CHESS

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1261, 30 April 1896, Page 41

CHESS

All communications for this department Mi'tvi be addressed to the Chess Editor, Mr O. W. Benbuw. 80,'F!)(> V* The Wellington Chess Club meets every Tuesday and Friday evening at 7.30 in Boom No. 11, Exchange Buildings, Lambtou Quay. Visitors are cordially welcomed. SOLUTIONS TO PBOULHMS. No. 1710 (John C, Andersen). 1 Q to K (i I Any move 2 .'.kites accordingly. Solved by H.B . J.X.11. and F.A.L.Iv. (Wellington), *" Very good and neat”; M.R. ( r.'uuu'.tkii: T.E. li’ietm); A. 8.0. (Greytown): X.Y.Z. (i hmtcluireh); lI.D. (Bulls); and Horace (Paisa). A commendable production (8). No. 1713 (3. M. Joseph). 1 Id to * * S I Any move 2 Mates accordingly. Solved by H.B. and F.A.L.X. “The variations following Hie moves of tho Black Bishop are very iutore-ding and pretty” : To Ika Man: li.D. (Bulls); O.P.Q. (Foxton), “A first-class two-mover (81)”; and T.E. (Picton). Our solvers have discovered that tine White Knight at Q Kt-q is intended for the While King. Tho composition lias many merits (8). No. 171*. 1 (.A. C. Challenger). 1 Kt to Q 2 I K to I! I 2 Kit to K 7 eh 2 K to K t 3 Kt to .1! 1 male. Solved by F.A.L.Iv. (Wellington), “ Exceedingly pretty are the various iinishc considering the scarceness of the material used”: To Ika a Maui; It. I). (Balls) ; X.Y.Z. (Christchurch) (8) ; Felix (Auckland); Horae (Palm): and A.B.C. (Greytown). Not did; cult, but very neat and pi casing (8). PROBLEM No. 1730. By Mi's W. J. Bair! (Brighton). From Mr Giftiu’s forthcoming work entitle, r.Vcs lio,oriel. B:. \<"K.

\\ lIITK. White to play and male in two motes. PROBLEM. No. 1731. By John C. Andersen (Christchurch).

Wll ITK. White fo play and mate in three move". ! ’! i KS.S i X !! [ 'SSI \ . l ine of two csm-ulUlion games played : ? St. t’el .'l'.sbui'g at the roe.ml tourmi'iicm . Both of (hem were won by .Messrs Pillsbui r and Lasker. The notes are from (lie 77m i !i 'rckhj ihlilion. Yitmna Opening. White Black (Messrs Stoinilz (Messrs Pillslmry and Tchigorin.) and Lasker.) 1 P to K f 1 I* to K 3 2 Kt to *d 113 2 Kt to K B 3 3 P to K B ! It is hardly 100 much to affirm that tie i variation of the Vicuna is proved to be m • suli'-fact'iry, and that by adopting if tl; i Whin- allies place lliciusclvc.s at once at ~ disadvantage iro n which they never rocovei . White may obtain a .--al’e game in-dead by or in: may coni inn;: with B to () I’ d- if a mor > ni'.,inking variation is dcsiicd: but to ope i the King’s wing by tins c.,i'!y advance lean ; to end:css liilliculiies. 3 P to o f, It is this vigorous reply of Black to which attention may be directed. If appears at on* > to give (he defence a liislincf advantag. , opening Hie way as i! deer, for B to K Kt ~ (or Ki; 1,0 Kt 3), C to K 5 ch, Ac., presently. I P to 3 An imsuU.-faalory continuation; hut the. o is not anything much superior. If t P x 1 , Kt x P and Black holds the aline]:. ! P to 0 o o i) Kt to K 2 5 Q Kt to II 3 (i Ki to K B 3 (I B lo Q 3 7 P to B 3 7 B to K Kt 5 .3 P x K P 8 B x P DKtxß 3 Kt x Kt M Q to R •!• ch Hi P to B 3 IlKixP 1 i Kit to K it I 12 B to 1\ 3 12 Q to 1: o ch 13 K to Q 2 13 Kt to Kt 0 UP x Kt The voluntary surrender of the exchange ’ i doubtless made in the hope that by enticing Black’s Queen from home there may hi chances of gaining a counter-attack, but j ; w 11 bo found that the Black allies condm t their game with splondi I accuracy andgno no chances. 11 Q x K. 15 Q to Kt 1 15 K to (A sq lflQxP lb Pasties 17 Q to B 7 17 K it to K sq 18 P to Kit 18 It to Q 2 19 q to R 5 19 P to K B 4 20 Q to B 5 It was really better to capture the P.iwmjJg

doubtless in pursuance of the idea already suggested. 20 P x P 21 P x P 21 K to R sq White threatened B to 13 4, winning the Black Queen. Black’s advantage now spesdily manifests itself; but there remains some good play, and the game is naturally ably conducted. 22 it to K sq 22 Q to R 7 23 K to B 2 23 Q x P (Kt 6) 24 Bto Q 2 21 Rto K B 2 25 Kt to B 5 25 B x Kt 2d P X B 2G E x P 27 Q x B P 27 R (K sq) to K B sq 23 Q to IC 4 28 Kt to Kt 3 2!) B to K 2 20 E to K 4 30 Q to Kt 4 30 Q to B 7 31 P to B 4 31 E (B sq) to K sq 32 K to Q sq 32 R to K 5 33 Q to B 3 33 Q to Q 5 34 Q to Q B 3 34 Kt to B 5 35 xO. 35 Jt x Q 3d B to B 3 3d It (K sq) to Q sq 87 i! to Q 5 37 Kt x P 38 It to K 7 38 Kt to B 5 33 K to B 2 39 Kt x B 49 P x Kt 40 It (Q 5) x P 41 B to B 3 41 it (Q 4) to Q 2 42 B x P eh 42 K to Kt sq 43 it x R 43 It x It 44 B to RG 41 K to B 2 45 P to Kt 5 45 K to K sq 43 K to B 3 46 K to Q sq 47 K to B 4 4-7 K to B 2 43 K to JJ 5 48 It to B 2 39 P to It 4 49 it to B 3 50 B to K 3 50 P to K R 4 51 K to Q 5 51 K toKt 2 52 K to K 4 52 R to K 3 eh The White allies resign the game. White resigns here because Black simply exchanges Rook for Bishop, and wins by capturing the Queen's side Pawns with the King.

THE LATE HERR OTT. r I lie Birmingham Weekly Mernmj says : “ We regret to record the death of Herr Moritz Ott, long a member of the St. George’s Chess Club who departed this life on February 8l!i, and whoso decease has just been made known to us. A foreigner by birth, Herr Ott was a true cosmopolitan, to which description all good chess-players naturally tend. Born in Prague, Herr Ott had dwelt in Vienna. Berlin, Paris, Dublin and London. Ho had played a match with Mr f harlick in Australia. He had visited China, India, New Zealand, and quite recently South Africa. At one time a really strong player, his declining health had detracted from this skill, and of late ho had been absent from his customary haunts. Not without certain harmless eccentricities Herr Ott was invariably gentle and courteous, and upon occasion would display a high intelligence, a varied reading, and a wide knowledge of the world over whoso surface he had wandered for some sixty odd years. His exact ago is not known, nor the precise nature of his profession, save that he had once been a designer in the jewellery trade, and of lato was understood to be a setter of diamonds. Though wo have printed many games won against Herr Ott wo possoss nono won by him, for lie preserved none, and opponents soldom send their lost games for publication. We are not awaro that Herr Ott had any relatives in England, but ho had many friends and no enemies. And those who knew him will appreciate our sincere tribute to the memory of a chess enthusiast whoso face, once so familiar in the foromost ranks of the fighting ‘ Saints,’ will bo scon among thorn no more. Kcquie3cat in pace. Wlion the gamo is over King aiul Queen, Bishop, Knight and Pawn, alike go into tiro box.”

The few old Wellington chess-players that are left will remember Herr Ott, who was a resident here in the latter part of 1878, and who was one of the Wellington Chess Club’s representatives in its match by telegraph against the Christchurch Club that year, his opponent being Mr Hookham. Wo ouratdvos have a kindly remembranie of one with whom wo had many doughty contests, and wo also desire to add our tribute to his memory. The following was one of the games played by llerr Ott against Mr H. Cbarlick, of Adelaide (referred to above), and it will lie found an interesting and instructive specimen of play. Herr Ott had a vory high opinion of Mr Charliok’s skill as a chess-player : Danish Gambit. White Black. (Mr H. Carlick.) (Herr Ott.) J P to K 4 1 P to K 4 2 L> to Q 4 2 P x I* 8 P to Q B 3 3 l’ x P 4 B to (1 B 4 4 P x P 5 l; X Kt P 5 Kt to Iv B 3 G Kt Lo K B 3 G I! to Kt 5 eh Correctly played. If Kt takes P White captures P with B eh, recovering the piece, if I! be taken, by Q to Q 5 oh. 7 Kt to B 3 7 Castles 8 Q to Q 8 8 Kt x P To this point Black lias defended himself well. Here, however, lie is deluded by a 11 Will o’ the Wisp.” The text move lands him in dillimUics, although it is ingeniously conceived, and leads to a capital struggle. P to (j 8 or Q to K 2 were more prudent. 9 Q x Kt 9 it to K sq 10 J! x P eli Better than Kt to K sat once, because Black could reply with Q to Iv 2, taking B with Q if White wero to take Jt P cheeking. 10 K x 1! 11 Kt to K 5 ch 11 Kto Kt 12 Castles K R 12 B x Kt 13 Q to Q 5 ch 13 It to K 3 Best. If IC to R sq White mates in four moves -Piiilidor's Legaev. 14 Bxß It 1“ toil 3 15 Q to Q 4 15 Q to 11 3 IGB to il l- Id P to C 4 If P to Q 3 White plays Q to J 1 t. followed bv P to IS 5, if P x Kt. 17 P to B 5 1 i It to K sq 13 (> It to Ksq 18 Kt Lo 2 19 Kt x Q B P A carefully calculated stroke. Black obviously dare not win the Kt, and if lie take It then follows this interesting train of play : 19 R x R 20 Q x Q P eh 20 Q to B 2 21 it x it 21 Q x Q 92 Kt to Iv 7 eli and wins If 21 21 P x Kt 22 R to Iv S eli 22 Kt to B sq 23 Q to Iv 5, etc. 19 Q x Q ch 20 Kt x Q 20 It x It 21 K x ft 21 Kt to B 3 22 it to X 7 White is recompensed for the lost Pawn by his advantage in position. 22 B to Q 2 23 Kt to Iv G 23 B x Kt 21 P x ft 24 K to Q 13 sq If it to Iv sq White gains a piece by B takes Kt 25 It x Q Kt P Mali err in three moves if Black take B.

This harmless looking check loses off hand. R to K sq after taking B looks better, followed when the P advances to K 7, by K to B 2, but then if ho take the P, White exchanges Rooks, remaining with a winning pawn gamo. 27 K to B 2 27 P x B 28 R to Kt 8 ch 28 K to Kt 2 29 P to K 7 29 R to B 7 ch 30 K to B 3 30 R to B G ch 31 Iv to B 4 31 R to B 5 ch 32 K to B 5 32 R to K 5 33 P Queens and Black resigns.