THE STANDARD

London, England

1 April 1896

CHESS.

The victory of Oxford in this year's match was well deserved, and they have in the three freshmen, upon the lower boards at least, two talented players in Mssrs. Jenkins and Ward. Of the older men, Cooper has somewhat fallen off; but Robbins, as will be seen from the game below, should have won, and shows improved style. Of the Cambridge team, Varley is the best. Of Crowley, the first of the four new men, no opinion can be formed yet, as Cooper practically gave him the game. Parker and Sumner are promising players, but Cambridge will not easily replace Atkins.

The score in the match, Mortimer vs. Trenchard, is: Trenchard, three; Mortimer, two. And five draws; and in the match, Herbert Jacobs vs. Trenchard, the latter is leading by four games to two.

We are informed that the recent cable match was very popular in America, over 3000 persons having witnessed the play. "The Eagle" has offered a cup to be played for by any country not restricting its team to native players; Mr. Bennett will offer a cup for a match with Paris, and probably Mr. Ottendorfer one for Berlin. America contemplates playing a cable match with Vienna and Berlin.

The Metropolitan won their last League match on Thursday evening, defeating the Bohemians by 14 ½ games to 4 ½; and the City of London won their last League match against Sydenham and Forest Hill by twelve games to seven.

Twickenham won a match against a mixed team of the Metropolitan, 15 boards, by eight games to seven.

Mr. Lasker lectured on Monday at the Ladies' Chess Club.

In the match Steinitz vs. Schiffers, now in progress in Russia, Schiffers is leading by four games to three.

The following is a review of the games of the Universities match:—

The Cantab got the inferior game in the opening. Lawton followed Dr. Tarrasch's development in the French Defence, being evidently better prepared for the occasion than his opponent.

Naish ought to have played instead of 7. B to K 3 –

7. Kt to B 3, Kt to B 3; 8. B to Kt 5, or the better move, 8. B to K 2.

Further, 8. B takes Kt brings Black's Bishop embarrassingly into play. 8. Kt to B 3 was again the move, he could then have still continued with 9. B to K 2 and castled on the King's side.

His last chance to mend the inferior development would have been: 11. Kt to Q 2, and if 11. …. Kt to Kt 5, then I 2. Kt to Kt 3, and he could have made a good stand then, The chief aim should have been to repel the attack or at least secure the Queen's side, when Black would have had to resume the defensive, his Jing's side Pawns being weakened by the advance of P to K Kt 3. After Castling, White had to lose a Pawn; he should have; therefore, retired 13. K: to Kt sq, Q takes P; 13. B to Kt 5, thus getting back the QP, or his KP. He would have been subjected to an embarrassing attack afterwards but he had no choice. Seeing the danger, White tried to escape with the 19. K to Q 2, but he had to return again to B sq, the Oxonian never letting go the grasp he had so clearly obtained upon his opponent's King's position.

The regular Rook moves occur on both sides up to 9. Q to Kt 3, which is inferior to 9. Q to R 3, so as to follow it up at the opportune moment with P to K Kt 4, and so open the K Kt file for the attack. Black lost a good deal of time with the advance of the QRP, and 12. … B to K 2. He could have developed instead Kt to Q B 3.

16. … Q to Kt 3 would have prevented White's Castling and no immediate attack on the King's side being apprehended. Black could have produced some pressure on the Queen's side.

18. … Q Kt to Q 2 is inferior to Kt to B 3, thus preventing 19. Kt to Q 4.

20. … Kt to K 5 would have been preferable to B to Kt 5. In spite of the Cantab's over-cautious defence, he could have still held his own had he played instead of removing his Queen to the open file. 23. … B to R 4, so as to release inactive King's Rook. After the next move this game became markedly inferior. His open files should have been occupied by the Rook, instead of being played in useless position. He had to lose time with 27. … B to Kt 5 to defend the K P, and the Oxonian obtained a telling final attack; but Black could have held out still had he not exchanged Rooks, but played 35. … R to Kt 2. When time was called the Umpires had an easy task in awarding the game to Oxford, as White could win by 43. R to R 5, or 43. R takes R and 44. P to Kt 4.