CHESS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1289, 12 November 1896, Page 11

CHESS.

All communications for this department must be addressed to the Chess Editor, Mr C. W. Benbow. 12/11/96 *** The Wellington Chess Club meets every Tuesday and Friday evening- at 7.30 in Room No. 11, Exchange Buildings, Lambton Quay. Visitors are cordially welcomed. T.S. (Woodville).— Glad to get a letter from you, and the inclosures are very welcome. H.B.J. (Telau, Fiji).—Sends correct solutions to problems No. 176-4, '" Very pretty but not a very difficult matter to find (S) "; No. 1766 " 1 found this a tougher nut to crack than 1764. I thought it was going to beat me. A 1 (9) "; No. 1768, " Some very nice variations (7i)"; No. 1762, " Easy, but neat No. 1763, " A clever, instructive little problem with some capital play in it (8a)". SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. No. 1774 (P. F.Blake). 1 R to Q B 2 1 Any move 2 Mates accordingly. Solved by 11.8., J.N.H., andF.A.L.K. (Wellington);T.E. (Picton) ; RP. (Gisborne)," The combination in this problem is excellent (9)": Felix .(Auckland) ; Horace (Patea) ; A.B.C. Grey town); M.R. (Taranaki) ; and M.A.C. (Masterton). There are some exceedingly pretty points about this problem (8 V). No. 1771 (Dr Hathorly). 1 QtoQßsq 1 K to Q 5 2 Kt to K 6 2 K to Q 4 3 P to K 4 Mate Solved by M.R. (Taranaki): F.A.L.K. (Wellington), " Very nice and pleasant little problem "; Felix (Auckland); R.P. (Gisborne), " I like this composition, although the solution is by no means difficnlt(Si)" ; and H.D.(Bulls). This problem pleases us very much (8). PROBLEM No. 1785. By F. A. L. Kuskop (Wellington). Black.

White. White to play and mate in two moves

The chess editor of the Lends Mercury weekly supplement writes under dato of 19 bh September, 1896 :—" Most of our readers, in company with ourselves, will be extremely sorry to learn of the death of the noted chess amateur, Mr E. Freeborough, of Hull. Mr Frceborough's renown is world-wide. Although known to us as a chess friend for the past thirty years, at which time he practised chess problem composition more than of late years, he became more widely known through his laborious and careful compilation of chess works which have been the chess student's best friends. His "Chess Openings, Ancient and Modern," lias brought him prominently before the world, and so successful was this work that a second edition was soon called for, which has now become a book of reference for standard openings. His "Chess Endings" is the best we have seen in the English language, andis avaluablc companion for the student and rising player. He contribute;! a set of six problems in competition in the Paris Tourney in 1868, coming next to the noted problemists, Conrad Bayer, Sam Loyd, and M. Grosdemange, out of twentyfive competitors. The problems ranged from four to five moves. He died on Monday last, September 14th, at Hull, where he had lived during his life, aged 6G years. He had been ill about a fortnight, the last few days in an unconscious state. Not considering the time of his labour over, he had proposed to bring out new editions of the " Chess Openings " and Chess Endings." His funeral took place on Thursday afternoon, many chess acquaintances of the city paying their last respects to so worthy a comrade in the cause of chess." Mr Fairborough was an old and esteemed friend of our own, and we desire to add our small tribute to his many excellent qualities, and to hear record of the valuable work done by him in the cause of chess. The following problem will give some idea of his merits as a composer : PROBLEM No. 1781. By the late E. Freeborough (Hull). Black.

White

White to play and mate in three moves

WELLINGTON v. DUNEDIN

In commenting on this lately concluded contest the Dunedin Evening Star says : The result, so far as Otago is concerned, is wholly unprecedented. .Although the Wellington team were known to be all strong players and in their best lighting condition, it was not anticipated that Otago, possessing four or five men who have competed for the colonial championship, would be so utterly vanquished. And what is the reason of the I defeat ? Are the local men inferior in ability or judgment, or did they play carelessly? At some of the boards the play was undoubtedly not of the serious nature it should have been. Moves were made that might have been successful in a " skittle " game, but were not | likely to be of service when the oppoßing I

{ player, seated in his chair four hundred miles ! distant, was exercising' the utmost deliberation. Moves were also made in several cases too rapidly, and, although the time limit was eighteen moves an hour, most clocks showed plenty of time in band. The results at boards 1,2, 5,8, 10 and 12, where the Otago representatives played solid games, seem to show that the local club are quite equal to the strong Wellington Club when their players , appreciate that they are fighting a pitched i | battle.

The following was the game played at Board No. 6 :

Queen's Gambit Declined. i White. Black. ! Mr W. F. Barraud Dr Stenbouse (Wellington.) (Dunedin.) 1 P to Q 4 1 P to Q 4 2 P to Q B 4 2 Kt to K B 3 3 P to K 3 Of late B to K B 4 has been played here, with not unfavourable results. 3 P to K 3 4 Kt to Q B 3 4 B to K 2 5 Kt to K B 3 5 P to Q Kt 3 6 P to Q R 3 6 B to Kt 2 7 P to Q Kt 4 We ourselves prefer to move this P only one square. 7 P to Q R 3 8 B to Kt 2 8 Q Kt to Q 2 9 B to Q 3 If he had played Q P x P be would not have lost the movo he did with the K B. 9 Px P 19 B x P 10 P to Q B 4 11 Kt P x P 11 P x P 12 Castles 12 Q to B 2 13 P to Q 5 A precipitate advance which loses this valuable Pawn. 13 Kt to Q Kt 3 14 B to R 2 14 P x P 15 R to OB sq 15 Castles K R 16 Kt to K 2 1G Qto Q 3 17 Kt to K B 4 17 14 to Q B sq 18 B to K 5 18 Q to Q sq 19 Q to Q B 2 19 B to Q 3 20 B to Kt sq 20 B x B 21 Kt x B 21 P to Kt 3 22 Q to Kt 2 22 Q to Q 3 23 KEtoQ sq 23 R to Q B 2 24 Kt to K 2 24 R to K sq 25 P to K B 4 25 Kt (B 3, to Q 2 2G Kt to K Kt 4 2G V bKB3 27 B to R 2 27 K to Kt 2 28 Q to Q 2 28 Q to K 2 29 R to B 3 29 P to K R 4 30 Kt to B 2 30 Kt to K E sq 31 R to Q Kt sq The game for some time past has been of a very interesting character ; and White has kept up a strong attack all the time. 31 Q to Q 3 32 KttoKtS 32 P to K B 4 A movo which gets Black into serious trouble. 33 R (B 3) to Kt 3 This wins a piece against the best play Black can show. 33 Kt to B 5 34 Q to B 3 ch 34 K to Kt sq 35 R x B 35 R x P 36 Q to B sq Threatening more serious trouble by 37 B x Kt etc., and Black fails to provide for it. 3G Q x P 37 B x Kt 37 Kt to K 3 38 Bx P •' The why is plain as way to parish church." 38 R x R 39 R x R 39 Q to K 4 40 B x Kt ch 40 Q x B 41 Kt to K B sq 41 R to K 8 42 Q to B 3 42 11 to K 4 43 Kt to Q 3 43 Q to Q B 3 Black has an utterly hopeless game to play. His better course would have been to resign. 44 R to Kt 7 ch 44 K x R 45 QxEch 45 K to R 2 46 Kt x P We think we should have continued the attack by 46 Kt to K B 4, following it up with 47 Kt to K 6. 46 Q to Kt 3 47 Q to K 7 ch 47 K to R sq 48 Q to K 3 48 P to B 5 49 Q to Q 4 ch 49 K to R 2 50 Q tn Kt 4 50 Q to R 2 51 Q to Kt 7 51 Q x Q 52 Kt x Q 52 P to Kt 4 53 P to Q R 4 53 K to Kt 3 54 P to R 5 54 K to B 3 55 Kt to B 5 55 K to K 2 56 Kt x P 5.3 K to Q 2 57 Kt to B 5 ch 57 K to )i 3 53 P to R 6 58 K to Kt 3 59 Kt to Q 2 59 P to Kt 5 60 Kt to B 4 ch 60 K to K 2 61 Kt to K 5 At this point the game went to the adjudicator, who, of course, gave it as a win to White. Mr Barraud would doubtless have continued his attack by 63 Kt to Q B 6 etc. WELLINGTON CHESS CLUB. Tho following are the latest scores in the tournaments now in progress at the above Club. Wins counts two points, draws one p : oint — CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNEY.

1 1 1 |£| 1 I 2 "^ Players I „J 0 '5 Si a 2 sLsi ,2 _ ;q 1 2 s c« 0 i? — — 2 £ *• 35 Miffl < uq a « mw Sph 1 , Bin and 1 1 1 -1 0 2 1 1 2 oj -1 B.irnea Brown — 2 l 1 1 2! 0'— ! ' Oi 2 2 2! 9 1 0' 0 0! 0,2 Allen, B o 1 1 —' o 2 1 Oi 3 Mackay, W i 1 2j— 0 2 2 1 6 Cock:; 2! 0 2- - 0 1 0 1 G Ryder 0 2 0 2-0 0 4 Still 1| 2|—| 2| 0| 0|5 Kelling 0 0j 2 0 2 2 0— 6 Mason .. 3 0 2 2 1 2 — 9 Littlejohn .. A 2 -4 I I 1 1 1 HANDIC AP TOURNEY.' Players g O 1 "3> an s < 1 c li 01 05 HS i.s 5 si 1 lis 1 Carman 1 2 2 1 0i 2 2 9 Dryden . - 0 2 0 2 a [28 Butler • 0 2 2 0j 0 2 2 8 McNaught • ° 0 - 2 0 0 2 20 Moore III 1 j— 0 Mackay, S. .. . .' 1 2 0 0 — 2 ! 2 ' 7 Matthews.. .. . . 2! 0 2 2 — 2 ( 2; 212 Richardson ». • . 0; 0 2 2! 0 0—1 01 04 Simm ■ .. .. . 0 0 1 0: 0 2—0 2 Willis • ! 0 I°1 0 ! J 0| Sj 2J-J4