CHESS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 751, 23 July 1886, Page 5

CHESS.

A.ll communications for this department must be addressed to the Chess Editor, Mr C. W. Bbnbow. 23/7/86. J.W. (Leeds). Thanks for slips. T.E. (Picton). It is said that Dr. Zukertort, after the conclusion of his match with Mr Steinitz, want to San Francisco to recruit his health. Mr Steinitz returned to his home in New York.

SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. No, 714 (G. E. Carpenter). 1 Q to K R 3 1 K to K 5 2 R to Q B 4 mate Solved by Arnica (Feilding) ; J.J.M. (Christchurch); O.P.Q. (Foxton) “I like this notwithstanding it has but one variation {7h) ; T.E. (Picton); D.T.C. (Blenheim); Clareville ; ‘Te Ika a Maui ’: A.L.T. (Wanganui); H.B. and J.N.H. (Wellington); R.P. (Gisborne) “White’s opening move is very subtle (7) ; M.R. (Taranaki); C.S. (Masterton); H.D. (Bulls); and J.S. (Sandon) “ Very good key move (7).” Pretty, but from the very nature of'the position limited in variations (7). No. 715 (H. Nageleisen). 1 Q to R sq 1 Kt to Qsq 2 Q to R 8 2 K to Kt sq 3 Q x Kt mate , ~ Solved by J.J.M. (Christchurch) ; Clareville ; O.P.Q. (Foxton) “Easy (6)”; A.Lf. (Wanganui); C.S. (Masterton); T.E. (Picton) ; J.S. (Sandon) “ Very easy and lacks variety (6) ”; D.T.C. (Blenheim); H.D. (Buffs); ‘Te Ika a Maui and R.P. (Gisborne) ‘ When the key-move is found, and this is not a difficult task, the rest is exceptionally straightforward.

PROBLEM No. 726. By Geo. J. (Slater (Bolton).

Fifth Prize Problem in the Copenhagen “ Illustrated Family Journal ” Problem Tourney.

Black.

White. White to play and mate in two moves.

PROBLEM No. 727. By James Sexton (Sandon).

Black,

White.

White to play and sui-mate in four moves.

CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP.

Subjoined is the twentieth, and final game in the match. It was played at New Orleans on March 29th, and terminated m an easy victoiy to Steinitz !

Steinitz Gambit.

White Black Mr Steinitz. Ur. Zukertort. 1 P to K 4 1 P to K 4 2 Kt to Q B 3 2 Kt to Q B 3 3 P to K B 4 3P takesP 4 P to Q 4 (a) 4 P to Q 4(b) 5 P takes P (c) o Q to K R 5, eh 6 K to K 2 6 Q to K 2, ch 7 K to B 2 7 Qtoßo,ch 8 P to K Kt 3 (d) 8 P takes P, ch 9 IC to Kt 2 (e) 9 Kt takes Q P (f) 10 P fakes P 10 Q to 5 11 O to TC cli 11 B to K 2 12 E to Q 3 12Kt to KB4fe) 13 Kt to B 3 13 B to Q 2 14 B to K B 4 (h) 14 P to K B 3 (i 15 Kt to K 4 lo K Kt to R 3 (j) 16 B takes Kt 16 Kt takes B 17 R takes Kt 17 P takes R 18 Kt takes B P, ch 18 _K to B 2 And Black resigns (k). NOTES BY CAPTAIN MACKENZIE. (a) An invention of Mr Steinitz, and first introduced by him in the Chess Congress held at Dundee, Scotland, in 1867. Its object is, should Black check at K R 5 with Queen, to move K to K 2, so that when the end game comes he may be able to utilise the King, either on the King s or Queen s side th e board, according to the necessities of the positlo(b) A departure from the recognised line of play which is, 4 Q to R 5, ch. (c) He might also have taken pawn with Bishop, but as the next move leads into the usuai variations of the gambit, with which Mr Steinitz is thoroughly conversant, he no doubt exercised sound judgment m preferring it. " (d) In one of a series of games played between Messrs Steinitz and Mackenzie, in New York, in February, 18S3, the former was content to. accept the draw brought about by Q to R o ch and Q to K 2 ch. , , (e) But since then, we believe, he has analysed the opening more carefully, and is now of the opinion that the interposition of the Pawn can be ventured upon not only with safety but with advantage. * „ (f) The position is a remarkable one, full or interesting possibilities, and it will be regretted by the chess-playing public that Mr Steinitz did not give his pet opening a trial somewhat earlier in the match. , , (f) We look upon this as an error, and tlie primary cause of Black’s losing the game. 9 B to Q 3 was successfully played against Mr Steinitz by both Messrs Englisch andTschi-go-in in the great London tournament m Ibbo,

and appears to be the only move by which Black can hold his own against the attack with which he is menaced. If in answer to 9B to Q 3 White captures Kt with P, Black replies with P takes R P threatening mate winning back his piece. (g) Something of this sort had to be done in order to avoid the fatal advance of White’s Kook to K R 4. (h) Contrast the freedom of the White forces with the miserable development of the other side. (i) A pitiable resource to be driven to, butK Kt to K 5 had to be prevented at all hazards. (j) Losing a clear piece, and, as a matter of course, the game, but his position is so deplorable, that we doubt whether any skill could avert his ultim <te defeat. (k) Because White now wins the Queen by 19 Kt takes B P ch. The last game is 'the shortest and worstplayed © the whole match and shows, eonclusivelvjNn our opinion, that Dr- Zukertort has brokV \ down under the mental strain and worry atti lant on a match of such importance as was e present.

The followii remarks on the match are from the “ Baltimc. % Sunday News Steinitz’s pet theories, which were so roundly abused in the beginning of the match, received a grand vindication in the later games. At almost any stage in a game of chess the player usually has the° choice of one of several lines of play, which all appear to be of about equal merit in the comparatively short time allowed for their examination. It is mainly due to this fact that different styles of play are possible. Most players are satisfied to take the position as it stands and select that line of play which promises best both for attack and defence ; but Steinitz appears to ge a degree further than this, and, while making his move to strengthen his own position and menace his opponent, he also endeavors to make it disadvantageous for his antagonist to make the move which would apparently have improved his position. This peculiarity of play is plainly noticeable in nearly all of Steinitz’s games, and particularly so in a game played in his last match with Mr Sellman. At the time Mr Sell man resigned in this gam e he was not menaced with the loss of any pieces m particular, but was so completely tied up through Mr Steinitz forseeing his best moves, and playing to prevent him from making them, he could not move a piece without the immediate loss of it and resigned with a large number of pieces still on the board and mate not imminent f It is this far seeing feature of bteimtz s plav that compels the admiration of even his enemies, and has done more to_ give him the rank of world’s champion than his victory over Zukertort. There are probably half a dozen masters of the game who consider themselves equal to Zukertort as a player and were Steinitz’s title to depend merely on his victories without regard to the quality of his play, they would have to be defeated to sustain his position as champion. Zukertort appears to have been oppressed by the strength of Steinitz’s play, and sought to avert it by unexpected lines of attack, by complicating the positions and by sacrifices not radically sound, but all to no Many suppose, because Steinitz consumed a great deal more time in many of the games than Zukertort, that the former is much slower in mental activity than the latter. This believe to be an error. We have seen Steinitz analyse a position and solve problems, and the rapidity with which he formed the necessary combinations was startling. Zukertort’s brain acts like lightning when considering a position, but we believe no quicker than that of Steinitz and the extra time spent by the latter was undoubtedly devoted to a deeper and more exhaustive study of the positions. The games prove it. Zukertort is willing to trust to the favorable issue of a tempting combination. Steinitz wades into it until mere trusting becomes a certainty.