Telegraph communication

Press, 16 May 1989, Page 30

Telegraph communication

By

MICHAEL ROCKS

Some time ago Mr Brian Lovell-Smith, of Christchurch, presented the Canterbury C.C. with a set of club record books that had been in his late father's possession. Mr Roy Lovell-Smith was a secretary of the club before World War II and had collected many newspaper clippings on chess. The Canterbury C.C. is generally reckoned to be the second oldest club in the country, being founded in June 1866 as the Christchurch C.C. The name was changed in 1879. The Dunedin C.C., now the Otago C.C., was founded in 1865. However, the "Lyttelton Times” of June 7, 1866 mentions that the newly formed Christchurch C.C. had received a challenge from the Nelson C.C. to one or more consultation games by telegraph. While a Nelson chess club is in existence today, it is not known if a continuous line exists between them.

The telegraph challenge was accepted and two games began. These games are believed to be the first played by telegraph in the country. The Christchurch club won both games and was understandably pleased since “the club was much smaller and younger than Nelson,” whereas Nelson lamented the fact that “two of the best players were obliged to be absent in Wellington.” (Could this be the first recorded case of a sore loser in New Zealand sport?)

Christchurch C.C. — Nelson C.C., Consultation Game, 1866, Falkbeer Counter Gambit. 1 e 4 e 5 2 f 4 d 5 3 exds Qxds 4 Nc3 Qe6 5 Nf3 exf4+ 6 Kf2 c 6 7 d 4 Bd6 8 Bbs Nf6 9 Rel Ng4 10 Kgl Ne 3 11 Qd3 0-0 12 Bxe3 fxe3 13 Rxe3 Qh6 14 Bc4 Bg4 15 Nes Bxes 16 Rxes Nd 7 17 Re 7 Qd6 18 Rael RadB 19 a 3 Ncs 20 dxcs Qxcs+ 21 Qe3 Qd6 22 Rxb7 a 5 23 Ne 4 Qes 24 Ngs Qxe3 25 Rxe3 Be 6 26 Nxe6 fxe6 27

Bxe6+ KhB 28 Rf 3 Rxf3 29 gxf3 g 6 30 c 4 Rd 6 31 Bh3 Rd 3 32 Kg2 Rd 4 33 c 5 a 4 34 Bd7 Rc4 35 Bxc6 Rxcs 36 Bxa4 Ras 37 Bd7 Kg 7 38 a 4 Kh6 39 b 4 Rgs+ 40 Bg4 1-0. Nelson C.C. — Christchurch C.C., Consultation Game, 1866, Spanish Opening. 1 e 4 e 5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bbs Qf6 4 c 3 Qg6 5 0-0 d 6 6 Rel Bh3 7 g 3 Be 7 8 d 4 Bd7 9 d 5 NgB 10 Qb3 c 6 11 Bd3 b 6 12 Be 3 c 5 13 c 4 h 5 14 h 4 Nf6 15 Bgs Na 6 16 a 3 Nc7 17 Bxf6 Bxf6 18 Nbd2 Qh6 19 Kg2 g 5 20 hxgs Bxgs 21 Nxgs Qxgs 22 Nf3 Qg4 23 Rhl f 5 24 Rh 4 Qg6 25 exfs Bxfs 26 Bxfs Qxfs 27 Qe3 Kd7 28 Rahl RagB 29 b 4 Na 6 30 b 5 Nc7 31 Nd2 Rg4 32 Ne 4 NeB 33 Rxg4 Qxg4 34 Rh 4 Qg6 35 g 4 RgB 36 g 5 Ke2 37 f 4 Qfs 38 Kg 3 Nf6 39 Nxf6 Qxf6 40 Rxhs KdB 41 Kg 4 exf4 42 Qxf4 Qe7 43 Rh 6 Qe2+ 44 Kh4 Qel+ 45 Kg 4 Qgl+46 Kfs Qbl+ 47 Qe4?? Rxgs+, 0-1. The incoming committee of the Canterbury C.C. is expected to follow Mr LovellSmith’s suggestion of handing the records over to the archives section of the Canterbury Museum.

Last year the Canterbury C.C. began consultation games against both the Otago C.C. and Papakura C.C. by post. The games against Otago ceased after half a dozen moves due to a lack o' communication at th* Dunedin end. The games against Papakura are still in progress.

The 123rd annual meeting of the Canterbury C.C. was held in the Clubrooms on May. Tributes were paid to the retiring secretary, Owen Thomson, who at 75 years young, felt it was time to have a break, and to the club champion and treasurer, Michael Hampl, who has moved to Wellington.

Officers elected: President, Murray Sim; senior vicepresident, Brian Wood; junior

vice-president, Bruce Gloisten; secretary-treasurer, Michael Rocks; tournament director, Graeme Guerin; committee, Peter Boag, Simon Kelly, Brian Nijman, David Weegenar; N.Z.C.A. delegate, Michael Rocks. The meeting decided to abolish the 50c door fee and increase subscriptions by 85. The other major change is for the clubrooms to be opened half an hour earlier on Wednesday nights (i.e. 7 p.m.). The Canterbury C.C. Championships begin on Wednesday, May 31. All intending participants should register either at the clubrooms or by contacting Michael Rocks (ph. 480-154 evenings. No. 38

The above problem by S. Eisert was one of the problems in the final of the British Chess problem solving championship. In the time allowed only Jonathan Mestel, the competition winner, managed to solve it. White is to mate in four moves. Solution to No. 37 (K7/p7/ 5P2/7P/r4k2/8/SBIP/2b5 — Win) 1 f7* Ba 3 2 h6*» A 2 .. Ras 3 Bcs and now 3 .. Bxcs 4h7 wins, or 3 ... Rxcs 4 fBQ+ wins B 2 ... Ra 6 3 Bg3+ K-any 4 Bd6 wins C 2 . . . Rc4 3 Bcs wins • 1 h 6? Ras 2 f 7 Rfs or 2 h 7 Rhs is a win for black *• There are three ways for Black to mobilise the rook (A,B,C).