June 10, 1972 Larry Evans on Chess

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Reno Gazette-Journal Reno, Nevada Saturday, June 10, 1972 - Page 5

EVANS ON CHESS

S. Chimedrecen, Mongolia
Problem: (06/10/1972) White mates in two.
Stockfish Analysis.

Nona
We sometimes forget that ladies play chess too. Why none has ever made grandmaster is a riddle. Perhaps, as Margaret Mead recently suggested on TV, “Women are not as interested in games … They're more interested in important things like living and dying.”
Women's chess is actively promoted in many countries, especially Russia which has also held the women's world championship since 1950. Nona Gaprindashvili, now 30, is again scheduled to defend the title which has been hers for almost 10 years.
Nona learned the moves at 5 and took on her five brothers in family tournaments. At 12 she competed in school events and attracted the attention of a chess trainer who took her under his wing. An attractive brunette, Nona majored in English and is a keen sportswoman who is wild about soccer.
In August she finished 7th in a 12-man field at Goteborg. Rising star Ulf Andersson of Sweden tied for 1st with Vlastimil Hort of Czechoslovakia (8½ points) closely pursued by Boris Spassky (8). The game between the two world champions —Nona and Boris — was a prolonged struggle where Nona faltered in the ending.

Sweden 1971 Ruy Lopez
White: Nona 1 P-K4 2 N-KB3 3 B-N5 4 B-R4 5 0.0 6 R-K1 7 B-N3 8 P-KR 9 P-B3 10 P-Q3(a) 11 QN-Q2 12 N-B1 13 B-B2 14 N-N3 15 P-N4 16 B-N3 17 P-QR4 18 Q-B2(b) 19 PxQP 20 Q-R2 21 PxBP 22 Q-B2 23 QxN 24 B-N2 25 P-B5 26 NxP 27 RxN 28 QxQ 29 BxR 30 PxP 31 N-B5(c) 32 B-Q4 33 BxB 34 R-K1 35 N-K7ch 36 B-N6 37 RxQ 38 P-B3 39 K-R2 40 N-Q5 41 KN3 42 P-R4 43 N-K3 44 N-Q5 45 N-K3 46 N-B4 47 N-Q6 48 N-K8(d) 49 P-R5ch 50 N-B7 51 K-B4 52 K-N3 53 K-B4 54 K-K3 55 P-N4 56 K-B2 57 K-N3 58 K-B4 59 K-K4 60 K-B5 61 P-B4 62 K-K4 63 K-B5 64 P-N5 65 K-N6 66 P-R6	Black: Spassky P-K4 N-QB3 P-QR3 N-B3 B-K2 P-QN4 P-Q3 0-0 N-N1 QN-Q2 B-N2 N-B4 R-K1 B-KB1 QN-Q2 P-R3 P-B4 P.Q4 NxP P-B5! NxBP PxRP PxB Q-N3 Q-K3 NxN QxR RxQ P-QR4 BxP R-K1 B-K5! P-N7 R-N1 K-R2 P-N8/Q BxR B-Q6 R-K1 R-K8 R-QR8 B-B5 B-R3 B-N2 K-N3 P-B3 B-R3 R-R7 K-B2 B-B8 R-R5ch B-B5 K-K2 K-Q2 R-R6ch R-R7ch R-R6 R-N6 K-B3 B-B2 R-N7 R-K7ch R-K2 B-B5 BPxP KxB White Resigns
(a) More active is 10 P-Q4. (b) 18 B-Q2 holds the fort (c) Loses the Exchange. 31 R-N1, B-Q4 31 B-B3 is safer. (d) Lands the Knight out of play. White should sit tight 48 N-K4.

PROBLEM SOLUTION: 1 Q-B2! (Not 1 K-N8? R-B4!)

June 03, 1972 Larry Evans on Chess

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Reno Gazette-Journal Reno, Nevada Saturday, June 03, 1972 - Page 5

EVANS ON CHESS

N. Guttmann, U.S.A.
Problem: (06/03/1972) White mates in two.
Stockfish Analysis.

Spassky Speaks
“I'm still king,” declared Boris Spassky, 35, in a recent Moscow interview after posting a dismal tie for 6th in a field of 18 grandmasters at the Alekhine Memorial Tournament, one of his rare appearances. But if his performance was any indication of his form, the chain-smoking world champion stands a slim chance of defending his title against America's Bobby Fischer, 29, this summer.
“It's hard for me to say who will in this match. I would not care to make any prediction. I like Fischer's style very much. I like the purity of his play —very logical. His personality is very explosive, but he is very interesting. I like him.
“I'm a lazy Russian bear. I don't take months to prepare for a tournament the way the old masters did. But I make up for it by working much harder while the game is in progress. Spassky's drive has faltered since he won the title from a countryman in 1969. Gone is the panache and daring of his early days which so delighted Soviet chess buffs. His chief assets are iron discipline and rock-steady nerves. He holds a healthy plus score (3 wins, 2 draws) against his challenger, stemming from their first encounter where Fischer was surprised by a dashing gambit rarely seen in modern competition.

Mar Del Plata 1960 King's Gambit
White: SPASSKY 1 P-K4 2 P-KB4 3 N-KB3 4 P-KR4 5 N-K5 6 P-Q4 7 N-Q3 8 BxP 9 N-B3 10 PxN 11 B-K2 12 0-0 13 BxNP 14 BxB 15 Q-N4 16 Q-N3 17 QR-K1 18 K-R1 19 BxP 20 B-K5ch 21 QxNch 22 RxP 23 K-N1 24 R-B2 25 R-K4 26 Q-Q4! 27 R-K5! 28 Q-K4 29 R-B4	Black: FISCHER P-K4 PxP P-KN4 P-N5 N-KB3 P-Q3 NxP B-N2 NxN P-QB4 PxP N-B3 0-0 RxB P-B4 PxP K-R1 R-KN1 B-B1! NxB R-N2 QxPch Q-N5(a) B-K2 Q-N4(b) R-KB1(c) R-Q1 Q-R5 Resigns (d)
(a) Missing 23…Q-N6! 24 QxQ, RxQ with a promising endgame. (b) 25…Q-Q8ch 26 R-K1, Q-N5 forces a draw by repetition. (c) The losing move. Imperative is 26…B-B1! 27 QxRP, B-Q3 with equal chances. (d) On 29…Q-N6 30 RxB wins.

PROBLEM SOLUTION: 1 B-Q4! threatening 2 Q-R4 mate. If 1…Q-K8 2 B-B3. If 1…N-R4 2 QxKBP. If 1…Q-N6ch 2 BxQ.

May 20, 1972 Larry Evans on Chess

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Reno Gazette-Journal Reno, Nevada Saturday, May 20, 1972 - Page 5

EVANS ON CHESS

A. Benedek, Hungary
Problem: (05/20/1972) White mates in two.
Stockfish Analysis.

Alekhine Is In Again
Alexander Alekhine (1892 — 1946) emigrated to France after the Russian revolution in 1917. He won the world championship from Cuba's José Capablanca in 1927, refused to grant a return match, and held the title until his lonely death in Lisbon after World War II. Alekhine explained his brief loss of the title in 1935-37 as “too much alekohol.”
Alekhine did not invite affection as a human being. He even collaborated with the Nazis during the war and wrote a series of articles Jewish and Aryan Chess in 1941: “A psychological study — based on experiences at the chessboard — which demonstrates the Jewish lack of courage and creative power.”
Ugly rumors circulated that Alekhine did not lift a finger to aid chess colleagues condemned in Nazi concentration camps. In Russia his name was purged from Alekhine's Defense (1 P-K4, N-KB3) and he was ostracized by the chessworld. Not now.
The Alekhine Memorial Tournament was held in Moscow recently, a strong event indeed. The first 7 in a field of 18 Grand Masters were all Russians: 1-2 Karpov & Stein (11); 3 Smyslov (10½); 4-5 Petrosian & Tukmakov (10); 6-7 Spassky & Tal (9½). The U. S. representative Robert Byrne made the best showing of the seven foreigners, scoring 9 points. In this game he demolishes a young Soviet player with a novel attacking system.

Sicilian Defense
White: BYRNE 1 P-K4 2 N-KB3 3 P-Q4 4 NxP 5 N-QB3 6 B-K3 7 N-N3 8 Q-Q2 9 P-B3 10 0-0-0 11 P-N4 12 P-N5 13 R-N1 14 K-N1 15 BxN 16 P-K4 17 Q-N2 18 N-Q5 19 P-B4 20 PxPe.p. 21 PxP 22 B-R6 23 PxP 24 N-Q4! 25 RxQ 26 N-B7ch 27 Q-R8ch 28 R-N7ch 29 QxR	Black: BALASHOV P-QB4 P-Q3 PxP N-KB3 P-QR3 P-K4 B-K3 QN-Q2 R-QB1(a) N-N3 Q-B2 N-B5 QxB P-N4 P-N5 B-Q1 P-B4(b) NPxP QPxP P-B4 BxP QxN RxP BxN(c) K-K2 K-B3 Resigns (d)
(a) 10…Q-B2 followed by 0-0-0 gets the King to safety. (b) Dangerously exposing his King in the center. 19…P-QR4 offers more counterplay. (c) If 26…RxNch 27 K-R1, PxR 28 R-K1ch, B-K2 29 Q-N7 wins. (d) Futile is 29…R-R7ch 30 K-B1, R-R8ch 31 K-Q2, etc.

PROBLEM SOLUTION: 1 Q-B7! If 1…B-B4 2 K-Q5. Or 1…B-Q4 2 PxB.

April 08, 1972 Larry Evans on Chess

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Reno Gazette-Journal Reno, Nevada Saturday, April 08, 1972 - Page 5

EVANS ON CHESS

E. Holladay, U.S.A.

Problem: (04/08/1972) White mates in two.
Stockfish Analysis.

Will Bobby Whip Boris?
Chess in America is riding to popularity on the broad shoulders and tempestuous personality of Bobby Fischer. A legend at 29, he is the highest rated player in history.

Chess in Russia has always been the national pastime and no foreigner even has had a crack at the title since 1948. But come June, Boris Spassky must defend his crown in a 24-game match lasting 2 months.

Indeed, London bookmakers favor Bobby 6-to-5. Yet the champion has an edge: in the event of a 12-12 deadlock he retains his title. At stake is not only an awesome purse of $150,000 (2/3 to the winner) but Soviet chess supremacy.

“I now feel a sense of mission to win the championship,” says Bobby. “Spassky's good, but I think I'm the best around. I don't say that to brag. I think it's true. I love the game — and I hate the Russians because they've almost ruined it. They only risk the title when they have to, every 3 years,”

Boris, 35, candidly admits he wouldn't be surprised if he lost, despite a phenomenal past record of 3 wins, 2 draws and no losses against his cocky challenger. Perhaps he is counting on Bobby to become reckless, as in their last encounter at the chess Olympiad in 1970. After frittering away an opening advantage, the American ace made a desperate stab to win at any price—spurning easy draws.

Gruenfeld Defense
White: SPASSKY 1 P-Q4 2 P-QB4 3 N-QB3 4 PxP 5 P-K4 6 PxN 7 B-QB4 8 N-K2 9 B-K3 10 0-0 11 R-B1 12 P-KR3 13 P-B4 14 Q-K1 15 B-Q3 16 P-N4 17 BxP 18 N-N3 19 BxB 20 B-B2 21 Q-K2 22 PxP 23 N-K4 24 N-N5 25 RxB 26 R-K1 27 N-K4 28 N-B6ch 29 QxP 30 Q-K4 31 P-N5 32 R-KB1 33 RxR 34 Q-Q4 35 N-Q5ch 36 R-B2 37 R-K2 38 R-K8ch 39 R-B8ch	Black: FISCHER N-KB3 P-KN3 P-Q4 NxP NxN B-N2 P-QB4 N-B3 0-0 Q-B2 R-Q1 P-N3 P-K3 N-R4 P-B4 PxKP B-N2 N-B5 QxB Q-B3 PxP P-QN4 BxP BxBch R-Q3 Q-N3 R-Q5 K-R1 R-Q3(a) R-KB1 R-Q7 Q-B2 NxR R-Q1 K-N1 N-B5 R-Q3 K-B2 Resigns(b)
(a) Rejecting a draw: 29… R-Q8! 30. Q-B7! RxRch 31. K-N2, N-K6 ch 32 K-N 3, N-B4ch! 33. PxN, R-N8ch 34 R-N2, Q-K6ch 35 K-R2, RxRch, etc. (b) If 39 … KxR 40. Q-R8ch, K-B2 41 NxQ wins the Queen.

PROBLEM SOLUTION: 1 NxP!

March 04, 1972 Larry Evans on Chess

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Reno Gazette-Journal Reno, Nevada Saturday, March 04, 1972 - Page 5

EVANS ON CHESS

V. Melnichenko, USSR

Problem: (03/04/1972) White mates in two.
Stockfish Analysis.

World Junior Title
The first World Junior Championship for players under 20 was held in 1951. Since then it has been held every 2 years with each country entitled to one representative. In 1955 it was won by Boris Spassky, the only junior titleholder who went on to become world champion. In 1957 it was won by William Lombardy, the only American to earn that distinction.
44 players took part at Athens In 1971. 12 qualified for the finals which was won by Werner Hug of Switzerland, an unknown competing for the first time in an international tournament. He scored 8½-2½ without losing a game. Second was Zoltan Ribli of Hungary (8) followed by Kenneth Rogoff of the US (7112). Rafael Vaganian of the USSR finished in a 3-way tie for fourth, under-scoring the crisis faced by Russia in developing new young stars.
U. S. Junior Co-Champion Ken Rogoff, who hails from Rochester, was leading until 3 rounds before the end. Then he dropped 2 in a row before meeting Hug in the last round. Ken went all out since a win still would have given him the title. But he played poorly and was lucky to escape defeat. Apparently Hug doesn't have much of a killer instinct, because he proposed a draw in a winning position to clinch first place. Hug also automatically gained the title of International Master.

Sicilian Defense
White: Hug 1 P-K4 2 N-QB3 3 P-KN3 4 B-N2 5 P-Q3 6 N-R3 7 0-0 8 P-B3(a) 9 BxB 10 B-K3 11 Q-Q2 12 N-K2 13 P-KB4 14 QR-N1 15 P-B5 16 N-B4 17 PxP 18 NxP! 19 B-K6ch	Black: Rogoff P-QB4 P-Q3 P-KN3 B-N2 N-QB3 N-B3 0-01 BxN(b) R-N1 P-QN4 P-N5 Q-B2(c) N-Q2 R-N3 R-R3 Q-Q1(d) RPxP PxN Draw!(e)
(a) Slow. Usual is 8 P-B4. (b) Giving up the 2 Bishops is weak. Correct is 8 … R-N1 immediately. (c) Misplacing the Queen. 12 … N-K1 gives more counterplay. (d) A losing defense. Necessary is 16 … N/2-K4, although White retains the initiative. (e) White can win: 19 … K-R2 20 Q-N2, RxRch 21 RxR, N-B3 22 RxN! BxR 23 Q-R3ch, B-R5 24 QxBch, K-N2 25 B-R6ch, K-R2 26 B-KB8 mate.

PROBLEM SOLUTION: 1 N-K8!

February 19, 1972 Larry Evans on Chess

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Reno Gazette-Journal Reno, Nevada Saturday, February 19, 1972 - Page 5

EVANS ON CHESS

S. Poduschrin, USSR

Problem: (02/19/1972) White mates in two.
Stockfish Analysis.

Fischer to the Summit
For the first time in history the U.S. produced a contender for the world championship when Bobby Fischer smashed Tigran Petrosian in Buenos Aires last October. Finally Bobby earned a title shot which will pit him against Russia's Boris Spassky in spring '72.
Argentina got its money's worth for a $12,000 purse — banner headlines and worldwide publicity. Some 5,000 fans jammed the San Martin theater every round, overflowing into the lobby to follow each move on large demonstration boards. Halfway the feverish betting odds dropped to even money when Fischer got mired in 3 draws after losing the second game which shattered his 20-game winning streak. The score was tied after round 5.
The turning point came when Petrosian suddenly drew into his shell, adopting the usual waiting game which had served him so well during his reign as world champion. He set up a cramped, sluggish formation and then shuttled to and fro along his back row. Perhaps he felt that his best chance lay in tempting Fischer to overreach himself. No such luck. Bobby swept the last 4 games to post 6½-2½.

6th match game Q's Fianchetto
White: Petrosian 1 N-KB3 2 P-QN3 3 B-N2 4 P-B4 5 P-Q3 6 P-K3 7 B-K2(a) 8 QN-Q2 9 0-0 10 P-K4 11 N-K1 12 B-N4 13 QxB 14 Q-K2 15 N-B2 16 KR-B1(b) 17 B-R3? 18 N-K1 19 PxP(c) 20 B-N2 21 N/1-B3 22 P-QR3 23 Q-Q1 24 P-QR4 25 PxP 26 PxP 27 NxN 28 Q-K2 29 QxN 30 Q-R2 31 QxQch 32 R-B7ch 33 P-N4 34 R-R2 35 RxR 36 P-R5 37 P-R6 38 K-B1 39 K-K2 40 K-Q3 41 N-N1 42 N-K2 43 R-N2ch 44 R-N1 45 R-N2 46 P-B3 47 R-B2 48 R-R2ch 49 R-N2ch 50 R-R2 51 R-R1 52 R-R7(d) 53 R-Q7 54 R-Q5ch 55 N-B1 56 R-Q7 57 N-K2 58 R-QN7 59 RxP 60 NxPch 61 KxP 62 K-K3 63 K-K2 64 P-R4 65 P-R5 66 K-K1 White Resigns	Black: Fischer P-QB4 P-Q4 P-B3 P-Q5 P-K4 N-K2 KN-B3 B-K2 0-0 P-QR3 P-QN4 BxB Q-B1 N-Q2 R-N1 Q-K1 B-Q3 P-N3 PxP N-N3 R-R1 N-R4 Q-B2 PxP P-B5 N/3xBP NxN NxB KR-N1 B-N5 KxQ K-K3 B-B6 R-QB1 RxR R-QR1 R-R2 P-N4 K-Q3 K-B4 K-N4 B-R4 KxP R-QB2 B-K8 K-R4 R-QN2 K-N4 B-N5 R-QB2 R-B1 B-R4 B-N3 B-B4 K-R5 B-N5 K-N6 R-QR1 R-R8 PxN R-Q8ch B-B4ch R-KR8 K-B5 R-R7ch K-Q6
(a) Passive. More active is 7 PxP, BPxP 8 P-KN3 with a reverse Benoni defense. (b) Pointless. Better is 16 P-N3. (c) Only opens the position for Black. 19 P-N3 is drawish. (d) 52 R-R2, P-R4 53 P-R3, R-KR1 54 R-R1 offers stronger resistance. The text loses.

PROBLEM SOLUTION: 1 Q-B1! (Not 1 Q-K3? K-Q8! Or 1 Q-B3? B-N7! but they're good tries).