Chess no. 358

PHILIDOR

Black White 8 men 8 men

A. Ellerman (Good Companions, 1919). White to play and mate in two moves; solution next week.

Solution to no. 357 (Wainwright): Kt x P. no threat. 1 . . K x P ch; 2 Kt (3)-B 5. 1 . . . K - B 5 ch; 2 Kt (3)-K 5. 1 K-R 5 ch; 2 Kt (7)-13 5. 1 . . K – B 3 ch; 2 Kt (7)–K 5.

1 . . . R x P; 2 Kt (7)–K 5. 1 . . . R – R 5;

2 Kt (3)-K 5. Very fine pioneer example of starflight cross-checking problem, quoted in the September Problemist.

This week's game is one of those in which 'sudden disaster strikes the loser quite unexpectedly —a kind of divine intervention suspending the laws of nature. The winner, Geller, is one of the strongest attacking players in the world who (also a miracle in its way) has won his last five games against Bobby Fischer.

White, Geller. Black, Portisch. Opening, Ruy Lopez. (Moscow, 1967.)

1 P-K 4 P-K 4 2 Kt - K B 3 Kt - Q B 3

3 B - Kt 5 P-Q R 3 4 B-R 4 Kt-B 3

5 0 - 0 B - K 2 6 R-K I P-QKt 4 7 B - Kt 3 P - Q 3 8 P - B 3 0 - 0 9 P - K R 3 P - K R 3. With the idea of R - K / and B - B 1 while avoiding the tfresome pin by B - K Kt 5.

10 P - Q 4 R - K 1 11 QKt-Q 2 B-81 12 Kt - B 1 B - Kt 2. Of course not 12 . P X P; 13 P x P, Kt x K P?; 14 B - Q 5!

13 Kt - Kt 3 Q - Q 2. This game is a good illustration, amongst other things, of the difficulty in reaching any fiaality in opening theory. 9 . . . P - K R 3 is a com- paratively new idea and, in following it up. Black has

formerly played 13 . . . Kt -0 R 4 and 14 . . . P - B 4. Now Black varies slightly by deciding to play Q R - Q I first completing his development—there seems to be an endless supply of these minor nuances (good and bad) which stop openings ever settling down.

14 P x P! P x P 14 . . Kt x P; 15 Kt x Kt, P X Kt; 16 0-B 3 threatening B x A P. with some pressure.

15 Kt - K 5! . . The subtle point; Black should reply 15 . . . Q X Q; 16 Kt x Kt ch, P X Kt; 17 K x Q when White has some advantage due to the broken pawns. 15 . . . Q - K 2?

16 Kt - R 4 Kt x Kt

17 Q X Kt Kt - R 4? What could be more natural—

and yet it is fatal. 17 . . Kt - Q 1 is necessary though White's position is clearly preferable, e.g. 17 . . . Kt - Q 1; 18 Kt - B 5. - B 3:19 R - K 3 with good attacking chances.

18 B -Kt 5!! . . . a shattering surprise.

is . Q - Q 2. 18 . . . Q x B; 19 Q X P ch,

K - R 2; 20 Q - Kt 8 mate or 18 P x 13; 19 Kt - Kt 6 and 200- K 8 mate.

19 QR-Q 1 B-Q 3

20BxRP! PXB 20 . . . Kt x13; 21 B X131,

K X B; 22 Kt - B 5 ch, Q x Kt; 23 P x Q, Kt - B 24 Q-Kt 5 ch, K-B 1:25 P -B 6, Kt-K 26 Q - R 6 ch. K - Kt 1; 27 R - K 3 P - K 5; 28 Ax B. P X R; 29 R - Kt 3 ch and mates.

21 Q-Kt 6 ch K-81 22 Q -B 6 . . . threat 23 Kt - Kt 6 ch, K - Kt 1; 24 Q - R 8 mate.

K - Kt 1

23 R - K 3 Resigns. 23 . . . K - K 2; 24 Kt - B 5 winning first the queen and then the king.