CHESS

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 82, 31 December 1929, Page 2

CHESS

DOMINION CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY IN FIFTH ROUND By Telegraph-—Press Association. Wanganui, December 30. The Dominion Chess Congress was continued at Wanganui to-day. Results of the fifth round are as follow: — , Hicks v. Jeffreys.—A very_ cramped 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 fiftieth move. . , . Purdy v. Ruthertnrd.—This was a bright queen pawn’s game, in which the early exchanges gave Rutherfurd an isolated pawn and Purdy command of an open file with doubled rooks, one at bishop seven. Purdy brought up a dan"erous attack. Rutherfurd played well and Purdy failed to find the winning move. Immediately Rutherfurd brought his king up to the fight, leaving his pawns weak, aid I’nrdy was able to force exchanges and win two pawns. Kutheifurd thereupon resigned. Scott v. Gundersen.—Gundersell played tlie Sicilian defence and Scott built up a fine attack, which faded away with each telling move ipade by Gundersen. The attack then passed to Gundersen, but he had difficulty in forcing the position. Eventually he was able to Win the exchange, which Scott hud to submit to in order to save tlie 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 Rover cnstclliiig on the kings side, find built up a strong position in the centre. Beyer could not prevent Severne s capturin'- of the queen’s pawn, and opening the file to queen and rooks, by 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 difliculties through Rolling's skilful advance of pawns, with pawn at rook seven, supported by queen and rook. Kelling nppeared to have victory in 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, plaving weakly, gave Pleasants a chance of winning two pawns. _ Later Fairburn captured a pawn, mid with the exchange of pieces was left with two bishops against bishop nnd knight and one pawn down. Pleasants conducted the

end game in fine style, and scored a welldeserved win. . Anderson v. Erskine. —In this Queen s Pawn game there was a very steady development of position on both sides. _ In htc ■ opening Anderson. obtained doubled pawns, but otherwise quite a good game. .Soon after this Anderson took p the offensive and kept Erskine so busily defending that the latter had no chance of 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 as follows:— Name. Von, Lost. Drawn. Pts.

Severne ... Anderson — 1 41 4 Gunderson ♦5 1 Erskine — •** Pleasants . 3 Purdy (> Kelllng ... — 1 Jeffreys ... - -i Beyer — Scott ** 11 Hicks Rutherford 1 .1. li Topp Fairburn 1 4 1 11