CHESS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 878, 28 December 1888, Page 6

CHESS.

All communications for this department must be addressed to the Chess Editor, Mr C. W. Benbow. 28/12/88 T.S. (Ashurst).—You are wrong in your proposed solutions'to Problem No 965, for example after 1 Q to Q Kt 3, P x Kt, 2 K to Kt 7, Q x RP, and there is no mate next move. The same line of play meets the operations resulting from IKtoKt 7, &c. The composer's plan is a very unexpected one. R.J.D. (Clyde).—On reference below you will see that your key-move to Problem No 968 is not the correct one. *** T.S. (Ashmore sends further solutions as follows:—No 962; No 963;' A gem of the first water (10)No 964; No 966; ‘ The play of the Kt's is very good (8) ;’and No 967; ‘I thought this very easy, though I was very pleased with the play that follows E xB (7J).’ SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS, No 968 (T. Taverner). 1 It to It 4 1 Any move 2 Mates accordingly Solved by O.P. (Feilding); M.R. (Taranaki); B.P. (Gisborne) ; * The key to this stratagem is difficult to find (9);’ A.L.T. (Wanganui); Horace (Patea); O.P.Q. (Foxton); * A beautiful combination. It is wonderful to me how the composer can invent so'many admirable problems (9J);’ A.B.C. (Greytown); Felix (Auckland); T.E. (Picton); T.S. (Ashurst); ‘The moves of the K are ingenious in the highest degree, and the idea of the problem is very original (10);’ and H.D. (Bulls). We agree with our friends as to the many morits of this position (9£). No 969 (G. J. Slater). 1 Q to B, 7 1 P to Q 6 2 It x It (ch) 2 P x R 3 Q to B 2 mate Solved by O.P. (Feilding); T.S. (Ashurst); Loyd says, 1 This is difficult. I did not think it so, but I agree with him that it is cumbersome and lacks idea (8);’ A.L.T. (Wanganui; T. E. (Picton); M.£. (Taranaki); and Felix (Auckland); * Not relatively of so high a standard as the prize two-mover (8§).

PROBLEM No. 978. By H. and E. Bettman (Cincinnati). Second-prize two-mover in the Yenowine’s News Problem Tourney. Black.

White. White to play and mate in two moves. PROBLEM No. 979. By Max Feigl (Vienna). Second-prize three-mover in the Yenowine’s News Problem Tourney. Black.

White. White to play and mate in three moves, CHESS IN WELLINGTON. The subjoined game was played on the 20th ult., in the Championship Tourney of the Wellington Chess Club, between Messrs W. F. Barraud and C. W. Benbow. Ruy Lopez Knight's Game. White. Black. (Mr C. W. Benbow.) (Mr W F. Barraud.) IPtoK4 IP to K 4 2 Kt to K B 3 2 Kt'to Q B 3 3 B to Kt 5 3 P to Q It 3 4 B to B 4 4 Kt to K B 3 5 Castles 5 P to Q 3 An unusual continuation, and the only merit it seems to have is that it takes us out of the ordinary routine. 6 P to Q 4 6 P to Q Kt 4 Weakening the Queen’s flank, and generally inferior to other lines of play at his command. 7 B to Kt 3 7 P to K R 3 A waste of valuable time, B to K 3 would have been much more satisfactory. BFxP 8 P x P 9 B x P (ch) An unexpected stroke, and one difficult for Black to overcome. 9 K to K 2 If 9Kx B, White of course continues with 10 Kt x P (ch), &c. 10 B to Q 5 10 Kt x B 11 P x Kt 11 P to K 5 Ingenious, but unavailing. 12 R to K sq 12 B to B 4 13 Kt to Q B 3 13 Kt to B 2 14 Kt x K P 14 B x Kt 35 R x B (ch) 15 K to Q 2 16 Kt to K 5 (cb)

‘Unmerciful disaster Followed fast and followed faster.’ 16 K to B sq 17 Kt to B 7 17 Q to B 3 18 Kt x R 18 KtoKt 2 , 19 Q to B 3 19 Q to Q sq 20 B toK3 20 Q xP 21RtoQsq 21 Q to B 3 22 Kt to Kt 6 The beginner will see that the capture of the Kt would have involved the loss of the Queen. 22 B to Q 3 23 Kt to K 5 23 Q to K sq 24 Kt to B 4 24 Q to K B sq 25R to KB 4 (dis ch) 25 Kt to B 3 And White mates in four moves.