CHESS

Evening Star, Issue 18785, 8 November 1924, Page 14

CHESS

[Conducted by Gambit.] “• V The Otago Chess Club meets for play at the rooms, Princes street, every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday evening, at 7.00 o’clock. TO CORRESPONDENTS, t «X) r c No wonder that you found the Problem No. 1,263 a corker, and gave it up. Ifc should have stated that it S’as ft three-mover, and I must apologise to all who tried it. It wins not Mr Combs s fault. “ F.G.M."—Thanks for cutting re chess m Peilding. The progressive game, ah they call it, is quite new to me. It may bo worth while the Otago Chess Club finding out further particulars about it, and intro, during the novelty into the Ideal club. PROBLEM No.- 1,263 Is not a mate in two; it is a three-mover. PROBLEM No. 1,264-. By B. Boswell. Black.

White. Mato iu two. 7K; 6RI; 6QI; 8; lp6; bp6; 2RP4; ite. ' _________ CHESS IN FEILDING. 4t the weekly meeting of the Feilding Chess Club on Tuesday night lasi week the members wore picked on two Bides top by H a progressive game of chess, with the definite object of helping each member to pick up quickly the position of each game. The fust ten minutes were allowed tor crooning the games, then Mr Barrens side moved to the boards next to each on his ri'trht whilst Mr Allan’s team moved to the left Boards were arranged alternatively whHo ami black, and each player had two ■and a-kitlf minutes to make his move bciore movin'* to the next board. No moves were made "until the timekeeper gave his signal. Members were much pleased with the mnovation, and intend io have the same programme for the closing evening of the session, which will be iu two weeks' time. There were good games on every board, each player being asked to play safely and for-his side. Mr Barron's side won by One win, the other games being drawn. A SHORT GAME. "Fee. fi, fo, fum! I smell the blood of an Englishman.” This famous jingle expresses the spirit in which A, B. Hodges—or, as he is styled at tho Staten Island Chess Club, A.B.L.E. Hodge?—nmvt engage in play in tho AngloAmerican cable matches. Hero is a game again Mr W, Ward (London! in one of tho last international contests for the Sir George Ncwnes trophy, played some time ago: " Sicilian Defence.” > White, Hodges OVmqrica); Black, Ward (England). 1 P-K 4 P-Q B 4 2 Kt-K B 3 Kt-Q B 3 P-Q 4 P x P 4 Kt x P P-K Kt 3 5 B-K 5 B-Kt 2 6 P-Q B 4 (a) Ki-C 3 7 Kt-Q, B 3 Castles 8 B-F 2 P-Q 3 9 Castles B-Q 2 10 Q-Q 2 Kt x Kt 11 Bx Kt B-B 3 fb) 12 P-B 3 P-Kt 3 (c) 13 Q E-K (d) Kt-Q 2 (c) 14 B x B K s B 15 P-B 4 Q-B 2 (f) 16 B-Q (g) Q R-Q (h) 17 R-K 5 (i) P-B 3 (j) 18 R-B 3 K-R (k) 19 P-K B 5 Kt-K 4 (1) 20 P x P Kt x Kt P 21 Q-R 6 (m) R-B 2 22 B-R 5 (n). —Comments by “Scout."(Witb apologies to Major Du Maurior, tbc author of ‘An Englishman's Home,’) (a) Tho infantry appears. (b) An attempt at defence. (c) A grain of sand added io the fortifications. (d) Tho masked battery. (e) Tho gay cavalier. (f) Truly feminine. (g) The church militant and the masked battery. (h) Full dross parade of the artillery. (i) The distant rumble of tho enemy’-'; approaching artillery. (j) A futile breastwork. (k) An Englishman at homo. (l) Tho same gay and prancing cavalier. (m) “ Tho shot through tho window.” (n) Misoricordia. Note.—Not a good example of tho lato Mr Ward’s play, but the winner has played in his accustomed able style. Black, however, could have made a much better defence bad ho played E-K Kt for his nineteenth move, followed by Kt-B. A SIGNIFICANT FACT. In a review of tho chess masters and champions of the past, as well as those of contemporaneous times, a significant fact that deserves our attention _is the great preponderance of men of Jewish faith. In no direction has the pre-eminence of tho Jew been more marked than in chcoa. Id _is fairly well known that the late champion of the world, Emanuel Lasker, is a Jew, as was his predecessor, Wilhelm Stciniti; but it is perhaps not so well known that Johannes H. Zukertort was also a Jew. These threo Jewish chess masters stand out with special prominence as having held successively the primacy of tho chess world from 1861 until 1921. OTAGO CHESS CLUB, Tho following game gained the prize for the best-won game played against Mr W. G.Stenhouse in the recent simultaneous display given by him In aid of the Kostich fund; White, Cleghorn; Black, Stonhouso. 1 Kt-K B 3 P-Q 4 2 P-Q 4 Kt-Q B 3 3 P-K 3 P-K 3 4 P-Q B 5 Kt-B 3 5 B-Q 3 B-K 2 6 Q Kt-Q 2 Castles 7 Q-B 2 B-Q 2 8 P-K 4 P x P 9 Kt x P Kt x Kt 10 B s Kt P-B 4 11 B-Q 3 B-B 3 12 B-K B 4 Kt-K 2 13 Kt-K 5 B x Kt 14 B x B Kt-Kt 3 15 P-K B 4 B-B 3 16 Castles Q B Kt-K 2 17 K R-Kb Kt-Q 4 18 Q-B 2 P-Q Kt 4 ‘ 19 P-K Kt 4 P-Kb 5 20 P s B P B-B 2 21 P x K P R-K 2 22 Q-R 4 P-K ® 3 23 Qx P Resigns. FATHER STONE AND THE GHOST. In ye olden time in Boston chess circles Hon. Henry N. Stone, familiarly known as “Father Stone,” a chief rival and intimate crony of tho famous- George Hamvunnd, king of Now England chess players, became mightily interested in the subject of Spiritualism. After attending a number of uol-altogether-satisfying seances under the auspices of mediums of more or less dubious character, Father _ Stone, within his inner consciousness, devised a test which, to himself at least, would for ever settle the veracity of spirit communication. Hence, on a certain evening, the Hon. Mr Stone, in his long-tailed black frock coat, high silk hat, and immaculate white choker, appeared at tho appointed rendezvous, and quietly inserted his two hundred odd pounds of six feet four into tho midst of tho mvstic circle. In duo time his turn came, and in re»ponso to an Invitation to hold converse with some dear departed he announced: “I want to talk with George Hammond.” After some slight delay, necessary to establish connection with the spirit world. 'Father Stone was notified that George Hammond was on the wire, and the following colloquy ensued: “Good evening, Mr Hamjaond,” began Father Stone, with the formal courtesy peculiar to those days. “I trust you are m good health and happily situated* sit*”

•‘Good evening, Mr Stone,” came tie reply “1 am well and happy.. .My rcgauls Ip Ourself and to all mquinng tonds. ***» Yes ahem 1" conntinucd Father .Stone, “Is it permissible to inquire as to your present whereabouts, Mr Hammond. • “Certainly, Mr Stone. 1 am m heaven, Kir, ‘Eeallyl Ahem! —er—Quito extraordinArv i—er —How astonishod-pardon me—or— I mean how distrait you must bo, Mr Hamat all, Mr Stone—not at all, sir! I am entirely en rapport with my surroundings, sir!” , _ Yes; Quito so Ahem I By tho way, Mr Hammond, do you play chess up there?” , Frequently, Mr Stone—frequently, sir! “Yes! Ahem! Not better', of course. That would not bo possible. But with a broader and more comprehensive understanding of the game, I presume, sir?** “Entirely true, Mr Stone—entirely true, sir. I now know what when on earth I merely was absolutely certain of, sir,” “Yc«! Ahem! You now know everything about chess, whereas in the flesh you merely were thoroughly convinced that you knew all about it?” “Weli put, Mr Stone—well put, sir. Quite so, I assure you—quite so, sir.” “Yes! Ahem! Now that you know all about chess, may I ask you kindly to relieve my mind of a harassing uncertainty? ” ‘•'Certainly, Mr Stone, I will answer you with the greatest pleasure, sir.” “ Weil, George, old boy I Who was right—you or me? What is White’s best ninth move in the'Evans Gambit?” ■ Tableau 1 Great uproar occasioned by the rapid departure of tho ghost of tho great Hammond, pursued by the vociferate demands of Father Stono for tho promised information. Grand finale I Exit Father Stone, escorted by two policemen, and proclaiming to the wide world that barefaced fakerism which tried to palm oft os the spirit of George Hammond a thing so ignorant of Chose play as never to have heard of the famous New Englander's woE-knowtt dictum; White 9 Q Kt-Q 11.