CHESS

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1265, 28 May 1896, Page 21

CHESS

A.ll communications for this department must be addressed to the Chess Editor, Mr C. W. Benbow. 28,0,96 # * 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. SOLUTIONSP’O’PItOBLEMS. No. 1726 (Philip H. Williams). The author’s intention is evidently 1, R to K 5, which is very neat and satisfactory ; hut, as pointed out by our friends, there are other solutions by 1, BtoB7;1, Btoß 8; or 1, K to R 7. No. 1727 (John C. Andersen). 1 Kt to 1C B 1 1 l‘ to H 4 2 P to Kt 4 2 P x P 3 B to Kt 3 3 1’ x P 4Kt(K3)to Kt 2 4Pto Kt 5 P to Q 5 2 Px Kt 8 becoming Q, lv, L or Kt C Q B or Kt ch 6 Mates Solved by F.A.L.K. (Wellington); Te Ika a Mani; “An exceedingly fine ornament to New Zealand chess”; T.S. (Woodville); “ This position shows great constuctive ability; I am not, however, a lover of this class of problems, as I find my opponents in play mato me quite ofton enough without my learning how to force them doing it (OS) ” ; and Rex (Christchurch). “This problem seems to me to be unsolvable. How is mate offocted when Black’s travelling pawn reaches an eighth square, and claims to remain a Pawn, which it may certainly do? It, however, is a very clever piece of work, if we suppose that Black must make P a Q, R, T> or Kt.” In answer to “ Rex,” tho 13th law of tho code of laws brought into being by the British Chess Association in 1862 gave a new privilogo to tho powers of the Pawn advanced to its eighth square by allowing it the option of remaining a Pawn. The new law, though passed by a majority of the members of the Association, was not practically adopted bv either player or problemists. In the London 1883 International Tournament, the International Code as laid down in tho last edition of tho German Handbook was adopted ; and rule 10 on page IV. of the Book of the lournainent, says A Pawn reaching the eighth squaro must be named as a Queen or piece, at option of player, independent of the number of pieces on the board. The created Queen or piece acts immediately in its now capacity. Until the Pawn has boon so named tho move is incomplete.” This code has boon tho standard to the present time, and has practically killed the “ dummy pawn.” Unless a composer states that the dummy Pawn is allowed in tho solution, it is understood a pioco must be claimed. We agree . with our solvers that the problem is a very line piece of work (9J).

Tho judges in the A 1 Problem Tourney have made their award as follows: Two movers. First prizo, Mr R. L. Hodgson, Melbourne. Tho next two problems were both by Mr Eustace King, of Christchurch. Three movos. Ist prizo, Mr J. C. Andersen, Christchurch. Mr R. L. Hodgson, of Melbourne, is second, and Mr Thomas Sexton, of Woodville, is a good third. Wo have pleasure in submitting the prizo problems to the notice of our solvortf PROBLEM No. 1738. By R. Lord Hodgson (Melbourne)._ First prize two-mover in A 1 Problem iourney. Black.

White. White to play and mato in two moves. PROBLEM No. 1739. By John C. Andersen (Christchurch). First prizo three-mover in At Problem Tourney. Black.

White. White to play and mato in three moves. ENGLAND v. AMERICA. The following interesting game was played at Board No. 2 in the lato cable match. Tho notes arc from the Chess Monthly . Queen’s Gambit Declined. White Black. (Mr A. Burn.) (Mr. J. W. Showaltor.) 1 P to Q 4 I B to Q 4 2 P to Q B 4 2 I to K 3 3 Kt to Q B 3 3 B to B J 4 P to K 3 4 B to Q 3 5 Kt to B 3 5 P to K B * C B to K 2 0 Kt to K K 3 7Pto B 5 , , , . , The same mode of development was adopted by Mr Burnuusuccossfully at Hastings against Dr Tarrasch and Teichmann, and it came quite as a surprise to see him adhere to it still,

7 B to B 2 8 P to Kt 4 8 Castlea 9 B to Kt 2 9 Kt to Q 2 10 P to Q R 4 10 Kt to B 3 11 Q to B 2 11 Kt to Kt 5 Both Tarrasch and Teichmaun broke through in the centre with P to K 4. Showaltor adopts Tarraseh’s pian with P to K B 4, supporting the subsequent Kt to K 5. 12 Kt to Q 2 This move increases White’s difficulties, as it allows 12 Qto R .1. He should have played P to Kt 3 or P to R 3. 12 Q to R 5 13 P to Kt 3 White has now all his pieces massed on the Queen’s side ; he is already on the defensive, and has to compromise his King's position with the next move. 13 Q to R 6 14 Btoß sq 11 Qto R t 15 B to K 2 1.5 Q t o R 6 16 B to B sq 16 Q to P. 4 17 B to Kt 2 Having the inferior game, he should have repeated the Bishop’s move, leaving Black the responsibi'ity of changing tactics or to consent to a draw, which Showaltor, however, would not have done, lbs position being toil good for that. If, then, 17 QtoKt3, \\ Idle could have replied IS P to K 1! 4, with a possible defence. The. continuation in the text is disastrous. 17 Kt to Kt .5 IS Kt (Q 2) x Kt IS B P x Kt 19 Kt to (2 sq 19 Kt x R P 29 Kt to B 3 Q to K 2 seems the lesser evil under tho circumstances, even though Black would not have changed Queens. 20 Kt to B 6 eh 21 K to Q sq The alternative would bo 21 B x Kt, with the following probable continuation— White. 13 hick. 21 Ti x Kt 21 Q x B 22 Castles 22 1 J to K 4 23 Q to K 2 23 B to E 6 21: Q X Q 21 P x Q 2.5 K J! to Q sq 2.5 P to K .5 followed by R to B 4, B to Kt 7, R to It 4, Ac., and White’ game was equally untenable. There is nothing more to be said. Mr Burn lost the game in the opening, and after the loss of two pawns, he had only to fight it out as a matter of duty. 21 Kt x P dis. eh 22 R x Q 22 Kt x Q 23 B x P 23 P x 11 21 K x Kt 2HixP eh 2.5 K to Kt 3 25 P to K 4 26 Kt x P 26 11 to K. 3 ch 27 K to B 3 27 K to K 7 28 B to B sq 28 B to 11 2 29 R to B .5 29 B to K Kt 3 30 R to B 2 30 R x It 31 Kt x R 31 P to K 5 32 R to R 2 32 B to K 4 eh 33 K to Q 2 33 B x P 3! K to K 2 31 It to Q sq 3.5 K to 11 sq 3.5 B to K 11 2 36 K to Kt 2 36 11 to K 4 37 It to Q 2 37 R x R 33 II x It 33 B to Q 4 39 K to Kt 2 39 P to K It 4 40 Kt to It 3 49 K to B 2 41 11 to K sq 41 lv to I! 3 42 Kt to B 4 42 B to K 112 43 Kt to K 2 43 P to K Kt t 44 Kt to Q 4 44 P to It .5 45 P to Kt .5 4.5 B to K sq 46 P to Kt 6 16 P to R 3 47 Kt to Kt 3 47 B to Q 2 48 Kt to K 5 48 II to 11 sq 49 Kt to B 4 49 BtoKt sq .50 B to B 3 ch .59 K to K 3 .51 B to Kt 7 51 K to Q 4 52 Kt to Q 2 52 P to Kt 5 53 B to IS 8 53 P to R 6 ch 54 K to Rsq .54 P to KtO 55 B to Q 6 .55 B x B 56 P x B 56 B to B 4 57 Kt to Kt 3 57 K x P 58 Kt to Q 4 .58 B to Kt 5 59 P to R 5 59 B to 11 6 oh 60 Kt x B 69 P x Kt 61 K to Kt sq Cl P to R 7 ch ti'2 K to K sq 62 K to K 4 63 P to K 4 63 K to B 5 Obviously Blank’s King approaches to R 6, and mates with PtoKt 7. Air Sliowalter’s conduct of the game is to bo highly commended. 64 Resigns. A CORRECTION. Ah F. C. Wilson, lion secretary Rangitikei Chess Club, writes as follows : TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —My attention lias been drawn to a paragraph in your paper of the Mill inst., in which your Woodville correspondent states that the dull there beat Marton in a telegraphic chess match last year. I do not. know that it is of much consequence, but I am asked to beg you to contradict tho statement. the fact being, if I remember rightly, that this, tlie Rangitikei Club, won live games, and the remaining thru 3 were drawn.