CHESS by Philidor No. 323.

C. MANSFIELD (1st Prize, Falkirk Herald, 1929) WHITE to play and mate in two moves; Solution next week. Solution to No. 322 (Kohnlein) : I R - B 7 I, P - Kt 6 ; 2 B- K 4, K - K 7; 3 B - R 7, K - R 8 ;

4 B - Kt 8, K - R 7;

(BLACK 6 men) (WHITE I0 men)

In the close defences particularly, where rapidity and naturalness of development are less important than in the open game, some very queer-looking moves are playable—and played. Nevertheless, I retain a prejudice in favour of natural moves and am always glad to see it supported in practice. Here is an example which gave me a good deal of pleasure.

White, KAVALEIC Black, CSOhi Opening, FRENCH P- K 4 P(Szombathely, 1966)

3

a P- Q4 P-Q 4

Kt- Q B3 B-K95

in due

4 P- K 5 Q- Q a The idea of this curious move is a, follows. First, one of White's most dangerous attacking moves is Q - Kt 4—text allows Black to protect himself by P - K B 4. Next, he plays Q -9 2 rather than Q - K because he wants K 2 for his Kt and intends to fianchetto his Q B. Nevertheless, I think the natural counter-attack by P - Q B 4 on White's centre (or Kt - K 2 followed by P - Q B 4) must be better. P- Q R3 BxKt ch Believe it or not, 5 . . . B - B I has been played here, and is a rational alternative; in having induced P - K 5 the bishop's trip to Kt 5 has had some point.

6 PxB P-Q 3 •

7 Q -Kee P-KB4 8Q-R5 ch! P-Kt3 8 Q- B a is better, though after 9 Q xQ ch, K x Q; so Kt - B 3 White stands better.

9 Q - Q . . . White's queen manoeuvre has seriously weakened Black's pawn structure, as is now finely demons- trated.

Kt - Q B3

go P-KR P-KR3 xo . . . P - K R 4 is better, but White will then get his knight to K B 4 with a dear advantage. zr P - Kt 41 K Kt - K a 22 P - R 51 Kt PxP 12 . . . P -K Kt 4; 13 P -K B 4 is also good for White.

13 P -Kt 51 PxP

14 R x P R-B r Nothing better. 23 R x P B - Kt a Just a move too late for the king to

escape.

z6 Q- R 5 ch K - Q r z7 Kt-R3 K r8 Kt - B 41 -Q a 18 Q xQ/; x9 Kt xP ch. z9 Q - R 6 Kt-Kt rP 19 ... Kt -Q x is the only hope, though I doubt whether Black will survive—but I cannot sec anything decisive for White in reply. zo R - Kt 7 ch R-B a Otherwise the K P is lost for nothing.

sr RxKtI QxR az QxP ch K-Q r 23 Kt - Kt 6 R- Kt 2

24 B - Kt 5 ch Kt-Ka 25 BxKt ch K-K z

26 B - QKt5 ch P - B 3 27 BxP ch BxB 28 §xB ch K-B 2 29 -B6 ch K-K r

30 - B 8! Resigns 30 . . R-Q B 2; 31 B-Q R - K Kt a;. 32 - B 4 and Black will lose a third pawn remaining with R v. B, 1St and 3 Ps, a completely hopeless situation.