stands better and has good winning chances.

• K-Q211 KtxR Or 30 . . . R x Kt; R-Kt ch,

K-B 2; 33 x Kt, B-Q 4; 34 R-Kt 7 d, and White will win the ending.

3z 11-B 4 eh B-B 2 32 B xR ch K-B r 33 B-B 5 ch R-K a

34 13-R 3 Kt-B 6 ch Or 34 . . • B-Q 4; 33 P-B 4 followed by Kt-B 6 or K 6. 35 K-B Resign* 36 Kt-K 6 ch and 37 B X R will leave White a piece ahead.