PROBLEM 1036.

Otago Witness, Issue 2055, 13 July 1893, Page 38

PROBLEM 1036.

The Ichthyosauri's. •By J. Ney Babson.

White to playand mate in 333 moves 1

The foregoing position is destined to become historical. It has been forwarded to the editors of chess columns by Mr Babson, accompanied by an apology for the unavoidable delay in the publication of his book, entitled " Pleasant Hours with the Chess Board." In order that readers may not be frightened, Mr Babson most thoughtfully af pends his solution to this great conception. And it is well that he ha 3 done so, for experts at solving are tho more easily enabled to take up his idea and test its soundness* Once the idea is grasped, the difficulty mainly v vanishes ; but it remains for the enthusiast to try and prove the construction to be " Love^ labour lost"; or, in other words, kindly to cook it. The cond ition requiring 333 moves is appalling to most solvers till they are put upon the track, and then the goal is sought with great interest. The author s intention is pretty enough, and may be followed concisely as under :— 1 B-B sch K-K 4 13 K-K 2 B moves 2 R-Q Xt 1 K-Q 4 14 K-K 1 3U-Qlch K-K 4 15K-B2 4K-R7 B moves 16 R-Kt2 „ SK-Kt6 „ 17K-Kt3 6K-R5 , 18K-R3 7K-R4 „ 19R-Kt3 BK-R3 „ 20K-R4 9 R-K Xt 2 „ 21 K-R 5 ioK-Kt3 „ 11:1V 3 .12R-KKt3 " 24KvKt8 ',', gaining the opposition, and forcing Black to move down a pawn ; after which the white X makes the same journey, forcing down the pawn another square, and so on until all of the rook $ pawns have been forced to the eighth square and captured by the rook. After each capture Black plays K-Q 4, and then White checks with rook, regaining the former position. When , at last, the pawn 3 have been captured, and the rook played back to queen's square, White has made d 24 moves ; then— 325 P-R 3 B-B 1 1 330 Xt xP eh K-K 4 326 Kxß Kt-K3ch 331 K-K 7 P-Q5 327BxKt Kt-Q4! 3«3cP Any 3'BBxKt Pxß 333 Bor Xt mate 3 329 Kt-Q7chK-K3 It has often been said that when a problem requires examination, let it go to Leeds. Mr Babson will be greatly surprised to learn that his solution is really " fishy," and can be shortened to the small tune of some 30.9 moves ! In other words, it is proposed to Eolve it in 24 moves ! This large reduction is duo to the skill of the Leeds expert, Mr James Rayner, and in going through the problem with him we believe he is right Mr Rayner follows the author's solution to the end of the ninth move, but proposes for the 10th the powerful move of R from X Xt 2-Q 2 • and some very wonderful play and some extraordinary positions are evolved. The reader must notice how the queen's side black pieces are held in thrall. We shall be pleased to receive any criticism tending to v psot the play of the cook. Follow the moves of the composer to the ninth move, and play— 10 R (Xt 2)- B-B 1-ff, b, 17 P-R 4 P-R 7 Q2 c 18 P-R 5 P queens lIRxR QxKtchd 19 RxQ £*R 4 »&-**■ im in 14 Bx Xt P-R 5 ! 23 P queens P queens 15 R-Q 1 B-Q 3 ! 24 Q-±t 2 mate 16K-Kt2 P-R 6 If 13 Kt-K 3 IS X P xKt B-B 5 14 Kt-Q 7ch K-Q 4 17 PxP eh B-Q 7 15 R-Q Ich Kt-Q 5 18 Rx B mate If 14 " K-Q 30r4 17 B-B 8 P-R 6 15R-RQI K-K 4 188-R6 Any 16 B-K 7 P-R 5 19 B-B 4 mats And if

15 , p.R6 16 B-K 7 P-R 7 17 B-B 8 P queens 18BxQ B-U3 19 B-R6 B-K 2 20 B-B 4 eh K-Q 4 21 R-Q 1 mate (a) 10 , Q-B 6 eh 11 Xt-Xt 3 Q x X P ! 12 R x R Q-R 3 eh ! 13K-Kt2 QxßPch 14KxQ K-B5 15RxKBPchK-K6! 16 K-Kt 2 B-Q 3 17BxB Kt-Q 4 18Kt-Blch K-K 7 19 B-Q 2 eh K-K 8 20 B-Kt 3 mate If 1121 12 — K-B 5 13RxKBPchB-Q3 14 B x B eh X moves 15 Mates accordingly If 11 QxR 12RxQ B-Bl 13Kt-R5 B-K 2 14 Kt-B 4 Any 15 Xt mates (&) 10 Q-Ktß lIRxR QxKPch 12 Xt-Xt 3 Samo as var. (a) (o) 10 Q x Xt eh 11 R x Q B-B 1 12R(B1)-Q1 BK2 13 R x R Any 14 Mates. V) 11 Q-B 6 eh 12 Kt-Kt 3 QxR 13 RxQ eh B-Q 3 14 B x b mate The analysis of such a position as shown here in the "cook" is as improving as playing a game ; and it is for this reason we give it, and to invite criticism tending to upset it. Problems Extraordinary.— We have noted the fate of the " Ichthyosaurus." But there is news of another by the same composer, which is to totally eclipse that production, and the idea was given to the composition in this wise :— The chess editor of an old-established chess column in an American paper, being sbortly to publish his 1900 th problem, _ desired Mr Babson to compose a position worthy such an important occasion. This he has done in such a way that the 1900 th problem is to be solved in 1900 moves ! And this number exactly ; neither more nor less. Mr Babson declares it cannot be reduced by one move ! Well, as we have said before, let it come to Leeds, and a verdict may be pronounced upon it. But notwithstanding this, the idea of giving birth to such a position marks a mind of no common order, and stamps Mr Babson as a chessist before whom all difficulties must vanish. The work itself is a stupendous one, and we cannot do' less than heartily wish the bold designer complete success. — Leeds Mercury Supplement.