CHESS

I HAVE never been a great admirer of the so-called "professional" style of play, beloved of so many modern day "champions" who eschew risk at every opportunity. The great masters of the past, such as Rubinstein, Schlechter and Capablanca, excelled in such "percentage play" when they so desired, but they also knew how to wield their pieces in the manner for which they were intended. Try this perfect miniature:

White: Belsitzman Black: Rubinstein

Warsaw 1917

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Nd4

Rubinstein's own innovation, which effectively put the Four Knights' Game out of commission. 5.Nxd4 exd4 6.e5 dxc3 7.exf6 Qxf6 leads to total equality.

5.Bc4 Bc5 6.Nxe5

Taking the bait, but he soon finds himself choking on it.

6...Qe7! 7.Nd3

Either 7.Bxf7+ Kf8 (threatening d6) or 7.Nxf7 d5! would be bad for White, but 7.Nf3 is better than the move played.

7...d5!

As Alekhine said: "this move is the point of the whole variation", a sentiment with which I agree entirely.

8.Nxd5

Faced with the choice of Nxd5, Bxd5 and Nxc5, White selects perhaps the worst of the three.

8...Qxe4+ 9.Ne3 Bd6 10.0-0

Out of the centre, into the frying pan, as Capablanca used to say.

10...b5! 11.Bb3 Bb7 12.Ne1 Qh4 13.g3 Qh3 14.c3 (see diagram) h5!!

A brilliant coup, getting on with the attack without wasting time in retreating the attacked knight.

15.cxd4 h4 16.Qe2

Not relishing the prospect of 16.f3 hxg3 17.Qe2 gxh2+ 18.Kh1 Nh5 19.Nf5+ Kf8, White tries to keep his defences intact. He is quickly disillusioned.

16...Qxh2+!!

Brava! A queen sacrifice to end matters in Black's favour.

17.Kxh2 hxg3+ 18.Kg1 Rh1 mate.