CHESS NOTES

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6552, 8 March 1928, Page 10

CHESS NOTES

The committee of the Palmerston North Chess Club wishes to encourage the study of the technique of chess by its members and players generally, gad, with this object a lecture on "Some Rook Endings” was delivered by the honorary secretary Mr. A. Whitaker at Monday’s meeting in tho Broadway Lounge. How to make with a rook, to win with two rooks against one, and the niceties of play required, both in attack and defence, where a rook is opposed to a lone pawn, or a pawn assisted by another rook, was explained and illustrated I over tho board. The speaker had a 1 very appreciative audience, who asked numerous questions, and on the motion of the president, Mr. A. Stewart, he was accorded a very hearty vote of thanks, with a request that the address should be supplemented in the near future. For several years past Easter has been looked upon by the local club as the beginning of its year, a match taking place during that holiday between its members and a team of Wellington players. This fixture .is again being arranged, and it was unanimously decided on Monday, to invite the Wellingtonians to visit Palmerston North, Manawatu players able to take part are urged to inform tho secretary as early possible, to ensure their inclusion in tho home team. A Fine Endgame.

The following was one of the endgames quoted to illustrate the play of rook and pawn against rook. White: king at KSI, pawns at KB 7 and QES. Black: king at KEG, rook at KE7. Black to move. White Black 1. E—S7 ch. (a) 2. K—Bl E—S5 3. P—B (b) K—QBS 4. E—QBB K—S5 (c) 5. K-K2 K—B4 6. P—E6 K—B3 (d) 7. K—Q3 K—S2 S. K—B3 K—E3 £». K—S3 K—E4 10. K—S4 E—EB 11. K—S3 , E—S3 ch, 12. K—BG E—BS ch. 13. K— B7 E—SB ch, 14. K—E7 (e) K—S2 15. E—SB E—QEB 16. B—SB K—B2 17. K—S7 and wins easily a. To drive WK on to same file as P, else 2. P—Q wins out of hand. b. Not P—Q, as E—Bs ch. 4. Q—E stalemate I Don’t “promote” unthinkingly, c. To prevent P—EG, P—E7 and E checks, followed by P—Q. If now 5. P —EG blacks drawns with K—B6 threatening mate. d. Not K—K3 because of 7. P—E7, K—Q2, 8, E—KEB, EP 9. E—E7 ch. winning the rook. BK must stand on KS2 or EE2 to avoid this, and his threat at move 4, gained the move needed to reach these squares.

e. A refuge from tho checks! and the reason why tho P was not advanced sooner.