CHESS ITEMS

Otago Witness, Issue 2809, 15 January 1908, Page 67

CHESS ITEMS

The latest news from New York is that Dr E. Lasker (chess champion of the world) has set up as a practical printer, as well as editor, and his Magazine and Scrap-book will in future be issued "regularly" from his own "press." "The Lasker Press undertakes business at the old address, and intends to turn out general, as well as chess, printing! The Chess Amateur remarks that the term "divergent check" is sometimes used to describe a move which gives check to .the adverse King, and at the same time attacks another man, especially a valuable one. For example:— A Pawn may check the King and at the same time attack a Rook, and as the King must get out of check, the Rook must fall unless the Pawn can be captured. A "divergent check" with a Knight is especially dangerous. A Pawn and a Knight are the only men which, by moving, attack an entirely fresh set of squares; and hence Pawns and' Knights are the j only men that can give "divergent checks." Yorkshire Weekly Post says: — Dr £i. Lssker, chess champion of the world, is rapidly developing the philosophical end ?f his brain, and is going about the country as a chess missionary, earnestly and eloquently preaching the doctrine — Magna est veritas. He maintains that in chess, as in life, we have governing the icieaJ world the, four great principles of Labour, Economy, Justice, and Beauty, and these principles he illustrates in detail on the chess board with such lucidity and emphasis as have both delighted and profited his auditors." A game of chess (says the Manchester Guardian) is a test of character. The game is too good 1 to quarrel about, and hence 1039 of temper is rare. Yet there are times in the experience of «^«:ry ctess player wken he finds himself pitted against an opponent who regards defeat as a deadly affront, an opponent who means to win— honestly, if he can; but, if noty anyhow— an opponent who insists on the rigor of the rules for his adversary, but who is not above the acceptance in silence of a concession for himßelf. A man of this kind may have many acquaintances, but he will not have many friends; and whenever one chances to meet with such an opponent at the chess board, the sterr.est enforcement of the rules of play is the only guarantee for a peaceable parting. JSprwich Mercury gives these particulars of the whereabouts of all known copies of Caxton's famous book, "The Game and Playe of the Chesse": —

1. British Museum, perfect — a former owner gave three shillings for it! 2. Grenville Library, table and last leaf in facsimile. 3. Cambridge Public Library, 5 leaves gone. %. Bodleian, Oxford, last leaf gone. 5. Duke of Devonshire, 2 leaves in facsimile. , <?. Earl of Pembroke, perfect. 7. John Ry lands' s library, Manchester (formerly Allthorpe Library), perfect. 8. Mr H. Cunliffe, wants 6 leaves. 9. Mr J. Holford, perfect and' in original binding. 10. Rev. E. Banker, wants 1 leaf. 11. A copy in Quaritch's possession in 1872, wanting 7 leaves.

Recorded sales are very few. In 1682 a perfect copy sold for 13s 2d; in 1773 George 111 paid £32; the Cunliffe copy was sold first for £5i 12a, then for £31 10s, and i,n 1855 for £60 10s. Mr Holford gave £101 for his. Quaritch asked £400 for the one in hjg jjossession- " " ,