CHESS COLUMN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8472, 24 January 1891, Page 4 (Supplement)

CHESS COLUMN.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. [Solutions should be sent in by noon of Friday at latest.]

An original problem from " Rook" has been received, which will be examined. No. 990.—Answers received from "Book" and "Frank."

No. Solved by "Rook" and J.H. PROBLEM.— are quite right; in No. OSS the " It" was a misprint for " K." Your other remarks are also correct, though after the key-move the variations are obvious.

. PROBLEM No. 992. (By A. F. Mackenzie, from the " Poetry of Choss.")

Black, i pieces.

White, 12 pieces. White to play and mate in two moves.

AUCKLAND CHESS CLUB.

The following are the full scores to the '21st inst. in the Club Championship tourney at present being played at this club :— Won. Lost. Won. Lost. Ashton .. .. 10 1 Watkins .. »i s Malcolm ..11 2 Johns .. .. 31 41 White .. ... 9£ 2J Falkner.. .. 4 6 Purcbas .. 4 l Humus .. .. 7 10 fiorrio .. .. 9 4 Tamiuadge ..4 0 Woodroffe .. OJ 6.J Robson.. .. 3J CJ Quintal.. .. 3* 'JJ Hosking ..5 1) Jowitt .. .. TJ 6 J La wry .. ..2161 Young .. .. 01 -i| Porcival .. 6 10" Nlom.iu.. .. 6 G Keats .. ..1 li Means .. .. 6 7 Lennox.. ..0 7 Cozens .. .. 5 6

It will bo seen that Mr. Ashton is ab present top score and Mr. Malcolm second, but as there are still a large number of games to play, the positions may be very greatly changed before the close. The competitors have lost a dangerous opponent in Mr. White, who has this week gone to Sydney and is not likely to be back in time to finish the tourney. There has been considerable surprise expressed at some of the elder members, who have always been looked upon as the stronger players, scoring so badly in this tourney. On the other hand, some of those who have been considered the weaker players have been doing very well. THE NEW ZEALAND CONGRESS. The following game was played between Mr. R. J. Barnes, the winner of the championship, and Mr. A. M. Ollivier, one of the Christchureh representatives. The game is a very interesting one, and full of complicated positions (Weekly Press) :— French Defence. White. Black. (Mr. A. M. ollivier, (.Mr. R. J. Barnes, Canterbury.) Wellington.) 1 P to K 4 P to K 3 2P to 4 ' Pto<i i ! 3 Kt to QB 3 P tikes P (a) 4 Kt takes P B to K 2 5 Kt to K 15 3 Kt to K B 3 (i Kt to kt 3 q, to Kt Q -J 7 B to Q 3 P to i} B 4 S PtoQB3 Q toB •_» 9 Castles P to y Kt 3 10 U to K sq B to Kt 2 11 Kt to K 5 P takes P 12 P takes P Kt takes Kt 13 P takes Kt Kt to O. 4 (b) 14 K to Q 2 Q to B 3 15 Pto 3 (c) Bto B4cb 16 K to It st| Castles 17 It to K 4 (d) P to Q B 4 IS R to K 11 4 P to B 4 19 P takes P en pas. Kt takes P 20 Q to B 2 Q takes P (e) 21 15 takes P eh (f) K to B 2 22 B to K 4 B takes B 23 Kt takes B (g) Q to B 4 24 R to B J Q to It 4 (h) 25 P to K Kt 4 (i) Q to 4 4 •26 P to K; .=> K to K 2 •27 P takes Kt ch P takes P •2S B to B 3 P to B 4 •23 It to Q sq Q to Kt 2 30 B to Kt 7 It to B 2 31 to B 3 K toKsq(K) 32 B to R li 1' takes lit 33 (J to It S eh (1) B to B sq 34 B takes B R to K R2 35 Q to K 5 P to K li, dis. ch 3ti kt M Ktsq Q to B.j 37 B to R 3 Resigns. Time—lhr sSmin. 21us 20aun. Notes. (a) This is quite an original more of Mr. Barnes'. Kt to K B 3 is the usual move here. (b) Q to B 3 would have led to an interesting game here, and is possibly belter than the move in the text. However, the game is a very interesting one at this stage. (c) We should have preferred B to K 4 here, (d) The initiative for an attack on the castled king. (e) Very pretty. Of course White cannot play P takes (}, or Black mates with B takes P. (f) Also well played regaining th- pawn. (g) It was subsequently pointed out that Mr. Ollivier could have won his opponent's Qbylc takes B. This proves to be correct, but a close analysis shows that I'.lack could at least, set a 11 and Kt for it, and would then have such an attack that the game would be very ooen ; i.e., 23 It takes B. Q takes Kt: 24 P takes Q, Kt take- It ; 25 It to B sq ch, Kto K 2. Apparently the only Way for White to save the game now is 2<j R takes R.'lt tabus It: 27 Q takes Kt, It to R <,q ch ; 2s (J to It 4, R takes Q; 29 l J takes It, and Black has an equal if not I superior game. i (h) A bad move which, loses a piece. I (i) Taking immediate advantage of his opponent's error. |

(k) Black still dare not capture the Kfc or he would lose the game. 0) Regaining the piece and forcing the game. The following table shows the complete score of the Congress: — Name. ' 2 5 % J'2h? d'-j § " J^ R. J. Barnes .. .. —j1; 1! 1 1 lil 0 !110 7 2 G. Bolton .. .. | 0 j— ; 010 ii 01 liOjl 3 0 W.Brown .. . . !ojll—lioU ;0l!0 IU 3 0 ,1. Edwards .. .. j01 1 0— 0 A] 0 Ijojo 1\ CJ 11. Hookham .. ..Oil 111 —10 11 1!0 6* 3 A.J. Uttlejohn ..]0 ill I.JO—; 100 1 1 4j44 .1. .Mount .. .. 0 Uj 1 1 1 o.— 0; (j 0 ,'l" B" A. M. Ollivier.. .. 1 0 0 0 0 1' 1 — 11 l 5 l T. Sexton .. ..1 0111101.1 lo—jo 5 4 F. Siedeberg .. ..110 11101 Oil!— 6 3 lI|II | I I ' The first prize, trophy of the value of £20, '.von by K. J. Barnes, of the Wellington Club. Second prize, value £7 10s, won by F. G. Siedeberg, Otago Chess Club. The International Chess Magazine states that a match was to be commenced in December between Messrs. Steinitz and Gunsberg. A historical set of eleven chessmen was recently bought by the Scotch National Museum of Antiquities. In IS3I a high tide in the bay of (Jig, Island of Lewis, disclosed a beehive chamber of dry stone masonry about 15ft deep in a sandy dune. The superstitious digger, rinding a company of elves or gnome*, threw down his spade and fled in dismay, but returned with his wife and brought away the ninetytwo beautiful sculptured walrus - tusk figures, most of which are now in the British Museum. They are probably of Celtic origin and 600 or 700 years old. The price paid for the eleven pieces was 100 guineas.—Baltimore Sunday News. In the city of London Chess Club winter tournament there are 12 sections of 12 players, each making in all 144 players. The November Chess Monthly states that the medical advisers of Captain Mackenzie urge him to take a long sea voyage to Australia. A testimonial is on foot, promoted by some of the amateurs in England and Scotland, to provide the cost of the recommended journey. A remarkable incident occurred at the Manhattan Chess Club during a simultaneous chess exhibition by Mr. Steinitz. The champion was about to make his nineteenth move in a game with Dr. Marshall, of San Francisco, who was one of his opponents. Dr. Marshall claimed, however, that it was his turn to play. " You are mistaken," replied Mr. Steinitz, " it is my move." Dr. Marshall submitted, but after six more moves refused to proceed, on the ground that he had been deprived of a move. Mr. Steinitz asked him if he had kept the score of the game. Dr. Marshall replied in the negative. Mr. Steinitz then set up the pieces in their original positions, rapidly repeated the moves to the point at which the dispute arose, and proved that he had been right.