CHESS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1510, 7 February 1901, Page 36

CHESS.

AL oommunieationa for this department MUST be addressed to the Chess Editor, Mr C. W. Benbow.

February 7. 1901. The Wellington Chess Club meets Tuesday and Friday evening, at 7.30, in the Industrial Association Hall, Victoria street. Visitors are cordially welcomed.

SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. No. 2188 (Win. Clugston). 1 R to Q It 6 1 Any move 2 Mates accordingly. Solved bv H. 8.; J.N.H. and F.A.L.K. (Wellington): ‘’‘Excellent”; Beginner (Woodville); iI.D. (Bulls); Felix (Auckland); and A.B.C. (Grey town). The double discovered check is interesting an. dpleasi.iig (8).

No. 2187 (11. B. Jackson). 1 Kt to B 6 1 K to K 2

2 Kt to K 4 discli 2 Any move 3 Mates accordingly.

Solved by F.A.L.K. (Wellington): I like this problem very much. It is an ingenious composition, with a. good key; and the sacrifice of the Bishop after Black’s reply of 1 B to Kt 4 is a pleasant surprise’'; and M.R. (Taranaki). A problem that reflects much credit on its composer. He is making a distinct advance in the art (81).

PROBLEM No. 21S8. By J. Ke-eble (Norwich)

Black

White.

White mates in two moves.

PROBLEM No. 2199. By O. Nemo, of Vienna.

Black.

White.

White to play and mate in three moves

CHESS IN ENGLAND

Played between Mr A. .T. Mackenzie, of Birmingham, and A. H. W. George, of Oxfordshire.

Buy Lopez-. A. J. Mackenzie. A. H. W. George. White. Black. 1 P to K 4 1 P to K 4 2 It to I B 3 2 It to Q B 3 3 B to Kt 5 3 P to Q R 3 4 B to E 4 4 Kt to B 3 5 Castles 5 Kt takes P 6 P to T) 4 6 P to Q Kt 4 7 B to Kt 3 7 P to Q 4 8 P takes P 8 B to I 3 9 Q It to Q 2 (a) 9 Kt to B 4 10 P to B 3 10 Kt takes B 11 Kt takes Kt 11 B to K 2 12 B to B 4 12 Castles 13 Q Kt to Q 4 13 Kt takes Kt 14-Kt takes Kt 14 B to Q 2 (b) 15 Q to B 3 15 P to Q B 4 16 St to I 2 16 B to K 3 17 QtoKt 3 17 Ktoß 1 ' '• 18 B to K 3 18 P to B 3 19 Kt to B 4 19 B to B 4 20 Q R to Q 1 .(c) 20 P takes P 21 Kt takes P 21 B to Q 3 22 B to Kt 5 - 22 Q to I 1 (d) 23 Kt to Kt 6 23 R to Q 1 24 B takes R 24 Q takes B 25 Kt to- Q 5 25 B to K 3 26 PtoK B I (e) 26 R to B 4 27 Kt to K 3 27 P takes P 28-R takes B 28 Resigns (f) NOTES. (a) P to B 3 first is the usual, book play, keeping the Bishop. "(b) Intended to prevent the exchange of the King’s Bishop for the Knight; but hardly good, as being too slow and defensive. (e) Much better than Kt to R 5, to which Black would reply RtoKKt 1. The text move isolates a. Pawn, with further advantage, since Black has to lose time to defend the King’s Pawn. (d) Black is in some difficulty; this move loses the exchange. (e) Introducing’ a temporary complication, which, however, leads to a rapid simplification of the position. (f) If . . Q takes R; (29) Kt takes R, B takes Kt ! (30) Q takes P, Q takes Q; (31) R takes Q, and wins.

The following is- one of the games at Dr Lasker’s simultaneous display at Hereford lately, which was very successful from a social point of view. Two Hereford players won, out of a total of some 70 games in the two days. These were Messrs Edwin Anthony and S. Myer.

9 French ’Defence. Wliite. Black. Dr Lasker. Mr S. Myer. 1 P to 14 1 P to K 3 2 P to Q 4 2 P to Q 4 3 Kt to Q B 3 3 B to Kt 5 (a) 4 B to Q 3 4 P to Q B 4 5 P takes B P 5 B takes Kt (ch) 6 P takes B 6 Q to R 4 7 Kt to K 2 7 P takes P 8 B takes P 8 Kt to K B 3

9 B to Q 3 9 Q takes B P (b) 10 Castles 10 Castles 11 P to Q B 4 11 Kt to Kt 5 12 B to Kt 2 12 Kt to Q B 3 13 Kt to Kt 3 13 P to- lv 4 14 P to Q R 4 (c) 14 R to Q sq 15 Q to S sq 15 B to Iv 3 16 K to R sq (d) 16 B takes P 17 B takes it Pch 17 K takes B 18 Q to K 4 ch 18 K to Kt sq 19 Q takes Kt 19 B takes R 20 Kt to R 5 : 20 B takes P ch 21 Q takes B 21 P to Kt 3 22 Rto Kt sq (e) 22 R to Q 3 23 P to B 4 23 Q R to Q sq 24 P takes P 24 Kt takes P 25 Kt to B 4 25 R to O 8 (f) 26 Kt to R 3 26 R takes R (ch) 27 Kt takes R 27 Kt to B 5 28 B to B 6 28 R to Q 8 29 P to R 4 29 Q to Q 4 ■ 30 0 takes Q 30 E takes Q 31 Kt tc- R 3 31 R to Q 8 ch’ 32 K to Kt 2 32 Kt to K 6 ch 33 K to Kt 3 33 Kt takes P 33 Resigns.

NOTES

(a) A departure from the usual course, . . Kt to K B 3. This is sometimes played on fourth move after (3) . . Kt K B 3, (4) B to Kt Kt 5.

(b) Black hasi succeeded in disorganising White’s pawn position. (c) Threatening B to R 3 winning the exchange. (d) Possibly Dr Lasker allowed the exchange to be lost in the following moves, thinking his attack good enough. (e) There are all the elements here of a fine finish except one—viz., a weak mo-ve on the’ part of Black. This not being forthcoming, the attack fizzles out. (f) The right policy.

The inauguration of the season at the City of London Chess Club attracted a large number of members and visitors to witness Mr Blackburne’s blindfold play. There is a peculiar fascination in, this tour de fprce r .so that even those who have witnessed it before still evince the same keen appreciation as formerly, when blindfold play was less frequent -than now; although it is still a speciality of the few. Mr Blackburn© had eight fairly good opponents, and he played with" such rapidity that the seance concluded in five hours with six wins in his favour, and two draws with Messrs Eairclough and Brett. The following is the game on Board Ts 1 o, 6„French Defence. Mr Blackburne. Mr Barnes. 1 P to K 4 , 1 P to K 3 2 P to Q 4 2 P to Q 4 3 P takes P 3 P takes P 4 Kt to K B 3 4 B to K 3 5 B to Q 3 5 P to E R 3 6 Castles 6 B to Q 3 7 R to K sq 7 Kt to K 2 8 Kt to B 3 8 P to Q B 3 9 Kt to K 2 9 Q to B 2 10 Kt to Kt 3 10 P to K Kt 3 11 Kt to K 5 11 B fakes Kt 12 R takes ,B 12 O to Q 2 13 P to K B 4 13 P to B 4 14 Q to K 2 14 K to B 2 15 B to Q 2 15 R to K sq 16 Q ft to K sq 16 Kfc to Kt sq

17 P to K R 4- 17 Kt to B 8 18 P to R 5 18 P takes P 19 Kt takes BP 19 B takes Kt 20 B takes B 20 R takes R 21 Q takes R 21 Q to Q sq 22 B to K G ch 22 K to Kt 2 23 P to B 5 ‘ 23 Resigns. Blackburne adopted the most simple variation, in, which Black could have folic wed the same development as White—viz., 4... Kt to K B 3; 5. B to Q 3, B to Q 3, followed by B to K 3 and Q Kt to Q 2. Not only did he develop weakly, but gave* White a handle with, the inferior 10... P to K Kt 3, and still mere so with 13... Q to Q 2, when he should have dislodged the Rook with Kt to Q 2 and castled Q R. 13... Pto K B 4.was suicidal. White massed his forces on the open file, and broke through with 18. Ptoß 5. Had Black played 17... P to KR 4; White ‘had: time enough to manoeuvre his Knight so as to bring it in at KKt 5. Black’s game at this stage was past mending. THE CAREER OF STEINITZ. The “Weekly Mercury” says’: —We have asked by several friends to give a complete record of the matoh-playing and tourney career of . the late William Steinitz. Here it is. It is almost a history of modern chess:— 1859: Chess Tourney, Vienna, third prize. i 860: Club Tourney, Vienna, second prize. 1861: Club Tourney, Vienna, first prize.

Note the gradual improvement. Next year he contrived to raise funds to attend the London) Tourney, an International, at which Blackburne also made his debut, winning his game from Steinitz, after a very hard fight. Blackburne was 20 years old, Steinitz 26. 1862: London International, sixth. 1862: Match with Dubois, the Italian master; a fine player. Steinitz won by 5 to 3 and 1 draw. , - 1863: Match with Deacon. Steinitz won by sto 1; no draws. 1863: Match with Mongredien, who- had also played a match with Morphy, but who was never worthy the honour, at any rate, in point of chess strength. Steinitz won by 7 to 0, and no draws. It was in this match that Steinitz played the brilliant game found in Bird’s col lection and elsewhere. 1863: Match with Blackburne. Steinitz won by 7 to 1, and 2 draws'. 1833: Match with' Green. Whoever heard of the immortal Green? Steinitz won by 7 to 0, and 2 draws, which is-just 1 game better than the Blackburne match.

These four last were beaten in one year; Steinitz sccring 26 games against 2 ; : lost and 2 drawn. He began to achieve a refill tation.

1865: Young De Vere came on the scene; Boden said he would become the best English player. He was, in fact, a genius of the first order, or very near it. He was only a, boy, and Steinitz agreed to give him the odds of Pawn and move. De Vere won by 7 to 3, and 3. draws. Men laughed at Steinitz, who said that nobody c-ould give De Vere the odds—which was perfectly true. 1865 : Dublin Tourney, first prize.

It was here that Steinitz, who did not know the English word for stale-mate, told his opponent he was “Pat.’’ “Bedad, ye may say it!” said the delighted amateur, who did not know the foreign word. “An’ me father and grandfather were Pats, too,” he continued)

1866: Match with Anderssen. Steinitz won by 8 to 6; no draws. This was the match which so excited the celestial ire of Staunton, who professed to be shocked at the impudence of Steinitz in challenging a master who had surpassed Staunton’s own record. The littleness of Staunton is seen in his dealings with Morphy also. Bird says of him: "He was a very nice man; if you let him-say and do what he liked \” He was, in fact, like Sir Anthony Absolute: “Let me have my own wav and a. child can lead me.”