CHESS.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19815, 31 December 1929, Page 5

CHESS.

DOMINION CONGRESS

i YESTERDAY'S RESULTS. -.Z-8.86S ASSOCIATION TELECtRAH : WANGANUI, December 30. j The fifth round of the Dominion Championship Chess Tourney resulted as under: — Hicks v. Jeffreys.—A very era:i:ped game resulted from the Caro Kann game adopted by Jeffreys. Both players built up a strong centre, and neither dared attempt to force the position. Exchanges left the pawn positions identical, and a draw was agreed upon at the 45th move. Purdy v. Rutherfurd. —This was_ a bright 'Queen Pawn's game, in which The earlv exchanges gave Rutherfurd an isolated' pawn and Purdy command of an open file with doubled rooks, one at bishop seven. Purdy brought up a dangerous attack. Rutherfurd played well, and Purdy failed to find the winning move immediately. Rutherfurd, bringing his king up to the fight, left his pawns weak, 'and Purdy was able to force exchanges and win two pawns. Rutherford therefore resigned, Scott v. Gundersen. —Gundersen played the Sicilian Defence, and Scott built up a fine attack, which faded awav with each telling move made by Gundersen. The attack then passed to Gundersen, but he had difficulty in forcing the position. Eventually he was about to win the exchange, which Scott had to submit to in order to save the situation. Gundersen was now in a position to dominate the play, and Scott resigned. Beyer v. Severne. —Beyer offered the King*'s Gambit which Severne declined He moved bishop to bishop 4 to prevent Beyer castling on the king's side, and built up a strong position in the centre. Beyer could not prevent Severne's capturing of the queen's pawn, and opening the file to queen and rooks, bv which forces Severne was able to checkmate his opponent in three moves. Topp v. Kelling.—Topp played the Ruy Lopez, adopting the exchange variation. He obtained the better position and forced Kelling to castle on the queen's side. Topp soon got into difficulties through Kelling's skilful advance of pawns. With pawn at rook seven supported by queen and rook, Kelling appeared to have victory m sight, but by an oversight he allowed his queen to be won at the expense of Topp's bishop, and he resigned after losing the advanced passed pawn. Fairburn v. Pleasants —A development of the Zukertort opening was played Fairburn, playing weakly, gave Pleasants a chance of winning two pawns. Later Fairburn captured a pawn and with the exchange of pieces was left with two bishops against bishop and knight and one pawn down. Pleasants conducted the end game in fine style and scored a well-deserved win.

Anderson v. Erskine —In this Queen's Pawn game there was a very steady development of position on both sides. In the opening Anderson obtained doubled pawns. After this Anderson took up the offensive and kept Erskine so busily defending that the latter had no chance of a counter-attack. After further exchanges the position was considered critically by both players, who decided that there was nothing in it but a draw. The position of the players after the fifth round is:—

Won. Lost. Drawn . Pts Severne .. -i 0 1 U Anderson .. 3 0 2 4 Gundersen 3 1 1 3i Erskine 2 1 2 3 Pleasants .. 3 2 0 3 Purdy ,. 3 2 0 3 Kelling 2 2 1 2* Jeffreys .. 2 2 1 2* Beyer 2 3 0 o Scott .. 2 3 0 2 Hicks .. 0 o 3 1* Rutherfurd .. 1 3 1 1* Topp .. 1 3 1 1* Fairburn .. 0 4 1 t