CHESS

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 156, 31 December 1923, Page 4

CHESS

NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIP. The fifth round of the Chess Tournament was completed on Saturday night. There was a large attendance of the public at tl\e Education Board's room in the evening to watch the play. Thechief interest centred in the games Gyles v. Miller, Dunlop v. E. A. Hicks, and E. E. Hicks v. Crackaii- , thorp. The New South Wales represeh-' tative still maintains his.lead in Section A, and Severne his lead in Section B. , The following is a brief notice of the individual games:— , ' ■ SECTION A. , Gyles v. Miller.—This was an irre-: gular King's Pawn opening, which provided a lively development. Gyles offered a, bishop to enable him to win Miller's queen. Miller, however, spurned the obvious bait, and launched a coun-tei-attack, which lie, maintained throughout the remainder of the game. Gyles defended well, but his ingenuity failed to ward off disaster, and Miller , won a finely-played game. Hicks, E. E.. v. Crakanthorp.—This was a Guioco Piano game, very evenly played in the opening and early middle game. Crakahthorp later broke Hi'cfcVs p,!iwn position, and captured a' pawn. With .this advantage he was able to establish a pawn on the seventh's rank, and Hicks was forced' to resign.. Kummer v. Fairburn — Shimmer adopted the King's fawn opening, and matters were even until Faiyburiv sacrificed a knight in. capturing'three pawns. His own .pawn position, however, was riot good, and Kummer was able to recapture two pawns. In tM. end' game xKummer outplayed his opponent, and won.on the. 47 th move.

i Pilfl v. Kelling.—The second playev adopted the Karo Cahn' defence, which provided a very free bright game. In the middle game exchanges, many critical situations were avoided, but Pihl retained a strong passed pawn on the queen's. side. Kelliiig was playing ingeniously, when Pihl, by an over- . sight, lost a rook, and resigned. Moir v. Armstrong.—This was a Ruy Lopez game. After an. even Opening, the middle game' gave Moir an,opportunity of capturing a pawn. The extra pawn' in the end gave him victory, for, though Armstrong plaYed a great defence; Moir was able 'to bring aboirt a checkmating position. : SECTION B. Yaughan v, Hughes — Although Hughes declined to accept the 1 Queen's Bishop's gambit offered by Vaughan, a very bright game ensued. Vaughan built up some pretty combinations with critical situations, from which Hugheshad great difficulty in freeing his forces.: Vaughan won a pawn and conducted the end game so skilfully that victory rested with him. Dunlop v. Hicks, E. A.—This was a Queen's Pawn game, which developed very rapidly. Hicks threatened to fork rook and king with knight, and Dunlop was forced fo lose time in saving the position. The latter conceived and carried out a strong attack, and Hicks was fdrced ia change' off minor pieces and <rueeiis. In this play lie lost a bishop; an."d Dun Top -was able to force a why in''the end game. Ancjerson', v. Hawkins.—The latter player adopted the Two Knights defence, enabling Anderson to win a pawn and spoil- Hawkins's pawn position. Hawkjins had compensation in better development of pieces, and in the middle game j won the exchange - and a pawn. Anderson spoilt his chance of making a drawn game by allowing his rook to be captured. Hawkins deserved the win. Barnes v. Kennedy.—This was a very evenly played Ruy Lopez, arid only towards the end game was Barnes able to gain a superiority in forces. He -won a pawn, and all Kennedy's ingenuity could not prevent Barnes from forcing a' win. . . P'leasant3 y. Severne.—A steady Ruy Lopez passed from the opening into the middle gams, with no advantage to either player, and only one critical situation arose in the game, but jn the resulting exchanges Severne captured a pawn. Later he improved' his advantage in material, but Pieasants worked up a blooked position, -which forced a drawn game. The positions at the end of tjie fifth round were :—

Section A. W. D. L. Pts. Crakanthorp ...... 4 10 4-'-Moir ........... 3 2 0 4 Gyles 3 1 1 3i Miller 2 2 13 Hicks, E. E 3 0 2 3 Kelly 2 1 2 24 Kummer 2 1 2 2^ Armstrong 10 4 1 Pihl , 0 2 3 1 Fairbum ....;.: 0 ( 0 5 0 Section B. Severiie,.' 3 2 0 4 Dunlop 3 1 1 3£ *Barnes 2 2 0 3 Vaughan 2 1 2 2i Kennedy 2 l' 2 2A Hughes 0 4 12 Hicks,- E. A. ; 1 -2 2.2 ■ - "Havikins 2 0 3 2 Pleasants 1 3 1 ' 2£ ' *Anderson 0 2 2 1 *one game unfinished.