FOURTH ROUND PLAYED

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 550, 31 December 1928, Page 10

FOURTH ROUND PLAYED

CHAMPIONSHIP CHESS MILLER IN LEAD Press Association WELLINGTON. Sunday. The fourth round in the New Zealand chess championship congress was continued yesterday. The games were as follow: Miller v. Hicks.—King’s gambit declined. As might have been expected, Miller’s first move was to Kb 4, intending to play his favour*te Algaier variation or gambit, but Hioks frustrated that intention, securing the opportunity to proceed with the Halkbeer counter gambit, but he captured the gambit pawn instead, thus evading the smashing Charoussek attack. Miller had other options and indulged his penchant for early attack, but Tlicks meritoriously warded off, at the same time working up a strong combination for successful attack. This he completed with his 23rd move, kt to Kb 4. Had he sacrificed the knight for a pawn on K kt 3, the victory would unquestionably have been his, and with it also the brilliancy prize most probably. Up to this stage Hicks had played splendidly, but the possible capture of his passed pawn on K 6 worried him to the neglect of more Important manoeuvres, and his play ralpably weakened and frizzled out in defeat. Severne v. Erskine. —Alekhine’s defence. This game reached its 19th move and was in an absorbing position without any advantage on either side, when Severne just failed to make the required 20 moves within one hour, thus losing the match. This gave Erskine his third Win. He is without a loss so far. Gyles v. Fairburn.—French defence. Gyles took risks with his opponent in the early stages of the game which he would not have thought of doing with a stronger player, but Fairburn woefully failed to take advantage of them. The game can best be credited as a triumphal march to victory. Scott v. McCrea.—Queen’s gambit declined. The Wanganui colt played a remarkably good game from end to end, In which he showed that he possesses the aptitude for correct reasoning. He kept nis opponent on the defensive almost from the start, but McCrea defended well, maintaining equality in force up to the 60th move, where only one minor piece each, with five pawns remained on the board. With blocked pawns and a clear board Scott’s bishop prevailed, and he won a well-fought game on the 69th move. Results so far are as follow: Miller, ;* wins, no losses: Erskine, 3. 0; G^les. 1; Hicks, li. 2}: Severne. U. 2X: Kell- & I*. U: Scott, l. 2. McCrea 31; Fairburn, 0,3, * o a ,