TELEGRAPHIC CHESS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 174, 25 July 1932, Page 14

TELEGRAPHIC CHESS.

AUCKLAND V. WELLINGTON. FIRST NIGHT'S PLAY. ONE STRAIGHT-OUT LOSS. Telegraphic chess matches, which have been suspended for several years owing to excessive cost, were resumed on Saturday, two twenty-aside matches having been arranged—Auckland v. Wellington, and Christehurch v. Dunedin. The matches take two days, and will be finished next Saturday night. Any games not actually finished at 11 p.m. will be decided by the umpires. Telegraphic matches were a regular chess feature up to a few years ago. when increased telegraphic charges and the depression caused clubs to abandon the games. Costs are still relatively high, and the present matches were arranged more to revive interest in chess than to inaugurate regular inter-provincial tournaments. The winners of the North Island match have arranged to play the South Island winners. How It Is Played. Complete arrangements were made by the Telegraph Department, and rooms were allotted the club in the Central Post Office building, where a special instrument was installed to eliminate "running" between the . boards and the operating room. In former contests it has been usual to telesrrapli by numerals, but the usual chess nomenclature was adhered to this time, and the system worked smoothly. The ancient game is slow at any time, and by telegraph the pace is snail-like. The maximum number of moves of the "fastest" of Saturday's games was IG, while some boards only registered 13 completed moves. This, however, does not detract from the keenness and enthusiasm of the players, who have ample time to analyse position?, during thn long waits between messages. A time-limit of five minutes was insisted upon for a reply to be handed in after a message containing a move was delivered to a player. Referees and scrutineers were appointed, and the formers' duty was to check each move by the board, and the message before it was dispatched. Eacii player had on his table a number of pink slips. On these were written the board and move numbers. The player at board No. 1, for instance, would send to the operator per medium of the pink slip a message such as:— "Board No. 1, move No. ,1, P to K4" (pawn to king four). The reply would come back to the player from the telegrapli operator on a similar slip coloured blue. In addition every player records his own and his opponent's moves on a special form, and files 'the blue slip for checking and reference in case of disputes. Mr. F. R. .Tefferies, president of the Auckland Chess Club, gave up his place in the team to act as referee for Wellington. The Teams. . Wellington won the toss and Is thus playing white at the odd boards. The teams are :— Board. Auckland. "Wellington. 1. S. I. .Tones Gyles 2. 11. Gould Anderson 3. I. H. P. Burry Kelllng 4. .T. C. Grierson K. A. Ilicks 5. 11. D. Addis Fairburn 6. H. N. Maddox Craven 7. G. Sale Meßae 8. .T. Sullivan Otto 9. E. Piekett E. E. Hicks 10.: H. Lees Sim 11. C. P. Belton White 12. C. G. Lenhard .Tessep 13. C. Bniley Hardy 14. F. W. Smith Thompson 15. R. Barker Gotschalk 16. IT. A. Ward Grady 17. R. E. Baeycrtz Ashby IS. P. F. Thompson Klime 10. H. Roskilly . Myers 20. 11. Oakley Prowne Lambert The Auckland team's players range In age from 25 to 70 years. Amongst the players are veterans who have held the New Zealand championship several times. The Auckland team includes two members of the legal- fraternity, school masters, accountants and journalists. The Play. Board I.—Gyles opened with pawn to king four, Jones adopting the Alekhin defence. At adjournment the positions were level. ;-, Board 2.— r This game was not played by telegraph, Auckland's representative, IT. Gould, being-in- Wellington, and the, game was played straight out over the board there.' It was a lively encounter, and after 60 moves was won by Wellington. Board 3.—Ruy Lopez. Wellington has captured a piece and has a strong advantage. Board 4.—rQueen's gambit declined. This game 'has proceeded on orthodox lines and thn: positions are-level. .' Board s.—Queen's pawn. Positions equal. Board o.—Queen's pawn. Positions level. Board 7.—Bird's opening. Positions equal. Board 8. —Sicilian defence. Positions level.. ■ Board 9. —Irregular opening. Positions equal.' : " Board 10.—Queen's pawn. Positions l»vel. Boards 11 and 12.—Ruy Lopez. Both level. Board 13. —Philidor's defence. Wellington hns a slight positional advantage with a pawn to the good. Board 14.—King's pawn. Auckland has a slight positional advantage. Board 13.—Queen's pawn. Dead even. Board 16.—Queen's gambit declined. Dead even..' ' Board 17.—Queen's pawn. At move 0 Auckland trapped Wellington's bishop and with a piece up has a strong advantage, but careful play Is still required. Board 18.—Ruy Lopea. Auckland has an advantage. Board 10.—Queen's pawn. Auckland is a pawn to the good. , Board 20.—Queen's pawn. Positions equal.