CHESS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIV, Issue 14, 6 April 1910, Page 9

CHESS.

All communications to he addressed ie the Chess Editor, "The Weekly Graphic and New Zealand Mail 99 Auckland. Position No. 35.

(Gaane Ending.) ( Black.)

(White.) W bote to move and win. Forsyth Notation: —8; PKPS; 4r3 dpi; 2P2k2; 8; R 7; 8.

• Dreihundert Schachpartien.’* U<y DR. TARR ASCH.) (Continued.) The Doctor’- 1 next public appearance was at the tourney at Manchester, in 1890. His comments on this meeting make most interesting reading, and the following are short extracts from his book: — Few persons in Germany were aware of my intention to take part in this tournament, but these, among 'whom was my colleague and oft times opponent at the che*s Guard. Dr. Epstein, of Nuremberg, while marvelling at my audacity, was aware that 1 had secretly pledged my-eli to repeat at Manchester the tour de force of Breslau, which had never previously been performed—viz., that of going through the contest without the loss of a single game. I l>elieved I had only to utilise the recipe drawn up by Leipzig, and applied at Breslau, to reap again the same success. I was in excellent condition. A magnificent journey down the Rhine had refr .-lu d me from the labours of my professional pursuits, and the unaccustomed charm of an invigorating sea journey strengthened my presentiment of victory. ... At the end of the first week’- play the score sheet credited me with five points, while Mackenzie could boast of 7’. and Blackburne and Mason of 7 points each. 1 alone knew that, taking the probable result of my three adjourned games into consideration my score also was 71. The public, seeing only my molest score of 5 points as the result of 9 games, considered mo a- a presumptive outsider, and took not the slightest further notice of me. nor did the Pre-s. 1 enjoyed the joke immensely. . . . On Tuesday 1 won against Thorold at midday, and in the evening drew with Bird. The same evening, nearly a week before the end of the contest. I wrote a rea-<uring letter home to the effect that the first prize was now almost’ certainly within my grasp. I w.u al! the more amused when next morning I read a detailed report of the tourney in an English paper. Bia -kburne and Mason were at the head of the li-t. with 9 points each; then came M i Benzie. with 84; Alapin. Gun.-berg. v. <chvve. and Tinsley, with 7 ; Bird, with 7: an.l at length figured my own name, in the modest company of Mortimer and Lo.-ock. with points. Hereupon the article entered into deep calculation- as to whether the first prize would fall to Bia-kburne or Mason, an I finally e\|>ie--ed the opinion that the pro! abilities were they would come out equal, whereupon a match, highly interest ing to the public, would ensue. Tiie public was soon to be robbed of t leant icipat ion, for the same day on which thi-» report appeared brought the great surprise of the tournament. In the afternoon all the adjourned games with the exec pt ion of my game against Gunston. which had been sanctioned by the committee, wore played off. and the result justified my expectations completely. My games against Al ipin and Mackenzie were drawn; Mason resigned without further play, and Srhallopp lost ■to me in a few moves. And when in the evening I made my predominant position secure by a victory over Gossip, while Blackburne ami Mackenzie again 10-t. it was char to the dullest reporter who it was that would carry off the first prize. In one day I had leaped from t»A t<> 10.1 points; really to 111. for the -n-pended game against Gun-ton had been broken off at a winning stage for my-elf. and only required concluding. Thus 1 was 21 points ahead of my runners-up. Blackburne and Mackenzie- an advantage. of vour>-. impossible now to cancel. With "noth Press an.l public 1 liecame at a stroke the hero of the day. my play became the centre of attraction, and on Wednesday evening, when about to contest a game with the national hero. Blackburne. the table was so thickly beset with spectators that it was with some trouble that L made way for myself, in this game it was no longer the prize for which 1 fought, but honour. Enough. He won the game, of course, n- well a- the tournament, and with it the right he ha- been much criticise I for exervi.-ing—that of regarding himself u- one of the fine-t exponents of chess. This victory marks the broad summit of hi- career, and no considerable falling HA.iy from this high altitude is percepttbl< for man\ long years. The narrative prefacing the “300 games" ha* iwen so vopiou-lv drawn ’ipon that we take leave of these fa-ci a-

ating pages. We think it inevitable that Dr. Tarraseh's personality should take precedence of his feats. He makes a brave show as he enters the lists, captivating in his breezy, self-confidence, his frankness, his humour, his vivacity. Even the glee he displays in the plaudits his victory arouses—he is clearly more than half inclined to join in the clapping himself —does not estrange our sympathies. It only remains to be said that the book contains some 550 pages, with over 470 position diagrams, arid may be had from the publishers for the modest sum of 11 marks (9/2) . An English edition will no doubt some day be attempted, for the book is too pleasant a storehouse of chess to be closed to those without the German password. Notes. A challenge has been received by the Auckland Chess Club from players in Norfolk Island to play a consultation game by cable. Promptly on the first instant several ladder challenges were posted up in the local club. Mr. Sale challenges Mr. Kay, and the latter challenges Mr. Putman. Mr. Wilson has a challenge up for Mr. Leyland, and Mr. Grierson is out for Rung No. 1. which he lost by a small margin at the dose of last season. Solution to Position 35. The position occurred in a game between Marshall and Rosenthal. The variations and comments on the play are by Mr. J. R. Capablanca: — White (Marshall here had a simple win by R-QB7 ch. but played instead P-86. Black has now one way, and only one way in every case, to draw against all moves of White. Thus: R-Q3. now White has two continuations, R-B7 ch or P-B 7. Against P-87, the only way for Black to draw is to play R-Q sq. as both R-Kt3 ch and R-KB3 lose, thus: R-Kt 3 ch, K-B3: R-B3 ch. K-K2: R-K3 ch. K-Q3; R-KB3 (if R-Q3 ch. K-K4), R-R5 ch; K moves, R-R6 wins. Or R-KB3. R Kt 7; K-85, P-R4; P-KtG, R-Kt4 ch: K moves. R-Kt3 wins, as the Rook will either catch the KtP or go to KB3. winning. Now against R-QB7 ch for White, Black has only one way to draw, and that is to plav K-Q4. as K-Kt3 would lose, thus: K Kt 3. P-B7 : R-Kt3 ch (best), KB sq; R-KB3, R-K7: K-84. K-K2; K-B5 (if P-KtG. R-K3: P-Kt 7. R-QKt3; RxP. RxP: R-KR2. R-Q2; RxP, K-K3 wins), P-R4: P-KtG. R-K4 ch; K-84, R-K3: P-Kt7. R-QKt3: RxP, RxP; R-KR2, R-Q2: RxP. K-K3 wins. The two drawing variations are as follows:—R-Q3. P-B7: R-Q sq. R-R-5 eh; K-85, and White will have to sacrifice the Rook for the Pawn. Or R-Q3, R-B7 ch: K-Q5! P-B7: R-K:3 ch! (a most important move, as if Black plays at once R-KB3. White wins by R-K7!), K-B sq; R-KB3. R-Kt7: K-86, and White will finally have either to sacrifice the Rook for the Pawn or draw by perpetual check. Tdtere are only one or two more variations, but those given above are the most likely ones. The ending is a very interesting example of Rook and Pawn play, and worth studying: the careless move of a Pawn should have cost Marshall half a point. (Rosenthal overlooked ths draw by R Kt 3 ch.)