DUALS IN TWO-MOVE PROBLEMS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1266, 4 June 1896, Page 10

DUALS IN TWO-MOVE PROBLEMS.

A few weeks ago wo published Mr Thomas Sexton's views on the above subject. Wo have now the pleasure of submitting to our readers the opinions of X.Y.Z. on the same subject, andi as he ia also a competent

I authority on problem composition, our readers | will have tho opportunity of studying the | matter from the two opposite standpoints. " Mr Sexton has spoken in favour of allowing | duals in two-move problems. I should like to make a few remarks on tho other aide. I ! consider that any dual in a two-mover is j always a blemish; and with mo it almost ! spoils tho pleasure of solving a good problem | when I discover that it contains a dual; con- | sequently I almost invariably criticise prob- | lems defective in this respect adversely. i On account of tho limited number of moves, i only one on White's part beyond the key, and j one only on Black's part, a two-mover is, or should bo, so well within tho grasp of tho composer that ho should be able to represent J his conception without admitting such flaws as duals. The idea of a two-mover is to bring about a mate in two moves on White's part, i and in only one way, whatever Black does to I prevent it. It is therefore to Black's advantage to make, if possible, sueh moves as would | create dual mates, and so destroy the primal j idea: when some of these moves are neatly i met, indeed, they form tho most attractive part of a problem. If the play tending to the dual cannot, thereforo, be met, it is better to consign the problem to the tomb of oblivion rather than present solvers -with an unfinished work, whose very beauty is thus exhibited side by |sido with its incompleteness, and is thereby brought at least to the level of its ordinary, yet unblemished, brethren. It would not bo out of place to quote tho opinion of Mr B. CJ. Laws on the subject : "Those are termed duals, triples or quadruples, as the case may he, but tho word 'dual' is really sufficient for all practical purposes, for when "White has at any time an option of proceeding, it liftlo mattors the extent of this choice, since the play intended by the composer is absolutely spoilt. It usually happens, however, that when duals do exist they are for the most part unimportant, and do not seriously all'ect the main part of the problem. They are, nevertheless, faults, and whether they are possible of eradication or not always tell against the merits of the composition iu sonio degree." This says a little for both sides, but 1 think its general tone is quito advorso to the admission of duals. 1 am rather at a loss to understand which moves in a problem Mr Sextou terms "defensive " and which " purposeless." Sinco White males whatever Black doos.it seems to mo that not a single one of his moves can bo called " defensive "; also ho has no "best play " in a problem, since all his play is futile in preventing mate. The terms " defensive " ami "best play" could bo used, say, in an end game study, but not, I think, in a problem. In the example given I should saythat the moves Mr Sexton eulls defensive moves are absolutely the reverse- Black moves a man, and fills a square, the guarding of which previously prevented a white piece from moving - , so that lilack's move is certainly suicidal, ill that ho gets into his own way and out of that of his adversary, enabling tho quietus to be given. The only kind of move in a problem that I would consider at all " defensive " is illustrated in my annexed problem. Hero, after the key is made, White always threatens to mate on Q 5, and lilack can only prevent it by "defending" tho threatened square with his Q, 15 or Kt, or by removing his K from that neighbourhood. White : K on K 15 2; Qon KB 3 ; 15 on Q 5;Kt on K U 5; Pon Kl SG. Black :—K on K 4 ; Q on K B sq ; B on Q 15 sq ; Kt on K sq ; P's on Q1!2,4, 5K I! 2. White mates in two moves.

In Mr Sexton's example, however, even when the key is made, White does not threaten a mate at all until lilack makes a move ; hence I call his moves suicidal and not defensive, for in reality there is nothing to del end.

Mr Sexton's mofhod of remedying tho duals in his oxamplo is surely rather cumbersome ; might I suggest an amendment, as per annexed diagram, which I consider moots all requirements r White :—K on KB;QonKR 4;Bon K R 3 ; Kt's on Q Kt 3, Q 15 :j ; P's on (J Kt 4, G, K 15. Black :—K on Q3:IJ on <l IJ 3, KIJ sq ; Kt on KB 5 ; P's on QKt 2,4, Q2, K 4,5, K It 4. White mates in two moves.

I have only added one lilack P and a Black IJ and changed the position of the Whito Q and I!. The key remains the same; one variation, the ono that led to all the duals, is done away with and another substituted for it: th'ii pieces aro en prise after the key instead of one. White still has as good a try as before, with Q Q 8, only prevented by Kt K .'5: and la-t, but not lca-l, there are no duals. I do not think this amendment overcrowds the position, nor does it really alter tho original idea ill the least : all tho mates except the defective one and a new one are now present, and the duals are absent.

The demand by composers upon two-move positions has been so exhaustive that it is very .seldom a really brilliant position is forthcoming for the delectation of problem lovers, ."dill there are pretty little themes ill plenty waiting to be ('ailed into existence, and a"composer would have plenty to do and pleasure enough in attending to these without soaring after more ethereal inspirations, and bringing (hem to earth, with tho result that they prove beyond his expression, and ho can only produce it faulty representation of his iminaleulato ideal. After all, a little theuio well carried out and brought to perfection is incomparably better than a colossal idea whose beauty is marred by its imperfection and incompleteness.

WELLINGTON CHESS CLUB. Mr P. J. Panics has issuod a challenge to any member of the Club to play him a match of seven won games for a trophy of the value of two guineas. The challenge has been accepted by Mr Wm. Mackay, and tho first game was played last Friday night and was won by him. Mr Barnes has also issued a further challenge to play any member of tho Club on the handicap terms, according to tho classification sheet drawn up by the Match Committeo of the Club, for a trophy of tho value of ono guinea. We .understand that this will also be accepted as soon as tho match with Mr Mackay is finished.