CHESS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10425, 24 April 1897, Page 4 (Supplement)

CHESS.

TO CORRESPONDENTS. CHESS. Problem No. Solved also by " J.C.," Waitekauri. Problem No. 1321.—Solved also by "Janus' anil " J.C." Problem No. 1322.—SolTed also by "J.C.," "Janus," and "Ajax." Problem No. 1323.— by "XXX," "Nemo,'* and "S.M." SOLUTION OF PROBLEM No. 1321. white. ' Buck. IQ-K7 SOLUTION OF PROBLEM No. 1322. white Buck. 1 Kt-B6 PROBLEM No. 1324. (By Dr. J. SCIIINDI.ER). BLACK 9.

White to play and mate in three moves. AUCKLAND CHESS CLUB. There are good attendances at the weekly meetings and well sustained interest in the sectional tourney now in progress, there being lint few laggards. The soiled handicap tournoy, started at the end of last year, has been finished, resulting in a win for Mr. Heinus with 22 points, made np of 20 wins and a handicap allowance of 2 points. Only two games were lost. Mr. Davis takes second place with 20J points—l 7} wins, 3 points allowance, and 4} losses. Some of the competitors in til*- sectional tourney have played all their games, and it is expected that the event will be brought to a close about the middle of May, after which the animal meeting will take place. At present in .Section I, .Mr. Wood looks a likely winner with 5} wius, 1 loss, and one game to play. Mr. White (1-1) and Mr. Lennox (4-2) follow next in order. It would be difficult to indicate tho winner in Section 11., as already two contestants (Messrs. Jowitt and Smith) hare tied with 5—3 each, and there is a probability that one or two other players will also reach then* figures. In Section 111. Mr. Ileinus so far his the best score (4J—O), followed by Mr. Cozens (4i -11) and Mr. Young (4—2). The secretary of the Auckland Club wrote to the Wellington Chess Club requesting that arrangements he made for the playing of a match by telesraph at ail early date, The Wellington Club replied that as the annual meeting would be held shortly they were unable at present to undertake such contest. The Queen's Birthday would be most suitable for an all-day match instead of extending the struggle over three weeks as is usually the case when played on Saturday nights; it is therefore to be hope I tint both clubs will see their way to try conclusions mi ttiat day. Auckland ought to render a much better account of itself than it did in previous encounters with the Umpire City. A number of strong players have recently joined the club, among the latest accessions being Mr. Eyre of Chriitchurcli, aud Mr. Howe, of San Francisco. NEW ZEALAND CHESS ASSOCIATION. Mr. H. C. Skeet, the hon. secretary of the New Zealand Chess Association, has addressed a circular letter to the affiliated clubs, ami closes by tendering his resignation as hon. secretary of tile Association. This step tins been rendered necessary on account of Mr. Skeet's intended departure for Melbourne. It is almost superflous to say that the gap in New Zealand chess circles thus caused will be very hard to fill. During Mr. Skeet's term of office he lias filled the position more than satis, factorily. Indeed, the writer of this has had ample demonstration that Mr. Skeet not only carried out the duties ordinarily appertaining to the office of secretary, hut did an immense amount of letter, writing and other work in his endeavour to further the interests of the Association, and so stimulate the cause of chess. Mr. Skee'. has forwarded the books, etc., (if the Association to Mr. Cant, of Christchurch, hon. secretary of the last Congress, who has been requested to carry on the duties (luring tho current yoar.—Christchurch Weekly Press.

In the matter of the proposed problem tnurnament, it may lie'rmnnmberetl that as one entry only hail been received, the time fur entry was extended 10 March 31. The extended time his expired with again the stmt; result—one entry only. As there is, therefore, no competition, of coarse the tounuuient cannot take place. PII.LSBDRV V,"siioWAI,TRR. This contest, Which at Brat looked as if it was suing to be a nne-sldeil affair, has now eloped into a very keen straggle for mastery. At the end of the sixth same the score stood •—Pillsbury, 3 wins, Sliowalter 1 win, 2 draws; but the Kentucßian annexed the nest two games making the score even. Since then both combatants have been indulging in a game of seo-sa<v, each alternately winning a game, the latest news (April 3) leaving the score 7 all and 3 draws. The match is for a total stake of £400. According to tho terms agreed upon the winner was to score seven wins before his opponent gained six wins, draws not counting; in the latter event the victor must score ten wins to secure the stakes. ON'E OF POLLOCK'S TIT-BITS. The following gime is a good illustration of Mr. Pollock's method of extricating himself from an uncomfortable position Staunton's Ofenino. White, Pollock; Black, Hermann.

And White nave mate in lie moves. Black.

(a) Starting a little counter-attack that turns White's attack into a defence. (b) If 14 PxP, White loses the attack entirely. (c) The attack on both wings now becomes interesting. (d) Something must go. («) Preparing his surprise party. . (f) Which now comes off with great success. Lasker and Tschigorin are billed to play two games by telegraph between Loudon and St. Petersburg foi 1500 roubles a side, to start April 1. In the championship tournament of the Rang!tikei Club Mr. Wm. Jleldruin gained the first place with a score of 0 wins, no losses; Mr. 0..C. Pleasants scored 2 wins, 4 losses; Mr. A. Gilford, 2 wins, 3 losses; Mr. A. H. o'l.oughlin, 1 win, 4 losies. At the fourth annual meeting of the linwood Chess and Draughts Club the report stated that the club had fifty members. The receipts had been £3114s 2d, and the expenditure £28 17s 2d. The assets exceeded the liabilities by £40 3». The total number of books in the library was 257. The report and balance sheet were adopted. The following officers were elected:—Messrs. T. B. Fraser, president; J. B. Brunt, A. K. Marshall, J. U. 1,, Scott, W. A. Cooke, and W. Minson; vicepresidents ; W. A. P. Clartoon, hon. secretary; C. J. Atkinson, hon. treasurer; T, Marriott, 6. Hand!sides, W. Gee, M. S. Brown, J. Brown, H. R. smith, T. Danks, and S. A.. Longuet, committee; J. J. Dougall and A. 1,. Smith, auditors.

The champion and ei-charapion .ire both Jews, Steinitz being an Austrian Jew and Lasker a Prussian Jew. It has been noted before that many of the finest chessplayers hare been Jews, such as Zukertort, Koliscb, Harrwitz, Rosenthal, Gunsberg, I.nwentbal, Alapin, Albin, Kngiisch,. Jasnogrodsky, Tarnucb, Tauhtnhaus, Winawer, Horwitz, etc. The rules of ceremony in China are said to be 300, and the rules of good behaviour 3000. Consequently a game of chess is carried on in this manner:—The first player observes: "Imore ray iusigiiilicant king's pawn two more-"," to which his companion responds: "I move my humble king's pawn in the same manner." His antagonist then says: "I attack your honourable king's p iwn with my . contemptible king's knight to his king's bishop's mean third." And so on throughout tile game. : ■ " The Birmingham Weekly Mercury points out that in. experimenting at Moscow with an exploded variation of the Giuocn Piano, Steinitz was loth inconsistent and consistent. He was inconsistent because the teaching of his life has been that, while the sacrifice of material for speculative advantage may sometimes create a brilliant game, the larger average ' of success will be with the sound and careful player who clings to every pawn and'Who-fears to embark unless he can see the other shore. , He wis consistent alio, because in all the important matches of his later yean lie has cast to tile winds' the principles by steadfast adherence to which other chessplayers have risen from mediocrity to high reputation; and masters like Tarrasch and taker, who have been Stefnitz's clone followers arid who began where he left off, have obtained world-wide fame. - •

1 P-K4 P-K4 14 B-Kt3 P-KR1 2 Kt-KR3 Kt-QB3 15 Kt-Q2 P-KKtl 3 P-QB3 Kt-KB3 1C P-Q5 Q-R2 4 P-Ql l'-Q3 17 l'-QKt4 (c)P-KK4 o B-QK15 B-Q2 18 P-QR4 P-R5 (.1) 6 Q-Ki QKt-Kt 10B-KB2 lit-IU ail («) 20 Q-K:l Kt-B5 7 B-QB1 Q-K2 21 B-QKt5(e) Q-R4 8 Kt-Kta B-1C3 P. Kt-B3 «J-Kt5 OICtxB PxKt 23 Kt-K «i P-RH 10 Castles <JKt-Q! 24 P-Kt3 Kt-Ktt 11 P-II4 Civil 25 QxRP KtxKt 12 B-Q3 PxIlP 20 B-B61 (f) PxB 13 BxP P-K4 (b)