GAME 68. Played in a match between Mr. Gunzberg and Mr. S. Israel, the former giving the latter P and 2 moves. (Remove Black's K B P.) White. Mr. S. ISRAEL. 1 P to K 4 2 P to Q 4 3 P to K5 (a) 4 P to K R 4 (c) 7 B to K Kt 5 (d) 10 Kt to K B 3 20 K to Q 2 31 P takes P 2 P to K 3 3 P to K Kt 3 (b) 7 P to B 4 21 K to Q sq 30 Rtakes Q 31 R to Q sq 32 R takes P ch (1) 32 R takes R 33 P takes R 34 P to B 4 33 K takes P 34 K to K 3 35 K to Q 3 35 K to B 4 and GAMES. Noted by W. N. POTTER. (threatening Kt to B 3), 7 B to K 3 is a White, as I consider, should win in all of White's play, for this variation is by no mised attack. (d) I prefer Kt to KB 3. (e) In itself a very fine and apparently perfectly sound idea, nor can it be said to have been forced upon him, for he could have played R to Q B sq, nevertheless the subsequent play raises doubts as to how much was seen of the after position. (f) Which concedes to White the attack he has speculated upon. It may be thought that taking with the Bishop, besides frustrating the adversary's main notion, which of course it does, would in addition give Black the better game. This, however, appears not to be the case, e.g. 14 P takes B 15 Q takes Q 13 B takes Kt 14 Q takes BP (Kt takes B P is useless.) (If 16 K to B 15 Kt takes Q 2, then 17 B to Q 2, 17 R takes B (h) Taking with Bishop seems better. (i) Not liking that passed Pawn if Queens be exchanged, but for all that I think the Queen should capture. (j) White's best chance, and not such a bad one, is 24 Kt to K sq. (k) This very fine move puts an end to the long continued embarrassment. (1) P to B 4 gives some and the only chance of drawing, one feature being that the adverse Bishop is of the wrong colour for the Queening of Q R P. 20 K takes Kt, and the other Knight 19 K to B sq 7 ch 34 34 R to K 8 ch 35 R takes R 36 R to K 8 ch 35 Q takes B (a) P to B 3 is the natural, and usual, and probably the best continuation, as being most in accordance with the spirit of the opening, but the text move has a very fair aspect, notwithstanding. (b) Being rather bigoted in respect of the principles, I start with a prejudice against a move of this kind. However, making all allowances for such a frame of mind, I must look upon this sally of the K B as most decidedly condemnable. Kt to Q B 3 seems best. (c) It is inconceivable to me how a player of Mr. Knight's strength and long experience should exhibit such exceeding bad judgment. How he expects to defend himself against those two Bishops, especially the one thus brought into such a dominating position, I cannot understand. (d) Strongly played. (e) Too accommodating really. He has, however, such a compromised game, that I cannot find anything like a respectable move for him. I suppose Kt to B 2 is no worse than others. (f) What is called, in the jargon of Purssell's, "the higher style thrown in." Mr. Tarrant undoubtedly gains more by the course adopted than by taking the Rook. (g) Well conceived, but Mr. Knight brings his skill into the field too late. (h) More throwing in of the higher The style, but not sound this time. correct reply is Q to B 3. (i) If 30 Q takes R, 31 Q takes B, Q to B 3, 32 B to K 4, Q to Q 3, and I do not see how White is to win back the exchange. Both parties, therefore, seem to be astray here. (j) Which is decisive of the game. White. I P to K 4 7 P to Q 4 8 B to K B 4 (b) 9 Kt to B 3 10 Q to Q 2 11 P takes BP 12 B to Q 3 13 Castles Q R 14 P to K5 15 Q to K 3 16 Ptakes B 17 K to Kt 2 Black. 1 P to K 4 2 P takes P 3 P to K Kt 4 4 P to Kt 5 5 P to KR 3 6 K takes Kt 7 P to B 6 (a) 8 P to Q 4 9 P to B 3 10 B to K 3 (c) 11 Kt to K B 3 12 P takes BP 13 B to Q Kt 5 (d) 14 Kt to K 5 15 B takes Kt 16 Q to K B sq (e) 17 B to K B 4 (b) Mr. Freeborough claims for this move, that it is "original, if not good." I should be inclined to consider it good, but not original. The move must have been made before, though I am not aware! of any published games containing same. Its points are on the surface, viz., to be ready if Black play B to K 2, and to advance a stage towards Castling on the Queen's side if the opportunity occur, besides having the Bishop where he can be in play the same as in the normal variation. (c) The right Bishop on the right square. this move is rarely good in the present (d) I agree with Mr. Freeborough that opening. He implies that neither is it approvable here, but of that I am not so sure. (e) Kt takes P, 17 B to Kt 6 ch, K takes B, 18 Q R to Kt sq ch, K to B 2, 19 Q takes P, K to K sq, 20 Q to R 5 ch K to Q 2, 21 R to Kt 7 ch, K to B sq, and White have no position to compensate for the two pieces minus. It would be necessary, therefore, for them to take the Kt, and that gives the other side time. If Black had cared to adopt this line of play, perhaps their best course would have been 15 Kt takes Kt, because then their Bishop would be at B 6, and be rather threatening as so placed, if not captured. 30 K to R 2 28 K to R sq 29 Q to R 8 ch 30 Q takes P 31 K to R 2 32 Q to K 8 White mates in 3 moves. (f) Black were evidently afraid to play 31 Q to B 8 ch B to Kt 5. I rather fancy they could| 32 B to K 5 have made that move. White's reply would have been R to Kt 3, giving them a teasing kind of attack, but one which I think could be parried by correct play. (g) If now B to Kt 5, Mr. Freeborough draws my attention to the following very fine variation, viz.: 21 B to Kt 5 22 Q takes Kt 22 Q takes B 23 R to B 7, which wins, for if 23 Q to R 4 or to Kt sq, then 24 Q to B 4 threatening Q to B 6 ch, and if 23 P to Kt 4, then to K sq threatening Q to B 2. (h) All this extremely well played for the draw by Hull. (i) I am informed that the Nottingham players on and after their 25th move were (a) Rarely good in the Allgaier-Thorold and certainly it ought to turn out ill in this instance. (b) By applying the Chessephone, I find that this move in the present opening is often accompanied by a strange ominous sound as of distant thunder. (c) That a storm is approaching is now obvious to the unassisted perception. (d) Skilfully played. (e) If 22 Q to K 3, 23 B to R 7 ch, K to R sq, 24 B to Kt 6 dis ch, K to Kt sq, 25 B takes R, Q takes B, 26 B to B 7 ch, Q takes B, 27 R takes Q, K takes R, 28 Q to R 7 ch, winning Rook or minor piece. THE LOWENTHAL PROBLEM TOURNEY. The lists for composers residing on the Continent of Europe and in the United States of America were closed on the 20th ultimo, at which date the following sets of problems had been received, in addition to those acknowledged in our last number: No. 17. "I do not believe." 18. "Pygmäln." 19. No motto. THE BRITISH PROBLEM ASSOCIATION TOURNEY. Contributions to the above tourney have been received from composers resident in Great Britain under the following mottoes: No. 1. Ex sudore voluptas." No. 7. "Qui se ressemble s'assemble." 6. "Utrum horum mavis accipe." In accordance with an arrangement made between the Committee of the Association and ourselves, all of these problems that stand the test of a preliminary examination will be published in this Journal. Three sets appear this month, and will be found upon another page. 951. By an inadvertence the solution of this problem was omitted in 4 Q to K B8ch 4 Aught 5 Mates 1 Kt to K 6 2 Mates accordingly 1 B to Kt 5 978. 988. 1 Anything I P to Q 6 I K takes R 2 Q to K5 ch 2 K to B 2 2 P takes P 3 Ktor B mates 979. 989. 2 B to B 6 IR takes B 3 3 Mates 980. 3 Aught 4 B to R 6 I K moves 4 Aught 2 Aught 2 Q to R sq ch 2 K moves Black has other defences. IQ to R 7 2 B to KB 5 I K to K 4 2 Aught 1 P to B 3 3 B mates 2 B to Q 6 2 R takes P ch 2 Q takes P ch 2 R to QR3 2 K moves 1 K takes Kt I P to Q3 3 R mates IO to K 2 2 Q to Q 3 IK to B 3 2 Aught 1012. IP takes Kt 2 Aught 3 Mates accordingly Black has other defences. Correct Solutions received from J. D. Melrose, R. F. L., M. C. Lex, Brighton Club, Thatcher House, and Old Man. Additional correct solutions of Problem 139.-C. L. C. and Old Man. WHIST SNOBS. To the Editor of THE WESTMINSTER PAPERS. SIR,-Thackeray, Albert Smith, and Leech have described in their most telling manner snobs of many kinds. You, sir, have often depicted the Whist Snob in savage terms. Many such have I seen at home and abroad, but I met the worst specimen I have ever seen during a recent visit on the Continent. Hair well cut and oiled, dress a trifle too loud perhaps, and with a ring too many for my taste. His father was a man of wealth. My snob has always had wealth at his command. He spoke the language of the country like a native, and yet, in less than one hour he exhibited as much bad taste as could be shown in the time. He was a Hebrew. No one doubts that a good Hebrew is a good man. No class possess more brains or use them to better effect, but success in life depends on push and energy, and this quality, so necessary in business, is exceedingly disagreeable in private life. I have no doubt but that the better class of Jews receive a more useful education than the better class of Englishmen, but unfortunately they are confined to the same school and the same class, and, I think, with fatal effect as regards their manners and customs. It is the mixture with gentlemen that is the best education at Oxford and Cam |