RUSSIAN DUPLICITY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1851, 30 March 1904, Page 62

RUSSIAN DUPLICITY.

A profound sensation has been created in European chess circles by the allegation (made by M. Tchigorin in Novos Yreruya) that the following game played (9)( 9 ) between M. Yurevitch (White) and M. Lebedieff (Black) in the recent Russian National Tournament at Kieff was deliberately concocted to win the prize of 100 roubles offered by M. Bostansholgo, of Moscow, for the most brilliant Ruy Lopez won by White: — White. Black. White. Black. 1 P-K 4 P-K 4 13 X R-Kt 1 B-Kt 4-c 2 10-K B3Kt QB3 UKtxß 1" xKt 38-Kts P-B4 15 00 P-QR3-D 4PQ4 KPxP 16PxP QxP-e 5 1-K5 B-Ktoch 17 KR-KlchK-B 1 6 P-B 3 PxP ISQxP Q-R6OII 7PxP B-K2 19 K-Kt 1 QxBP BQ-Q5- Kt-K.3 20 E-Q^-i- K-B2G 9 15 xKKt Px B 21 Q-B ich Q-B 3 10 r-KKtl-APxP 22h!-B4eh K-Kt 3 11 Q Kt-Q2 P x Kfc 23 R-Kt 1 ch K-R 4 3l> Kt-K 4 P-Q3B 248-B7ch Itesigns.-H (a) Who would take it into his head to make <siich an absurd sacrifice of a P and then of a Xt' The uselessness of White's sacrifice of the Xt becomes polpable if 12 B-Kt 4. M. Lebedieff moved 12 P-Q 3, ivith the evident intention of weakening his knight's defence. (c) It would not have "piofited" M. Lebedieff to pay 13 B-B 4, ai d allow the continuation Id R-Kt 8 eh (14 P x P, B x Xt), R x R; 15 QxK eh, K-Q 2; 1G Kt-B 5 eh, K-Q B 1 ; because it would have led to the defeat of Lis "opponent. ' •'d) By 15 B-B 4 Black couTd have won the game. If 16 P x P (or 16 R-K 1, K-B 1), then

Q-B 3. and by ci impelling White to defend lmn=e'.f from mate (Q x P) 13. ark would gam the thus nec;s-?i;- to ei.rble him to deieiid himself fiom ai,v toim of attack whatever. If, fo: example, 17 B x Xt eh. P x B ; 18 Q x P eh, K-B 2, 19 Q x P eh, K-Kt 3; 20 P-Q 7, and Black could saciifice a rook, playing X R.-Q B 1. (c) There apuears to be no reason why Black -hon'd not have taken the B or the P with P. Even by playing 16 Q-B 3 ; 17 P-B 7 eh. Bx P ; 18 Q x B, K-B 1. Black would not have lest. (F) Overlooking, in the pursuit of brilliancy, the mite in four, beginning Q-B 4 eh. (g) If 20 Xt >• R, then 21 Q-K 7 eh and 22 R-Kt, 1 eh. The only Found sacrifice in the \vho!e course of the game. (h) M. Yurevitch denies that the game has been concocted, and tlneaiens M. Tchigorin with a libel action for hi= statement.