CHESS.

New Zealand Mail, 3 December 1896, Page 65

CHESS.

CHESS REMINISCENCES, [By C. W. Benbow.] ('Specially written for the New Zealand Mail) The poet Rogers has sung in immortal verse of “ The Pleasure of Memory.” He exclaims: — Hail, Memory, hail ! in thy exhaustless mine From age to age unnumbered treasures shine ! Thought and her shadowy brood thy call obey, And place and time are subject to tby sway ; Thy pleasures must we feel, when most alone ; The only pleasures we can call our own. And that there are “pleasures of memory ” those of us who have Jived for any length of time best know, and it is a pleasure that grows in proportion as the years pass by. Our worthy Editor having asked me to give a few reminiscences of our local chess doings, and being a great believer in authority, and therefore desirous of carrying out his instructions, I have run through the chambers of my memory, and set down in hasty and ill-chosen language the following brief paragraphs. , A writer speaking of the wide diffusion of chess, and the great variety of people to whom it appeals, says “ that it is distinguished from all other sports no less by its greater age than by its superior excellence ; for, although an amusement, it is separated from tho most abstruse of sciences only by a faint line of demarcation. The "singular fascination which it has ever exerted over its votaries is a curious phenomenon in the history of mind. Men differing in character and disposition, in tastes and pursuits, in rank and religion, in climate and race have been charmed by the study of its delightful arcana. The peasants of Persia and Iceland, the warriors of the East and the West, the scholars of Asia and Europe, the priests of the Moslem faith and the ministers of a purer belief, the monarchs of enlightened nations and the rulers of Pagan lands have all found entertainment in its study and pleasure in its Kings, in imminent danger of losing their heads

and their thrones, have clung to cheir game of chess undismayed by the threatened loss of honour and of life. Statesmen, at a time when their brains were busy with projects destined to result in the overthrow of kingdoms or the emancipation of nations, have found leisure to engage in chess. Generals, on the eve of important and decisive battles, as if in mockery of real and sanguinary warfare, have thrown their own souls into a bloodless contest on the checkered field. Sages have sanctioned its use as a recreation. Learned men have have devoted the earnest efforts of acute minds to the elucidation of its theory, to the elaboration of its history, and to the enlargement of its literature. The graces of poetry and the charms of eloquence have been thrown around it. Orators in their speeches, poets in their dfngs, dramatists in their plays, annalists in their histories, and even divines in their sermons, hav9 not hesitated to use expressions couched in its technical language and to employ metaphors drawn from the movements of its mimic soldiery.” While another zealous lover of the game, possessed of more ingenuity than poetical talents, breaks forth thus wildly into rhyme : Oh, to possess And I confess With real success That no address, And worthy stress, No dire distress The heartiness Could well repress With which I bless The eaererness The manliness With which I press Of pensive chess ! To play at chess. For who can guess No pitiless, The broad excess Fair sorceress, Of thoughtfulness Could dispossess, And steadiness By soft caress, One must possess, By mien or dross, For full success, Th’ obsequiousness In playing chess ? I owe to chess. Did time and space permit, it would be interesting to give some slight sketch of the history and progress of chess, the theories that havo been started as to its supposed first source, its gradual development into the game as we now know it, and its future prospects, together with come information respecting the great names associated with it, —and no game can boast of such a list of illustrious votaries us this can —but we must forbear, and hasten on to our own little doings here in Wellington. In the early part of tho year IS7G a match at chess was arranged between “The Town” and “The Civil Service,” which in due course was played, and, after a hard fight, resulted in a victory to the town team by one game. At one of the boards the opening moves were : 1 PtoK 4 1 P to K 4 2 Kt to K B 3 2 P to Q 3 3 P to Q 4 3 P to K It 3 4 P x P 4 P x P 5 Q x Q ch The face of the conductor of the Black forces after White captured the Black Queen was a sight to see, and bis breath went from him in amazement. Eventually,

however, he recovered enough, to exclaim, “Do you play that sort of game ?” And on his opponent replying that he did play it sometimes, he continued with, “Well, I don’t call it chess to change Queens as you have done. "We never play that game here.” Time and increased knowledge, however, enlarged his views in this direction, and later on he saw no impropriety in an early exchange of Queens. This match was played whilst the House of Representatives was in session, and Mr H. H. Lusk—an enthusiastic chessplayer, and at that time member for Parnell — issued a challenge through the New Zealand Times to play any member of either teams a match of the best of thi'ee games. After waiting some little time to see if any one else would take up the gauntlet, Mr Benbow, who had only lately arrived in Wellington, accepted the challenge, and the match was played out in the large upstairs room now the billiard room—of the Post Office Hotel, Grey Street, and it created a good deal of excitement amongst those who were specially interested in the game that time. The play extended over two Saturday evenings, a great number of spectators were present, andtheresult was : —Benbow, 2; Lusk, 0; Drawn, 1. The following was the final game in the match : French Defence. WHITE. BLACK. Mr C. W. Benbow. Mr H. H. Lusk, M.H.R. 1 P to K 4 1 P to K 3 2 P to Q 4 2 P to Q 4 3 Kt to Q B 3 3 B to Q Kt 5 4 B to Q 3 4 Kt to Q B 3 5 Kt to B 3 5 P x P G B x P 3 K Kt to K 2 7 Castles I Castles 8 Kt to K 2 S B to Q 3 9 Kt to K Kt 3 9 V to K B 4 10 B x Kt 10 Kt x B 11 P to Q 5 11 Kt to Q Kt 5 12 P to Q B 4 12 P to K B 5 13 Kt to K 4 13 P to K 4 14 P to Q B 5 14 B to K 2 15 P to Q G 15 P x P In p x p 1G B to K B 4 17 Q to Kt 3 ch 17 K to it sq 18 Q x Kt IS P to Q R 4 19 P x B 19 Resigns To celebrate the Town and Civil Service match, a dinner was held in the old Panama Hotel, Taranaki street, when the usual speechmaking and singing were indulged in. The following was sung with excellent effect by Mr Edward Reeves, to the tune of the “Old English Gentleman ”: I’ll sing yea a good old song that relates of a

iaie old gilt*,'-, . Perhaps ’twas played in Paradise, for from the East it came — In many a land, in many a clime, by many a

changing name, Have full throe thousand years proclaimed

the ever-spreading fame Of this fine old game of Eastern lands, this game of Orient climes.

Of chivalry’s bright days it tells, with Knights, and Queens, and Kings, Of tourneys bold, of castles old, and such romantic things •

Of courtly practices and much that lasting honour brings To warriors brave and statesmen grave, whose praise the nation sings. This fine old game, &c.

But not alone with kingly hall or castle is its fate, It loves the humble cottage too—the low as well’s the great— Hence, step by step, the plebeian Pawn may glory emulate, And prove how honest humble worth is the bulwark of the State, In this fine old game, &c.

It shows how states are govern’d, how mutual aid should be, How subjects should protect their King, the King from harm be free. And how the Queen should love her lord, and the Bishop rule his see, And how the Knight should die in fight for his King and liberty. In this fine old game, &c.

Then let us ever cherish it, this game that, well defined. Reveals our life’s enchequer’d scene, whore the pieces are mankind ; And as each circling year revolves, we’ll garlands entertwine, And wreath our cup to celebrate this glorious game in wine— This fine old game, &c.

And as the outcome of all that had been happening the Wellington Chess Club was established with a muster - roll of between 80 and 90 members. Mr George Hunter —one of the then members for Wellington—was its first President, and he kindly allowed the club to meet in the large upstairs room in the building he occupied in Customhouse quay. The next President was the late Hon. John Ballance, who always showed great interest in the doings of the club; he in turn was succeeded by the Hon John Bryce ; then came Mr C. W. Benbow in 1881, and who has filled the position ever since.

In the early times of tlie club several interesting and well-contested matches were played between selected members of it and of the House of Representatives; and in those days the House boasted of a number of high-class players, amongst ' horn ruav be mentioned the Hon John Ballance, Hon John Bryce, Ur H. XI. Lusk, Mr J. E. Brown, Mr Rees, and Dr Greenwood. It. is a sign of decadence in the quality of the men that our House of Representatives for some years past has not had a single member that could play the game above mediocrity, or what is it? At any rate the old matches wore very pleasant ones, and the chess players in the House were amongst the very ablest of those who took part in its deliberations and work.

We remember in connection with one of these matches that Mr Rees was unable to meet his opponent on the stipulated Saturday evening, as he had been stonewalling something or other in the House, and had spoken without a break for 12 hours 40 minutes. No wonder that he did not feel e'qual to the task of playing a hard game

of chess on the evening of the day on which he had completed such a feat as this. What a voice, what lungs, and what a vocabulary he must have possessed ! It almost makes one envious as one thinks of it.

The Wellington Chess Club has had several habitations during its twenty years of existence. As already mentioned, its first meeting-place was in the late Mr George Hunter's large room in Customhouse quay ; then for some time Mr Budge, who was a tobacconist in Willis street—in one of Mr Jacob Joseph's brick buildings—allowed the club to hold its gatherings in one of his rooms. These were the most luxurious quarters the club has ever had, and it was with great regret that a change had to be made owing to Mr Budge giving up the business. For some time afterwards the meetings were held in a room in Panama street, part of the offices in the occupation of Mr Charles White. The next removal was to a dingy room upstairs in the old building at the corner of Willis and Harbour streets. In those days desirable rooms were hard to be got, and as a proof of this we may mention that the committee of the Wellington Club permitted the Chess Club to hold several of its meetings in their strangers' room, as there was nowhere else to go. Later on the club met in the Chamber of Commerce; then after a while Messrs Cook and Gray kindly allowed the club to meet in their board room ; and lastly the club rented a room in the Exchange Buildings, where the meetings are now held, and as the quarters are good and suitable ones, the chances are tiiat they will bo its location for some time to come. During its existence the club has played a number of matches by telegraph with clubs in the other centres of the Colony, and its record is a very creditable one, as a reference to the following statement of the matches played, and their results will show: — IS7S—Wellington won 6 games; Canterbury won 6 eames. igSg—Wellingtou won 6 games ; Canterbury won 4 games. 1884—Wellington won 51 games ; Canterbury won 4.V games. 1387 —Wellington won 31 game 3 ; Canterbury won games. 1891 — Wellington won 81 games; Auckland won 6 1 games. 1892 — Wellington won 71 games; Canterbury won 7 h games. 1893 Wellington won 7j games; Otago won 44 games. 1894 Wellington won Si games ; Canterbury won G 1 games. 1895 Wellington won 13 games ; Auckland won 7 games. 1896 Wellington won 81 games ; Otago won 31 games. Wellington has thus won 7 matches, lost 1, and drawn 2. These contests are useful in that they enable players to test their strength against opponents whom they would otherwise never have the opportunity of meeting. One great source of annoyance in connection with them is, however* the gross caxe- ,

lessness shown by some of the players in recording and sending on their moves. The system adopted is so simple and straightforward that even a child should not make a blunder, and yet grown-up men at times send moves which make the receivers of them exclaim : Do I sleep ; do I dream ? Do I wonder and doubt? Are things what they seem Or is visions about?

The subjoined game was played on the last night of the late match between Wellington and Otago between Messrs Barnes (Wellington) and Mouat (Otago), their match game being completed.

Allgaier-Thorold Gambit. BLACK. WHITE. (Mr R. J. Barnes, (Mr J. Mouat, Wellington.) Dunedin,) 1 P to K 4 1 P to K 4 2PtoKB4 2 P x P 3KttoKB3 3 P to K Kt 4 4 P to K R 4 4 P to Kt 5 5 Kt to Kt 5 5 P to K R 3 6 Kt x P * 6 Kx Kt 7 P to Q 4 7 P to Q 4 8 B x P 8 Kt to K B 3 9 Kt to B 3 9 B to Kt 5 10 B to Q 3 10 B x Kt 11 P x B 11 Kt x P 12 Castles 12 K to Kt 3 13 B to K 5 13 R to B sq 14 Q to K 2 14 B to B 4 15ExB ' 15 K xE 16 Q x P ch 16 E to Kt 4 17 Mates in 6 moves We tbink this game must hold the record for being the quickest telegraph game ever played. The combatants were about 400 miles apart, and yet the game was begun and ended in 45 minutes. In the fine arts department of the game —that of problem making —the Colony as a whole, and Wellington in particular, have been very backward. We have now, however, in the person of Mr Kuskop, a composer who is sending out some excellent work, and who bids fair to reach a very high rank amongst Australasian composers. Canterbury, too, has three capital problemists in Messrs Eustace King, John C. Anderson and H. Andersen ; while Dr Hatherly, of Wanganui, and Mr E. A. Cleland, of Dunedin, also publish problems, though not in such profusion as the others. We must, however, not forgot Mr Thomas Sexton, of Woodville, who has for many years past sent forth a stream of problems, and still continues to do so, and they do great credit to his ingenuity and skill. As specimens of what our composers are doing, we submit the three following positions : By F. A L. Kuskop (Wellington). White.—K on QKtB,Qon KRB, B on Q E 2, P on Q B 3. Blaok. —K on K 2, P on Q E 6. White to move and mate in three moves. By Thomas Sexton (Woodville). White. —K on K sq, Q on Q 7, B on K B 2, Ps on Q E 6, Q Kt 2, and K Kt 4. Black—K on Q 4, B on K2,PsonQ Kt 6, Q 3, K 4, and K B 6 White to play and mate in three moves. By John C. Andersen (Christchurch). White.—K on QK7,QonQKt 3, Bs on K R 5 and 6, Kts on K 7 and K Kt 8, Ps on Q B 6, Q 4 and K 5. Black.—K on K3,EonQ4,P on KR 3. White to play and self-mate in four moves. The cause of chess in the Colony has been helped a good deal by the Congresses which have been held for some years past. A large amount of influence is created year by year in the centre in which the gathering for the time being takes place, and as this centre varies each year, the interest is spread in process of time throughout the Colony. The first congress was held in the year 1879, but a period of nine years elapsed before there was another. Then the second one was held, and meetings have been held at stated intervals ever since. Thinking it may be interesting to our readers, we give a record of all the gatherings, setting forth the year they were held, the place of meeting, and the name of the champion : Year. Place. ’ Winner. 1879 ... Christchurch ... H. Hookham 1888 ... Christchurch ... A. M. Ollivier 1889 ... Dunedin ... H. Hookham 1890 ... Wellington ... E. J Barnes 1891 ... Auckland ... F. Siedeberg 1892 ... Christchurch ... F. Siedeberg 1893 ... Dunedin ... J Edwards 1894 ... Wellington ... W. Mackay 1895 ... Wanganui ... W. Moldrum Amongst the strongest and best known players in the Colony may be found the names of Messrs R. J. Barnes, C. W. Benbow, J. Bryce, E. A. Cleland, J. Edwards, 11. Hookham, A. I. Littlejohn, W. Mackay, W. Meldrum, J. Mouat, A. M. OlbVer and T. Sexton ; while a number of young players are making such rapid progress that the older ones will have to look well after the-ir laurels, or they will soon lose them ; and we further venture to prophesy that the time will come when this beautiful southern land will bring forth players, composers and writers worthy to rank with the great names of the older and more populous countries.

Of chess as an intellectual exercise and pastime there is no necessity for defence ; as, apart from its inherent attractions and its utility as a discipline for the mind, and a school for the temper, we may safely assume that it would have perished centuries ago if it was not destined to last for all time. Experience has taught us that as a source of amusement its abundant wealth can never be exhausted by the limited intellectual powers of man, and that its treasures of delight and enjoyment are perennial,

Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale Her infinite variety ;

and to slightly alter Walton, “ we may say of chess as Dr Boteler said of strawberries :

“ Doubtless God could have made a better berry, but doubtless God never didand so, if we might be judge, God never .did make a more calm, quiet arid iririo'dent re6?eatlhn tKaJn Cffess.