CHESS.

New Zealand Mail, 22 January 1902, Page 28

CHESS.

All communications for this department MOST be addressed to the Chess Editor, Mr C. W. Benbow. Wednesday 22, 1902. a*# Tjjg Wellington Chess Club meets every Tuesday and Friday evening at 7.30 in the Exchange Hall, Lambton quay. Visitors are cordially welcomed.

SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. No. 2288 (Dr S. Gold). 1 Q to Q R 8 1 Any move 2 Mates accordingly. Solved by T.E. (Picton); and A.B.C. (Greytown North). A problem with a jfreat deal in it that is interesting. No. 2289 (F. A. L. Kuskop). 1 Q to R 8 IK takes Kt 2 Q to Q 8 ch 2 K to K 3 3 B to Kt 3 mate. Solved by Felix (Auckland); and T.E. (Pictonkj A good key-move, with instructive variations (8^).

“HAMPSTEAD EXPRESS” PROBLEM TOURNEY.

The result of this problem tourney is again a victory for the blind expert of Jamaica, Mr A. F. Mackenzie, who is certainly one of the best composer* living. Thirty-four problems were published of those sent in, and three doubtful ones were returned to the composers. The results were as follow: First Prize—Title, “The Little Wonder,” composer, A. F. Mackenzie. Second Prize—Title, “Johnny Riley,” composer, Geo. J. Slater. Third Prize—Title, “Asphodel,” composer, Godfrey Heatlicote. Fourth Prize—Title, “Too Many Cooks etc.,” composer, F. W. Wynne. Fifth Prize—Title, “The House that Jack Built,” composer, D. Ross. Sixth Prize—Title, “Lanka,” composer, R. Collinson. Seventh Prize—Title, “Excelsior,” composer, E. E. Westbury. “Honourable mention” was bestowed on the positions submitted by F. AY. Wynne C. Vincent Berry, A. F. Mackenzie, w’ A. Clarks, and H. F. AV. Lane. Mr B. G. Laws was the judge.

PROBLEM No. 2298. By A. F. Mackenzie, Jamaica. Motto: “The Little AVonder.” First Prize in “Hampstead Express” Tourney. Black.

White

White to play and mate in two moves

PROBLEM No. 2299. By Zdenek Mach (Lautschin, Bohemia). Fourth prize in the Problem Tournament of the “Wiener Schachzeitung.” Black. «

White.

White to play and mate in three moves

NEAY ZEALAND CHESS CONGRESS.

One of the most interesting games played in the tourney was that between Messrs Barnes (Wellington) and Miles (Auckland). If the former had won it would have given him a clean score of all wins, and if the latter succeeded in worsting his opponent, the second prize was assured. As it was, the resulting draw spoiled the champion’s score, and Mr Miles had to be content with dividing second and third prizes with Mr Eorsyth. The game, however, was well played, and though about the middle game Mr Barnes appeared to have somewhat the best of it, the Aucklander by careful play compelled a draw, which was a creditable achievement against the wily AVellingtonian. The score of the game follows:

French Defence. White. Black. Mr R. J. Barnes. Mr E. J. Miles 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 Kt to K B 3 4 B to K Kt 5 4 P takes P (a) 3 Kt takes P 5 B to K 2 6 Kt to Kt 3 6 P to K R 3 7 B takes Kt 7 B takes B (b) 8 P to Q B 3 8 Kt to B 3 9 P to K B 4 (c) 9 B to Q 2 10 Kt to B 3 10 Q to K 2 11 P to Q R 4 11 P to Q Kt 3 12 B to R 6 (d) 12 R to Q sci 13 Q to B 2 13 Kt to Kt sq 14 B to K 2 14 P to B 4 15 P takes P 15 Q takes p 16 Kt to K 4 16 Q to K 2 17 R to Q sq 17 B to B 3 18 R takes R ch 18 Q takes R 19 Castles 19 Castles 20 R to Q sq 20 B takes Kt 21 Q takes B 21 Q to B 2 22 B to Q 3 22 Q to B 4 ch 23 K to R sq 23 P to Kt 3 24 P to K Kt 4 24 Q to B 3 25 Q to K 3 25 Kt to Q 2 26 B to Kt 5 26 Q to B 4 27 Q to K 4 27 Kt to Kt sq 28 P to R 4 28 K to Kt 2 29 R to K Kt sq 29 R to Q sq 30 P to R 5 30 Q to Q 4 31 Q to K 2 31 P to Kt 4 32 B to B 4 32 Q to Q 3 33 P takes P 33 P takes P 34 B to Kt 3 34 Q to Q 6 3:> Q to Kt 2 35 Q to K 6 36 B to B 2 36 Kt to O 2 37 R to Q sq 37 Kt to K 4 j 38 R takes R, 38 B takes R ; 39 Kt takes Kt 39 Q to K 8 ch j 40 K to R 2 40 Q takes Kt ch 41 K to R 3 41 B to B 2 j 42 Q to B 2 42 IC to B 3 | 43 K to Kt 2 43 Q to R 7 eh 44 K to B sq 44 Q to R 6 ch : 45 Q to Kt 2 45 Q to K 6 j 46 Q to K 4 46 Q to B 5 ch j 47 K to K 2 47 Q to K 4 ; 48 Q takes Q 48 B takes Q ; 49 K to B 3 49 B to B 5 j 50 P to Kt 3 50 B to Q 7 51 P to B 4 51 P to R 4 ! 52 Drawn.

Notes by Mr J. C. Grierson. (a) Black’s move, pawn takes pawn, is recommended by Lasker in his work “Commonsense in Chess,” as the best way to simplify the game for the defence. The more usual move is 4 . . . BtoK 2. (b) If AA’liite takes tlie knight a move earlier, Lasker gives for Black pawn takes bishop, followed by P to K B 4 and P to Q B 4, with a very good game. (c) Aggressive looking, but rather weakening, being difficult to support without exposing the king later on. (d) Time lost. Bto Q 3 appears better. (e) No risks were taken on either side during the latter part of the game, exchanges gradually reducing tlie forces Though, at a first glance, Black’s position looked a little stronger than his opponent’s when the draw was agreed upon, examination shows that there was little’ if any, superiority in it, owing to tlie bishops being of different colours. Exchange of pawns might lead to Black having a clear passed pawn, but White could stop its advance with his king, and could make waiting moves with his bishop supporting his pawn base. “Auckland News.”

MR FRANK HOLLINS. A very enjoyable meeting took place on ’ December 3rd at the Collonade Hotel. | Birmingham, ivhen some two dozen members of tlie St. George’s C.C. and friends 1 iT e iv a ast evenin £ hi the company of Mr liollins, who leaves on Deeemher sth for New Zealand. Councillor Russell took the chair, and Mr Perry the vice-chair. Among the visitors were Messrs Lewis (Birmingham C.C.), Messrs Bytheway and Bolus (Bonemians), Hilton and Guest Birmingham League), and Mr Davison ! Warwickshire C.A ). After the loyal i toast Mr A. J. Mackenzie, followed by Mr ! Bellingham, gave the toast of the vening Our Guest, after which a very feeling 1

little speech fi*om Mr Hollins was quite one of the features of the evening, being much appreciated by his hearers. A presentation of a valuable leather trunk was part of the evening’s programme. “The Club,” was proposed by Mr J. A. Mackenzie, sen., and responded to by Mr Perry; “The Visitors,” proposed by the President, met with cordial responses from Messrs Bytheway and Fred Brown, while neat speeches were also made by Messrs Davison, Hilton and Guest on behalf of their respective organisations. Musical entertainment was furnished by Messrs Crisp, Haywood, J. Turner and E. Mackenzie, the company being reinforced by numerous visitors after supper was over. The Hon. R. G. Yerney and Messrs A. H. Griffiths, H. E. Atkins and R. J. Buckley wrote apologising for absence, but conveyead assurance of their best wishes for Mr Hollins’s future welfare.

A few words respecting the career of Mr Hollins may not be out of place at tiiis point. He is a native of tms city, and is about thirty years of age. Mr Pedlingham (a very promising piayer before he left Birmingnain about ten years ago for Canada) and lie were neigb pours and close friends, and a chess problem was the means of their introduction to the game. Staunton’s “Handbook” and constant practice together brought them on fast, and they joined the St. George’s C.C. about the year 1888, commencing in the Kt class. There is little need to record here the continual successes of Mr Hollins year by year in the handicap and championship tourneys, nor of his remarkably successful play at the top board in the Saints' team, some half dozen losses perhaps in ten years covering all his misfortunes, though some of the best players in the country have been encountered. His score at board one in M.C.C. 0". county matches is seven ivins, two draws, and no losses, notwithstanding Mr Atkins and on several occasions Mr Bellingham have been numbered among his opponents. In the North v. South matches in 1893 and 1894 he played Messrs G. A. Hooke and E. M. Jackson respectively at boards 18 and 11 out of the 100, drawing with tlie first and beating the second. At public tourneys he has also done well, being first at Cambridge (in class three) in 1890, third at Brighton (class one) in 1891, second to Cohn (whom he beat) in his section at Hastings in 1895, and winning every game in the Consolation tourney, and fifth at Southampton in 1897, half a point behind the prize winners. He did not do well at the Birmingham Tourney in 1899, possibly handicapped by being at business half the day. His match with Mr Bellingham in 1896 was the principal event of its kind locally since the CookMacaulay match in 1885. Mr Bellingham, who was then almost at the top of his strength, won by seven to five; but ten drawn games showed the toughness of the encounter. His style of play has been well described as “heart-breaking.” His powers of analysis are remarkable, not only depth but breadth being prominent. He seldom takes risks; any variation of which he cannot see the end is carefully eschewed, and to this fact is probably due the epithet which w r e have quoted above. In match play he is inclined to be slow-, and we can well believe the depth to which he goes in bis analysis is not reached without a considerable consumption of time. In fact, he has complained that I twenty moves an hour was somewhat too i fast for his style of play, and he would have preferred eighteen or even fifteen, I the time-limit adopted in the play of ] master tourneys. Mr Hollins’s quiet and j unassuming manners have gained him j many friends within and without the St. George’s and the Birmingham Club, of which latter lie has combined a membership during the last five years. We join with them in offering our sincerest wishes for his welfare in the other Great Britain to which he is bound, better health, success, jmd prosperity in the new venture which be is taking up.—“BirmingI ham Daily Post.”