PROBLEM 788.

Otago Witness, Issue 1897, 12 June 1890, Page 33

PROBLEM 788.

By T. Taveuner, Bolton. r (Third prize in Leamington Chronicle Problem Tourney.) .j [Black.]

Gunsberg v. Tchigorin. The following is the score of the ninth game. Notes from International Magazine, and The Field. Evans' Gambit. White. Black. (M. Tchigorin.) (I. Gunsberg.) 1 P to X 4 P to X 4 2Ktto KB 3 Kfc to QB 3 3 B to B 4 B to Ii 4 4PtoQ Xt 4 B ika Xt P 5 P to B 3 B to B 4 6 Castles P to Q 3 7 P to Q 4 P tks P 8 P tks P B to Xt 3 9 Kfc to B 3 Xt to II 4 10 BtoK Xt 5 Xt to X 2-a 11 B tks Pen & Ktks B 12 Xt to Q 5 Q Xt to B 3-c 13 B tks Xt Xt tk B B 14 Xt to Xt 5 eh Kto Xt 3-d 15 Xt to B4 oh Kto B 3-e 16 Pto X 5 oh-/ P tks P 17 P tks P oh X tks Xt g 18 QtoK seh X tks Xt 19 PtoKt 3eh Kto X 5 20 X X to X sq oh X to Q b-h 21 Q to Q aq ch-t X to B 4 22 Qto B 2 oh-j Kto Q 4 23 QtoKt 3eh Ktol3 3 24 Qtoß 4eh Kto Q 4 25 QtoKt 3eh Kto B 3 26 Qtoß 4eh Kto Q 4 27 QtoKt 3eh Kto B 3 28 QtoK 4oh Kto Q 4 29 QtoKt 3eh Kto B 3 30 Q toß4ch Kto Q4 31 QRto Qsq ch-AK to X 3 32 Q to X Xt 4 chKt to B 4 33 X tks Q R tks R 34 X to Xt 2 R to Q 7 35 Q to Q B 4ch Kto Q 4 36 P to Kg 4 Xt to Q 5 37 P to B 4 P to Xt 3 3S QtoQ Bsq Kto B 2 39 P to B 5 Xt tks P 40 P tks Xt B tka P 41 Q to Xt 5 X to Xt sq 43 R to X 2 R to X sq 43 Q to B 4 R to X B sq 44 Q to B 4 B to X 3 45 Q to Xt 3 R tks P aud White resigns. a We would recommend here the new move 10.. .X Xt to B3 ; which we believe would release Black sooner than any other defence from the opponent's attack, for if 11 B to Q 3. then 11...P to X It 3 ; 12 BtoK4,Pto XXt 4 ; 13 B to Xt 3, Xt to X R 4, &o. b If only sound in the variation actually played, this is certainly an ingenious Idea, but, as will be shown anon, Black had a valid defence against this novel line of play. c Mr Gunsberg points out that X to X sq is the oorrecfc defence here, c.jr. : 12...R to X sq ; 13 B tks Kfc, R tks B ; 14 Xt to Xt 5 eh, X to Xt sq ; 15 Q to R 5, P to Xt 3 (if) ; 16 Xt to B 6 eh, X to Xt 2. The main difference lies in White's command of Q Xt 3 with the queen, as will be seen. d Forced; if 14...Kt0K sq, then 15 Qto R 5 eh, Xt to Xt 3 ; 16 Xt tks RP;or if 14.. .X to Xt sq, 16 QtoKt 3; and if14...K to B sq, 15 Q to B 3 eh. c li 15...X tko Xt, then 16 Q to B 6 oh, X tks Xt (or 16.. .X to B3 ; 17 Pto X 5 eh, P tks P ; 18 P tks P, mate) ; 17 QR to X sq, Xt to B 4 ; 18 PtoK soh and mates next move. f White could also force a clear win by the coup de repos 16 Q to R 5, which at leaßt recovered the piece sacrificed, with the superior game, and might have led to some elegant mating positions unless Blaok looked out sharply. For If 16...8 tka P, then 17 P to X 5 oh, and Xt to K4, mate. Or 16...P to Xt 3 (best) ; 17 QtoE6,B to Xt 5 (best; or 17...8 tks P ; 18 Kfc to R 5 eh, and Qto Xt 7, mate) ; 18 X Xt to X 6, Q to X Xt sq (best if 18.. .8 tks Xt ; 19 Xt to R 5 eh, X to B 2 ; 20 Qto Kfc 7 eh, Kto X sq ;21Ktto 86, mate) ; 19 Q to Xt 5 eh, X to B 2 ; 20 Q tks B, and should win. g Whereaß -we doubt now whether after 17...X to B 4 White could sesure the victory, for if 18 Q to B 3, then 18.. ,Q to Xt sq (best) ; and Black, we believe, ought to escape all danger. hlf 20.. .X to Q4, then 21 Pto X 5 (dis eh) leads to a mate in a tew moves. i Mr Gunsberg rightly points out here that the preparatory move 21 Q Rtoß eg would have forced a mate. Black had no other defence than B to B 4, whereupon the reply 22 Q to R 4 eh, would drive the king into a mating position. j Even here White could still win the game ; and although very diffioult, there should be a possibility of a better solution than the one in the text, c g. : — 22 Rtoßsq eh KtoKt 4 23 QtoKt 3eh Kto R 4-1 24 Q to R 3 oh X to Xt 4 25 R to Xt oq X to B 3 26 Qtoß 4eh Kto Q 4 27 QtoKt 3eh Kto Q 5 (beßt) 28 Q R to Q sqch X to B 4 29 Htoßsq eh Kto Q 5 30 Q to B 4 or Q eg, mate. llt 23.. .X to R3, White wins with 24 R to B 5, B tks R ; 25 Q to R 4 eh, Kto Xt 3 ; 26 R to Xt aq eh. B to Xt 4 ; 27 Q tks B eh, and mates next move. A The number of the previous moves indicates that the Rusaian master, at least, was pressed for time, and resorted fcojforcing repetition moves in order to keep within the prescribed limit. M. Tchigorin seems, therefore, to have taken the risk deliberately of playing for a win in such a position, and against, such overwhelming forces as four pieces for the queen. Whether he underrated his opponent or overrated his position, the error Is equally great and unjustifiable. Otago Chess Club, A handicap tourney is now in progress at the Otago Chess Club, of which the following is the classification : — Class I— Mouat, Siedeberg, Stenhouse, Clegg, Throp, Angus. Claas ll— Carroll, Cogan, Irwin, Mander, Sim, Borton. Class 111 — Mahoney, David, Reeves, Garrow, Lawless. Class IV— Colclough, Ford, H. Peareon, Allen, Thomson. Claes I gives to class II the odda of X B P and move, to Class 111 P and two moves, and to Class IV the Q Kt. Clasa II gives to Class 111 P and move, and so on.