CHESS

BY WALTER POLHILL

THE defeat this month of a London team at the hands of Peking is a matter of shame for the whole nation. Only the other day, I was discussing with the Duke of Edinburgh the matter of countering the Oriental menace, and he vouchsafed to me his Royal opinion that all you had to do was snaffle their bishops, and their slanty eyes would have nowhere to turn. But that is only half the story...

White: Peng Xiaomin

Black: Keith Arkell

Caro Kann Defence

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.dxc5 Nc6 5.Bb5

An astute choice of defence by Black, one might think, for this will secure the exchange of one of White's diagonal pieces. But the entire strategy is illusory.

5...e6 6.Be3 Nge7 7.c3 Bd7 8.Bxc6

Already necessary since 8.Nf3 would have been met by 8...Nxe5!

8...Nxc6 9.f4 g5!? 10.Nf3 gxf4 11.Bd4 Nxd4 12.cxd4

There goes the other diagonal fiend, but White still has Black's queen.

12...b6 13.cxb6 Qxb6 14.Nbd2!

Sensibly throwing a pawn at his foe in order to gain time to castle.

14...Qxb2 15.0-0 Be7 16.Rf2 Qa3 17.Nf1 Bb5 18.Qd2 Bxf1 19.Raxf1 Qe3 20.Qd1 0-0 21.Kh1 Rac8 22.Ng1!

White's plan, begun with 20.Qd1, is complete. The f4-pawn must fall, leaving the road clear for White's rooks.

22...f5 23.Rf3 Qe4 24.Rxf4 Qc2 25.Qh5!

The attack begins.

25...Kh8 26.R4f2 Qe4 27.Qh6 Rc6 28.Rf4 Qc2 29.Rh4! Rf7 (see diagram)

The stage is set for White to play a decisive combination.

30.Qg6! Rg7

After 30...Bxh4 31.Qxf7 h6 (best) 32.Nf3 Black's game is terminally rotten.

31.Rxh7+! Rxh7 32.Qe8+ Kg7 33.Qxe7+ Kg8 34.Qe8+ Kg7 35.Rf3 Rc3 36.Qe7+ Kg8 37.Qxe6+ Rf7 38.Qe8+ Kg7 39.e6 Rf6 40.Qd7+ resigns.

The white e-pawn will march triumphantly home to victory.