Chess for the Million.

Otago Witness, Issue 2046, 11 May 1893, Page 38

Chess for the Million.

Assuming that the learner now knows something of the moves of the chess men and how to place them on the board and also the notation used in recording games, he should proceed to play over a few printed games. In proceeding to play a game the first point to decide is which player should have the first move. It is usual for the player having the White men to have the first move and to determine by lot who shall have them. The men are then placed on the board in the proper order. It will now be seen that the first move must either be one of the pawns or knights. As each of the pawns can be moved either one or two squares, at the option of the player, there are in all 16 possible first moves for the White's pawns. Each knight has two possible first moves— namely, to rook's 3 or bishop's 3, making 4 possible first moves for the player of each colour. Only a few of the number are actually played. P-K 4or king's pawn to king's fourth is by far the most usual first move. Next n frequency are 1 P-Q 4, 1 P-Q B 4, 1 P-K B 4, 1 P-K Xt 3, 1 P-Q Xt 3, and 1 P-Q R3, in the order here given. It is not usual to begin with moving a knight and when a player does so begin, it i§ 1 X Kt-B 3 which is moved. In games at the odds of the pawn and move the second player not infrequently begins with 1 Q Kt-B 3. A beginner should open with 1 P-K 4. By this means he occupies one of the central squares with a pawn and opens a passage for his queen and king's bishop. To this the usual reply is also 1 P-K 4. Each player's king's pawn has advanced to the centre of the board and neither pawn can for the present go any further. The first player has now a greatly increased number of possible moves available. Of these we shall select what we consider the most instructive. It is deshable to obtain the command of as much of the board as possible and especially of the centre of the board. The result to be attained is to checkmate the king of the opposing player, and the purposo of every move is therefore directly or indirectly to attain that result. The meaning of " check" and "checkmate" has already been explained. As, however, a thorough knowledge of the condition called "checkmate" and the mode of bringing it about is essential it must bo now fully explained to the learner.

(To be continued.)

Games in The Match North v. South of Eagland; French Defence. White. Black. (Mr Cressweller, (Mr Atkinson, Portsmouth.) Hull.) IP-K4 P-K 3 2 P-Q 4 P-Q 4 3 P x P-a P x P 4 Kt-K B 3 B-Q 3 5 B-Q 3 Kt-K B 3 6 Kt-B 3 P-B 3 7 Castles B-K 3 8 B-K 3 Caitle3 9 Kt-K 2 Q-B 2 10 Xt-Xt 3 Q Kt-Q 2 11 Kt-B 5 B x Xt 12BxB QR-K1 13 P-K R 3 Kt-K 5 14 R-K 1 Q Kt-B 3 15 B x Kt-6 Xt x B 16 P-B 3 P-K B 4 17 Q-B 2 P-B 5 18 B-Q 2 Q-KB2 19 R-K 2 Q-R 4 20 R-K B 1 R-K 3 21 B-B 1 R-Kt 3-c 22K-R2 R(B1)-B3 ! 23 P-B 4-d R x P ch-e 24 X x R R-Kt 3 eh 25 K-R 2 Q x Xt 26 R-Kt 1 QxR-/ 27 Q x Q P-B 6 dis eh 28 K-R 1 R x R eh 29 X x R P x Q 30 Resigns. a This move was much in vogue about 20 years ago, but as it leads to a drawn game is now seldom played. b He should probably have captured earlier, followed by Kt-Q 2. c White cannot easily prevent this massing of the opposing forces ; he simply has a bad game and his opponent is aware of it. d There is no time for this, R-K Xt 1 is imperative ; but Black has then a choice of good moves, such, for instance, as XtXt 4. <5 A brilliant and sound, if somewhat obvious, sacrifice. / Very pretty ; but R-R 3 results in a speedier mate. Say R-R 3, R-Kt 3, P x R eh, P x P, R x P eh, and mates next move. The finish in the text, however, is good enough, and the game well deserves the attention of all chess students. — Illustrated London News.