CHESS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3017, 10 January 1912, Page 67

CHESS.

Conducted by F. J. Mouat. •Ths Otago Chess Club meets for play at the rooms, Liverpool etreet, Dunedin, every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday evening at 8 o’clock. Visiting chess plavers are cordially invited to the club on these evenings. PROBLEM 3765By W. Geary, London. (From Falkirk Herald.)

j pGQ; pp 6; Pskl; 2P5; iKtSP; 582; 3KI Whit© mates in three moves.

•SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS Problem 3761. Key move: K-Q 2. ClitSS TOUhXAMENT. NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIP. NAPIER, January 2. j The contest for the Chess Championship • of New Zealand was continued to-day, the seventh round being- completed at the luncheon adjournment, and the eighth com- j meticed immediately afterwards. The unfinished games will be played to-morrow forbnoon, and the ninth round started at 2.30 p.m. Two more rounds will follow. There are 12 competitors, and each having to play all the others, it is probable that the congress will be brought to a close and the year’s championship decided on Thursday. Seventh Round. James beat Gyles. Jourdain beat Mason. j Hicks beat Grierson. Miles beat Jones. Sainsbury 'boat Connell. | Severne and Rolling played a draw. Gyles (White) v. James (Black). —Soon after resuming yesterday morning Gyles missed his chance of securing a draw at least, and James, by sacrificing the exchange was ablo to queen a pawn with two queens against queen and rook. He won easily, Gyles resigning on the 35t'h move. Jourdain (White) v. Mason (Black). —On resuming Black made a miscalculation in a series of exchanges in which White emerged with a piece up for three pawns. After a long struggle Black resigned on the 63th move. Grierson (White) v. Hicks (Black). —Centro Counter Gambit. After an interesting opening both castled on the queen’s side. Grierson instituted a good attack, winning three pawns, but a hasty move left him open to a check by Hicks, which lost him his bishop. Black played the finish very strongly, making the most of White’s somewhat weak pawns, mate, or the loss of tiio queen being threatened. On the 39th move Grierson resigned an interesting gaiqe. It is an adage of chess players that there is nothing more difficult to win than a won game, and this was an exemplification of the saying. Miles (White) v. Jones (Black). —Milos played the Ruy Lopez Attack, which Jones defended with the Berlin Defence. On the fifth move Miles advanced his pawn to Q 4, and Jones captured queen’s knight, and this led him into a cramped game for some considerable time. Miles was able to take possession of the queen’s file with his rooks, and this prevented Jones from bringing his queen’s rook and bishop into action, this greatly hampering his game. On the 22nd move Miiee won a pawn, and the followng move played his rook to Q 3 for the time being locking up Jones’s forces on the queen’s side. A few moves later Jones made a serious onslaught in playing bishop to Kt2, which allowed Milos to win queen and bishop for a rook. Seeing that further play was useless Jones resigned. Sainsbury (White) v. Connell (Black) After the adjournment Sainsbury won two pawns in succession, and followed this up by securing his opponent’s queen for a rook. The odds thus becoming too heavy to against Connell resigned on his 49th move. January 3. Ninth Round. The ninth round in the Dominion Chess Championship began this afternoon, and finished shortly after 10 p.m Sainsbury beat James. Milos beat Mason. Gyles beat Kelling. Connell beat Jones. Jourdain and Hicks, a draw. Severne and Grierson, a draw. Sainsbury (White) v. James.—James adopted the Sicilian Defence. Both players followed the book for some moves, but on his ninth James left a knight unsupported, which Sainsbury captured. Sainsbury pressed his advantage, and mated on the eighteenth move. Gyles (White) v. Kelling.—Gyles played the Four Knight game, and sacrificed the exchange at move 75, leaving his opponent r choice of evils. Kelling chose an end game with a knight down, but an oversight at move 30 terminated his rearguard action, and he resigned forthwith. Connell (White) v. Jones, —The Falkbeer Counter Gambit was tried, and at move 9 Black gave White a chance of wdnniiig- a piece, but White continued on quiet lines. The struggle centred on Black’s pawn at the king’s sixth. This fell to Vt hitc, who, by a threatened prate at king’s rook’s seventh, won Black's king’s bishop. Black’s attempt to win back the piece proved unsound, and after a aeries of exchanges W|iito was two bishops to the good. A combination of rooks and the twq 'bishops fqrced Black's king into a'mating position, a king’s knight’s square mate following oh the forty-sixth mpve. Miles (White) v. Mason. —The latter defended the queen’s gambit with a counter-

attack of pawn to bishop’s four, and after the pawns were exchanged pushed on a pawn to the queen’s five, driving Miles’s knight to king’s four, resulting in an exchange of the knight for the bishop. Interesting play followed,' Miles advancing his pawns on the king’s side, and Mason establishing a strong centre with rooks and queen. At the twenty-first move Mason captured a pawn with a knight, and this enabled Miles to attack knight with queen and rook. The knight, having no escape, was captured, and this left Mason with an inferior game. Miles was able to establish a strong position on the king’s side. Thereupon Mason counter-attacked with rook and knight, but Miles played accurately, and was able to capture Black s advanced queen’s pawn with his bishop. This led to a series of exchanges, and Mason was left with his king in an exposed position, with mate threatened. Thereupon he resigned. Jourdain (White) v. Hicks.—This was the first Queen’s Gambit accepted in the tourney. In attempting to retain the gambit pawn Hicks was landed in difficulties. In tbo earlier stages, a© on previous occasions, he made an excellent recovery, and Jourdain had to give up the exchange to get rid of ' the troublesome attack. After a general exchange of pieces the desperado end game between rook, three pawns, and bishop and three pawns kept the roomful of spectators in excited surprise till late in the evening. After much manoeuvring each player was left with king and two pawns, ami the game resulted in a draw on moyo 66. Sevcrne (White) v. Grierson. —Sicilian Defence, but through departing from the usual mode of development by transposition moves, Grierson got into an unsatisfactory position, from which Sevcrne should have won a pawn. Not seeing all there was in it, he gave Grierson the opportunity of emerging with an even game. The pieces were reduced to two rooks and five pawns each, and the positions were so equal that nothing could be done but agree to draw on the thirty-seventh move. January 4. The chess championship tournament was continued to-day. In the tenth round Jtimes beat Jones Mason boat Sainsbury Gyles beat Hicks Grierson beat Jourdain. Kelling and Miles played a draw, and the game Severn© v. Connell is unfinished. The official reports on the finished games are as follow: James (White) v. Jones. —Queen’s Pawn game, in which by steady and good play Jones worked up a dangerous though perhaps somewhat premature attack on his opponent’s king’s quarters. By careful play James repelled the attack. In the excitement of the threatened counter-attack both players overlooked the fact that Jones had exceeded the time limit. When this was discovered he at once resigned an interesting and well-played game. Grierson (White, v. Jourdain (Auckland). —Grierson adopted the slower variation of the Buy Lopez. Careful play in the opening game Jourdain gave a satisfacfactory defence, but on th© 18th movb Grierson began a line of play which resulted in breaking up his opponent’s pawns and winning one of them. Owing to Jourdain having overlooked an awkward check, a dangerous move with his knight as a counter-attack made Grierson’s game difficult for four or five moves, but it was correctly answered. A further oversight on Jourdain’s part lost him the knight and another pawn, and the exchange of queens be : n-r threatened he resigned a bright little game. Kelling (White) v. Miles (Ruy Lopez).— The attack proceeded on book lines for the first nine moves. On the tenth move Miles lost a pawn and got into a cramped position. In order to free himself he sacrificed the exchange and came out with rook, two bishops, and five pawns against two rooks, knight, and six pawns. A long and difficult ending followed, in which KelHng had the advantage. His sixty-fourth move was possibly not his best, but it is doubtful if there was more than a draw in the position Miles played the defence magnificently, and a draw was agreed to at move 67

Mason (White) v. Sainsbury (varied from Knight’s game).—Sainsbury varied from the usual routine by advancing his queen’s side pawns. Mason pressed forward with a king’ side attack .Sainsbury getting a very cramped game. From about move 23 Sainsbury’s position appeared hopeless, and ten moves later ho resigned. Hicks (White) v. Gyles.—Hicks opened with the King’s Gambit, which Gyles declined. On the ninth move Gyles won a pawn, but had put up with one of Hicks’s well-known hurricane attacks by pushing up his centre pawns. Gyles was able to cut off the attack of a dangerous bishop. Exchanges followfxl shortly afterwards. Gyles maintained his extra pawn and also the advantage of a knight against a bishop. Hicks struggled on for a draw, but on the sixty-fifth move had to Tose his bishop for a pawn, and so resigned after a very fine end game. „ ’•'he eleventh and final round started at 7.30 Mason boat Jones. MR W. E. MASON WINS. January 5. The twenty-fifth annual contest for tho chess championship was continued and concluded to-day. Mr W. E. Mason, last j’oar's champion, being again the winner. Tho game Severnc (White) v. Connell, Sicilian Defence, adjourned from tho tenth round, was resumed in tho forenoon, and ended in a draw. The official report is as follows:—-The game was oven till White, in an exchange, left his queen’s pawn to he taken, which gave him a hard game to defend. Black pushed on an attack, but overlooked that White could win a knight by sacrificing two pawns on the end game. The forces had boon reduced to rooks and knights obi White’s side and rook and two pawns on Black’s, whereupon a draw was agreed upon. Tho eleventh round was continued. the results of the remaining (james, Ma'on having beaten Janos on the previous afternoon, were as follow: James boat Oormell. Iv ohing befit Sainsbury. Miles beat Hicks. Gyles beat Grierson, jfourdain beat Severn a. This left Mason and Gyles with nn equal number of points to their credit, and tho play-off belweeii them for the championship began shortly before 3 p.m. The following ars the official reports on tho eleventh pound games, with tho exception of that between Mason and Jones (previously published) : 1 Connell (White) v. James.—On tho ro-

sumption of play a keen contest continued for some moves, after which James seized his opportunity and gave up a rook for bishop and pawn in order to force his opponent's king’s position. He then, by exchanging queens and his remaining rook, was able to queen one of two advanced pawns, and after a needlessly prolonged, but quite futile, resistance, Connell was mated on the seventy-fifth move. Sainsbury (White) v. Kelling (Caro Kami). —Tills was a tough battle to decide which of the two players would squeeze- into the prize-list.. Kelling obtained the better position in the end game, winning a pawn at move 52. Pursuing this advantage carefully, and avoiding a few traps, he finally scored at move 72 The Wellington Working Men’s Club has thus annexed prizes at no less than 20 of the last 23 championship congresses.

Miles (White) v. Hicks (Centro Counter Gambit). —Hicks played his favourite defence, but did not make the best of Iho opening, wasting several moves with his king’s knight, and allowing Miles to work into a fine position. At tho eighteenth move Miles threatened to capture king’s bishop’s pawn with bishop or knight, and so gain a commanding position. To avoid this attack Hicks castled and did not see that this move was useless as a defence. Miles captured bishop’s pawn with bishop, and Hicks was forced to give up the exchange or be mated. After this ho struggled on gamely, but shut out Hicks’s bishop from the game, and commenced a strong attack with queen’s rooks and bishop. Mating being inevitable in a few more moves, Hicks resigned on his thirty-fifth. Gyles (White) v. Grierson. —This game resolved into a form of the Double Ruy Lopez. When Gyles played knight takes knight, Grierson retook with the bishop’s pawn instead of the rooks. This landed him in difficulties. At one stage Gyles could have won a knight and pawn for a bishop, but he preferred- to increase his attack. Shortly afterwards he won the exchange at the expense of a pawn. After the adjournment Gyles gave up the exchange, and obtained a mating position, when Griergon resigned. Jourdain (White) v. Soverno. —When this game was resumed White was a long time before he could make any impression. By advancing his queen side pawns and exchanging three pieces, Black was unable to prevent White queening a pawn, sp he resigned on the ninth move. The position at the end of the eleventh, round showing Maeon and Gyles to be equal, was as folia ws :

The play-off for championship honours took a shorter time than was expected, concluding about 4.30 p.m., and. resulted in a win for W. E. Mason. As the final and decisive contest of the congress it created considerable interest, the space reserved for the players being surrounded throughout the match. The actual time taken by the winner was 60 minutes, while the lo&er’smoves were made in 30 minutes. The following is the official report of the closing game: — A. W. Gyles, Westport (White), v. W. E. Mason, Wellington Chess Club. —The former had the move, Mason defending with the Centro Counter, which is such a favourite defence with the German master. Giles quickly assumed the aggressive, possibly too quickly, and allowed Mason a strong counter attack, winning queen for rook and bishop. Giles resigned at move 23. . The players were entertained in the evening by the Napier Chess Club. MR W. E. MASON. Mr W. E. Mason, who is a law clerk in the employ of Messrs Skerrott and Wyllie, solicitors. Wellington, has won the title of champion three times previously—in 1900. 1904, and ISII. He is about 35 years of a"c, and has been a close student of chess for many years. CHAMPIONSHIP ROLL. The following shows the winners of all the chess championship tournaments held in New Zealand, and the centre rejTresented by them ; 1879 —H. Hookham, Christchurch. 1888 — A. M. Ollivicr, Christchurch. 1889— H. Hookham. Christchurch. 1890— R. J. Barnes. Wellington. 1891 — F. V. Siodebsrg, Dunedin. 1893—J. Edwards, Wellington. 1394—W. Mackay, Wellington. 1895 — W. Meld rum, Rangitikei. 1896 — R. J. Barnes, Wellington. 1897 — R. J. Barnes. Wellington. 1898 — R. A. Cleland, Dunedin. 1900 — W. E. Mason. Wellington (held at Easter, instead of commencing, as before, on Boxing Day, 1899). 1901 — D. Forsyth, Dunedin (held at Easter). 1902 — H. J. Barnes. WeTington (commenced on Boxing Day. 1901). 1903 — J. O. Grierson. Auckland. 1904 — W. E. Mason, Wellington. 1905 — A. W. O. Daves. Wellington. 190/?—R. J. Barnes, Wellington. 1907 —W. .S. Viner, Perth, Western Australia. ipgg—A. W. O. Dav!e=, Wellington. —F. K. Rolling Wellington. 1910 — J. Mason. Wellington. 1911 — W. E. Mason, Wellington. 1912 — W. E. Mason, Wellington.

g "d d o S So a -4J in d fc ci m B c3 Cj Q £ 3 Q 0 Oi Mason ... 11 6 2 3 74 Gyles ... 11 7 3 1 7| Grierson ... 11 ■ 5 2 4 7 Jourdain ... 11 5 3 3 64 Hicks ... 11 5 5 3 6| Kelling ... 11 4 3 4 6 Miles ... 11 4 3 4 6 James ... 11 4 4 3 54 Sains'oury ... 11 4 5 2 5 Severne ... 11 1 4 6 4 Connell ... 11 2 8 1 24 Jones ... 11 1 8 2 2