A
Chess 19 Feb 1959, Thu The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com
Chess
Problem No. 513 By G. Thomas (Denmark).
Black (7)
White (12)
White to play and force Black, to give mate in two moves. In other words, White wants to commit suicide and Black cannot prevent him.
FEN 8/3p4/2pPpN2/1pP1K1B1/1PpN1p1p/2P1k1bR/4rp1P/3Q1B2 w - - 0 1 ??!
Solution: 1. Qxe2#??
The Russian championship
The Russian championship, following soon after the Portoroz tournament, clearly shows that the chief threat to the world title grip of Botvinnik and Smyslov has changed. A few years ago Bronstein and Keres were the most dangerous challengers; now they have declined a little, the former through bad nerves and the latter through lack of ambition, and the new prospective world champions are Tal and Petrosian.
It is remarkable that this is the first time that Petrosian, the new Russian champion, has won a major event, although he has been a great master for several years. His plethora of draws in tournaments makes him generally underestimated; but, unlike most grandmasters over 25, his ambition and passion for chess are undiminished and it could be that this first great success will give him the extra confidence to win the tournament to decide Botvinnik's challenger. Tal never quite recovered from losing his first game, given below.
Jacob Yuchtman vs Mikhail Tal
USSR Championship (1959), Tbilisi URS, rd 2, Jan-11
Scotch Game: Göring Gambit. Bardeleben Variation (C44) 1-0
1. 3. … P-Q4; 4. KPxP QxP; 5. PxP is rather under cloud at present, owing to a number of convincing successes scored against it by Penrose.
2. Black's system of defence was introduced by Symslov in his game with Penrose in the Munich team tournament, since when the British champion has completely abandoned his once favourite opening. Perhaps the [illegible] game will give him fresh heart for it.
3. Penrose-Smyslov continued 9. B-R3 B-N5; and White had no compensation for the sacrificed pawn.
4. Much better than 10. Q-N3 O-O; 11. B-R3 N-QR4.
5. An interesting ending begins, in which White's exchange looks to outweigh Black's two extra pawns. However, even in this barren position Tal succeeds in developing a combinative attack.
6. It would be interesting to know what Black planned against 20. … NxP; for his resulting passed pawn does not appear decisive, e.g., 20. … N-Q6; 21. BxN BPxB; 22. R-N2 R-Q1; 23. R-Q2 B-K7; 24. N-N5 N-Q5; 25. P-QB4 N-N3; 26. R-QB1.
7. Forced, but Black obtains three pawns for a place in the ending, which it generally a good investment.
8. A mistake, for Black now runs into pins on the KR2-QN8 diagonal. After 25. … K-R1; Black's pawns become very dangerous and White must fight for a draw.
9. Tal overlooked this: he expected 29. KxP P-B6 regaining the piece (30. BxP R-K1ch)Now if 29. … P-K6; 30. B-Q3, a consequence of Black's 25th move.
10. Despair, for if 29. … N-R8; 30. KxP R-K2ch; (30. … P-B6; 31. B-Q3 R-K1ch; 32. K-Q4 dis ch); 31. K-Q5 K-R1; 32. N-Q6 R-K6; 33. N-B4 R-K1; 34. N-K5 P-B6; 35. BxP RxNch; 36. RxR NxB; 37. R-K7 and the ending is won for White.
11. White was presumably short of time, which explains why Tal delays resignation until the [illegible] control is reached. With only one pawn left for the piece, further play is hopeless.
