Telegraphic Chess Match.

Otago Witness, Issue 2179, 28 November 1895, Page 44

Telegraphic Chess Match.

OTAGO V. OAMARU. Play was resumed in this match at 7 o'clock on Saturday evening. Consideiable progress having been made at the previous seance, it was boped that this would see the end of the greater number of the games. This hope has not been realised, and only three of the games have been finished. The first win was at board 14. where Mr Hamel cleverly secured the first victory for Otago by exchangii g queens and mating his opponent with a rook. The second game finished was at boird 11, where Mr Doclson (Dunedin) had secured a winning superiority of force Mr Kettlewell, however, by an ingenious sacrifice, secured a draw by perpetual check. The last of the three gamei finished was at ' boaid 6, where Mr H. Lyders, of Dunedin, was opposed to Mr Skeet. Mr Lyders made a mistake in the opening, from the effects of which his opponent never gave him a chance of recovering, and seeing that his position was hopeless he resigned. The result so far, therefore, is : Otago Club, 1 win ; Oamaru Club, 1 .win, 1 drawn game. At board 1, Mr R. A. Cleland defending the Evans's Gambit attnek, has finally come out a pawn to ths good. Mr Clayton mi6S?d his opportunity of obtaining a suie draw by cheekful at his 2ftth move, and took a pawn instead. This has left the Dunedin player with some chance of a win, having kiog, rook, and three pawns to his opponent's king, rook, and two pawns. At board 2, the cjnteat between Mr Monat and Mr Banks was carried on np to the thirty-first move, and adjourned to next sitting. Mr Bankß has carried on the cintest in a spirited style, and although he has still the difference of force against him, his opponent will need to take care. The Dunedin player gave back the exchange, thereby gaining another pawn, and has now six pawns to his opponent's three, and rook and knight af»a'n3t rook and bishop. At the close of the sitting White was threatening to gain another pawn, and Black (Mr Banks) was making a flank movement with his king which will need to be watched.

At board 3, Mr Mellor has regained a pawn lost at the first sitting, but his opponent (W r Francis) has the better position. At board 4, Mr Balk ia minus a piece, '^>it has a compensating attack which should euabi* him at leist to regain the losi with the betlei game. At board 5, Mr King (Oaniaru) has sacrificed a rook for a very powerful attack. At board 7, Dr Heinemann h»s a winning advantage. At board 8, the Oamaru player was unable to attend, and no progress was made in the game, which stands much in favour of Mr M'Donald, tho Dunedin player. At boj.rd 9, Mr Warsaw (Dunedin) has a winniug advantage. -J" At bo.\rd 10, Mr Dawe (Dunedin) has gained a pawn. At board 12, the game is about even. At boards 13 and 15, the strategy displayed by the players on both sides has been of such a profound and complex character that very little progress has been made towards a result. Assuredly if they continue at the same rate the games will have to be sent for elucidation to Mr Hookham, the adjudicator. The pUveis evidently belong to the modern school of play, and do not go in for attack, but manoeuvre for position. Mr Williams, of the telegraph staff, presided at the transmitter, and needless to say there was no hitch in that department. The evening was pas3ed pleasantly, without any wrangling or disputes, the rules of play working admirably. The match will be continued on Saturday next.