CHESS

Evening Star, Issue 18502, 8 December 1923, Page 14

CHESS

[By A.W.0.D.3 Tho Otago Chess Club meeta for play si 193 Princes street south every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday evening, at 7.50 o’clock. TO CORRESPONDENTS. [All communications should bo addressed Chew Editor. ‘ Evening Star.’l T.C.MT,.”—Thanks for letter, also solution to 1,215, which is, as you state, 1 very neat but not difficult. Will have space next week probably for your story of two chess players. “Dr C.”— I The problem you kindly forwarded is given below. It is very fine. SOLUTION TO PROBLEM No. 1,215. Kt-K 5. PROBLEM No. 1,216. By D, Wochenschacb, 1920. Black.

White. Mate in two. 5B1Q; 3Prn2; IPp2Ktbll; 3pk3; 4Kt3; 3E2PB; 8; 4K3. ALBCHINE v. CAPABLANCA. Tho following sketch of tho two competitors for tho world's championship by Brian Harley is from tho 1 Australasian ’: —Alexander Alochino, tho young Russian who has challenged Capablanca for tho championship, is, to me at least, tho most interesting person in modern chess. Capablanca wo know, as far as that sphinx of the game allows us. Ho has revealed himself perhaps moro than ho nows in his books, particularly ‘ My Chess Career,’ from his emplacement on tho world chess-board as a little pawn, in Cuba, through bis overwhelming defeat of Marshall, American champion in 1909—the most fantastic double leap of a pawn sinco the days of Morphy—to his final promotion on the eighth square in 1920, when ho won tho chess crown from Lasker. Ho knows that. “Capa” is’as strong and safe a player as ever lived, who will rarely—of late years, at least—bo tempted to enter the No Man’s Land of combination in the middle game unless circumstances compel. He seems to bo content to mamuvro quietly through the early stages of a contest, confident that his technique will carry him safely to the ending, whore ho has no rival among present or past experts. There could hardly be a greater contrast in temperament, stylo of play, even appearance, than exists between the Cuban and his challenger. Capablanca, of middle height, olivo-oomplexioned, self-confident, and dignified as a Spanish grandee, sits almost motionless at the board, with a single little trick of pinching his nostril tips when ho is slightly puzzled—which is not often. Watch him when ho has his opponent in difficulties. He rises from his chair, gives a final backward glance at the position—and the player j • —and performs a stately constitutional be- I tween tho ropes that hedge off chess divinities from {he vulgar herd. Alechino, tall, fair, with piercing light blue eyes—lt cornea aa a surprise to learn that ho is _ shortsighted—a true Russian—controls his immense nervous agitation by a palpable effort, Ho is a “ chain ” cigarette smoker, and surely the gentle gasper never suffers so cruelly as in his restless fingers; two or three puffs, and a shapeless, twisted mess is discarded iulo the ash tray. Capablanca, on the other hand, is a true Jacobean in his hatred of tobacco. It follows that Alechino plays chess romantically, in direct opposition to tho severe classicism of the champion. He is a “Hypcro modern of the Hyper modems,” beginning combinations nt the earliest possible moment. He must always have a grand plan; and so we get those long elaborate schemes that begin with n. scries of quiet-looking moves, and burst out at last into amazing .brilliancy. This sort of thing is, of course, also found in Capablanea’s games, but more rarely, and usually when the position forces him to call out his utmost reserves. To sum up the comparison between the two: Capablanca plays chess with a scientist’s deep interest, and Alechino for the sheer joy of the battle. What will be the result of the match? No one, least of all tho rivals themselves, would care to prophesy too boldly, neither of the masters, since reaching his prime, has been fully extended. Capablanca has the ideal match temperament, no doubt, but tho Russian has one advantage. He has kept all his youthful zest and quickness of analysis, while the Cuban, as ho told 1 me once himself, in acquiring positional judgment, has lost something of his early powers of calculation—a fate that befalls nearly all chess players, great and little. At least the gamer, will not he of the stereotyped order of tho Capablanca v. Lasker match—so says Alechino, to me, and continues in his delightful mixture of French, English, and gesticulations:—“lt is not impossible to beat Capablanca, but it may not be, possible for ,rao. Ho has his weaknesses. Tho winner will bo ho who succeeds in imposing his style on tho other . . . but I will play my game . . . not quietly. No! When I play quietly I lose! For example, my sramee. against Treybal and Spielman in the Karlsbad tourney. Tho Yates game? Ah! I admit your champion heat me by beautiful play, but not the others.” Yes, one can foretell that tho Capablanca, v. Alechine match will bo a distinctly sporting event. There will bo nothing of tho “needle” about it, for the two masters have been great friends since the days when they were lads together in Pctrosrrnd—when it was pood to bo young in Retro grad. Anyhow, it will last more than fifteen seconds. Tho terms of tho match are briefly as follow:—The victor will be ho who first wins six games, draws not conn ting. Play will I bo for five hours n day at the rate of forty moves for each in two and n-hnlf hours. Rules follow tho British Chess Code, but tho king move penally, now generally considered an anachronism, is waived. Stakes are to bo IO.OOOdoI, of which the champion will take 2,000 as a douceur, going 60 per cent, to tho winner and 40 per cent, to the loser. Tho great- match will nrobnbiy bo deferred until 1924 is well advanced. Much preparation is needed in the way of training—some of it takes place during the play, it appears, since “Capa” alleges that he'lost 101 b in the Lasker match—and tho stakes have yet to bo got together, ALECHTNE v. DR FORRESTER. Played recently by Alecliino during his visit to Glasgow: Ruy Lopez. White, Alechino; Black, Dr Forrester.

OTAGO CHESS CLUB. The position in the senior championship, which is now drawing to a finish, is: Wins. Losses. Balk 31 0£ Davies 3j o| Mvors 22 Wright 2 1 Balk has to play Wright, and if he wins from Wright will have to play off with Davies, who scores against M'Crca by default.

1 P-K 4 .P-K 4 2 Kt-K B 3 Kt-Q B 3 3 B-Kfc 5.... ..P-Q R 3 4 B-R 4 Kt-B 3 5 Kfc-B 3.,.. ..P-B 4 6 Kt s P..., ...Kt x Kt 7 P-Q 4 B-Kt 5 8 P s Kt... 9 Q-Q 4 Kt x Kt 10 P x Kt.., ...B-R 4 11 B-R 3 .P-Q Kt 3 12 P-K 6 Q-B 3 13 B x P ch K-Q 14 B-B 6 ch. 0. x Q 15 P-K 7 mate