CHESS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 852, 29 June 1888, Page 6

CHESS.

All communications for this department must be addressed to the Chess Editor, Mr C. "W. Benbow. - • ' H.H. (Christchurch) andJ.W. (Leeds) —Slips ■ 'July received. - Alany thanks for them.

SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. No. 915 (J. Pospisil). 1 Q to B sq 1 Any move 2 Mates accordingly Solved by J.J.M. (Christchurch) ; O.P.Q. (Foxton), • A splendid production (9) ’ ; M.R (Taranaki); D. T.C. (Blenheim); T.E. (Picton) ; H.D. (Bulls);R.P. (tiisborne), ‘The key-moveis good, and the play which results is interesting (8)’; RJ.L. (Palmerston North); Felix. (Auckland), and R.J.D. (Clyde), ‘Of the many positions I have seen of this celebrated composer’s I like this the best (9J).’ An ingeniously contrueted and instructive problem (8J). No. 916 (Sergt-Major McArthur). 1 B to B 7 I K x Kt 2 Q x P 2 Any move 3 Q mates Solved by J.J.M. (Christchurch) ; M.R. (Taranaki); O.P.Q. (Foxton), ‘The key is not difficult, but the working cut is good and pretty (8)’; D.T.C. (Blenheim); A.L.T ( (Wanganui); Horace (Patea); Felix (Auckland), and R.J.D. (Clyde), ‘ It is pretty evident, I think, that the B mu«t give the key-move, but ’tis by no means easy to find where (81). A very fairly conceived idea (8).

PROBLEM No. 925. By Thomas Pexton (Ashurrt). , Black.

White. . . White to play and mate in two moves.

PROBLEM No. 926. By the late P. T. Duffy. Black.

White. White to play and mate in three moves,

Death has been busy of late in Caissa’s little army. Dr -T. BC. Walsh, of the -Field, an enthusiastic chess patron ; Mr A, Mongredien, the opponent of Morphy. _a wellknown writer on Political Economy, and a skilful and ardent chess player ; the Rev. Thos. Gordon, D.D., of Dalkeith, who for many years had more than a local reputation-as a strong player ; Mr A. P. Belaieff, a Russian merchant, aged 52 years. ‘Mars’ in the-: Sporting and Dramatic News says: —‘ A plesa—' ant and humorous man was the Russian chain, pion, Belaieff. He never, as well as I remember, took part in any tournament, but he played every game as if it were a match game, or, at all events, as if a solid lump of gold depended on the result. He was not quite first, class, but few, if any, c uld have yielded him successfully-the smallest odds. He was ambitious, and for games of skill undoubtedly- possessed genius. Years ago. however, finding that owing to. circumstances, or. to his- own peculiar temperament, he could not achieve oneof the highest places amongst chess players, he turned his attention to whist and soon became primus in that game at the old Westminster Chess Club—at least only one member (Mr F. H. Lewis) disputed with him the.palm. But he never wholly deserted bis first lovechess, and frequently in latter days he was to be seen fighting over the checkered beard at Purssell’s or some other high-class chess resort.* Mr Tripp an old London chess identity whose - memory is crystallised by ‘ Mars ’ in the Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News of April 21 as follows And now what shall I say of Mr Tripp, old Tripp aswe used to call him, and rightly so ? I remember him twentytwo, probably twenty-five years ago, and then he was old. He was a character player. His remarks over .the game and his play were on a par. I played him often years ago, giving him the odds of a Queen, and I don’t know which gave me more pleasure, heating him or losing to him, and I don’t know which gave him more pleasure, losing or winning games. He was a sort of low comedian,' and when a grand chess comedy comes to be written for the stage he will occupy a high place as a J. L. Toole. He must have been one or two hundred years oldr L ' < On April 17, at Hastings, Mr F. T. Duffy, for the last 11 or 12 years the chess editor of the Illusti atid London News, aged 53. Many months ago he suffered from a chess complaint which induced him to take a tour in the Mediterranean, but relief failing he landed at Malaga and hence returned to England to die as above. Of him ‘Mars’ writes:—‘As a

ches3 player he possessed all th& qualities which go to make a master, being logical, imaginative, quiek of perception, courageous, and self-reliant. Twenty years ago he abandoned the practice of the. game in order to devote his chief energies to his profession as an acountant, in -Which he subsequently attain fed considerable ■ eminence* For many years past he was manager of the firm of Messrs Turquand and Youngs, and conducted their biggest cases with consummate skill and judgment. Over th® board Mr DufEy showed himself to be deep, solid and brilliant. In his younger days he encountered the magnates of the game and won occasional victories of such men as Boden and Steinitz. As a composer of problems and of quaint but interesting positions he held very high rank, whilst as a judge of problems he was the acknowledged chief justice. As a worker Mr Duffy was most industrious. After devoting, as a rule, six or eight hours in the day to his professional duties, he would saunter down to his favorite club and there discourse gaily on all matters; then dine and visit the theatre ; then baok to olub or home to examine a problem, or record the latest news about chess. Dull of humor—and good humor too—was his conversation, sparkling with fun, epigram, and anecdote. So much so that when he was absent from * meeting of the boys someone was sure to remark, ‘I wonder where Duffy isj when he is not here tjiis place is very chilj, not like itself, He was a many-sided and conscien-. tious man, took all knowledge for his . province, and mastered no small portion of it, and illuminated all that he mastered. In Apri 1868, in conjunction with Mr Thomas Hewitt, he started the successful Westminster Papers, which *he conducted for many years with Bnch brilliant success that he made his name known all the world over, and when that periodical ceased to exist in 1879, he edited for some time three of the principal London Columns.’ Suddenly in the prime of life, Mr J. Burt of Clifton. For the last quarter of a centnry he was the life and soul of chess in and around Bristol. At his death be was the president and treasurer of the City Club, vice-president of the Bath Club, honorary member of many other clubi, and member of the Council of the British Chess Association. " On March 16, in London, Major Martin, aged 80 years. Although he ‘did not take to chess until late in life he attained a degree of skill surprising in one who labored under this disadvantage.’ He was a gentleman in the highest sense of the term, and loved chess chiefly because it is, above all, the gentleman s game. Mr Spreckley, aged 75 years. In olden times he was President of the Liverpool Chess Club, a most dashing player, and one of the strongest in the kingdom. Mr Piercy a English amateur, aged between 60 and 70 years Mr Nathan, a constant disciple? of the game, and member of the British Chess Club The Frisco mail brings intelligence of the death at Fort Trumbull, Conn., of DrW. C. Spen ; cer of the United States army In practice he was a player of ‘almost, if not quite the first rank, but be was also an analyst of remarkable depth, accuracy, and acuteness. He ranked high in his profession and was a npst agreeable gentleman and antagonist oyer the board. Lastly and greatest, Dr J.H. Zukertort, one of the finest chess players the world has ever seen, aged 46. In due course we will submit full details of the life and doings of this player j in tie meantime we present the following fine game, played in the London Chess Tournament; as a specimen of his prowess, and as an in memonam Irregular Opening

Whits. Black. J. H. Zukertort) (J; H. Blapkbqme} 1 P to Q B 4 I 3 9 P to K 3 2 Kt toKJU 3 Kt to KB 3 3 I? to Q Kt 3 4 B to K2 t?t°oO fc 4 5 Castles 6 P to Q 4 6 ® to Q 3 7 Kt to B 3 7 Castles S Kt to B 3 8 Q Kt to Q 2 ■ 9 B to Kt 2 9 Q to K 2 The routine move P to B 4 would be preferable. „ - ' 10 Kt to Q Kt 5 10 Kt to K 5 11 Kt xB 11 P x Kt / 12 Kt to Q 2 12 Q Kt to B 3 The loss of time occasioned by this continuation gives to the opponent the first opportunity to prepare the following attack. •13 P to B 3 13 Kt x Kt 14 Q xKt w p lo r to Q 4 16 B to Q 3 16 K B 'to B sq would have been more prudent; to leave the KB on the King’s side, and-to 00CU Py fche open file with fche Q K. 17 Q K to K sq. 17 B to B 2 18 P to K 4 18 Q B to' Q B sq 19 P to K 5 19 Kt to K sq 20 P to B 4 20 P to K 3 ; Of course Black had to stop the further advance'of the B. P.. but P to B f at once would probably have been better, 21 B to K 3! ' * . - When Zukertort made this move, he had in his mind’s eye the whole combination that. follows, down to Black’s 28th move. It may seem singular that his opponent should have played the next seven moves exactly as anticipated, hut it must be remembered that Mr Blackbume doubled his B’s, with the intention of playing to Q B 7 as soon as he had got rid of the White K B, and played for that purpose, expecting to win a piece. The rea jbeauty of Zukertort’s play is that he led his opponent into 'tbib tyap, calculating 'its'real results. _ » - 1 21 P to B 4 Kt to Kt 2 would be slightly better; White * would then continue with 22 P to IC Kt 4, ~22 3? x Pen pass 22 Kt x P He should retake with the Q, although he would have even then a difficult game. 23 P to B 51 • 23 'Kt'to K 5 24 BxKt : 24 Pxß 25 P x Kt P 25 B to B 7 ; Notwithstanding its "disastrous result, the text jnqve constituted. Black’s only chance,

for if he play 25 P x P, White forces the game with 26 B to Kt 3, Qto Kt 2; 27 Pto Q 5. P to K 4; 28 Q to Kt 5. Rto Ksq; 29 R to B 6 etc.

26 P X P (chi 26 K to R eq If Q x P then, of course, 27 R to Kt o (ch); if 26 K x P, then 27 R to R3(ch) ( Kto Kt sq ; 28 Ci to R 6 etc. 27 Pto(j 5 (dis ch) 27 Pto K 4 29 Q to Kt 4 ? This move literally electrified the lookers-on, who were absorbed in this contest. 28 Q B to B 4 The capture of the Q would lead to a male in seven moves. When Zukertort played Rto K 3 at his 21st move, he had calculated that 2S R to K sq was Black’s best move, and had prepared the continuation of 29 P to Q,6 etc. 29 RtoßS(ch) ‘ ■ The shortest and prettiest line of play, but White wins equally with 29 Qx P etc. On the move made Mr Steinitz remarks, ‘ln conjunction with White’s previous play, this forms one of the most noble combinations conceived over the chess board,’ If 29 Qx R White replies 30 B x P (ch), K x P ; 31 Q x P (ch), and mate in fonr moves. 30 Q x P (ch) 30 K to Kt 2 31 B x P (ch) 3L Iv X R 32 B to Kt 7 (ch) ! ‘ A worthy finish ’ says Mr Steinitz, to one . of the most brilliant games on record.’ 32 K to Kt sq 33 Q x Q And Black resigns.