CHESS

Evening Star, Issue 20310, 19 October 1929, Page 5

CHESS

[Conducted by L.D.Q.] The Otago Club meets for play at the rooms, Hannah's Buildings, 24 George street, every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday evening, at 7.30 ’ o’clock > ' TO CORRESPONDENTS. F.K.K. (Wellington).—Papers received. Thanks. C.J.P. , (Sydney).— ‘ A.C.K.' to hand. Thanks. ■ T.J.R. (Dunedin). —Your .welcome lettci to hand, The solutions in question are correct, ' and' are now included in the total marks. Your continued interest in the chess column is appreciated. W.A. (Maori Hill). —Thanks for contribution, which includes a number of fine compositions. : Dr C. (Portobello). —Thanks for letter. Correct solutions to problem's Nos. 1,855 and-1,857; received from S.S.M., J.G., T.J.R.,' R.M., Pawn; Black Knight, W.T., R.M., Dr C.. D.H., J. 8., E.E., T.M.G., J.C., W.A., Gambit. J. 8., T.J.W. [We invite communications on all matters concerning chess. Solutions of problems, games, and analyses will receive our attention, and if cl sufficient merit will be inserted. All communications to be addressed “ Chess Editor,” ‘ Evening Star.'] SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. No. 1,856, Kt (K 4)-B 6. No. 1,857, Kt-Q 1. THE 'EVENING STAR’ SOLVING ■ ; TOURNEY, No. 2, . PROBLEM No. 1,860. , ' , By„Be.v. J. Jespersen. Black, 6 pieces.

White, 9 pieces. White to play and mate in two moves. Ktlbs; SQIK; 4Plpl; 3Pklbl; 1B3RP1; ; 7P; 4kt3; 78. THE ‘EVENING STAR’ SOLVING ' TOURNEY, No. 2. PROBLEM No. 1,861. By T. Salthouse. Black, 3 pieces.

' .’White,:? 8 pieces. White to play and mate in two mov««.. 8; IPPIkPPP; lktKKtKtkt-2; 8; 8; 8; G; 3. THE WORLD’S CHAMPIONSHIP. The latest papers to hand from New York give the result of the first four games for the world's championship title between Bogoljubow (challenger) and Alechin ' (defender). Each player at this stage had one win, and two games were drawn. The fifth game was adjourned at the fortieth move, the champion (Alechin) having won a pawn, and is holding the preferable position. This “ thirty game match,” which is being played in different cities, is expected to finish about the middle of November. The writer hopes to include in the chess column at an early date a number of the championship games which are creating such world-wide interest. THE LADY CHAMPION. Miss Vera Menchik, of Hastings, who won the world’s lady championship without losing a game at last year’s London congress, has added further laurels to her crown by winning the major open tourney at the Cheltenham Easter congress,, although opposed by such strong opposition as Dr S. Smith (at one time a competitor in the British championship), and E. Macdonald, both of London. She Won her first six games, and agreed to a draw in the final (seventh) game; thus making a score of 6£. Macdonald was second, with 4-g. Below we give one of .her games -—French Defence.— White, Dr S. F. Smith; Black, Miss V. Menchik. 1 P-K 4 .P-K 3 2 P-Q 4...... P-Q 4 5 Q Kt-B -3...... K Kt-B- 3 4 P-K 6 (a) K Kt-Q 2 5 Q Kt-K 2 P-Q B 4 6 P-Q .B . 3 Q Kt-B 3 , 7 P-K B 4 Q-Kt 3 8 Kt-B 3 P-B 3 (b) 9 P-K Kt 3 (c) P x Q P (d) 10 B P;x P P x P 11 B P x P B-Kt 5 ch 12 Kt-B 3 Castles 13 Q B-B 4 (e)......8-K 2 (f) 14 Q -R-Kt 1 (g) P-Kt 4! 15 B x P K Kt x P! - 16,’Kfc. x Kt (h)...-...8 x B 17 Kt x--Kt P x Kt 18 Q-Kt 4 (t) P-K R 3 19 P-K R 4...... P-K 4 (j) , 20 Q-K- 2;....,P x P 21 P x 8......8-B-4 (k) 22 Q-R 5,P x Kt 23 Q,x P (1) Q-K 6 ch 24 B-K 2 Q-Q .7 ch . 25 K-B x R ch ’* 26 K-Kt 1..:;..Q-K Bch • 27 K-R 2 Q x B ch (m) >23 ;K-R 3:..,..8-B, 4 ch ; ' 29 K-R 4...... Q-Ki 5 mate (a) Although /at one lime favoured by Steinitz, this variation is now regarded as inferior, as White’s centre will sooner or later be broken up by P-Q B 4 and P-K B 3. . . (b) The key move to Black’s counterattack;’' ' (c) Suggested by Alapin. The alternative is P-Q R 3, to prevent P x Q P, followed by B-Kt 5 ch. ' (d) At Pistyan, 1912, Duras v. Spielmam continued 9...8-K 2; 10 B-R 3, P-B 4; 11 Castles, Castles; 12 P-K Kt 4, and White won. It seems that Miss Menchik improves on that "game. , , ,(e)' If 13 B-Kt 2, Kt (Q 2) x P.'; 14 P x Kt! Kt x P, with good position equivalent for the sacrificed,material. (f) Veyy,;;fine,play; attacks the Q Kt P, and threatens P-K' Kt 4, with its splendid continuation! ’ _. (g) . Woyprefqr Q-Q 2, as it gives protection to, K B 2 as well. . (h) If 16 P x Kt, B x B; 17 Kt x BP Q-B 7 mate (i) ' Probably as good as anything, but not good, enough. ; The inability of White’s King to find shelter is fatal. (j) Giving White no time to capture .the B. His best reply was Q-R 5. (k) . Threaten?, Q ■ R r K. 1, ,

(l) Threatens Q-R 8 ch, etc., but White’s threats never get time to come off. (m) A little neater was 27... R-B 7 ch; 28 K-R 3. Q x R ch'; 29 K-Kt 4, B-B 4 mate. ALECHIN’S DEFENCE. The following game, which is both of theoretical and practical interest, was rplayed in the seventeenth, round of the /international tourney at 'Moscow, 1925: White, Iljin Gencwski; Black, R. Rcti. 1 P-K 4 .KLKbV 2 P-K 5 Kt-Q 4 3 Kt-K B 3 P-Q 3 (a) 4 P-Q 4 B-Kt 5 5 B-K 2 Kt-Q B 3 ■CPs P (b) Q x P - 7 Kt-Q E 3 (c).,,...Castles (d) ' ' 8 Kt x Kt......Q x Kt 9 B-K 3 P-K 4! 10 Px P (e) B x Ft! 11 Px B (f) Q-R 4 ch! 12 B-Q 2 Qx K P 13 P-B 3 (g) B-B 4 14 Castles......K E-K 1 15 8.-Q JB 4 (h) Q-K B 4 *.v ; 16 P‘Q Kt '4 .Kt-K 4 (i) •i 17 B-K'2,.8-Kt 3 18 P-K B 4 Q-Kt 6ch 19 K-R 1 Q-B 3 ch 20 K-Kt 1 (j) R-K 3 21 B-R 5 R s B 22 P-Kt 5 (k) R-Kt 3 ch 23 B-Kt 4 ch Kt x B White resigns (1). i5 , v (|.)J.;;P-,Q ,B an alternative, worth ■’considering. •■'•■■■■ • ■ (b) Opinions are divided as to tho merits of this move. Many prefer to play 6 P-B 4, Kt-Kt 3 first, for then after 7 P x P, Black must play 7... P x P, as the recapture by 7... Q s P is out of tho question because df the reply 8 P-B„5, Tartakovcrj however, gives 6 Castles as best. •(c) A better procedure is P-Q B 3, preceded or followed by Castles. :',((!) Black gets his forces quickly into action. ■■■•'■ , ' V , J .'(e) This makes; his .game very difficult. Even now Castles-, is payable; and probably best. ' if) For if 11 B x B, Q-R 4 ch;l2 B-Q 2, Q X K P ch, and Black -wins .the Q Kt P. (g) Q-B l.is better. (h) If 15 B-Kt 5, B x P ch. (i) Black’s every move tells. Now R x B threatens. (j) If .20 P-B 3, Kt-Kt 5. - ■ .■;(k) Tf 22 Q -x B, R-Kt 3 ch;'23 B x R, Kt-B 6 ch etc! .(I) If 24 Q X ;R or P x Q, Kt x B P Ch-, and mate follows. An extremely forceful’'game:bn Reti’s part. „TilE FASCINATION OF CHESS. •r-in';last week’s column the . writer asked a;few questions as to “why chess is so fascinating?” and requested readers to give the subject their attention, and that answers to the various questions would be welcomed. Following are the questions, and answers to this all-important query. Perhaps our readers will be enabled to arrive at some conclusion by perusing them:— (a) Is. it because one has adopted it as the principal indoor .pastime, and as a ' relaxation from "more strenuous activities? Possibly—yes. Any hobby that, is taken up enthusiastically exercises a certain amount of fascination over its devotees, and providing that one is blessed with a certain amount of continuity, that same fascination will last for a r ood long time. So it. is with chess, but the fascination for the game of chess becomes lifelong. (b) Is it because of its great historical value handed down from generation to generation as the years go by? The fact of it being a time-honoured game would weigh a good deal with some people, but not with all. (c) Is it because it has been the pastime of world-famed people and leaders in their different, spheres? To some, the fact of its having been played by people of world renown would tend to, make it more interesting, but to the ' great majority of players this would carry very little weight. (d) Is it because of the competitive spirit, or the desire to win or excel? To many this rea.son would bo quite sufficient, as there is no doubt, that the desire to; win or excel is at the back of ati games, in : a greater or lesser degree. The thrill experienced by a player when ho can ” mate in two ” or when he escapes from a critical situation would certainly add :c th* fascination of the game. ic) it because one feels that here is a game worthy cf all that is said about it,' &nd cepahta <;■! transporting its fol!ort«r~ to Om heights of intellectual superiority ? This v*owdd ako appeal to the beginner at chess- f i hero are .few other games that ara us beneficial to the brain as tins one is. From a mathematical point of view, many would also be attracted towards it.

(f) Or is it because it is chess and that in it we find relaxation from the more strenuous “ pastimes ” of living and blessed forgetfulness of most of our cares and worrie-,—that by becoming a devotee to its charms we thus automatically enrol ourselves in a huge army of enthusiasts throughout the world, forming a great brotherhood of people, with but one single purpose —the practice of chess? Whatever the reason may have been for our taking up the study of chess, tho fact of becoming a member of the above-men-tioned “ brotherhood ” is perhaps not ta! n into consideration until one has become a chess player for a certain time. Then one begins to realise how really nice it is to meet brother-enthusiasts wher ever one may happen to be, with just that singleness of purpose—the practice of chess; to be qualified enough to talk on chess oneself ; to be able to take a keen interest in chess doings, and to be amongst kindred spirits whenever the opportunity presents itself. Need we go any further in our quest towards finding out the reason “why chess is so fascinating”?