CHESS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 594, 27 July 1933, Page 6

CHESS

SIXTH ROUND RESULTS OF MATCHES AND PROBLEMS FOR WEEK SENIOLR CHAMJPIONSHIPS

(Specially written for the "Morning Post" by "Ruy Lopez.")

Results of the sixth round: Fraer beat Roland, Burton beat Kurney and Saxby beat Edwards; Booth beat Tattersall (fifth round). Many. games were postponed, and players are reminded that these games must be played off as soon as possible. Draw for the seventh round: Jackson v. Paterson; Andrews v. Tattersall, Heywood v. Clark, Kurney v. Tibbitts, Roland v. Burton, Edwards v. Fraer, Vinall v. Saxby. Booth and Watson have byes. Junior Championship The only games so far handed in for the sixth round are: W. Heley beat Bould, and Jenkins beat Blencowe. Draw for the seventh round. Musgrave v. Shaw, Lenihan v. Dixon, Martin v. Rowley, Bailey v. Evans, W. Heley v. Blencowe, H. Heley v. Bould. Mulligan and Jenkins have byes. The seventh round will be played on Friday next. Players first mentioned in all cases have the move. Ladder Games Bould beat H. Heley, W. Heley beat Dixon, and W. Heley beat Edwards; Tibbitts beat Kurney. The surprise of the sixth round was the defeat of Blencowe by Jenkins. Blencowe is a hard player to defeat, and has already scored some notable victories, but he was decisively beaten by Jenkins, whose play has improved greatly during the last few weeks. Smoking and Chess It is interesting to note that Alelthine adrcfits he had to give up smoking in order to win the world's championship. Capablanca, the ex-champion, by the way, has ahvays been a nonsmoker. Another chess master, Nirnzovitch, abhors smoking so much that his opponents are requested not to smoke when playing him. The following episode is said to be authentic: In a recent tourney Nimzovitch was drawn to play Dr. Vidmar, who, as usual, was requested not to smoke. During the course of the game Dr. Vidmar became a little restless (doubtless owing to the absence of the "soothing weed") and Nimzovitch complain. ed to the umpire that Dr. Vidmar was putting him otf his game. "But, M. Nimzovitch," said the umpire, "Dr. Vidmar is not smoking." "No," replied Nimzovitch, "but I12 looks as if he wants to!" Black to Play and Win A recent enquiry received was: "Why is it that the books never show how Black should play to win?" The answer is simple — "Because they can't". It is obvious that with correct play on both sides the game should end in a draw, but, in the beginning White has the move and therefore the "initiative" and can assume the offensive; Black on the other hand should remain on the defensive unless White loses the "initiative" with a useless move. This point should always be remembered. Many games can be played in which Black follows White's play move for move, but there always comes a time when Black must parry an impending attack or be checkmated. The average club player does not worry whether he has White or Black. In a tourney held in Carlsbad in 1929, White won 45 per cent of the games, Black 20 per cer.t, and 35 per cent were drawn. While these figures are above the average, they are an indication of the tremend- ! ous advantage that even "'a move" imparts. Reverting to the original enquiry, it will be found that where a game is given in a. boolc as favourable to Black it is usually in these words: "II White plays . . . (a weak move) th m Black by playing . . . can obtain the better game." Try Theso on Your Boara (1) Two united pawns, one on vhc 6th rank, and one on the 7th. rr. k, not being compelled to move, def ,id . themselves against the Queen. (2) Two united pawns on the 3th rank, having the move, queen aga 1st the rook, and also against the bis . op and knight. (3) Three united pawns on the 3th rank queen against the rook if f'ey have the move, even though onc be attacked at the time. In all these cases it is undersi >od that one of the pawns queens if ,he other is taken. This Week's Problem The following is an interesting lutle problem handed to me by Mr. L. Clark: Black bets White that in the position given he can queen a pawn at any price (it doesn't mattor if it is taken immediately it queens), can White prevent Black winning his bet. Position (Forsyth notation) — Mank / 8 / 4p3 / P2Rlp2 / KlknZRr /. Gheck position: White pieces: k on QR8, R's on Q7, and KKh8, P on QR7. Black pieces: K on QB1, Kt on Ql, >R on KR1, and P's on F 12 and K3. Answer to last week's p jblem : R-Q6, K-R7, and R-B6 (mate)'. Black's moves are not given as they a:e forced.