Chess Items.

Otago Witness, Issue 2649, 21 December 1904, Page 67

Chess Items.

The contest, for the senior championship of the Otago Chess Club was advanced a fuither stage last Saturday night, when Mr J.. Edwards defeated Mr D. Forsyth in a game of 33 moves.

A Press Association telegram from Wellington announces that the following entries have been received for the New Zealand Chess Championship Tourney, to be held at Oarnaru on Boxing Day: — Auckland — E. J. Miles, J. C. Griersc-n; Wellington — W. E. Mason (present champion), A. W. O. Davies, J. A. Connell, R. J. Barnes, F. K. Kelling, J. Mason; RangitiLei—O. C. Pleasant 3, A. Grfford; Timaru— B. Mason; Dunedin — R. A. Cleland, D. Forsyth, ,J-. Edwaids, and J. H. F. Hamel. Some surprise has been expressed in club circles at the absence of any entries from Christohurch and but it is considered -that the presence of no less than six ex-champions in the -arena will make the contest more than usually interesting. Play is not to commence until the evening o-f Boxing Day. The North Otago Tiroes states that the name of Mr F. Adair, of Oaroaru, was inadvertently emitted from the telegraphed list of competitors for the colony's chess championship. In the report read at the fifty-eighth, annual meeting of the Belfast Chess Club, it was claimed that the standard of local chess had reached a high level. It was also mentioned that at the beginning of the year "Mr Williamson, of New Zealand," had presented a silver shield to be competed for annually by members of the chess clubs of the city, and to be held by the "champion of Belfast."

"How very badly I am playing to-day," or something to that effect, is a. pet expression which almost invariably escapes from every losing player, and -a. very excellent one it is. For, you sco, by this brief sentence you delicately convey to your antagonist that he need not in the least plumo himself on his present smecess, which is merely temporary, and owing to your having played below your usual standard, but not by any an'sana to his superior skill. Yoii may so regulate your manner, also, that if he be not a very dull fellow indeed, he will not fail to perceive your settled conviction that you are able to beat him into a jelly whenever you choose to pay the necessary attention.

Play in the Masters' International Tourney at St. Louis commenced on October 10, and oil completion of ths toiu'ney it was found that F. J. Mars-hall bad again demonstrated his superior ability, by going through without the loss of one game, his score being eight wins, no losses, and pne unfinished, probably a draw. The first prize was 500d'ol and a gold medal. It will be remembered that at the Cambridge Springs tourney Marshall was not defeated once, though he had to meet the world's best experts, and came out at the ihead of -the list, being two points ahead of Lasker. Max Judd, of St. Lcuis, took second prize of 300dol, with seven wins, two losses; L. Uedeman, of Chicago, get third prize of 150dol, with six wins, three losses. The fourth prize of lOOdol fell to E. Kemeny, of Chicago. Pillsbury evidently did not compete, as he disputed the right of the promoters to confer the title of champion of America upon the winner, contending it was not their property. Probably to meet this objection, the gold medal awarded ia accompanied with the title of "tournament champion."

It may be new to the young solver (says the Jamaica Leader) to learn that, in problem parlance, a solution other than that designed by the stuthoi is called a, "cook." The term is said to have originated in this way: — Herr Kling, the eminent end-game* composer, was in the habit of submitting his newly worked out scheones to the examination of his friend, Herr Horwitz, himself a celebrated end-game maker. ''I have brought another of my, raw ideas," said Kling on one occasion. "Well, then,"' replied Hoiwitz, "I will cook your raw idea for you." Whether Horwitz did "cook" this particular "raw" idea, history does not say, tut certain it is that although years have gone by, an unintended solution is still called a "cook," and an unsound problem is said to ba "cooked,,"