CHESS

Evening Star, Issue 19894, 16 June 1928, Page 19

CHESS

[Conducted by L.D.G.] The Otago Club meet> lor flay at tha rooms, 84 Georgs street, Hannah’s Buildings, avery Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday evenings, at 7.30 o'clock TO CORRESPONDENTS. F. (Wellington). Paper received. Thanks. J.G.M.—Thanks for contribution. Dr C.—Thanks for letter. Problem by W. Greenwood greatly appreciated. G. —Your solution to Problem No. 1,670 is correct. S.S.M.—Thanks foi letter and solution. Yes, a neat composition. Correct solutions to Problem No. 1,671 received from S.S.M., R.M., 0.8., J.H.F.H., F.W.C, iB.D., G. 8., G.D.W., G.S.M.M'D, R.F.R.M’D., Dr C., W.G., J.B, W.K., L.D.C. Correct solutions to Problem No. 1,672 received from 0.8., J.H.F.H., J.J.M., J.8.D., F.W.C., GD.W. IWo invite communications on all matters conoarning chess Solutions o( problems, games, and analyses will receive our sttention, and it oi sufficient merit will be inserted. All communications to bs sddressed. “ Cbess Editor,” 1 Evening Star.’) SOLUTION TO PROBLEM No. 1,671. By W. Greenwood. Black, 1 piece; White, 4 pieces. Mate in two moves. 582; 8; 8; 4fc3; 7K; 8; B1Q5; 8. Key move: B-Kt 1. SOLUTION TO PROBLEM No. 1,672. By L. D. Coombs (Dunedin) and E. A. Le Petit (Invercargill). Black, 2 pieces; White, 6 piece*. Mate in four moves. 8; 582; 2p5; 5k2; ?PKt3; 3PB1K1; 8; 8. Key move: B-B 2. PROBLEM No. 1,673, By Nicholas de Terestchenko (Russia). Black, 7 pieces.

White, 7 pjecca. White to mate in two moves. IBS; 6QI; p2rlr2; K2ktpk2; 4R3; R6b; 281Kt3; 8. TRAPS. To set traps needs caution; much depends upon your opponent’s experience; can you reckon on his guileless simplicity? Generally speaking, if you set them, and they don’t succeed, you lose time, or injure your position, as in the following example, Black, unless,White falls into the snare, has simply wasted time (at best) 1 P-K 4, P-K 4; 2 Kt-K B 3, Kt-Q B 3; 3 B-B 4, Kt-Q 5? (in setting this trap of a gift pawn, Black departs from the principle of development: “As tar as possible no piece should bo moved twice, while other pieces remain on their original squares”); 4 Kt x P? (White takes the bait. Ho should have played Kt-B 3, or P-Q 3, or Castles, or Kt x Kt, doubling a centre pawn), Q-Kt 4! 5 Kt x B P (5 B x P ch, followed by castling was White’s best

chance, though not satisfactory), Q x Kt P: 6R-B 1, Q i K P ch; 7 B-K 8, KWB 6 mate. RARE MORSEL! One of the most remarkable brevities on record is the following from 1 Wiener Schachzeitung,’ which actually occurred m the French national tournament m 1924. It exclipses the mate in three moves, got by the late Sheriff Spans in the Scottish tournament of 1896, when the late Mr Bonaf Law was the victim That mate hinged upon Mr Law having inadvertently made a false move in the “ Centre Connter,” playing White thus: 1 P-K 4, P-Q 4; 2 P i P, Q v P i 3 Et-Q Kt 3 (a false move, involving retraction, and incurring the penalty of moving the King!). So, when 3 K-K 2, Q-K 5 mate! But in the French curiosity the play is all perfectly legal, and White falls headlong into a most unusua trap, having to resign on his fifth move! * La Tribune do Geneve ’ quotes the brevities lately, but attributes the loss of the Scottish one to the late Mr D, Y. Mills. 11 This is an error,” says the Falkirk ■ Herald.’ No players’ names arc stated in the French brevity, which went thus: — 1 P-Q 4 Kt-K B 3 2 Kt-Q 2 (a) P-K 4 3P x P Kt-Kt 5 (b) 4 P-K R 3? Kt-K 6 5 Resigns (c) (a) Bad (b) The trap, inviting 3 P-K R 3. (c) Because mate in two, or loss of the queen follows, AUSTRALIAN CHESS —Brilliancy Prize to W. S. Viner. — Tho great game in the tournament for the Australian championship, for which W. S. Viner was awarded the brilliancy prize. Mr Viner, who had not been playing up to his usual standard, now struck form, and produced by tho following masterly game. He led up to tho thrilling denouement by splendid play. Tho game is sure to become a classic example of Australian chess. This magnificent victory over his supplanter should, in a measure, compensate the cxchampion for tno lost title:— —“ Queen’s Pawn Game ” (Tohigorin’s Defence). White, Spencer Crakanthorp (N.S.W.); Black, W. S. Viner (N.S.W.). 1 P-Q 4 Kt-K B 3 2PQ B 4 P-Q 3 (a) 3 Kt-Q B 3 Q Kt-Q 8 4 P-K 4 P-K 4 5 P-Q 5 (b) BK 2 6 B-Q 3 Kt-B 1 (c) 7 K Kt-K 2 Kt-Kt I 8 Castles Kt-R 4 9 B-K 5. Kt (R 4)-B 5 10 Kt x Kt Kt x Kt 11 B x Kt P i B 12 Kt-K 2 B-Kt 4 13 B-B 2 B-K R 4 (d) 14 B-R 4 ch K-B 1 15 Q-Q 3 P-R 5 16 Q R-K 1 B-Kt 5 17 Kt-Q 4 (e) Q-B 3 18 B-Q 1 B-Q 2 19 B-K 2 E-K 1 20 K R-K 1 Q-Kt 3 21 B-B 2 B-K B 3 (f) 22 K-R 1 Q-E 4 23 P-Q Kt 4 (g) B-Kt 5 24 P-B 3 B-Q 2 25 P-K R 3 P (h) BxKt 1 (i) 26 Qx B Bx PI (j) 27 Px B QxP ch 28 R-Kt 2 QxR P ch 29 K-Kt 1 R-K 4 30 Q-B 2 P-B 6 31 R-R 2 (k) Q-Kt scb 52 K-E 1 P-R 6 33 E-K Kt 1 Q-Kt 7ch ! (I) 34 E (Kt 1) x Q RPx R cb 35 K-Kt 1 R x R 36 Q x B P {m).,....R-Kt 4 37 Ks R P-Kt 8 (Q) ch 38 K-R 3 R-Kt 3! 39 Resigns (n) (a) Tchigorin’s defence. (b) 5 Kt-K 2, at once, seems better. (c) In order to mass his forces for a king-sido attack. (d) Launches a pawn attack. (e) 17 P-B 3 is better. Tho text move leads to trouble. (f) Very good 1 (g) White advances on the queen’s wing, when he should have concentrated on the king’s side. (h) This leads to a forced win for Black. 25 R-B 2, to protect K B P, would have been better. But, in any ease, Black has the superior game. (i) To withdraw the enemy queen from her duty to guard the K B P. ° (j) Fine! Gives up bishop for three pawns, and quite unmasks the enemy king. (k) Tho queen to the rescue, but.she is too lata. (l) Thrilling and decisive. , , \m) If 36 K x R, then 36... R-R 4 ch; 37 K-Kt 3 (if K-Kt 1, then 37... E-R 8 mates), E-R 8; 39 Any, P queens. (n) For Black threatens E-R 3 ch. The longest defence White can put up is 39 B-Q 1. R-R 3 ch; 40 Q-R 5, Q-E 8 cb; 41 K-Kt 3, R i Q cb, etc. THE AUTHOR OP ‘ IF WINTER COMES ’ ON CHESS. All the nice men characters in my novels play chess It isn’t always stated that they do, but it may be taken for granted. Even George in ’ Once Aboard the Lugger,’ though by way of being a harumscarum medicai student, was a chess player. This would be true enough to life. Chess does_ not sound like a medical student’s pastime, but when I was myself a medical student che:s was wonderfully popular in the students’ club of my hospital. I, personally, learnt it at school when I was in tho sanatorium with measles, and it has been a joy to me ever since, though my opportunities of playing are very few and my games worse than bad. I remember well that, when learning it, it was, I think, the only game at which I lost my temper. This was because the youth who instructed rao always took my queen. I am on the jump about my queen to this day, and apt to be touchy when she goes. I suppose all games are contests, physical, as in sports, or of skill and wits, as in billiards and cards. Chess seems to me to stand alone as a contest of mind Isn't that its peculiar charm?—A. S. M Hutchinson, in ‘ Chess Pie.’ LIFE’S GREAT PROBLEM. This daily combat on life’s chequered field, Is like a game of chess, iu which the King Stands for the State, which all men strive to shield: Statesmen and soldiers watchful service bring, Bishops and barons serve on either wing, Armies of subject pawns attack or yield, As fate devises, charging horsemen fling Fresh forces where the battle is revealed. Bacon, who held that life was but a pawn, In pledge for secret service to mankind, Knew this when he wrote works that brought the dawn Of reason to a realm that had been blind, In that proud age in which a King and Queen Fought for tho greatest stakes the world has scon. Chaklks William Hopper. CHESS CHAT.' The game of chess with living pieces, played at Lancaster Park on May 28, in connection with tho Christchurch diamond jubilee celebrations, was carried out as successfully as the circumstances permitted. Heavy rain during the night made the outlook very unpromising; indeed, a postponement looked certain up to noon. A clearance, however, prompted Mr W. 11. Joyce, the organiser, to proceed with tho game. There was a surprisingly large attendance at the park,' the number reaching over 2,000. The ground was in a sodden state, and wool-packs were used for the alternate white squares in place of sawdust, which would have been utilised had tho weather been fine and the ground dry The board, the squares of which were large and well marked with white lines, was placed rather far away from the stands, wherein most of the spectators gathered. Owing to the un■ortainty of holding the display, and the short period employees were granted absence from their occupations, the musical arrangements for the moves were not quite effective. The dressing and costuming were admirable, and the game was conducted without a hitch of any kind. Had the weathei been fine the spectacle would have been very pretty. The proceedings lasted about an hour, and those who remained on the board till the coup de grace was dc. livered must have realised that a game of chess by the fireside on a winter’s day Is much to be preferred to a game in tho open. However, one and all are to be congratulated, particularly the ladies who represented the two queens. They remained at their posts faithfully in trying circumstances, and carried out their duties in most praiseworthy manner. Iu connection with the game of chess I with living pieces, the following from the London ‘ Daily Express ’ will prove of interest to readers: “ All social .Paraguay is talking about the latest way of playing chess on a Brobdingnagian chess board, 12ft square, with beautiful girl* aa tho chess

pieces. Tho senorilas, who had been specially chosen for their beauty, were dressed in rich costumes appropriate to their respective chess characters of king, queen, bishop, castle, knight, and pawn. One side all wore scarlet and the other all white. Whenever a piece ‘ died ’ the girl thus removed curtsied gracefully to the audience before walking from the board and taking up her position at the side. The game, which lasted fifty minutes before the ’whites’ surrendered to the ‘reds,' was voted a triumphant success.” N.Z. CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP. OTAGO v. CANTERBURY. The, telegraphic fixture between the Otago and Canterbury Chess Clubs will commence on Saturday, Juno 23rd, play to start at 6 p.m. sharp. The match will be concluded on tho following Saturday evening, June 30. The Otago Chess Club will be represented from tho following players:—Allen, Ahern, Balk, Barclay Dr Barnett, Coombs, Cohen, Dr Crawshaw, Dunlop, Grigg, Gale, Herber, Hamel, Lawson, Marlow, R. M’Dermid, Dr Herrington, M'Dcrmott, M'Caskill, Myers, W. G. Stenhousc, Tibbies, Watt, Ward, Wright. CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP OF NEW ZEALAND, Tho following schedule of matches by telegraph for the club championship of New Zealand has, it is understood, been approved by the telegraph authorities: — June 23 and 30—Otago C.C. v. Canterbury C.C., and Auckland C.C. v. Welling ton C.C. July 9 and 16.—Otago v. Auckland. July 23 and 30.—Canterbury v. Wellington. August 13 and 20.—Canterbury v. Auckland. September 3 and 10.—Otago v. Wellington. As was the cast last year, matches that involve the use of the Cook Strait cabm are set down for decision on Monday evenings. The Canterbury Chess Club, being desirous of having its strongest team in action, is asking to have Saturdays substituted for Mondays if at all possible. It is interesting to recall that this competition was inaugurated sis years ago, the winning teams being as follow: — 1922, Auckland; 1923, Wellington; 1324, Wellington; 1925, Auckland; 1926, Wellington; 1927, Otago. Just as Rugby footballers are wondering if the Canterbury Rugby Union can retrin the Ranfurly Shield in this season’s challenge matches, so, in a quiet way, are our leading chess players asking tho question: Can the Otago C.C. retain the honours that it won so handsomely a year ago, when the club championship _ wejit to the South Island for the first time? It will bo minus the services of B. W. Stenhousc, an ox-champion of tho_ who has settled in Australia, and Dirik Fill!, a well-known congress player, who is away on a lengthy visit to Norway, hjs native land. On the other hand, J. B. Dunlop (thrice champion of New Zealand) has returned to Dunedin from his trip to England, and the club has a new champion in the person of Ron M'Dermid, tho colt who made such an excellent showing at his first New Zealand

congress during the New Year holidays. The Canterbury Chess Club will probably put forward a markedly stronger loam than it was able to muster last year. Messrs H. L. Anderson and Hans Kennedy have returned from lengthy trips abroad, and W. J. Fairburu, a well-known Wellington piayer, lias made bis home in the Cathedral City. Three other prominent members of the club gained useful experience by taking part in New Zealand’s last congress. For these and other reasons it is expected that the _ “ Ayonsiders ” will make an excellent showing in the forthcoming matches. Tho Auckland Club will, of course, greatly miss Mr A. W. O. Davies, the Now Zealand champion, who died so suddenly on January 16 last. On the other hand it will have the valuable services of Mr J. A. Moir, who stood down last year. Ho should be a tower of strength to his club, of which be won the championship four years running. The Wellington team, which will bo led by Mr A. W. Gyles, is expected to bo of about the same strength aa last year’s side—which was runner-up to the Otago C.C. in the 1927 contest. According to present indications, the four contending clubs should be vervy evenly matched, and tho team that gains the honours will probably have to be content with a very small margin This actually happened four years ago, when the Otago, Auckland, and Wellington Clubs each won two matches and lost one, and the championship only went to the Wellington C.C. because it could show the best tally of won games—viz., 22j out of a possible of 36. At the conclusion of the Christchurch congress in January last, a discussion was field during the prize distribution function on the desirableness of putting these telegraphic contests on a more satisfactory footing. The necessity for providing for a stricter control, for more efficient scrulinecnng, and for tho elimination of sundry “ laxities ” that have latterly crept into these contests was stressed by several speakers. It was contended that after each match the umpire should forward a report to the “ distant ” club that ho is acting for, and that he should give , a certificate stating that he has allowed no such irregularities as consultation discussions, the trying out of variations over the board, the lax use of clocks, and other practices that a player would not be allowed to resort to if his opponent were sitting opposite him. The New Zealand Chess Associaiona in H-ftodi i nECclkuAt caoaa sciation is accordingly making certain recommendations to its affiliated clubs, with a view to having these telegraphic matches fought out under more satisfactory conditions.