CHESS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 741, 14 May 1886, Page 5

CHESS.

All communications for this department must be addressed to the Chess Editor, Mr C. W. Benbow. , , ,'' 14/o/86. P. F: J. (Napier). Many thanks for letter and game ; we shall have pleasure in publishing the latter at an early date. . H.C. (Adelaide). Game record duly received and returned. We are much indebted for the game with Mr Berry.

SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. No. 696 (R. Hlndley.) 1 B to Q 4 1 Anymove 2 Mates accordingly Solved by J.J.M. (Christchurch); F.J. (Auckland); H. B. (Wellington); A. L. T. (Wanganui); O.P.Q. (Foxton) *The variations are numerous and most interesting («£)’; M.K. (Taranaki); C.S. (Masterton); R.P. (Gisborne) ‘Not difficult, but very pretty (8)’; H.D. (Bulls); T.E. (Picton); R.J.L. (Palmerston North); and D.T.O. (Blenheim). A clever and ingenious little problem (8). No. 690 (Edward Samuell). 1 Q to K B 6 (ch) 1 K to K 6 (a) 2 Q to K R 6 (ch) 2 K to K 5 3 Q to K 6 (ch) and draws (a) 1 K to Kt 5 2QtoK Kt 6 (ch) 2Kto R 5 3 Q toK R 6 (ch) 3 K to Kt 5 4 Q to K Kt 6 (ch) and draws Solved by F.J. (Auckland) ‘Not very hard, but interesting as shewing how at times an apparently hopeless game may be saved (9) ; A.L.T. (Wanganui); M.R. (Taranaki); E.b. (Carterton) ; and O.P.Q. (Foxton) ‘lt is clear that each move of White must be a check, but the re3nlt of these checks and the finding where they are to be given makes the position a pleasing one to work out (8). We agree with the criticisms of our friends as expressed above (8). PROBLEM 'No. 708. By Edward Samuell, (Carterton). Black.

White. White to play and mate in two moves.

PROBLEM No. 709. By James Rayner (Leeds). Black.

White. White to play and mate in three moves.

CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP. New Orleans, Feb. 26.—The tenth game of the match between Messrs Steinitz and Zukertort was played to-day. At the seventeenth move Dr. Zukertort asked Mr Steinitz the question ‘ Will you play to a win ?’ as a draw seemed inevitable. Steinitz replied that he would play a while longer. On the2lst move he said he was willing to make it a draw. Dr Zukertort assented. Immediately after this both began to show how they would have won had there been no exchange of Queens. Ruy Lopez Knight’s Game. White Black (Mr Steinitz) (Dr. Zukertort) IPtoK4 1 Pto K 4 2 Kt to K B 3 2Ktto Q B 3 3 B to Q Kt 5 3 Kt to K B 3 4 Castles * Ikj;* •> 5 R to K sq 5 Kt to Q 3 6 Kt x KP 6 B to K 2 7 B to Q 3 l £' asfcl fl. 8 Kt to Q B 3 8 Kt x Kt q -R YKt ■ 9PtoQ Ji 3 10 P to Q Kt 3 (a) 10 R to K sq 11 BtoQ R 3 iorl°r B q 12 R to K 3 12 B x R 13 B P x R 13 Kt to K 5 (b) 14 x B 14 Kt x Kt MtoKES ISPtoKKtS Ifi Q to K 5 16 Q x 17 O x Kt 17 Q to Kt 2 (c) 18 Q x Q (ch) MKr® 19 P to K 4 19 P to Q 3 20 R to K sq 20 B to Q 2 21 K to B 2 .21 B to K sq And the game was given up as drawn (d). Notes by Captain Mackenzie.

(a) The opening i 3 managed by Mr Stemitz in very much the same fashion as in the sixth and eighth games of the match, but, although he retains all through the game the advantage of the move, it does not appear that the legitimate outcome should be anything more than c^evef c j ev ; ce) by which Black frees his somewhat cramped positian, and succeeds in exchanging two of his comparatively inactive pieces against the more aggressive Kmg.it and Bishop of the adversary. (c) Compelling the exchange of Queens,. and thereby rendering the draw almost a certainty. (d) The position is so even that the placers were perfectly justified in agreeing to call it a drawn game. It is, however, in our opinion the dullest and most uninteresting game played in the match so far.

Dr. Zukertort. —A San Francisco paper says:—A story about Zukertort, the chessplayer, is, in view of the great tourney with Steinitz, apropos. The local players invited the Doctor to come here a year or two ago, to exhibit his scientific skill. On one evening he played, without seeing any of the chess boards, ten games with as many of the San Francisco chess celebrities. One of these was a young man, whose conceit as to his abilities is abnormally developed, and, on this occasion, even the august presence of the great master did not awe him into modesty. After a couple of hours of play, the games were temporarily suspended, and the players adjourned to the enjoyment of a refreshing lunch. Ihe subject of conversation was naturally the different games. Zukertort, who is a curt, agressive person, was free in his comments on the play play of his adversaries, and indulged in both praise or commendation of the individual skill displayed. Our young self-opinionated friend addressed the Doctor in a tone that betokened only too plainly his high estimate of his own abilities with the words, ‘ Well, Doctor, what do you think of my game ?’ The answer was a sharp but decisive one: The first twelve moves were book moves, the thirteenth was a mistake ! ’ _____