Answers to Correspondents.

Otago Witness, Issue 2237, 14 January 1897, Page 40

Answers to Correspondents.

Othello. - Correct solutions to Problems Nos. 1339 and 1340. Tourney Problems Noa. 1 and 2 received— 4 points. Pompey.— Correct solutions of score— 4 points. We have to thank Mr F. V. Siedeberg, of Berlin, for five numbers of the supplement to the Berliner Lokal Anzeiger, containing the first five iv the Lasker-Steinitz match at Moscow. Ihe fifth game has a very interesting ending : Xt and R with pawns against B and R with pawns.

N,Z. Chess Association Championship Tourney, 1806-97. Game between Messrs O. 0. Pleasants and J. W. Mellor. Ruy Lopez. White. Black. I White. Black. (Pleasants.) (Mellor.) I (Pleasants.) (Mellor.) 1 P-K 4 P-K 4 15 Q Kt-Q 2 Px P 2 X Kt-B 3 Q Kt-B 3 16 Xt x P B-B 4-e 3 B-Kt 5 P-QR 3 )7 Q Kt-B 3 Q-B 3 (?) 48-K4 KtxKß3 18 P-Q Xt 4 B-Kt 3 5 O-O P-Q 3- w 19 B-Kt 5 Q-Q 3 6P-Q4 B-Q 2 208-K7(!) Qxß 7 R-K 1 P-Q Xt 4 21 Xt x B Q-Q 3 8 B-Kt 3 B-K 2-6 22 Xt x R Q-Kt 6ch 9 P-Q B 3 B-Kts(?) 23K-K1 QxP eh 10 B-Q 5-c Xt x B 24 Kt-R 2 Xx Xt 11 Px Xt Xt-Xt 1 25 Q-K 2 (t) P-K Xt 3 12Px'P O-O 2tiQKßch K-Kt 2 13 P-K R 3 B-R4-d 27 UK 7 QxQBP 14 P-K Xt 4 BKt 3 White wins. (a) There is a concurrence of authority in favour of 5 kt x p. (&) At this point 8 q kt x p gives BUrk a freer game. If 9 Xt x Kt. p x kt, White cannot continue 10 Q x P, or the B would be lost for two pawns by p-q b 4. (c) The right reply. White plays well throughout the Rape, while Black loses time here, chiefly through his ninth move. id) 13 b x kt ; 14 Qx B, px p. &c, appears a little better. Black has lost a pawn and therefore his necessity for bringing his forces into action was all the greater. (c) 16 b-q 3, with the object of playing afterwards kt-q 2, and if Kt-B 6, q-r 5 might have turned out better. Black seems to have feared P-K B 4, but p-k b 3 would meet it. Game between Messrs J. Edwards and H. Hookham. Petroff Defence. White. Black. White. Black. (Edwards.) (Hookham.) (Edwards.) (Hookham.) IP-K4 P-K 4 20 P-K B 3 QR-KBI 2 X Kt-B 3 X Kt-B 3 21P-QR4 PQ R 4 3 P-Q 3a P-Q 3 22 B-K 2 B-B 5 48-K2 B-K2 23KK.R1 Q.KB2 5 Kt-B 3 QKt-Q2-& 24 Q-Q 3 B-Kt 4 6P-Q4 0-0 25 QR-KBIP-KR4 7 O-O P-B 3 26 P x P P x P BKB-QB4QKt-Q 27. P-B 4 RxP Kt3 28RxR QxR 0 B-Q 3 Q-B 2 29 R-K B 1 Q-R 5 10 B-KIUS B-KKt5 30RxRchKxR 11 Bx Xt Bx B 31 Px P P x P-e 12 PQ 5 Q R-Q 1 32 QxP eh B-K 2 13 P-K R 3 B-R 4 (?) 33 Q-Kt Bch B-Q 1 14 P-K Xt 4 B-Kt 3 34 Qx P p. ft 3-/ 15 P-K R 4 Q-Q 2 35 QxQ R P Kt-Q A-a 16 KKt-Kts P-K R 3 36 Q-K B2ch Kt-£ 3 17P-R5 BxKt 37QxQand 18 P x B P x P wins. 19 K-Kt 2-d R-B 3 I (a) This is not in the books, but that is not a recommendation. (6) With the object of goiDg by way of k b I—k1 — k kt 3 or k 3, but for some reason Black changes his intentions. (c) Both bishops are now in a sort of yard where they have little scope for action. (d) There is not much difference in the positions, but Black has gained a pawn and has by so much the best of it. (?) Black, who had two pawns to the good, speedily loses this advantage by the unfortunate , separation of bis force*.

(/) Black could have checked and exchanged queens, but would have lest another pawn by so doing. (ff) A fatal and unaccountable oversight. He had only to exchange queens and would Btill have had a chance of drawing.