Hints to Problem Solvers and Composers.

Otago Witness, Issue 2309, 2 June 1898, Page 40

Hints to Problem Solvers and Composers.

(From the Times Weekly Edition.) Variations. — Aiter the key the variation is the chief and sometimes the real feature. Black must, in one word, bo invested with certain powers, but none of theae will be allowed to frustrate the design of mating him in a given number of moves. Their ohief effect will be to produce varied play and bring into operation all White's forces with oharming effect. Ifc should be almost needless to add — but on this point muoh misconception prevails — that neither in the key cor in. the variations must there be any ugly or forcible play. Checks and captures are only very rarely allowed as keys and never in competitions, and even in the after play such moves are only regarded as uneieasaat aeceggi&efij 4s ta £fee. uaul m m«ti«g

positions, the following, given by Mr A. P. Mackenzie, furnishes a good ilhistraiion of a pxire and pretty mate . — White (foxir pieces).— X at Q7,EatK 84, B at Q B sq, pawn at Q2. Black.— X .at TL i. White mates on the jnove. First Examine the Defences. — Many comI niunicatlons which come to hand are distress- | ing. Evidently the writers suppose that any i key which meets one single defence must of necessity be a solution. We may emphasise the importance, first and foremost, of analysing every possible defence in all cases, 'because a proposed " solution " which fails to meet any one oi these is necessarily false. These defences should all be Lorn in mmd, and perhaps foe written down/ before any serious attempt is made to discover the true key, which, of course, avails against every one. Experience will soon enable stiidents of moderate capacity and novices — a somewhat comprehensive terni when ] chess is m question — instinctively to direct -their I attention to the really vital It will be found, for instance, that a good many defences may easily be provided for at once ; "but others, and especially those which appear at first sigrht i insignificant, must be more carefully noted anct j provided for If Black is allowed, for example, ! to cherk the White king, such defences must be \ first, considered. Tbey are, however, frequently j overlooked through giving too much attention to the one object of attack on the Black king. It should always be remembered that pawns on the seventh line may be promoted both by attack and by defence not necessarily to queens, ; but to knight, rook, or bishop as required. j All this will tend to show the beautifully deceptive nat*ire,of chess in its most perfect form ; how necessary it will often "be to distrust that "which appears obvious and on the surf affe what j scope is afforded in the game for the exercise of ali degrees of analytical power ; and how rich j the reward. ' Duals, usually regarded as defects, are pxo- J duced when White (to play) has more than one course of action open to him. It is hardly necessary to observe that .there must be in all cases but one key move; but iurther in -the variations it is well for the defence, in its main fealiires at least, to produce but one possible continuation or mate for White to adopt. | A knowledge of these leading elementary principles will enable the ordinary chess student to derive considerable pleasure from the. game, ' and 'he will steer clear of many pitfalls into ■which novices inevitably fall in their first attempts. Isolated individuals will find systematic problem study a rare resource. The whole subject is one eminently worthy of more attention than nas hitherto -"been bevoted to it, and its increasing popularity cannot be denied. Obviously we can only touch the fringe of it in one short article, but we may suggest lilies upon -which the merest novice may work and find absolutely unlimited attractions and scope.