CHESS COLUMN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9172, 29 September 1888, Page 4 (Supplement)

CHESS COLUMN.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

H. Bettany.— 1. Certainly, with much pleasure. 2. An excellent suggestion, but one for which matters are as yet scarcely ripe. Colonial chessplayers are—as such— very conservative body.

PROBLEM No. 847. (By T. Tavek.nkr, Bolton.—From Pen and Pencil, in the Australasian.) Black.

White. White to play and mute in two moves. PROBLEM No. 847. (By B. G. Laws.—From Yenowine's Netvs.) Black.

White. White to play and mate in three moves.

From the Canterbury Times of September 14, we note that a telegraphic chess match between the Timaru and Dunedin Clubs was commenced on Saturday evening last. Nine players were engaged on each side, namely :—Timaru : Messrs. G. Bolton, W. J. Wood, W. T. Mason, W. Hassall, R. R. Taylor, S. Snushall, W. E. Kinnerney, D. Virtue, E. and H. Campbell. Otago .- Mr. A. J. Mouat, Dr. Stenhou&e, Mr. W. S. Angus, Dr. anless, Dr. Fitchett, Messrs. B. Thorp, Denniston, Mander, and Irwin. Play was continued from 7 p.m. till midnight, when the state of the boards indicated that Dunedin would be victorious, three or four games being evidently in their favour, two in favour of Timaru, and the rest'even. Some mistakes were made by Timaru players, who have been accustomed to the numeral notation, having to go back to the old notation, and misdesenbing moves. Mr. Perrin unpired at Timaru for Dunedin, and Mr. North at Dunedin for Titnaru.

Auckland Chess Association Handicap.—The play-off in the final between the winners of the four sections into which the 64 competitors were divided has been somewhat protracted by the many calls upon the players to stand to their colours in interclub matches and special club handicaps. There is now, however, only one game to be decided, that between Messrs. Young and Brockeibank, which the latter need but draw to obtain chief honours. The game at present stands adjourned, and is distinctly in favour of Mr. Young. Mr. Brockeibank, who conceded the odds of a Knight, opened the game in an altogether extraordinary manner, allowing his opponent to force the exchange of queens on the fifth move ! In the event of the game falling to Mr. Young, a deciding contest will have to take place, as the following table shows : —

The winners of the consolation prize in the four sections were Messrs. E. Hosking, 4a ; F. D. Woodrotfe, 3b; W. Munro, 1; F. Shaw, 5. Mr. Thomas Sexton has finally determined not to enter the lists at the Melbourne Congress. Mr. W. A. Ridings has accepted the invitation of the Auckland Chess Association to represent it at the drawing to take place at the Canterbury Chess Club on the 2nd of October. This drawing is to determine the order of rotation in which Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, or Wellington shall have the arrangement of the Annual Champion Tourney of New Zealand. In the September number of the Chess Monthly the proprietor offers the Chess Monthly to the secretary of any chess club who may regularly furnish information of the club matches, etc., beginning with Vol. X. (October, 1888-9). A highly successful conversazione passed off on Thursday evening at the Rooms of the Association, when the large attendance showed the interest such a programme is apt to call forth. The main credit of initiation and successful issue are mainly due to Mr. E. J. Falkiner, hon. sec. Ponsonby Chess Club, to whose untiring energy the great assistance of Mr. Ashton must have been a welcome addition. But to whomsoever praise be due, it may be lavishly offered in recognition of the efforts made to popularise the game. The following account of the evening's proceedings is the Herald's report of yesterday : —" A chess conversazione took place last evening at the Auckland Chess Club's rooms. The proceedings were remarkably successful. The conversazione opened with the sparkling overture " King of the Gnomes," performed by an orchestra under the leadership of Mr. Arthur Eady, after which the blindfold aud simultaneous chess play commenced. Mr. Brockeibank engaged six players sans voir, Messrs. Ryder ana Munro being engaged in playing six each simultaneously over the board. Mr. Brockeibank won one game, and had the advantage in most of the others, which were of course unfinished in the brief time during which play took place sans voir. This was a remarkable feat, considering the interruptions through the musical items. Mr. Ryder won four out of the six games played, and Mr. Munro won four and a-half games out of tho six games played. Mrs. Bell played against Mr. Munro, whilst Mrs. Ryder played against Mr. Ryder. The second musical item on the programme was a pianoforte solo, a charming morceau, by Ascher, brilliantly performed by Miss Carrie Wright. This was followed by a merry little song, " The Donkey-cart," by Miss White, which was deservedly applauded. A zither solo, by Herr Heinritz, proved a most welcome novelty to the audience, and secured an emphatic encore. The next musical item was a selection by the orchestra from the " Cloches de Corneville,"capitally rendered. This was followed by a humorous recitation in character, by Mr. T. L. White, entitled "A Burlesque on the Battle of Dorking." This amusing item was inimitably given, and deservedly applauded. The orchestral fantasia, " The Bridal Rose," was rendered with great taste. The " Coquette Galop" brought the reunion to a close. A very pleasant and .agreeable evening was spent. Mr. Brockeibank leaves for Melbourne on Wednesday to represent Auckland at the Melbourne Chess Centennial Congress, and will carry away with him the good wishes of all lovers of " the royal game." This conversazione is said to be the only one of the kind which has yet taken place in the colony.

*,* Communications for the Editor of this column must be addressed "Chess," P.O. Box 191, Auckland.

I i I [ I Winner. ; Class, j A i B | C | D Section A Brockelbank 'Scratch' — ! X j 11 01 !!!! B Young 3C j 0 — t 01 j 11 CTvIden 4a J 00 | 10 , — | 10 1 ' ' D Cozens 3b I 10 i 00 i 01 ! -