Leonhardt defeats Lowtzky in match play

From Leipzig comes word that in a match played earlier this month Paul Saladin Leonhardt defeated Moishe Lowtzky by the score of five victories to one, with one game drawn.  Our readers will recall that Lowtzky competed alongside Duras and Flamberg at the Warsaw triangular tournament earlier this year; Leonhardt, we believe, has not appeared in these pages since the Hamburg tourney of 1910, when his victory over Dr. Tarrasch in the final round was awarded the brilliancy prize.

We have received one game from this event, a spirited victory by the match winner.

Prize-winning miniature from Leipzig

The Leipzig Chess Club "Augustea" is one of the oldest in Germany, having been founded, if we recall correctly, 65 years ago in 1848. That venerable society recently organized a 12-man Hauptturnier to celebrate the anniversary of its inception.  First prize was claimed by Dr. Antze of Bremen with the fine score of 8½ points, followed closely by Herr Zimmer of Limbach with 8 and Herr von Hennig of Kiel and Dr. Valentiner of Leipzig, each with 7½.  We have received one game score from the tourney, a short victory by Herr von Hennig over fifth-place finisher Herr Blümich.  This miniature was awarded the beauty prize - largely, we suspect, owing to the possible Rook sacrifice at the 21st move, which the reader will find included in the notes.

 

Liverpool-Johannesburg cable match: Both games drawn

We present the pair of games from the recently-concluded match conducted by cable between the Liverpool and Johannesburg chess clubs.  Both contests were drawn following careful play, with the moment of greatest interest likely being that after Black's 32nd move in the second game appended below, when the Liverpool side, playing White, could have gained a pawn by force, but rightly resisted the temptation to do so, as the resulting pawn endgame would have been won for Johannesburg despite its material deficit.  The venerable Master Amos Burn served as captain for the Liverpool squad, while Johannesburg was led by Bruno Siegheim, a native German well-known in New York chess circles from his time spent in this city a decade or so ago.  

That modern means of communication make possible the playing of chess games over vast distances at whirlwind speed remains a source of wonder and delight to us.  This is not the languid chess world of our youth, and we welcome the change.  Let us hope that today's young players, born into this era of extraordinary scientific innovation, will fully appreciate the great gifts they have received.

    

 

D.G. Baird, 1854-1913: American Master defeated several of world's best players

We are saddened by news of the death on the 8th inst. of David Graham Baird in Elizabeth, New Jersey at the age of 58.  D.G. Baird, long one of the strongest players in the New York metropolitan area, captured the Championship of New York State in 1895 and was four times Champion of the Manhattan Chess Club.  He participated in two of the greatest international tournaments of our time, the Sixth American Chess Congress at New York, 1889 and the Kaiser-Jubilee tourney at Vienna, 1898.  Although his final placing in these contests was modest, Mr. Baird nevertheless made his presence felt, defeating Showalter, Burn, and tournament co-winner Max Weiss at New York and besting Chigorin, Alapin and Walbrodt in Vienna.  A dogged and determined campaigner, Baird fought tirelessly through these mammoth events, his victories over Weiss and Walbrodt lasting, respectively, 113 and 126 moves.  Baird was the brother of John Washington Baird, himself a Chess Master and international competitor.  We extend our heartfelt sympathies to his family and friends.

Appended is a small selection of games by D.G. Baird.

Here, in perhaps his most brilliant game, Baird launches a devastating Queen-side attack to defeat Burn at New York, 1889.

In this contest from Vienna, 1898 Chigorin risks too much vs. Baird and pays the penalty for his audacity.

Next, in a game from the Manhattan Chess Club Championship of 1900, Baird survives a wild opening to defeat Marshall.  It is a pity that this contest was played a few short months after the death of Steinitz, for we feel that the White King's successful peregrinations would have been dear to the old Champion's heart.

Finally, in a game from the New York Masters' tourney of two years ago, Baird scores a crisp victory over former United States Champion Albert Hodges.

Fox vs. Tietz: High-class chess from Carlsbad

American chess aficionados will recall Albert W. Fox, former Champion of the Manhattan Chess Club, twice member of the United States team in the sadly-discontinued Anglo-American cable matches, and participant at Cambridge Springs, 1904, where he numbered Chigorin, Janowski, Schlechter, and Teichmann among his victims en route to an honorable shared 10th place finish.  Mr. Fox's chess activities seem to have been rather curtailed of late, but we have now received three friendly games that the American Master contested over the summer at Carlsbad against Viktor Tietz, organizer of the great 1907 and 1911 tourneys at that spa locale.  Herr Tietz is no mean player himself, his experience including participation in the German Hauptturnier at Breslau, 1889 and outright victory in a small triangular tourney at Karlsbad, 1902 over the formidable competitors Janowski and Porges.  The games, of which Herr Tietz won the first two and Mr. Fox the third, are of more than average interest, the latter two being particularly fine, and we are happy to be able to share them with our readers.

Here Herr Tietz outplays his opponent on the Black side of a Ruy Lopez.

  

In the following contest the Rook endgame and subsequent pawn endgame deserve careful study.  Special notice should be paid to the possible variations given at Black's 42nd and 44th moves.

White here weathers a powerful attack by Black.  The final position, moreover, offers intriguing possibilities.

Marshall-Duras match: Duras wins final game in 16 moves; Marshall takes series 3 1/2 - 1 1/2

Oldrich Duras defeated Frank J. Marshall in only 16 moves to take the final contest of their five-game match at the Manhattan Chess Club.  Duras' victory, his first of the series, reduced the American Champion's margin of victory but could not alter the final result, which saw Marshall defeat his powerful Czech rival by the score of 3 1/2 - 1 1/2.

Marshall, already assured of overall success in the contest, opened the fifth game by offering the swashbuckling King's Gambit.  Duras replied in like spirit, opting for Falkbeer's Counter-Gambit 2...d5.  Battle was joined from the outset, with experts on the scene adjudging the position after a dozen moves as somewhat in favor of Black owing to the exposed position of the White King. That White was in difficulties became obvious to all when Marshall's 14.Kf1 allowed his Bohemian opponent to deliver the coup 14...Ng4!, after which the Black Bishop remains immune from capture owing to 15.Rxc5 Rhf8+, followed by mate, while 15.h3 would likewise fail to 15...Nh2 mate.  As played, the American Champion faced the unavoidable loss of a piece after 15.Bf4 Rhf8 16.Rxf8 Rxf8, and so resigned.

Despite the loss of a miniature in the final game, Marshall's victory in this series adds another success to his already-long list of achievements; as for Duras, who has seemed to struggle to find his best form on this, his first visit to the New World, there will always be another day.  That day may in fact dawn very soon, for the two Masters have made known their willingness to tour the country in order to engage in further contests similar to the one just concluded at the Manhattan Club.  Those chess societies interested in engaging the services of two of the foremost practitioners of our noble game may contact them through our offices or through those of our friends at the American Chess Bulletin.

We append the score of the fifth and final game of the Marshall-Duras series.

    

         

Attack in Rook endgame

We present a game just received from the opening round of the Championship tournament of the Hamburg Chess Club, an event which began on the 30th ult. and is scheduled to continue into the coming year.  The German clubs have long been renowned for their strong and vibrant chess life, and to claim the title of Champion in such accomplished company is an honor of which any amateur player would justly be proud.  Here Herr Schönmann opens his account with a victory at the expense of Herr Studt by carrying out a successful attack with limited means in a double Rook endgame.

 

Marshall-Duras match: Marshall saves fourth game with help of stalemate "swindle"

United States Champion Frank J. Marshall yesterday employed one of his classic "swindles" to save an apparently hopeless endgame against Czech Master Oldrich Duras in the fourth game of their match at the Manhattan Chess Club.  The drawn result gives Marshall a 3 1/2 - 1/2 lead in the contest, whose final game will be played tomorrow.

Duras, playing White, opened with the c-pawn, with the game soon transposing into the Queen's Gambit Declined.  The Bohemian expert, playing his best chess of the series, established a sizable advantage, gaining one pawn at the 19th move, another at the 26th, and a third at his 38th turn.  Marshall, as is his wont, fought on undaunted against the heavy odds, offering strong resistance in a Rook endgame despite the three-pawn deficit and keeping a constant watch for the slightest chance of salvation.  Such an opportunity at last arose at the 47th move after Duras' 47.b5?, a momentary oversight met by Marshall's surprising 47...Rg4+!, the Rook being immune from capture owing to stalemate.  Duras, eschewing a possible repetition of moves, chose to play on, after which Marshall with 51...Rxb5 captured the White b-pawn.  Later, at his 54th turn, the U.S. Champion pocketed the White a-pawn as well, thus leaving Duras only one pawn to the good, an advantage the visitor was unable to exploit in view of the strong position of the Black pieces and the unfortunate placing of his own.  The players agreed to share the point at the 76th move, the result being a draw that will surely take its rightful place among Marshall's most clever "swindles."

We append the game score, with a diagram of the position before White's 47.b5.

Chess in Pittsburgh: Howard L. Dolde, player, editor, administrator, is new club Champion

Pittsburgh boasts a vibrant chess life.  Aficionados of our game resident in the Pennsylvania metropolis can enjoy no fewer than four weekly chess columns in the local newspapers, a total, we believe, second only to that of New York City on the American continent.  Earlier this year the city of steel mills mustered the noteworthy total of 57 players to face U.S. Champion Frank J. Marshall in simultaneous play, another testimony to the widespread popularity of chess in the area.

Now comes word that the Pittsburgh Chess Club has held its Championship tournament, a giant 26-man round-robin won by local chess colossus Howard L. Dolde with the exceptional score of 23 wins and 2 draws, with no defeats.  The new Champion does not limit his chess activity to play alone: Mr. Dolde promotes our noble game in administrative and journalistic capacities as well, having recently been elected President of the Pittsburgh Club and serving as editor of the chess column in the Gazette-Times, arguably the most thorough and authoritative in the city.  It is under the direction of Mr. Dolde that the Gazette-Times is conducting its current Sam Loyd Memorial Problem Tourney, a competition offering prizes for both composers and solvers.  Truly a man with boundless energy and devotion to the cause of chess.

We append three games by the remarkable Mr. Dolde, one from the Pittsburgh Club Championship tournament and two from his recent match with former Chicago stalwart Kalman Erdeky for the title of Champion of Western Pennsyvania, a contest won by Mr. Dolde with a clean 4-0 score.

Here Mr. Dolde overpowers his opponent in a Queen's Gambit Declined.  Mr. Murdoch tied for 7th and 8th places in the 26-man Club Championship tourney.

      

In the opening game of the match vs. Edeky Black makes his strength felt in the endgame with the aid of his two Bishops.

The cut-and-thrust from moves 17 to 23 is most interesting, with Mr. Dolde landing the final blow.

Marshall-Duras match: U.S. Champion takes third consecutive game for 3-0 lead

United States Champion Frank J. Marshall yesterday defeated Oldrich Duras of Prague for the third time running to take a 3-0 lead in their five-game match at the Manhattan Chess Club.  With this latest triumph Marshall has assured himself of overall victory in the series, whose final two games will nevertheless be played as scheduled.

Marshall ventured the Danish Gambit, with Duras accepting both offered pawns.  The game remained sharp despite an early exchange of Queens, as the American ace regained one of his sacrificed pawns and established a dangerous passed pawn on g7, one step short of the promotion square.  Duras at his 15th turn seems to have missed a remarkable opportunity, for by capturing Marshall's Knight and allowing the g-pawn to become a Queen unhindered, the Czech Master could have mounted an attack on the White King which, despite the meager forces involved, appears sufficient for at least a draw.  The reader will find supporting variations adduced in the game score below.  As played, Black required several moves to annex the g7-pawn, time well-used by Marshall to advance on the King-side and invade the Black position with his Rook.  At the 28th move Duras, having little thinking time remaining, blundered with 28...Bc3?, and resigned shortly thereafter.

The fourth game will be played on October 5th.

   

Chess in San Francisco: Mechanics' Institute invitational tourney

An eight-man invitational tournament, the Prize Winners' Tourney, recently concluded at the Mechanics' Institute of San Francisco.  Many of the West Coast's strongest players took part, including several whose names have graced our pages during the past months, the complete roster being: A.J. Fink (current Mechanics' Institute Champion), A.B. Stamer (former Institute Champion), George Hallwegen, Elmer W. Gruer, A.W. Ryder, G. Branch, B. Smith, and E.J. Clarke.  Messrs. Fink, Hallwegen, and Clarke finished in a triple tie for first place with 4 1/2 points each; when a play-off similarly resulted in a three-way tie, it was decided to divide the first three prizes evenly among them.

The complete final standings were as follows:  Fink, Hallwegen, Clarke 4 1/2; Stamer 3 1/2; Gruer, Ryder 3; Branch 2 1/2; Smith 1/2.  Sharp-eyed readers may note that the cumulative points scored fall short of the total of 28 to be expected from an eight-player round-robin.  It is our understanding that Smith's games with Ryder and Branch were unplayed, and credited to neither party.

We have received three games from the tourney, representing one victory by each of the co-winners.

    

A masterful positional victory by the editor of the chess column in the San Francisco Call, an invaluable source of information whose cancellation, following the recent acquisition of that journal by the Chronicle, is very much to be regretted. 

Marshall-Duras match: Marshall wins again, takes 2-0 lead

United States Champion Frank J. Marshall defeated Oldrich Duras in the second game of their match at the Manhattan Chess Club to take a 2-0 lead in the five-game series.  Marshall, playing Black, declined the Queen's Gambit offered by the Bohemian ace, with the game remaining in relative balance through the first two dozen moves, by which time a double Rook endgame had arisen on the board.  Duras thereupon advanced his pawns on the Queen-side, seeking to establish an advantage in that sector, while the American proceeded in similar fashion on the King-side.  At his 33rd turn Duras disdained the capture of a Black pawn on e3, thinking to do so at his leisure afterward, thus leaving Black in temporary possession of a material advantage.  For the next several moves Marshall set obstacles in the path of his adversary, forestalling the recapture of the pawn, while Duras worked to so arrange his forces as to make that recapture feasible.  At the 39th move Duras, considering the time ripe for action, at last played 39.Rxe3, only to be surprised by the counter prepared by Marshall, 39...c5!, an ingenious stroke that forced the creation of two connected passed pawns for the second player.  Marshall, displaying his usual endgame prowess, duly drove home the advantage thus gained, scoring the game to his credit at the 54th move.  With this victory the American becomes the odds-on favorite to win the short series, whose third game will be played tomorrow at the Manhattan Club.

We herewith append the game score.