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Chess 31 Dec 1959, Thu The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com
Chess
The Guardian, Chess, Thursday, December 31, 1959, Greater London, England Problem No. 556 By F. L. Baxter...
Posted by Bobby Fischer's True History on Sunday, May 22, 2022
Problem No. 556 By F. L. Baxter (Cheadle)
Black (6)
White (7)
White mates in two moves.
FEN 3N2N1/2pp4/Q1pk4/1p5K/3qP3/3RB3/8/8 w - - 0 1
Solution: 1. Qa1 Qxd3 2. Qf6#
Total warfare
Even the games which Tal loses are usually full of interest, for his urge to attack is so great that he can only be defeated after a sharp combinative struggle. The winner of the following game (from the Russian team championships) is notable for what is probably a unique double talent; he is of master strength in both chess and draughts.
Rashid Nezhmetdinov vs Mikhail Tal
2nd Soviet Spartakiad Final-A (1959), Moscow URS, rd 3, Aug-12
Sicilian Defense: Kan. Knight Variation (B43) 1-0
- This Paulsen or Kann variation of the Sicilian has been all the rage in the last few years without any definite conclusion being reached. White can vary by either 5. P-QB4 or by Penrose's system of 5. B-Q3 N-QB3; 6. B-K3 followed by O-O and P-QB4. At move seven, too he can branch off by 7. NxN, which Keres and Smyslov tried against Tal in the Candidates' Tournament.
- Already Tal is ready for tactical adventures by … N(K4)-N5.
- This is partly a matter of style (Nejmetdinov's forte is minor piece endings) and partly an admission that White has lost the initiative. If 12. P-K5 N-Q4; 13. NxN QxN; and Black has the makings of an attack on the long white diagonal.
- Effectively freeing his game. 12. … B-N2 seems more natural, but it would be met by 13. P-QR4 NxP; 14. NxN Q-Q4; 15. PxP PxP; 16. RxRch BxR; 17. NxNP QxN(K5); 18. N-B7ch K-Q1; 19. NxB and the black king becomes exposed.
- Now Black apparently has a clear advantage with his two bishops and the weak white QP, but White's threat of P-B5 proves awkward to meet. At this point Nejmetdinov offered a draw, and Tal, mistakenly believing that his opponent had said “J'adoube,” replied “Go ahead.” Nejmeidinov then began to move the pieces about and analyse the position, whereupon Tal protested and, after some confusion, the game was resumed.
- A fine reply which highlights Black's retarded development. If 18. … BxP; 19. P-B5 PxP; 20. N-B6 db. ch. K-Q1; 21. R-K8 mate.
- Again the most forceful, for if 19. … NPxP; 20. NxBP PxN; 21. N-B6 db. ch.
- White must continue to operate with definite threats, otherwise Black can castle and begin to make his bishops felt. If 20. … BxBP; 21. NxBch NxN; 22. NxP PxN; 23. RxPch K-B2; 24. R(B1)-B6 regains the piece with a winning advantage.
- A splendid sacrifice, which cuts the communications between the two black rooks.
- Forced, for if 24. … B-KB1; 25. R-KB1 N-Q4; 26. RxBch RxR; 27. R-N7 with a neat epaulette mate.
- Here Tal makes one of his rare tactical miscalculations. Black should be satisfied with a draw by repetition of moves by 25. … B-N4; 26. R-N7 B-QR3.
- Regaining the piece. It is too late for 26. … B-QN4 because of 27. RxB and Black is mated by R-B8 or R-N7.
- He has to prevent 30. B-R6, but now the king is helpless against the combined attack of the white pieces.
- A slightly premature resignation, but White remains a sound pawn up with a continuing attack, e.g., 39. … BxP; 40. R-K5ch K-B1 (if 40. … K-Q2 or K-B2; 41. R-K7ch); 41. RxKRP K-N2; 42. B-R6ch K-N3; 43. RxP.
Gligoric Beats Uhlmann 31 Dec 1959, Thu The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com
GLIGORIC BEATS UHLMANN
Chess at Hastings
From our Chess Correspondent
Hastings. Wednesday.
There was some vigorous play in the first round of the international chess tournament at Hastings to-day and all five games ended decisively. The Yugoslav champion, Gligoric, won the most important game when he defeated Uhlmann, last year's winner. Uhlmann's position became cramped in the opening and he was never able to free himself. Gligoric broke through and forced a strong passed pawn and when Uhlmann blundered away his queen his position was already desperate.
The Czechoslovak ex-champion, Kottnauer, was another in good form, defeating Bobotsov of Bulgaria by an energetic attack on the king. The Soviet grandmaster Averbakh soon had heavy pressure with his English Opening against Golombek, and he used his two bishops to excellent effect against Golombek's queen's side, winning two pawns and the game.
Pomar of Spain won quickly and efficiently against Heemsoth of West Germany, while the American master, Dr Burger, was always on top against the Hastings Club champion, Winser.
Averbakh Shares Lead With Pomar 01 Jan 1960, Fri The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com
AVERBAKH SHARES LEAD WITH POMAR
Chess at Hastings
From our Chess Correspondent
Hastings, Thursday.
After the second round of the international chess tournament here, Averbakh of Russia and Pomar of Spain share the lead with two points. They will probably be joined by Gligoric of Yugoslavia, who had a difficult defensive game against Heemsoth for most of the session, but broke out into a winning ending during the last hour. Averbakh's English opening gave him persistent pressure against the American, Dr Burger, who sacrificed a pawn in an attempt at a King's Side counterattack. However, Averbakh easily defended his king and simplified to win a second pawn and the game.
The Hastings champion, Winser, held his own for some time in a complicated Slav defence against Pomar, but finally weakened and lost two pawns. Bobotsov chose a poor variation of the king's Indian defence against Uhlmann and the East German steadily accumulated both pawns and positional trumps. The first draw of the tournament came in a fluctuating game in which first Kottnauer and then Golombek misplayed a winning advantage.
Champion Holds His Ground 02 Jan 1960, Sat The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com
Chess at Hastings
CHAMPION HOLDS HIS GROUND
In game with Gligoric From our Chess Correspondent
Hastings. Friday.
The surprise of the fourth round of the international chess tournament to-day was the excellent resistance of the Hastings champion Winser against the Yugoslav grandmaster Gligoric. Gligoric gained some initiative against the Caro-Kann Defence, but in the middle game Winser freed his position by simplifying exchanges. Gligoric transposed into an ending of king and three pawns each, but Winser should draw easily when the game is resumed.
Pomar tried to attack in the centre against Averbakh's Queen's Gambit Declined, but the Russian won the exchange of the queens and rooks and reached a drawn bishop and pawns ending. Kottnauer over-reached himself against Uhlmann in an ambitious attempt to attack on both wings, and the East German is two pawns ahead at the adjournment with a single win. Bobotsov utilised his two bishops in excellent style against Heemsoth, and broke through by a neat sacrifice of rook for bishop.
Golombek had some advantage with his Nimzo-Indian Defence against Dr Burger, but mishandled the later middle game and has the inferior position at the adjournment. In an adjourned game, Gligoric beat Heemsoth.
Gligoric Has A Clear Lead 04 Jan 1960, Mon The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com
Chess at Hastings
GLIGORIC HAS A CLEAR LEAD
Pomar the main threat
From our Chess Correspondent
Hastings, Sunday.
After two further rounds of the international chess tournament here Gligoric has established a clear lead with four points, followed by Pomar. 3½ and 1 adjourned, and Averbakh 3½. Results in round five were:
Averbakh drew with Gligoric.
Burger lost to Pomar.
Winser lost to Bobotsov.
Heemsoth beat Kottnauer, and Golombek beat Uhlmann.
In round six Bobotsov drew with Averbakh.
Gligoric beat Burger.
Pomar adjourned with Golombek.
Kottnauer beat Winser, and Uhlmann adjourned with Heemsoth.
In adjourned games.
Burger drew with Golombek.
Kottnauer lost to Uhlmann and Gligoric drew with Winser.
Golombek has been in excellent form over the week-end, defeating Uhlmann after the German grandmaster had over-reached himself in an equal position and adjourning with a probably drawn ending against Pomar. Averbakh and Gligoric had a quiet draw, but Gligoric won convincingly against Dr Burger, who sacrificed the exchange for a king's side attack but was overwhelmed when Gligoric united his rooks.
Pomar is the chief threat to the grandmasters.
Down Among The Chessmen by Michael Frayn 06 Jan 1960, Wed The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com
Chess Solutions 06 Jan 1960, Wed The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com
