Chess Items.

Otago Witness, Issue 2167, 5 September 1895, Page 38

Chess Items.

The Canterbury Chess Club hai agreed to play a match with ihe Oanmui Club, the number of players to be 12 or 14 a aiJe. at the option of the Oauiaru c\ub. The date fixed for play is not yet announced.

The lately established Ladies' Che«s Club (Lon don) recently pUytd a match with a team of the opposite sex, chosen from the members of the Metropolitan Chess Club, the latter yielding their oppoucnta the odds of a knight at each boavd. There were 14 boards, the result being that the ladie3 won five games and their opponents nine. This is said to bj the first instance on record of a match at rheas b-.tweeu players of opposite sexes The Daily Telegr*ph states that the nutct was marked throughout by " the most pleasant and courteous demeanour and bearing between the ladies and their opponents." How very unexpected 1 M< st people, perhaps, thought they would get to shying the chess mtn, or perchance the boards, at their opponents wb- n they found they were getting the worst of it. Bui peihap* there is really more danger of a rumpus when the opposing players are all of the same aex. Mr Mariden, the hon. secretary of tbe Metropolitan, valorously give hia opponent, Mv 3 James, the odds of the queen, and lost, ns perhaps h<a detired, and certainly deserved. The result of- the international tournament now proceeding at Uastingn. so far a* yet known, places Messrs Lasker and Tehigorin equal with a score of 12 each. The number of players taking part in the tournament is not stated, but probably there are not fewer thin 20. As at least seven gim^s Ivive still to be playeJ by each it is impossible to conjecture what the final outcome may be. Most likvly Messrs Lisker and Tchigorin will both be near the top. Mr F. It. Gittins, the well known prol.J mint, is bruising out a book tj be called "TheCiess Bouquet." It is intended for the illustration of the British problem world of to-day, and will contain portraits and biographies ofch-ss composers and character sketches of the pve-entleadm of English chess literature. It will aWo contain tn j ati<es on problem composition and solution. Mr Lasker appears to be very popular in London chess circles.

Mr Henry E. Dudenay offers a« a priz« a copy of Bird's Modern Chea» "to the first solver of the following punzlo. Produce a game of chcs» which alter 16 moves shall leave White with all bis 16 men on their original squaros, und Black in possession of his king nlone, not ueceisiwHy on hid own bquar«. White then to f<u - C 2 mate in three moves. This is n c;iss ivit of the game not heitiß worth the candle, but the candle being not worth tho Riiue. Saction 1 of part II of Stoinitz a " Modern Chef 8 Intitiuctor" has been publialied. It deals with the Ponziani and Giuoco Piano openings. Unfortunately, since the match with Lasker, in which some of hii favourite lines of play failed him, studcuta may have some reason to suspect that wlnt is new in the book is not true, and what is true is Dot new. Mr A. 15. N. Wallace, on his return from Adelaide v.ia Melbourne, gave a second demonstration of simultaneous play by playing 20 opponents, 15 of whom were members of the Melbourne Chess Club. He won 12 games, drew 3. and lost 5. His pl&y in aome of the games was "really excellent, but in others he was greatly indebted to the assistance of h is oppon en ts. It is in contemplation %i establish a. second chees club in Syilmy. Messrs Wallace and Crane are both taking an active p.\rt in piomoting the movenic-nt. The Ladies' Pictorial has instituted a chesa column under the conduct of lira J. Gunsberg. The three-game correspondence match between tbe Wellington nnd Canterbury Clubs has made some progress, the fin>t sjßinc (Ponziani Opening) baviug reached Whito'i Bth move ; the socond (Centre Gambit) the 7th move. White to play ; and the thud (French) the iHh ruovc, White to play. The gcoros aro :— •

Game I.

White T,U~k Wh^^o BJack (Canter- (Welling- (Cantor- (Welling. bury). ton), bury). ton). 1 P-K 4 P-K 4 5 B QKt 5 X Kt-K 2 2KKtB3QKt-B3 (il'xP QxP 3P-0.83 I'-Q-l 7 o-O PK-5 4 QQIM P-KB3 8 Kt-Q 4

White's lvst move does ivit ain»jar s:»ti-hc'ovy, Kt-K 1 seems preferable. White will ii^vo difficulty in devo'opiug their queen's hKie.

Game II (Centre Gambit). White Black White Black (Welling. (Cunter- (Welling- Canterton)- bury). ton). bury). IPK4 F-K4 5 P-K 5 KtR3 2 P-G 4 PxP « Kt-K B 3 O-O 3QxP Kt-QB3 78Q3 P-Q3 4 Q X 3 B-K 2 Game 111 (French). White Black White Black (Canter- (Welling- Canter- (Welling. bury). ton). bury). ton). 1 P-K 4 P-V; 3 6 Xt x Xt eh B x Xt 2 P-Q 4 VQ4 7)4xl} Qxß 3 KvQ B 3 Kt-K B 3 8 K» -B 3 " Kt-B 'J 48-KKtSPxP 98Q3 5Kt x P B-K 2