game as for the clubs who practise the game. By so acting it may acquire a more than local reputation, and in time occupy a very important position in the Chess world. We may add that the secretaries pro tem are Messrs. Wilson and Rendell, to whom any club or Chess player desiring further information should apply. The Handicap Tourney at the Ladies College, Little Queen Street, Holborn, resulted in the victory of Mrs. Down, who we are informed has since made a present of the prize, a Chess board and men, to the College Chess Club. Miss Florence Down came in second, while the eight masculine combatants were nowhere in particular, and thus the gloomy apprehensions in their regard to which we gave expression last month are fully verified. Our lady readers, if we have any lady readers, may find it worth their while to take note of the fact that the College Chess Club is for players of both sexes, and there is the further advantageous item to be considered, namely, that the chances will always be fifty to one or thereabouts against any gentlemen being allowed to carry off prizes in the tourneys. They may, and in fact it will be considered their bounden duty to enter, so as to swell the entrance fees, but as to winning anything, why the handicapper will have something to say about that. We understand the College Chess Club already contains thirty members. Information reached us just after we had gone to press last month of a match which took place on the 13th and 20th of March between the Beckenham and Sydenham Institutes, which was won by Beckenham, with a score of 12 games to 4, and 3 draws. The play of both evenings was to constitute one match, and the ballotting for pairs is shown in the following score list : The summer vacations at the various local Metropolitan Clubs have now commenced, and we shall hear no more of their victories or defeats until next autumn. We have received the report of the Jewish Chess Club, and learn therefrom that this body of strong players is now in the third year of its existence. The present President is Mr. Louis Cohen, B.A., and the Hon. Secretary is Mr. David Moses, to whose energetic labours the important position attained by the Club is undoubtedly in great part attributable. The report dwells with legitimate gratification upon various items of success, most of which have been chronicled from time to time in our columns. We find mention made of several exhibitions of blindfold play. The name of the performer is not stated, but we suppose it would be Mr. L. Cohen, B.A., of whose skill in that line we have heard. The record of the doings of the Athenæum Club during the season now closed shows that they have played 22 matches, whereof they won 15, lost 6, and drew 1. The success attained by them is most creditable, but still more so is the fact of their having played such a number of matches. The spirit of the now defunct, but once virile, Endeavour Club has evidently entered into the Athenæum. The contest between Mr. Thorold and Miss Rudge has not yet come to a conclusion. The lady player has won nine games and lost ten, with no draws. To save the match she must now win two successive games and we are afraid this is not to be expected. A match has been arranged between Messrs. Potter and Heywood, at the alternate odds of Knight and Pawn and two moves, beginning with the heavier concession. Three games have already been played, two at the Knight, which were won by Mr. Potter, and one at Pawn and two moves, this being drawn. A number of games have been played in the Third Class Even Tourney at the City Club, Mr. Bensheim heads the list, and that he will win the first prize seems almost a certainty. Of all the young City players Mr. Bensheim displays the most promise, and it is therefore a matter of regret that in order to play at a more paying game than Chess he is about to leave England and take up his residence in a distant part of the world, where we imagine he will find few foemen worthy of his steel. White. White. White to play, and mate in three moves. White to play, and mate in three moves. White to play, and mate in two moves. No. 1021 Les Morts Vont Vite. No. 1023. ? Black. White. White to play and mate in two moves. White to play and mate in three moves. White to play and mate in four moves. لو GAME 61. 32 R to K B sq ch 33 Q to B 5 ch 30 K takes R 31 K to B 3 32 K to K 4 33 K to Q 3 34 R to Q sq and White wins (j) (a) Not having now to fear Kt to K 5 he ought to Castle. (b) This looks as if he proposed Castling on the side, but such an opera. tion will scarcely be safely effected. (c) Better than taking with the other pawn, and among other reasons because his KR no longer stands on the Bishop's square. (d) Which frustrates Black's apparent intention of playing B to Kt 2. (e) If B takes BP, of course R takes B. (f) That the White forces in any bold undertaking confided to them may not be harassed by any apprehension concerning their monarch's safety. (g) Intending R to B 4, and trusting thereby to force an exchange of Queens. (h) Led on by hope, who points smilingly to Kt 4. (i) A Blackburnian thunderbolt. He Black. Mr. UNDERDOWN. I P to K 3 20 Q to R 6 21 B to Kt 4 and wins. GAME 63. Played in Mr. W. Nash's Correspon. dence Tourney. White. Ruy Lopez. Rev. T. H. ARCHDALL. I P to K 4 8 R to K sq ch 12 P to K B 3 30 P to R 3 31 P to K B 4 P Black. Rev. C. E. RANKEN. I P to K 4 27 K to Q 3 29 P to R 5 (g) 31 Q takes P (h) 33 B to K 3 34 Resigns (i) (a) I do not remember Mr. Blackburne 32 Q to B 5 ch (d) I looked on at this game, and thought Kt to K 2 White's best. Mr. Blackburne says no, but I have some (c) Early times for the minute gun. (d) Not at all judicious. R to K 2 would have been satisfactory, the Queen retaking if R takes R. (e) Strong and immediately profitable. (e) Natural, but not wisest. He should have played 15 Q to Kt 3, and it does not appear that a demonstrable win for White can be discovered afterwards. The key move for Black in certain positions is Q takes Kt P. fice, and I dare say a cautious spirit (g) This and the next move are very (h) Mr. Ranken misses the best reply |