DUALS IN TWO-MOTE PROBLEMS,

Otago Witness, Issue 2200, 30 April 1896, Page 40

DUALS IN TWO-MOTE PROBLEMS,

By Thos. Sexton.

As problem composing is becoming so popular in New Zealand, I have thought a few remarks on the above subject would not be inopportune. Th« 1 Idea of writing fhe following was suggested to toy - mind by a slight dfceussi-n I had with a gentleman whilst in Wanganui. For the benefit of the . uninitiated I may explain that whenever White has two or more ways of proceeding the problem . it said to have duals in it - if this happens In the ' first move then, in the words of ,Te Whiti'B -'historical remark, the problem, like fhe potato, is cooked. My oppouent in the discussion I refer to .contended that duals -of any description, in two movers were quite inexcusable, whilst I think that when they occur in *nswer to purposeless moves oo the part of Black that not only «re they excusable, but ik 1* prefoxabl* to let them etuud thui to overcrowd the pqatttaa ffii «oox>f ft

they ow they art tteaninj

tor In answer to defensive moveß then a a decided blemish. To illustrate my f I composed the following position ,•—

[Buck.]

It will be seen there is a good try by 1 Q-R 4, Black's only reply -being b-q 4. My intended key is Kt-Q 4, thus while offering the sacrifice of the Kfc providing effectually for 1 B-Q 4. The idea I had in the above position was to provide a variety of play in answer to the moves of the b kfc. If 1 kt-r 4, then 2 q-b 8 j if to present that 1 kt-kt 8 then 2 q-b 6 ; if to prevent either of those mates 1 ktq 4 or k 3, then the kt's mate accordingly. These moves of.--the Xt are strictly defensive, and if a dual occurred in answer to any of them, then it would be a decided blemish, b-q 4 or p x kt are also defensive moves, and duals in answer would be inexcusable ; but if Black plays 1 kt-o. 6, k7, kt 7, or r 6, then White can mate by either B 6 or B 8. But what, purpose does Black hope such mores to serve ? None ; therefore they, ara purposeles*. It should be always understood that is is against Black's best ploy that White will force the mate, and it is only such in my opinion should be taken into account To farther illustrate my meaning I submit the position with the duals removed :—

It will be seen that to cure the duaU I bad to block the squares with pawns, and as it would have taken more than the set contained, I bad to shift the whole position one file to the right, at once removing what was previously a good try, and in my opinion destroying whatever small amount of beauty the position originally contained. Some composers, and also the gentleman I was discussing tbe subject with in Wanganui, have said that if they oould not remove the dnals without overcrowding and spoiling tho beauty of the position they would not publish it at all. This I think is a mistake, as many fine stratagems that would have delighted the problem lover may be lost. The discussion on this subject is in no wayi new, as many years ago raged with great fierceness. The two parties ranged themselves under the names of Purists and Dualists, the former being represented by Messrs Andrews and Carpenter, £ngluh and American composers, the latter by Metsrs Koh'ta and Kockolkorn, the German composers: the one side contending for absolute purity— *.«., freedom from duals— whilst the otb«r side took what I think a common-senee view, contending that duals in answer to purposeless moves were quite excusable, aad could scarcely be called a blemish.

Opinion is much modified in both England and America since then, and two-movers that rouWn harmless duals can be found taking first prizes in tourneys held in both countries. Between two problems equally good in other respects, the one which is freest from duals ought to be preferred ; but to say that a composer must; abandon a fine conception because he finds it impossible to work it out with no duals in it is to my mind ridiculous.