OUR PROBLEMS REVIEWED. No. 387, by J. MENZIES.-" Pretty, but very obvious," C. W. M. D. "Easy," H. E. B. R.-" An ingenious arrangement of an old idea," S. H. Thomas.-"Pretty and neatly expressed," H. J. C. A.--" White's first move is too powerful,' J. N. K. Simple and easy," J. A. M.— "The ruling passion, be it what it will, The ruling passion conquers reason still."-W. NASH. "The principal mate is well devised," C. P.-"The long diagonal again," R. W. Johnson. No. 388, by R. B. WORMALD.-"A lifeless position," W. Nash. "Very clever, although not difficult," C. W. M. D."Very good, although there are no variations," H. E. B. R. "Beautiful and complex; the particular style of this great master," S. H. Thomas.-"Brought to the block, and skilfully executed," H. J. C. A. "The isolated position of the R suggests the modus operandi," J. N. K.-"A cramped problem, and the trick of it not new," J. A. M.- Black is helpless," C. P.-"Much ado about nothing," R. W. Johnson. No. 389, by A. C. PEARSON.-"Very ingenious; the main idea is pleasing," W. Nash.-"Very good; this kind of problem pleases the solver," C. W. M. D.-"Very pretty," H. E. B. R. Extremely pretty, but simple," S. H. Thomas.- "The leading idea is brilliant; but Black's Q and R are little better than dummies," H. J. C. A.-"The first move is too obvious," J. N. K.-"Very pretty, but easy," J. A. M.-"Excellent in all respects," C. P.-" Easy," R. W. Johnson. No. 390, by J. H. BLACKBURNE.-"Solved in four moves," by W. Nash, S. H. Thomas, H. J. C. Andrews, J. N. Keynes, C. P., and R. W. Johnson. No. 391, by F. HEALEY.-Two solutions, by W. Nash and H. J. C. Andrews; the author's solution, by C. W. M. D., H. E. B. R., and S. H. Thomas; the second solution, by J. N. K., C. P., and R. W. Johnson.-[NOTE. In our second edition this problem was amended by the addition of a Black Pawn at QR 2.-ED.] No. 392, by J. W. ABBOTT.-" A very pleasing problem,” W. Nash. "Excellent," C. W. M. D.-"Neat, but easy," H. E. B. R.-"A very fine composition," S. H. Thomas."A deceptive problem; for some time I thought a solution impossible," H. J. C. A.—“The best of the three movers, J. N. K.-" Class A, very good,” J. A. M.—“ Difficult,” C. P..-"Easy," R. W. Johnson. No. 394, by R. ORMOND.-"A novelty," W. Nash.-"A perfect gem," C. W. M. D.-"A perfect little stratagem," H. E. B. R.-"A delightful little study,' S. H. Thomas."Very simple," H. J. C. A.-"Very pretty," J. N. K.-" An old trick not worth perpetuating," J. A. M.-"Neat, but easy,” C. P.-" Very good," R. W. Johnson. no use, 66 No. 395, by H. T. YOUNG. "The P at Q2 seems to be of W. Nash.-"This idea has been worked out," C. W. M. D.-"Easy, like all of its kind," H. E. B. R."Very easy, "S. H. Thomas.-"Obvious," H. J. C. A.'Simple," J. N. K.-"Very simple," C. P.-"Very simple," R. W. Johnson. No. 396, by J. A. MILES.-Two solutions (1 Kt takes P dis ch, and I B to R sq dis ch) received from W. Nash and H. J. C. A. The author's solution by C. W. M. D., H. E. B. R., S. H. Thomas, J. N. K., C. P., and R. W. Johnson. No. 397, by C. W. of Sunbury.- Highly ingenious, the best in the number," W. Nash.-"Original and beautiful, the best in the number," H. J. C. Andrews.-"Well constructed," J. N. K.-"Class B," J. A. M.-"A fine problem, Black's defence is difficult to discover," C. P.-"Original and good," R. W. Johnson. No. 398, by G. E. BARBIER. "A pretty piece of Knight play, but very simple, the W P at Kt 7, and the B Pat K 2 seem to be unnecessary," W. Nash.-"A novel ingenuity," C. W. M. D.—“A very fine problem," H. E. B. R.—“Very amusing. The problem might be dubbed the waltzing cavaliers," S. H. Thomas.-"An ingenious, though easy study. The principle is the same as that of a well-known 12 move self mate, but it is none the worse for that," H. J. C. A.—“Very ingenious and amusing," J. N. K.-"A very fine example of Knightly Chess," J. A. M.-"A stiff run over difficult country," C. P.-"Straightforward Knight play," R. W. Johnson. 66 No. 399, by B. HORWITZ.- A masterly study, and well worthy of its veteran composer," W. Nash.-"A beautiful and instructive study. The way in which the bishop is caught and caged exhibits all the pristine skill of this famous old master,' H. J. C. A.—“The best in the number,” J. N. K.—“ A capital study," R. W. Johnson. We have received, from Mr. H. J. C. Andrews, correct solutions of Mr. Gilberg's fourfold problems published in our last number. Although problems extracted from contemporary journals are not included in our solution and review competition, we deem it only right to award Mr. Andrews public credit for his skilful analysis of Mr. Gilberg's clever compositions. The fact that the task has been accomplished without the aid of the chess board and pieces deserves special mention, for it greatly enhances the merit of the performance.-ED. W. P. SOLUTIONS OF PROBLEMS. MARCH If Black plays 1 R to Q 6 White's answer is 2 P takes R, and mate follows in two more moves. NUMBER. WHITE. I R takes P 3 B to Kt 5 mate No. 394. BLACK. I K takes R No. 391. BLACK. No. 395. I P to Q3 No. 392. 3 P to R6 3 P to K 5 4 Kt to R 5 mate I K moves No. 396. WHITE. IQ to Kt 2 I Q to Q 7 7 2 B to K 5 ch 2 P takes B No. 393. 3 Kt to Q B6 3 Aught I R to Q 3 4 Kt mates I K to Q 3 (a) 3 B to Q Kt 6 mate 2 K takes Kt If 3 R to K B 2 then 2 B to Q 4, &c. 2 Kt to K 4 3 Kt to Q 4 4 Q to Q 3 ch 5 P to B 4 mate 4 K moves 2 Kt to B 4 ch 2 K takes R (See Problems Reviewed.) I B to K 2 ch 2 P to KR 3 R to Kt 5 ch 5 P mates IQ takes B 3 Q interposes No. 398. In this Problem Black's moves, with the exception of his eighth, are all forced. White's moves are as follows:-1 Kt to B 4, 2 Kt to B 3, 3 Kt to R 5, 4 Kt to Q 5, 5 Kt to B6, 6 Kt to B 7, 7 Kt to Q8, 8 Kt to K6 (Black must here play 8 K to R 3, for if K to R sq, mate follows on the ninth move), 9 Kt to K B 7, and 10 Kt to B 4 mate. GAMES. Noted by J. H. ZUKERTORT and JOHN WISKER. THE OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE CHESS MATCH. The following Seven Games were played in the First Round of the Match : GAME 240. Fianchetto di Donna. White. Mr. TRACEY. 1 P to K 4 2 P to Q4 3 Q Kt to B3 (A) 4 B to Q3 5 K Kt to B3 6 P to K5 (B) 7 P takes Kt 8 Q takes P 9 Castles 10 P to Q 5 11 B to B 4 12 Q R to Q sq 13 P to Q R 3 14 P takes B 15 P to B 4 16 Q to Kt 2 17 Q takes Kt P 18 Q takes B 19 R to Q 3 (D) 20 Q to Kt 5 21 Q to B 4 22 Q takes Kt Black. 1 P to Q Kt 3 2 B to Kt 2 3 K Kt to B3 4 P to Q B 4 5 P to QB 5 6 P takes B 7 P takes Q BP 8 KP takes P 9 B to K 2 10 Castles 11 B to Kt 5 12 Kt to R3 13 B takes Kt 15 P to Q Kt 4 (C) 16 R takes P 17 R takes B 18 R to R 5 19 Kt to B4 20 R to R4 21 Kt takes R 22 Q to Kt 3 23 Q to B 3 24 R to Q 4 25 R to K sq (E) 26 R to K Kt 4 29 K to R 2 30 P to Kt 3 31 K to Kt 2 satisfactory, because it blocks the QB P; 3P (E) 25 Q takes P was simple and sound. (H) The intention of this move surpasses the (I) 47 P to Kt 4 would have saved immense time for the players, the recorder and the readers. Black ought to win in about half-a-dozen moves, and he takes 40 to do so. I hope to be excused analysing the remainder of the game. 32 R to QB 4 33 R to Kt 5 36 Q to B5 37 Q takes R ch 41 R takes P 42 R to Q 5 43 R takes P 44 Kt to B5 13 Q to Q Kt 3 15 Kt to Q 2 18 Kt to KB3 Black. Mr. MEREDITH. 1 P to K 4 2 Kt to QB3 3 P takes P 4 B to QB 4 5 P takes P (A) (a) 6 K takes B 7 K to K sq 8 P to Q3 (b) 9 Kt to K B3 10 Q to K 2 12 P takes Kt 13 P to Q B3 16 P to K R3 22 Q to K 6 ch 21 R takes Kt 23 P to K B 3 (d) 23 R to K sq 24 Q to QB 4 25 Q to Q 3 55 P to Kt 4 36 K to K 2 56 P takes P 37 K to Q 2 57 R takes P 58 K to B 3 48 K to Q B 2 41 P to Q Kt 3 42 K to B sq 43 P to Kt 4 44 P takes P 46 P takes P ch 47 P to K 5 48 K to Kt 2 24 Q to K Kt 4 34 K to K 4 39 P to Q R 4 40 P to Kt 5 41 P to R 6 42 P to Kt 4 (g) 46 K to Kt 5 (A) 5 Kt to K B 3 is the proper answer. (C) The end-game is played in a curious style. MR. WISKER'S NOTES. (a) 5 Kt KB 3 is the correct reply. It produces a perfectly even game. (b) Taking the Q Kt P would have greatly strengthened White's attack. (e) This loses the King's Pawn in a few moves. White. 1 P to K 4 2 Kt to K B3 3 Kt to Q B3 4 B to QB 4 5 P to Q3 6 Castles 7 P to Q R 3 (a) 8 P to Q Kt 4 9 B to K Kt 5 (b) 10 P takes Kt 11 R to K sq 12 B to KR 4 18 R takes B 19 P to K Kt 4 (a) 20 Q to K 3 21 R to K Kt sq 22 Q to B 2 23 Q takes Q 24 Kt to Kt 3 25 P to Q B3 GAME 243. Queen's Gambit declined. White. Mr. T. H. D. MAY. 1 P to Q 4 2 P to QB 4 3 P to K3 4 Kt to Q B3 5 B to Q3 6 K Kt to K 2 7 P to QR3 8 B takes P 9 Kt take. B (A) 10 Kt to K2 11 Q takes Q ch 12 B takes P 14 Q R to B sq 15 Kt to K Kť 3 20 Kt takes B 21 KR to Q sq 22 B to Q 4 23 R takes R 24 P to K Kt 3 25 K to B sq 26 R takes Kt 27 R takes P 28 R to Q 7 29 R takes BP 30 P to Q R 4 31 R to Q Kt 7 32 P to R 4 33 R takes P 34 K to Kt 2 35 R to Q Kt 3 36 R to Q Kt 7 37 R to QR7 38 P to R5 39 K to B3 40 K to B 4 41 K to B 5 42 R takes RP 43 K to Kt 4 Black. Hon. H. C. PLUNKETT. 2 P to K3 3 Kt to KB3 4 B to Q Kt 5 5 Kt to QB 3 6 P to K 4 7 Q P takes P 8 B takes Kt ch 9 P takes P 10 P takes P 11 Kt takes Q 12 Castles 13 B to K 3 14 P to B3 15 Kt to Q 4 17 R to K sq 22 QR to B sq 25 Kt takes B (C) 28 P to Q R 4 29 R to Kt 6 30 R to Kt 5 31 K to Kt sq 36 P to QR 5 40 K to K sq 41 R to KR8 42 R takes P ch 3 Q Kt to B3 4 P to Q 4 5 Kt takes P 6 B to K 3 (A) 7 B to Q3 8 Castles 9 P takes B 10 P to KB4 11 R to KB3 12 R to K Kt 3 13 P to K5 14 Q to KR 5 15 K to R sq (D) 24 Q to KB 6 25 K takes R 26 Q takes Q ch 27 P to QR3 28 K to Kt 2 29 P to QB 3 4 P takes P 5 Q Kt to B3 B to Q Kt 5 7 K Kt to K 2 8 B takes Kt 9 Castles 10 P to KB3 (B) 11 P to Q 4 12 P to K B4 13 Q to Q B2 (C) 14 KR to B 2 16 P to Q Kt 4 17 P to K Kt 3 18 KR to Kt 2 20 QR to KB sq 21 Kt takes P 22 R takes B 23 Kt P takes R 26 K takes Q 27 K to Kt 3 28 K to R 4 Drawn. variation chosen by Black the Q B would be far (B) I prefer 10 P to Q 4, and 11 P to K B 4. (C) White has not conducted the opening in the best way, still Black has not a satisfactory position. Queen and Q B cannot be brought into action. (D) White could obtain a decisive advantage by 15 Kt to K B 3, threatening Kt to Kt 5. White. GAME 245. Mr. HOOPER. 1 P to K 4 2 Kt to K B3 3 B to Q Kt 5 5 P to Q B3 (B) 6 B to Q R 4 7 B to Q Kt 3 8 P to Q 4 9 B to K Kt 5 (C) 10 Q to Q 2 11 B to KR 4 12 B to K Kt 3 13 P takes P 19 P to K 5 20 B takes K P 21 B takes Pat QR6 22 B to Q Kt 5 ch 23 Q R to K sq Black. Mr. CONNELL. 1 P to K 4 3 Q to KB3 (A) 4 B to QB 4 5 P to QR3 6 P to Q Kt 4 7 P to Q3 8 P takes P 9 Q to K Kt 3 10 P to K R 3 11 B to KR 6 (D) 13 B to Q Kt 3 14 B takes Kt 15 Kt takes P 17 Q to KR 4 (F) 18 K Kt to KB3 20 R to Q sq 26 Q takes P at Q Kt 7 24 K to R sq 26 R to K 4 27 B to K5 30 R to Q R sq (G) 32 Kt to Q B4 34 B to K Kt 3 37 R to Q Kt sq 39 R takes B 24 Q to K R5 White. GAME 246. French Opening. Mr. GRUNDY. 1 P to K 4 3 Kt to Q B3 4 B to K Kt 5 (A) 5 Kt takes P 6 Kt takes Kt 7 B takes B 8 Kt to K B3 9 Q to K 2 (B) (a) 10 Castles 11 K to Kt sq 12 Kt to K5 20 Q to Q3 21 Q to Q7 (C) (c) 24 R takes K P 30 K to K 4 31 P to QR4 32 P to QB3 33 P to Q Kt 4 39 P to R6 Black. Mr. BALL. 1 P to K3 2 P to Q4 3 Kt to K B3 4 P takes P 5 B to K 2 8 Castles 9. Kt to QB 3 10 P to Q R 4 11 B to Q 2 12 Q R to Q sq 13 Q takes P 14 P to KB4 15 Kt takes Kt 16 B takes B 17 Q takes P 18 R takes R ch 19 Q to QB 3 20 P to Q Kt 3 21 Q takes Q 22 R to B sq 23 P to K Kt 3 24 P to K B5 25 R to Q sq 26 R to K B sq 27 R takes R (d) 28 K to KB 1 29 K takes P 30 P to K Kt 4 31 K to K 3 32 K to KB 3 33 P takes P 34 K to K3 35 P takes P 36 K to Q 2 37 K to QB sq 38 K to Kt sq 39 K to R 2 White resigns. (B) 9 B to Q 3 was the proper continuation. (C) We have pointed out in other notes of these match games, that a player, who is one or two Pawns behind, has no reason to force the exchange of Queen's. NOTES BY MR. WISKER. (a) The exchange of the pieces on the King's side for the pieces on the Queen's side is favourable to White; but this eccentric move does not improve matters. (b) Doubtless an oversight. The sacrifice of the Pawn is attended with no advantage. (c) This exchange of Queens will not retrieve 42 R takes P at QR5 the game. The White K P is weak, and the two 43 P to K B3 44 P to Q B4 Black Pawns on the Queen's side are irresistible. (d) By permitting the exchange of Rooks White loses at once. Mr. KEYNES. 1 P to K4 2 Kt to K B3 3 Kt to Q B3 4 P to Q3 7 P to KR 3 8 P to Q Kt 4 9 P to Q Kt 5 10 K Kt takes K P(B) 11 Q Kt takes P (C) 12 QB to Q2 13 P to Q R 4 14 Q Kt to K2 15 Q Kt to K Kts 16 K Kt to KB3 Adjudged to be won by Black. D) |