Chess

By PHILIDOR No. 118 - Specially contributed by E. A. WIRTANEN (Helsinki)

BLACK (9 men) WHITE (10 men)

ss4irrr, to play and mate in two moves: solution next week. Solution to last week's problem by Ellerman: Kt-B 7, threat R-B 5. 1 . . . R-K 5; 2 B-K 6. 1 I. R-Q 6; 2 B-Kt 6. 1 .. R-Q 7; 2 Kt x P. 1 . . .

-R-B 5; 2 R-Q 6. 1 . R x P; 2 Kt x R. 1 . Kt x Kt; 2Q>< Kt. 1 . . . B x B ch; 2 Q x B. Elegant problem with five distinct mates following five possible rook moves, This year's British championship produced, in the victory of the veteran player Dr. S. Fazekas, the biggest surprise since R. F. Combe's win in 1946. Next week I shall give a general report on the championship: I think it appropriate this week to give one of the new champion's wins from the Plymouth tournament. It occurred in the last round but one, when he and his opponent each had 6 points out of 9. White's strategic handling of the game is good: he takes advantage of the standard weakness of the Stonewall Defence—the long chain of pawns on white squares—by exchanging all minor pieces except weak Black queen's bishop. Abrahams contributes to his own defeat by an over- optimistic view of his attacking chances on the king's wing.

White, DR, S. FAZEKAS Black, G. ABRAHAMS Opening, Stonewall Defence.

I P-Q 4 P-Q 4 22 Kt-Q 4 B-R 3 2 P-Q 13 4 P-K 3 23 K R-Q 1 B-B 5 3 Kt-K B 3 P-Q B 3 24 R-Kt 6 Q x P 4 P-K 2 P-K B 4 25 R x P R-B 3? (e) 5 P x PP 26 R x R QXR

6 B-Q 2 t-Q 27 R-Kt 1 R-K BI

7 0-0 Kt-K R 3 28 R-Kt 2 P-R. 4 (f)

8 P-Q Kt 3 0-0 (a) 29QxRP R-BI

9 B-R 3! B x B 30 0-K 1 P-R. 5 10 Kt x B Kt-Q 2 31 Q-Q 1 Q-Kt 3 11 P-Q Kt 4! P-Q R 3 32 P-R 5 P-Kt 6 12 Q-Kt 3 Kt-B3 33RPxP P x P 13 Kt-B 2 Kt-K 5 34BPxP Q x P 14 P-Q R 4 P-K Kt 4 (b) 35 R-B 2 (g) R-B 2 15 P-Kt 5 P-Kt 5 36 Kt-B S Q-Kt 4 16 B x Kt Bp x B 37 R-B 4 K-B 1 (h)

17 Kt-K 5 1O-11 2 (r) 38 Q-Q 4 K-K 1

18 P x B P KtxKt 39 Q-Kt 6 K-Q 2 19 P x Kt (d) P x P 40 Kt-Q 4 Q-Kt 2? (I) 20 Q-B 3 Q-K 1 41 Q x R ch Resigns 21 Q R-Kt I P-Q R 4 (a) Better 8 .. Q-K 2, preventing 9 B-R 3 which eliminates

Black's valuable •K B. If in reply 9 P-Q R 4, then 9 . P-K 4: and it will now be very difficult for White to break up the queen's side as he does in the actual game. (b) Too optimistic: the opening of the king's side only helps White. Black would do better to play B-Q 2, and if 15 P-Kt 5 then 15... RP x P after which he has a difficult defensive game but one he might hold.

(r) 17 . R P x P; 18 P x P, R x R; 19 R X R, Q-Kt 3; 20 R-Kt I is equally bad for Black. (d) Here, however. 19 P x P, B x P; 20 P x Kt, Q-K 2 is stronger line for White: now Black recovers some ground. (e) Wrong idea. 29 . . . Q R-Kt 1!; is correct followed by R-Kt 5. White cannot play 30 Q x P in reply because of R-Kt 7. After text White captures the Q Kt file and Black is lost.

(f) If 28 . R 3; then 29 Q-R 31 and White penetrates with the queen with decisive effect.

(g) Net result of Black's attempted attack has been to open the position for White's pieces. (h) Only move against threat of P-Kt 4. (i) Immediately fatal, but after 40 Q-1( 2; either 41 P-R 6 or 41 R-B 6 leaves Black helpless.