Chess

By PHILIDOR No. 197. K. S. HOWARD and ALAIN WHITE BLACK (8 men)

WHITE (10 men) WHITE to play and mate in two moves; solution next week. Solution to No. 196 (Le Grand): B—R 5, no threat. If Black moves either knight he is mated by Kt—R 3 or K 6 accordingly; whichever pawn he moves. White blocks it (still no threat) and Black . must commit suicide, e.g., 1 . . • Px RP; 2 R—R 2..

1 P—Kt 6; 2 R—QKt 2. I Px BP; 2 R--QB2, etc. In short, 'dolce far niente.'

• Man bites dog incidents are as popular in chess as they are everywhere else; this week's game is an out- standing example, since not only is Tal defeated by an attack entirely in his own style but also it occurs when he is playing the Sicilian, a defence against which he has won so many brilliancies himself.•It is only fair to add that the game took place fairly soon after his unexpected and crushing defeat in his return match with Botwinnik: this and his bad health at the • time meant he was well below his: best. The winner . is a brilliant attacking player not, quite consistent enough to reach the very top.

White, R. NESCHMETDINOV, Black, M. TAL. Opening.

SICILIAN.

(Baku, 1961.)

1 P—K 4 P—QB 4 2 Kt—KB 3 P—Q 3 3 P—Q 4 P x P 4 KtXP Kt—KB 3 5 Kt—QB 3 P—K 3 6 B—K 2 P—QR 3 7 0-0 Q--B 2 8 P—B 4 QKt—Q 2. The alternatives are 8 . • • Kt-11 3 and 8 . . .P—QKt 4. 9 P—KKt 4 P—QKt 4 10 P—QR 3 B—Kt 2 13—B 3 Kt—B 4 12 Q—K 2 P—K 4? This bold move is too loosening;

Black should play B—K 2 or possibly 0 0 0.

13 Kt—B 5 . Threatening 14 Pxls, P xP; 15 B-Kt, L 3 .. 3 14 PXP PXP 15 Kt—R 6! . . . Black must have overlooked the • strength of this unlikely-looking move when he played 12 . . . P—K 4. l5 . . . Kt—K 3 16 B—Kt 2 B—Kt 2. A curious position: Black's gains looks quite good, with his strong Kt on K 3,. but it is not— he has too• much difficulty in finding safety for his king. 17 RxKt! . . very fine. The obvious 17 P—Kt 5 is adequately met by 17 . BX Kt.

17 . . . BxR

L8 Kt-0 5 Q—Q I. Better is 18 . BXKt; 19 PXB.

Kt—Q 5; 20 Q—B 2, Q—R 2!; 21 B—K 3, B—K[ 2; 22 11--,K ' threatening P—B 3 or BXKt and White has a strong attack for the exchange.

19 Q—B.2 Kt—B 5. 19 . , Bx Kt; 20 PXB, Kt—B 5; 21 BXKt is also good for White.

20 B X Kt PXB 21 P—K 5! . . . 21 QXP, B—Q 5 ch; 22 K—K 1.

R—KB t is less clear.

21 . . . 13XP. 21 . . BXKt; 22 PXB is no good, e.g., 22 ... BXB; 23 R—K I ch, K—B I; 24 Q—B 5 ch and mute follows or 22 . . B—K 3; 23 B--B 6 ch.

22 R—K I P—B 23 KtXP chi QXKt 24 Q—Q4! . threat 25 R x13 ch. K—BI; 26 11—KB 5! 24 . 1 25 RXB Q—Q 1. 25 . R—Q 1; 26 R—K 8 eh • and wins. 26 R—B 5 ch PxR 27 Q x R ch K:—K 2 28 0—Kt 7 ch K—K 3 29 PXP eh Resigns. After 29 . . - K---Q 3: White can just win the queen by 30 K1-13 7 eh or play 30 Q x B and go for a bit More. •