The Chess Board.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVIII, Issue 2, 10 July 1912, Page 11

The Chess Board.

'4JI communications to be addressed to "Chess,” Box 283, Auckland. The Auckland Chess meets on Monday Thursday, aud Saturday evenings, at No. 24, Bis Majesty’s Arcade, Queen-street (2nd floor}. The Y.M.C.A. Chess Club meets on Friday evenings. The Bamilton Chess Club meets in the Public Library, Hamilton, every Friday evening, at 7.30. Hon. Secretaries of Chess Clubs are invited to furnish items of Club news. Unpublished games, containing special features, notes of critical positions occurring in actual play, and original problems (with diagram and analysis) are always acceptable. Problem No. 156. By the late Sam Loyd. Black, 3 pieces.

White, 7 pieces. sR2',' !S3p2, 3pk.3, OPR, 3Q4, 83K3, 8, 8. White to play and mate in two moves. THE following instructive ending occurred in a game between Messrs Edwin Hicks (White), and A. W. Gyles (Black), at the Napier Congress. The score and notes (other, than those in brackets) are from the Book of the Congress (abridged). The whole game is interestrug, but rather long for publication. The position after Black’s 39th move was:—White f 8) K at Q 3. R at K2, B at Q2; Pawns at QRS. QKt2, QKt.3, KB4. and KKt 3. Black, (9) K at Q 3, R at K 2, Kt at KKt2. Pawns at KR4, KB4, Q 5, QB4, QKI4, and QR3. Forsyth notation: —8, 4rlsJ, p2k4, Ppp’plp, 3plP2, IPIK2P], IPIBR3, 8. The play proceeded: — White. Black. 40 RxR (a) KxR 41 P—QKt4 K—Q3 42 PxP KxP 43 P— Kt-t eh K—Q4 44 B—Bl Kt—K3 45 B -Q2 (b) Kt—Kt2 (c) 40 B— KI Kt—Kl .47 B—B2 ; Kt—Q3 48 B— Ktl Kt—Ks 49 BxP (d) KtxP no B—Bti .. . Kt—Ks 51 H R 4 Kt—Q3 52 K—K3 (e) K—Bs 53 H--K7 Kt— B2 (f) 54 K— B 3 Kt—Rl 55 K Kt 3 Kt—Kt3 50 B—QB K—Q4 57 B—KtB K—K5 58 B B 7 P—R5 ch 59 K—R3 KtxP eh W.KxP _ Kt—Qfi «1 B—QB P—Bs 52 K—R3 P—B« 63 K R2 k— KO White resigns. NOTES. I.a) After this exchange, Black’s Kt a . 1,1 l P must, in the ordinary 'course or ’“dure, win against White’s B. lb) I White's vacillation hero costs ■'!»! his KKtP four moves later. At this ’’li'ge he can safely play as he, no doubt, intended when he made the pre•’edmg move— B—Bl,B— Kt2. Black must "Ijlidraw K or Kt, and the P will fall.] <c; Black's logistics are weak and witlibob. effective plan. The Achilles’ heel of "bites position—-otherwise a strongly entrenched one—is his KKtP. Against this, therefore, Black should aet at once by .Kt 81, kt— Kt 3, and P—PRS. B/lite’s only defence is B—KI, and after ie exchange of Pawns his centre is broken and his K driven by the Kl’e

check from his strong defensive post at Q 3, and Black gets possession, with his K, of the important square, his K 5. And thereafter White’s game is hopeless, for his KRP is easily held in check by Black’s Kt. E.g., 45. .Kt—Bl; 46 B—KI, Kt— Kt 3; 47 B — 82, P—R5; 48 PxP, KtxP ch; 49 K moves, K—K5! and wins. If, in this, 48 BxP, then 48 ..PxP; 49 E—K3, P —Kt7; (and wins, for if 50 E—Kt 3, P—Ktß (Q); and if 50 B—Ktl, Q 4, -80, or Kt 6; 50..KtxP ch, followed by Kt—R6 wine easily), or 48 K moves, PxP; 49 BxP. K —K5, and wins. (Also, if 48 B—KI, P—R6 wins at once). (d) (White now takes the P under quasi-eompulsion. His last few aimless moves have enabled Black to work his Kt round from K 3 to Q 3, which manoeuvre makes all the difference).

(e) A serious logistic blunder. The King should maintain, until forced from it, his present strong position in opposition, and the B should mark time by patrolling the diagonals KI—R 4 and R4—QB. (Nevertheless, there is a weakness on White’s Q side owing to the greater freedom and versatility of the Kt as compared with the B in the present position. Black can play Kt—Qßl and thence reach QB3, via R2 or Q2, according to White’s play. Then, by sacrificing his KRP he ean take QKtP with Kt. checking, and win easily).

if) Black’s logistics are very unsatisfactory. White’s King having moved to the K side, his weak point is now' his KtP. Black should now proceed to attack and capture it—it cannot be saved ■—by Kt —K 5, B 6 and R 7. True, White might in the meantime attack and capture Black’s KRP; but his game would be hopelessly lost, nevertheless.

The Melbourne ‘‘Leader,” from which the following game ami notes are taken, describes the game as “masterly,and adds I' “Mr Gunderson exhibits deep strategy and brilliant tactics combined with soundness. The game is tit to rank with the best in international masters’ tournaments.” It was played recently in a match at the Melbourne Chess Club. ‘‘Four Knights’ Gaine.” White. Black. G. Gunderson. E. B. Loughl in. 1 P to K 4 P to K 4 2 Kt to KBS Kt to KB3 3 Kt to B 3 Kt to B 3 4 B to, Kts B to Kts (a) 5 Castles Castles •I Kt to Q 5 (I.) B to K2 (e) 7 P to Q 4 Kt takes Kt 8 P takes Kt Kt takes P 9 Kt takes Kt P takes Kt 10 Q takes P (d) B to B 3 11 Q to K 4! (e) R to KI (f) 12 Q to B 3 P to QR3 13 B to R 4 P to QKt4 14 P to Q 0 (g) . i P to B 3 15 B to Kt 3 R to Ktl The position here is: Irbqrlkl; 3plppp: plpPlb2: lp6; 8; 183Q2; PPP2PPP; RIB2RKI. 16 B to KKto P to B 4 (h) 17 B takes B Q takes B 18 QR to KI R takes R (i) 19 R takes R K to Bl 20 Q to K 3 (j) B to Kt2 21 Q takes BP R to Bl 22 Q to R 5 Q to Kt. 3 23 Q takes Q RP takes Q 24 R to, K 7 K to Ktl (k) 25 R takes QP (1) B to K 5 26 R takes P K to R2 27 R to K 7 (nr) B to B 4 28 P to KB3 R to QI 29 P to Kt 4 B takes BP 30 B takes B R takes P 31 P to Kts R to Q 7 32 B to Kt 3 (n)‘ Resigns (a) We now have the Double Ruy Lopez in the Four Knights’ Game, characterised by Mason as “an alarming compound of sterling solidity.” (b) The more usual is P—Q3, but Kt —Q 5 has ample authority. It was Zukertort's favourite, and was adopted by him several times in his match 'with Steinitz. (<■) KtxKt seems preferable; however, B—K2 was adopted by Blaekburne in the Nuremberg Tourney. (d) Black's KB is not posted to ths best advantage, and his QP is unmoved; White has the better development and the command of the board. (e) A subtle move, th the nature of a trap, tempting R—K.

(f) This nio*<*;’pinning the QP, is the beginning of Black’s troubles; he should have played P—Q3. ■ ' (g) Well played! The play following will repay study, being an exhibition of masterly strategy. .

(b) "Tiiueo Danaos et dona ferentes.” If 16 .... Bxß, then 17 BxPch, K—R (best); 18 BxR. Qxß; 12 QR—K, Q—Q (if Q —Kt; 20 Q —R5, threatening R —KB, wins the KB); 20 R—K2, B— Kt2; 21 KR—K, K—Kt (if B-B3G 22 Q—QKt3, if P—R3; 22 Q—B7l; 22 Q—Kt3ch, K—B; 25 R—K7. BxR; 24 Pxßch, QxP; 25 RxQ. KxR; 26 Q— K3ch, K—Q (if else; 27 Q—B4ch wins the R); 27 Q—Kt.sch, etc., wins. (i) He has nothing better. If QxQ: 19 RxR mate, if 18 B—Kt2; 19 Qxß! (j) Black has no valid defence to th’s move.

(k) 24 .... R—KI has been suggested, but it will not do, for then 25 RxPch, K—Ktl; 26 R—B4 disch; R—K3 lif K moves; 27 R—R4 mate); 27 Bxßch. PxR: 28 P—Q7. etc. If 24 .... B— B 3; 2.5 RxPch, K—KI (if K—Kt: 26 R —B4 dis ch and mates in two); 26 RxKtP and mates in two. (l) 25 RxBP is somewhat better. (m) White feeling his advantage is such that he ean win anyhow, gets a little careless. 27 R—B4 was the move, by threatening mate it wins the bishop. However, seeing a clear road, he did not look for short cuts. (n) The game is singular in two respects. Black never moves his QP, and “check” is never given in the course of 68 moves. The immobile QP is the basic source of Black’s trouble.

Notes and News.

The London "Field” lias been exercised with the problem how to admit into the, international tourneys all those masters who ar? entitled to compete by reason of their records—the number of such being too many for a tourney. To solve the problem the "Field” advocates the holding of national tourneys of each nation, the winners of these tourneys to lie delegates to the’ international tournament.

We do not wonder at this. Have you ever considered the question how many first-class, players in Europe, are entitled to lie called "masters"? We are not. prepared to say offhand, but, by way of affording some guide, we have compiled a list of players who competed in one or more of the principal international tournaments held during a period of four years, 1906-9. Here are the names; you ean count them yourself and you will probably be astonished: Alapin, Balia, Bardeleben, Berger, Bernstein, Billeeard, Blackburne, Burn, t'aro,

C'hotimirski, E. Colin, W. Colin, Duras, England, Fahrin, Fleischmann. Forgaes, Freymann. Fritz, Gattie, Giersing, Gottschall. Heilmann, Jakob, Janowski, John, Johner, Kvicala. Lasker, Lee, Leonhardt, Leontieff, Lewitt, Loman, Maljutin, Marco, Maroezy, Metger, Mieses, Moll, Moller, Mortimer, Niemzowitsch, Olland, Oskam, Perlis, Pettersson. Post, Prokcs, Przepiorka, Reggio, Reti, Rubinstein, S’abouroff, Salwe, Sehallopp, Scheve, Schlechter, Shoosmith, Shories, Sjoberg, Snosko-Borowski, Sournin, Speijer, Spielmann, Suehting, Svensson, Swiderski, Tarraseh, Tartakover, Taubenhaus, Teiehmann, Treybal, Tsehigorin, Van Vliet, Vidmar, Wolf —and still they come!

Solution to Problem No. 154.

1 R—Q4. If PxP, 2 R—BB. If B—R2, 2 RxP (B 7 If Kt—Bs, 2 RxKt. If P— Ht 6, 2 R—B3. If Kt—Kt4, 2 RxP (B2). If P—43B (Q), 2 RxQ. If P—K4, 2K— 85.

The Students’ Corner.

SOLUTION OF EXERCISE NO. ISU 1. Q—QBL