Chess.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXII, Issue 6871, 22 April 1897, Page 1

Chess.

All correspondence on the subject of CheSß must be addressed to the " Chess Editor, Oamaru Mail,' solutions to prob lems must be sent in not later than Tuesday night;. We shall be glad to receive original problems for our column. April 22, 1896. Solution of Problem No. 319. By Eustace King, Ohristchurch. White : K on K Kt tq, Q on Q B 3, B on Q B sq, Kt on K Kt 7 Black : K on K Kt 5, P on K R 3, K Kt 6 and Q 5 White to play and mate in two moves, Key move— WHITE. BLACK. Q to Q. B 2 Any move Mate accordingly Solution of Problem No. 320. By A. G. Stubbs. White : K on K 2, Q on K B 8, B on Q R R sq, B on K B sq and Q Kt 8, P on K R 4, K Kt 3, Q B 2 and Q Kt 2 and 5 Black : K on Q 5, Kt on Q R sq, P on K 4, Q B 2 and Q Kt 3 White to play and mate in two moves. Key move— WHITE. BLACK. R to K sq Any move Mate accordingly Peoblem No. 321. By Vaclav Char, Bohemia. From The Times Weekly Edition.

White : K on Q Kt 8, Q on Q R 2, R on Q 5, B on Q Kt 6, Kt on K R 3 Black : K on K 5, R on K Kt 6, Kt on K B 5 and Q B sq, P on K B i, K 4 and Q B 6 White to play and mate in two moves. Problem No. 322. By Eustace King, Christchurch. From Brighton Society,

White : K on Q R 3, Q on K Kt 6, B on K Kfc 7 and Q B 4, P on Q 3, Q B 6 and Q Kt 2 and 5 Black : K on Q 7, B on K Kt 7, P on K B 6, K 6 and Q R 2 White to play and mate in three moves. END-GAME STUDY. This is intended for young players.

The above position is only a draw; bub Black must keep his King and Bishops close together, for should they become separated wliite will win. The draw is brought about by the White King being unable to cross the Bishops' diagonals to work in conjunction with his Queen against the Black King, GAMES. The New Zealand Chess Championship Tournament. The following game was played in the above tournament between Messrs Mason and Pleasants : • WHITB BLACK Mason Pleasants 1 Kt to K B 3 P to Q 4 2 P to Q 4 Kt to K B 3 3 P to K 3 P to K 3 4 B to Q 3 Ptoß 4 5 P to B 4 Q Kt to Q 2 6 Kt to B 3 P to Q Kt 3 7 Castles B to K 2 8 Q to K 2 B to Q 3 9 R to Q sq Castles 10 P to Q Kt 3 P to Q R 3 11 B to Kt 2 Q to B 2 12 P to K R 3 P to K 4 13 P rakes K P Kt takes P 14 Kt take 3 Q P Kt takes Kt ch 15 Q takes Kt Kt takes Kt 16 P takes Kt Q R to Q s<j 17 Q to B 5 P to K Kt 3 18 Q to B 6 B to K 4 19 B takes B Resigns ITEMS. Writing to a friend in the States, Steinitz thus discusses his approaching defeat by Lasker : - u Why am I so badly beaten 1 In the first place, because Lasker is the greatest player I ever met, perhaps the greatest that ever lived ; to say so positively would be like making excuses for myself and disparaging other rivals at a time when I myself am incapable to compete in the first rank. ' A chess master has no more light to bB ill than a general on the battlefield,' or words to that effect, I once wrote in the International Chess Magazine," and I adhera to that. Yet, with the hope of becoming stronger" and better, I may state that my fearful breakdown is chiefly due, as usual, to sleeplessness and nervous exhaustion, this' time aggravated by curious causes, which may interesb the Kneipp Sooiety la New York. We believe that Mr Mouat, the veteran chess editor of the Otago Witness Is not in good health. He finds he cannot carry ~on: the instruction class for the Otago Chess Club, owing to his requiring a thorough rest. We trust that Mr Mouat's temporary absence from, active work will be brief, and that he will shortly have recovered himself thoroughly.