CHESS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVI, Issue 18, 1 November 1911, Page 8

CHESS.

All communications to be addressed to the Chess Editor, “The Weekly Graphic and Neto Zealand Mail,” Box 283, Auckland. The Auckland Chess Club meets on Monday Thursday, and Saturday evenings, at No. 24, His Majesty’s Arcade, Queen-street (2nd floor}. The Y.M.C.A. Chess Club meets on Friday evenings. The Hamilton Chess Club meets in the Public Library, Hamilton, every Friday evening, at 7.30. Answers to Correspondents. D.P.—Glad to hear from you. Your solutions of Nos. 113, 114, and 115, are al) correct. Position No. 118. By E. Woodward. Black (8 pieces).

White (9 pieces). K6b, 15382, pR6. 2R5, 3k4, B3pP2, 2P3PI-, 3rs2Q. White to play and mate in two moves. British Chess Federation—Annual Championship Tournament.

For the third time in its history, the British Championship Tournament has ended in a tie for first place, and for the third time also Mr. H. E. Atkins has to play off this tie. In the first year of the tournament, Mr. Atkins tied with Mr. W. E. Napier, and in 1909 with Mr. J. 11. Blake. Now he has to meet Mr. F. D. Yates, who, if not quite his equal, is at least able and certain to make a very hard fight for championship honours. At the end of the first week’s play and even at conclusion of the ninth round, it looked as if Mr. Yates was certain to win, he being well ahead of all the other competitors. The unexpected happened; Mr. Yates lost to Mr. West, and could only draw with Mr. McKee after a hard fight, thus making his score level with that of Mr. Atkins, who won his last two games in his best style. The tie will be played off some time during the winter season, probably a't Bradford, though we understand that chess players in Glasgow have expressed a wish for the match to be played there. In 1909 Mr. Yates tied for third place, last year he tied for second, and this year he ties for first honours, a very curious and interesting sequence of events. In spite of being able to obtain very little practice at his home in Trinidad, the Rev. W. C. Palmer made an excellent showing, and was only beaten twice. The Scottish champion, Mr. J. A. McKee, was unfortunate in losing his game with Mr. Parry on time limit, but yet enjoys the distinction of being the only competitor who defeated Atkins. The final scores were H. E. Atkins and F. D. Yates, 8J each, W. C. Palmer 7J, R. P. Michell 7, J. A. McKee 6}, A. West 6. J. 11. Blackburne and J. H. Blake 51 each, A. J. Mackenzie 31, E. Macdonald 3, J. G. Parry 2J. R. E. Lean 2. The Ladies’ Championship Tournament was won by Mrs. Houlding for the second year in succession with a score of 8J points. The Major Open Tournament was won by Mr. G. Shories with the fine score of 10J points out of a possible 11; and the first, second, and third class tournaments were won respectively by Messrs. Billings, Basford, and Penberthy. The prizes were presented by Mrs. Gibb; and Canon Gordon Ross, who presided, announced that the next Congress would be held in London.—“ Times.” The two following games were played in the above tournament.

VIENNA OPENING. ’ While. Black-, 1 J. H. Blake. F. D. 1. P—K4 P—K4 2. QKt—B3 KKt—B3 3. 8 1)4 ; Kt—B3 f P-Q3 B—Kts 5. B—K KtJ (a) p KR3 °- B x Kt B x Kt (ch) P x B -‘ Qjß »• Kt-K2 Kt—K2 9. P-Q4 (b) p_Q 3 10- Q—Q3 P—K Kt 4 11. P—B3 Kt—Kt 3 12. P—Kt 3 B-Q2 13. QR—Kt 1 .. QR—Kt 1 14. K—Q2 (e) P—KR 4 15. Q—K3 (d) P—Rj 16. QR—KB 1 ie) P—Kt4 (f) 17. B—Kt 3 P—R4 18. P—KB4 (g) Kt P x 1’ 19. KtPxBP '. PxQP 20. P x P .- p—R5 21- P—K5 Q-K2 22. B—Q5 P—QBS 23. B—K4 P—Q l 24. B—B3 <h) B—BI 25. KR—Ktl (i) Q—K3 26. R—Kts- .................. Kt—K2 27. QR —KKt 1 K—Q2 28. Q—B 3 R—R 1 29. Q—Ba (k) KR—QKtI 30. R (Kt I)—Kt 4 (1) P—Kt 5 31- Rx P p—Kt fl 32. BPxP PxP 33. P x P R x P 34. B—Kt 4 (in) R—Kt 7 (eh) 35. K—K 1 R—R 8 (eh) 36. K—B 2 B x B 37. R (R 4) x B R (R B)—R 7 38. P—R 4 Rx Kt (ch) 39. K—B 1 Ri K 7)—QB7 Resigns. NOTES BY I. GUNSBERG. (a) Not useful for developing purposes On the contrary, the subsequent exchange develops Black’s Queen. The best way iu our opinion to play this opening for White is to resort to P—KKt 3 ami B—Kt 2 at the earliest possible moment, and before playing P—Q 3. (b) Black has the better ehunee. Castling would give White a weak position, as Black would reply with P—KKt 4 and a King’s side attack. (e) As good as anything else. (d) P—Q 5, followed by B—Kt 3 and P—B 4 later on, might have consolidated his position on the Queen’s side. (e) Giving Black the opportunity for an enveloping movement on the other wing as well, of which he takes instant advantage. (f) Tire kind of promptness which leads to victory. (g) White deserves credit for a wellconceived counter plot. <h) If 24. B—Q 3, Q—Kt 5 (eh), 25. Kt -83, P—QB 4, 26. QR—Kt 1, with a good defence. (i) Still not paying sufficient attention to the defence of the Queen’s side. <k) P —QR 3 would be very useful. (l) The Puwn was not worth having. (m) R—Kt 3 was an alternative move, but the attack should prevail in any case. SICILIAN DEFENCE. White. Black. J. H. Blackibume J. E. Parry (London). (Bangor). 1: P—K 4. . .., P—Q B 4 2. Kt—Q B 3 P—K Kt 3 (»): 3. P—K Kt 3 B—Kt 2 4. B—Kt 2 Kt—Q B 3 5. K Kt—K 2 P—Q 3 6. P—Q 3 Kt—B 3 7. P—K R 3 B—Q 2 8. B—K 3 Q—B ». Q—Q 2 P—Q R 3 10. P—K Kt 4 P—Q Kt 4 11. Kt—Q R—Q Kt 12. P—K B 4 P—K R 4 13. P—Kt 5 Kt—Kt 14. P—B 3 p—K 4 15. Kt—B 2 K Kt—K 2 16. P—K R 4 P—Kt 5 17. P—B 4 p —R 4 18. Castles KR ;.... Kt—Q 3 19. B x Kt B P x B 20. Q R—B Q—B 4 (i>) 21. Kt—R 3 (e) Castles (d) 22. P—B 5 Px P 23. Kt—Kt 3 P—B 5 24. Kt x R P , Q—B 25. Kt(R3) xPie) PxKt 26. Kt x B K x Kt 27. Q x B P Kt—Kt 3 (f) 28. Q—B 6eh K—Kt 29. P—R 5 Q—Q (g) 30. P x Kt Q x Q 31. Rx Q B—Kt 5 32. R x Q P K R-Q 33. P—K 5 RxR 34. P x R P x 1’ 35. P—B 5 B—K 3 36. P—B 6 R—Q

n. b-Q « <M * * * ». Biß 'h „ R - U 39. P _B 7 Resign-. ( a) The Sicilian Defence ia tedious at best and this variation is most tedious • fail. (b) There is not mueh point about this but a move had to be made before the time limit expired. (t) Now White gets the opportunity he wanted, to bring his Kt into active play. (d) Very risky in view of the obvious intention of "White to advance on that sale of the board. (e) White’s plans being now matured, ),e proceeds skilfully to carry them into operation. (f) There does not appear to be anything better. (g) He could not allow P—R 6. th) Black might hare resigned sooner. I,ut he may be forgiven for having given White the opportunity to bring off the ' pretty coup.” The “Natal Mereury” invites entries for a problem tournament limited to three movers, open to composers from all parts of tlie world. Problems, which must be direct mates in three moves, are eligible if original and previously unpublished. Each problem must be submitted on a diagram bearing a motto and accompanied by the full solution. The competitors’ names and addresses to be sent »i a separate sealed envelope with the motto marked on the outside. All entries to be sent to Mr R. W. Borders, the “Natal Mereury,” Durban, S.A., and to reach him not later than December 31 next. The Carlsbad Tournament. The Carlsbad Tournament.—According to "The Times,” the international tournament at Carlsbad was expected to last until nearly the end of September, as the committee had been able to secure the full number of the 26 entries arranged for. It is much to be regretted that other arrangements precluded Capablanea. from competing, and at the last moment Conde wired he was unable to compete, so his place was taken by Rotlevi. This player had the satisfaction of defeating Schleihter in the eighth round, and in the same round Marshall won against Rubinstein. Teichnmnn has been playing unusually well. Burn is the only English representative, and has won some of his games in a remarkably elever manner, particularly one against Aleehine. The scores at the end of the 19th round were: —Teiehmann, Sehlechter and Rotlevi, 13}; Rubinstein, 13; Marshall, Niemzowitseh, and Vidmar, 10}; Dnras, Aleehine, Spiehnann, and Tartakaver, 10; Suchting, 9}; Leonhardt, Cohn, and Lowenfiseh, 9; Perlis, Fahrnl, and Burn, S; Salve, Jaffe, Chotimirski, and Johner, 7j; Chajes, and RaHnowrtseh, 7; Alapin. ri}. Apparently Kostic has dropped out. Canserie. Mr. F. R. Gittins is continuing to issua the “Chess Bouquet” in monthly parte. Portraits of composers and specimens of their compositions are given. British clubs are being offered Mr. ! apablanca's services as a simultaneous j layer during October. Mr. Wahltueh, writing in the “Manchester Weekly limes,” save: “We cannot help thinking it is time that, in place of these simultaneous performances, masters toured in pairs, and played exhibition games, ''imultaneous play is easy for the single player, and teaches the players and spectators practically nothing, while exhibition games, in which each of the players had a gallery of spectators with whom he could discuss the positions (the I layers being, of course, in different parts "f the club room) would be of great value to chess players who witnessed these contests.” We agree in the main with Mr. Wahlhieh. From an educational standpoint, the exhibition games would be immeasur- ■ bly superior. The discussion would afford as much illumination to the onlookers as if they read over the score "f a game in which each move was profusely annotated, and all this pleasant •11 formation aud food for reflection could be assimilated without the process becoming tedious. Newspaper games are all very well in their way, but many of the notes are for the advanced student °’dy, and many of the silences assume «» almost up-to-date knowledge on the part of the reader. Some of Lasker’s

and Schleehter’s games are, it must be admitted, blit dull reading when the notes are ecant. Still mure so when there are no notes. This sort of thing is particularly noticeable when two masters play a lengthy match, and they confine their play to one opening, or it may be two. Each of them knows to a very great extent what to avoid, having at some time or other fallen in, or having witnessed the downfall of another master from pursuing some line of play that has been proved to be faulty. But to the ordinary reader of the games a great deal of this ie invisible. The perusal of these games may be compared to watching the course of a vessel entering a harbour while the pilot is aboard. Every rock and shoal is charted in his mind, hut you ean’t see below the surface, and you don’t know what is passing in his mind. Now, suppose the pilot invited you to join him on the bridge, and showed you a large-scale chart showing every roek and shoal ami current plainly marked, and pointed these out to you as the vessel passed them. What a lot you would learn in a short time! We think the idea is well worth a trial. The scheme eould be amplified by proviSing each of the masters with a spare board, on which he eould illustrate alternative modes of procedure at any stage of the game. The idea eould also be locally extended with advantage. For instance, a suburban elub just starting life, and having no very strong players, could invite a couple of ex-eframpious to give an exhibition game. We are convinced that the elub members would derive more benefit from the absorption of this very palatable form of mental food than from many sittings at-“skit-tles.” . A striking illustration of that which lies under the surface, but which, if brought to light, would, so far from being dull, become absolutely startling, occurred in one of the games of the recent Tarraseh-Sehlechter match. Read without notes, and without any original research, the ending appeared quite uninteresting. In reality, the “drawingmaster”—as Schlecliter used to be called —put in one of his masterly touches, and saved the situation by drawing the game. He was threatened with a forced mate in five! Solution of Position No. 115. 1. Kt—RB. The Knight must be able to reach B 7 immediately before the cmip de grace.