PROBLEM 986. By Dr. E. Muller. [Black],

Otago Witness, Issue 2004, 21 July 1892, Page 36

PROBLEM 986. By Dr. E. Muller. [Black],

[White.] White to play and mate in two moves. Otago Chess Club. The first of tho series of simultaneous performances arranged by the committee of the Otago Chess Club was held at the club room on Saturday evening, when Dr Stenhouae contested seven games simultaneously against the following seven opponents :— Messrs Irwin, Galloway, Lyders, Baeyertz, Litolff, Foord and Colclough. Play commenced at 8.15 p.m. and terminated at 11-.15 p.m. Tho Doctor won from Messrs Galloway, Baoyertz, and Litolff, lost to Messrs Irwin, Foord, and Colclough, and drew his game with Mr Lyders. The second performance will be held on Saturday the 30th inst., when Mr F. V. Siedoberg will contest 10 games simultaneously. Visitors as well as members of tho club will be allowed to take part in tho performance. The following is one of the simultaneous games, played on Saturday evening :— Evans' Gam«it. White. Black. (Stcnhousc.) (Baeyertz.) IP-K4 P-K4 2Kt-KB3 Kt-QB3 3 B-B 4 B-B 4 4P-Q_Kt4 BxKtP 5 P-B 3 B-B 4 6 P-Q 4 P x P 7 Castles P x V-a 8 Xt x P-6 P-Q 3 9 Kt-K Xt 5-e Kt-lt 3 10 Q-R5 Kt-K 4 118-Kt3 B-KKt5 12 Q-R 4 P-K B 3-ii 13 Kt-K 0 B x Xt HQ-Rsch-e P-KKt3-/ 15 Q x X Xt Q-K 2 16Kt-Q5. BxKt 17 B x B Castles (Q R) 18 B-K 3 B x B 19 Q x B R-Q 2/7 20 Q x P P-B 3 21 X R-B sq Q R-Q sq 22BxP Ktxß 23 RxKtch K-Q 2 24 Q x P eh K-K sq 25 R-B 7 R-Q 2 26 R xM Q x R 27 Q-R 8 eh Q-Qsq 28 Q-B 6 eh Q-Q 2 29 R-Q Bsq Qx Q - 30 R x Q K-K 2-f 31 P-B 3 R-Q Xt sq 32 R-B 7 eh K-Q sq 33RxP R-KtSch 34 K-B 2 R-Kt 7 eh 35 K-Kt 3 R x R P 36 R-R6 P-B 4 37RxP PxP 38 R x P eh Resigns a The capture of this pawn is. not to be recommended. The correct play is 7... P-Q 3. b 8 P-K 6ris stronger. c 9 Q-Kt 3 gives White an excellent attack. > d A weak move ; Black's position is not an enviable one but probably his best resource would be 12... Castles. c This should cost White a piece ; obviously the proper play was 14 B x B. / But Black now allows White to regain his piece. By simply playing 14... 8-B 2, he could have maintained the piece he had gained. S Black had so far emerged from his difficulties very well, with two pawns to the good ; but now he makes a slip which gives White at once a great advantage. He should have played 19... K-Kt sq ; and with ordinary care he could have at least drawn the game. h aS Q R-B sq was very much stronger. i Obviously 30...K-Q 2 was the correct play, and would have given Black some chance of drawing the game. Blackburne v Lasker. This match which was originally fixud to commence on Monday May 23, was postponed owing to Mr Blacklmrne's indisposition till Friday May 27, Lasker consenting. Blackburne aftera few days' lestoration at Hastings, returned to London on May 27 at the appointed time, and as soon as Lasker put in an appearance they tossed for the first move, which was won by Blackburne. The game was a Ruy Lopez, which was won by Lasker in 48 moves. The second game, a French Defence, ended in a draw. The score at the end of the eighth game was Lasker 5, Black buine 0, drawn 3. The victor will be the one who first scores 6 games. Bl.ickburne's prospects look gloomy. It is hardly to be expected that be will win six games, whilst Lasker has only to score one more game to win the match. Choss Items The Birmingham Mercury states that while Lasker was engaged in playing one of bis games with Gunsberg in the recent quintangular match, his eye wandered to a board at which Mason was playing to win a difficult ending against Bird. Mason did win, and in a way that pleased the gallery. But subsequently Lasker demonstrated the position to have been a dead draw. He had analysed it while playing his own game with Guusberg, which had lasted for six hours, and which Gunsberg had made desperate efforts to win. Dr Fred. Mintz, of the Manhattan Chess Club, is the leader in a movement to have the greatest international tourney on record held next year at the Chicago World's Fair.