CHESS IS INTOXICATING

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17450, 24 December 1930, Page 7

CHESS IS INTOXICATING

FREAK GAME BEER AS PAWNS BIRMINGHAM, Nov. 2. A remarkable freak game of chess was played here last night by two Birmingham sportsmen for a ±l5O bet.

The game was played in the house of one of the contestants. The chess board was the black and white check lino-leum-covered floor, and the pieces were represented by bottles of various alcoholic drinks.

Bottles of beer replaced Ihe pawns, tlie knights were pabj brown sherry, the looks burgundy, the bishops sparkling moselle, and the kings and queens rare vintage champagne. One of the conditions of the bet was that each player should drink each piece as he won it. The game, lasted from 10.30 at night until the early hours of this morning. Both men are fair chess players, and can take their liquor, and many side bets were wagered on the result.

FEELING THFJ STRAIN y

There was an early surprise when one of the players, a lover of burgundy, sacrificed two pawns and a bishop for a rook. His opponent retaliated by making him take three pawns and a knight in, quick succession. when the players came up for the next move it was evident that both were feeling the . strain. Alter two more pawns had been lost the game steadied down, and each seemed anxious to; present the other with minor pieces. ’ Then it was discovered that some of the spectators bad filched the kings bishop’s pawn and emptied the black queen. After one of the players had knocked over a white rook and broken it, and Pis opponent had tried mate with a bishop and a knight, tiro match was abandoned without a decision.