CHESS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 791, 29 April 1887, Page 6

CHESS.

All communications for this department must be addressed to the Chess Editor, Mr C. W. Benbow. 29/4/87 J.S. (Sandon).— Many thanks for letter and problem. SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. No. 793 (A. P. Silvera). 1 Q to R 2 1 Any move 2 Mates accordingly Solved by H. B, (Wellington); O.P.Q. (Foxton) ‘ A beautiful coup-de-repos is the initial move (8£) ’; A.L.T. (Wanganui); D.T.C. (Blenheim) ‘Not a difficult problem, but the play is brilliant, especially in the main variation (9) ’; H.D. (Bulls); T.E. (Picton); C.S. (Masterton); J.JM. (Christchurch); ‘ Te Ikaa Maui,’ ‘ Very neat little problem ’; Horace (Patea); R. J.L. (Palmerston North ; and R.J.D. Clyde) ‘ A gem of a two-mover (9).’ This Problem proves to be the composition of the well known composer, Mr W. A Shinkman, and was published as No. 77 in the ‘Maryland Chess Review’ of 1874. Mr Silvera thus stands convicted of being a gross plagiarist, and will doubtless be deposed from his position as first prize winner in the tourney in question, in which case the following problem (to which was awarded the second prize) will takes its place : By E. N. Harrison (Jamaica). White :—K on K Kt 6 ; Q on K Kt sq ; Rs on Q R 7, Q B 8 ; B on Q R sq ; Kts on K B 4, K R 6; Ps on Q Kt 4, Q B 6, KKt 3. Black KonQ3;RonQKt 7;Bon QKt sq ;Kton K 5 ; Pon QB2. White mates in two moves. We shall be glad to receive solutions to this position, which is considered a very good one. No. 791 (James Sexton.) 1 Kt to Q 2 1 P x Kt 2 Kt to Kt 3 (ch) 2 Kt to R 3 3 Q to B 6(ch) 3 P x Q 4 B x B mate. SoWpd by J. S. (Sandon), and C. S. (Masterton). An extremely ingenious and interesting combination (8$). PROBLEM No. 805. By James Sexton (Sandon.) (The author’s first composition this year). Black.

• White. White to play and mate in two mores. PROBLEM No. 806. By Thomas Sexton (Ashhurst). Black.

White. White to play and mate in three moves. CHESS BY CORRESPONDENCE. The following game was played in 18S4 between Mr Edward Samuel of Carterton, and Mr L. Holland, then of Wellington. Giuoco Piano. White. Black. (Mr Samuel) (Mr Holland) 1 P to K 4 1 P to K 4 2 Kt to K B 3 2 Kt to QB3 3 B to Q B 4 3 B to Q B 4 4 Castles 4 Kt toKB3 5 R to K sq P to Q 4 would have led to what is known as Max Lange's variation, which, although not absolutely sound, leads to brilliant and attacking situations.

5 Castles 6 P to Q B 3 6 P to Q 3 7 P to Q 4 7 B to Q Kt 3 So far the game has been opened in strict accordance with the authorities. 8 P to KR3 8 P to Q R 3 9 P to Q Kt 4 9 B to Q R 2 10 B to Q Rt 2 Novel, but hardly to be commended, as the piece is put right out of play. 10 P to Q Kt 4 IIQPrK.P 11 P x K B 12 P x Kt 12 ffx P 13 Q to Q 5 '' Black’s tenth more involved the loss of a P as White now shows. 13 B to Q Kt 2 14 Q x P (Q B 5) 14 Kt to K 4 15 QtoK2! 15 QtoKB5 16 P to Q B 4 16 Kt x Kt (ch) 17 Q x Kt 17 Q to K R 5 18 Q to K B 5 Clearly a loss of time 18 B to Q B sq 19 Q to B 3 19 P to K B 4 20 P to K 5 20 B to Q Kt 2 21 Q to K 2 21 Q to Kt 6 All this is very interesting and instructive. Black’s Bishops are strongly posted, while White is correspondingly cramped. 22 Q to K B Bq 22 P to K B 5 23 P to Q B 5 The paring clause. 23 Q to Kt 3 24 Kt to-Q 2 24 R to K B 4 25 Kt to K 4 25 P x K P We think we should have played Rtoß 4. which seems to give Black an excellent game. 26 P to K Kt 4 26 P x P (en pass) 27 Q to Q B 4 (ch) 27 Kt to R sq 28 Kt x P 28 Q R to K B aq 29 B x P 29 R x P 30 R to K 2 30 R (B 7) to B 2 The situation is critical and difficult for both sides. Here again we differ from Mr Holland as we think he retreated the Kt too far. If he had gone with it to B 4 he would have kept up the pressure of his attack, and have improved his game generally. 31 Q to K Kt 4 31 Q x Q 32 P x Q 32 B to K B 6 33 R to K B 2 33 B x P 34 Q R to K B sq 34 K to K Kt sq 35 B x Q B P 8S R x R 36 R x R In the nature of things the game is now practically a draw 36 R to K eq 37 Kt to K B 5 37 P to K R 4 38 B to Q 6 38 B to Kt sq 39 Kt to K 7 (ch) 39 K to R 2 40 Kt to B 6 40 B x B 41 P x B 41 B to Q 2 42 Kt to K 7 42 R to Q sq And the combatants declared the game to be drawn, which brought to a termination one of the liveliest correspondence contests we have seen for a long time. EARLY CHESS-PLAY IN FRANCE AND ENGLAND. Strutt in his * Sport and Pastimes of the People of England ’ says It is impossible to say when the game of chess was first brought into this kingdom ; but we have good reason to suppose it to have been well known here at least a century anterior to the Conquest, and it was then a favorite pastime, with persons of the highest rank. Canute the Dane, who ascended the throne of England a.d. 1017, was partial to this pastime. The following Btory is told of William, Duke of Normandy, afterwards king of England. When a young man, he was invited to the court of the French king, And during his residence there, being one day engaged at chess with the king’s eldest son, a dispute arose concerning the play ; and William, exaspeiated at something his antagonist had said, struckhim with the chess-board ; which obliged him to make a precipitate retreat from France, in order to avoid the consequences of so rash an action. A similar circumstance is said by Leland to have happened in England. John, the youngest son of Henry 11., playing at chess one day with Fulco Guarine, a nobleman of Shropshire, a quarrel ensued, and John broke the head of Guarine with the chess-board, who, in return, struck the prince such a blow that he nearly killed him. It seems, however, that Fulco found means of making his peace with King Henry, by whom he was knighted, with three of his brethren, a short time afterwards. John did not so easily forgive the affront, but, on the contrary, showed his resentment long after his accession to the English throne, by keeping him from the possession of Whittington Castle, to which he was the rightful heir. It is also said of this monarch that he was engaged at chess when the deputies from Rouen came to acquaint him that the city was besieged by Philip, King of France, but he would not hear them out till he had finished the game. In like manner, Charles I. was playing at chegs when he was told that the final resolution of the Scots was to sell him to the Parliament, and he was so little discomposed by the alarming intelligence that he continued the game with great composure. Several other instances to the same purpose might be produced, but these may suffice ; and, in trufih, I know not what interpretation to put upon such extraordinary conduct; it proves, at least, that the fascinating powers of this fashionable diversion are very extensive upon the minds of those who pursue it earnestly.’ WELLINGTON CHESS CLUB. The annual meeting of the Wellington Chess Club was held in the Athenmumon Tuesday night. There was a good attendance, and Mr W. Wkittem oooupied the chair. The Committee in their annual report stated that the season, which lasted twenty-eight nights, was opened on April 27 th, Mr C. W. Benbow playing all comers simultaneously. Messrs W. Brown and R. J. Barnes were the only two successful competitors. The balancesheet showed that after all liabilities had been paid there was still a small credit balance. There were now 36 members .on the roll, 10 of whom were elected during the season. A Club tournament was started on July 27th, 1886, twenty-two entries being received, which were divided into two divisions, A and B, Mr Benbow and Mr W. F. Barraud being the winners. The final game resulted in a draw, they agreeing to divide the prize equally. MessrsG. Didsbury andF. Kelling retired from the Committee under rule IV., and were not eligible for re-election. It was resolved that the Club should rent No. 4 room of the Athenaeum, at an annual rental of I £25, for two nights a week, inclusive of gas.

It was also resolved that the nights of meet* ing Hhould be Tuesday and Friday. The following officers were elected : —President, Mr C. W. Benbow ; vice-president, Mr W. Whitten ; secretary, Mr C. S. Barraud ; committee, Messrs W. F. Barraud, A. J. MoTavish, S. W. Falkner, G. Wright, and W. Brown ; Match Committee, Messrs G. F. Francis, W. Brown, and W. F. Barraud ; referee, C. W. Benbow. A challenge was received from the Christchurch Club and accepted, the details of the arrangements in connection with the match being left to the Committee. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr C. S. Barraud for his services as secretary during the past year. A vote of lAnnks being passed to the Chairman brought the meeting to a close.