THE FIELD

London, England

10 April 1897

(page 557)

CHESS.

OXFORD v. CAMBRIDGE.

We give the games upon the leading three Boards in the recent match, with a synopsis of the play of the others:

BOARD No. 1

(Petroff.)

(a) A very tame continuation. Castles or P to Q B 4 would be more energetic.

(b) Here Castles was far better, and would have given Black a splendid game.

(c) Premature. Again castling was the move.

(d) Losing another pawn, and the game.

BOARD No. 2.

(Queen’s Pawn Game.)

(a) So far White had all the best of the game, though he missed the strongest continuations several times. This oversight, however, loses the game. B to Q 6 and Q to K 5 would have maintained the attack.

BOARD No. 3

(Queens’ Gambit Declined.)

Adjudicated drawn.

(a) As soon as Black has played P to Q Kt 3 White gains a move by P takes P and B to Q 3.

(b) Black has now the better development.

(c) We do not see the object of this weakening move.

(d) A weak move, which gives Black a chance to get a very strong attack by P to B 5.

(e) If simply B takes B would win at once, as after 22. B to Q 2, Kt takes B P, White would be hopelessly lost; for instance, 22. B to Q 2, Kt takes B P; 23, K takes Kt, P takes P, ch, followed by Q takes Kt.

Board No. 4 (Vienna Opening).—White got the better of the opening; but after a general exchange of pieces, leaving R and pawns only, it was not easy for him to win. He was able later to take advantages of some weak play by Black, thereby securing the game.

Board No. 5 (Compromised Evans).—Mr. McLean adopted a very interesting and rarely tried form of this defence. White wavered in his attack and then found Black unassailable. Black turned the tables, and by a very pretty combination, surrendering and recovering the exchange, reduced the game to an ending of Q against Q with three pawns ahead, which won.

Board No. 6 (Scotch Gambit).—Played tamely by White, whereby Black in the end game got his rooks on to the seventh file. This broke up White’s pawns, and, shortly, losing a knight by an oversight, his game became untenable.

Board No. 7 (Ruy Lopez).—Black adopted the King’s Fianchetto Defence, and after some exchanges Black was left with a weak Q P (Q 3), which he was luckily able to defend. He presently secured the better end game, and should have won a piece. Instead of this he “closed the drifts,” and the consequent block insured a draw.