CHESS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17454, 31 December 1930, Page 3

CHESS

DOMINION TOURNEY ERSKINE IN THE LEAD (Pur Press Association.) EOTOIh.LV, last - night. Tlin Now Zealand chess tournament tv us continued to-day, whan the* following games were played:— Fourth Round 'Miller v. Sevcrnc. —A very evenly played queen’s pawn opening resulted in a draw. Though .Scverne had the better pawn position it was impossible tq force exchanges without/ impairing his chances, and lie accepted a draw on the 2Sth move.

'-Erskine v. Herbert.—Erskiue played the queen’s game and little advantage cahie to either player until the middle game exchanges. Erskiue then won a pawn! forced an exchange of queens and obtained command of an open tile with rooks and won.a piece, whereupon Herbert, resigned. Green lidlclv. luimmcr.—This was the first Rtiy Lopez of the tournament, and, Greentield built up a strong position with a rook at rook’s seventh.anti a. bishop at queen’s fifth. Ku minor's pieces were con lined to the back line, and Greentield, bringing'dris queen to support the rook, was able to win a pi,cce and threaten Ivuinmer’s pawns. Kummer thereupon resigned. Fairburn v. Kclling.—An exciting queen’s pawn game was played, the first main attack being along the queen bishop iilq. Fairburn here-check-ed wi'tjli the bishop,' discovering an attack upon Kclling’s queen, winning a pawn and the exchange. Kclling later resigned after a hopeless tight.

■ Pleasants v. Maddox: —Maddox played'. the centre counter gambit, and soon got a strong attack. Fortunately Pleasants found the saving move, and after the middle game exchanges was left with even pawns, but with a knight against a bishop. Tho game resulted in a draw.

Grierson v. Gyles.—Gyles played a bishop to knight, Jive in defence to a queen’s pawn opening, and won a pawn.; Grierson played soundly, leaving Gyles to change off the pieces, playing for a draw. Gyles exchanged queens after a check, and Grierson then resigned. Tho position of players after the fourth round is as follows: Erskiue , -1 wins, 4 points;.,Severno, 3 wins, 1 draw, 3J points; Gyles, 3 wins, 1 loss, 1! points; Maddox, 2 wins, 2. draws, 3 points; Greenfield, 2 wins, 2 losses, 3 points; Greenfield, 2 wins, 2 losses, 2 points; Kclling, 2 wins, 2 losses, 2 points; Fairburn,l 2 wins, 2 losses, 2 points; Miller, 1 win, 1 draw, 2 losses, 11 points; Pleasants, I win, J draw, 2 losses, .14 points; Grierson, 1 win. 3 losses, 1 point; Kunmrcr, 1 draw, 3 losses, •} point; Herbert, 4 losses.