PROBLEM 848.

Otago Witness, Issue 1926, 15 January 1891, Page 33

PROBLEM 848.

I' By L. N. de Yong, Utreoht. (

1 (First Prize Two-move Problem in Bahn Frie Tournament.)

White mates in two moves. White : Kon X Xt eg, Qon Q B sq. R on Q sq and X R 7, Kts on X B 5 and Q R 6, B on Q B 8, P on Q4. Black : X on Q 83, Kts on X sq and Q B 5, B on X Xt 2, Ps onQ Xt 3 and 4, X B 3, X 5, Q 6. Manchester Chess Congress Tournament. " The Fianchetto," as Bird says, •' leads to a somewhat defensive, if not cramped game, but in th« hands of highly original and imaginative players affords far more resource for the second player than is generally supposed. The eminent amateur, Bey. Mr Owen, conducts this form of defence with marvellous judgment and ability." The following example of his play ooourred in the Manoheßter Congress Tournament, but Captain Mackenzie wns too strong for him, and played with such excellent judg ment that eventually the Rev. Mr Owen had to confess himself outmanceuvred, and was compelled to haul down his flag. Captain Mackenzie is reported to be dying of consumption. " Considering," says the Times Democrat, " Captain Mackenzie's feeble state and the strength of his opponent, before whom both Mason and Gunsberg had just gone down in the tournament, and bearing in mind that this garaa represents the culmination of 13 days' arduous mental and physical struggle, and that upon its definite result hung the alternatives of halving 450d0l of prizemoney by a win, or only tying for a fourth of 150dol by a loss, the winning of the game was a genuine feat, a splendid exhibition of pluck and endurance on the part of the invalid master. As to its ohesslo qualities, we have rarely seen a more elegant specimen of the oaptain's play."

Queen s Fian-chem*. White. Blaok. (Mackenzie ) (Owen.). 1 P to X 4 P to Q Xt 3 2 P to Q 4 B to Xt 2 3 B to Q 3 P to X 3 4 P to X B 3 Q Xt to B 3 5 P to B 3-a P to Q 4 6 P to X 5-6 Xt to R 3 7KKtto H 3 Pto Xt 3-d ' BBtoK Xt 5 Xt to X 2 9 B to B 6 R to X Xt sq 10 Q to Q 2 X Xt to B 4 ]IPtoKKt4 KttoKt2 12 Xt to Xt 5 P to X R 3 13 Xt to R 7 R to B sq 14 Xt tks Be X tks Xt 15 P to X R 4 Q to Q 2 16 P to J? 5 P to X Xt 4 17 P to X B 4 P tks P 18 Q tks P P to B 4 19PtoKt5-/ QKttoß* 20 B tks Xt P tks B 21 P tks R P Xt to X 3 22 Q tks P S tks P 23 RtoKt sq Bto B sq-jjr 24 Q to Xt 4 R tks B 25 P tks R X to X sq 26 Xt to Q 2-h P tks P 27 Q tks P Q to Q 3 28 Q to X 3 Q to X 7 29QtoKt3 QtksßP 30 Q to Q 6, and Mr Owen resigns. NOTES.

a The blockade of both the long diagonals by the bishop's pawns is probably the most effective way of meeting either the single or the double Fianchetto Defence Steinitz is particularly partial to it. b The position is new something like a French Defence with a Fianohetto attachment. c Good enough. If 7 B tks Et, then 7...Q to R 5 eh, followed by 8...Q tks Xt, avoiding the doubling of the Black pawns. d But almost anything seems better than this. His king's flank 1b at once fatally weakened, indeed shattered, by White's response. c Correct. If instead 14 Q tks RP, then 14...Kt to R4 ; 15 Qto Q2, E tks Xt ; 16 P tks Xt, E tks P.&o. f The circumstances considered, all of this is played with admirable firmness and preoision. So early and so lively an assault is unusual in this close opening. g Sufficient 'to guard his queen and to prevent B to Xt 7 oh, hut there is really no offset to Whit&'s fine coup immediately following, and virtually forcing the game. • h Best. 26 Pto R 6 would be met, at least temporarily, by 26... Xt to B sq.— Times Democrat. Chess Items. It has been suggested that Mr Steinitz might make a tour in Pennsylvania to visit the We3tern clubs, but this has not yet taken place, owing no doubt, to Mr Steinitz's labours in connection with r the " Book of Congress " and his own " Instructor." Commenting on this suggeßbion, a Milwaukee editor says : -"Steinitz could easily be induced to vieit this city for a consideration, but Milwaukee chesaists are so con stituted that it is doubtful whether they would shell out a dollar to see an exhibition by the devil himself." In the City of London Chess Club arrangements were being made for the great winter tournament. There will be 12 sections of 13 players each, making in all 144 players. The Leader states that "one item in the November Chess Monthly will be of the greateit Interest to Australian chess players, and that is that tbe medical advisers of Captain Mackenzie urge him to take a long sea voyage to Australia. It is only recently that the chess world at large has become aware that the American "champion is suffering severely from a pulmonary complaint ' A testimonial is on foot, promoted by some of the amateurs in England and Scobland. to provide the coit of the recommended journey. Joined to the sincere regret we all experience becaDse of the motive cause of the journey, is the lively Interest we would all have in welcoming to these lands and bright skies, and, as we would trust, to renewed he»lth and strength, • the Knight who, on the oheokered field of life, as well as ohess, has proved himstlf Wtu xwrfit tyns reproof*,' n