MARK RUBERY CHESS

Paul Saladin Leonhardt (1877-1934) was a German master who although not quite amongst the greats of his day was constant performer on the international stage. Possessing a fierce attacking style he won numerous brilliancy prizes and, his victims included most of the elite players of his day such as Tarrasch, Tartakower, Maróczy and Réti. He was a noted opening theoretician who specialised in the Ruy Lopez and had the distinction of defeating Nimzovich (+4 -1) in a match in Hamburg in 1911. Leonhardt, like a number of masters, died doing what he loved best when he succumbed to a heart attack while playing a game at the Konigsberg chess club. Leonhardt,Paul Saladin - Spielmann,Rudolf [C14] DSB–17.Kongress Hamburg (1), 1910 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e5 Nfd7 6.Bxe7 Qxe7 7.Bd3 a6 8.Nce2 c5 9.c3 Nc6 10.Qd2 cxd4 11.cxd4 Nb6 12.b3 Bd7 13.Rc1 0–0 14.f4 Rac8 15.Nf3 Nb4 16.Bb1 Rxc1+ 17.Nxc1 Rc8 18.0–0 a5 19.a3 Nc6 20.Qd3 g6 21.a4 Nb4 22.Qd2 Na8 23.g4! (With the centre firmly closed

this thrust is difficult to meet) b5 24.f5 bxa4 25.f6 Qf8 26.h4 h6? (Fatally underestimating the ensuing knight sacrifice although 26…axb3 27 h5 with a dangerous attack was not pleasant either) 27.h5 g5 28.Nxg5! hxg5 29.Qxg5+ Kh8 30.h6 Nc7 31…Qg7+ 1–0 Ghenrikh Kasparian (1910-1995) was one of the giants of the endgame study with many of his studies being so deep as to preclude popular appreciation. Today’s puzzle is one of his ‘lighter’ compositions, imbued of course with his trademark brilliance. The usual solvers at the Madeira Bar were unable to find the solution…