CHESS

Southland Times, Issue 17231, 30 December 1912, Page 6

CHESS

N.Z. CHAMPIONSHIP, x (Per United Press Association). NELSON, December 28. The third round of the N. Z. Chess Championship tournament was concluded this morning, the following being the results:— P.arnes v Mason. Barnes, having white, opened with the Huy Lopez, and was met by the Steinitz deferred defence. Barnes threatened by exchanges to break up his opponent’s centre, but Mason re-took with a knight’s pawn. Later Barnes placed his knight at queen's sixth, and Mason, exchanging the threatening knight for a bishop, left Barnes with a strong pawn posilion on the queen's side. Exchanges of rooks and of hishop for knight hv Mason prepared for the end of the game. Exciting play took place when Barnes advanced a pawn to bishop sixth, and later took the pawn on king's knight seventh. Mason won back the pawn, but Barnes by splendid play, took full advantage of the weakness he hud made on black's king's side, and won a well-fought out game. Mnimseil v. Grierson.—Mannsell opened with the Scotch gambit, which soon developed into a lively Max Lunge attack to the 3th move, identical with the famous Marshall - Tarasch game. From here Maunsell proceeded on less brilliant lines, but Grierson gradually staved off the attack, and by a counter - attack with queen and rook threatened mate at knight's seventh. Maunsell later captured a pawn with a knight, but lost this piece, and the superior forces of his opponent caused him to resign on the lliuh move. James v. Kt.'ling.—To James’s opening [veiling replied with the French defence, James securing a strong centre. On James castling on the queen side, Kelling quickly advanced the queen side pawns, and brought Is is rooks to bear tipon the castling Icing. James's counter attack upon the king side was too late to interfere with Selling’s strong attack. The result of this was th«r loss of a knight to James, who being unable to save the position resigned a few moves later. * Dodds v. Hicks (centre counter gam-bit).—-This was a free open game in which the pieces were quickly . brought into play. Hides made a pawn attack upon Dodd's icing’s position, and both players worked up i game full of possibilities. Hicks forced open there a rook's tile, ami brought on a strong attack with Ids queen, and a rook. Dodds could nor break up the splendid combination worked up by Hicks, who forced a win on tile 2Sth move. Sainsbury v. Gyles. This was a Glnoco Plano opening, and Kainsbury, pushing forward In's queen's pawn, broke up tlie centre. Gyles opened up Ids king side pawns to drive back Sainsbury's attack. and an exchange of pieces in the middle game left Sainsbury's centre weak. Gyles pressed the attack, and. although Sainsbury put up a good game, he could not prevent Gyles from qiieenrdg a pawn and he resigned. Soverne v. Cole. This was a very even and eventful game until <’ole threatened with a good move with a queen. Severne thereupon exchanged queens, and later an exchange of pieces left a block pawn game. To open up tin- game further exchanges wore made. Severne easily out-mawouvrrd Ids opponent; and won. The following 's-lhe result of the game. Grierson v. Hicks, adjourned from the second round: —Grierson opened with a Buy Eopez. and. transposing the moves 1 rough led Hicks's knight, v. bicii was ultimately placed in a secure position. An exchange of pieces and pawns opened up the game, and left Hicks's centre navvu weak. At Ihe Ifith move i critical stage was readied, and Hicks failing to make the best move, lost a rook for a knight. In the succeeding exchanges in the end game Hicks made good use of Ids passed pi awns on the queen - side and Grierson in endeavouring to save a pawn gave Hicks a chance to force the exchange of rooks, and obtain a queen, and win the game, ”'hc fourth round was concluded lasi ..in: produced some exciling conFollowing arc the details of the games played;—Gason v, Dodds. Mason opened with the Bov l.opey.. Do,ids responding with tin- f-’tc'.nilz i.lcldiice deferred. At move 12 .'dasou won a kmgiit for two pawns, and later gave up a Knight. regaining the piece by a {Uncovered check. This ex.-.

change, however, gave Dodds a fine open game, and a strong attacking position. An exchange of' rooks by Dodds relieved him of immediate danger, and enabled him to attack strongly. On the -Sth move. Mason gave up a knight for a dangerous pawn, but Dodds was aide to maintain the pressure, and Mason was forced to resign a few move later. Baines v. Gyles.—Barnes opened with the Buy Lopez, Gyles answering witli the classical defence. On his fourth move, the latter advanced a pawn to bishop's fourth, and next move opened the bishop's file. Baines prevented Gyles from castling, and thought lo win a pawn or position by exchanging a bishop for a knight. (Ivies, however, made good use of the open file, and piled up a splendid attack which made it so difficult for Barnes to secure safety for his king and Iris queen that exceeded Ins time limit, and the game was awarded a win for Gyles.

Grierson v. Cote, - This game was a quiet variety of the Buy Lopez, in the opening of which Cole seemed lo have the best development of pieces. Grierson, not waiting lo castle, gradually worked up a strong attack on (dole's kings side, and won a knight on the 2-nd move. He pushed his advantage, and Cole sacrificed a piece to delav (lie crisis. Grierson forced the exchange of queens on a pretty mating position, and Colo, unable to meet the final attack, resigned. James v. Hicks, —To James's opening Hicks replied with the centre counter gambit. Knights were eariy exchanged and James harassed his opponent's bishop by a buhl pawn advance. Hicks made a counter-attack, which James was able lo withstand. Throughout the middle of the game the position was extrcmclv 'critical, and towards th« end of the game Hicks by a series of checks won a bishop as some compensation for the pawns he had lost. The end of the game proved most exciting and exacting, and onlv careful play on Hicks's part prevented James from queening his welladvanced pawn. This well-fought game ended in a draw. Sainsbury v. Maunsell. Maunsell adopted the Betraff defence in reply to Sainsbury’s opening, and early gave bis opponent a chance to break up the position by checkins at bishop's seventh. Difllciilties increased for Maunsell. lie having to give up queen to prevent a mate. Maunsell resigned on his 11th move, up till now the shortest game of the tournament.

Kelling v. Severne. —The opening constituted ' the Queen’s Gambit declined, and for many moves proceeded steadilj. and evenly. An attacks by Kelling was frustrated by an exchange of pieces. In the middle game the struggle centred round the queen’s pawn, but noitnei player could gain any apparent advantage. Further exchanges brought about a very oven end game which was still unfinished when the session closed. Tho position of the players at the end of the fourth round of the chess championship tournament was:—

V»'on. Drawn. Lost. Unfln Ovl.'S .. :1 M1 0 (1 0 Hicks . . . - Severne .. - 0 0 1 0 Ramos ,. - 0 Mason - 0 - Dodds . . . 1 1 ] 0 Grierson . Salisbury .. t 1 Kelling . .. i 0 ('ole .• • .fames.. . I .. n 1 3 0 Mannsoll . .. o 0