CHESS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17146, 31 December 1929, Page 4

CHESS

DOMINION TOURNEY SEVERNE IN THE LEAD (Per Presß Association.) WANGANUI, this day. Results of the fifth round of the Dominion championship chess tourney are as follows: Hicks and Jeffreys: A very cramped game resulted from the Caro-Kann game adopted by Jeffreys. Both players built up a strong centre, and neither dared attempt to force the position. Exchanges left the pawn positions identical, and a draw was agreed upon at the 50th move. Purdy v. Rutherfurd: This was a bright queen's pawn game in which the early exchanges left Rutherfurd an isolated pawn and Purdy command of an open file, with doubled rooks, one at bishop seven. Purdy brought up a dangerous attack. Rutherfurd played well and Purdy failed \o find the winning move immediately. Rutherfurd, bringing his king.up to the fight, left his pawns weak, and Purdy was able to force . exchanges and Avon two pawns. Rutherford. thereupon resigned. ■Scott v. Gundersen: Gundcrscn played the Sicilian defence, and Scott ibuilt up a fine attack which faded, 'away with each telling move made by Gundcrscn. The attack then passed to Gundersen, but he had difficulty in forcing the position. Eventually he was able to win the exchange which Scott had to submit to in order to save the situation. Gundersen was now in a position to dominate the play, and Scott resigned. Beyer v. Sevcrne: Beyer offered the king's gambit which Sevcrne declined. He moved bishop to bishop four to prevent Beyer eastleing on the king's side, and built up a strong position in the centre. Beyer could not prevent Sevcrne's capturing of the queen's pawn and opening the file 'to the queen and rooks, by which forces Sevcrne was able to checkmate his opponent in three moves. Topp and Kelling: Topp played the Buy Lopez. Adopting the exchange variation, he obtained the better position and forced Kelling to castle on the queen's side. Topp soon got into difficulties through Kelling's skilful advance of pawns. With a pawn at rook seven supported by queen and rook Kelling appeared to have victory in sight, but by an oversight he allowed his queen to be won at the expense of Topp's bishop, and he resigned after losing the advanced passed pawn. Fairburn v. Pleasants: A development of the Zukertort opening was played. Fairburn playing weakly gave Pleasants a chance of winning two pawns. Later Fairburn captured a pawn, and with the exchange of pieces was loft with two bishops against bishop and knight and one pawn down. Pleasants conducted the end game in fine stylo, and scored a well-deserved win. Anderson v. Erskine: In this queen's pawn gamo thore Avas a very steady development of position on both sides. In the opening Anderson obtained doubled pawns, but otherwise it was quite a good game. Soon after this Anderson took up; the offensive and kopt Erskine so busily defending that the latter had no chance of counterattack. After further exchanges the position was considered critically by both players who decided that thero was nothing in it but a draw. Tho position of the players after

ihc fifth round is as follows :— W. \, D. Pts Sovornc 4 — 1 •U Anderson .. .. •! — 2 4 Gundcrseu .. .. 3 1 1 SJ Erskino 2 1 •-> 3 Pleasants .. 3 2 — 3 Purely • • 3 o — 3 Kolling • • • • 2 2 1 2} Jeffreys . • o 2 1 2J Buyer • • o 3 — O Scott .. • • 2 3 — 2 Hidks • • — g 3 U Rutherford 1 3 1 n Topp •■ 1 3 1 n Fairburn .. .. — 4 1 i