CHESS.

Evening Star, Issue 7286, 10 August 1887, Page 4

CHESS.

TO TUB EDITOR. Sir,- Your correspondent “A Lover of Chess” is evidently no lover of the Otago Chess Club, and, although he says be is sorry for its recent defeat, his sorrow is clearly not without its compensations, since it affords him an excuse for having a fling at the Club, an employment seemingly very congenial to him, I have no desire to underrate the honor due the Timaru Club tor its victory. At the same time I assure your correspondent that the members of the Otago Club have no very strong reason to be disheartened, as their defeat was due rather to blunders unconnected with play than to inferior skill. These blunders, though apt to occur with the inexperienced in matches of this kind, are easily avoidable on another occasion. The blunders which consisted of misplacing opponents’ pieces occurred at two of our boards, and, of course, rendered inefficient ail subsequent moves at these boards. One of these games was considered a certain win for Otago prior to the mistake being made; the other was at least even. In addition, another game was deemed a gift to Timaru from the beginning, as it was played by about the weakest member of the Club, woo at the last moment supplied the place of one of the strongest, who, although at first selected, was unable to be present when the match was played. I congratulate the Timaru players on their success, which was fairly earned, and, though their opponents here hy no means concur in the low estimate of their skill, which it suits the purpose of your correspondent to make, yet I would in a friendly spirit promise them harder work next time, as I think we can do much better.

“ A Lover of Ohe.-s ” hopes this defeat may prove a lesson in humility to the members of the Otago Oiub. I sincerely hope ft may not, as I have always thought they already possessed that quality in excess, which has heretofore prevented them from engaging in outside matches. If, however, they could accept his estimate of their strength, they would doubtless exhibit humility enough to satisfy even him. He says that their defeat proves that the Otago Club would not have the “ ghost of a chance of sooting a game against such players as comprise the Christohuroh Oiub.” In this bis eagerness to press a point against the Otago

Club gets the better of his judgment, as he should know that In the lost match between Mr Hay’s team and Christchurch, to which he refers, and which resulted, I think, In six wins for Christchurch to two wins for the local team, these two wins were made by members of the Otago Club playing in Mr Hay’s team. In conclusion, I would point out lhat “ A Lover of Chess” entirely misunderstands my purpose In writing to you on a former occasion. 1 wrotir then, asserting what I still believe to be true, viz, that the Otago Olub constitutes the strongest organised body of chess players in this provinep. I did not attempt to disparage the efforts of anyone in the interests of chess. On the contrary, I carefully and fully acknowledged the skill and enterprise of Mr D. 11. Hay.—lam, etc., „ A Mummer ok the Otago Chess Club. Dunedin, August 6.