THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION PROBLEM TOURNEY. REPORT OF THE JUDGES. Out of eleven competing sets no less than eight were found, upon preliminary examination, to contain unsound problems. The award, so far as this branch of the contest is concerned, has therefore been practically confined to a very narrow range. Our decision between the respective merits of "Ex sudore voluptas," "Anything," and "Home sweet Home," was put beyond doubt, partly from the palpable superiority of "Ex sudore," and also from the fact that " Home sweet Home" consisted entirely of two-movers, and was consequently at a great disadvantage in a set competition. 66 The winner of the first set prize would have been difficult to beat, even had all the competing sets proved equally sound. Not only is "Ex sudore voluptas " remarkable for excellence, both in design and execution, but it deserves special commendation on account of a capital pair of three-movers, either of which might have scored honors in their class, did the rules of the Association permit any competitor to take more than one prize. "Anything," winner of the second set prize, contains some pleasing and neatly constructed problems, but is not remarkable for either novelty or variety. No. 1 of this set is certainly rather difficult to solve, but as the idea it embodies has been anticipated in more than one previously published composition, the value of this problem is proportionately lowered. Concidence of theme rather than of form is here alluded to, and, and although doubtless accidental, must of course be taken into account. "Home sweet Home" would naturally stand third in the set contest, but as it's No. 1 has gained a more valuable prize than that offered for third best set, the latter is reserved for a future tourney (in the absence of any eligible claimant). The unsoundness of individual problems in "Es giebt," "Hermione," and, above all, "Qui se ressemble," is much to be regretted, as all three sets contained excellent work and would certainly have bid high for honours. No. 3. in "Qui se ressemble" is indeed the absolutely best 4 mover, while No. 2. takes rank as the best 3 mover available for a prize. As the 4 mover in "Es giebt is decidedly superior to all remaining 3 and 4 movers (not included in the prize sets), we have thought fit to award the 4 move prize to the author of "Es giebt," although fully recognising the higher pretensions of No. 3 "Qui se ressemble." Some doubt at first existed as to the relative merits of several competing 2 movers. A careful application, however, of the appointed scale has led to an unanimous verdict in favour of No. 1 "Home sweet home." None of the positions in this class were up to full standard as regards difficulty, but the winner besides, scoring respectably under that head, was found to be in advance of all rivals in other important respects. We consider the two movers in "Es giebt," "Union Jack," (No. 1.) and " Utrum horum," worthy of special commendation, in the order named. (Signed) J. W. ABBOTT. A. Townsend, Newport, Mon. G. J. Slater, Liverpool J. Pierce, Bedford J. B. Veecock, Demerara OUR PROBLEM TOURNEY. The preliminary examination of the sets contributed to this tourney has, so far, resulted in the problems shown on next page being proved to be unsound, and the sets of which they respectively form a part have therefore been disqualified. In accordance with our practice in former tourneys, and for the satisfaction of the composers interested in the matter, we proceed to set forth the data upon which the verdict of inaccuracy is pronounced. Kt to B 4th The author's solution of the problem Rosicrucian commences with IQ to B 8th, followed upon Black playing 1 P to R 6th, by Q to Kt 8th, and mating next move. The following, however, appears to be a good solution Ex gr :—1 2 Q to K B 6th, and mates next move. If Black play 1 P to R 6th, then follow, 2 Kt takes P; if K takes Kt, then 2 B to K 6th (ch), and if 1 K to R 6th, White continues with 2 Q to Q B 3rd, mating on the third move in each case. The author's solution of Res ipsa loquitur commences with 1 K to Kt 6th, but the problem can also be solved in three moves by 1 K to B 6th. In reply to that move Black has five defences, ex. gr., P to Q 5th (dis. ch.); K to Q 5th; K to K 3rd; K to B 4th; and P to B 4th. In reply to the first White's answer is 2 K to Q 7th, to the second, 2 Q to Q B 5th (ch), to the third, 2 P to Q 4th, to the fourth, 2 R to Kt 5th (ch), and to the fifth, 2 P to B 4th, mating on the third move in each case. The other problem, bearing the motto As You Like It, cannot be solved in the manner intended by the author. R to K 4 The following is the proposed solution, ex. gr.:-1 1 Kt to KB 5 ; 2 ; 3 B takes P (best) B takes P (best) 4 Kt or B mates. There is no mate, however, should Black play 3 B takes Kt (ch), or 3 K to B 3. probable that in this case the author has omitted a white Pawn from K Kt 6th in the diagram sent in to the tourney. Kt at R 5 takes P ; We omitted to acknowledge last month problems received from Australia bearing the motto Viator. WHITE. WHITE. WHITE. White to play and mate in three moves. White to play and mate in three moves. White to play and mate in four moves. Position prior to Black's 64th move. BLACK. THE PARIS TOURNEY. To the Editor of the "WESTMINSTER PAPERS." DEAR SIR,-In your July Number you published a highly interesting game played between Mr. Blackburne and Mr. Mason at the Paris Chess Congress. The former gentleman succeeded in securing a draw by a highly ingenious manoeuvre, but if I am not mistaken he had the opportunity of winning the end game. The position is so interesting that I think it worth while to draw your attention to it, especially as none of your contemporaries have pointed out the alternative play I suggest. At this point Black (Mr. Blackburne) played 64 B to K 3. If he had played B to Q R 5 he would have won the game. Variation I. 65 P to Kt 7 66 P to B 6 and wins Variation II. 65 P takes P 65 K to K 3 66 K to Q 3 65 P to B 6 2, Middleton Street, Calcutta, 12th August, 1878. 65 P to B 6 [The above communication has been submitted to Mr. Potter, who considers that Mr. Steel's very ingenious move, 64 B to R 5, would undoubtedly enable Black to win. The course of play can be somewhat varied; for instance, in Variation No. 3, White could prolong the struggle by playing 68 K to B sq. in lieu of taking the Bishop, but the ultimate result would be the same.-Ed. W. P.] No. 1074.-The poorest two-mover yet published. No. 1076.-A fair problem, the idea of sacrificing the No. 1078.-An ordinary publishing problem, nothing more. REVIEWED. No 1074. Of average merit. The ambuscade of the Q very quickly suggested itself to me. No. 1075.-A good problem; the second move being very neat; but there is always a but-it is rather defective in devices to draw off the solver's mind from penetrating the real design. No. 1076.-Some of the mates are pretty, but the first move is too obvious, and the subsequent sacrifice of the Q easily suggests itself to solvers of very limited ex No. 1079.-An exceedingly uninteresting and self-perience. This set is not above average merit. evident problem. No. 1080.-A pleasing position with the exception of the P at Q 7. No. 1081.-By far too obvious. No. 1082.-If anything rather more obvious than the previous one. Further comment on the sets is superfluous. HANOVER. No. 1074-Meritorious in design and execution. Black's possible checks do not threaten at the outset, but result solely from White's moving his Queen (surely a more subtle and artistic method of treatment than the manifest jeopardy in which the White K is sometimes placed). There are, it is true, dual mates in reply to 9 moves by Black, but these are not very blamable, as the same piece is invariably moved to discover mate. No. 1075-Too obvious. This problem lacks variety, for the theme, however pleasing, is not sufficiently novel to stand alone. No. 1076.-The double sacrifice of the Q is effectively worked and there is sufficient variety, though but small difficulty in the solution. THE SET. Very fair but lacks depth. No. 1077.-Mediocre. As a rule, when White's forces are so numerous, it is desirable that the Black K should enjoy liberty of action to compensate for the absence or helplessness of his own body guard. Here he has but one move out, and the results attained are scarcely up to tourney form. No. 1078.-Commences with the most palpably attacking move, and presents no after feature to compensate for such a defect. No. 1079.-I find it difficult to believe that I have hit author's intentions, yet can find no other key. Amid such a mass of commonplace variations, the question arises, which is the proposed mainplay? and this query is, perhaps, the most problematical point about this curious position. The set poor throughout. No. 1080.-Here Black's threats are numerous and potent enough to leave little doubt about White's first move. The mates are undoubtedly pretty. The few duals in this problem might, perhaps, have been avoided b a modification of the position, but at the expense of one checkmate (which the author was probably loth to lose). No. 1081. Two solutions. No. 1082.-A fine and rather difficult stratagem, one of the best yet published. Had the three-mover been sound, this would have taken rank as a very good set.-H. J. C. ANDREWS. No. 1077.-It is tolerably clear that the Bp must be unmasked, nor does it require much discrimination to discover where the uncovering R is to be posted. Nevertheless it is a fairly good two-mover. No. 1078.-An excellent problem. Although White's first move is tolerably apparent, as the Kt must obviously be brought to bear, Black has so many resources that it is not easy to see at first how to meet them. No. 1079.-A particularly good problem: rather overcrowded with pieces, perhaps; but the idea is excellent and well worked out. This is a good set, and above the average. No. 1080.-Great difficulty is not to be looked for in a two-mover. ordinary merit. No. 1082.-A difficult problem, but very humdrum; it lacks beauty. As a set, hardly up to the mark. J. E. VERNON. WHO CANNOT be Crushed BY A PLOT. No. 1074.-Considerably above the average. The idea in the problem is good-namely, to open the way for Black to check with R and Kt, these threatened checks acting as a strong deterrent to White's first move. It is well carried out, though, for White's second move, one Kt meets all the play of Black. No. 1075.-This is the second problem in this competition in which first a Kt, then a Rook, are freely offered; it is very easy, belongs to a family as large as the Smith's, and has nothing about it to redeem it from mediocrity. No. 1076.-Another easy problem, the two Pawns on the Kt's file acting as guides to the solution; certainly the King has three ways out, but this only causes a little more ink to be used in writing out the variations, the second move of White in each case being precisely the same. THE SET. Macaulay tells us of a "plot" concocted by three rogues, by which they passed off a mangy cur for a sacrificial lamb, but I think all hope must be given up of that being done in this case. "TRELAWNEY: AND HAVE THEY FIXED THE WHERE AND WHEN." 1077-I have known a Rook in a two-mover played to mask a Bishop, but never before did I see a Bishop that has no move (as the position stands) have, for a first move, to be unmasked by a Rook; this is original. Then again, White has every one of his superior pieces on the board, which certainly is not common, ́yet withal 1077 is the worst problem I ever did see. 1078.-The best three-mover in the number. All its variations are very genuine: after having found the first the replies to Black's defences are not at all obvious, which is a very good point, and my wonder is, how it came to be with such associates. 1079. He must be an enthusiast indeed who can derive any pleasure from the examination of this problem. After having discovered the peculiar position of the White B at K R 4, and played it to K Kt 3, the difficulty is, what is best for Black? Is the B 2 placed on the board for show? If hugger mugger is a proper word to apply to a problem, I should call this all hugger mugger. THE SET. If the where and when of this set is not yet fixed, it very easily will be. I should say it will be like the "field," when Eclipse won the Derby-nowhere. "UT NUNC EST." No. 1080.-Very poor. White is threatened with such a tremendous check that a minute is sufficient to show the Queen's Pawn must be protected. No. 1081.-Beyond the average, some of the variations are very pretty, the one for instance in which the play of the two Knights is introduced, another in which the Rook gives mate, still there is nothing really striking about this problem. No. 1082.-The first move is not sufficiently hidden to make this a good problem, after taking the Pawn White threatens an easy mate in two, then should Black take the Knight, discovering check, the moves following on the part of White are all checks-this is weak-should Black play for first move R to Q 4, his best move afterwards is a case of Hobson's choice. 1077.-The best two-mover on the page, and, I grant, a few more pages, but not all. 1078. The difficulty of this problem is considerably lessened by the limited number of squares accessible to the Rook and Queen. The uselessness of their opening is soon seen, and the proper piece is then introduced. The problem, on the whole, is a very good one, and will, I think, bear favourable comparison with most threemovers in the tourney. 1079.-A problem that well repays investigation. The number of pieces is very large compared with the effect produced; but they appear to be wanted, and they open up many variations both clever and interesting, and some of them anything but easy. 1077. Rather worse than the average. move is restrictive, which is, generally, objectionable in a two move problem. 1078.-Contains some very nice play, but surely some of the duals might have been avoided. 1079.-There is some nice play in this, but it is pretty clear from the first that the B must move. THE SET. A very fair one, but let down by the two mover. 1080.-Would look better if the White King was less exposed. I can see no advantage in placing him where he is. 1081.The second solution should have been stopped; it is very palpable. 1082.-A very nice problem indeed. The four-move problems in this tourney have been very good as a class, and this is one of the best of them. THE SET. Would have been a good one had No. 1081 been G. F. ONIONS. correct. 1074. This is a fairly good problem, with one or two neat variations, but is on the whole rather too simple. 1075.-This is also a very neat but simple problem. 1076.—This is decidedly a better problem than either of the other two in the set, and is altogether a very perfectly constructed one. It is something unusual to find a problem giving Black the same scope and freedom of play in which White's reply for the second move is in every case the same. THE SET. WHITE. WHITE. WHITE. White to play and mate in three moves. White to play and mate in four moves. White to play and mate in two moves. As you like it. 1086. Black. White to play and mate in three moves. White to play and mate in two moves. White. White to play and mate in two moves. Black. Viator. Black. White. White to play, and mate in four moves. White to play and mate in two moves. White to pla and mate in two moves. |