Chess in England.

Otago Witness, Issue 1911, 6 July 1888, Page 29

Chess in England.

We are indebted for the score and notes of the following beautiful game to the excellent column of the Liverpool Courier. Muzio-Cascio Gambit. White. Black. O. Lucovich. 1 P to X 4 P to X 4 2 P to X B 4 P tks P 3 Ktt>K B 1 PtoK Kt4 4 B to B 4 P to Xt 5 (a) 5 Castles (b) P tks Xt 6 Q tks P Q to X B 3 7 P-to Q B j (c) B to It 3 (d) 8 P to Q 4 Xt to X 2 9 P to X 5 Q to B 4 (c) 10KttoQ2 QKttoß3(/) 11 KttoK4 Ktto R4(ff) 12 Xt to B 6 eh X to B 13 B to Q 3 Q to X 3 (/i) 14 Q to It 5 X to Xt 2 15 It tks P (t) Xt to Xt 3 16 Q tks B eh X tks Q 17 Ktoß4ch KtoKt 2 18 B to X 6, mate.

(a) The attack in the Muzio is so powerful that it Is fcarcely advisable for any but a first-class player to undertake the defencp. It would be better to play 4...8 to Xt 2, which would leave Black a pawn ahead and a theoretically won game.

(6) Steinitz frequently, even in tournament play, used here to play 5 Xt to X 5, a position known as the Salvio or Cochrane Gambit, according as Black answers 5...Kt to KR3, or 5...P to 86. The books agree in considering the game as lost for White — only, unfortunately for them, Steinitz generally won. The next move initiates the strongest attack, 6 P to Q 4 and 5 Kb to B 3 ranking next, while 5 B tks P eh iB very weak.

(c) The book move is 7 P to X 5, the variations consequent upon which lwve been well thrashed out by L. Paulsen and Zukertort, the result being in Black's favour. We do not care much for the text, but we believe 7 P to Q 3, known as the Hubsian attack, will require considerable attention from future analysts. The following is the continuation : 7 P to Q 3, B to R 3 ; 8 B tks P, H tks B ; 9 Q tk< B, Q tks Q; 10 R tks Q, &c, and Black's X B P cannot ba saved White, moreover, will soon play Xt to B 3, and bring both rooks to b ar. (rf) Black s defence has too much " routine " about it. The correct move is 7...Kt to QB 3, aud if 8 P toQ4,thenß...KttksP.

(c) If 9...Q to B 3, the answer might be 10 Q to R i, Q tks B : 11 Q tks B, &c. Cf) If 10.. .Castles, II Xt to X 4, B to Kt2; 12 B to Q3,Qto X 3 ; 13 Kh to B li eh, B tks Xt ; 14 Q to It 5, It to X ; 15 Q tks P eh, X to B ; 16 P tks B, Q tks P ; 17 B tks P and wins, is a likely variation. (g) This is bad. but there is nothing better, unless it is 11. ..Kt to Xt 3. He could neversurvive White's attack if he ventured 11. ..Castles

(h) 13... Q to Xt 4 might have delayed the fatal Q to R 5, although White could then have won the exchange and a pawn by 14 Xt tks P eh, &c. (i) A remarkably fine move, and followei up in capital style. If Black replies 15. ..8 tks R, then 16 B tks B, Pto Klt 3 (the only move) ; 17 Xt to X 8 eh, X moves ; 18 Xt tks P, Q to Q B 3 ; 19 P to X 6, and wins.