CHESS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 306, 27 December 1929, Page 12

CHESS.

CHAMPIONSHIP CONGRESS

OPENING GAMES AT WANGANUI. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WANG ANUI, Thursday. The Championship Chess Congress was commenced at Wanganui to-day. The results in the first.round arc. as follows: Topp (Wellington) v. (Auckland). —Jeffreys adopted the; French defence, tho development being very even. In the middle game Jeffreys exchanged a bishop fo'r a knight, leaving Topp with double pawns, and king open to the knight's jilc. An oversight by Topp enabled Jeffreys to exchange queens, and win a bishop. The end game resulted in an easy win for Jeffreys. Erskino (Melbourne) v. Beyer (Wellington).—Beyer declined the queen's bishop gambit offered by jErskinc, and playing his knight to king's rook's fourth, gave Erskine an opportunity of winning the exchange and weakening Beyer's queen side pawns. Erskihc doubled his rooks and forced the exchange of queens and rooks, whereupon Beyer resigned. ilicks (Wellington) v. Severnc (Nelson). —Hicks played Eetis' opening, and careful play led to a very even position. Tho skirmishing in tho middle gave no advantage to either player, and with the exchange of queens and major .'.pieces, and much uninteresting play in prospect, a draw was agreed upon at the 2(ith move. Fairburn (Wellington) v. Anderson (Wellington). —Anderson adopted the Fianchetto defence, winning a pawn at move six and greatly weakening Fairburn's pawn position. Anderson worked up a line attack, threatening to win queen for rook and bishop. Fairburn's defence was not sound and Anderson worked up a mating position, when Fairburn resigned.

Purdy (Sydney) v. Gundersen (Melbourne). — In this encounter the Sicilian game was played, Purdy gaining the preferable pawn position. Gundersen attacked in the centre with queen, rook and bishop, but in moving up his king's side pawns to dislodge Purdy's knight and bishop, left his king somewhat open. Gundersen was tempted to win a pawn at knight's seven, whereupon Purdy made some telling exchanges, which left Gunderscn's position very weak. Purdy, playing with great care, forced Gundersen to resign.

Rutherfurd (Stratford) v. Ivclling (Wellington). —Rutherfurd played the Ruy Lopez game, and Kelling, pinning Rutherfurd's knight, gave his opponent a chance to make a queen-side pawn attack. Rutherfurd won a pawn and established a strong passed pawn at rook's fifth. This should have enabled Rutherfurd to win, but Kelling's clever strategy got his opponent into difficulties. Rutherfurd, seeing mate threatening or the loss of a rook, resigned.'

Scott (Wanganui) v. Pleasants (Wanganui).—The Queen's Pawn game was played, the opening being very. even. Scott attacked early, and Pleasants, in making a counter, allowed Scott to exchange queens and win the exchange. Scott pressed his advantage and won a bright game.