Chess Maecenas

Last week saw the death of the city financier Jim Slater. He was famous in chess circles for joining Henry Kissinger in persuading Bobby Fischer to play his 1972 World Championship match against Boris Spassky in Reykjavik. Kissinger’s contribution was a diplomatic phone call to Fischer, while Slater pumped extra cash into the prize fund and said Fischer was ‘chicken’ if he did not come out to play.

Slater also supported British chess by offering thousands of pounds in incentives for the first British grandmasters and by sponsoring tournaments to promote British talent. I won the first of these, from which this week’s game and puzzle are taken.

Whiteley-Keene: Slater Tournament, Southend 1968, Nimzo-Indian Defence

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 Qc2 Nc6 5 Nf3 d6 6 Bd2 0-0 7 a3 Bxc3 8 Bxc3 Re8 8 … Qe7 is better. 9 e3 a5 10 Bd3 e5 11 dxe5 This is good but 11 d5 was also very pleasant for White. 11 … dxe5 (see diagram 1) 12 0-0 A major inexactitude. Correct is 12 Ng5 h6 13 Ne4 and White’s bishop pair comes into powerful play. After the text Black can overcome the defects of his opening and even secure slightly better chances. 12 … e4 13 Bxf6 Qxd3 14 Qxd3 exd3 15 Bc3 Be6 16 c5 Bb3 17 Rfc1 a4 18 Kf1 Rad8 19 Ke1 Rd5 20 Kd2 f5 21 Nd4 21 g3 is also possible. 21 … Ne5 22 Nxb3 Nc4+ 23 Kd1 axb3 24 Bxg7 (see diagram 2) 24 … Rxc5 This should lead to a draw. I spent half an hour analysing 24 … Nxe3+ 25 fxe3 Rxe3. Now if White tries to retain the bishop he will lose, e.g. 26 Bh6 Re2 27 Rc3 Rxg2 28 Be3 f4.