CHESS

Evening Star, Issue 19712, 12 November 1927, Page 15

CHESS

[Conducted by L.D.G,] The Otago Club meets for t lay at the rooms, 24 George street, Hannah's Buildings; every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday evenings, at 7.30 o’clock. TO CORRESPONDENTS. F. (Wellington),—Paper received. Thanks. Dr C, {Porfobello).—Thanks for letter and problem; greatly appreciated. S.B. (St. .Kilda).—Thanks for letter and analysis to nrobiems No. 1,429 and 1,430. G. (Port Chalmers).— I Thanks for lettercard. Correct solutions to problem No. 1,431 received from Dr C., S.S.M., P.M., G.S.M.M'D., 8.F.8.MT),, T.P.W., W. 8., J.C., G.S.,'W.G., F.W.C. JVVe invite communications on all matters concerning chess. Solutions of problems, gatnes,_ and analyses will receive our attention, and if of sufficient merit will be inserted. All communications to be addressed, “ Chess Editor,” ‘Evening Star.’] SOLUTION TO PROBLEM No, 1,4.31. By K. S. Howard. Black, 8 piece*. White, 11 pieces. Mato in two moves. 4KIK2: lqll’4; 2kts; ,21’lkblR; lKl2p3j IBRIBIPIj 2r5; Q4rbl. - Key move, B-Kt 5. PROBLEM, No. 1,432. By Guido Cristofanini (Genoa). Black, 7 pieces.

White, 6 pieces. White mates in two moves. 8; blr2p2; B4Qpl; p2k2ktl; K6R; 3Kt4; 1B6; 8. END GAME. By A. Troilsky. Black, 4 pieces.

White, 3 pieces. White,to play and win, 8; 8; 6pp; 7p; 8; 6Pk; 5K2; 5Kt2. LONDON INTERNATIONAL CHESS CONGRESS, 1922. —Queen's Pawn Opening.— White, Wahltuch. Black, Rubinstein. 1 P-Q 4 Kt-K B 3 2 Kt-K B 3 P-K 3 3 B-Kt 5 (a) P-B 4 (b) 4Bx Kt Qx B 5 P-K 3 (c) Kt-B 3 6 P-B 3 B-K 2 7 B-Q 3 P-Q 4 8 Q Kt-Q 2 Castles 9 Q-K 2 (d) P-K 4 10 P x K P Kt s P 11 Kt xKt Qx Kt 12 Castles, Queen’s R (e) P-Q Kt 4 (f) 13 Kt-B 3 Q-B 2 14 B x P R-Rt 1 15 B-Q 3. Q-R 4 16 B-Kt 1 B-B 3 (g) 17 R-Q 2 B-R 3 18 Q-Q 1 Bx P (h) 19 B x P ch (i) K-R 1 (j) 20 Q-B 2 Rx P 21 Rx P (k) Qx P (1) 22 R-R 5..,...Q-R 8 ch 25 Q-Kt 1. RxQ ch (m) Resigns (a) A weak move, as White cannot, without disadvantage, exchange B for Kt. (b) Black now threatens to start a coun-ter-attack by Q-Kt 3, and White has nothing better than to give up his valuable B for Kt, bringing bis opponent’s queen into play. (c) Against Capablanca, in this position, Wahltuch played P-K 4. (d) Probably intending eventually to castle on the queen’s side, in the hope of obtaining an attack by advancing the K side pawns. (0) Kt-B 3, followed by castling on tho K side, would have been safer. (f) A fine move, threatening to obtain a strong attack by the further advance of tho pawns on the queen side, while, if the pawn bo captured, Black gains time in development, as well as a fine position by playing R-Kt 1. Rubinstein calls attention to the fact that a similar sacrifice was made by Blackburne in a game against the late S. Winawer. (g) With Q, R, and B bearing 6n the adverse king, Black has already a manifest advantage in development, which forces the game. (h) A powerful move, still forcing tho game. (1) Not 19 B x B, because of 19 Q-R 6 ch; 20 K-B 2, Q-Kt 7, mate. (j) Better than capturing the bishop, as White’s reply would have been 20 Q-B 2ch, followed by 21 Q x B, with a defensive game. (k) Desperation; White probably had an idea of a possible draw by perpetual checkafter playing 22 R-R 5(l) B x Q ch would also have won, but tho text move is more drastic. (m) For if 24 B x K dis ch, then 24 K-Kt 1, aud White cannot carry out his idea of drawing by perpetual check, his B being pinned. A fino!y-pJa.yed game by Rubinstein, , THE SECRET OF MASTER PLAY. During tho visit of the Jugo-Slovakiau chess champion and master, there were many keen observers ,of his methods of play in blindfold and simultaneous exhibitions. Very few, however, were favored with any over-the-boarj serious tests. It. is significant from these observations that the style of master play varies according to circumstances. To the student mind questions have naturally arisen. They have problems to solve—and not easy problems at that. Not merely two and 'three-move problems set up in a special manner, but problems of chess strategy in actual over-tho-board play—a mental task of exceptional difficulty, Mark the results of some, mental nolos taken at blindfold and simulianeons exhibitions, The single player alternated his opening moves with P-K 4, P-Q 4, and occasionally Zukeifcort (Kt-K B 3) and king’s gambit,_ consequently he expected and obtained in cases the regular replies according to “boob” variations.' His moves were for. some time rapid; showing that he, as a _ master player, had familiarised himself with those particular openings up to the stage when ,he would.be assured of an even, or a “winning position,” no matter .how his opponent played afterwards. It was :after this stage bad been reached that the announcement of the Master’s moves became slower, because he had to visualise the board and to some extent reconstruct his plans. 'I his, everyone agreed, was the “ uncanny, ’* part of blindfold play ■ We have heard of literary chess masters (chess column editor-) who have gone through games, vixualising (he. board from the printed proofs of games, correcting hero-and there, and- annobiing as they proceeded; but tips etiori as nothing to the mc-M.il ur- '‘-'-s Iv-indf'dd play, where the ■ -'pi- "" •-■■■ 10 Ill's mind m ; ■■>> . q ■; i the wonderful.. - J . , fv the pice.s_ on each boar-* jm-.y;- ■ l-»r.:p: y _ J-s it a gift or .lequircui.-tV 1*,,, .ib’y both,

in the sense that a. gift is an impotent possession if not cultivated. The mind of youth is always impressionable. And the great masters of chess who have excelled in this art are men whose gifts have been cultivated while they were yet. in their teens, and early impressions have stood to them. A SIGNIFICANT FACT. In a review of Iho chess masters and champions of the past, as well as those of contemporaneous limes, a significant fact that deserves our attention is the great preponderance of men of Jewish faith. In no direction has tho prc-omineuce of the •Tew been more marked than in chess. It is fairly well known that the late champion of the world, Emanuel Lasker, is a .few, as was his predecessor, Wilhelm Stcinitz; but it is perhaps not eo well known that Johannes H. Zukertort was also a Jew. These three Jewish chess masters stand put with special prominence as hav.u? held the primacy of the chess world ■frPri7Tß6l until 1921 ,■ "