Chess

PHILIDOR

Black White 14 men 8 men

No. 324. J Hartong (1st Prize, The Problemist, 1927). White to play and mate in two moves; solu- tion next week.

Solution to No. 323 (Mansfield): R - K 7, threat Kt - B 7. 1 . . . B X Kt ch; 2 Kt - B 4 (set Q x B). 1 . . . Kt- B 5; 2 Kt-KB 6. 1 . . .

B x B; 2 Kt-K 3. 1 . . K 3; 2 P x B. 1 . . . P- B 6; 2 R- R 4. Beautiful unpinning problem, with a first-class key.

The following interesting game, sent to me by the winner—one of the leading correspondence players in the country—was played on top board in the Northern Counties postal team match. It is a good_ example of a positional sacrifice of the type that is difficult to analyse to a definite win but never- theless gives the attack too many chances and too much scope to be withstood in the long run. Before I started playing correspondence chess seriously a few years ago, 1 used to think that this type of sacrifice would be less successful here than in over- the-board play as a long and difficult defence should be more practicable in correspondence; practice does not seem to bear out my theory. White. C. W. Warburton (Lanes). Black, W. C. Evans (Yorks). Opening. Sicilian.

1 P - K P -Q B 4

2 Kt - K 8 3 Kt -Q B 3

3 B - Kt 5 . . 1 don't believe these off-neat lines are really as strong as the standard methods. :sir they have the great advantage 01 making the opponent think for himself.

3.Q - 8 2 Q - Kt 3 and P - K Kt 3 are good dB 3

alternatives.

4 p

P - Q R

5 B R 4 P - Q Kt 4

6 BB2 B - Kt 2 7 0 - 0 Kt -B 3 8 - K 1 P- Q 3 Mr Warburton (in view of the

coming play) suggests P - K Kt 3 as better but. property followed up, I think the text should be satisfactory.

9 P - Q 4 P x P1 Black would do better to refuse White's indirect offer of a pawn and play 9 • • • P - K

getting into • Ruy Lopez Portitoll, 441- 10 P 5, Kt- 2: II 8- Kt S, Kt - Q 2; 12 Q Kt -Q 2,

P - K R 3.

10P x P Kt - Q Kt 5 Now 10 . . . P- K 4; 11 Kt - B 3! Is less good.

11 13- Kt 3

B x P 11 .. Kt x K P7; 12 P-0 R 31 and wins a piece.

12 Kt -B 3 B - Kt 3 12 . . P - Q 4; 13 Kt - K 1, P - K 3: 14 B - KB 4 with advantage, or 12 . B - Kt

2; 13 P - Q 5! threatening P R 3.

13 P-QR 4 P X P 13 R-Q Kt 1 seems to be

rather the better h after 14 P x P. P x P White's open Q R file and threats of Kt x its P. R x Kt; B - R 4 are ample compensation for the pawn.

14 B x P ch K- Q I After Kt - Q 2 Black leered the combination of the pin and his difficulty !!, ever getting castled—nevertheless it is a better chance than the text 15 P - Q 5! Q - Kt 2

16 Kt- Q 4! P - K 4 He cannot take the Q P. e.g. 16 . . . K Kt x P; 17 Kt x Kt, Q x Kt; 18 Kt - B 6 chi 16 . . . R - B I may be a shade better but after

17 Kt - B 6 ch Black is losing anyway. 17 P x P e.p. P- Q 4 18 Kt - 6 chl Kt X Kt

19 Kt x P Kt - Q 2 19 .. . Kt x Kt: 20 Q x Kt ch, K - B 2; 21 B - 4 ch. K - Kt 3; 22 B - K 3 ch. K - B 2; 23 Q R - B 1 or 19 . . K - B 20B-84 sollowed byQR-B I. 20 Kt -Kt 6/ Resigns 20 . . op it Kt7; 21 Q x Kt mate or 20 . . . R - R 2: 21 Kt x Kt. K- B 1; 22 B- K 3 threatening B x R or 11 it Kt or QR-B 1 and winning easily.