Chess.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 993, 13 March 1891, Page 6

Chess.

All communications for this department MOST be addressed to the Chess Editor, Mr C.W Bknbow. 13/3/91 J.S. (Kaponga). We have not had the pleasure of hearing from you for a long time past; we shall be glad to get a letter at your convenience.

SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. No 1191 (J. C. J. Wainwright) 1 P to B 8 queens 1 Any move 2 Mates accordinglvSolved by BC. (Wellington); M.R. (Taranaki) ; T.E. (Picton); O.P.Q. (Foxton); * The pawn so advanced looked suspicious, and soon guided me to the key move A.B.C. (Greytown North); R.J.L. (Palmerston North); and Horace (Patea). There is much ingenious play in the problem, though the solution is not difficult to discover (8). No 1195 (J. J. Hanauer.) 1 Kt to Kt sq 1 K to B 5 1 P to Kt 3 2 Any move 3 Mates accordingly. Solved by M.R. (Taranaki); T.E. (Picton) ; and Felix (Auckland). Considerable ingenuity is shown in the idea of this problem (9).

PROBLEM No 1202. By George Hume (Nottingham). Third prize position in the British Chess Magazine Problem Tourney.

Black

White. White to play and mate in two moves.

PROBLEM No 1203. By W. Gleave (London). From ‘ The British Chess Magazine. ’

Black

W HITE. White to play and mate in three moves,

THE STEIN ITZ-GUNSBERG MATCH. The second game in the Steinitz-Gunsberg match was played December 11th. Mr Gunsberg having the move, played the Rny Lopez opening, and not managing the opening moves in the best manner, got into difficulty, and was obiiged to resign in the fortieth move. Ruy Lopez White. Black. (Mr Gunsberg.) (M r S teinitz.) 1 P to K 4 1 P to K 4 2Ktto KB 3 2Ktto QB 3 - 3 B to Kt 5 3 P to Q 3 A move favoured by the Modern Chess Instructor, to whioh Mr Gunsberg should have replied by 4 P to Q 4 at once, instead of 3 P to Q B 3. 4 P to Q B 3 4 B to Q 2 5 Castles 5 K Kt to K 2 6 P to Q 4 6 Kt to Kt 3 7Pto Q 5 , , This advance will be found to be a source of weakness later on. 7 Kt to Q Kt sq 8 B x B (ch) 8 Kt x B 9 Kt to R 3 9 B to K2 10 Kt to B 2 10 Kt to B 4 11 Q to K 2 11 Qto Q 2 12 P to Q Kt 4 12 Kt to Q R 5 This Kt bothers White a good deal, and his Q Kt P move to drive it off is one cause of the Q side being broken up later. 13 B to Q 2 13 Castles 14 P to Q B 4 14 P to KB 4 15 P x P 15 Q x P 16 Q R to B sq 16 Q R to IT sq Black’s pieces are now well developed, and assume a threatening appearance. 17 K Kt to K sq 17 B to Kt 4 18 P to Kt 3 18 Kt to B 6 This Kt has now done its work and wins the exchange. 19 B x Kt 19 B x R 20 Kt to Kt 2 20 Q to B 6 21 Q x Q 21 R x Q 22 K Kt to K 3 22 B x Kt 23 Kt x B 23 Q R to K B sq 24 KtoKt 2 24 Pto B 3 __ The breaking up process now begins, and White struggles in vain. 25 BtoKt 2 25 £ x „ 26 Kt x P 26 R to Q 6 27 B to B sq 27 P to Kt 4 28 Kt toK3 28P x P 29 Kt x P 29 R to Q 5 30 Kt to K 3 30 R x Kt P 31 R to Q Bq 31 RtoßtS 32 B to R 3 32 R x R 33 Kt x R 33 R to Q sq 34 P to B 3 34 P to Q 4 35 Kt to B 3 35 V to Q 5 36 Kt to K 5 36 R to Kt sq 37 P to K R 4 37 P to K R 4 38 K to B 2 38 R to Kt 8 39 B to Q 6 39 R to Kt 7 (ch) 40 K to K sq 40 R x P 41 Resigns

The sixth game in this match, with notes by Mr Steinitz, for which we are indebted to the chess column of the New York Weekly Tribune , _ Irregular Opening. White. Black. (Mr Gunsberg.) (Mr Steinitz.) 1 P to Q 4 1 P to Q 4 2 P to K 3 2 P to K 3 3 B to Q 3 3 P to Q B 4

It is a curious feature of this game that* while White retains the Q B P, Black, though second player, is the first to advance that pawn. As will be seen, White intends to turn the game into au ordinary Fianchett >. 4 P to Q Kt 3 4 Q Kt to B 3 5 K Kt to B 3 5 Kt to B 3 6 Castles 6 B to Q 2 7 B to Kt 2 7 R to B sq Threatening, after exchanging pawns, Kt to Q Kt 5, with a good game. 8 P to B 3 Hardly advisable. 8 B to Q 3 Usually the defence plays B to K 2 in this opening, but, as White has blocked his own Q B, Black is justified in altering his tactics. 9 Q Kt to Q 2 9 P to K 4 As in a similar position in the match between Steinitz and Tschigorin, at Havana. 10 P takes K P 10 Kt takes P 11 Kt takes Kt 11 B takes Kt 12 Kt to B 3 12 B to Kt sq 13 P to K R 3 There is hardly any necessity for this move, which is generally disadvantageous. 13 P to B 5 14 B to B 2 14 Castles 15 Q to Q 4 15 R to K sq 16 Q R to Q sq 16 P to Q Kt 4 17 P to Q Kt 4 17 Q to B 2 18 IT R to K sq 18 R to K 2 19 K to B sq . He might have better utilised his time by playing R to Q 2 with the view of bringing back B to Q sq. 19 Q R to K sq 20 Q to R 4 20 Q to Q 3 If 20 R to K 5 ; 21 B takes R, R takes R ; 22 P to K Kt 4, P to K R 4 ; 23 Kt to Kt 5, and Black gets nothing for the loss of the exchange. But anyhow, thelextmove was waste of time, and he should have played Q to B 3 at once. 21 R to Q 4 21 Q to B 3 22 K R to Q sq 22 B to K 4 An oversight which loses a pawn, but a 3 it happens, be obtains a strong attack by the loss of the pawn, as he liberates his Q B. 23 R takes P 23 B to Kt sq 24 P to Q R 4 24 P to Q R 3 Black could not take the pawn without getting the disadvantag - by the reply P to Kt 5, followed by B to Q R 3. 25 P to R 5 2o P to K R 3 A little too late. 26 R (Q 5) to Q 4 26 Q to Kt 2 27 Kt to K sq 27 B to IT 4 28 R (Q 4) to Q 2 28 B to B 2 Black gains an important move by this manoeuvre, whereby he prevents the exchange of rooks at later stages. 29 IT to K 2 29 R to K 4 Threatening R to K R 4. 30 P to B 3 The only move. 30 R takes P 31R takes R . ~ If 31 B to K 4, which White probably speculated upon, then 31 R (IT sq) takes B ; 32 P takes R, B to Kt 6 ; and wins. 31 R takes R 32 B to B sq 32 R to K 4 White threatened B takes R P, which is now prevented, as Black would answer R to K R 4. The text move is also better than R takes Q B P, as White would answer B to Kt 2, with an excellent attack. 33 Q to B 2 33 Q to B 3 34 B to K 3 34 R to K sq 35 Q to Q 2 35 Q to K 3 36 B to Q 4 36 Kt to R 4 37 B to B 2 „ If 37 B takes B, Kt to Kt 6 (ch); 38 K to Kt sq, K takes B, and obviously White dare not take the B, as mate would follow in a few moves, beginning with Q to K 6 (ch) 37 B to B 3 38 K B to Kt sq 38 Q to K 4 39 Kt to B 2 39 B takes K B P Decisive. „ 40 P takes B 40 Q to R 7 41 Q to Q. 7 41 Q to R 8 (ch) 42 B to Kt sq 42 Q takes P (ch) 43 B to B 2 43 Kt to Kt 6 (ch) And mates next move. THE BEST CHESSPLAYERS IN PARLIAMENT. THE HOUSE OF LORDS.

Earl Dartrey was, and probably is still, the best chessplayer in the House of Lords. When the late Mr F. Deacon was reputed to be one of the strongest players in England, Lord Dartrey played a match with him in the handicap tourney of 1862, and receiving only the odds of first move, drew two games and lost two. From 1862 to 1872 his lordship rendered valuable services to chess ss vice-president, and subsequently president, of the old B.C. Association. Regular in attendance, keen m business, courteous, practical and conciliatory on all occasions, he presented a perfect model of an intellectual chairman. He was a great favourite with the Queen, find fifl Lord Cremorne held for some years the office of Lord-in-Waiting to Her Majesty. Tne late Lord Lyttelton once observed in_ serio-jocose tones, that Lord Cremorne owed his promotion to the earldom to his skill and services as a chessplayer. His lordship was offered the presidentship of the present B.C. A., but owing to his delicate health, was obliged to decline it. He is now, and has been for many years, the president of the St. George’s Club in St. James •* street.

THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. Mr George Newnes is reputed to be the best chessplayer in the House of Commons, but his multifarious duties allow him but scant time to devote to the practice of the game. Occasionally, however, he crosses swords with an expert, and proves himself *no unworthy antagonist. He is one of the few generous patrons of chess. To tournaments, to matches, to chessplayers needing help for any worthy object he gives with fi lavish hand re« joicing heart. To the British Chess Association he has presented a handsome silver cup, and many other precious gifts. In truth, no man seems to have realised more fully the truth of the precept, ‘ It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ Mr Newnes is president of the British Chess Club, where his services are priceless and his popularity unbounded. When he is present amongst the members they seem to be all the better and all the happier.—Mars.