CHESS

Evening Star, Issue 21718, 12 May 1934, Page 22

CHESS

[Conducted by D.H.H.] The Otago Club meets for play at the rooms, Allbel] BuiHings. Stuart street, every Monday Wednesday, and Saturday evening, at 7.30 o’clock. Visitors are cordially invited to attend, and by rtrging up 22-040 arrangements could be made (or a game any afternoon and evening, as the rooms are open to both club' members and visitors at any time. TO CORRESPONDENTS. W.H. (Anoerson’s Bay),—Thanks for notes. B.C.M. (Wellington).—Obliged to you for welcome news rc F.K.K.’s progress. A.E. (Roslyn).—Thanks for trouble taken over analysis. W.A.M. (Dunedin). —Information supplied is correct. CORRECT SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS, 2,201: W.A.M. (Dunedin). • 2,203: J.A.C. (Mornington), J.S.M.L. (Dunedin), T.J.W. (St. Kilda), J.J.M. (Musselburgh), R.S.M’D. (Roslyn), E.A.L. (Invercargill), A.E. (Roslyn), W.A.M. (Dunedin). 2,204: W.A.M. (Dunedin), J.A.C. (Moruington). Solutions to end game, by Dr Newstadtl: — A.E. (Roslyn), J.S.M.L. (Dunedin). Problem 2,204: The majority of solvers sent in Kt-R 5, overlooking the fact that Black B-Kt 1 stops the mate in three, overlooking the fact that no matter where White moves B-Kt ch stops mate in three, as the Black knight covers that square. SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. 2,203: B-Q B 6. 2,204: Q-K 6. Solution to End Game by Dr Newstadtl:—! Kt-K 6, R x P; 2 P-Q 7, R-Kt 1; 3 Kt-B 7 ch, K-Kt 2; 4 Kt-K 8, R-Kt 4 ch; 5 K-B 4, R-Kt 5 ch; 6K-B 3, R-Kt 6 ch; 7 K-Q 2, R-Kt 7 ch; 8-K-K 3!!, R-Kt 6 ch;' 9 K-K 4, R-Kt 5 ch; 10 K-K 5, R-Kt 4 ch; 11 K-K 6, R-Kt 3 ch; 12 K-K 7, and wins. PROBLEM 2,205. [By W. N, Stewart.] Black, 9 pieces.

White, 9 pieces. White to play and mate in two. bSktr; 384; 2p2p2; P4Kt2; 2plktlßl: KlkB3Q; 3pP2B; 8. PROBLEM 2,206. ” [By F. A. L. Kusop, Wellington.] Black, 1 piece.

White, 6 pieces. 3KIK3; 8; 1R1B4; 3k4; 2R5; 8; 3P4; 8. END GAME. [By Rev. Saavedra.] Black, 2 pieces.

White, 2 pieces. White to play and win. 8; 8; IKPS; 3r4; 8; 8; 8; K 7. SALO FLOHR. The Czechoslovakian master was again first in the Hastings Congress, leading Alekhine himself. The position that follows comes from a recent match between Fiohr and the young Russian champion, Botvinnik, which ended in a draw of two wins each and eight drawn games. Tho. encounter had the special interest of measuring the Soviet chess talent, which is being intensively cultivated, against the finest young player in the rest of Europe. White (Botvinnik) : K on K 2; Kt’s on 1 B 3, Q 4; P’s on Q R 3, Q Kt 4. Q 5, B 2, K Kt 2, K R 3. Black (Fiohr): f mi K B 1; B’s on Q Kt 2, Q 3; P’s on • R 4. Q Kt 4, K B 2,4, K Kt 3, K U 2. i.y continued thus:— 1P x P 2 Kt (B 3) x P P x P! 3 Kt x’B P-R 7 4 Kt-B 2 B,R 3 ch 5 K-K 3 K-K 2 6 Kt x P (B 7) K x Kt 7 K-Q. 4 (a) B-B 8 8 P-R 4 B x P 9 K-B 5 P-B 5 10 Resigns (b). (a) If P-Kt 3, K-K 2 and will eventually win the Q P. (b) Black wins by advancing bis K side P’s. the Kt being tied down. White can achieve nothing with his Q P, for P-Q 6 allows K-K 3. QUEEN’S PAWN. (From the British championship, Hastings.) White, T. H. Tylor; Black, W. Winter. 1 P-Q 4 Kt-K B 3 2 Kt-K B 3 P-Q Kt 3 3 Q Kt-Q 2 B-Kt 2 4 P-K 3 P-K 3 - 5 B-Q 3 P-B 4 6 Castles Kt-B 3 7 P-B 3 B-K 2 8 Q-K 2 Castles 9 P-Q R 3 (a) Q-B 2 10 R-K 1 P-Q 4 11 P-K 4 (b).,....Q P x P 12 Kt x P P x P 13 P x P (c) Q R-Q 1 (d) 14 B-K 3 (c) Kt x Kt 15 B x Kt B-B 3 16 Q-B 2 P-K R 3 17 Q R-B 1 R-B 1 18 Q-Q 2 K R-Q 1 19 B-Kt 1 Q-Q 2! 20 Q-Q 3 (f) Kt x P 21 Kt x Kt R x R (g) 22 Q-R 7 ch K-B 1 23 Q-R 8 ch K-K 2 24 Kl-B 5 Resigns (h)

(a) A subtlety of the Tylor-Collc System, to prevent. Kt-Q Kt 5 after clearance of the P centre. (b) Timely, as Black himself threatens P-K 4. (c) White has prospects on the K side to set against the isolated Q P. (d) If K R-Q 1, possibly 14 Kt-Ki with the threat of Kt x Kt ch, B x Kt, B x P ch.- If 14... P-Kt 3; 15 Kt x B P, K x Kt (Kt x P, 16 Kt-R 6 ch); 16 Kt-Kfc 5 ch, K-K 1; 17 Kt x K P, and should win. (e) Tho temptation of Kt x Kt ch, B x Kt (P x Kt is also playable); 15 Kt-K 5 had to be resisted. Black can open up a safe defence with Kt x P; moreover Kt x Kt; 16 P x Kt, B x K P is quite good, as White cannot recover his P by 17 B x P ch, K x B; 18 Q x B, Q x Q; 19 R x Q. RQ 8 ch! (f) A gamble: the alternative K R-Q 1, to hold the Q P, would allow Kt-K 2, and if 21 Kt-K 5, Q-Q 4, with advantage. (g) Allowing Mr Tylor to bring off a pretty mating combination. B x Kt would retain the extra P in safety. (h) P x Kt, 25 8-B 5 mate.—‘ Times ’ Weekly Edition. THE CAPRIGIOUSNESS OF COMBINATION. [By V. Soultanbeieff, in ‘ L’Echiquer.’] Translated for the ‘ Evening Star ’ by E.A.L., Invercargill. How often have 1 been the victim of ray penchant for combination? The following position “in my game with Colle, 1923, Belgian championship tourney,” is a particularly painful memory, as the game was decisive for the title:— r3blnl; ppq3bk; 3pß2p; 3PplpF; 6QI; P2P4; IPP2RPI; 2K2E2. 1 was playing the White side, and had mated the simple win by 29 B x Kt, K x B; 30 Q-K. 6 ch, K-R 2; 31 R-B 7, B x R; 32 R x B. Q x R; 33 Q x Q, winning tho Q for E and B. Unfortunately (!), having a lot of spAre time, I wanted to win elegantly. 1 played 29 Q-K 4 ch, K-R 1; 30 R-B 8. The point in my combination (30 R-B 7) would still have won; 30...8 xR;3IR xB, B-N 31! This beautiful move gave me the effect of a cold shower. 32 B x K (best), B x Q; 33 P x B a complete reversal of the position. It is Black who has won the Q for R and B. Let us be practical and not tempt the Goddess Caissa. The simple road is the surest way to victory. To terminate this short article I give the following exhibition game:— Soultanbeieff v. Courtans, Vise, 1951. 1 P-Q B 4 P-K 5 2 N-K B 3 ‘.N-K B 3 3 N-B 3 P-Q 4 : .4 P-K 3 B-K 2 5 P-Q 4 Oastles 6 B-Q J P x P 7 B x P P-Q B 4 8 Castles P x P 9 P x P Kt-B 3 10 Q-K 2 N-Q 4 , 11 R-K 1 N x N 12 P x N B-Q 2 13 Q R-N 1 P-Q N 3 14 B-K B 4 B-K B 3 15 N-K 5......8 x N 16 P i B N-K 2 17 Q R-Q 1 Q-B 2 18 B-N 5 B-B 3 Now, by playing 19 B x N, Q x B; 20 R-Q 6, White could have obtained an appreciable advantage in position, but the demon of temptation urges them on to the following combination: —19 Q-Q 3, Q B-Q 1; 20 Q-Q 6. A very piquant Q sacrifice, but probably unsound. 20. ..R x Q; 21 P x R, Q-B 1; 22 P x N, B-K 1; 23 R-Q 8. This was really what tempted White in their combination: —23... Q-B 2; 33 B x P ch, K-R 2; 34 P-R 5, B-Q 2; 35 B-Q 5, B-B 3; 35 B-B 7 drawn. The position by its purity of construction resembles an artistic study. In spite of their material advantage, Black cannot win. If 36... Q xRP; 37 B-N 6 ch, K-N 1; 38 R x R ch, B x R; 39 B x B, etc.; if 36... R x P?; 37 R-R 8 mate, and it Black tried a waiting move—i.e., 36... P-Q R 3 then White would answer with one also, 37 K-Kt 1.

(Concluded.) THE MAGIC BOX. [By A. G. Gardiner.] When I feel angry With life and am tempted to revile it as a failure, I make it a rule to go over its balance-sheet and then I cheer up. I find after all that I have a noble balance at the bank—enormous credits of joy and pleasure that have made the adventure rich and splendid; the pageant of Nature, sunlight and song, mountain and sea, tho green of spring, and the gold of autumn; the mystery of love and the divine gift of friendship; the treasures of the eye and the treasures of the mind, books and music, pictures, and the noble works of men’s hands; play and laughter and all the pleasant appetites of the senses. And in this grand stock-taking. Chess! Why, it was almost worth the adventure of life to make that discovery alone. If I had not been born I should not have played chess. What other answer is necessary to that querulous complaint against life? In this grand kingdom of the mind all are free, all equal, all happy. For the price of a dinner you may purchase a magic box that will spirit you away on adventures more wonderful, more inexhaustible, than all the tales of the Arabian Nights. Battles you shall have as heroic as any fought on “ the plains of Windy Troy,” ambuscades that hold you breathless, plots and counter-plots, mines and counter-mines, stubborn fights around one faithful pawn—the brave fellow, lonely but unafraid, who holds the bridge against the foe as Horatius held it in the brave days of old. Bring up the reinforcements, then. Unsheath the shining sword. A knight, a knight, my kingdom for a knight! But, hark, the tramp of the massed battalions of the rooks. Is it Grouchy? Is it Blucher? Hurrah! It is Blucher who is first in the field —grand old Blucher, glorious old Blucher, cheers for old Blucher! Now, then, “Up, guards, and at ’em.” Life not worth living? Life a failure? Nonsense. Here, my son, bring out tbe chess men. I’ll try the Evans Gambit on you.

OTAGO CHESS CLUB. The entries for the 1934-35 tourneys, which closed last Saturday, are far in excess of the number received in the last previous ten or twelve years. They are:— Club championship 11, B grade 12, handicap tournament 24. Playing in the tournaments has commenced, and will conclude on February 23, 1935. The championship rook, won by Mr J. B. Dunlop, of the Otago Club, is now on view at Arthur Barnett’s shop, George street. The consensus of opinion amongst tho Otago chess players is that the handicaps dealt out by the Match Committee for this season's handicap tournament is according to tho respective players’ playing strength. The first prize, of course, for the winner of this match is a handsome set of travelling chessmen. The oil painting entitled the ‘ Chessmen,’ one of the collection now on view at the Early Settlers’ Hall, is being viewed by many visitors to the gallery in a humorous vein. Chess players, of course, notice the keen spirit of rivalry that has been engendered between the respective players over the game, which has obviously developed to a very interesting stage. The Eastern apparel and physical deportment of the spectators is also very interesting. —Supplied by the hon. secretary. NOTES. The result of the international team problem solving tourney, 1933, was:—l, Spain, 1,786 points; 2, Great Britain and Germany (equal), 1,746 points; 4, Denmark, 1,741 points; 5, Austria, 1,728 points; 6, Holland, 1,715 points. Then follow Latvia, Norway, France, India, Esthonia, Sweden, South Africa, and Finland. —‘ Australasian.’

Mr L. D. Coombs is endeavouring to make arrangements for a problem solving tourney, to be held in the Otago Chess Club's rooms, on the lines of the 'Good Companion ’ competitions that were held some years ago. The matter will be dismissed at the committee meeting, to he held this evening, when the date for the event will bo fixed.

All the. chess players in Ihe dominion will regret that Mr Fedor K. Kelling, popularly known as “The New Zealand Chess King,” has had to go to Lister’s Hospital, Abel Smith street, Wellington, to undergo an operation. One and all sympathise with him, and wish him a speedy recovery. Since the above was written word has

been received from Wellington that the operation was successful, and Mr Rolling's many friends will he pleased to bear that lie is doing very well, being able to receive visitors.