CHESS

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1249, 6 February 1896, Page 42

CHESS

All communications for this department must ! be addressed to the Chess Editor, Mr C. W. Benbow. 6/2/96 *#* The Wellington Chess Club meets every Tuesday and Friday evening at 7.30 in Boom No. 11, Exchange Buildings, Lambton Quay. Visitors are cordially welcomed. J.C.A. (Christchurch). —Many thanks for letters and problems. We have had the pleasure of replying to the former by post. SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. No. 169 G (P. F. Blake). 1 K to Q 8 1 Any move 2 Mates accordingly. Solved by H. 8., J.N.H. andF.A.L.K. (Wellington) ; Te Ika a Maui; O.P.Q. (Foxton), " An unexpected key-move, and there aire a nu_nber of fine variations (9) " ; X.Y.Z. (Christchurch) ; M.R. (Taranaki) ; Felix (Auckland); A.B.C. (Greytown) ; R.P. (Gisbornc), " The general working out of this problem is charming (9) "j H.D. (Bulls) : Horace (Patea) ; and T.E. (Picton). The judges' reports on the problem are : —" A splendid key, and just the kind likely to catch the unwary; it is subtle and clever. The rest, too, is exceedingly good. In all respects it is a well-balanced and meritorious problem 100." —J.R. " A pleasing key which is necessitated because 1 Rto B 5 is on the cards. After this everything is in conventional style, and no novelty is exhibited. The Black Kt at Kt 5 is usefully placed, but notwithstanding the twelve variations, there seems a want of unity (84)." —B.G-.L. No. 1697 (F. A. L. Kuskop). 1 Kt to K 4 1 K to Q 2 2 Kt to Kt 6 ch 2 K to K 2 3 B to R 3 mate Solved by H.B. (Wellington) ; Te Ika a Maui; Horace (Patea); R.P. (Gisborne), " There is much of gracefulness in this problem (9) "; Felix (Auckland) ; T.E. (Picton) ; M.R. (Taranaki) ; and H.D. (Bulls.) The composer of this problem brings about some elegant combinations with the minor pieces (8£). PROBLEM No. 1706. By Henry A. Wood (Shaw). This was the best two-mover contributed to the chess column in the Bolton Football Field during the past six months. Black.

White. White to play and mate in two moves PROBLEM No. 1707. By A. Maiyanek. Black.

White. "White to play and mate in throe moves. NEW ZEALAND CHESS CONGRESS. A pleasing and interesting' game between Mr 0. C. Pleasants, who won the second prize, and Mr R. J. Barnes, who tied i'or the third place : Queen's Pawn Opening-. White * Black. (Mr O. C. Pleasants.) (Mr B. J. Barnes.) 1 P to Q 4 1 P to K 4 A form of defence which brings about a

lively game, and it is one to which Mr H. Charlick, of Adelaide, is partial. 2 P x t» 2 Kt to Q B 3 3 Kt to K B 3 3 P to Q 3 4PxP 4BxP 5 P to K 4 5 Kt to K B 3 0 B to Q 3 6 B to K Kt 5 7 B to K 3 7 Castles 8 Q Kt to Q 2 8 Kt to K 4 9 B to K 2 If he had played 9 P to K R 3 it would have led to interesting positions, and ono or other of the following would have been a not unlikely continuation: — ' 9 P to K R 3 9 B to R 4 10 P to K Kt 4 10 B to Kt 3 11 Kt x Kt 11 B x Kt 12 P to K B 4, etc If 10 Kt x B ch 11 P x B 11 B to Kt 3 12 P to K 5 12 Q B x P 13 Q to Kt 3, etc If 9 B x Kt 10 Kt x B 10 B to Kt 5 ch 11 K to K 2 11 Kt x Kt 12 P x Kt, etc 9 Q to K 2 10 B to K Kt 5 10 Q R to Q sq Black has now a well-developed game, good for either attack or defence. 11 Castles 11 B x Kt 12 B x B To have recaptured with Kt would have been bad because of 12 Kt x Kt ch ; 13 B x Kt, B x R P ch; 14 Kt x B, R x Q, and wins. 12 P to K R 3 13 B x Kt 13 Q x B 14 Q to K 2 14 Kt x B ch 15 Q x Kt Kt x Kt strikes us as being superior to the move in the text; at any rate it is certain that disaster would not have been so prompt. 15 B x P ch 16 K x B 16 O. to R 5 ch This is, of course, better than the immediate capture of the Kt, as it prevents the disruption of the pawns on his K wing. 17 Q to R 3 17 Q x Q ch 18 K x Q 18 R x Kt 19 Q R to B sq 19 K R to Q sq 20 P to Q Kt 3 20 R to K 7 21 P to K B 3 21 K R to Q 7 The game is now practically won, as the combined power of these Rooks is too much for White to overcome. 22 K R to Q sq 22 R x Kt P 23 R x R 23 R x R 24KtoKt4 21Pt083 25 K to B 5 25 K to B 2 26 P to R 3 26 P to K R 4 27 K to B 4 27 K to K 3 28 P to R 4 28 R to K 7 29 K to Kt 3 29 P to K Kt 4 30 R to Q sq 30 R x B P 31 R, to Q 8 31 P to R 5 ch 32 K to Kt 4 If K to R 3, Black plays 32 R to B 6, and another P is gone. 32 R to Kt 7 ch 33 K to R 3 33 R to Kt 6 ch 34 K to R 2 34 R x P And White resigns. Time, lhr. 46min. Time, 48min. In the Congress game played between Messrs Mackay and Mouat, which appeared in our issue of January 30, Mr Mouat points out that the note on move 10 of Black is erroneous, and that instead of winning a Pawn by 10 P x P, he would have lost a piece by White's reply 11 Q x P. AN AUSTRALIAN VETERAN. The following article on Mr Burns, of Melbourne, accompanied with a portrait, appears in the issue of the 4th ult. of our contemporary, the Sydney Town and Country Journal: Andrew Burns, Melbourne, Chess Plater and Critic. The victory scored by Mr Burns on behalf of Victoria, on last Queen's Birthday in his game by telegraph against Mr S. Henderson, of New South Wales, revived bygone recollections among the veterans of both colonies, and led several of our correspondents of the younger generation to write for some particular?, about the winner. Burns was born in Glusgow on 14th February, 1831- Educated at; High School and Glasgow University. Arrived in Melbourne in May, 1855. Commenced to play chess about 1857 at a coffee house in Bourke-street, called the City Buffet, where Goldsmith, Ellis, the two Phillips, Tullidge and others graduated. Entered tournament held in 1866, with about twenty competitors, handicapped in Cla?s I. with seven others ; won Ist prize with loss of one game (to Ellis). Burns entered tournament of 1867 ; twenty-five competitors ; handicapped in Ist division of Class L, second division including Candler, Goldsmith, Sedgefield and Tullidge. Tied with Tullidge, witls score or 19 wins and 3 losses. Played off match of three games, winning all, giving ; move in each game. Entered tournament of 1809; 25 competitors ; handicapped alone in Class I. ; giving Class 11., Pawn and move ; | won Ist prize witli score of 20 wins, 2 lost and 1 drawn. Subsequently played various private matches, all at odds, nearly all of which Burns won : Among others, one with fiedgefield at pawn and move, won by Burns by 6 to 2 ; and another with Council at same odds, won by Burns by 5 to 1. But some time afterwards he was defeated by Goldsmith and Sedgefield in short matches at same odds, in ■ each case by the odd game. In the Septemqer number,"lß72, of the Westminster Papers, then the leading exponent of chess in England, it was (stated that " Mr Burns, of Melbourne, woidd take high rank as a player in London or Berlin," and in the Glasgow Herald of 9th October, 1830, that " he is looked upon by many as quite equal to any of our home experts." Afterwards Burns played little for several years, and got somewhat rusty, but in 1879 entered for a challenge cup to be won twice ; handicapped alone in Class 1., giving Pawn and move to Class 11. ; won it for the first time. In 1880 again entered for this cup ; handicapped as before ; was defeated by F. K. Ealing, at odds of Pawn and move, by the odd game, the score being : Kslinc, 3 ; Burns, 2 ; drawn 1. Immediately afterwards Esling drew a match on even terms with Wisker, exchampion of England. Also in 1880 Burns contested 7 games with Wisker, not in a set match, winning 3 and drawing the other 4, both players, however, being rather rusty. In ISB2 Burns won the cup finally, handicapped as before, but Esling not competing. For the next two years Burns virtually abandoned match play, but in 1884 was induced to enter a touniament for another challenge cup ; handicapped in Class I. with Fisher and Gossip, defeating both these , players and winning the cup for the first ! firne ; but next year Fisher succeeded in winning it back. In the same year Burns lost for the first and last time in an intercolonial j match against New South Wales to William Crane, Burns won his games m all other

intercolonial matches except in 1879 against Ryan, and in 18S5 against Russell, both of which were drawn. Since 1885 Burns has ceased to undertake seriou3 contests on account of business engagements and pressure of years. He was one of the founders of the Melbourne Chess Club in 1866, and has been a member of committee ever since ' was president for several years, also treasurer. Started the excellent chess column in the Melbourne Leader on 12th June, 1569, and has conducted it ever since in a manner to command the respect of chess players throughout Australasia, who rightly regard Burns as a prince among commentators. From time to time he haa received encomiums about his chess column from correspondents in the colonies and in England, and quite lately an appreciative expression of opinion from Mr Tinsley, the gifted chess editor of the London Times. Mr Burns has carried on for many years a large practice as a public accountant and auditor. For the estimate formed by Mr Burn's play in his best days, we refer our readers to an excellent letter by Mr Heydon in the Town and Country Journal of 28th October, IS7I. The following crame is a spirited sample. It was played in the ISOO tournament : Sicilian Defence. White Black (Mr Burns.) (Mr Tullidge.) 1 P to K 4 1 P to Q B 4 2 K Kt to B 3 2 P to K 3 3 P to Q 4 3PxP 4 Kt x P 4 P to Q R 3 5 Kt to B 3 5 Q Kt to B 3 6 B to K 3 G B to Kt 5 7 Q to Q 2 7 K Kt to K 2 S B to Q 3 8 Castles 9 Castles K R 9 P to Q 4 10 P to Q R 3 10 B x Kt HQxB HBtoQ2 12 P to K B 4 12 R to B sq 13 Q to K sq 13 P x P 14 B x P 11 Kt x Kt 15 B x Kt 15 B to Q Kt 4 l 16 R to Q sq I 16 B x R 17 B x Kt P 17 Q to Kt 3 ch IS B to Q 4 IS Q to Kt 4 White now mated in twelve moves as follows : 19 B x P ch 19 K x B 20 Q to R 4 ch 20 K to Kt 3 21 Q to Kt 4 ch 21 K to R 3 22 Q to Kt 7 ch 22 K to R 4 23 P to Kt 4 ch 23 K to R 5 21BtoB2ch 2iKtoßo 25 Q to R 6 ch 25 K x P 26 Q to R 4 ch 26 K to B 4 27 Q to Kt 5 ch 27 K to K 5 28 R to Q 4 ch 28 K to B 6 29 Q to Kt 3 ch And White mates next move. NOTES. Chess Championship. —Our readers will have noticed from a late cablegram that the contest at St. Petersburg between Messrs Lasker, Steinitz, Pillsbury and Tschigorin, has terminated in favour of the first-named, who has thus once again demonstrated his right to the proud position of chess champion of the world. The respective scores were : Laskor 11. V, Steinitz 10. V, Pillsbury 9, Tschigorin 7. In due course we shall have the pleasure of publishing some of the games.