Chess.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 423, 20 March 1880, Page 3

Chess.

TO CORRESPONDENTS. All communications for this department must be addressed to the Chess Editor. Original problems, games, particulars of tournaments, matches, &c, are always welcome. W. 8., Junr., Wellington. Your solution to Problem 90 is correct as far as it goes. You however have omitted the two principal variations. SOLUTION TO PROBLEM No. 90. White. Black. 1. Q to Q R 7 1. P to K 4 (a) (b) 2. R to K Kt 3 2. Anything 3- Q mates accordingly ; (or) 2. R takes R 2. K takes R 3. Q takes B mate (a) 1. K moves 2. Q takes B 2. Aught 3. QtoKKt7mate • (b) 1. R takes R 2. Q takes B (ch) 2. K to Kt. sq. 3. Q to KKt 7 mate PROBLEM No. 94. By Mr. Jacob Elson. Black.

White.

White to play and mate in three moves.

INTERCOLONIAL CORRESPONDENCE

CHESS,

Annexed is the third and last game in the late match by letter, between Messrs. Benbow, of Wellington, N.Z., and Charlick, of Adelaide, S. A. The notes are by the Chess Editor of the Melbourne Leader; the few in brackets are by the Chess Editor of the Adelaide Observer.

Four Knights Game. (Mr. C. Benbow) (Mr. H. Charlick) White. Black. 1. PtoK4 1. PtoK4 2. Kt to Q B 3

(The Hampe or Vienna opening, converted presently into the Four Knights debut—an opening much favored by Paulsen and other great players. It was frequently played at the Paris Congress in 1878.) 2. KttoQß3 3. Kt to K B 3 3. Kt to K B 3 4. B to Kt 5 4. B to B 4

(In the Paris tourney several masters here moved B to Q Kt 5, making the game a double Ruy Lopez.) 5. Castles (Gossip in his latest work, here advocates 5 Kt takes K P, regaining the piece, if Knight be taken, by P to QJ 4. Black 5 B takes P (ch) only assists White.) 5. P to Q 3 (beet) 6. PtoQ4 6. P takes P 7. Kt takes P 7. B to Q 2 8. Kt takes Kt 3. P takes Kt 9. B to K 2 B to Q 3 seems preferable 0. Castles

10. KttoK4 An error which gets him into difficulties; he should rather have played B to K Kt 5 10. Kt takes P 11. B to Q 3 11. Kt takes P A manoeuvre apparently unexpected by White, were the latter now to take the Knight he would obviously lose the exchange—(Thus 12. R takes Kt 12. B takes R (ch) 13. K takes B 13. Q to K 5 (ch) 14. K to Kt eq 14, Q takes Kt &c. 12. B takes P (ch) White's game is very difficult, and this is his best resource. 12. K to R sq 13. QtoBS (If Q to K B 5, Black wins her by B to K Kt 5, followed by Kt to K B 6 (dble ch) if Q move o K Kt 5.) 13. B to K Kt 5 14. Q takes QBP White tries hard to get out without loss, but should not have succeeded had his opponent played correctly. (Properly played, for if Black retire B to Q 2 White escapes thus : 14. BtoQ2 15. Q to K B 3 15. B takes Kt 16. QtoKE 5 and wins 14. B to K sq Here Black misses his way. He shouldhave played Bto K 7, and must have come out of the scrimmage with a winning game, e.g., 14. B to K 7 15. Kt takes B 15. B takes R 16. Kt to Q 7 16. B to K sq if 17. K takes B 17. Q to B 5 must win (Mr. Burns subsequently strengthened his analysis by the following variation : 14. B to K 7 if 15. B takes Kt 15. B takes B (ch) 16. K takes B 16. Bto K sq if 17. BtoQ3 17. QtoßS(ch) 18. P to Kt 3 18. Q to Q 5 (ch) 19. K to Kt 2 19. B takes B and wins We may add in support that if 17. B to K 3 17. K takes B (best) 18. K takes B 18. Q to K Kt 4 and Black must win Bishop or Knight) (We venture to think that 17 B to K 4 would be a better resource than either of the moves given above, though even then the result is not altogether satisfactory e.g. 17. Bto K 4 17. Q to B 5 (ch) 18. K takes B 18. B takes B (ch) 19. K to Q 3 10. Q B to K sq 20. B to Q 2 20. Q to B 7 21. P to Q B 3 &c. Ed. N.Z.M.) 15. Kt takes B 15. P takes Kt 16. Q takes Patßs 16. K takes B 17. Q takes Kt 17. R to K 7 18. Q to Q B 5 The best move 18. Q to K sq Q to B 5 would have been unavailing 19. PtoKR3 19. QtoKs (This is the master square of the position, and the text-move always secures at least a draw, notwithstanding the weakness of the Black P's. 20. B to B 2 20. E to Q. sq 21. Btoß4 If 21. P takes B 21. R to Q 8 (ch) 22. K to R 2 22. Q takes Kt P and Black recovers the piece and two pawns. 21. R to Q 4 22. R takes R 22. B takes R 23. Q takes QBP 23. BtoQ Kt 4 B to R 3 looks more promising, and would have caused White some difficulty to bring about a draw, as it threatens B to Kt 2 at once, with a winning position. Correctly followed up the text-move should secure Black the victory.} 24. Ptoß4 Neatly played, gaining time to bring his rook nto play. . 24. B takes P (B to Q B 3 would be an awkward move for White to parry. If Q takes B, Black wins her by R to Q 8 (ch). If P takes R, Black retakes P with B winning. If 25 Rto K B sq, Black equally wins by 25 R to QB. It is singular that this win has not been noticed before.)

(We are of opinion that Black cannot force a win, and after 25 P takes R if his opponent play correctly, we give the following variation in support of our opinion:—

24. B to Q B 3 25. P takes R 25. B takes P 26. Ktoßsq 26. Q takes P (ch) 27. K toK so 27. Q to Kt 8 (ch) 28. K to Q 2' 28. Q takes R 29. Q to B 2 (ch) 29. P to Kt 3 30. PtoQR3 And the game should be drawn. Ed. N.Z.M.) 25. R to QB sq 25. B to Q 6 (Keeping the White Queen away, otherwise she could retire to QB 2, and then KB 2. If Q now take K B P, Black wins by R to K B 4.) 26. K to R 2 26. E to K B 4 27. B to Kt 3 27. R to B 8 28. R to B 5 28. B toK 7 (Mr. Burns with unusual remissness strangely supposed that Black could win by 28 Q to K 6, overlooking that White eludes the attack by RtoK R 5 (ch) and Q to Q B 5. The textmove leaves that move in reserve, or Q to Q Kt 8, accordingly as White plays Q to Q 8, or Q or RtoKs.) 29. R to B sq 20. E takes R After this the draw is inevitable 30. Q takes R 30. B to B 5 31. QtoK Kt 5 31. Bto Q 4 32. B to B 2 (The draw could be neatly effected as follows: 32. B to K 5 32. P to B 3 33. Q to R 5 (ch 33. K to Kt sq 34- Q to K 8 perpetual check) 32, P to B 3 And the game is drawn.