A
Chess 12 Nov 1959, Thu The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com
Chess
The Guardian, Chess, Thursday, November 12, 1959, Greater London, England Problem No. 550 By Commander R. F. Fegen....
Posted by Bobby Fischer's True History on Friday, May 20, 2022
Problem No. 550 By Commander R. F. Fegen. R.N. (Fort Augustus)
Black (6)
White (9)
FEN 2R1B3/6B1/Ppp4K/pP4P1/kb5R/p7/P7/8 w - - 0 1
White mates in three moves.
Solution: 1. Bd7 cxb5 2. Bg4 Be1 3. Bd1#
Genius or swindler?
Even now, after his win of the candidates' tournament, many leading experts are not convinced that Tal is a worthy world championship contender, or that he has the solidity and technique to dereat Botvinnik. Tal himself stated in an interview after the tournament that his play had been uncertain; what enables him to overcome grandmaster opponents even when in poor form is his ability to conjure up tactical surprises in the last few minutes of play when his opponent is harassed by time shortage. Here, as an illustration, is his dramatic second win from Smyslov.
Mikhail Tal vs Vasily Smyslov
Bled-Zagreb-Belgrade Candidates (1959), Bled, Zagreb & Belgrade YUG, rd 22, Oct-18
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf. Scheveningen Variation (B84) 1-0
- 1. This variation of the Sicilian was virtually abandoned ten years ago after Boleslavsky had won several resounding victories against it: but it has recently been returning to favour. Smyslov, who previously met 1. P-K4 with 1. … P-K4, now prefers either this Scheveningen variation or the Caro-Kann.
- 2. An important finesse, which enables Black to develop his queen's side satisfactorily. If 7. … Q-B2; 8. P-B4 B-K2; 9. Q-K1 O-O; 10. Q-N3. White king's wing attack develops very quickly.
- 3. If White opens the centre by 10. P-K5, then 10. … BxB; 11. NxB P-N5; 12. N-QR4 N-Q4 maintains a solid position.
- 4. Better than 10. … R-B1; 11. Q-K1 P-K4; 12. N-B5 P-N3; 13. PxP QNxP; 14. N-R6 with a difficult game for Black (Aronin-Smyslov, Moscow, 1959).
- 5. 12. P-K5 is still premature owing to the finesse 12. … PxP; 13. PxP B-B4; 14. B-K3 BxB; 15. NxB NxP.
- 6. Protecting the bishop and once again preventing P-K5, 11. White replies 13. P-KN4 P-R3; 14. P-N5 PxP; 15. PxP, then 15. … P-Q4 threatening mate.
- 7. White could try 14. P-KN4 here, but after 14. … P-Q4; 15. P-K5 N-K1; 16. B-N2 R-B1 Black has sufficient counterplay owing to the weakness of White's queen's side pawn formation.
- 8. The theme of Black's middle game strategy is to be the attack against White's KP.
- 9. A radical solution. After the natural 21. N-Q4, B-N2 Black retains a slight advantage because of his pressure on the K and QB files: but White should not lose. Tal, however, prefers the gamble of an objectively weaker continuation which will make Smyslov use up time on the clock.
- 10. A really drastic throw. If 24. R-B3 Q-N3 White's pieces are scattered and Black's positional superiority is obvious; but now White loses a piece.
- 11. White is in extremis and this further sacrifice is his only chance of preventing Black from consolidating his extra piece; but it should not be sufficient against the reply 36. … Q-K2; 37. P-B5 Q-N4; 38. RxPch RxR; 39. BxR Q-R5 and wins). Instead Smyslov, with only a few seconds to reach the time control at move 40, finds a way to lose.
- 12. The final error: Black should still probably win after 40. … R(Q1)-Kn1.
- 13. A finish worthy of Alekhine himself. If 41. … BxR; 42. QxBch R-N2; 43. QxRch and mate next move, while if 41. … R-N1; 42. R-B8.
Chess Defeat For Golombek 14 Nov 1959, Sat The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com
CHESS DEFEAT FOR GOLOMBEK
By a Chess Correspondent
Penrose beat Golombek in 57 moves in the first game of the triangular play-off for the British chess championship. Golombek allowed a knight to be placed badly on the queen's side and this was enough for Penrose to build up threats on the king's wing. Golombek gave up a rook for a knight to ward these off but Penrose was then able to win the ending easily.
Haygarth plays Penrose to-day and Golombek to-morrow, and it is intended that the three shall play each other next week-end.
Penrose In Strong Position In Play-Off For Chess Title 16 Nov 1959, Mon The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com
Penrose In Strong Position in Play-Off For Chess Title
By Our Chess Correspondent
The holder, Penrose, is in a strong position at the half-way stage in the play-off tournament for the British chess championship. After defeating Golombek in the first round he won a brilliant game with the King's Indian Defence against Haygarth. Haygarth tried to develop an attack with his minor pieces against the Queen's side, and Penrose countered by advancing his KBP and KNP. He broke through by a splendid sacrifice of a knight, Haygarth declined the offer, but then a further bishop sacrifice fatally exposed his king.
Golombek played his favourite Catalan Opening, against Haygarth but made some indifferent moves in the early middle game which allowed a series of simplifying exchanges. In the time rush at the end of the session Haygarth lost a pawn, and Golombek has winning chances in an ending of bishops of opposite colours. The scores are Penrose 2, Golombek and Haygarth 0 and one adjourned.
