CHESS CONGRESS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 551, 2 January 1929, Page 7

CHESS CONGRESS

FURTHER ROUNDS PLAYED Press Association WELLINGTON. Tuesday. The following are the results of the fifth round of play in the New Zealand chess congress: Fairburn v. Severne. —Fairburn opened with the queen pawn game. His advance against his opponent’s castled king looked dangerous, but one or two subtle moves in Severne's defence soon had Fairburn in difficulties. Severne accepted the exchange of queens offered, and, continuing soundly, soon had won the game. H icks v. Scott. —Hicks played his favoured Reti game once again. His centre pawn advance in the early middle game greatly restricted Scott’s development on the queen’s side. Scott manoeuvred exchanges that gained him greater freedom and Hicks, depending upon his advanced king’s pawn to bring victory. gladly changed queens when the chance came. A very fine end game resulted in Scott resigning. Erskine v. Miller. —Erskine adopted the

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Zukerfort-Reti game, obtaining a good queen side pawn position, which restricted Miller’s knight play and threatened a long diagonal attack with queen and bishop. Miller relieved the tension by exchanging pawns and opening up the knight file. Erskine exchanged rocks and dominated the open file. Miller, to save the loss of a knight, gave up one knight for two pawns, as he thought, but the outcome was the loss of the two pieces for the two pawns. Erskine threatened to improve his position further when Miller saw that resistance was futile and resigned.

McCrea v. Kelling.—These players adopted Bird's opening, which gave Kelling a good pawn position. McCrea opened up the queen’s rook file and changed off rooks, but his attack was restricted by the blocked pawn position, which he had adopted earlier in the game. Kelling’s counter-attack placed McCrea strictly on the defensive, and he gave up his queen for a rook. Kelling steadily rorced a win. The results of the sixth round were:— Scott v. Erskine.—Scott adopted the English opening and early exchanges by him gave Erskine the preferable position. Scott further weakened his own game and Erskine made a formidable attack, whereupon Scott resigned. Miller v. Fairburn.—This game developed into the French defence, with

white's pawn at king's fifth. Miller attacked prematurely with his queen and Fairburn broke the attack by changing off queens. Fairburn conducted the middle game skilfully and came out with the superior pawn position. The end j game was well played up to the point J when Miller gave his opponent a chance to win the exchange. Miller resigned. Kelling v. N. Hicks.—Kelling played the Fonziam game and got a very fine position against Kicks. The latter player had to break up his king side pawn ; position to obtain some freedom of choice, i Kelling moved his attack to his queen’s side, but Hicks, by skilful play, gained the bishop offered. Kelling then moved j to attack the kings' side again. but Hicks soon had him in difficulties. Unfortunately Hicks left a stalemate position and a draw resulted. Severne v. Gyles.—The Caro Kann defence was played, Severne changing off bishops early. Severne continued to attack but with the rook exchanges the attack passed to Gyles. He changed queens and then, with his knight, dominated the pawn position and gained a victory. The position of the players is now as follow: Erskine, 5 wins, no losses, no draws, 5 points: Gyles, 4,1, 0,4; Miller, 4, 3 0,4; Hicks, 2,2, 2,3; Kelling. 2,2, 1,3; Severne. 1,2, 3,2 i; Scott, 1 4, 0 1; Fairburn 1,4, 0,1; McCrea, i 0, 4 1, I