NEW ZEALAND CHESS TOURNEY

Evening Star, Issue 20059, 27 December 1928, Page 19

NEW ZEALAND CHESS TOURNEY

FIRST ROUND PLAY [Per Untied Press Associatioh.] WELLINGTON, December 20. The games of the first round of the New Zealand chess championship, which commenced to-day, resulted as follow: E. E. Hicks v. Eairbnrn.—Hicks played the Rcti gqmc, in defending which Eairhuni obtained the poorer development. He was able to build up a much stronger position in the middle game, exchanges establishing a very strong diagonal of pawns. Hicks forced the exchange of Fairbnnrs knight on flic king’s sixth, and Ins opponent weakened his position by recapturing ■with a pawn instead of with a rook. Hicks thereafter conducted the end game in line style, winning the first game finished in tho tournament. Scott v.- Miller.—This was a queen's pawn game, evenly developed until Miller in tho exchanges lett Scott with a very strong attack on tho king s side. Over-cautions play by Scott caused him lo miss a line line of play which promised to bring aboqt Miller’s downfall. Tbo latter, however, built up a very fine defence, but Scott’s doubled rooks on the bishop's file again gave him a strong game. Miller was forced to exchange queens, but Scott Jailed to make tho best of bis attack, and allowed Miller to win the exchange. Miller, with a rook and pawns against a bishop and pawns,was able to torce a win on the seventy-third move. M’Crca v. Gyles.—Bird’s opening was played in this game, with a very even development of pieces. In the early exchanges of minor pidees Gyles gave M’C'rea a strong king side attack. M'Crei!'-exchanged queens, but later, in retaking a piece, failed to make the better move in the 'choice offered, and the attack passed. At the adjournment M’Crea made a weak sealed move which gave Gyles, a win in a lew moves, but the latter failed to take the shorter line of play. • Gyles eventually outmanoeuvred M’Crea in the end game,, forcing a win on the forty»sixth move. Kelling v. Rny Lopez opening was adopted, and very even positions resulted. Kelling pushed torward his queen side pawns, forcing Severn to retreat his knight. Tho middle game exchanges left the game very even, hut Kelling, in attempting to force his pawns through on the king’s wing, gave Soverne a chance to win a pawn. A keen struggle ensued,* and a draw was agreed upon at the fifty-fifth move. Erskino had a bye.