Chess (James.

Otago Witness, Issue 2355, 13 April 1899, Page 48

Chess (James.

Game between Le Comte do Grabbo and Mons Leon Gottesman, pbiyed. in the La Strategic correspondence tourney on November 26, 1898: — Steinitz Gambit. White. Black. 1 White. Black. De Grabbe. Gottesman. De Grabbe. Gottesmtn. IP-K4 P-K 4 lflßx-P BxP-D 2K'-QB3 Kt-Q B 3 HPxPch X x P-K 3 P-K B 4 PxP 12 QKKt3 Kt-KK3 F 4 P-Q 4-a QRS eh 13 B-Q 2 X R-K 1 5 K-K 2 P-Q 4 cho 6P x P B-KKtsch 14 K-Q 1 Kt-K li 4 7KtK B 3 0-0-0 15 Q-K B 4 P-K Xt 4 BPx Xt B.Q B 4 16 QxKt P QBxKt eh 9 Q-K 1-B Q-K R 4-C 17 Re-ifrns-H Notes by Mons. Gottesman. (a) Steinitz's move, which he has now rightly abandoned. — [This is hardly correct, as it is said that Steinitz still commends it.—Cn. Ed.] (b) Steinitz gives 9 P x P eh. In a game played at New York between Steinitz and Honnegger in consultation the following interesting continuation was adopted . — 9Px?ch K-Ktl ,15PxR Q-Q 4ch 10 Kt-Q Xt 5 Kt-K B 3 16 KB 2 B-K B4 eh 11 K-Q 3 Q-R 4 17 X Q 2 B-QKtsch 12 K-B 3 P-QR3 18 K-K 2 Kt-JCKtS 13 K-Kt 3 P x Xt Resigns. UPQB3 RxP If 11 P-Q B 3, then 11 KR-Klch loKtxP Q-KR4cb 12 K-Q3 B-KB4ch 10 Kt-K5 KUQ2ch J3 K-B 4 B-K 3ch 17 K-Kt 5 Qx Q and 14KxB P-QR4 wins. If 13 Xt x F, then rzp, with an irresistible attack.

The move 9 Q-K 1 was invented by Rudolph L'Hermet. The Hanbuch and Tchigorin considered it better than P x P eh, in which opinion I do not agree with them. (c) Threatening r-k 1 eh, etc. (d) Again threatening r-k 1 eh. (c) Not k-kt 1. (f) The decisive move, threatening kt-k b 4. (g) Now the win is forced. (h) If 17 P x B, q x b p eh; 18 K-B 1, r-k 8 eh, and mate in a few moves. I consider this game as proving the inferiority of tho L'Hermet variation of the Steinitz Gambit. Game just concluded in a little contest by correspondence in connection with tho Leeds Mercury chess column between Messrs C. Platt, president of tho Carlisle Chess Club, and A. W. Overton, Leeds Chess Club: — Qdeen's Pawn Opening. White. Black. White. Blark. (C. Platt.) (Overton.) (C." Platt.) (Overton.) 1 V -Q 4 T-K Bla 14 Kt-K 5 Bx Xt 2 P-Q B 4 PK 3 15 Px I? Xt xKt 3 Kt-Q Ii 3 Kt-K B 3 Ult x Knj> Kt-K 2 4 I'-K 3 T-Q I B 17 K-K Xi 4-K Kt-B 4 5 Kt-K B '.i Ki-Q B 3 18 BK f- i-v l'-V. 3 0P x P KKixP ]9 KQ I Q-K 2 7 13-Q 3 E-Q 3 20 Bx Xt Px B 8 O-o O-U 21 R-Kt 6 K-R 1 9 l'-K 4 c ' V x P 22 Q R-Q 6 G KB 2 lOKtxP P-K R3 23 Q-Q 2 P-QKt3n IIP OR 3 Kt-T*3- 24UxRP Pxß 12 QB 2 Kt-K 2 2~i M.f es in four moves. 13 K-K 1 Q Kt--Q 4 (a) This move, unless correctly followed up, appears somewhat dangerous. (b) We hardly like this continuation, as it produces a wettkn-ess greatly felt later off, and .which Black finds it difficulty to remedy. (c) This is forcible, and exposes Black's weakness still further. (d) Black's position has been uneasy for some time owing to White's forcible moves, and his last move or two lather strengthen White at his own expense. (c) White had an enterprising line now in B x R P, but with correct play on Black's part it was not quite safe to make it, perhaps, especially by correspondence. (f) White's continuation is now plainly indicated. (g) Black is hampered by his undeveloped b, which has a gTeat influence in making his royal rank weak against White's strong attack. (h) Too late now in the endeavour to get out the b, but b-q 2 is barred by White's threat of P-K 6. In the end we get a neat little problem to solve.

The Koyal Game. By J. J. David.

(Translated from the German.) " All right. As you please. All the same." He raised his head, and with a masterful gesture indicated the board on which a chess mating position had resolved itself. Hereupon he straightened himself up from his inactive and stooping position and smoothed with his left hand his hair, which, in a cross-grained and white abundance, hung about his angular coun-tei-ance. Beard and eyes were 'still dark and youthful. In his looks there was a remarkable aic of superiority, a feeling of triumph. For it was not exactly "a master of the royal game who had been opposed to him. I paid. Without a word he picked up the small sum he had won, handed the waiter a handsome gratuity, dressed himself very carefully before the glass, and we departed. It was already the hour when the coffee houses begin to get deserted. The respectables are already at home, and the rakes turn up somewhat later. There was still one game of chess going on. About the round table in the main saloon, which towered upwards in noble Gothic arches, still sat newspaper readers. He seized on au illustrated sheet, and skimmed, with much head-shaking, the chess column. I waited. It was very quiet. Only an unwatched waiter was trying to make all kinds of scientific strokes on the billiard table, and the balls knocked hard and with precision against each other. Tt was a weary, dull, and drowsy time. We walked together through quiet and crooked streets of the inner town (Vienna) to a little tavern. This was a habit established between us ever since we began to play; whereto, after cessation for years, interest in him, rather than in the game itself, had moved me. For he had struck me through his endeavours even as a professional player to display the characterestics of a gentleman. v He did not take every chance of gaining; he played prettily, with surprising turns, and took trouble to afford these incitement and that satisfaction which they expected from him. When he won sufficient for the day he willingly conducted the vanquished through and explained some pretty game. He was a very poor devil, but jealous of his honour, had travelled widely and was refined in his language. But he had seen really nothing of the world through which he had roamed. Whether he spoke of sunny Havana, of Hastings, or of Nuremburg, all he knew was of the battles which had there been fought over the board. Sun and mankind were to him indifferent, »nd had entirely slipped out of his remembrance, which at the same time had seized and retained with faultless accuracy every move of the whole course of a game. (To be continued.)