Chess
Problem No. 521 by T. H. Amirov (Nakhodka, U.S.S.R.)
Black (8)
White (10)
White mates in three moves.
FEN 8/K2p3B/Q2Pr1r1/2R1bp2/4k3/3R2P1/1nnPN1P1/8 w - - 0 1
Solution: 1. Qb5 Bh8 2. Re5+ Bxe5 3. Qd5#
Beating a Master
An amateur always stands a better chance of defeating a master in complications than in a positional game. Combinative situations turn chess into a Russian roulette in which strong nerves and imagination can outweigh technique and experience. The following game from Bognor is a good example. Mardle, a young Cheltenham civil servant, has always been a dangerous attacker and his wins over Gereben and Karaklaic made the tournament his best performance yet.
Erno Gereben (white) vs. Denis Victor Mardle (black)
Unresolved Chess Game: Can you solve it?
1. This is one of the most promising systems of development the Old Indian Defence.
2. A smaller but perhaps more lasting advantage can be achieved by 8. B-K2, followed by Castles KR.
3. White, understandably, does not want to allow his opponent too much scope on the queen's side; but a good alternative is 11. K-N1 P-R3; 12. P-KR3 P-QN4; 13. P-KN4 P-N5; 14. N-K2, when White's attack looks the stronger.
4. The immediate counter-attack 13. … P-QN4 now leaves White with too much scope on the white squares after 14. PxNP BPxP (14. … RPxP; 15. NxP); 15. B-B5.
5. Henceforth, White appears to be undecided on which side of the board to attack, and, therefore, loses ground. It looks more logical to play 17. P-N5 PxP; 18. BxP followed by the advance of the KRP.
6. The king's side attack is now faulty: White should have (changed his plan entirely and worked for exchanges and a queen's side breakthrough. This plan would entail such long-winded manoeuvres as K-B2 QN1-B1-N2, R-QR1, KR-QN1, N-Q2, and, finally, P-QN4, P-QR4 and P-QN5. However, although this idea would be tedious, it would avoid the risks of his actual move.
7. A fine, bold sacrifice: for if White is allowed to play BxNch and QxP, his position is clearly superior.
8. A blunder in time pressure. He could put up a much better resistance by 39. P-R5, and if 39. … B-K5 (not B-R2; 40. P-N6); 40. NxB PxN; 41. P-B6 R(N2)-K2; 42. B-Q7.
9. Now there is no defence to Black's next move.
10. l or of 46. K-N3 RN-K6.
Mar del Plata tournament
Bobby Fischer, the 16-year-old American champion, tied for third prize with Ivkov (Yugoslavia) in the annual tournament at Mar del Plata, Argentina. He was half a point behind Najdorf (Argentina) and Pachman (Czechoslovakia). In view of Fischer's limited international experience, this result marks him once more at a threat to the Russian world title contenders.