Chess.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 424, 27 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. SOLUTION TO PROBLEM No. 91. Mr. Mackenzie. Mr. Mason. White. Black. 1. Q to Q 8 1. K to Q 5 (a) 2. QtoQB7 2. K toKfi 3. Q to K B 4 mate (a) 1. P to Q 5 2. Q to K 7 (ch) 2. K moves 3. B mates accordingly PROBLEM No. 95. By Mr. P. T. Dufft. Black.

White.

White to play and mate in three moves.

Solutions are invited.

As a specimen of Capt. Mackenzie's prowess we give the following game played in the late Paris Chess Congress against Mr. Mason. Mr. Steinitz who annotates the game says of it: —"The termination was so brilliant that it marks the game as one of the finest that ever occurred in any great contest." FRENCH DEFENCE. White. Black. 1. PtoK4 1. PtoK3 2. P to Q 4 2. P to Q 4 3. KttoQß3 3. KttoKß3 4. P takes P 4. P takes P 5. Kt to B 3 5. B to Q 3 6. Bto Q 3 6. Castles 7. Castles ' 7. Kt to B 3 8. B to K Kt 5 8. Kt to K 2 9. B takes Kt 9. P takes B 10. Kt to K R 4 10. K to Kt 2 We believe that Black's best resource under the circumstances would have been Ktto Kt 3, followed by P to K B 4 on the adversary answering Qto R 6. It was less dangerous to fight with a Pawn behind than to face ■ the tremendous attack which White is now preparing. 11. Q to R 5 11. Rto R sq 12. P to KB 4 12. PtoQB3 13. R to K B 3 13. Kt to K Kt 3 14. Q R to K Bsq 14. Q to Q B 2 15. Kt to K 2 15. B to Q 2 16. Kt to Kt 3 16. Q R to K Kt sq 17. Q to R 6 (ch) A most ingenious and brilliant sacrifice. It would have been offered in any case, even if Black on the last move had played the Q R to K square ; the only difference would have been that Black would not have been compelled to take it. 17. K takes Q 18. Kt from R 4 (ch) 18. B takes Kt 19. Kt takes B (ch) 19. K to R 4 20. P to Kt 4 (ch) 20. K takes P 21. R to Kt 3 (ch) 21. K to R 4 22. B to K 2 mate

AMERICAN CHESS CONGRESS.

At New York at one o'clock on Tuesday the 6th of January, 1880, play in the Grand Tournament began in the presence of a goodly assemblage of spectators, which was largely increased as the day advanced. The tables were arranged along the front of the hall by the windows, giving ample opportunity to witness the games. Sellman opened a Ruy Lopez with Delmar, which the latter resigned on the 51st move, after four and three quarter hours' play. Mr. Cohnfield began with Mackenzie an irregular opening by 1 P to Q 4, P to Q 4,2 P to K B 4, and succumbed on the 34th move, after two hours' play. Ware sprung his favorite "Meadow Hay" opening on his antagonist, Congdon, and the game was hotly contested for six and three quarter hours and was drawn, Ryan played the French defence with Mohle, and was forced to surrender on the 50th move, after 4J hours' play. The interest of the day centered about the table of Judd and Grundy, where the game was a Buy Lopez, opened by Mr. Grundy. It was brilliantly contested, attracting a large crowd, which remained until midnight, intently watching the skilful play shown by both players, At 12 o'clock the committee fixed 10.30 o'clock a.m., on Wednesday, as the time when the game was to be continued, at which hour t was resumed, lasting until 1

p.m., the time set for the beginning of the second game, when the game was declared drawn on the 95th move ; duration, 11| hours. Second Day.—Sellman played the Trench Defence to Delmar's opening, and the game was drawn on the 66th move; time 6 hrs. 50 min. Cohnfield tried Philidor's defence against Mackenzie, and resigned on the 45th move; time, 2 hrs. 20 min. Ryan opened with Pt o Q fourth, to which Mohle repliediby P to K B fourth, and (2) PtoQB fourth, P to K third. By a singular oversight, Mr. Ryan castled mto a fork of King and Rook by adverse Knight, and lost the exchange and the game in about two hours. Judd attacked Grundy with a Scotch Gambit, and there followed one of the most extraordinary games ever played in an important tournament, and one which again attracted to these players a dense crowd of spectators. Judd early in the game acquired the superior position, which gradually became stronger until it appeared that he had his antagonist at his mercy. Mr. Grundy, boldly leaving his Queen en prise of a pawn, captured a Knight. Had Judd left the Queen alone, he could have won in a few moves ; but he captured her, and Grundy secured another minor piece fox her. Then he got a safe position, and finally forced Judd to give up first a Rook, and then his Queen, to avoid mate, and won the game on the 40th move in 3 hrs. 55 min. Ware played the " Meadow Hay" as a defence against Congdon, and won in five hours on the 60th move. Glasgow Weekly Herald. e , Previous to the commencement of the Congress it was generally expected that Captain Mackenzie would come out first, and Messrs. Judd and Delmar would follow closely. Ihe fine form shown by Messrs. Sellman and Grundy, in the games referred to above, has imparted an element of uncertainty to the original calculation, (except so far as Captain Mackenzie is concerned) and has thereby added considerably to the interest of the Tourney. The prizes consist of :—First, 500 dols.; second. 300 dols. ; third, 200 dols. ; fourth, lUO dols.; fifth, 50 dols. We may add that Mr. Sellman, who is a resident of Baltimore, is a deaf mute.