CHESS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 16, 2 January 1912, Page 3

CHESS.

THE NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIP. SAT-ERDAY’S RESHLTS. ■ ETH LOl X D. ! Play its tins roui.it continued, 1 when’tl ■■ *'-• mes ’ es v - Efieks ar/ ’Griersmi . -Uas-s ' .iw/i. kbie < . A: ■ W-Cag w;., -m- ; flli'Ni. ■*■ Grierson u - .iuw7 Wason p>; <-?. . —The opening was the queen’s gambit, declined. Mason defended with the pawn to queen s bishop s fouith variation on the third move. Pawns were exchanged to Grierson s disadvantage. Mason getting three pawns for two. By rapid development Grierson got compensation for the lost pawn, instituting a strong attack on black's queen, which led to his winning back the pawn on the 2oth move, with two bishops against bishop and knight. Careful play on both sides ended, after a series of exchanges, in the players being left with three pawns each on the king s side ami bishops of different volmils. and a draw being inevitable it was agreed to on the 42nd mov e. adjourned games.

Saturday afternoon and evening were devoted to the completion of adjourned games which, through being stubbornly contested, requn ed a third sitting. Kelling was a part) to no less than four of these. He evidently play s cricket and chess ou similar lines, as in Wellington cricket this season he has batted seven times and been ■’nG out <’ ll h' e

occasions. Hicks beat Kelling (adjourned from first round), Kelling beat James (adjourned from second round), Jourdain and Jones played a draw (adjourned from second round), Hicks and Janies played a draw (adjourned from third round), Jourdain and Miles played a draw (adjourned from the fourth round), Hicks (white) v. Kelbng (black).— This game required another hour’s play. Hicks gained a second pawn and through the medium of good rook play forced the win of a major piece, his opponent resigning at move 51, This was Kelling’s first defeat.

James v. Kelling. —The latter resumed with the advantage of the exchange, but the position for a long time proved itself an extremely dangerous one for both players. Move 51 saw Kelling gain a pawn, both kings being exposed to attack. A fourth sitting was necessary in the evening, a long duel ensuing between Kelling’s two rooks and three pawns against Janies' rook, bishop and three pawns. It was not till the SI st move that the force majeure prevailed. This is, so far. the longest game of the tourney, but is ■ moderate” compared to a ladder game of 135 moves recently contested between these two old friends for rung five on the Wellington Chess Club s ladder, Jourdain (white) v. Jones (black). --This game was resumed on Saturday afternoon. As both players had five moves to make in a few minutes a si i 'os of checks took place which resulted in an exchange of queens, when the game was given up as drawn. Jourdain (white) v. Miles (buaik), On the resumption of play in this game Jourdain hail two rooks, a knight and three pawns, while Miles hail look, two bishops and live pawns. Jourdain was able to force

the exchange of rooks, and later <>f ’il-bop for knight, which gave him d;- gerous passed pawn, for which , Min s was compelled to give up his I: cm-liniiig bishop. Interesting play • oliowed. but Miles avoided the many pitfalls which Jourdain pre pared for him, and emerged with king and three pawns against rook and king. Neither player being able to foie? the -position a draw was inutually agreed upon. YESTERDAY’S PLAY. The tournament was continued yesterday, when four games in the sixth round were completed, the other two being unfinished. The following are details : — Jourdain boat James,. Hicks beat Connell. Jones beat Gyles. Sainsbury and Miles played a draw. The games Mason v. Severne and Killing v. Grierson were unfinished.

Sainsbury (white) v. Miles (black). —Sainsbury played the Flax Lange attack in the Scotch gambit and kept Miles busy for twenty odd moves. Good play on the latter’s part resulted in a slackening, of the oressute and a counter-attack was instituted on Sainsbury’s forces. White, to sa\o himself, had to force a draw by perpetual check. Jones (white) v. Gyles (black). — Wliite opened with queen’s gambit, which black declined. The game continued on regular lines until the tenth move, when black needlessly attacked white’s bishop at knight’s fifth. White replied with pawn to rock’s fourth, a quick development which gave him a vigorous attack. To save the immediate position black offered a series of exchanges, which left him with a piece and two pawns down. A mating position was worked by wliite. and to break this black would have required to sacrifice another piece, so he resigned on the 35th move.

James (white) v. Jourdain (black). James opened with the queen’s gambit, which was declined. The game continued on book lines tor sametime till James made a weak move with a knight, which enabled black to get the attack- James sacrificed a knight for a pawn, but he was unable to sustain the attack, and he resigned on the 50th move. Hicks (white) v. (..'onnell (black).— After the luncheon adjournment Hicks played very cautiously throughout the end game and worked his three pawns up the board, succeeding in gaining two queens anil checkmating (.’onnell. The game laster 5 hours, and each player made 91 moves.

Mason (white) v. Severne (black). -Scotch gambit. The opening promised a lively game, hut after Severne had forced one or two exchanges it began to assume a ''drawish ’ aspect. At the evening adjournment Mason had managed to woik up an attack which threatened to win a pawn. Otherwise the positions were equal. Rolling (white) v. Grierson (black). -The latter adopted the Sicilian de fence and soon had an attack, from which, however, only an even but vciy interesting and enjoyable game Resulted. Although the second sitting was -■ -xL-rided half an hour torganic i' still until>ished, and w it require to be got off later o.n, as opnor; ! .i;.’’.v offers. SEVI-x’T.H ROUND. Tin- f.jlliwiiig ww, the draw Ur the seventh lotuid, which began after the evening adjournment:—Gyles v. James. Jourdain v. Mason. Severne v. Killing, Grierson v. Hicks. Miles v. Jones, Sainsbury v. Connell. None 1 of the games had been finished when the evening session closed. The following are the official comments on the games in the seventh round as they at present stand : — Gyles (white) v. James (black). — An Albin’s counter gambit in which both sides had a difficult game from the 1 start, although black still kept the attack, and a passed pawn. At the adjournment no decided advantage appeared on either side. Grierson (wliite) v. Hicks (black). --The latter defended with the centre countcf' gambit. Grierson, after a little difficulty in the. opening, got an excellent attack, winning three pawns, but overlooked a. chpek, losing his bishop. He has queen, rook and six pawns to his opponent’s gsen, rook, knight and three paWSBS r which leaves a good deal of jo&f-.in the game still, Severn^?!white) v. Kelling (black).

—The latter adopted the Caro-Kann defence and got a cramped position in the early stages. Subsequent exchanges freed his game somewhat, and it is difficult to say what the outcome will be. It is now mainly a struggle between Kelling's bishops and Severne’s knights. The two queens and four rooks are, however, also on the board.

Jourdain (white) v. Mason (black). —Queen’s gambit declined. Mason won a pawn early in the game. The position is very interesting, Sainsbury (white) v. Connell (black). —Sainsbury hail white and Connell defended with the centre counter game. Very even play resulted for thirty moves, and the position stands adjourned at an interesting stage. Miles (white) v. Jones (black), — Miles played the Buy Lopez attack which Jones defended with Berlin defence. On the fifth move Miles advanced his pawn to queens -1 which Jones captured with his knight. Miles then pushed on his pawn tc kings 5 which gave Jones a cramped game for several moves. On the 23rd move Miles won a pawn and the game was adjourned a few moves later, Miles having a slight advantage. I THE POSITION. I i At the close of play last night the | position was as follows : — Plaje-.1. Won. Lost. Dr’a n. Pts,

Gvles 6 4 2 0 4 Hicks 6 3 1 •2 4 Grierson 0 "> 0 XJ I Mason 4 3 U 1 o.' Jourdain 6 2 2 3 Severne .. •T I 1 o Miles 0 1 2 J 2.' Sainsbury 6 1 ■; 2 Kelling ■■ 3 2 I 0 2 Jones .; fi 1 2 iJ a Jansen Si i> !5 s i J (’onnell .. 5 J 4 0 i”