CHESS

Evening Star, Issue 20056, 22 December 1928, Page 17

CHESS

[Conducted by L.D.G.] Tha Otago Club meets loj [lay at (lit rooms, Si George afreet, Hannah’s Buildings, every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday evenings, at 7.30 o'clock. TO CORRESPONDENTS. Christmas and the season's greetings arc extended to all renders of the column; end tiioir interest in chess matters for 1928 has been greatly appreciated. P.KJs. "(Wellington).—Paper received; thanks. I hope that you will be successful in the 1928-29 congress. Correct solutions to tourney problems Nos. I, and 1,777 have been received from “Orion,” J.J.M., S.S.M., Dr C., J.G., W.T., "While Knight,” T.J.R., “Pawn," Cr.S.JT.M'.D., R.F.B.MT)., R.M., W.K., KP.E., J. 8., A.P.C., “Barnacle,” 8.W.T., J. G.M., N.G., R.E. The above solvers receive twenty marks. [We Invite communications on oik matters concerning chess. Solutions of problems, garnet, and analyses will receive our attention, and it o( lufllcienl merit will bo inserted. All communications to be addressed. “ Chess Editor,” • Evening Star.’] THE PROBLEM TOURNEY. Solutions lo problems Nos. 1,778 and 1,779 will bo published in next week’s ■column. Tourney problems will be continued on January 5, 1929. SOLUTIONS TO ‘EVENING STAR’ PROBLEM TOURNEY. Problem No. 1,776: Key move, P-Q 7. Problem No. 1,777: Key move, Q-K R 4. PROBLEM No. 1,780. By William Meredith. Black, 7 pieces.

White, 7 pieces. While to play and mate in two moves. 8; 2I!5; 8; IBklkfcS; K2KtP3; p6q; pPkt3rl; 3Q4. In praising Meredith as a master of economy, I am surely contributing no startling or original statement; but look tho problem over carefully. Every mate is pure, and three are models, while the slight preponderance of Black force makes tho position a pleasing one. CHRISTMAS CHESSLETS. This is tho shortest game that can bo played at chess. P-K 3 with Black and P-K B 4 with White give the same result : 1 P-K Kt 4 P-K 4 2 P-K B 3 Q-R 5 mate The following is probably the shortest match game on record. This game occurred in the Breach national tourney of 1924; 1 P-Q 4 Kt-K B 3 2 Kt-Q 2 P-K 4 3 P s P Kt-Kb 5 4 P-K It 3? Kt-K 6 (a) 5 Resigns (a) Threatening to win the queen or male in two moves. If 5 P s Ivd...Q-R 5 ch; ti P-Kt 3... Q x P mate. An impossible posilion tor a first-class player to find himself in; and yet most players at some time in their career make remarkable oversights. A KICK BREVITY. A Scotch Gambit played in Vienna. 1 P-K 4 P-K 4 2 P-Q 4 (a) Px r 3 Kt-K B 3 (h) Kt-Q, I! 3 4 B-K B 4 (c) B-B 4 5 Castles P-Q 3 (d) ti P-B 3 P x P (e) 7 Q-Kt 3 Q-K 2 ti) 8 Kt x P Kt-B 3 SI B-.lvt b Castles ID Kt-Q 5 Qx P (c) 11. B x Kt Kt-R 4 .12 Kt-K 7 ch K-R I (li) 15 Q-B 3 (i) Resigns (a) Now centre game. (b) Now Scotch game. (<■.) Now Giuoco Piano. (d)° Avoiding tho dangers lo (be. Max Range attack, which arises after 5...Kt-B5; 6 P-K 5. (c) Better to play B-K Kt 5. The text accelerates White's development.. (f) Lcpschulz played Q-Q 2 and K Kl-K 2 with success against Marshall. (g) Speedily fatal. At tho Budapest tourney, 1896, I’opicl played Q-Q 1 against Gbarousck. (h) If 12... Q x Kt; 13 BxQ,Kt x Q; 14 B x Kt with advantage. (i) Surprisingly decisive. NEW ZEALAND CHESS CONGRESS, 1928-29. The thirty-eighth tournament to decide tho chess championship of Now Zealand, which became vacant on January 16 last through the death of Mr A. W. 0. Davies, is scheduled lo begin in the Education Beard’s offices, in Mercer street, Wellington, at 10 a.m on Boxing Day. The executive of tho Wellington Chess League, of which Mr S. Eaulkuor is hon. secretary and Mr F. J. Brookor is chairman, lias been busy for some weeks past collecting funds lo meet all expenses connected with this championship event, ami generally in makiuir arrangements to ensure its being successfully carried out. In the event of Mr J. A. Moir being ably to represent tho Auckland Chess Club, there will, it is understood, ho fourteen entries, tho remaining thirteen being as follow D. I. Jones (Auckland), L. Pleasants and K. .0. Scott (Wanganui), P. Kummer (Masterton), A. W. Gyles and Edwin A. Hicks (Wellington), Ernest E. Hicks (Ngaio), F. K. Rolling and W. J. Fairburn (Wellington Working Men’s Club), E. H. Sovorno (Nelson), Rev. A. Miller (Westport), J. W. Buchan (Otago;, and J. A. Erskino (Melbourne). It will therefore not be necessary to resort to section play, there being sufficient time for a full-round tourney. In this event tho prizes would, in accordance wan the association’s rules, ho awarded under tho “ Sieger ” system, (ho prize money being divided by those who score over 50 per cent, of their games und in proportion as their individual scores exceed the 50 per cent. As tho present tourney docs not mark any special occasion, and is consequently not one of exceptional importance, there will be no occasion to specially increase the first prize arrived at under the ‘’Sieger” method. A few comments on the competitors by our chess correspondent will ho of interest at this juncture:— . Mr J. A. Mo’ is a very gifted player who has several times held tne championship of the Auckland Chess Club. This year he and Mr D. I. Jones (tho other Auckland nominee) have tied for that honour. The result of the play-off is being looked forward, to with considerable interest by the dominions numerous enthusiasts. Mr L. .Pleasants is an cx-champion of the Wanganui Chess Club who qualified for tiie finals’ at tho Auckland Congress two years ago. He was unable lo compete at the Christchurch Congress last year. He has latterly resumed tho composing of chess problems with success, his contributions to the ‘Otago Witness’- having been very favourably commented on by that paper's band of solvers. Mr R. V. Scott (Wanganui) is a deaf player, who is showing much promise. He bus lately been holding his own with tho club’s champion (G. Fisher) and es-champion (L. Pleasants). The Masterton Club has a very capable representative in Mr Paul Kummer. His record in telegraphic and interclub matches is a very fine one, and he further enhanced it during the Labour Day week-end by scoring a meritorious win from Mr A. W. Gyles at board one in the annual Wairarapa v, Wellington fixture. Tho fact that he gets such a few opportunities for practice (Kuromerstein is thirty-two miles fromMostorton) makes his good showing the more creditable. Ho is in every way a worthy successor to his cousin, F. Kummer, whose retirement from congress play is, it is hoped, only temporary. New Zealand chess would undoubtedly be the better for his return to the arena.

Mr B. H. governs (Nelson) is another tery iflimd ajii juasistent perfonper, H« nearly

always secures a good place in Iho prize list, and has more Hum ouco narrowly missed winning tho dominion championship. His knowledge of “ tho books" is probably not surpassed by any other competitor. His many friends will assuredly expect him to once more occupy a high placo on this occasion. Rov. A. Miller (Westport) formerly resided in Auckland, and held tho championship of the Auckland Chess Club for one year. He has taken part in four ■ congresses, and ImA won three prizes (including ono brilliancy prize). Ho moves rapidly and plays a dashing typo of game that gencixdiy attracts the spectators lo his tabic. In chess attack may not always ho tho best defence, but Mr'Miller probably finds it useful never to lose sight of this maxim. Mr J. W. Buchan (Otago C.C.) is an cxVictorian, who has only competed on one previous occasion—viz., at Christchurch six years ago. His play, though strong at times, lacked the nolo of evenness I hat is bo essential to success. This was doubtless duo to his inability to get practice. (fie was then a teacher at Tapanui, and is still residing there.) Mr J. A. Erskine, who is the only competitor from Australia, was born in Invercargill on January 29, 1872. Before making his home m Melbourne he was a student at Canterbury College, whore ho gained his M..V. degree with much distinction, flaying at the Auckland Congress two years ago, he took second prize with the good tally of seven wins and four draws, Ho can therefore he relied on to sot a high standard on this occasion.

Tho live Wellington competitors arc all well known. Mr A. W. Gyles is the present holder of the Wellington Leagues 11 champion of champions " title. He has been runner-up for the dominion title no fewer than seven times, which explains why ho is sometimes jocularly dubbed “ Hardluck Gyles.” Earlier in the present season he was not scon at his best, but his present form is so good as lo encourage the hopo (hah tlio door will thus open iu response to Ids knock His “ second tiring,” Mr Edwin A. Hicks, also has a splendid record in congrosses, local tourneys, and telegraphic conIcsls. Ho has not taken part in this year’s club tourneys, but tho good form that he showed in the recent telegraphic matches makes it plain that lie is not ‘‘rusty." His &msin, Mr Ernest E. Hicks, once move represents tho Ngaio Club. He made an excellent first appearance at the Wellington Congress of five years ago, his fine play in the middle game enabling him to quality for tho finals ahead of Messrs A. Miller, P. Kmmncr, H. J. Armstrong, E. E. Eelling, Dirk rihl, and W. J. Eairburn. Ho now reappears in the championship arena after an absence of three years. Six months ago ho was not doing himself justice, but his friends will be pleased to know that he is at the present time right back to form. Mr F. K. Kelling, on the other hand, is not now shaping as well as he did earlier in the season. He has attended twenty of these congresses, and has won sixteen prizes, which record includes threo brilliancy (or elegance) prizes and two “ best recovery ” prizes. His “ second string,” Mr W. J. Eairbum, is now competing for tho sixth time. Ho spent tho first eight months of the present year in Christchurch, and secured second prize in the championship tourney of the Canterbury Chess Club, His friends consequently expect him to continue his ascent of the New Zealand chess ladder.