CHESS

Evening Star, Issue 21880, 17 November 1934, Page 4

CHESS

[Conducted by D.H.H.] Tin dingo Club mrets lor play at the rooms, Mlbrll Out) tings Sluan slriel. every Monday Wednesday, and .Saturday evening, #1 7.311 o’clock. Visitors arc ..ordially invited to attend, and by r.-ging tip 22-646 a •angemcnis could be made (or a game any alternoon and evening, as the rooms are open to both club ««")”• «nd visitors X any time. TO CORRESPONDENTS. F.K.K. (Wellington).—Thanks for interesting letter. . \ W.P, (Kelburnl. —Cuttings received. R.E.H. (Auckland).— Thanks for interesting notes. R.O.S. (Whangarci) . Usual column to. hand. A .O.G. (Christchurch). According to latest advice, there seems to bo no probability of Dr Alekhine visiting Australia and New Zealand this season. H.S.T. (Dunedin) and T..T.W. (St. Hilda). —2,255: Black B-K 4 will stop male m two in your solutions. T.J.W. (St. Hilda).—Assume your solution to 2,257 has been wrongly transcribed. SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. 2,257: Q-B 4. 2,258: Kt-Kt 4. CORRECT SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. 2,257; J.J.M. (Musselburgh). T.J.W. (St. Hilda), J.A.C. (Mornington), W.A.M. (Dunedin). E.A.L. (Invercargill). 2 268: J.A.C. (Mornington), V A.M. (Dunedin), E.A.L. (Invercargill). SOLUTION TO END-GAME. [Unknown author,] 1 I>-R 5!,’ P x P ('f -P-Et 4; 2 P-K 5, P v K P; 3 P-R 5 and wins); 2 P-K 5, p x K P; 3 P-B 5, P x Ht P; 4 P-B 6 and wins. PROBLEM 2,259. |By A. Kempt.] Black, 7 pieces.

White, 9 pieces. White to play and mate in two moves. 8; 3p2bl; 2p81P2; kt 7; p2kPP2; RIU2K2; QKtPS; 8. PROBLEM 2,260. [By A. Adama.] Black, 5 pieces.

White, 7 pieces. White mates in three moves. 3B1K12; 3b4; 8; 2Ktpk3; 6pl; IP6; 2Q2P2; 3K2ktl. “ BENONX COUNTER-GAMBIT.” Played in August, 1934, at Maribor, Jugoslavia. White, J. Rejfir; Black, Dr T. Drczga. 1 P-Q 4 P-Q B 4 2P x P (a) Kt-Q B 3 (b) 3 P-Q B 4 Kt x P 4 Kt-Q B 3 Kt-B 3 5 P-K Kt 3 P-K Kt 3 6 B-Kt 2 B-Kt 2 7 Kt-B 3 Castles 8 Castles P-Q 3 9 Kt-Q 4 (c)......R-Kt 1 10 P-Kt 3 B-Q 2 11 B-Kt 2 Q-Kt 3 (d) 12 B-K 1 Kt-B 5 13 Kt x K( B x Kt 14 Q-Q 2 (e) B-Q 2 15 Q R-Q l.—K E-B 1 16 P-K 4 Kt-Kt 5 (f) 17 P-K R 3 Kt-K 4 18 K-R 2 P-Q R 3 19 P-B 4 Kt-B 3 20 Kt-B 3 B x B 21 Qx B B-K 3 22 Q-B 1 Q-B 4 (g) 23 P-B 5! P x P 24 Q-R 6! Px P (h) 25 Kt-Kt 5 Q-K 4 26 Qx P cli K-B 1 27 Kt x B ch P x Kt 28 R x P Q-Kt 7 29 Q-Kt 6 Resigns /’ Notes. (a) The strongest is 2 P-Q 5, with Kt-Q B 3, P-K 4 and P-K B 4 to follow. (b) Much simpler and better is 2...P-K o, regaining the pawn and transposing tho game into an ordinary variation ot the Queen’s Gambit. , ~ (c) Black has decidedly the worst of the development, White firmly controlling bis 6 5, Compare this position with the variations of the “ Dragon,” Sicilian Defence. _ (d) This is definitely weak, as Black s best chance of freeing bis game lies in opening another file with P-Q Kt 4. For example, here might have been tried 11... O-B 1: 12 R-K 1, B-R 6; 13 B-R 1, Kt-K 3; 14 P-K 4, Kt x Kt; 15 Q x Kt, Q-B 4; 16 Kt-Q 5, K R-K 1, etc.; or a similar manoeuvre with the Q Kt, followed by P-Q B 3, Q-B 2, or Q-R 4. ■ (e) And once again Black is forced to lose a move. . ~ (f) Better was 16... Q-B 4; the exchange of B's which Black is now trying to force is to bis disadvantage, as it leaves him with a weak K’s side. (g) Here be is almost forced to play P-B 3, as both P-K 5 and P-B 5 are throat--0"(h) If 21... P-B 3; 25 Kt-Kt 5, P x Kt; E>6 Q x B ch. K-R 1; 27 R-Q 5, Q-B 7; 28 R-K B L and should win without much difficulty —' Social-Chess Quarterly.’

QUEEN’S GAMBIT. From a Brazilian Tourney. While, C. Puleherio; Black, Dr O. Cruz. 1 P-Q 4 P-Q 4 2 Kt-K B 3 Kt-K B 3 3 P-B 4 P-K 3 4 Kl-B 3 0 Kl-Q 2 ,S B-Ki 5 P-B 3 6 P-K 4 (a) P x K P 7 Kl x P B-K 2 8 KL-B 3 (b) Gail lei 9 B-K 2 (c) Q-B 2 10 Castles H-Q 1 (cl I U Q-B 2 P-Q Kl 3 12 Q R-Q 1 B-Kt 2 .13 R-Q 2 P-B 4 (e), 14 P-Q 5 P. iP.

15 P x P P-Q, R 3 16 K R-Q 1 Kt-K 4 17 Q-B 5 Kt (B 3)-Kt 5 (f) 18 P-Q 6 (g) R x P (h) 19 Kt x Kt R x R (i) 20 Q x B P ch K-R 1 21 Kt xKt (j) RxR ch (k) 22 B x R B-Q 3 23 Q-R 5 (I) Q-B 3 24 Kl-K 3 (in) Q-K 1 25 Q-R 4 B-K 4 (n) 26 B-B 2 P-Kt 3 27 B-B 6 ch Resigns (o) (a) Invited by Black's last move, which is alow and probably inferior to B-K 2. (b) White for choice; he has more freedom of movement, (c) Many players would prefer B-Q 3, with Kt-K 5 in dne course. (d) Weak. The R has small prospects on this file, from which the White Q in any ease intends to move. (e) Aii attempt to open things up. It is the best chance, and fails gloriously. (f) The position is highly critical. Black's main threat is Kt x Kt ch, bringing his Q to boar on the K HP. (g) A strong rcplv, clearing the air. (h) B x P; 19 B x R, Kt x Kt ch; 20 B x K and wins; Black cannot continue B x P ch, leaving White’s Q B defended. (i) Or Kt x Kt; 20 Q x Kt, P-B 3; 21 B x B, P i B; 22 Q-Kt 3 ch, and R x R to follow. (j) After all these complications wo see that White lias two minor pieces for a R and a useful attack on Black’s IC B, which is pinned against the Q. (k) There is also R x B; 22 Kt x R, Q-B 3; 23 P-B 3. B x B; but then comes 24 E-Q 7, a double threat of Q x P mate and R "x B. (l) Exchange of Q’s would make a win for White very difficult. (m) Not B-B 3, Q-K 1, when Black will either exchange Q’s or get rid of the White K B, his chief enemy. After 25 Q x Q oh, R x Q White would have a mating threat to attend to. (n) There is nothing to he done. In spite of all Black's efforts, B-B 2 cannot be stopped. P-R 3 would merely provoke 26 B x P, P x B; 27 Q x P ch, K-Kt 1; 28 B-Kt 3 ch, (o) Mate (or loss of the Q) follows in a few moves, accomplished by Q and B. SICILIAN GAME. (From the British Championship at Chester.) White, Sir George Thomas: Black, G. S, A. Wheatoroft. 1 P-K 4 P-Q B 4 2 Kt-Q B 5 (a) Kt-Q B 3 3 P-K Kt 3 P-K Kt 3 4 B-Kt 2 B-Kt 2 5 P-Q 3 P-K 3 6 B-K 3 Kt-Q 5 7 Q-Q 2 Q-R 4 8 Kl-B 3 Kt-K 2 9 Castles K P-Q 3 10 Kt-K 1 B-Q 2 11 P-B 4 R-Q Kt 1 12 Q-B 2 P-Q Kt 4 (h) 13 P-K 5 (c) K Kt-B 4 (d) 14 Kt-K 4 Q-Kt 3 15 P-B 3 Kb x B (e) 16 Kt xQP ch K-K 2 17 Qx Kt Kt-B 3 18 Kt-B 3 K R-Q 1 - 19 Q R-Q 1 P-Kt 5 20 Kt-Q 2 Px P (f) 21 Kt (Q 2)-B 4 Resigns (g) (a) The usual P-Q 4 development is given a welcome rest. Wo get a game of fairly free strategy, in which alertness is at a premium. (b) Ho should castle, preventing White’s P-K 5. (c) Strong, threatening to win a P. (d) Possibly the Q Kt, which lacks a good square after ' White’s fifteenth move, would be the better one to play to B 4. Sir George would probably continue 14 Kt-K 4, with pressure on the Q B P; not P x P, Kt x B, when 15 Q x Kt' would be forbidden by B-Q 5. (e) If Kt-B 3; 16 Kt i Q P ch, Kt x Kt; 17 B, x P and 18 B x Kt. (f) Kt-R 4 is necessary. Mr Wheatcroft is not in his best form, that is evident. (g) Q-Kt 5; 22 P-Q R 3, Q-Kt 6; 23 Q x P, and the game is practically over. LENGTH OF PROBLEMS. A problem’s length is measured by the number of moves in which mate has to be given, and a problem is known accordingly as a “ two-mover ” or a “ threemover,” etc.; or, more shortly “ two-ers,-' ” three-ers,” etc. The most popular lengths at the present day are two-ers and threeers. Four-movers are also not uncommon, and five-movers are occasionally met with; but direct mate problems of greater length (though once popular) have gone out of fashion, as they do not lend themselves to tlio artistic requirements of modern composition. Long sui mates, however, arc often composed and meet with considerable favour. The longest problem, without special conditions or restrictions, hitherto attempted is a sui mate in 423 moves, by W. A. Thinkman, which was published in the February, 1907, issue of the ‘ British Chess Magazine.’ ‘ Terms and Themes,’ Blackburne. AUCKLAND NOTES. The championship tourney is now drawing to a close. It looks as though Mr J. Buchan, formerly of Dqnedin, may win the club championship this year, although the last year’s winner, who lias completed all his games, with a total of 13 may remain the winner. It is between these two, as A. Pickett has lost ground a little. Mr C. A. Langaboer has beaten the threo leading players—Messrs Jones, Buchan, and Pickett—in succession, an almost unprecedented event. An interesting end game thereafter resulted with R. E. Baeyertz, who is fourth in the tourney, when Langafieer had a Q Kt pawn supported by his K on the sixth rank, just after Baeyertz queened a pawn, Baeyertz succeeded in edging his K towards that of his adversary and mated him. The position would be a win for the player with the Q, however the other player played. An endeavour is being made to interest (be secondary schools in the game. The head master of King’s College, Rev. H. K. Archdall, lias signified his willingness to assist in every way, and other colleges are being approached, and' a successful issue is hoped. Several members arc agreeable to pay for chess tuition in Auckland, and an official, who cannot be rightly called a professional, as the term is unknown in chess, 1 understand, has been appointed by the club for this purpose. Already a fee has passed, so it looks as though enthusiasm is increasing. The club also has several new members to its credit. [The idea of a professional tutor for young members ami school classes is an excellent one, but New Zealand clubs are rarely in the financial position to guarantee the necessary expense.—Chess Editor.] A start is being made in the matches for the Auckland and Suburban Challenge Cup, competition for which is open to all and helps to keep the interest in the game keener in the summer months.—Own correspondent. WELLINGTON NOTES. The tourney for the chess championship of the Wellington W.M. Club and Literary Institute was concluded last week, when the fourth play-off game ended in favour of F. K. Kelling (he and Beyer had previously played three drawn games). The names engraved on this club's championship shield will therefore be as follows: —1929, F. K. Kelling; 1930, J. Lindsay; 1931, K. Beyer; 1932, F. K. Kenning; 1933, S. Faulkner; 1934, E. E. Hicks; 1935, F. K. Kelling. WANGANUI NOTES. The chib championship is now nearly finished, with Pleasants leading Fisher by half a point. The former has four and the latter one game to play. As neither of these players is able to go to Christchurch E. O. Scott, a former champion of the club and its representative at Dunedin last year, is the nominee.—Travelling corrospon dent, OTAGO CHESS CLUB. The following arc the leaders in tin chib's annual tourneys:—Club champio . ship: W. Lang, 12 wins, 2 draws, 10 game to play; R. Watt, 12 wins, 1 draw, 2 lossc--15 games to play; A. J. M’Dermott, 1 wins, 3 losses, 12 games to play. B gradi W. Herbert, 11 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss; < Ahern, 7 wins, 2 draws: D. Langley, I wins, 1 draw, 1 loss. Handicap tournament: E. P. Evans, 9 wins, 1 draw,' c losses; Williamson, 9 wins, 1 draw, 5. losses; W. Herbert, 6 wins, 7 losses.;

NOTES. In last week's column H. J. Armstrong ,vas credited with having been four times president of the Otago Chess Club, whereas ,t should have been stated that lie was enior champion of the club four times;iz., 1912, 1914, 1915, ami 1936. ’ ... The following further nominations arc tnmd for the forthcoming 1934-35 chess eo" ;rc.-s, which is being held in Christchurch '—Wellington Working Men's Club, I'. b ’selling and K. Beyer; Wellington vSout’ C.C., J- L. Hardy; Ngaio C.C., E. 1/ Hicks. It is understood that A. W. Gyle: and K. J. Dyer will represent the Wellington C.C.J