CHESS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIV, Issue 4, 26 January 1910, Page 11

CHESS.

AH communications to be addressed to the Chess Editor, "The Weekly Graphic and Xew Zealand Mail,” Auckland. Position No. 25. (By Rev. G, Dobbs.) Black.

White to play and mate in three. Forsvth Notation.—3kt4; 8: 4p2b; lp2pplK; !P2Pk2; 6pl; Qlß2p2; 3Kt182. A Classical Game. Seeona game of the match between Dr. Lasker and Monsieur Janowsky, played in Paris, October 21st, 1909. "FOUR KNIGHTS GAME.'’ White. Black. M. D. Janowsky. Dr. Lasker. 1. P—K4. P—K4. • 2. Kt—Kß3. K-t—QB 3. 3. Kt—B3. Kt—B3. 4. B —Kt-5. B—Kts. 5. Castles. Castles. 6. P—Q3. P—Q3. 7. B— Kta. BxKt. 8. Pxß. Kt—K2 (a) 9. B— QB4 (b). Kt—Kt3. 10. Kt—R4. (e) Kt—Bs (d). 11. BxKt(B4). Pxß. 12. Kt—Be (e). B —Kts. 13. P—KR3. B—-R4. 14. R—Kt. .. P— QKt3. 15. Q—Q2 (fj. BxKt. 16. Pxß. Kt—R4. 17. k—R2. Q—B3. 18. R—Kt. QR—K. 19. P—Q4 (g). K—R. 20. R—QKt.5. Q—R3 (h). 21. QR—Kt 5. P—KB3. 22. QR—Kt 4. P—Kt3. 23. B—Q3 (i). R—K2. 24. P—B4 (j). Kt—Kt2 (k),25. P—B3. Kt—K3. 26. B—B. P- KB4. 27. QR—Kt2. R—B3. 28. B—Q3. P—KKt4 (I) 29. R—KR. P—Kts (m) 30. B—K2. Kt—Kt4. 31. BPxP. P—B6. 32. R—Kt3. Pxß (n). 33. Resigns. NOTES BY MESSRS HOFFER AND GUNSBERG. (a) At the recent Scarborough Congress 8...Q —K2 was almost invariably adopted after Sergeant's failure against Atkins with the 8.. K—K2 variation ; but the latter move still holds good, it being also a favourite variation of Janowsky—Hoffer. (b) The orthodox O.BxKt seems preferable, perhaps before v/ithdrawing B to QB4. —Hoffer. (c) White must stand or fall by BxKt; otherwise his original move of B —Kts amounts to loss of time, and acts in favour of giving Blaek a superior development with his two knights. Lasker, however, knew what he was doing when he played Kt—K2, as Janowsky cannot be persuaded to part with the Bishop.— Gunsberg. (d) Now, this move is worse than useless, as it places the Knight in an insecure position, as soon as Hie White Bishop is compelled either to retire or to take the Knight. It is obvious that the Bishop cannot maintain itself on Kts for long.—Gunsberg. (e) A forced retreat, KtxP being threatened, and Blaek takes the offensive; consequently the excellence of Black’s 10; Kt—Bs is thus confirmed. —Hoffer. This further serious loss of time clears the ground for Black's advance. White might possibly have attempted to avoid this loss of time by a move such as 12. R—K; for if then KtxP, 13. RxKt, QxKt; 14. P— Kt3, without any damage.

But in reply to 12. R—K, Black would probably not execute the threat of KtxP, but play P—KKt4 instead, compelling 13. Kt—B3. There was also 12. P—Kt3. I should have been inclined to adopt any more rather thin retire the Kt to 83.— G unsberg. (f) Unable to dislodge the Bishop, it is the best course to force Black to the capture of the Knight, the open KKt file being a slight compensation for the double Pawn—anyhow, m Janow«ky*s opinion.—Hoffer. (g) To prevent R —K4.—Hoffer. th) A casual examination would suggest 20. P—B4. It would probably be answered with 21. P —K5. with unnecessary complications. Dr. Lasker's line of play is simple ami sound, his King’s position being secure even against the doubled rooks.—Hoffer. (i) This is to prevent (presumably) Black’s P—KB4; bill it removes the Bishop from a useful post. The alternative would have been 23. B—Kts, R—K2; 24. B—B6.—Hoffer. (j) Stalemating the Bishop still more. — Hoffer. (k) The superiority of the Knight over the Bishop is again illustrated in this position. Black can leave the double Pawn “en prise,” for, if 25 QxP, then 25, QxQ': 26. RxQ, Kt—K3. getting back a better pawn in exchange.—Hoffer. (l) Theatening 29., Qxl’ch; 30. KxQ, R —R3. mate. (m) There is no defence to this move. — Hoffer. (n) A classical game on the part of Dr. La s ke r.—Hoffer. News and Notes. A match for the championship of Victoria is proceeding in Melbourne between Mr. Coultas, tligpresent holder of the title, and Mr. Steele. The scores to date are; Mr. Steele 3 wins, Mr. Coultas 1, two games having been drawn. While the P. and O. liner Mantua was travelling from Fremantle to Adelaide the week before last, her passengers played a game of chess by wireless telegraphy with those on the R.M.S. Morea going west. The game was in progress for six horn's, and the Mantua passengers won in 21 moves. The nine games entered for the brilliancy prize at the conclusion of the recent N.Z. "championship tourney are being carefully looked over by the judges — Messrs. E(4en, Little, and OT-oughlen—-and their 1 verdict will be given at an earlv date.