3. A tactical move-to increase the command over the board, take up a position preparatory to an attack, or obstruct the adversary's play.

4. An attacking or a defensive move.

5. A taking, or a sacrificial move.

6. A move combining two properties-attack and defence.

7. A doubly attacking move-attacking two pieces, or with two pieces.

8. A doubly defensive move.

9. A move combining three properties-a double attack and a single defence, such as a double check, defending, by the same move, a check from the adversary.

10. A move combining four properties-a double attack and a double defence, such as a double check with both the attacking pieces en prise.

The

It is obvious that most of these moves may be good, bad or indifferent, according to circumstances. only moves that can be classed as fine in themselves are Nos. 9 and 10. These are combination moves of three and four properties respectively. The conclusion therefore is that the quality of a move in Chess is dependent on the number of properties it comprises.

Not to offend the susceptibilities of any living composer, I propose to illustrate this point of view by the Indian Problem in the position following:

:

White K at QR sq.; R at Q sq.; B at K Kt 2 and K R 6; P at Q Kt 2, K B 2 and K Kt 4. Black K at K 5; Kt at K B 6; P at Q Kt 2 and K 4.

White to play and mate in four moves.

The move 1. B to Q B sq. is tactical only; 2. P to Q Kt 3 or 4 is a combination of a waiting move and a tactical move (two properties); 3. R to Q 2 is a combination of a tactical and a forced move (two properties) while 4. R to Q 4 is a double attack and double defence (four properties), resulting in the position of checkmate. There are thus nine points comprised in four moves of the White, and this will represent the quality of play in this celebrated Problem.

Now with regard to the important point of difficulty. Can this be classified ?

Difficulty arises from variety of play, and from novelty of play.

Variety of play may be in the attack or the defence. In the attack, it will be in the number of likely moves at the disposal of the student. In the defence, it will be in the number of variations.

Novelty of play may also be in the attack or the defence. In the attack, the difficulty arising from this quality will be at its greatest where there is no clue to the combination in the position of the pieces. This will happen where there is the greatest liberty of movement-one line of play only being effective-and where the idea is presented in its most compact form.

Novelty of play in the defence will be in the replies to those attacks that do not lead to a solution.

I confess I do not see my way to a system of classifying novelty of play.

It is no doubt a very high property-I might say the very highest-in a Chess Problem, and the most instructive. Some other of your correspondents may be more successful.

It would appear however that the points of a "perfect Problem" are

1. Novelty of combination.

2. Quality of play.

3. Variety of attack (not to be confused with variety of solution).
4. Novelty and variety of defence.

Mr. Carpenter's "definitions" leave out the three first, and half the last.

Yours truly,

X.

OUR PROBLEMS REVIEWED.

No. 246, by J. MENZIES.-"An extremely fine specimen of its class," J. N. K.- "Class B, a difficult problem," J. A. M."A good problem," Othello." A magnificent problem," C. W. M. D.-"Easy," R. W. Johnson.-"An interesting position, though not difficult," O. D. D.

No. 247, by A. C. PEARSON." Very pretty; a great contrast to the preceding problem," J. N. K.-" Class A, but not fine, as White's force is so disproportionate," J. A. M.'Pretty," Othello.- Easy," T. R. Howard.-R. W. Johnson Very neat, but easy," but he has not solved the problem. says, "A very good problem," O. D. D.

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No. 251, by D. W. CLARK.- Rather pretty," J. N. K."Class A, a little gem," J. A. M.-"Pretty," Othello.-" A curious position, and difficult," C. W. M. D.- The threatened check from B shows that R is to move," R. W. Johnson.

No. 252, by I. O. H. TAYLOR.-"Easy," J. N. K.—“ Class A, very pretty, but easy," J. A. M.-"The white Pawn at Q7 is not wanted," Othello.-"The variations are good," C. W. M. D.—“Easy,” R. W. Johnson.

No. 253, by J. W. ABBOTT.--" More difficult than elegant," Othello." A remarkable problem, as Black's replies make no difference in White's second move. I place this next to No. 257," T. R. Howard.—“ A very pretty problem," R. W. Johnson. "A pretty problem and difficult, O. D. D.

No. 254, by R. ORMOND.-"A good problem, the mate being very neat," C. W. M. D.—“Neat, but easy," R. W. Johnson.I like this problem much, notwithstanding its peculiar construction," O. D. D.

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No. 255, by F. W. LORD.-"Not uninteresting," J. N. K."Class A, poor," J. A. M.-"Very neat, but not difficult,' C. W. M. D.-"Neat, but easy," R. W. Johnson.--"Very easy," O. D. D.

No. 256, by C. W. M. DALE. —“ Easy," R. W. Johnson."Is there not something wrong in this Problem? surely Q takes B ch cannot be the intended solution," O. D. Ď.—(It is not.--Ed.)

No. 257, by S. TYRRELL.- "I attacked this problem daily, or nearly so, but did not succeed in solving it until the 13th. I consider it a gem," T. R. Howard.-R. W. Johnson is wrong.

No. 258, by C. W., of SUNBURY.-This problem admits of a solution in three moves, as pointed out by T. R. Howard.-Othello gives one in four moves.

No. 258 (a).-J. A. Miles, Othello, O. D. D., H. Lofthouse, James Stonehouse, and Nepos and Daughter, have pointed out a second solution to this problem, commencing with IR to K 3.

No. 259. "A capital problem," R. W. Johnson.-"A very good problem," H. Lofthouse.--"I never saw a prettier problem than this," J. Stonehouse.

PROBLEMS.

We give, this month, another of the competing sets in the Problem Tourney of the British Chess Association.