PROBLEM 722.

Otago Witness, Issue 1970, 22 August 1889, Page 29

PROBLEM 722.

{From The Field.) [BLA.CK.J

[Whith.] White to play and mate in three

Otago v. Canterbury. The match between the Otago and Canterbury Chess Clubs was concluded on. Saturday evening at the Excelsior Hotel, all the games being brought to a finish, the result standing as under : — Out of 10 games Ohristchurch won 8, and Dunedin 2 ; one game drawn, and one annulled. Dr Stenhouse and Mr lrwin, however, lost for lack of that steadiness and care which result from want of practice with strong opponents. We are obliged to hold over the detailed report in order to give our readers the promised game between Messrs Stenhouse and Ollivier. White. Black. Dr. Stenhouse Mr Ollivier. 1 P to X 4 P to X 4 2Ktto KB 3 Kb to QB 3 3 B to Q Xt s(a) Xt to B 3 (6) 4 Castles (c) B to Q B 4 (d) sPto Q 3 (c) Pto Q 3 6 P to B 3 Castles 7 P to X It 3 Xt to X 2 8 B to 114 KttoKt,3 9 P to Q 4 B to Q Xt 3 10BboQB2 HtoKsq 11 X to X sq P to B 3 12 Xt to H 3 P to Q 4 13 Q P fiks P Q Xt tks P 14 Kb tks Xt R tks Kb 15 B to B 4 R to X sq 16 P to X 5 Xt to Q 2 17 Itto X 2 B to B 2 18 QtoK sq ((/) Kfc to KB sq 19 Q R to Q sq (/5) Xt to X 3 20 B to R 2 Xt to Xt 4 21 Ptoß4(j) Kb to X 3 22 Xt to B 4 P to Q Xt 4 23 Xt to Q 2 Xt to Q B 4 24 P to Q Kb 4(ft) Xt to Q R 5 (0 25 Xt to X 4 Q to X 2 28 KttoKß6chPtksKt 27 P bks P (n) Qto R (o) 28 Q chs B to Xt 5 29 B tks P eh X tks B And after a few moves White resigns. NOTB9. a The safest of all openings for the first player, and therefore very frequently played in important matches. b The best defence according to the German Handbuch and so many modern players. Pto Q R 3is at least a& good. PtoQ 3we look on as decidedly bad. c P to Q 4 is often played here, but Dr Stenhouse had resolved to play carefully and make his attack only when it would be decisive. d This is decidedly bad, and surprised the Otago player, coming from the quarter it did. c The usual reply is Q P to Q 4, but see note c. / These exchanges were certainly in favour of White, who took full advantage of the position g Defending the Pawn and preparing for his attack on the Black King. h With a view to the release of the Queen's Knight. i A timely advance; the way this unfortunate Knight has been driven about was quite sufficient to give Black a lost game, k Play for the first night ended wibh this move, which was sealed by White. Careful analysis showed White that he had a winning position no matter what Black did. I Something cap be said for this move though it is in reality the weakest he could have made with the Knight, which was required for the defence of the King. m Black ought not to havetaken the Knight, which at once gave him a lost game. Losing the exchange would have been better. n This was a fatal blunder and was done on the spur of the moment with the intention of mating in two moves, forgetting that the Queen's Bishop could cover the check at Knight's sth. Dr Steahouse's intention was to check with the Queen first. o Of course the game is now over. p Had White not made this sacrifice he might still have made a fight for the game ; but he was now suffering keenly from the shock of his unfortunate slip. Had White played as he intended the attack would have gone thus : 27 Q checks X to R sq 2i P tks P R to Xt sq 29 Q tks E eh X tks Q 30 It bks Q, and Black has na resources and must lose, Again— 27 X to B sq 28 B tks R P Q must move. 29 Qto Xt 8 (eh) X to X 2 30 P tka P eh X to Q 2 31 Q checks, and whatever Black does the game is hopeless. If at move 30 Blaok plays X to Q 3. White replies P to B 5, dis eh. It will therefare be seen that Black's game was hopelessly gone, and White's error consisted in. thinking at the moment that it was immaterial whether he checked first with the Queen or took the Pawn. If Black plays 2« Q to Q sq, then White plivys'P bks P^and mates next move. Answers to Correspondento. Solution of Problem 719. Wnite. Black 1 Q to B 7 Any move 2 Either Xt mates accordingly. C C M,.Queenstown. — Variation (6) in Prublem 715 whs « tong as you stated. It should bo thus: 1...X to X 5 ; 2 Q mates at X 3. GJR, Kaitangata.— You have gone wrong in solutions to both problems. This is not usual— please try again. You are right about the game ; Blaei; wa3 ioieed to resign at 56bh move.

BY TUMMEL.

Chaste Regent of the starry heavens, On Craig- Varr'e pine-olad height, Thy sofbly glancing glamour lies— A sofb entrancing light. Ere falls on Tuoimel's murmuring tide The influence of thy beams, I watch the dark, dull waters glide, And lose myself in dreams. Schiehallion's clear cut, lofty peak Is keeping watch and ward, While Raunoch'a slumbering " giant " lies At length upon the sward. A fairy chorus greets my ear — Far o'er the stilly heath I hear the crag-pent " burnie " plash Upon the rocks beneath. Awhile against a Druid atone, My rod aslant, I lean, And gaze upon the peaceful loch, I note the silv'ry sheen. I hear the night owl's horrid screech, The bugle of the swan, The mallard's whirring pinions sound Across the waters wail. The startled lapwings, wheeling, rise And flit in serried rank Across the moorland wild and bare— They quest the maraheß dank. , Snug packed within bhe lonely cairn, On Craig an Ower's height, The vixen leaves her suckling whelps 'Neath friendly shade of Night. The badger, delving 'naongst the mouldNot far — his rocky earth, A moment listening, hears a yell — The wild cat's awesome mirth. To kelpie-haunted mountain turn To cool his throbbing sides, The wild red deer, not heeding, hastesAll danger he derides. But ere the monarch of the glen Can stoop to drink his fill, An angry bellow rolls afar, Unanswered, round the hill. This rival takes the gauntlet up With proud, defiant mien ; His crested antlers backward tost, His great broad front ie seen. Not long resounds the combat's strife, Though fierce tha battle raged— The echoes answering to the clang, By distance sofb assuaged. Again they doughtily renew i heir grim, fast locked embrace ; With angry snort and lurid eye, They grant but scanty grace. A gallant sight it was, I trow 1 As, couched 'mid brackenß high, I viewed the fight with bated breabh, And listened to their cry. The clusbering hinds sband idly round, All careless of the fray ; They know bhe duel canuot last— The dun must win bhe day. * # »r X And so it was. The faltering knight Not long his stance maintained— One parting stab, one lightning thrusb, A vicbory fair attained.