BERLIN CONGRESS. French Defence.

Otago Witness, Issue 1586, 15 April 1882, Page 24

BERLIN CONGRESS. French Defence.

Played in tho First Round between Messrs Blackburne and Mason, and remarkable as being the only game lost by the former in this contest. Though somewhat colourless for a time, there arrives, through a Blip of Mr Blaekburne'n, an end game straggle, conducted by Mr Mason with much ability, and well worthy of being attentively Btudied. > White. BlacK. Mr Blackburne. Mr Mason. 1 P to X 4 PtoKS 2PtoQ4 PtoQ4 8 Xt to Q B 3 Xt to X B 8 4 P takes P P takes P sKttoß3 BtoQS 6 B to Q 3 Castles 7 Castles P to B 3 BKttoK2 Qto B2 9 Xt to Xt 3 B to X 3 (a) 198t0K3 QKttoQ2 HQtoQ2 KRtoKsq , 12 X R to X eg B to X Xt 5 13 Xt to B 6 B takes Q Xt 14 B takes ß KttoKß 15QtoQ3 PtoKKt3 18 B to R 3 Q Xt W B 3 17 P to X Xt 3 < Xt to R i 18 KttoQ2 PtoKB4 , 19 Xt takes Xt B P takes Xt 20 Q to Xt 8 Q to Xt 3 (&) 21 P to Q B 4 Q takes Q 22 P takes Q Xt to Xt 2 288t0Q2 Btoß2 24 X R to Q B Bq B to Xt 3 25 B to X 3 Xt to B 4 26 B takes Xt P takes B 27 R to B 2 X to B 2 28RtoQsq KtoK3 20KtoBsq RtoKKtsq 80KtoK2 QRtoQßsq 31 £ to B 4 X R to X sq 32 P to R 4 PtoKR4 33 B to Xt 5 X R to Xt sq 34 X to X 3 Q R to X B eg SBRtoQRBq Ptoß3 368t084 Rtoß2 37 R to R 4 R to Q B sq 38 B to X 5 R to X sq 30 R to R sq R to X Xt aq (c) 40 R (R sq) to Q B Bq RtoQ2 41 P takes P eh (d) R takes P 42 B takes P eh P takes R 43 R takes P cb X to X 2 44 R takes' B B to Q Xt 4 («) 46 R takes R P takes R 46 P to Q 6 R to Q sq 47 X to B 4 R takes P 48 X takes P R to Q 7 49 X takes P R takes B P 60 B to o4 Rtoßß 61 P to Q Xt 4 X to X 3 528t083 Rtoß2 63 Bto X 5 • Rtoß sq 54 B to B 3 R to Q B sq 55Kt084 RtoKKtsq 668t0Q2 -RtoKtCch 57 X toB 3 RtoQB5 588t083 Ktoß4f/J 59 B to Q 2 R to Q 5 60 B to X sq R to Q G eh 61 X to X 2 X to X 5 62Kt082 II to Q 8 63 B to B 3 R to Q B 8 64 P to Xt 4 (g) P takes P 66 X to Xt 2 R to Q 8 66 P to I* 5 R to Q 6 67PtoR6 KtoRO 68'BtoKt7 Ktoß4 69Kt082 KtoKt4 70 X to Xt 2 R takes P (h) 71 B takes R eh X takes B 72 X to Xt 3 X to Xt 4 73 KtoKt 2 ' KtoK B 6 74 X to B 2 X to X 5 75 X to Xt 3 X to Q 5 76 X takes P X to B 6 77 X to B 4 X takes P 78 X to X 3 X to B 6 White resigns.

(a) We adhere to previously-expressed views in favour of 9 Xt to Xt fifth.

(b) Doubtless judicious, having regard to P to Q B fourth, now threatened.

(c) Mr Mason's moves imply that he is willing to draw, and we understand that, as a matter of fact, such was the case. His opponent acts not wisely in trying to win such a game. (c{) Either a mistake or an unsound conception.

(c) If White's forty-first move was a badly grounded scheme its flaw probably lies in the effect of Black's present move.

(/) White does not appear to have been playing amiss of late, but we find that Black has now got himself into a position to make what can be made of this remarkably tough ending.

{g) Apparently it must come to this as a last effort.

(h) Which wins, and that rather prettily. Mr Mason well deserves his victory, for it is the fruit as well of exceeding patience as of marked ability. Though Mr Mason did not get so high a place as we all wished, yet, at any rate, he was the only combatant who beat the first-prize winner, and he made even conclusions with the second-prize winner, while aIBO he overthrew M. Tschigorin, who shared the third and fourth prizes.— Land and Water.

CHESS NOTES.

From the letter which appears in tho Chose Players Chronicle of the 26th of January, in reply to the challenge of Mr Steinitz, it will be evident that the two players are not on the best of terms, so the match that has been looked forward to with so much interest may not come off alter all :— The "Chess Monthly," 18 Tavistock street, Cove2it Garden, W.C., 24th January, 1882.

Sir,-— ln answer to the challenge which you thought fit to address to the Editors of the Chess Monthly, I have to state that I shall be ready myself to play you a match, under any reasonable conditions, as soon as I receive from you a public apology for your gratuitous insults.

Otherwise, should you be eager to refurbish your chesfi reputation, which you have kept carefully ou of harm's way for many years past, wo may meet at Vienna. I trustfully leave the decision of the question who of us two shirks public play to tho chess history.—Yours obediently, J. H. ZUKKRTOH.T.

Herr W. Steinitz.

Tho Chriatchurch Chess, Whist, and Draughts Club is beginuing again to bo better patronised as winter seta in. Several now mombet's wero elected on Monday night last.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

D W W, Rivorton.— Thanks for your communication

You fcpm to t&ko a great. intero/t in the gnmo. B Mi), Oiunaru.— You sic pi-rftjctly c.n ruct. Wo bhall alwayß be glad to anawer aay queries,