CHESS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3912, 5 March 1929, Page 75

CHESS.

Conducted by L. D. COOMBS.

Solutions of problems, original compositions, games, and analyses invited for this column. AH correspondence should be addressed to the Chess Editor. Otago Witness Office, Dunedin.

PROBLEM No. 247. By T. C. Evans.

(Black, Nine Pieces).

(White, Ten Pieces.) B]pKtlß4lkt2 Kt p 2 p I 1 p p Jt2bQ|IPR2P2|2P2P2|3K4| 3 kt 4. White to play and mate in two moves. PROBLEM No. 248. By B. G. Laws. (Black, Nine Pieces.)

(White, Nine Pieces.) B|lplq4|lpk p 3 R | p Kt 2 Q 3 | plpP4|P3Kt3| 3 P 4 | 1 B 2 K 2 b. White to play and mate in three moves. SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. Problem No. 243 (Krjustchkoff).—B to K B 3. Correct solutions received from J. J. Marlow, Dr Church, and E. A. Le Petit. Mr Stan. Hill (Oamaru) has discovered a “ cook ” or second solution to this problem with B to Kt 5, ch. Problem No. 244 (P. G. L. F.). —l. Q to R 3. If 1. . ,K to Q 4, then 2. P to 84, ch, and mate next move. If 1. . .P takes P, then 2. Q takes P, ch, etc. If 1. . .P to Q 4, then 2. Q to Q 3, ch, etc. If 1. . .P to Q 6, ch, then 2. P takes P, ch, etc. If 1. . .any other move, then 2. Q to K 6, ch, etc. Correct solutions received from J. J. Marlow, Dr Church, and E. A. Le Petit.

END GAME No. 29. By W T . and M. Platoff. (Black, Six Pieces.)

(White, Five Pieces.) 2q2kl|p2pr3 | 1 p 6 I 4 P Kt 2 I 4PK2|B| 5 P 2 | 8. White to play and win. SOLUTION TO END GAME No. 27. (Troitzky.) 1. K to Q 7 Kt to Kt 2 (or A) 2. Kt to B 7, ch K to Kt 1 3. Kt to R 6, ch K to R 1 4. K to K 7 Kt takes Kt 5. K to B 8 (A) 1. Kt to B 3, ch 2. Kt takes Kt P to R 4 3. K to K 7 K to Kt 2 4. Kt to K 8, ch K to Kt 1 5. K to B 6 P to R 5 6. Kt to K 4 P to R 6 7. Kt to R 2 K to B 1 8. Kt to Kt 7

Dr Church sends correct solution, but branches into other variations to those above. Kt to B 4 is not the strongest second move for Black.

NOTES ON SOLUTION TO END GAME 26 (Rinck).

In last week’s solutions we reported that O. Balk had sent the correct solution and also that he though he had found a flaw in the problem. Later we were able to convince Mr Balk that the problem was sound, and since then we have received the following from F. K. .Kelling (Wellington) :— " I am doubtful if White can win as stated by tjie distinguished author. The following line of play (discovered after a long study of this end game, extending over three evenings!) is very nice as far as it goes, 1. P to Kt 7, Q to R 8, ch ; 2. K to B 2, Q takes P ; 3. Kt to K 8!, etc. The black queen has 21 squares to go to, but can be won no matter what square she goes to! That feature is, of course, absolutely splendid. But, alas. Black need not worry about the P at Kt 7—he simply plays 1. . .Q takes P, and can force a draw by perpetual check, or by winning the white queen.” Then Mr Kelling adds a P.S. —" Have had a further look at this very fascinating End Game, and think it is sound after all, viz., 1. . .Q takes P; 2. P to Kt B=Q, Q to Q 8, ch; 3. K to B 2, Q to Q 7, ch; 4. K to Kt 3, Q to K 8, ch ; 5. K to R 2, Q to R 5, ch; 6. K to Kt 2, and Black’s checks are exhausted 1 ! A wonderful composition! I " it is remark-

able that Mr Balk and Mr Kelling should, both find the correct solution, lament that it had a flaw, and finally be convinced that the problem was sound. We have never seen anybody more pleased over a Chess position that Mr Balk was when he was shown that his supposed flaw -was not a flaw. He describes the position by the quotation: “ A thing of beauty and ja. joy for ever.” To all our sol .ers, whether they have previously tried End Game No. 26 or not, we advise to play over the solution as explained in Mr Kelling’s letter? When we were able to point out to Dr Church where he had gone wrong with his solution (it is extremely seldom that the doctor makes an error), we ' ■•’r

preciative letter “ Many thanks for your letter about that End Game No. 26, by Rinck. It is too bad that you should have to go to all that trouble. Out of compliment to yourself I simply have a "shot” at these End Games, which I do not find easy. But the practice must be good for one who, like myself, has to play against himself. . All your solvers are indebted’to you for the good stuff you give them. Accept, at least, my thanks.— Sincerely yours, Robert Church."

GAMES.

TOURNAMENT AT KISSINGGEN. Game in the second round. (Sicilian Defence.) White. Black. Mieses. Bogoljubow. 1. P to K 4 p to Q B 4 2. Kt to Q B 3 Kt to Q B 3 3. K Kt to K 2 P to K 4 (A) - 4. Kt to Q 5 P to Q 3 5. P to Q 3 K Kt to K 2 6. K Kt to B 3 Kt takes Kt 7. Kt takes Kt B to K 2 8. P to K Kt 3 Castles 9. B to Kt 2 B to K 3 10. Castles O to Q 2 11. P to K B 4 . B to Kt 5 12. Q to Q 2 (b) P takes P 13. Kt takes P B to Kt 4 14. Q to B 2 Q R to Q sq 15. Kt to Q 5 B takes B 16. Q R takes B Kt to K 2 .. Kt to K 3 B to K 3 18. Q to B 3 Q to R 5 19. P to Q R 3 Q to Q 5 20. P to Kt 3 Kt to B 3 21. Q to B 2 P to Q Kt 4 22. P to B 3 Q to K 4 (C) 23. Kt to B 5 B takes P 24. P to Q 4 Q to K sq (D) 25. P to K 5 (E) P to Q 4 26. Kt takes P (f) K takes Kt 27. Q to B 6, ch K to Kt sq 28. Q to Kt 5, ch K to R sq 29. Q to B 6, ch K to Kt sq 30. B to R 3 P takes P 31. Q to Kt 5, ch K to R sq 32. Q to B 6. ch K to Kt sq 33. P takes P (g) B to B 5 (h) 34. QtoKts, ch - Drawn (I) (a) Bogoljubow has recently been trying this pawn-formation in the Sicilian Defence. It is of doubtful value.

(b) If 12. Q to K sq, then 12. . .Kt to Q 5. (c) Not 22. . .Q takes Q P because of 23. K R to Q sq. (n) Not 24. . .Q to B 3 because of 25. P to K 5, P takes P ; 26. B takes Kt, winning a piece. (e) Threatening B takes Kt. (f) A perfectly safe sacrifice, for White has always the draw by perpetual check.

(g) Best. If 33. R to B 4or B 5, then 33. . .Kt to K 2, or, if 33. P to K 6, then 33. . .Q to K 2 ; 34. P takes P, ch, R takes P; 35. B to K 6, Q takes Q; 36. R takes Q, R to K B sq with advantage to Black for. it 37. Q R to B sq. then 37. . .Kt to Q sq, if 37. P takes P. then 37. . .B to B 5 (threatening Kt takes P or Kt to Q sq and stronger than Kt takes P at once because of 38. B takes R, ch, R takes B; 39. R to B 8, ch, K to Kt 2 ; 40. R takes R, ch, K takes R ; 41. R to B 7, ch) ; or, if 37. B takes R, ch, then 37. . .R takes B, followed, if 38. R takes Kt, by 38. . .P to Q 6. (h) Not 33. . .Kt takes Q P because of 34. R to K B 4, Kt to K 7, ch; 35. K to R sq, Kt takes K R ; 36. P takes Kt, threatening R to Kt sq, mate. (I) Drawing by perpetual check. Mieses points out the following variation: 34. B to B 5 (threatening Q to R 6), Kt to K 2 ; 35. R to B 4, Kt to Kt 3 ; 36. R to Kt 4 (threatening P to K R 4 and P to R 5), R to Kt sq, followed by R to Kt 3.

TOURNAMENT AT BRUNN. Game in the fourth round. (Queen’s Pawn Opening.) • White. Black. F. Samisch. L. Steiner. 1. P to Q 4 Kt to K B 3 2. P to Q B 4 P to K 3 3. Kt to Q B 3 P to Q 4 4. B to Kt 5 B to K 2 5. P to K 3 Q Kt to Q 2 6. Kt to B 3 Castles 7. R to B sq P to B 3 8. B to Q 3 p takes P 9. B takes P Kt to Q 4 10. B to B 4 (a) Kt takes B 11. P takes Kt Kt to Kt 3 12. B to Kt 3 ■ P to QB 4 (b) 13. P takes P B takes P (c) 14. Castles - B to Q 3 15. Q to Q 4 B to B 2 16. Q to K 4 Kt to Q 2 (n) 17. K R to Q sq Q to B 3 18. Kt to K 2 B to Kt 3 19. R takes B Q R takes R 20. R takes Kt Q takes Kt P 21. P to K R 4 P to K R 3 22. Kt to K 5 R to B 8, ch 23. K to R 2 (E) R to K 8 24. B to B 2 P to Kt 3 (f) 25. R takes B P Resigns (g) (a) B takes B, followed by either Kt to K 4 or Castles, is generally played. (b) Better would have been Kt to Q 4, e.g., 12. . .Kt to Q 4 ; 13. Q to Q 2, Q to Q 3 ; 14. Kt to K 5, Kt takes Kt; 15. P takes Kt, P to Q B 4 ; 16. Castles, P to Q Kt 4 ; 17. B to B 2, B to R 3 ; 18. K R to K sq, Q R to Q sq ; 19. Q R to Q sq (Alekhine v. Selesniew, Pistyan tournament, 1922) and now not 19. . .P takes P (as played by Selesniew) but 19. . .P to Kt 3 with an even game. (c) If 13. . .Q takes Q, ch, then 14. Kt takes Q, winning a pawn. (d) A weak move. B to Q 2 should have been played. (e) Not 23. Kt takes R because of 23. . .Q takes P, ch ; 24. K moves, Q takes R P, mate. (f) If 24. . .P to B 4, then 25. Q takes Kt P and wins. (g) Fdr, if 25. . .R takes R, then 26. Q takes P, ch, and mate next move. NEW ZEALAND CHESS CONGRESS. Brilliancy and Best Recovery Prizes. Mr W. E. Mason, to whom the games entered were submitted under mottoes, placed the game A. W. Gyles v. Rev. A. Miller first for the brilliancy (or elegance) prize. This means that Mr A. W. Gyles further enhances his fine match record by winning the brilliancy prize for the splendid game that he scored from the Rev. A. Miller, of Westport, in round seven on January 2. Mr Gyles has now taken part- in 12 congresses, and has won 12 prizes in -these contests, viz., eight seconds, one minor prize, two brilliancy prizes, and one best recovery prize. He thus has the fine average of one prize per congress.

The best recovery (or best save) prize has been awarded to Mr F. K. Kelling (Wellington Working Men’s Club) for the draw that he scored from Mr Ernest E. Hicks (Ngaio) in round six on New Year’s Day. In this game Mr Hicks was the exchange and three pawns to the good, but a - stalemate

would have resulted had he captured Kelling’s rook that was continually checking at close range. Mr Kelling, who now ranks amongst the veterans, can show 17 prizes for his 21 congresses, including three brilliancy and three best recovery prizes.