CHESS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 867, 12 October 1888, Page 6

CHESS.

All communications for this department must be addressed to the Chess Editor, Mr C. W. Benbow. 12/10/88 T.S; (Ashurst)—The additional problems are to hand, and we thank you very much for them. A.H.P. (Christchurch)—We have your favor of the 2nd instant, and are much obliged for the interesting information it contains. ‘ Huck Finn’ —You arc astray in Problems 945 and 946, as KxP defeats your solution in the first, while there is no mate in the second if Black plays 2 P x Kt. Your attempts are, however, ingenious enough. J.W. (Leeds), H.F.L.M. (London) and A.C. (Christchurch) -Slips are to hand and are very interesting. SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. No 945 (F. Healey). 1 Q to K B 7 1 Any move

2 Mates accordingly

Solved by H.B. (Wellington); O.P.Q. (Foxton), ‘An exceedingly good key move (8) ’; A.L.T. (Wanganui); D.T.C. (Blenheim); C.S, (Masterton); T.S. (Ashurst), ‘The dual that follows KxP is the chief defect in an otherwise very neat position (7J) ’; T.E; (Picton) ; Horace (Patea) ; Felix (Auckland); R.P. (Gisborne), ‘ Although somewhat crowded in appearance still a first-class'production (8)’ ; R.J.D. (Clyde), and MR. (l'aranaki). The variations are ingenious and instructive, while the solution as a whole is up to the standard of difficulty (8). No 946 (R. L. Hodgson). 1 Q to Q Kt sq 1 K x Kt 2 Q x P (ch) 2 K x Q 3 Kt x P mate Solved by M.R. (Taranaki); T.S. (Ashurst), * The key-move is very neat, and the after play fairly good (8)’; D.T.C. (Blenheim)A.L.T. (Wanganui); Horace (Patea); R.P. (Gisborne), * This problem reflectr great credit on the composer (9)’; H.D. (Bulls); H.B. (Wellington) and R.J.D. (Clyde), ‘An excellent position, the sacrifice of the Q on the second move is most artistically arranged (9|).’ The working out of this position is exceptionally interesting and the mating terminations are quite brilliantly brought about (9). PROBLEM No. 956. By J. C. J. Wainwright (Boston, Mass.). Awarded Fourth Prize in the ‘ Baltimore Sunday News ’ Problem Tourney. Motto : ‘•A Spectacular Drama.’ Black.

White. White to play and mate in two moves PROBLEM No. 957. By J. Pospisil (Prague). From * Ceske Ulohy Sachove.’ Black.

White. White to play and mate in three moves

CHESS IN WELLINGTON. The following shows the present position of the score in the tournament now in progress in the Wellington Chess Club : '

WWW H* CD - 22 2 3 t T , C C E-S - Sr* Ch cu . • • P «-« s ? • w 1 : : : qtd: : : : : : : :: ; : \ oooooi W. F. Barraud. on-*: : h* J- G. Brook, o: :::::::::: t-. E, Kelling. oo: : : : : : :. : : oh* W. Brown. : oh*: : : : h*h* R. J. Barnes. • ■i : :i: h* Geo. Wright. : • : I;-:::. | Allen •: i_oH*i :::::: : jW. Maclcay I i i : i ooi : : : : o | Wilson-Duret. : : : : i h*oh>: : : : : |A. J. Littlejohn li-l: ootcHoi i i : |C. W. Benbow. ::::::: h* h* h* :: : jG. Didsbury. • I ::::::: h*h*: : |C. L. Barraud. O H* OS H* 0^2 H-CO H» H* OT WOU. UWOMOMWHWHHMH j Lost.

| A. J. Littlejohn.

The subjoined was the game in the tourney between Messrs Maclcay and Littlejohn.

(Ruy Lopez Knights Game.) White. * ’ Black. (Mr W. Mackay.) (Mr A. J. Littlejohn.) 1 P to K 4 1 P to IC 4 2 Kt to K B 3 2 Kt to Q B 3 3 B to Kt 5 3 Kt to Q 5

A defence advocated by the veteran player Mr H. A. Bird. It giveß variety, but otherwise possesses no great merit. 4 Kt x Kt 4 P x Kt 5 Castles 5 P to Q B S

Mr Bird at this point now plays P to K R 4, which he maintains considerably strengthens Black’s game. 6 B to R 4 6 Kt to B 3 The ‘books ’ give Kt to K 2 here. 7 P to Q 3 7 P to Q R 4 With the intention of winning the White Bishop by S Pto Q Kt 4 and 9 P to Q R 5 if White does not provide against it. 8 P to Q R 3 8 P to Q 3 9 P to K R 3 This seems a waste of time, as nothing was to be apprehended from 9 B to Kt 5. 9 B to K 3 10 Kt to Q 2 10 P to Q Kt 4 11 B to Kt 3 11 P to R 5 12 B to R 2

White prefers this to capturing the Bishop. It is a moot point which is the better course to pursue. 12 B to K 2 13 P to K B 4 13 B x B 14 R x B 14 Kt to Q 2 15 Kt to B 3 15 B to B 3 16 Q to K sq 16 Castles 17 P to B 5 If 17 P to K 5, which is very tempting Black plays 17 R to K sq and gains a Pawn. 17 R to K sq 18 Q to Kt 4 18 Kt to K 4 19 R to R sq 19 Q to B 2 20 B to B 4 It is clear that he could not take P with Kt either on this or the preceding move because of P to Q 'B 4. 20 P to B 4 21 Q to Q 2 21 Q to Kt 3 22 K to R sq 22 P to B 5 23 P to K Kt 4 23 P to R 3 21 Q R to Kt sq 24 P to B G Yery venturesome, and the result is the loss of a valuable Pawn. 25 P x P 25 P x P 26 Q to K sq 26 P to Q 4 27 B x Kt 27 B x B 28 Kt x B 28 R x Kt 29 Q x P 29 P to Q 5 30 Q to Q 2 30 R to B sq 31 P to B 6 He takes ‘ Forward ’ for his motto, and gets a Pawn strongly placed in consequence. 31 P to K Kt 4 32 R to B 2 32 R (K 4) to Q B 4 33 R to Q Kt 2 33 E to B 6 1 34 P to R 4 34 R (B sq) to B 4 35 R to B 5 35 R x R 36 Kt P x R 36 Q x P 37 R x P 37 P to Kt 5 38 Q to B 2 38 R x R P 39 R to Q 5 39 P to R 4 40 QtoKt 3 . . 40 Rto R 8 (ch) 41 K to Kt 2 41 K to R 2 42 R to Q 6 42 Q to K 2 43 R x P 43 Q to B 4 44 Q to B 2 44 R to R 7 45 R to B 4 45 Q to K 4 46 R to B 5 46 Q to B 3 47 P to K 5 These Pawns are becoming formidable now. 47 Q to K 2 48 P to B 6 48 Q to K 3 49 Q to B 4 _ ’ !i An excellent move, and one which there seems no way of overcoming. If 49 Qto K sq, 50 Q to B 5 (ch), K moves ; 51 R to B 8 and wins. 49 R x P (ch) Merely desperation, the game is gone. 50 R x R 50 Q to Q 4 (ch) 51 K to R 2 51 P to Kt 5 (ch) 52 Q x P and mates in two moves > INTERNATIONAL CHESS CONGRESS. When the mail left the leading scores in the Masters’ Tournaments were - Won. Drawn. Lost. Gunsberg 31 2 1 Bardeleben 8 22 Capt. McKenzie ... 8 22 Mason 6 6 1 Burn 8 0 5 Blackburne 7 2 4 From advices since the above was written we learn that Gunsberg came out the winner of the tourney.

SOLUTION TOURNEY. The Nottinghamshire Guardian lias published during the past few months the problems originally intended for the problem tourney in the Birmingham Daily News, and in oonnection therewith has run a solving tourney. This has now been completed, and the award announced. The two first on the list are G.H. and Perseverando, who both gain the highest number of marks, viz,, 145. We Snd G.H. to be the initials of an old friend known to some of our readers, George Hume, and his compeer is Chaa. Wiekwar, London. In the course of the tournament forty problems have been submitted, comprising 19 two-movers and 21 threemovers. Of these, one proved unsolvable, three had two solutions, one had three solutions, and one had twelve solutions, the remaining 34 being sound. To gain the highest number of marks possible under these circumstances was an excellent performance.—Leeds Mercury.

MR SLATER’S NEW WORK. We have been authoritatively informed that Mr George J. Slater, the famous Bolton problemist, has finally . decided to issue a collection of the gems from his very large collection of published compositions. A great many of these will be prizewinners, in regard to which few composers have had more success than Mr Slater ; and there will be a few unpublished positions of merit in

addition. There will also be a sketch of Mr Slater’s chess career, and a specially conceived article on problem competition. This subject will be treated in a method • which leaves the beaten track, and will be illustrated by the problems in the work. The book will contain over 300 pages, will be neatly got up, and the price will be 5s to subscribers, and 6s 6d to non-subscribers. We wish Mr Slater success in his undertaking.—Leeds Mercury.