Duals in Two. More Problems.

Otago Witness, Issue 2202, 14 May 1896, Page 40

Duals in Two. More Problems.

[Mr Sexton has spt-kenin favourof allowing duals In two-move problems. I should like to make a few remarks on the other side. I consider that

any dual in a two-mover is always A blemish ( and with mo it almost spoils the pleasure of solving a good problem when'l discover that it contarns a dual; consequently I almost Invariably criticise problems defective in this respect advers ly. On account of the limited number of moves, only one ou White's part beyond the key, and one only on Black's part, a two-movar is, or should be, so well within the grasp of the composer that he should be able to represent his conception without admitting such flaws as duals. The idea of a two-mover is to brins about a mate in two movea oa White's part, and in only one way, whatever Black does to prevent it. It is therefore to Black's advantage to make, if possible, such moves as would create dual mates, and so deutroy the primal idea ; when some of these moves are neatly met, indeed, they form the most attractive part of a problem. If the play tending to the dual cannot, therefore, be met, it is better to consign the problem to the tomb of oblivion rather than present solver* with an unfinished work, whose very beauty is thus exhibited side by side with its incompleteness, and is thereby brought at least to the level of its ordin*ry, yet unblemished, brethren. It would not be out of place to quote the opinion of Mr B. G. Laws on the subject :— These are termed duals, triples, or quadruples, as the case mny be, but the word ' dual ' is really sufficient for all practical purposes, for whan White has at any time an option of proceeding, it littlii matte: s the extent of this choice, since the play intended by the composer is absolutely spoilt. It usually happens, however, that when duals do exist they are for the most part unimportant, and do not seriously affect the main part of the problem. They are, nevertheless, faults, and whether they are possible of eradication or not always tell against the merits of the composition in tome degree/ This says a, little for both sides, but I think its general tone is quite adverse to the admission of duals. I am rather at a loss to understand which moves in a problem Mr Sexton terms " defensive " and which "purposeless" Since White mates whatever Black does, it deems to me that not a single one of hie moves can be called "d> funsive " ; also he has no " be^t play " in a problem, since all his play is futile in preventing mate. The terms defensive" and "best play could bo used, say, in an end game study, but not, I think, in a probUm. In the example given I should say that the moves Mr Sexton calls deft-nsive moves are absolutely the reverse. Klack moves a man, and fills a square, the guarding of which previously prevented a white piece from moving, so that Black's move is certainly suicidal, in that he gets into his own way and out of that of his adversary, enabling the quiotue to be given. The cnly kind of move in a problem that I would consider at all "defensive" is illustrated in my annexed problem. Here, after tbe key is made, White always threatens to mate on Q 5, and Black can only prevent it by "defending" the threatened squaie with his q, b, or kt, or by removing his k from that neighbourhood. [Black ]

[White.] 2blktq2, 2p2p2, 5 P 2, 2pßk2Kfc, 2 p 5, 5Q2,5K 2, 8. Mate in two. In Mr Sexton's example, however, even when the key is made, White doei not threaten a mate at all until Black makes a move ; hence I call his moves suicidal and not defensive, for in reality there is nothing to defend. Mr Soxton's method of remedying the duals in his ex«mple is surely rather cumbersome ; might I suggest avj amendment, as i er aunexed diagram, which I consider meetß all requirements? [Black.]

[White.] 4 Kb 2,1 pip 4, IPbK4,l P 2p2p,l P2p kt IQ,lKtKtlf 28,8, 8. M»te in two. - ' I have only added one black p and a black b, and changed the position of the white Q and B. The key remains the same ; one variation, the one that led to all tbe duals, is done away with and another substituted for it ; two piec-s are en prize after the key instead of one. White still has as good a try as before, with Q-Q 8. only prevented by Kt-K 3j and last, but not leaßt, there are no duals. I do not think this ameud uieiit overcrowds the position, nor does it really alter the original idea in the least ; all the mates except the defective one and a new one are now present, and the duals are absent. The demand by composers upon two-nv.ve positions has been so exhaustive that it is very ssldoni a really brilliant position is forthcoming for the delectation of problem lovers. Still there fire pretty little themes in plenty waiting to be calied into existence, and a composer would have pleaty to do and pleasure enough in attending to these without scaring afj.ev more ethereal inspirations, and bringing them to earth, with the result that they prove beyond his expression, and be can only produce a faulty representation of his hnmalculate ideal. After all, a little theme well carried out *nd brought to perfection is incomparably better than a colossal idea whose beauty is marred by its imperfection and its incompleteness. ' X. Y. Z.