CHESS

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1260, 23 April 1896, Page 41

CHESS

All communications for this department must be addressed to the Chess Editor, Mr C. AY. Benhow. 23/4 Dll The Wellington Chess Club moots every Tuesday and Finlay evening at 7.30 in Boom No. 11, Exchange Buildings, La mb ton Quay. Visitors arc cordially welcomed. X.Y.Z. (Christchurch). —Sends correct solutions to Problems No. 171 f, “ I am afraid with 10 in the standard I would not cede this more than 7 ;” and No. 1715, “ This is an excellent specimen of work, with good economy ; there is one short mate, but on the whole the problem should perhaps get St or It.”

SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. No. 1715 (John 0. Andersen). This is held over until next week to give solvers time to examine and report on it alter the correction in our last issue. No. 1717 (Konrad Krlin). 1 Kt to K 7 1 K to B 1 21! to K 3 eh 2lvx Kt 3 Q to K ft 2 mate Solved by l-’.A.L.K. (Wellington), “This problem tonus a beautiful study iu itselt ; M.U, (Taranaki): II.1). (Hulls'); R.P. (Gisborne), “ The combination is very line ('•>)”; Felix (Auckland; and T.E. (Pict.on). The play of the various pieces is very interesting (J). PROBLEM No. 1720. A B'aek Pawn lias been omitted from Black Q B 5. PROBLEM No. 172-h By Eustace King (Christchurch). Black.

Wll ITK. White to play and mate in two moves PROBLEM No. 1720. By 11. Jvcitlanski (Berlin). From The Chess Mon!lily. Black.

White. White to play and mate in three moves. CHESS IN ENGLAND. A very interesting game played on February IV!, in tho mat'd) between Surrey v. Hampshire. Mr Blake is one of the very strongest of the English amateur': and Mr A. Howell, who. a few years ago was a member of the Leeds Chess Club, is a very strong London p]aver, and headed the Surrey team. The notes are by Mr Gunsoerg. French Defence. White Blaek (J. 11. Blake) L-V. Rowell) 1 P to K 1 I 1 ’ 1,4 2 P to Q f 2 P to Q 4 ;j o Kt to B 3 3 K Kt to j; 3 1 P to K 5 ~ , This variation was successfully played lor a time, until it was di -covered that if Black takes care not to Castle too early on Lee King’s side, so as to avoid a King s aide attack ; and if lie fui liier devote. Ins attention to advance oil the Queen s side. Ll.ten ILI obtain at least an oven game. 1 K Kt to Q 2 5 Pto B t- -■> BB’Q B ; 0 P takes P Kt [■ 1 We do not know oi any special r. .won against Kt to Q It 3 being played here. Fur if White then replies with t k t to L o, L lakes ]* becomes more pruiibiole tieiu I'. i- * J , as the White Queen would then bo shut oil from playing to K Kt 1. 7 Kt to J> 3 7PtoQL:, S B to Q 3 « Kt takes L cu 1) P takes Kt 3 B -•> n f ■’ We prefer BtoK 2. It is oi importance or Black to keep his 13 as long as \\ lute lu-, his P oil K 5. 10 Castles 10 B takes Kt Whereby Black gives Vv Lite a commanding diagonal fur his B on Q K ■>. lIP takes B 1 < Hustles 12 B to It 3 12 It to h sq 13 Q to B 2 13 P to B J The absence of Black’s K B i.s Mow felt. Black lms no moans of preventing an advance on the King’s side, except by the text >n ;.’e. If P takes Pon pas H Q takes P P takes P should have been pin/. • 1 Im.-.j. JO Kt to K 5 Id Kt to K 2 15 Q It to K sq 15 Kt to B 3 17 It to K 3 17 P to Q Kt I 13 P to Q 4 13 It to Jt 2

10 R to Kt 3 10 Kt to B 4 White’s well-directed play makes the defence increasingly diiliciilt, but it does seem useless to place the Kt on B J, where it could be attacked next move in a manner very advantageous to White—namely, by P to Kt, 1. P to Kt 3 seems Black’s best. 20 It to It 3 20 P to Kt 3 21 P to Kt 4 21KttoKt2 22 B to B 5 22 It to Kt 2 23 Q to K Kt 2 23 .11 to Q. sq 24 it to It 0 24 Kt to 1C sq 25 Pto Kit 4 25 Q to JCc 2 2d P to Kt 5 2(1 Kt to Q 3 27 B takes Kt 27 It takes B 23 P to R 5 From this point Black’s game becomes hopeless. White follows up Ins advantage with great skill. 23 P takes P 20 P to B 5 20 it to K 1J 2 . White’s clever move hardly admitted of another reply. If, lor instance, Q to B sq ; 30 P to 11 (!, to bo followed by Q to Q B 2. and P to 1! 7, winning. 30 P to tv t (! Highly artistic. He not only does not take the Kook, but likewise offers his own Rook. The result, of course, if now Q takes R, is obviously mate in three moves. 34 P takes P If R to Q B 2 : 31 P takes P oh, 1C to It sq ; 32 SCt to Kt d ch, wins. 31 R takes ICt P IC to B Sq 32 ICt takes R _ _ Again ingenious play, for if Q takes Kt; 32 P takes P, pinning the Queen. Resigns CHESS IN NEW ZEALAND. Route few weeks hack the Wellington Chess Club was favoured with several visits from Mr G. A. Russell, of Melbourne, and liie following game was cunte-tcd on one of these oeca-ions. The ingenuity and finish of Mr Russell's grand play was much admired. 'Queen's Gambit Declined. White. I Uaolx. (Mr C. W. Benbow (Mr G. A. F.ussoll) 1 P to Q I 1 P to Q 4 2 p t«> Q 11 ! 2 Q to K 3 3 ICt to Q B 3 3 Kt to 1C B 3 1 1! to ICt, 5 ~ This development of the Q 1> oil tho K 3 side is a. modern innovation in this opening. 4 B to IC 2 ;■> P to IC 3 5 Castles (I ICt to IC B 3 0 P toK R 3 7 B x Kt 7 B x B 8 Rto Q B sq 3 i’ to Q. Kt 3 !> P x P '■> P x P ID j; tn Q 3 lo ICt to B 3 1 1 Kt to K 2 11 Q to 1) 3 12 Castles 12 Kt to 1C 2 13 B to ICt sq 13 B lo Q 2 11 Kt to 1C 1 3 1 t I’ to Q B l An oversight which loses a valmudo l . 15 P x P ' U f s I’ . Id Q to B 2 R> Kt to ICt 3 17 q x P 17 Q x Q ISKxQ 18 B to IC 3 PJ ICt to Q I l'J 1! >; Kt 20 P x B 2'i Kt to IU. 21 R to IC sq 21 (J R to Q Kt sq 22 K t to 1C 2 ,ii,, This indirectly supports the aUaeked Q Kt P. 22 Kt to R 1 03 |> to Q ICt 3 23 R to Kt2 2 !• P to K K 3 21 1C to R sq 25 P to K Kt I 25 K t to B 3 2d Kt to B ! 2d Kt to Q 2 27 R to R 5 27 R to Q 11 sq 28 Kl, x P 28 K t to K 11 .-q 20 Kt to IC 3 20 K to Q Bd 30 R toll 5 30 R x K 31 P x it , , The preponderance of P’s on the Queen s side would under any cireum,stances secure the game to W Lite. 21 Rto B 2 32 P to Kt 1 32 P to Kt 3 33 P to K 15 4 33 IC to R 2 31 pto KB 5 31 Rto lU-i'l 35 K to Q sq 35 Kt to Q 2 3d ICt to Q 5 ~ To his other advantages White now adds the gain of a piece. 8(1 R to 1! 3 37 ICt to 1C 7 37 Resigns CIIESB, OLDEST OF ALL CAMEL HISTORY OF THE iJI'KEN OF GAMES. Clic.-s players, with a turn for tho history of their strategic amusement, says the /■’«/;'• j/,i/[, ;;u,will he interested to learn that all the hypotheses as to the origin of the game have suddenly been “mated” by a recent extraordinary discovery in Egypt- It generally assumed until now that the ancient Indians had invented chess ; Lmt it was introduced 1 rom India to Persia m the sixth eentnrv, and that by the Arabs ; and in consequence of tho Crusades it spread from east to west. It is true the Chinese—who invented many things in limes long gone by, which had to be reinvent,’' 1 in Europo—assert that they can trace chess in their own country to about; 2dd years before our era.. Now there can certainly be no doubt that in the character oi t h 0 figures at present used, and in some of the words connected with the game—such as “ sciiaeli ” (shall), and matt or “ mate —an Leliau. Persian and Arabic influence traceable. But hero comes news oi the iate.-.s excavations on the pyramid field ol Hnkkiira, whi'Ji have brought to light a wall painting, o'., which a high oilicial i.s represented as play[n,r chess with a partner at the Line ol tho -.•ovcrnmcnl of King Tcta, who belonged to t 1... sixth dynasty. Professor Lepsms lornu rlv assigned the reign of that monarch to the year 2700 JProfessor Brugsoh, com reeling this chronology, puts it back to sti:: gr.-aier antiquity, namely, to the year 3300 B.t. r-lo that chess 'would have be oi known n; tho once iiiyst' i'ions, land ot M L'.raiiu .something like .V2'H years nyo. R was north of tho pyramid ol King lota, or J'eti, Hint two grave chambers have been di -covered which were erected lor two Inga ufli'duls of that ruler. Their names were K.:bin and Mcruk.i, called Mora. The grav . enamour 1“ in '. Juba ”) of the former comas! t „i five rooms, built un with limestone. J- < vail- were covered, with exceedingly wC" pro-ervc'l has reliefs ami pictures rcpresei; • jug various scenes. The other grave chamlv • that of .Hera, is the most valuable, bn; i now no less than twenty-seven Inula and oO riders have been Uncovered. _ Vl hc-i’O v. » beautiful grave columns; in tho chief xo<- 1 there is in a niche a tinted Maine M tac «• - parted about seven feet high, with a racr • iieial table of alabaster before it. Among U) many wall paintings in this and other room , hunting and fishing mimics, a groap icill ' ’ mourners, tho three seasons, Mora and I. sous, holding each other by the hand, a • Mora playing cm ns. era to be s'*on Lo gr.-> • i,, the impression this grave (member may s nnon tlio beholder that tin; Arab-engage i the work would not call it a mamalry y t a 41 kilissi '’ (temple or ciiurcu. VArm valuable sarcophagi havo also booctnecte vote a.

Aj, i Gaea of colossal dimensions, situated a ii.- vJsMrn on* oftbo necropolis, is. being i )j : ; i'llo labours connected with it will •• > act-Mul over several years. Its di* • ' •. like that of all the buildings of o ’ivnn north to south. .s-.nr alt*, n*rural tombs have been c. : . Ono of the grave chambers bcj : • .in rtf.li Chepses, who lived c dyna«; y, Las already important alflivaih *:ily two rooms have as yet . .i. ij ,j. for* insermlions it seems that ~ , 1.,.fl come tb*ro for centuries. They 1 _.,t lot*i columns.’' the capitals of mi'ate the lotos flower. 'lhey are >. ■_ n -pns:-: in rauiy of execution,as well ;■ ; . .nliquitv, those o! Beni Kassan, <»f c. •. ami Bedamut. liiree largo statues . . hav:' been uuid are broken. The v i. ■ on. of them show it to have been . cm 1 r. V- f feet hiyii.