CHESS

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1106, 12 May 1893, Page 15

CHESS

All communications for this department iiUST be addressed to the Chess Editor, Mr C. W. Benbow. 12/5/93 *** The Wellington Chess Club meets every Tuesday and Friday evening at 7.30 pm in the large room at the rear of Messrs Cook and Gray's offices, Featherston Street. Visitors are cordially welcomed. * # *' The Karori Chess Club meets every and Saturday evening at 8 o'clock in the Karori schoolhouse. Visitors are invited. O.P. Jr (Colyton).—Your welcome letter received, and we thank you for the information it contained.

No 1410 (P. F. Blake.) lKttoK6 1 Any move 2 Mates accordingly Solved by H.B. and J.N.H. (Wellington); O P.Q. (Foxton) 'A very neat arrangement (8);' Horace (Patea); M.R (Taranaki); A.B.C. (Greytown North); and H.D. (Bulls). Good and satisfactory (8). No 1411 (Walter Pulitzer), lKttoQ3 1 K x R 2 Kt x P 2 Any move 3 Mates accordingly Solved by M.R. (Taranaki); T.E. (Picton); Horace (Patea); Te Ika a Maui; and H.D. (Bulls). A fine conception well worked out (9).

PROBLEM No 1420. By James Sexton (Kaponga.) Black.

PROBLEM No 1421. By Dr S. Gold (Vienna). Prom the Leeds Mercury. Black.

THE LATE MR BALLANCE.

Much has been written and said during the last two or three weeks of the part played—and worthily played too —in the history of our nolony by the late Premier, and expressions of of sorrow at his premature decease have been widespread and deep. We in turn would place on record the regret felt by the chess community at his untimely removal from their ranks and add our small tribute of respect to his memory.

It was the privilege of the writer to become first acquainted with Mr Ballance in Birmingham, in the year 1865, and during that and the earlier part of the following year they played a good deal of chess together, and when both met again in New Zealand some few years later the pleasant contests were renewed, though, owing to the changed circumstances and surroundings, not to the same extent. The writer always found him —as did everyone else who played with him—a strong and generous opponent; and there can be no doubt that if he had had sufficient leisure to cultivate his chess powers to their fullest extent he would have taken a place in the foremost rank of the exponents of the royal game. Mr Ballance always showed great interest in the progress and welfare of chess in Wellington, he was President of the club for the fir»t two or three years of its existence, and he also rapresented it in its first match by telegraph against Christchurch in 1879, his opponent being Mr Peez, whom he defeated. During the match by telegraph against Auckland the season before last, Mr Ballance, accompanied panied by his friend Sir Robert Stout, was a visitor on one of the evenings, and was much interested in the proceedings. We give the following parties as an in memoriam of the deceased gentleman. The first waR played in the ysar 1878 in a match between five members of the House of Representatives (Messrs Ballance, Bryce, Lu3k, Rees and Dr Greenwood) against a similar number of members of the Wellington Chess Club (Messrs Benbow, W. R. E. Brown, Hullott, Reeves and Willis), and although Mr Ballance lost this game he won from each of his other opponents. Every player had to contest one game against each of his adversaries. The notes are from the Otago Witness. The second game was one of two played by correspondence between Mr Ballance, and the Hon John Bryce in the year 1889, both of which were won by the first named. Staunton's Opening. White. Black. (Mr Ballance.) . (Mr Benbow.) 1 P to K 4 1 P to K 4

2 Kt to K B 3 2 Kt to Q B 3 3 P to Q B 3 This move generally leads to a most interestgame, and we should like to see it more generally adopted. It is a perfectly legitimate opening. 3 B to K 2 Kt to K B 3, P to Q 4, P to KB 4, and B to Q B 4 are all considered superior to the move here made. 4 B to Kt 5 4 P to Q 3 There seems to be no reason for fear at the doubling of the P on this file. It has the advantage of making another outlet for the Q B, whilst it considerably strengthens the centre pawns, and seems in this game, by being well supported, to have been the sure and steady march to victory. 5 B x Kt (ch) 5 P x B 6 P to Q 4 6PxP 7 P x P 7 Kt to K B 3 8 Kt to Q B 3 8 Castles B to R 3, preventing Castling, seems preferable. 9 Catties 9 P to K R 3 10 P to K R 3 10 Kt to R 2 11 Kt to R 2 11 P to Q 4 12 P to K 5 12 B to K 3 13 B to K 3 13 Q to Q 2 14PtoKB4 14KRtoQsq P to K B 3 at once, orP to Q R 4 were hfltfcpr 15Kt'toK2 15PtoKB3 16 Kt to Kt 3 16 P x P 17KBPxP 17RtoKBsq 18 Q to B 2 18 P to Q R 4 19 P to Q R 3 19 P to Q B 4 20 Q R to Q B sq 20 P x P 2lBxP 2lQßtoQßtfi 22 B to B 5 22 R x R (ch) 13 R x R 23 B x B 24 Q x B 24 P to R 5 25 Kt to B 3 25 R to K B sq 26 Kt to Q 4 26 R x R (ch) 27 Kt x R 27 Kt to Kt 4 28 Kt to Kt 5 28 Kt to K 5 29 Q to Kt 4 29 B to B 2 A neat defence of Q R P. Although the game is now equal as to pieces, White is at a great disadvantage in not having a P to defend KP. The single Kt should be stronger or more useful than the single B at this stage, but Black displays caution in supporting the advance of the militia, and eventually leads them on to victory. 30 Kt to B 3 30 Kt x Kt 31 Q x Kt 3t Q to K 2 32 Kt to Q 2 32 P to B 4 33 Q to K 3 33 P to Q 5 34 Q to K 4 34 Q to Q 2 35 Q to Q 3 35 Q to Q B 3 36 Q to B 2 36 P to B 5 37 Q to K 4 37 Q to Q Kt 3 38 Kt to B 3 38 P to Q 6 (dis ch) 39 Q to Q 4 39 Q x Q (ch) 40 Kt x Q 40 P to q 7 41 Resigns

Giuoco Piano. White. Black. (Hon. J. Ballance) (Hon J. Bryce.) 1 P to K 4 1 P to K 4 2 Kt to K B 3 2 Kt to Q B 3 3 B to B 4 3 » to B 4 4 Kt to B 3 4 P to Q 3 5 P to Q 3 5 Kt to B 3 6 B to K 3 6 B to Q Kt 5 The more usual continuation is 6B to Kt 3 ; 7QtoK2, BtoK3; 8 B to Kt 3, Q to K 2, and the positions are even. 7 Kt to K Kt 5 7 B x Kt (ch) 8 P x B 8 Castles 9 Q to B 3 9 Kt to K 2 10 Q to Kt 3 10 P to Q B 3 11 PtoKB4 HPxP 12 B x P 12 P to Q 4 13 P x P 13 Q Kt x P 14 Castles (K R) 14 Kt x P 15QRtoKsq 15QtoQ5(ch) Driving the King into a secure corner, and generally compromising his game. 16 K to R sq 16 Q Kt to Q 4 This move does not tend to improve matters. 17 P to Q B 3 17 Q to Kt 3 It is clear that the P cannot be taken without loss. 18 B to K 5 18 Kt to K sq B to K 2 seems more to the purpose. 19 Q to R 4 19 P to K R 3 20KtxBP Brilliantly continuing the attack, 20 R x Kt 21 R x R 21 K x R 22 Q to R 5 (ch) 22 K to B sq 238t0Q4 238t0Kt5 .

This is very bad, and yet Q to Q sq does not offer a much better prospect. 24 RtoK Bsq (ch) 24 KtoKt sq 25 Q to B 7 (ch) 25 K to R 2 26 B x Q 26 Kt to Q 3 27 Q to tf 2 27 Kt x Q B 28 B to Kt 3 28 B to B 4 29 Q to B 5 29 B x P A mere flash in the pan ; there is nothing to he done. 30RtoQsq 30 Kt to K 5 31 Q to B 5 (ch) 31 K to R sq 32 R x B 32 Kt to B 3 33PtoKt4 33RtoKsq 34 P to Kt 5 34 P x P

Believing that sudden extinction is better than lingering agony. 35 Mates in two mores.

White has played with great exactness throughout, while Black has had a very difficult and uphill game to contend with from his 16th move.

NOTES. Fresh Developments.—We are glad to learn that steps are being taken to establish chess clubs both in Palmerston North and Feilding, and as there are a number of enthusiastic players in both districts, and as the right people are moving in the matter we look forward to a very successful issue to their labours. A second chess match by telegraph was played by the local officers of the Telegraph Department on Saturday evening. This time the match was against Auckland, who could put forward only four good players, and resulted in a draw, each office winning two games. Messrs Tait, Falkiner, Allen and Sunlev represented Wellington, the former two players being the winners,