Chess no. 433

PHILIDOR

Black White 7 men 5 men

M. Havel (Preica, 1957). White to play and mate in three moves; solution next week.

Solution to no. 432 (Krishnamurthy and Narayanan): Kt - K 6, threat B - R 5. 1 . . . Kt - Kt 3; 2 B - Kt 4. 1 . . . Kt X Kt; 2 B - K 4. 1 . . . Kt - Kt 4; 2 R Kt (set

B - Kt 4). 1 . . . Kt - K 4; 2 Kt - Q 4 (set B - K 4) are the thematic variations with the set mates B - Kt 4 and B - K 4 transformed to meet new defences.

When Heidenfeld publishfil a new edition of his excellent collection of cliff-hanging drawn games, here is one he must certainly include. I think that Black was a little lucky to draw but it's difficult to be sure; it depends how far ahead he foresaw what would happen—it looks rather more as if there just happened to be something in the position which enabled him to survive.

White, Medina. Black, Toran. Opening, Sicilian. (Majorca 1968.) 1 P- K 4 P-QB4 2 Kt-Q83 Kt-QB3 3 P-KKi3 P-KKt3 4 B- Kt 2 B - Kt 2 5 P-Q 3 P-K 3 6 B-K 3 P-Kt3 7 Q-Q 2 B-Kt 2 8 Kt(1)-K2 P-Q 3 9 0 - 0 Kt(1)-K2 10 B - R 6 0 - 0

11 Q R-Q 1 Kt -Q 5 This natural-looking move may be premature.

12 KtxKt PxKt 13 BxB K x B l4 Kt-K2 P-K 4 15 P-QB3 Px P 16 Px P P - Q 4! 1 find this slow form of the Sicilian very hard to judge— there are so many options for both players. White's play—and position—look pretty in- nocuous. but he has in fact the makings of a menaciwg attack; Black must play as he does or White's P - K B 4 will be too strong.

17 P-KB4! QPxP 18 BPxP QxP

/8 . . . PxP?: 19 BxB, PxKi; 20 QxP winning the exchange.

19 Q-Kt5 QxKt 20 QxKt B - R 3! The best chance.

21 P - K 6! 'Q-K6ch 22 R - B 2 . . . Had White realised that this was only going to be enough for a draw he might have played 22 K-R I, B x R; 23 R x B, White now threatens

24 Q - B 6 ch, K - R 3 (24 . . K - Kt I;

25 PxP ch); 25 R - B 4 and if 23 . . . QXB P then 24 RxP ch. RxR: 25 QxR ch, K - R 3: 26 P - K 7 and I think that White should win; e.g. 26 . . . Q - B 3; 27 Q - B 4 ch, P - Kt 4; 2 BxPl

22 . . . B - B 5! 23 Q-B6ch K - Kt 1 24 P - K 7 KR-K 1 25 Q - B 6! .. .

Now Black's last hour seems to have come since White threatens Qx QR as well as Q x B.

Q x B.

25 Q - B 4! A remarkable resource.

26 QxQR RxQ 27 R-Q8ch K - Kt 2 28 P - K 8=Q RxR 29 Qx R P-K 6! Black's K P Li s dangerous as White's was. It will cost While his extra rook, after which Black would have a winning ending. Better half a loaf, so . . .

30 Q-B6ch K - Kt 1 31 Q-Q8ch K - Kt 2

32 Q - B 6 ch and the game is drawn by per- petual check.