Criticisms on Tourney Problems.

Otago Witness, Issue 2397, 8 February 1900, Page 52

Criticisms on Tourney Problems.

(From Canterbury Times.)

No. 1639 (No. 1 in Otago Witness Tourney). Motto: "Quod erat demonstrandum." Two moves. Key, Kt-K 4. — Key bad; duals-plen-tiful, and more than once there are four alternative mates (50), X.Y.Z., Christchurch.—Elegant move ; leaves three pieces en prise ; beautiful variation follows P xQ ; mates not pure or economical (90), Tertius, Kaiapoi. — Sacrifice of Xt good, followed by pretty mate ; shocking duals; strong pieces being en prise limit the tries, because moving them, except again en prise would be very inartistic (50), Altordian, Christchurch. — First-class key, making it full of sacrifices; subtle mate by P B 3; duals follow Xt moves (70), W. F. G., Spreydon. — Key easy, cutting off two "flight squares, and offering ca.pture of Xt; no pure, but four ecqnomical, mates ; there are dual, triple, and even quadruple mates (50), Argo, Maori Pa. — Key not good, giving X only one flight ; four pieces being left en prise, good ; subtle after-play, economical mates ; no purity ; duals follow Xt moves (73) S. S., Lincoln road. — Neat, clean, economical, and strategical, not very difficult (80), J. L. Power, Wairau, Carterton. — Black's attack apparently strong, answer on White's part good ; W. C., Ohoka.— Also solved by G. H. Rodmell, Christchurch ; F. C. L., Waimata Valley. Note. — A number of the problems competing anonymously in the Otago Witness Tourney having been forwarded through us, and we being aware of their authorship, we abstain from offering any editorial criticisms of the tourney problems prior to the award. — Cffess Editor.)

No. 1611 (No. 2 in Otago Witness Tourney). Two moves. Key, B-B 7. — Key forced ; not enough variety for force on board? (65), X. Y. Z. — Fair first move; X x P a fair variation; no economical or mirror mates; one nearly pure (65), Tertius. — Key poor ; the feature of the problem is the mate following B x P eh, which is very pretty (70), Alfordian. — First-rate key ; subtle mate follows Bx P eh ; no purity^ dual follows Xt x P (72), W. F. G.— Key fair; one pure mate; fairly good two-mover (70), Argo.— A fairly good problem ; dual follows after Xt x P, 'economical; no purity (70), S. S. — Excellent strategy, covering and disclosing check; Xt's power well illustrated; fairly economical; ona mate clean (85), J. L. Power.-*-Key ciits off one flight square ; variations monotonous ; the two Black Bs, the Black P at B 7 and the White P at Q 2 might be off the board (60), F. C. L. — B and Q well placed; unexpected denoument; W. C. — Also solved by G. H. Rodmell.

No. 1643 (No. 3 in Otago Witness Problem Tourney). Two moves. Key Kt-Q 4. — Neat, but easy, key ; three mates good ; but the fourth has a dual (60), X. Y. Z. — Very good first move, gives X two moves, but cuts off one; mate by Kt-B 3 neat, economical, and nearly pure (75) Tertius. — Pretty key, giving Black X second flight squa^x and sacrificing R; mates good ; but dual a blemish (68), Alfordian. — Capital key ; subtle and pure, mate follows KsE; dual after P-Q 3 (75), W. F. G.— Fair key, opening sacrifice of R; one pure and three economical mates ; one dual ; good problem (65) Argo. — A pretty problem; good key and good variations for small force employed; dual after P-Q 3; one pure mate (75), S. S. — Nicely demonstrates power of Q and Xt; mates clean and economical ; key easy (80) J. L. Power. — Key good, one pure mate, variations neat (65) F. C. L.— Neatly thought out; W. C.