Australasian Chess Championship.

Otago Witness, Issue 2201, 7 May 1896, Page 40

Australasian Chess Championship.

Firot game in the match between Messrs E. N. Wallace (N S.W.) aud R. L. Hodgson (Victoria).

Mr Wallace opeaed with the Centre Game. Mr Hodgson revived an old defence by checking with his bishop at the fourth move. The champion tried to force an attack by manoeuvring his minor pieces, but the Victorian secured an even situation for the mid game fight. Mr Wallace caatled on the king's and his antagonist on the queen's side. At move 18 Mr Wallace expended 35 mißutas of his time, but the deliberation was rewarded by a promising attack with the queen's side pawns on the adverse king's entrenchments. Mr Hodgaon's position at hi* twenty-fourth move, which was weak, caused him some anxiety. Mr Wallace, by a series of strong moves, continued the assault, whicU taxed Mr Hodgson's best resources, a d be defended in excellent style. The game, which appears below, is lively throughout and presents many points of interest.

(a) So far all book moves The opening as a whole is unfavourable to the first player, thr ugh the time lost with the queen taking pawn and 7 B-Q 3 is not so good us 7 P-K B 4 or 7 B-8 4. (6) Threatening an attack on the king's side. (c) This seems a weak move, but White is in this difficulty, that he cannot, move either his pieces on the Q's side to advantage, and he has* nothing el»eg"Od. There seems no good reason against castl ng now, as he does so shortly, with the disadvantage of the R P being advanced. (d) 11 b-k 3 to be followed by o-o-o appears to be the most, promising course for the defence. The text move appears to have been made to prevent Xt- R 5. (c) There appeav3 to be a good deal to be said for 19 R x B. (f) It does not appear that there ia much advantage on either side at this point, and it will be interesting to see how White plays to win. We regret that want of time precludes such a careful analysis of the position as it seems to deserve. * Position at the adjournment (Bkck) Mr Hodgson ; to play,: —

White. Black (Wallace) (Hodgson.) IP-K4 P-K 4 2 P-Q 4 PxP 3 Q x P Kt-Q B 3 4Q-K3 B-Ktsch SP-B3 B-K.4 6 Q-K Xt 3 Q-B 3 7BQ 3-a P-K R*& 8 Kt-K R 3 P-Q 3 9 Kt-B 4 Q-K 4 10 P-K R i-c X Kt-K 2 LI Kt-Q 2 , P-K Xt 3-d 12Kt83 Q-B3 L 3 0-0 B-Kt 3 14 Kt-Q 5 Xt xKt 15 P x Xt Kt-K 2 L 6 R-Kl BQ2 L 7 Kt-Q 2 B-K B 4 White. Black (Wallace.) (Hodgson.! 18 Kt-K4 BxKt 19 B x Be 0-0-0 20 PR 4 P-R 3 21 P-Q R 5 B-R 2 22 B-K 3 B x B 23 Q x B K-Kt 1 24 P-Q Xt 4 P-K Xt ' 25 P-Kts Px Xt 3 26 Q-Q 3 K-K 2 27 Q x P R-Q Xt 1 28 QRKt 1 X K-Q B : 29 B-Q 3 Et Xt 3 30 B-B 1 P x P 31 QK 2 Kt-K 4 32 R-K.t4 (Won by White.)

[Black.]