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Post-Star, Glens Falls. N.Y.XvXvXv:as?• • • • •» • • • • i • ••••V.V/.V.'.'.V.V.V.V.V/,,VA•A*.1yXvChess*X§A• •• •• ••V • • • •Ism• • • •Xv§CrXrWwKv:::::*• • • •• • • • •• •.V.VAV.)•••••••8*5• •fiflfiSThere is a dimension of chess whose existence only gradually impinges on the consciousness of thedeveloping of defenseplayer. The art is often the lastskill to be developed, because defensegreatestappreciated and Perhaps, this is virtuosity in presents the problems in precision and morale, or the young player, bravado in attack precedes patience in warding off the attack.Yet there defensiveareare some techniques that immediately part of every player’s repertoire. An attack on a piece almost inevitably provokes a basic defensive response: protect the piece or move it. Only on singular occasions can a piece not be saved in that manner.It was thereforewas tnereiore with great ingenuity that the 22-year-old Brazilian, Eugene Mecking, played a subtle combination against the Russian ace Korchnoi and reached thefollowing position. One wouldBLACKKORCHNOIBO NO 90 O X 0* NX BXQR QN QB QKB KN KRMECKINGWHITEthink that Mecking has simply miscalculated. Korchnoi’s bishop is attacking both white’s rook and knight, which though defended once by white’s bishop is threatened a second time by the black rook. Mecking is a ahead. But how is extricate himself losing much more?pawn he tofromisAn at least partial respite not too hard to find.Mecking can apparently cut his losses by playing 1. R-R2, which threatens 2. R-R8 check mate, though black, itstill winseems, can material by l....RxN (which provides an escape square for the king). (See diagram two). Now if Mecking plays 2. BxR, Korchnoi will answerBLACKKORCHNOIBO NO 90 O X 9X NX BXQR QN QB Q K KB KN KRMECKINGWHITE2....BxB. With a bishop and knight for a rook and a pawn, Korchnoi will have a slight material advantage.But IVlecking, who has chosen an active “defense for himself, has foreseen some curious defensiveproblems for black. He did not in fact play BxR after RxN. Instead he played 2. R-R3!, a move which will leave white a pawn ahead and justify his preceding play. For the attacked bishop cannot be defended, and the normal response of flight leaves the black rook undefended.AAOfVTOO/V\ERYour televisionset may be fine ...It coulduThough this wasMecking’s only win in his 3-1 match loss to Korchnoi, the caliber of play shown in this game speaks of his potential world championship stature.BLACKhortBO NO 90 O X 9X NX BXr i1:1□□□QR ON QB QKB KN KRKARPOVWHITEOur last position, a hypothetical situation from a Karpov-Hort game, is another example of astrange lack of defensive responses. Why could Hort (black) have not afforded to reach this position, as he would have by plaving B(K3)xBP?The answer is too simple. White would have played 2. R-QBl, winning a piece. Again there is no direct defense of the attacked piece. And if it should movea curiousaway, a curious pin materializes. Black will lose a rook after 3. QxR! (Hort actually played N-B4, instead of BxBP.)It is apparent that while defensive possibilities may never be underestimated, they also may never be taken for granted.
Newspaper Details
Glens Falls Post Star
Glens Falls, New York, US
Sat, Jul 20, 1974
Page 28
Full Page
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Los A.
CA, USA 03 Jan 2023
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