November 26, 1959 The Guardian Chess, London, Manchester

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Chess 26 Nov 1959, Thu The Guardian (London, Greater London, England) Newspapers.com

Chess

The Guardian, Chess, Thursday, November 26, 1959, Greater London, England Problem No. 552. By C P King-Farlow...

Posted by Bobby Fischer's True History on Friday, May 20, 2022

Problem No. 552. By C P King-Farlow (Rottingdean).
Black (7)
White (9)
White mates in two moves.
FEN 3N2R1/3n4/3p4/2pr1k1P/2N4B/K2n1PP1/2B2p2/8 w - - 0 1
Solution: 1. Ba4 Rd4 2. Bxd7#

Champion again
In winning the British championship play-off by the overwhelming margin of 2½ points ahead of Golombek and Haygarth, Penrose confirmed unequivocally that he has taken over Alexander's role as our leading player. His positional generalship was too much for Golombek, and his win against Haygarth showed a combinative brilliance excelling any of the games at York. If he plays in the West European zonal tournament next year he should have every chance of being among the winners and securing his international master title.

Michael John Haygarth vs Jonathan Penrose
British Championship Playoff (1959), London ENG, rd 2, Nov-14
King's Indian Defense: Saemisch. Closed Variation 7…c6 (E88) 0-1

1. White can, if he wishes, play the more non-committal 6. KN-K2, for if then 6. … P-K4 or 6. … P-B3; he has a reasonable reply in 7. B-N5, which is weaker on move six because of 6. … P-B4.
2. It is now accepted that this continuation, which discourages White from castling QR, is stronger than the alternatives 7. … P-B4. 7. … N-K1, and 7. … N-R4.
3. Here White decides on a faulty strategical plan which allows Black too much scope on the king's wing. Preferable is 11. P-KN4 P-KR4; 12. P-KR3 N-R2; as in a game between Tal and Gligoric in the candidates' tournament.
4. 11. … N-K1 and 12. … P-B4 is also good.
5. A further mistake, after which Black's king's side attack quickly gathers strength. Much better is 15. N-B4 Q-K2; 16. P-QR 4. followed by P-R5 and, if possible, N-R4-N6.
6. Hoping to maintain his pawn front intact and escape to the centre with his king but he is too late.
7. This brilliant sacrifice exposes the White king to a withering attack from the Black pieces. It may not be possible to demonstrate a conclusive win, but Black's prospects are very favourable in all variations.
   If now 21. PxN P-B6 with the following possibilities.
   1. 22. PxN Q-R5; 23. PxNP (if 23. P-R3 BxP; 24. PxB P-N7 dis. ch; or if 23. PxBP RxPch; 24. K-N2 Q-R6ch; 25. KxR PxP dis. ch.; 26. K-B2 P-R8=Q and Black wins at least another piece, or in this line 25. K-R1 R-B7), Q-R8; 24. R-B2 B-N5.
   2. 22. PxBP RxPch; 23. K-K1 (23. K-N2 Q-R5; 24. KxR BxPch; 25. K-K3 B-R3ch; 26. K-Q3 BxQ; 27. KxB PxP; 28. B-K3 B-B6), BxP; 24. PxP NxP; 25. Q-R2 Q-N4; 26. R-B2 QR-KB1; with a winning attack.
   3. 22. PxNP NxPch; 23. K-K1 BxP; 24. PxP RxP transposing into the previous variation.
8. If 24. N-K2 R-B3; 25. R-B2 B-R3; 26. Q-B3 BxP; 27. PxB P-N7ch; 28. KxP R-N3ch; 29. K-B1 QxPch; and mate in a few moves.
9. If 25. B-B1 BxP; 26. PxB P-N7 dis. ch; 27. K-Q2 (27. Q-B2 P-N8=Q; 28. QxQ N-N7ch); B-R3; 28. K-B2 NxP wins.
10. If 26. PxB P-N7 dis. ch; 27. K-Q1 B-R3; 28. Q-N1 QxP; 29. N-K2 Q-R8.
11. For if 30. Q-N1 P-N7; 31. QxR P-N8(Q)ch.

A Guide to Chess Endings, by Dr Max Euwe and David Hooper (Routledge, 248 pages, 30s) fills an important gap in chess literature. The whole field of practical endgame play is considered in detail, with over 300 positions and studies, and there is a pleasing and useful emphasis on the principles which decide the strategy. Some previous works on the ending (for instance Znosko-Borovsky's) gave insufficient examples, while Fine's monumental “Basic Chess Endings” is too detailed to be read through methodically. Euwe and Hooper have steered an excellent middle course, and although the book is too advanced for the beginner it should be invaluable to any club or county player who wishes to improve his game.