Chess.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 998, 17 April 1891, Page 7

Chess.

A.ll communications for this department must 6e addressed to the Chess Editor, Mr C. W Benbow. 17/4/91 SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. No 1202 (George Hume). IB to B 6 1 Any move 2 Mates accordingly. .. Solved by B.C. and J.N.H. (Wellington), O.P.Q. Foxton), ‘ A nice, quiet waiting move to begin with (8J) ;* A.L.T. (Wanganui); R.P. (Gisborne) ; 4 Not easy to solve for a two mover (8):* and Horace (Patea). All the compositions of this gentleman are worthy of careful study No 1203 (W. Gleave). 1 Kt to K 5 1 K to Q 3 2 Q toJQ sq (ch) 2 K to B 3 3 Q to Q 7 mate Solved by O.P.Q. (Foxton) ' A hard nut to crack (9) A.L.T. (Wanganui) ; T.E. (Picton) ; and Horace (Patea). The working out is good and by no means easy (8£). PROBLEM No 1212. By J. A. Ros (Edlmestad, Sweden). .Fourth prize problem in the British Chess Magazine Problem Tourney. Black

White. White to play and mate in two moves, PROBLEM No 2213. By W. E; Mitrhum (Pennsylvania) Bpaok.

White. White to play and mate in three moves. The Baltimore Sunday News says that the principal feature of the first annual meeting of the Pennsylvania Chess Association held at Pitsbnrgh on February 3rd 1891 was Mitchums Masterpiece, given above. This was a problem submitted for solution by the President, who announced that a prize would be given to the member who first mastered it without moving the pieces. Nine competitors attacked the position, but after an hour it was found to have still held out and baffled their brains, consequently it was withdrawn.

THE BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE. In the February issue of the British Ches ß Magazine appears a fine portrait of the late Walter Grimshaw. The 64 pages of fascinating reading comprises a dozen different articles and some poetry. An article on 4 Simpson’s Divan,’ by Charles Tomlinson, F.R.S., brings many wonderful little incidents to light, and a game all of which except the beautiful opening is new to us. It was the famous partie in which M. Kieseritzky had the temerity to offer the the celebrated Thomas Buckle the odds of P and move. Remove Black’s K B P. White. Black. (Mr Buckle.) (M. Kieseritzky). 1 P to K 4 1 Kt to Q B 3 2PtoQ4 2 P to K 4 3 P to Q 5 3 Q Kt to K 2 4 B to K Kt 5 4 Kt to K B 3 sßxKt 5 P x B 6 Q to R 6 (ch) 6 Kt to Kt 3 7 Kt to K B 3 7 Q to K 2 8 P to Q 6 8 Q to B 2 9PxP9 B to B 4 10 Q Kt to Q 2 10 P to Q 3 11 B to Kt 5 (ch) 11 B to Q 2 12 Q to B 5 12 R to K B sq 13 Castles Q R 13 P to Q R 3 14 B x B (ch) 14 Q x B 15 Kt to B 4 15 R to B eq 16 R to Q 5 16 Kt to K 2 17 Q to R 5 (ch) 17 R to B 2 18 R x B 18 P x R 19 R to Q sq 19 Q to K 3 20 Kt to Q 6 (ch) 50 K to B sq 21 Kt x Q R 21 Kt xKt ' 22 Q. to R 6 (ch) 22 R to Kt 2 23 R to Q 8 (ch) 23 K to B 2 24 Q to R 5 (ch) 24RtoKt2 25 Q x P (ch) 25 R to Kt 3 26 Q to R 5 (ch) 26 R to Kt 3 27 R x Kt 27 Q x R 28 Kt to K R 4 28 Q to K Kt sq 29 Q x R (ch) 29 Q x Q SO Kt x Q SOKxKt 31P queens 31 Resigns Anecdotes, too, adorn this fine article. One or two of these hit Mr Staunton hard : * When Harrwitz and Loweuthal played their match, a frequently discussed time limit had not y6t been agreed on. Staunton directed Lowenthal several times to take \ hour for every move. But Nemesis pursued even Staunton. He told the writer that in a match a certain professional antagonist coolly said to him in answer to his remonstrance to his slow play, 14 1 cant afford to lose this; I must sit you out ’ CHESS IN ENGLAND. A brilliant little game played at Simpson’s Grand Divan. Score from the Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News. Vienna Opening. White. Black. Mr Bum.) (XJ 1 P to K 4 IPtoK 4 2 Kt to Q B 3 2 Kt to KB 3 3 P to K Kt 3 3 P to Q 4

Black ought to have played his K B. The' move in the text gives white a free diagonal for his B posted at K Kt 2. 4 P x P 4 Kt x P 5 B to Kt 2 5 B to K 3 6 P to Q 3 6 Q Kt to B 3 7 Kt to B 3 7 B to K 2 8 Castles 8 Kt x Kt 9Kt Px Kt 9 Q toQ 2 10 R to Kt sq 10 Castles Q R Thißis needlessly rash. PtoQ Kt 3 would have given him quite a comfortable position. 11 R x P , A brilliant sacrifice, whereby thus early White sees his way to forcing the game. 11 Kx R 12 Kt x P 12 Q to Q 3 14 Kt x Kt 13 R to Q 2 K to B sq would prolong the defence. 14 B to K B 4 14 Q to B 4 15 Kt x B (dis ch) 15 K to R 3 16 Q to Kt sq The initial move in a very fine combination. 16 R x Kt 17 Q to Kt 7 (ch) 17 K to R 4 18 B to Q 2 18 Q to Kt 3 19 P to B 4 (dis ch) 19 K to R 5 20 R to Kt sq This is real chess. 20 Q x Q 21R xQ. 21 PtoQ R 4 22 B to B 6 (ch) 22 K to R 6 23 R to Kt 3 (ch" 23KxP 24 B to Q B 3 24 B to Q 2 25 R to Kt 2 ch Resigns. WELLINGTON CHESS CLUB. The annual meeting of the Chess Club was held in the Club’s room on Wednesday. There was a good attendance, and Mr C. W. Benbow (president) occupied the chair. The Committee, in their annual report, re. gretted to announce a serious falling off in the membership of the Club. Although seven new members were elected during the year, there were now only 23 names on the roll which were to be depended upon, and when it was remembered that 27 subscriptions were required to pay. the rent alone, it was clearly necessary that the number of members should be increased. The subscription could be raised to £l, or the number of the meeting nights reduced ; bat they believed that if members exerted their influence a number of desirable names could be added to the roll, thus enabling the Committee to carry on the Club without curtailing any of their present privileges. They had begun the year with a debit balance of £4 1b 6d, which had been wholly paid off, leaving a cash balance to credit of £1 Is sd. The season was opened with the time honoured match—Mr C. W. Benbow versus the members of the Club simultaneously, Mr Benbow winning 9 of the 14 games played, and losing 4, the other being drawn. annual handicap tourney, for which 18 competed, was won by Mr A, I. Littlejohn with 14 wins, 1 loss, and 1 drawn game, Mr R. J. Barnes being second with 12 wins, 4 losses, and Mr W. Mackay third with 12 wins, 4 losses, 1 draw. Mr W. F, Barraud tied with Mr Mackay, bat the latter won on playing off the tie. _ A draughts match was played with the Working Men’sJClub Chess and Draught Club, and was won. The Committee regretted the laok of interest in the game of draughts, and expressed a hope that more matches and a tourney would be arranged. By the united efforts of the Club, and the Working Men’s Club a chess congress was held in December, and it was undoubtedly the largest and most representative gathering of cheßS players yet held in New Zealand, although the unavoidable absence of Mr C. W. Benbow was much regretted. The Club was represented by Messrs R. J. Barnes and A. I. Littlejohn, and the former snoceeded in carrying off the championship, a performance in the highest degree creditable to him, and one which reflected great honour oh the Club, in which he may be said to have matriculated and graduated. The Committee recommended, in. conclusion, that a special committee be appointed to revise the rnles, and with a view to encouraging and facilitating the desired increase of membership, that the entrance fee be abolished. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. Thirteen new members were elected. The election of officers resulted as follows : President, Mr C. W. Benbow (re-elected) ; Vice-President, Mr G. Didsbury (reelected); Secretary and Treasurer, Mr A. I. Littlejohn. (re-elected) ; General Committee, Messrs A. Campbell, W. Mackay, B. B. Allen, F. H, Bakewell, P. Tait ; Match Committee, Messrs G. Wright, Bakewell and Allen ; Draughts Committee, Messrs H. Phillips, a. Campbell, and A. H. Rosa ; Referee, Mr C. W. Benbow ; Auditor, Mr W. F. Barraud. It was decided that the Match Committee be instructed to divide the annual handicap tourney into two divisions, senior (including classes 1 to 3), and junior (including all below olass 3). It was decided that arrangements be made to hold a telegraphic match. A special committee was appointed to revise the rules. Votes of thanks were passed to Mr A, Campbell for the use of his office for com* mittee meetings, to the retiring officers, to the Secretary and Treasurer, and to the Chairman, and the meeting then terminated.

The Wellington Chess Club opened their season on Tuesday with a match between Mr C. W. BenbowK and the rest of the Club simultaneously. The veteran was in capital form, and be cams out with the splendid record of 10 wins, 4 draws, and no losses. The players who succeeded in drawing were Messrs P. Tait, Bakewell, Edwards and W. Maokay. There was a large attendance, and considerable interest was taken in the play.