Chess Item.

Otago Witness, Issue 2319, 11 August 1898, Page 48

Chess Item.

The British Chess Magazine for June announces that it proposes to publish from time to time the famous " Semi-centuria di purtite " (the naif-century of games), from Ponzaani's "II giuoco incomparable degli schacche" (the incomparable game of chess), Modena 1752. These are, mostly, announced mates or studies in which the first player can bring about a wm oc draw. Besides being of historic interest, they arc, to the player, of more practical value tha.i the ordinary problem. Some incidents of the Vienna International Tourney selected from The Field ■ — There s,eems to have been rather more than the usual proportion of drawn games. In the second round Schlechtec played a Ruy Lopez against Steinitz' e favourite defence and got the advantage, Steimtz with excellent judgment giving up a pawn voluntarily in order to dimmish the expected attack. He got thereby full scojie for Ins two bishops, and conducted the remainder of the game with such skill and tenacity that in the ending he was even a pawn ahead, but in spite of oil Ins efforts to wm he had eventually to submit to a draw.

Walbrodt v. Burn. A Kuzeritzki gambit, winch is probably the tii»t ever played by Walbiodt in a tournament, but having lost one game by forfeit, pnd auotbe^again^t Tehigorin in the .second round, he had to bo exceptionally bold. Burn missed the correct continuation, which would have given him the advantage, and allowed Walbrodt to get up a violent attack, ending in a sacrificing combination which led to a forced mate.

Schlechter v, Tehigorm.— When we stood at Tchigorin's board to make a note of the opening Schlechter was considering for some time his third move. " You need not wait; put dowii a Ruy Lopez," and s-o it was. Showalter v. Marco.— Showalter began the week badly. He lost to Steinitz. That he expected, for lie had never won a game of him; but he was al&o defeated by Marco.

Blackburne v. RteiniU.—Blackburnc condescended to ptay a liny Lopez, but, only because his opponent was Steinitz, and he suspected with reasonable certainly Steinitz's own defence. Blackburne got the bettor game, and at the adjournment Steinitz proposed a draw, but Blackburno did not accept the offer, and tried for a win. The game was eventually drawn. Walbrodt v. Baird.— A king's gambit declined by 2b-b4, Baird gp'ling the hoA of it He hsul un easy won game right up to the end, but allowed Walhro'lt to o=cnpc with a draw. Sohlechtcr v, fcjhowalter.— A French defence.

Schlechter sacrificing a piece in the middle game and winning the queen. Schlechter, who sacrifices so raroly, simply "bluffed " Showalter, for the latter could have remained with rook and two minor pieces for the queen without any more danger, but he missed the right move, and had to lose a piece later in consequence. His game became then untenable, although he made still a stubborn defence.

Janowsky v. Steinitz.— Bishop's gambit irregularly defended by Steinitz, the upshot being that after a few moves Steinitz had to lose the gambit pawn and leave himself in a bad position. It is inexplicable that such a powerful player as Steinitz should handicap himself so severely and unnecessarily as he does at the very beginning of a game, when other players are satisfied if able after an hour's play to gain a slight advantage in the opening. Janowsky, of course, won brilliantly. Pillsbury and Showalter.— Queen's gambit declined. Showalter played vigorously, and gofc a fine attack involving the risk of losing a piece. He extricated himself, however, cleverly, and after clearing off pieces he was a pawn aJ-ead, with a winning ending, as he gained afterwards two more pawns. At a late hour it came to this position: R 7. 7 B, b k p 3 p 1, 7 p, 6 r 1, 4 K3, 8, 8, which, incredible as it might appear, he played so carelessly that he first lost kt p, then gave up r for B, trying to van -with the h and 1 pawns, and finally coufcl only draw. The half point was thus) a clear present to Pillsbury, who, however, played with great tenacity and perseverance.

White. Black. Kt-Q 7 mate lacy other Xt - Q 3 double eh 2 K-Kt 3 Q-Q B 5 (or Q 8) mate 2 K-Q 5 or B5 Q-B 4 mate ■ 2 K-Q 3 Q-Q S mate

(Engli'dv (Winawer. 14P-U5(!) Q-QB3 15QxP M-I3 4G 16 B-Kt 2 B-K 2 17 JMI G TJ-U 1 18 l'-Q 15 3 v JT-K 1 10 J'x P Q-B 7 20 B-B 3 JM< P. 3 21 P-Q 5 Q x Q P 22 Bx JB eh X x B 23PxKt QxQP 2i P-B 3 P x P 25 Q B S QxQ 20 P x Q, wins.

. White. Black.

White. Llack. (Petersburg.) (Vienna.) 18 Q-B 1 KtxP 19 Xx Xt B-Q 4 20 K-Kt 3 T-K B 4 21 QKt-Q2 J'-]5 sch 22 K-Kt 2 Q-Kt 4 ct 23 K-lil Qlt4 24 Q-B 3 Ex V 25 Q-Q 3 B x R 2BUxB Q x X P 27 11-KKtl QR-QKti 2S K-Kt 2 Q-lt 4 29 K-Kt I Ux Xt 30 Xt x B Q-Q 4 31 Q-B 3 K-Kt 8 ci 32 Kt-K 1 Q-Q 5 33 li-Xt 2 PB i Eesigns.