CHESS

Evening Star, Issue 22893, 26 February 1938, Page 6

CHESS

[Conducted by D.H.H.] Th« Otago Club meets (or play at the rooms, Capitol lluilclings, Princes street, every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday evening at 7.30 o’clock. Visitors arc cordially invited to attend, and by ringing up 00-6-40 arrangements may be made for a game any afternoon or evening as the rooms are ocen to both club members and visitors at any time TO CORRESPONDENTS. (We incite cominunic itions on all matters concerning chesc Solutions of problems, games, and analysis will letei-o our attention, and il of .uflicienl merit will be inserted. All communications to be addres-ed “Chess Editor, ' ‘ Evening Star.') H.J.C. (Wellington).—Obliged for Australian clippings. F.K.K. (Wellington).—Thanks for reports, etc. A.W.P. (Kelburn).—Thanks for newsE.A.L. (Invercargill), F.K.K. (Wellington). —Conveyed yoyr congratulations to Burns Cup winner and recipient is much obliged. J.A.M’D. (Greymouth).r-2,594: Q-Kt 3 is wrong, as R-K 4 stops mate in three. Hope you will persevere with three-movers. H.H. (Sydney).—Thanks for letter, news gossip. CORRECT SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. 2,595: W.A. (Maori Hill), A.W. (Dunedin), E.A.L. (Invercargill), A.E. (Roslyn), J.B.D. (Dunedin), J.A.C. (Mornington), W.A.M. (Dunedin), A.J.M'D. (Mornington), R.M‘D. (Roslyn), J.E.D. (Dunedin), J.J.M. (Musselburgh), T.J.W. (St. Kilda), King (Tiraaru), O.P.W. (St. Clair). 2,596; W.A. (Maori Hill), A.W. (Dunedin), W.A. (Maori Hill), E.A.L. (Invercargill), W.A.M. (Dunedin), J.A.C. (Mornington), A.E. (Roslyn), A.J.M'D. (Mornington), R.M'D. (Mornington), King (Timaru). SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. 2,595: QiP. 2,596: Kt-K 6. If 1... P-Q 6; Kt x P (B 4). If 1... Kt-Kt 6; 2 Kt x R P. If 1... R x Kt; Q-Kt 7. The long-range interferences anticipating pins of the Kt at R 4 and B 4 are effective.

PROBLEM 2,597. (By John L. W. Lillia.) Special Prize, ‘ Ajam Sana,’ 1932, Black, 9 pieces.

White, 11 pieces. Mate in two moves. Xr6|2pß2ktb|q7|hsßl| Kt2P3QllPlklP2(2Ktplß2l 5 B kt 1 K 1 PROBLEM 2,598. ’ ("Author Unknown.) Black, 3 pieces.

White, 6 pieces. White to play and mate in three moves, b7IPP 018 | 8 7it|oßl |6Kt 1 | 4RI b k PBTROFF DEFENCE. While, F. E. A. Kitto'(Camb. Un.); Black. P. S. Milner-Barry (Stock. Ex.). 1 P-K 4 P-K 4 2 Kt-K B 3,.;...Kt-K B 3 3 P-Q 4 (a) Kt x P 4 B-Q 3 P-Q 4 5 Kt x P B-Q 3 6 Castles Castles 7 P-Q B 4 Kt-Q B 3 (b) 8 Kt x Kt (c) P x Kt 9 P-B 5 B-K 2

10 Kt-B 3 P-B 4 11 Q-R 4 (d) B-Q 2 12 B-K B 4 B-B 5 13 Q R-K 1 P-Kt 4 (e) • 14 B-B 1 Q-K 1 (f) 15 Kb x Kt (g) B P x Kt 16 P-B 3 P i B (h) 17RxQ K R x R 18 R-Q 1 R-K 7 19 K-B 1 Q R-K 1 20 Q-Kt 4 (i) B-B 1 21 Q-R 4 B-Q 2 22 B-Q 2 (j) P-Kt 5 (k) 23 P x P (1) Q B x P 24 Q x B P (m) R (K 7)-K 3 25 Q-R 4 B-K 7 ch 26 K-K 1 (n) B-R 5 ch 27 P-K Kt 3 R- K B 1 (o) 28 B-B 4 R x B 29 K-Q 2 B x R 30 Q x B R-B 7 ch 31 K x P B-Kt 4 32 Resigns (p) (a) Recommended by Steinitz, world champion from 1866 to 1894, as a refutation of the Petroff. But the general belief of modern investigators is that Black can hold Ins own. (b) Superior to the old P-Q B 3, which was too defensive. (c) Or P x P, Kt x Q P; 9 B x Kt, B x Kt; about level. (d) For quick Q side development, but I incline to giving the intrusive Kt a dig by P-B 3. If then Kt x Kt, 12 P x Kt solidifies White’s weak Q P. (e) Black takes the initiative. (f) Or simply Kt x Kt; 15 P x Kt, P-B 5 (s) Belter, B x Kt, and then P-B 3. (n) A promising sacrifice of the Q for R and B, made plausible by the lack of cohesion in the White pieces. (i) Threatening R x P. Black counters neatly, with the intended resource of B-R 3; bub B-B 4 was more correct. (j) Q-Kt 4, B-B 4!; 23 Q-R 4, R (K 7)K 3, with excellent prospects. (k) Breaking up the unhappy home. (l) There is nothing belter, P-B 4 introducing R (K 1)-K 5. (m) If R-K 1, R-K B 1 would he a killer. (n) K-B 2 or Kt 1, B x R; 27 Q x B. Bx P ch. Black would win the ending. (o) Decisive; White must give up his B, (p) Contango Day; a good deal by Mr Milner-Barry.—‘ Observer.’ A “ Q P’* GAME. Perhaps no living chess master has done as much for modern chess as Senor J. Capablanca, and when guest of the Vienna Chess Club in 1914 his play astonished many of the strong players of that city (including Rcti). White, Capablanca; Black, N.N. 1 P-Q 4 P-Q 4 2 P-K 3 P-K 3 3 B-Q i 3 P-Q B 3 4 Kt-K B 3 B-Q 3 5 Q Kt-Q 2 P-K B 4 6 P-B 4 Q-B 3 7 P-Q Kt 3 Kt-K R 3 (a) 8 B-Kt 2 Castles 9 Q-B 2 Kt-Q 2 10 P-K R 3!! ((b) P-K Kt 3 11 Castles P-K 4 12 Q P x P Kt x P 13 P x P P x P 14 Kt-B 41! (c) P x Kt 15 B x, P ch K Kt-B 2 15 R x B Q x R 17 Kt x Kt......8-K 3 18 R-Q 1 Q-K 2 19 B-Q 7 B x R 20 Kt s B (d) Q R- B 1 21 Q-B 3 R x B (e) 22 P x R and wins (a) The real difficulty of Black’s game is his Q B. which he finds hard to develop, and it is on this point that Capablanca bases his scheme of attack. (b) A lovely move—part of the plan to seize the diagonals Q R 2-Kt 8 and Q R 1-R 8. (c) By which White secures the diagonal Q R 2-Kt 8. (d) White now threatens both Q : B 3 and Kt-B 6 ch. (e) For if Kt-Q 3 White remains, with an extra piece after Q-R 8 ch, Kt-K 5 ch, and Q x :R: If 22..,Kt-Q 1;. 23 Q-R 8 ch, K-B 2;'24 Q-Kt '7 ch, : etc.—‘Newcastle Chronicle.’ \ ————————— RUY LOPEZ. The subjoined Ruy Lopez occurred in the N. London Secondary School League. A. R.- Duff is the schoolboy chess champion of England, and 0. E. Pratt is the son of Mr B. Pratt, a well-known English chess amateur. To obtain a draw, as Black, against such strong opposition, promises well for Master Pratt. , White, A. B. Duff; Black, O. E. Pratt. 1 P-K 4 P-K 4 2 Kt-K B 3 Kt-Q B 3 3 B-Q Kt 5 Kt-B 3 (a) 4 Castles P-Q 3 , 5 P-Q 4 B-Q 2 6-Kt-B 3 P x P 7 Kt x P B-K 2 8 B x Kt...... 8 x B 9 Q-B 3 Q-Q 2 10 Kt-B 5 R-Kt 1 11 Kt-Q 5-....8 x Kt 12 P x Castles 13 E-K 1 Q B-K 1 14 B-Kt 5 Kt xP! (b) 15 Kt x B ch Kt x Kt 16 Q x P Draw agreed to (c) , (a) It is better to stick to the customary P-R 3. As‘White's next move also runs away from (he accepted line of play t perhaps it does| not matter much. (b) Enterprising—showing right thinking. (o) Unless time was the factor it is a pity the genie did not continue a few more moves. The players were just getting warmed up rto an interesting end-game.— ‘ Newcastle Chronicle. 1

SOME COMB TO SCOFF AND REMAIN TO PLAY.

The marriage of the Duke of Windsor and Mrs Simpson was nearly as startling as the abdication itself, especially among womenfolk the world over. They took an extraordinary interest in Mrs Simpson’s trousseau, and they, at least, will remember that one of her frocks was figured with black chess pawns and pieces. Now, that was a queer detail to crop up, after tho part a woman played in the epic drama that was the abdication. For, just as a woman was tho most important thing in the world, so a woman—the Queen —is the most important and most powerful piece on the chess board, that intriquing set of black and white squares that bears’ such a close resemblance to human destiny.

Nobody will deny that women do have a hand in destiny 1 And yet, strangely enough, thpre are only two women—two queens—on i tho chess board, one to each little army of kings, bishops, knights, oastlos, and pawns; and in nine cases out of ten the player who loses his queen can give the game up there and then for lost! On tho other hand, should he lose half his other pieces and retain his queen, he still has a fighting chance. That is why it was queer that Wallis Simpson, the woman for whom a King, with tho condemnation of bishops in his ears, gave up his throne," should wear a dross figured with chess pieces—and pawns. Chess is a game older than to-day’s civilisations. Judging by the way this fascinating game has in one form or another; lasted throughout the centuries, it will still be played when to-day’s civilisations are. lost in the dust of antiquity. The origins of chess are lost fn obscurity, and practically all that is known about the invention of this greatest of all games is that it probably originated in India. There is more controversy over its beginnings than there is between Scotland and Ireland over the bagpipes! Here are some of the peoples who have been awarded credit for the invention Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Babylonians. Jews, Persians, Chinese, Hindus, Arabians, Castilians, the Irish, and the Welsh. The Scots do not figure in the- picture. Concerning personalities, these men have at times been claimed as the originators of chess: King Solomon. Shem, Japheth, Xerxes, Hermes, and that wise man Aristotle. Certainly Arabia is tho source of chess as the game is known to-day in Europe. Strangely enough, some of the terms used in it come from Arabic “ check-mate,” which signifies that one of the two armies is routed, was originally “ shah mat Arabic meaning, “Tho King is dead!” Some of the other pieces, to'o, have names which flavour of Arabic.

Modern chess, however, is vastly different from the game played a few hundred years ago, ' For instance, once the king could be captured, but the rule to-day is that he can never be taken; he is cornered. And once, such a long time ago (surely even before the Garden of Edenl) the queen was the weakest piece on the board, being able to move only one _ square, diagonally, at a time, while the king could leap two or three instead of only one as is the case to-day. ■ , The pity of it all_ is that, while chess receives from its disciples the most fervent praise possible, it receives jeers from the world at large—especially the • rushing, pleasure-seeking, chromium-plated world, which regards it as a game for stuffy old men in their dotage.' On the contrary, it is a game of brilliance and intellect, where brain power is supreme, and even the most hot-headed attack cannot break through a cool and calculating deThe world may jeer; yet there are some who come to scoff, and remain—to play. (Extracts from an article in ‘ Service.’ a magazine published in Auckland.) TWO TIT-BITS OP HISTORY ABOUT ALEKHINE. Alekhine in his game against Mikenas at Kerneri absent-mindedly moved twice m succession. Great excitement! But Hans Kmoch, director of play, found it was impossible to enforce any penalty. Bogolyubov, in the course of a toast at a banquet marking tho conclusion of a tournament in which they had participated, once made one or two friendly tilts at Alekhine. , ~ So when the latter rose to reply he related a dream. ... He had dreamt he had died and was transported to the Pearly , Gates, where he encountered St. Peter, who asked him what his profession had been on earth. ... “Chess master? I am very sorry, but no chess masters are allowed in Heaven. Just as Alexhine turned away in sorrow, he caught sight of his old friend Bogolyubov sitting on a seat and already sprouting wings. “Why! 1 * he remonstrated, “Isn’t Bogolyubov a chess, master?” “ Dear me, no," replied St. Peter, Ho only thinks he is!”

NOTES. The reports in the English Press announcing Botvinnik’s victory over Levenfish were premature. They were caused by the misunderstanding of the conditions in the match, which were: The best of 10 gani draws not counting. After 10 games th score was si-4£, but as three of the games were drawn, the actual score was 4-3 in Botvinnik’s favour. The eleventh game was won by Levenfish, but Botvi - nik won the twelfth, making certain of at least drawing the match. In order t win, however, Botvinnik, who was the challenger, had to win six games while five were sufficient for Levenfish, who retained his title if the match was drawn. Levenfish won the thirteenth game in fine style retaining the title of chess champion or the U.S.S.R.—Sydney ‘Sunday Sun.-