A
Chess by Herman Steiner 22 Mar 1942, Sun The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) Newspapers.com
OCR Text
CHESS March 22, 1942 L A. TIMES PROBLEM NO. 1279 By A. J. Peagan mates In two. (Wh. 9: Bl. 10.) CORRECTION PROBLEM NO. 1278: Should read: By E. Palkoska. (Wh. 6; Bl. 11.) L A. TIMES PROBLEM NO. 1280 By H. Weenink White mates In three (Wh. 7: Bl. 9.) SOLUTION TO PROBLEM NO. 1272: K-B7 (four-mover.) SOLUTION TO PROBLEM NO. 1275: Q-QR6. We received solutions from the following: O. Dodge. J. P. Walsh, H. Bruhn. T. W. Havs. (). A. Hall. Q. Klbbey, Rev. P. Prichard, D. A Innes, A, U Buckman, M. Rudholm, J. Davidson, A. 8. Wells, B. Jonea (It Is possible to have as many Queens as many pawna one have.) H. P. Mt0Mn. W. L. Koethen, R. Roslln. J. t' wiinvti, , v, ii.ii, ilia ki, aj. tvnmciB. Drake. F. Armstrong, Mrs. F. Tovar, C. D. Cambell, M. N. Jurln, J. H. Oordon, E. II. Schadee, A. D. Reynolds Sr., S. H. Lund-sled t (welcome to our ladder.) A. G). Karn, C. O. Cronjaeger. B. H. Cronlaeger, B. Bushuefl, H. L. Nearness, W. Harmon.
CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT The writer will leave the end of the month for New York, where he has been Invited as one of the seeded playera to represent the Southern States in the forthcoming national tournament. He would Ami eliiha in State of California who wish to have him clva avhlhltlana. lectures and blind fold play.
Please communicate as soon aa possible aa he Is making definite plans and time Is short.
VALUE OF CORRESPONDENCE CHESS! By Kamat Mr. C. J. 8. Purdy haa contributed a valuable article on correspondence chesa In the latest A C.R. one that will appeal to every thoughtful student of chess. He begins; "Only a Bradman ran play a Brad-man Inning; only a Perry can play a perry tennis: only a l.lndrum can Play l.indrum billiards. In chess alone It la possible for quite an ordinary amateur to play like a master. To many this paradox will sound like a flgmont of a deranged mind. It is their misfortune that they have never Indulged in the hobby of correspondence play Chesa Is unique, I believe, In providing this to Its devotees In order of Importance, the following are the essentials in which correspondence chesa differs from over-the-board chess: "(1) There la virtually no time limit.
"(2) The pieces may he moved to facilitate analysis. "(3 The player mar consult books at any1 ataae. "All ihese differences make possible a much higher degree of accuracy In rorre- spondenr.e play, especially for amateurs. The principal cause of the difference or strength in chesa arises from Inequality In Fronomy nf Thought.' It has long been observed that In a position where the tyro 'while t he master narrows his choice to 1 . . . . 1 BY HERMAN STEINER International Chess Master Address all mail to Chess Editor preme quality of great players. They gee quickly and accurately.
Now, in correspondence play, where a time limit is virtually nonexistent, and moves can be tried over before being played, this trench which separates the amateur from the master is partly covered up and inequality of strength arises only from differences in the other qualities. He can play with prospects against a player who would Invariably beat him over the board.
"In Introducing a correspondence game won by the late G. W. Robertson,- In the A C R.. March 1934. we wrote: "A splendid game by one of Victoria's leading country players.
Tne great Joy or corresponaence I chess is that sometimes one Plays a master game! "Blunders that even the greatest masters make through clock trouble are avoided in correspondence play by quite ordinary amateurs. As a matter of course correspondence chess m a word puts players of different classes on an equal footing. All this must, however, be taken to apply within limits. If A can give B pawn and move over the board, the pair may well play on equal terms by correspondence but hardly if A can give B a knight. And let it not be imagined that anyone can play well by correspondence.
It requires a logical mind, aomething of an artist's soul and both the capacity and the will to take pains. Mere mechanical proficiency lg at a discount. "Correspondence play la an excellent re-hide for testing out opening variations. One game by correspondence la a better test than half a dozen over-the-boerd, other things being equal. "The essential inferiority of correspondence play is simply this: There is no guaranteeing that It la played on equal terms.
In correspondence play, the winner is not necessarily the atrnnaer player but may be the player with more time at his disposal or even the more up-to-date library. It Is more fitting to regard correspondence chess In the light of 'art for art e sake' than as a vehicle for competition. An additional factor that detracts from the sporting value of correspondence play Is the Impossibility of preventing unfair assistance. It la illegal to receive help from friends but when a rule cannot be enforced. It only penalises the conscientious.
But help Is rarely sought, aa it only spoils the fun for the player receiving It. "What of the value of correspondence chess to the student anxious to Improve his over-the-board play? A Parisian player considerably above average strength asked Dr. Alekhlne how he could Improve hla game. Dr. Alekhlne replied that at .the stage already reached by the player, he could further progreaa only by taking up correspondence Play.
Dr. Alekhlne himself played a great deal of correspondence chess In his younger days, as did many other players who are now masters. In 1932. A. Olband wrote, 'Since my departure from Paris, in 1925, I have had the leisure to return to correspondence play and it haa enabled me to keep In practice sufficiently to carry off the championship of Franca on two occasions, although, during these seven years.
I have been entirely deprived of aerloua over-the-board practice.' Writes Dr. Lasker. 'The correspondence game, considered as an intellectual distraction, aa a means of studying the opening, as a training in analysis, la beyond the reach of criticism. In considering, however, tta Influence on tournament chess played with a time limit, our conclusion Is that correspondence game. If practiced extensively, produces a good correspondence player but an Inferior chess player.
It la reasonable to practice simultaneously the two kinds of chess In such a way that the excellent lessons learned In correspondence play may be constantly utilised In tournament play.' " All who are Interested plating eheaa By mail please write Walter F, James, secretary of the Correspondence Chesa iaae f America, 4138 Tyler etreet, Sioux City, la. The New York Metropolitan League team matches are now in progreaa. with eight teams In Bectlon A and four In Section B engaged In weekly competition. The sparkling game below waa won by Dr. Joseph Plata of the Manhattan Chesa Club from J. Pulop of the Bronx-Empire City Chess Club. FRENCH DEFEN8I Plata White 1-P-K4 3-P-W4 3- KI-QB3 4- R-KI5 5- P-K5 H-P-KR4 7-Kt-KtS B-H-Q1 !)-Q-R5ch 10-Kt-OS Fulop Blark P-K3 P-Q4 Kt-KB.1 B-K2 KKt-QI P-QB4 P-B3 P-QR3 K-R BxKt Plata White 11- PxR 12- PxKtP 13- B-KI6 14- QxReh 15- Q-R7 16- Castleg 17- R-R3 18- R-R4 19- PxKt 20- 4-R8 Flllop Black PxB Q-K PxB K-B2 PxP QKI-B3 KKUK4 Kt-K3 QxP Resigns NEW YORK STATU CHAMPIONSHIP OAMI Here la how the new Marshall Chesg Club champion gained a valuable point in the New York championship held last summer. RUY LOPEZ ftelriman White 1- P-K4 2- KI-KB3 3- B-KlS 4- B-R4 B-Castlet 6- Q-K2 7- B-Ktl n-p-wru 9-PXP 10- P-B3 11- P-C3 12- Kt-KtS 13- r-B3 14- PxP 15.KI-RP Kl.Kt.Kt5 17-BXB Leaker Black P-K4 Kt-QB3 P-QR3 Kt-R3 B-K2 F-OK14 Castles B-Kt PxP P-Q4 R-K3 B-KKI5 B-B KtxP . R.K BxKt KtxP f4eidmaa White 18- PxKt 19- P-KB4 20- KI-Q2 21- P-B5 22- RxR 33-R-KB 24- HxPch 25- R-B3 lli-R-KI) 27-BxP 26- R-R3 29- PxQ 30- Q-R5rh 31- KLB3 32- Kt-KtS 33- Q-R6 Lasker Black QxB Q-KI3 B-KtS BxP OxR Q-KI4 K-R f-Kt3 Q-Bl Q-R5 QsR r-k; X-Kt R-B R-83 Renins (From the CI K.).
CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT The writer will leave the end of the month for New York, where he has been Invited as one of the seeded playera to represent the Southern States in the forthcoming national tournament. He would Ami eliiha in State of California who wish to have him clva avhlhltlana. lectures and blind fold play.
Please communicate as soon aa possible aa he Is making definite plans and time Is short.
VALUE OF CORRESPONDENCE CHESS! By Kamat Mr. C. J. 8. Purdy haa contributed a valuable article on correspondence chesa In the latest A C.R. one that will appeal to every thoughtful student of chess. He begins; "Only a Bradman ran play a Brad-man Inning; only a Perry can play a perry tennis: only a l.lndrum can Play l.indrum billiards. In chess alone It la possible for quite an ordinary amateur to play like a master. To many this paradox will sound like a flgmont of a deranged mind. It is their misfortune that they have never Indulged in the hobby of correspondence play Chesa Is unique, I believe, In providing this to Its devotees In order of Importance, the following are the essentials in which correspondence chesa differs from over-the-board chess: "(1) There la virtually no time limit.
"(2) The pieces may he moved to facilitate analysis. "(3 The player mar consult books at any1 ataae. "All ihese differences make possible a much higher degree of accuracy In rorre- spondenr.e play, especially for amateurs. The principal cause of the difference or strength in chesa arises from Inequality In Fronomy nf Thought.' It has long been observed that In a position where the tyro 'while t he master narrows his choice to 1 . . . . 1 BY HERMAN STEINER International Chess Master Address all mail to Chess Editor preme quality of great players. They gee quickly and accurately.
Now, in correspondence play, where a time limit is virtually nonexistent, and moves can be tried over before being played, this trench which separates the amateur from the master is partly covered up and inequality of strength arises only from differences in the other qualities. He can play with prospects against a player who would Invariably beat him over the board.
"In Introducing a correspondence game won by the late G. W. Robertson,- In the A C R.. March 1934. we wrote: "A splendid game by one of Victoria's leading country players.
Tne great Joy or corresponaence I chess is that sometimes one Plays a master game! "Blunders that even the greatest masters make through clock trouble are avoided in correspondence play by quite ordinary amateurs. As a matter of course correspondence chess m a word puts players of different classes on an equal footing. All this must, however, be taken to apply within limits. If A can give B pawn and move over the board, the pair may well play on equal terms by correspondence but hardly if A can give B a knight. And let it not be imagined that anyone can play well by correspondence.
It requires a logical mind, aomething of an artist's soul and both the capacity and the will to take pains. Mere mechanical proficiency lg at a discount. "Correspondence play la an excellent re-hide for testing out opening variations. One game by correspondence la a better test than half a dozen over-the-boerd, other things being equal. "The essential inferiority of correspondence play is simply this: There is no guaranteeing that It la played on equal terms.
In correspondence play, the winner is not necessarily the atrnnaer player but may be the player with more time at his disposal or even the more up-to-date library. It Is more fitting to regard correspondence chess In the light of 'art for art e sake' than as a vehicle for competition. An additional factor that detracts from the sporting value of correspondence play Is the Impossibility of preventing unfair assistance. It la illegal to receive help from friends but when a rule cannot be enforced. It only penalises the conscientious.
But help Is rarely sought, aa it only spoils the fun for the player receiving It. "What of the value of correspondence chess to the student anxious to Improve his over-the-board play? A Parisian player considerably above average strength asked Dr. Alekhlne how he could Improve hla game. Dr. Alekhlne replied that at .the stage already reached by the player, he could further progreaa only by taking up correspondence Play.
Dr. Alekhlne himself played a great deal of correspondence chess In his younger days, as did many other players who are now masters. In 1932. A. Olband wrote, 'Since my departure from Paris, in 1925, I have had the leisure to return to correspondence play and it haa enabled me to keep In practice sufficiently to carry off the championship of Franca on two occasions, although, during these seven years.
I have been entirely deprived of aerloua over-the-board practice.' Writes Dr. Lasker. 'The correspondence game, considered as an intellectual distraction, aa a means of studying the opening, as a training in analysis, la beyond the reach of criticism. In considering, however, tta Influence on tournament chess played with a time limit, our conclusion Is that correspondence game. If practiced extensively, produces a good correspondence player but an Inferior chess player.
It la reasonable to practice simultaneously the two kinds of chess In such a way that the excellent lessons learned In correspondence play may be constantly utilised In tournament play.' " All who are Interested plating eheaa By mail please write Walter F, James, secretary of the Correspondence Chesa iaae f America, 4138 Tyler etreet, Sioux City, la. The New York Metropolitan League team matches are now in progreaa. with eight teams In Bectlon A and four In Section B engaged In weekly competition. The sparkling game below waa won by Dr. Joseph Plata of the Manhattan Chesa Club from J. Pulop of the Bronx-Empire City Chess Club. FRENCH DEFEN8I Plata White 1-P-K4 3-P-W4 3- KI-QB3 4- R-KI5 5- P-K5 H-P-KR4 7-Kt-KtS B-H-Q1 !)-Q-R5ch 10-Kt-OS Fulop Blark P-K3 P-Q4 Kt-KB.1 B-K2 KKt-QI P-QB4 P-B3 P-QR3 K-R BxKt Plata White 11- PxR 12- PxKtP 13- B-KI6 14- QxReh 15- Q-R7 16- Castleg 17- R-R3 18- R-R4 19- PxKt 20- 4-R8 Flllop Black PxB Q-K PxB K-B2 PxP QKI-B3 KKUK4 Kt-K3 QxP Resigns NEW YORK STATU CHAMPIONSHIP OAMI Here la how the new Marshall Chesg Club champion gained a valuable point in the New York championship held last summer. RUY LOPEZ ftelriman White 1- P-K4 2- KI-KB3 3- B-KlS 4- B-R4 B-Castlet 6- Q-K2 7- B-Ktl n-p-wru 9-PXP 10- P-B3 11- P-C3 12- Kt-KtS 13- r-B3 14- PxP 15.KI-RP Kl.Kt.Kt5 17-BXB Leaker Black P-K4 Kt-QB3 P-QR3 Kt-R3 B-K2 F-OK14 Castles B-Kt PxP P-Q4 R-K3 B-KKI5 B-B KtxP . R.K BxKt KtxP f4eidmaa White 18- PxKt 19- P-KB4 20- KI-Q2 21- P-B5 22- RxR 33-R-KB 24- HxPch 25- R-B3 lli-R-KI) 27-BxP 26- R-R3 29- PxQ 30- Q-R5rh 31- KLB3 32- Kt-KtS 33- Q-R6 Lasker Black QxB Q-KI3 B-KtS BxP OxR Q-KI4 K-R f-Kt3 Q-Bl Q-R5 QsR r-k; X-Kt R-B R-83 Renins (From the CI K.).
