CHESS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 838, 23 March 1888, Page 6

CHESS.

A 1 communications for this department must be addressed to the Chess Editor, Mr C. W. Benbow. 23/3/88 R.J.D. (Clyde).—We are writing you in reference to your new three-mover, as we belidve it can also be done by Kt to Q 4. J.H. (Marton).—Q x R will not solve Problem No. 887 because of K to Kt 4, &c.

SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. No. 887 (E. Pradignat). 1 Kt to Q 4 1 Any move 2 Mates accordingly Solved by J. J.M. (Christchurch); Te Ilia a Maui; H.B. (Wellington); O.P.Q. (Eoxton), • Very neat, although the open square at Kt 4 is somewhat of a guide to the answer (8) ; A.L.T. (Wanganui); T.D.C. (Blenheim); R.J.L. (Palmerston North); T.S. (Ashurst), ‘ The position of the Rooks seemed to suggest the key to me (7i) ’; T.E. (Picton); C.S. (Masterton); Horace (Patea);B.D. (Bulls), and R.J.D. (Clyde), ‘I have seen far more difficult positions by the same talented composer, nevertheless this is an excellent twomover (84).’ The play is very ingenious and interesting, but there is not the usual amount of difficulty (8). No. 888 (J. H. Blackburne). 1 Q to Q R 7 1 K x R (a) 2 Q to K R 7 2 Any move 3 Q Mates (a) 1 K to B 6 2 Q to Kt sq 2 K moves 3 Mates accordingly Solved by J. J.M. (Christchurch) ; E.A. (Marton) ; O.P.Q. (Foxton), 4 The finest combination I have ever seen (10)’; A.L.T. (Wanganui); Te Ika a Maui, ‘ The Queen flies about like a cricket ball before Bonner ! but I think it is a grand problem, and well worthy the special attention you asked your solvers to give it ’; C.S. (Masterton); T.S. (Ashurst), ‘The play that follows Kx R is splendid (9)’; M.R. (Taianaki), and R J.D. (Clyde), ‘Although there is a possible dual in the variation, this nevertheless, is a masterpiece in composing (10).’ This is a composition which will be sure to take its place amongst the finest gems of the problem world (9£).

PROBLEM No. 897. By A. P. Silvera (Oracabessa, W. 1.). Second prize two-mover in the ‘ Montreal

Gazette ’ Problem Tourney. Black.

White,

White to play and mate in two moves,

PROBLEM No. 898. By Geo. J. Slater (Bolton). Second prize three-mover in the ‘ Montreal

Gazette ’ Problem Tourney. Black.

White,

White to play and mate in three moves,

CHESS IN HAVANA. Captain Mackenzie has been paying a visit to the Havana Chess Club, during which he played matches with the Signors Golmayo and Vasquez, the former of whom he beat by a score of 5 to 0 and 1 draw, and the latter by 5 to 1 and 3 draws. During his visit he was treated right royally by the club. A banquet waa given in his honor. The menu consisted of various dishes designed after distinguished players (similar to the banquet given by the Montreal Chess Clubfour years ago to Dr Zukertort). The guests numbered forty, among whom were the Consul-Generals of France,

Austria, Hungary, United States, (Mexico, Russia, and Italy. The following was one of the games in the match between Captain Mackenzie and Senor Golmayo, and was played Dec. 8, 1887 :

French Defence.

White. Black. Capt. Mackenzie. Senor C. Golmayo. IPK4 1 P K 3 2 P Q 4 2PQ4 3 P K 5 3PQB4 4PQB3 4 Q Kt B 3 5 Kt B 3 58Q2 6 B Q 3 6 P takes P (a) 7 P takes P 7 Q Kt 3 8 B K 2 8 B Kt 5 ch 9 Kt B 3 ORB 10 Castles 10 B takes Kt 11 P takes B 11 K Kt K 2 12 B Q 3 12 Kt Kt 3 13 R Kt 13 Q B 2 14 B Q 2 14 Kt K 4 (b) 15 Kt Kt 5 (c) 15 P K R 3 (d) 16 Kt takes BP 16 K takes Kt 17 Q R 5 17 K Kt 18 Q takes Kt 18 P Kt 3 19 P K B 4 19 Kt B 3 20 R B 3 20 Kt K 2 21 Q R 5 21EKB 22 QR K B ■ 22 Q B (e) 23 P Kt 4 23 Q K 24 Q takes Q (f) 24 B takes Q 25 P B 5 25 P K R 4 26 P K R 3 26 P takes Kt P 27 P takes Kt P 27 R R 5 28 R Kt 3 28 Kt B 3 29 B K Kt 5 29 R R 30 K R B 3 (g) 30 B Q 2 31 P B 6 31 P takes P 32 B takes P 32 RR 3 . 33 P Kt 5 33 R R 4 34 P Kt 6 34 P Kt 4 35 K Kt 2 35 R Kt 36 R K R 36 R takes R 37 K takes R 37 K B 38 R R 3 38 Kt K 2 39 R R 7 R K 40 R B 7 ch And Black resigns. NOTES.

(a) In this form of the French opening, we would prefer P B 5, followed by P K Kt 3, developing the B at Kt 2. (b) An ill-judged move. This Kt should have been played to K 2 at once. (c) A very embarrassing move, and one for which it is difficult to find a satisfactory reply. Kt B would serve the best. (d) Suicidal. (e) B K would have been better, but with the advantage of a Pawn and great superiority of position, there can be but little doubt as to the result. (f) Simplifying matters, and better than retreating the Queen. (g) We think Q R B 3 better, as it would have saved time.

PROPOSED REPRESENTATIVE TO THE MELBOURNE CONGRESS. The following interesting letter is a further contribution to the correspondence on this subject, and is worthy of the attention of our readers. Can anything be done in the direction Mr Sexton indicates ?

Chess Editor New Zealand Mail. gj r> j was very pleased to see by the article which you recently reprinted from the ‘ Weekly Press’ that the subject of being adequately represented at the forthcoming Melbourne Congress is exercising the chess mind in different parts of the Colony. The writer of that article says that a suggestion has been made that the principal clubs should, by some means, find out the best player in each club. After that find some means of deciding which of those players should represent us. All this is very indefinite. There is only one way of deciding this matter, either for the clubs or the Colony, that is a meeting over the board with the time limit and other restric. tions that they would have to play under in Melbourne. I should have thought that most clubs could pick out their best player without any hesitation, but in cases where it is not so, of course the idea of having a challenge tourney to decide the question is the best to adopt. At the same time it is quite possible that there are some players who are unable to take part part in a club tourney, who would give a good account of themselves in a tourney open to all comers. As the subject is the representation of New Zealand those should not be left out of account. For the place of meeting I think Welhngton, on account of it’s central position, the most suitable, and, as stated in the columns of the • Chess Chronicle,’ there are a number of gentlemen in Wellington willing to undertake the duties of organising such a meeting if they can get sufficient encouragement. I think it is the best place that could be selected. And now comes the most difficult part of the matter, viz., the means; and in the present depressed state of the country this is a difficulty, indeed, but it ought not to be an insuperable one. The 4 Chess Chronicle ’ suggests that each plub throughout the Colony Bhould contribute a certain amount. This would get over the difficulty at once ; therefore I would suggest that the gentlemen in Wellington should foam an interim committee for the purpose of ascertaining whut support could be obtained for selecting a representative or representatives by means of a New Zealand Tournament. _ 1 would suggest that they write to the secretaries of clubs asking what support the. clubs would give, and also insert notices in different chess columns asking chess players generally what support they would give, answers to be returned by a certain data. They would thus arrive at something definite ; time is creeping on and unless something definite is done there will be no time to carry through a tourney before the Melbourne meeting is on us.

As the writer in the Weekly Press says the 4 Melbourne Congress is open to the world, and it will probably be a long time before such another important meeting takes place g* near home,’ therefore it would Si

pity if New Zealand were not represented, and if we are to bo represented, then let us make as sure as we possibly can that our representatives are the best men we've got. Yours very truly, Thos. Sexton.