Chess.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11763, 29 July 1916, Page 16

Chess.

(By W. S. KING.)

SOLUTION. Problem No. 173, motto: " Carol." Position (Forsyth notation): 1 B 6, 4 P 3, 4 p 3, J p 2 Kt 2, 1 Kt E q k p 2, B r 4, 3 « IKktpl, (R 3. White to play and raate in two moves. Key move, P K Kt 4. SOLVERS. Correct solution of Problem No. 173 received from Lyttelton; Alf., Opa-wa; Mm, Linwood; Mirror Mate, Sproydon; Old Boy, Chnstchurcli; Black Knight, .Chnstchurch; Spare Moments, Clmstchurch: Tcrtnw, Kaiapoi; W.KB., Rcngiora; , M. f limaru, and Pawn, Duncdin.

PROBLEM No. 175. From the Rico Memorial Tournament, Black (nine men).

White (six men), r 4 R 3, 3 R 1 K 1 k, tt 3 B B 1 p. r 4 p 1 P, 8. kt b 6, 1 b 6, 8. "White to play and mate in two moves. CHESS SANS VOIR. A game won by Ifostio at a blindfold chess seance in Ne>v Yoik recently:— Sicilian' Defence. White Black (Kostie). (A. J. Danziger). IP K 4 IP QB4 2Kt—KB32 Kt QB 3 3P—Q4 3 P x Jf 4Kt x P 4P 58—K25 P KKt 3 6Kt 78—K37 KKt K 2 8 -Castles 8 Castles 9Q-Q2 OP Q 4 10 Kt s Kt 10 P x Kt 11 B R 6 11 P Q 5 - ' 12BiB 12 K x B 13 Q R Qsq 13 P K 4 14 P B 4 14 P B 3 15 P x P 15 P x P 16 Kt E 4 16 R x E ch 17 R x R 17 B K 3 18 Kt B 5 IS B B 2 19.Q Kt 5 19 Q Q 3 20 Kt —Q 3 . 20 B— B 5 21 Q x P ch 21 0 x 0 22 Kt x Q 22 B K 3 - Si it —O sq 23 E—Q sq 24 P P Kt 4 -24 K B 3 25 Kt B 3 25 E Q 2 26 P-QR3 26 11 27 Kt x P 27 Kt B sq 28 Kt s B : 23 K x Kt 23 B Kt 4 39 K K 3 iu J X M iii Kx B 31 K B 2 31 K K 3 32 K K 3 32 R B 2 33 P QB 4 33 P Kt 4 34 P Kt 4 84 R B b<* 35 P Bo 35 R B 2 86.R—060h 36 K K 4 37 E -r- R 6 And -biack resigned after a few more moves had been played.

CANTERBURY v. OTAGO Tho chess match by telegraph between the Canterbury and Ota go Chess Clubs was concluded last Saturday night in favour of the Otago players. Owing io poor play on the opening night the Canterbury team's position tvas compromised to such an extant that a lpss seemed oertain, bu+ it was hoped that some at least of the Christchurch players would show improved form and that a fair share of wins would grace the credit side of the Canterbury balancesheet; but, alas, the hope was not fulfilled, and Otago increased its winning margin, winding up with "t\ points to 2s. Canterbury gained a solitary success, by aid of Mr J. L. Gant, who played good chess in the end game, but whose win was assisted by a weak move on the part of Tiis opponent in sealing his movo at tho close of the first night's play. The margin of success hardly represents the difference in merit of the rival clubs, but it indicates clearly that Otago chess is sounder and of'better standard than that practised in Christchurch. In the match against Otago there were, too many accidents and oversights in the first night's play. The local players must aim at good sound development and effective dofence. A certain proportion of error is inevitable, but with care it should be a minor element in match play and not a major one, as was the case in the match in question.. It is to be hoped that the Christchurch representatives will not be discouraged by their last effort, but that they will endeavour to effect general improvements, chiefly in tiie direction already indicated. If leading of the standai'd openings were memorised from the "book," in the initial moves, errors would certainly be reduced to a minimum. A weak move in the first half-dozen moves, though not always apparont on the surface, usually decides the fate of a game. The local players should evolve a set plan of campaign for matches against other clubs.

CHESS CHAT. A correspondent in the New York "Sun" recently referred to # the remarkable exhibitions of blind-fold chess by Boris Kostic, the Serbian chess master, who is living in T ho States. The correspondent wrote;—"Sir, —For the same reason that it is illegal to jump off Brooklyn Bridge on account of_ the danger, why should not a chess idiot like Kostic he prevented from playing twenty games blindfolded, which is likely to send him to the ' happy land,' as it did Morphy, Pillslmry und othiv eccentrics? Stop him if it's possible." To this the chess editor of the " Sun " replied:—"lt cannot be assumed that the writer of this letter, who signed himself 'An Admirer of Kostic,' was very sincere, for if he really would be an admirer of Kostic ho would not speak about him as an idiot, especially so in print. Moreover, the is entirely off m comparing Kostic with Morphy or Pillsbury. The former's illness was caused by entirely different circumstances, wliilo Pillsbury in no way would compare with Kostic as regards physical strength. Kostic, with very few exceptions, is physically stronger than any other chess player, and seeing that he has the giftof picturing the chess board before his mental eye it is no moro dißcult for him to play blindfolded than simultaneously over the board. With him it's nothing but a feat of memory, and quite a number of experts, including Oscar Chajc.s, maintain that he plays blindfolded almost, as well as over the board. Taking, furthermore, into consideration that strong players will not he pitted against him, there seems to be no doubt that he will, acquit himself highly'successfully. Those who had a chance of seeing him at blindfold work and spoke to him after such an exhibition could not detect the least fatigue. To the contrary, he was J quite ready to eat a hearty supper, engage in conversation and did not object to sitting down to his writing desk m order to pen a selection of eamcs he had just concluded. To Kostic an exhibition of blindfold play is not by any means as big a mental and physical effort as that which an actor would have to go through nightly in playing a difficult part."