Criticism.

Otago Witness, Issue 2425, 5 September 1900, Page 53

Criticism.

PROBLEM ISSS.

"Maori King" «>ritcs : — In answer to "Czar's" inquiry for a win by 9 14 at first move for White \a ruy play of August 23, I give him the following figure.-;. I thought it was so simple that a monarch like the Casr, would see it without his "specs." Position : — Black 2, 4, 27, Ks 16, 22; White 11, 21, 20, Ks 14, 10. Try this : —

B. wins -MAORI KING.

"Uncle Sam" writes: — "Czpr" would like to know who I am. Well, I guess he should know by this time, for 1 have just received an order irom Russia for 3,000,000 tons 6\ coal. I hear that "Czar" was severely wounded. I at once kicked Dr Leyds out of the country, and I hear that he has patched the wounded Czar up a bit ; but has no hopes for his recovery. "Czar " shows the white flag to Mr Brodie and "Bobs," and he tries to play the &f>rue gome on me. In var. 2, "Czar" says that a diaw car. be shown if 22 17 is played. Well, I asked him to show his draw, and a& soon as he does that, I will show him how to win it. Come on, "Czor," ond get Dr Leyds to help you. Now, ii "Maori King" is cunning, he will knock "'Czar " out in one act, and I shall see that M. K. gets a Y.C. for his bravery. "Tommy Atkins" is a very fair shot.; but I hope he will improve with practice. — UNCLE SAM. D. A. Brodie writes: — I am wondering how long "Czar" wants me to_ wait for hmi to show hib draw. I am afraid he is txying a gvme of "bluff," which is Russia's usual policy iv thfr East. I think, sir, progress i-> getting very slow lately, and no -one seem? to bo any farther ahead than when they started.

"Czar" says: — "Tommy's" last is his worst. Why didn't he begin at the beginning and say 16 20, B. wins, and ask all Britain's enemies to try and upset that? Then we could understand the joke. But with his two dozen moves he loads to the edge of the abyss, and asks us to show him the way to get over. I must agajn refer him back to his third column of figures, and I sax, positively that that column contains erratic play, and I repeat to " Tommy" to correct his error there. Again, put up the position at the 21st move and play 3 8, and aftei a month's analysis he will have to apply to you for wet towels to cool down his overheated brain, as when he gets to the knotty points it will bo working at the speed of an Alpha-Lavel separator. Remember, " Tommy," I fun speaking from my own experience, bar the towels. — CZAE,

Here is "Boss's" latest: — "Czar" is wrong in claiming that " Kruger " corrected my play ; nud I have not got a thrashing yet. Brodie and "' Beta " forced me to go back two moves and amend my 'play, but since then no one has shown a draw on this variation. That is what I am waiting for. " Czar's " latest is just an excuse for time to find the draw. He wioto in answer to Brodie a month ago that he could draw it, and was challenged by myself to show it, but up to this he is as far ofT as ever. You have found a " mnre's nest/ " Czar." When you "tumbled" that "Bobs" is also " T. A.," you did " tumble," and no mistake — the biggest fall you ever had. Ha, ha! I advise yoii tc write to the Editor, and he may tell you who "T. A." is. " Ans-weis to Correspondents " tells tales out of school sometimes. J?iom the way that you tumbled I think you should join a good circus. (This lafct is writ sarcastic.)— BOßS. PROBLEM 1894 I think White can still draw as follows: — Position . —Black 12, 20, Ks 16, 30; White 10, 27, 28, X 15 : — 10 7 ]5 11 11 I<s 27 53 £3 16 30 26 16 IS-A 39 15 "12 19 Drawn. (a) 20 31, 28 24, drawn. Neither Mr Stevenson nor "Czar" gives this. — Mr Stevenson's attempt to correct my correction ol his pretty little Problem 1894 is not sound, as in it he makes two simple 'little oversights which utterly destroy his chance of sustaining the original terms of his problem from the point where niy correction came in. hi, note (?) Mr Stevencm says 28 24, same as

trunk. Not so ; 28 24 in trunk loses, while hen it only draws, thus : —

Again in note (c), thin move, 27 23 allows Ml" S. to sustain the win ; however did he overlook 27 24? After these two points the piay in my correction stands as sound. — CZAR.