OVER THE CHESS BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 10399, 21 August 1897, Page 4 (Supplement)

OVER THE CHESS BOARD.

[ ,'ONDUCTKD BY J. W. MELLO3, B.SC.J

GAME ENDING.

; The following diagram shows the disposition of the pieces in a game played by M. Janowsky (white) and an amateur, to whom M. Janowsky Q Kt : Black 12 pieces.

White 11 pieces. White to play and win. This may be done as follows :

NOTE. a Iflqxq; 2 B-K B 7 dis. ch, kx hj; 3 R-K Kt 7 ch, k-k 3; 4 R-K 7 mate. Iflrxp;2Bxß dis. ch, qor kt interposes; 3Q x R and wins. If 1 kt-k h2; 2 £ x Kt did. ch, k x*b ; Q x Q and wins. If Iqxb; 2RxQch.ktxr; 3Q-KKt5. p-k r3; 4 Q-K 85, followed by an advance of the K side pawns.—’ La Strategic.’

THE DEVIL IN INVERNESS,

An amusing article, followed by a clever problem, appears in the well-known French chess journal, ‘ La Strategic,’ of April 15. The author, M. Alphonse Delannoy, must have a large share of Scottish blood in his veins judging by his enthusiastic description of Scottish scenery. Sir Walter Scott himself hardly surpasses Mons. Delannoy in his rhapsodies over flood and fell, moor andmountain, woods, rocks, mist, clouds, and all that tends to make Scotland’s landscape so enchanting. The whole article is well worthy of being transferred to these columns, but space will not allow more than what appertains legitimately to our chess corner. Monsieur Delannoy tells a wonderful story possibly true, who knows !

He tells us there was, and is, in the capital city of the Highlands of Scotland, Inverness, a chess club, “The City of Inverness Chess Club,” whore the members play with chess rather than at chess. His description of the members and their ways is possibly faulty, as is natural with Frenchmen, who could nob reasonably be expected to know the difference between gin and whisky; but let that pass. The crack player of the club was a certain Dr Fausten Lewis, who had contracted a “ veritable passion ” for chess, and who was the promoter, mainstay, and pillar of the club. Possessing a magnificent collection of works on chess, subscribing to all the periodicals and magazines which noticed the game, ho read and devoured them with avidity. He would have sacrificed twenty years of his life, his fortune perhaps, to be able to hold his own against Staunton, Lowenthal, or Morphy. Having none but weak players to contend against, he could form no just idea of his prowess. But a happy idea occurred to him. It was to get up a tournament which should attract to Inverness all the chess talent of Europe. Dr Lewis spared no paius in getting out his idea—even to neglecting to charge his fees to his patients. Chess players arrived from all parts, the competitors were paired, and one odd member, it \£as decided, should play against the firat amateur who presented himself. The amateur was not long in appearing, for just as tue tourney was commencing the door opened and in walked a welldressed, gentlemanly - looking individual, giving his card as Mr Maofire, with a letter of introduction to Dr Lewis from an intimate friend in Glasgow. The result of the tournament is that the stranger, Mr Macfire, bowls over all his opponents like so many ninepins, and is carried off to supper by Dr Lewis, those remaining behind remarking a curious mephitic odor in the room after his departure. Supper finished, pipe and cigar lighted, Dr Lewis can no longer restrain the expression of his admiration of hie companion’s skill. “-What fierceness in attack ! What sangfroid in defence! What splendid oomfimations 1 That end game, when you allowed your adversary to make a second queen in order to mate him more signally. My dear Macfire, I have studied the game for twenty years, and am a child compared with you. I would give twenty years of my life—half, nay, my whole fortune—to play as well as you do.” But Mr Macfire offers to endow the doctor with skill equal to his own on easier terras He says: “lam tired of the game. You accompany me and play for the next ten years, and in place of losing money you shall multiply your fortune ten times. To prove my words, I endow you twenty-four hours with my skill. Go to-morrow "to the club ; you will beat everyone. In the evening I will come and sup with you again, and you shall give me your defin te answer.” The first stroke of twelve sounded from clock, and Mr Macfire departed hurriedly, without staying to shako hands or say adieu.

The doctor was puzzled. Superstition is rife in the Highlands of Scotland as well as elsewhere, and tales recounted to him in childhood recurred to his mind. “ Can I have been supping with the Devil?” He could not sleep, and, rising from his bed, he set himself to discover in his books on chess some stratagem to confound the great adversary. After long and painful thought he hit upon a moat successful plan. Next day he goes to the club, where he beats everyone, including a celebrated player from Dundee, hitherto supposed to be invincible by any Scottish amateur. At supper time Mr Macfire appears as agreed, and the following conversation ensues;—

“ Well, doctor, how did you get on ?” “I beat them all and pocketed £2OO in bets.’’ This is thoroughly French, of course. “So, you see, you play as weir as I do. Have you made up your mind to tm proposal 3 *

“ Oh, yes ; but I have a counter proposal to make.”

“ What is that?” “You solve problems easily, no doubt ?” “ Child’s play.” “ Well, I shall give you a problem in four moves; if you solve it on the board I accept your offer—l am yours; but if you do not solve it you shall bo fny servant for ten years.” “ Agreed.” Dr Lewis set up the position. ■ Black 5 pieces.

While 7 pieces. White, to play and mate in four moves.

Mr Macfire looks at it carelessly, plays the first three moves rapidly, then suddenly stops, unable to make the fourth;- for he has observed that if he make it the position will have assumed the form of that sacred emblem which no evil one-can face. The mocking smile which wreathed his lips changes suddenly into a horrible grimace,

and - hia lowering brow and fierce glance show how completely he has been sold.

MR CHARLES TANKS, Op School op Arts Chess Club, Newcastle.

Devotees of the noble game of chess may be likened, in point of playing strength, to pieces of different value, or pawns. It is proposed in the following short scries of articles to depict in some slight way, more or less truthfully, the idiosyncrasies of come of the best-known players at the above hotbed of chess. One of the most familiar, and certainly most amusing, is Mr Charles Tanks. To this gentleman most of the credit of having founded the club is undeniably due, though different players have from time to time claimed that -honor. However, it is quite certain that for twelve months before the club was formed he and another wellknown gentleman used to play almost daily upon a wonderful wooden table with iron legs, with a fearful and extraordinary set of pieces composed-of at least half a dozen different sets. lb made no difference to the pioneers of this club; they played then as they do now, “from early morn till dewy eve.” Smokers came and smokers went, doors were banged, spittoons were rolled about in peaceful harmony. The fresh wind of heaven blew and blustered about the place, but they little heeded the interruption, and, even at that early date, aroused enthusiasm among an already respectable gallery. A genial little man with a half-halting sort of walk, Mr Tank rushes into the smoke room, drops his samples, silk hat, and umbrella on the most convenient or inconvenient place, runs his nervous fingers through his rapidly whitening locks, and glances cheerfully round for a victim. I say victim, for so his opponents invariably are. His great forte, is odds giving. He will play a Kt or Kt and B to any one mentally and playably weak enough to accept them, in many cases with the greatest success, to men not only of approximately less known but to others known to have bowled him over at ordinary handicap odds of pawn and move or pawn and two. He sits down to play, strumming on the nearest edge of the table when not handling the pieces, or using them as though they were grocers’ 141b weights, and producing more noise out of their little bodies than would be the case in an ordinary ten-a-side match. The vocal accompaniment is very rich, for though he never uses a slang term or an improper word his “vocabulary consists of a splendid assortment of phrases, such as—- “ Now, touch and move” (accent on the “and”); “I must close the magazine”; “Gi v e_ ua a chance” (in reply to a piece of voluntary advice from an onlooker to his opponent); “You know what you were doing ” (when his opponent, having blundered,-says: “ That’s how you win, through my mistakes”); “Go along—leave him alone” (when an onlooker says “ Now he has you ! ”); “ No—not there, my friend. I want that square ” (attacking queen with rook). These and a host of similar remarks are uttered in a tone smacking of soma South county dialect. The onlookers, eager as bluebottles on a butcher’s stall, quicklv scent fun, and fire off vOllovs. “He’s bottled!” says No. 1. No. 2 says “Of course be is” (when Mr T. is about three Pieces and five pawns ahead). No. 3 : “Poor Mr T. 1” The remainder alike shake their heads and sigh, but they cannot move him hia good nature is simply irresistible. He plays an opening usually termed “rotten” by his victims. It has the effect of a war cry upon reading ohessites once the. word “ rotten ” goes round the room. Down go papers, chats are interrupted, and a rush for Mr T. and his rotten opening. At intervals he takes vows and swears off play. Being unable to keep away, he will direct, command, and superintend' the play of others in a most amusing fashion. When in full playing trim, and not burdened by a vow, he frequently sits down at 9-30 a.in., and plays against a dozen opponents between that and “ lights out ” at 10 30 p. in. Tho watchful secretary drops in and orders tea and muffins for diuner, ditto for tea, and sometimes ditto for supper. As a reliable match player Mr T. has few equals, and as a committee raau he is most watchful, courteous, and voluble. Summing up, Mr Tanks is one of the men w ? ho ornament the ranks of. local chess.

CHESS NOTES,

The Otago Chess Club’s annual rnaloh with the Oatnaru Club will be played bv telegraph over two Saturday evenings, commencing this evening at 7.30. There will bo fourteen players a side. The local club will be repreby at least one lady player. The following have been selected to represent OtagoMessrs Balk, R. A. Cleland, H. J. Cleland, Dawe, Edwards, Lyders, Mouat, Mellor, Moody, Warsaw, Litolff, Hastings, Dr Stenhouse, and. Miss Columb, Mr J. A. Millar, M.H.R., will act as umpire for Oatnaru.

The following players ate chosen to represent Oatnaru : —Messrs Olayton, Francis, Banks, Lee, Bolton, Gould, Earl, Burns, M'Donald, Mowbray, Garland, Patterson, Davis, Taylor, Armstrong, and Ralfe, Mr Lang will act as umpire for Dunedin, who will attack at odd number boards.

Tho Ob-ige Club’s tournament is steadily progressing. The highest scorers so far are as follow:

Devoted as Mrßlackburne ia to the “ king of games,” there are times when the sight of a chessboard ia hateful to him, and he does' not play for weeks together.

A SONNET.

Come, friend, let’s have a hearty game at chess. No dry analysis for us to-night, But something fresh, spontaneous, and bright, A ’cross board game to turn aside the shafts Of carking care. There’s nothing better wafts Away the leaden hours, clean out of sight, Than does a lively,’well-contested fight, When meet the votaries of that best of crafts Our much-loved, grand old game. Oh. then, my friend, All vexing thoughts take wing and fly away; The worry and the fret thakmark the day Are banished by the light of Ca’issa’s smile ; And as we o’er the board with pleasure bend Joy unalloyed ’bides with us all the while. —George Reat, modified by the ’ New Zealand Mail.’

, White. , Black. • White. Black. 1 BxP R-QR8-a 5 Q x Q ch K-K 3 2 BxPdbl.chK-B2 6 Q-K B 5 ch K-K B2 3 Q-K R 5 ch Kt-K Kt 3 7 K-K Kt 7 mate. 4 B x Kt ch Q x B

FIRST DIVISION. Wins. Losses. R. A. Cleland 7 0 J. Edwards . " ... 8 0 J. Mouat 8 3

SECOND DIVISION. S. Martin 8 i Miss Sutherland ... 5 3 Miss Columb 4 3