Chess Puzzle

Today's puzzle:


This position was first published in "Chess Mate" magazine in April 1983 with the stipulation that white was to play and win. The solution given is 1.Nb5! cb5 2.R6f8! wins. However, a talented reader wrote in demonstrating an error in the analysis. Can you find it?

Solution to the last puzzle:
Svancina - Muller
Vienna 1941
1...g4!! 2.Kc5 f4!!
But not 2...h4?? 3.gxh4 f4 4.g3! and White wins.
3...h4! 4.gxh4 g3
The third and final pawn sacrifice, forcing the decisive breakthrough.
5.fxg3 e3
And the rest was silence ...

Chess Puzzle

Today's puzzle:


By all rights White's king on c6 should mean a win, but Black has a way to force a pawn breakthrough. Can you find it?

Solution to the last puzzle as given?!

J. Metger – L.Paulsen
Nuremberg, 1883
Subsequently analysis, however, revealed a very deep manoeuvre leading to a win.
1.Kd4!
After 1.Kc5 a draw would result by 1...b6+. After 1.Kc4 Black would draw by 1...b5+.
1...Kc6
If 1...b6 then 2.a6 and White wins. If 1...Kd7 then 2.Kc5 Kc7 3.Kb5 Kd7 (if, instead Kc8 then Kb6 etc.) 4.Bg1 followed by Bh2 and White wins.
2.Bb6! Kd6
If 2...Kb5 then 3.Kd5 and Black loses his pawn.
3.Kc4 Kc6 4.Kb4 Kd6 5.Kb5 Kd7! 5.Kc5 Kc8
After other moves of the King 7.Bc7 followed by Kb6 would be the continuation.
7.Ba7 Kc7 8.Kb5 Kd7! 9.Bb8 Kc8 10.Bh2 K moves 11.Kb6 and White wins.

Further research shows there is more to this position than meets the eye. 

Cleared Up. This note by A.J. Roycroft in E.G., No. 11, January 1968, is translated from Deutsche Schachzeitung, viii/ix, 1967.

From, for example, p. 169 of A Manual of Chess, by Emanuel Lasker, 1932


Metger – L. Paulsen

“White, Metger, to play and win.”
1.Kd4. The black pawn must not be allowed to advance checking, since the reply to that advance is to be a6. 1...Kc6 2.Bb6 Kd6 Of course, if 2...Kb5 3.Kd5 and conquers b7; 3. Kc4 Kc6 4.Kb4 Kd6 5.Kb5 Kd7 6.Bg1 Kc7 7.Bh2+ K- 8.Kb6 wins.
(Moves, notes and stipulation as in Em. Lasker’s book.)

“An investigation by Egbert Meissenburg reveals the truth about the very well-known accompanying diagram. Most end-game treatises give the diagram as here with White to move, and the winning procedure. But what happened in the actual game? None of the authorities give a clear answer. Herr Meissenburg has consulted the original sources for the period, and comes to the following conclusion. The game was between J. Metger and L. Paulsen (that is, Metger was White) in the double-round tournament at Nurnberg in 1888, won by von Gottschall ahead of Harmonist. The actual position that arose was as in the second diagram, and the play proceeded: 1...Kc4 2.b3+ ab 3.Kb2 and the draw was agreed.

Position from the game
J. Metger – L. Paulsen,
Nurnberg, 1888


Paulsen play 1...Kc4? 2.b3+ ab 3.Kb2 and a draw was agreed.

“The sources consulted were Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1888, p. 285, and Bruderschaft for 1888, p. 283. It appears that only Euwe (1959) gives the correct game continuation, though reversing the colours. Herr Meissenburg informs that the first person to point out the actual continuation was Dr. Ernst Bachl in his column (no date given) in the Worms Allgemeiner Zeitung. It is, to us, quite astonishing how frequently the famous classical positions are subject to distortion, mis-quotation, and confused history.
“(It is rather extraordinary that the first diagram also appeared without particular comment in T.R. Dawson’s endings column in the British Chess Magazine in February, 1946, as an original composition by the well-known player, later twice British Champion, R.J. Broadbent.)”

(BCM, April, 1968)

All I can say is it is a very instructional position!

Chess Puzzle

Found this lovely instructional position:



In this position the players agreed a draw, and this decision certainly appears justified, since the Bishop does command the queening square (a8). How would you assess the position?

Solution to the last puzzle.
Aherne, J - O'Cinneide, M
Telecom Eireann Irish Open, 1992
Black found 1...Rd1+! 31.Nxd1 e2 32.Nc3 e1Q+ 0-1

Chess Puzzle

Best of luck with this one.


Black found the quickest win in this position, Can you?

Solution to yesterday's puzzle.
D. Friedgood - F. Korostenski
Jan Smuts Holiday Inn Open 1977
In the diagrammed position White can actually play 1.Kxe3! If now 1...b1=Q 2.Rc8+ and Black must play his King to the b-file: 2...Kb3 3.Rb8+ Kc2 4.Rxb1 Kxb1 and White wins easily.

Forgotten games!

I hope to present games played by Irish Chess player's which I feel deserve to be remembered. Where possible the game will be annotated by the Irish player involved. The game can be from any period but it must be annotated by the player himself. We'll see how I get on with that idea! 

If I find a particular good game I will try contacting the player involved and asking for his notes.

To kick off the series here is a game from Kevin O'Connell. He stated on the ICU site that: "One of his proudest moments was seeing my game against Grabinger, Bagneux 1970, published in many French newspapers and magazines". This got me thinking and on doing a web search I found the game with notes by Kevin on the Exeter Chess Club site.

Good game - hope you enjoyed it!

Chess Puzzle

Good luck with today's puzzle.


Both players were in time trouble in the above position, so White felt obliged to take the draw by repetition of position: 1.Rc8+ Kd4 2.Rd8+ Kc4 (and not Kc5 because of 3.Rb8 and Black cannot interpose his rook on b3 - after Kc4 he can). What did both players miss?

Solution to yesterday's puzzle:
A A Ponelis - P van Dyk
OFS Open, Kroonstad 1967
1.e6! and with the attack on his queen, his knight and f7 Black is powerless. He tried 1...Qxf4 but after 2.exf7+ capitulated. If 2...Qxf7 3.Rxe8 mate.

Well done to Sean Coffey again! Remind me not to play you OTB - you see too much altogether.

Chess Puzzle

Enjoy today's puzzle:

There is an absolutely unanswerable move in this position. White found it, Can you?

Here is the solution to yesterday's puzzle:
Study by O. Duras
(Ceskoslovensky Sach, 1927)
First let us look at some wrong ways of playing (a) 1.Kb7 Kd2 2.Kc7 Kxe2 3.Kd7 Kf3 4.Kxe7 Kf4 5.Kxf6 and White wins easily. Here both players have played badly; so let us improve Black's play, since he lost. (b) 1.Kb7 Kd2 2.Kc7 Ke3! 3.Kd7 Kf4 4.Kxe7 Kxf5 drawn. So. (c) 1.Kb6! Kd2 2.Kc5 Ke3! 3.Kd5 Kf4 4.Ke6 Ke4 (4...Kg5 5.e4) 5.e3! and wins - Black must move with fatal results. But maybe Black can do better? Yes. (d) 1.Kb6! Kc3! 2.Kc5 Kd2 3.Kd5 Ke3 4.Ke6 Kf4 5.e3+ Ke4 Now it is White's move - not Black's as in (c) - and he must play 6.Kxe7 Kxf5 Drawn. So Black's subtle manoeuvre Kc3-d2 gained him a tempo. So it is drawn? No - White too can gain a tempo and we get the correct play (e) 1.Kb6! Kc3! 2.Kc5 Kd2 3.Kc6! Ke3 4.Kd5 Kf4 5.Ke6 Ke4 6.e3! and wins. In the final situation here, when the Kings are opposite each other with one square between them and Black has to move away, White is said to have "gained the opposition", gaining the opposition is a central element in King and Pawn endings and manoeuvres in this study to gain (or lose) tempi are characteristic of there endings.

Sorry for the long-winded solution I will be more selective in future. It is worth going through though for it's instructional value.

Dr. Osip Bernstein's favourite player (Part II)

Reference: Chess Review, December, 1956 page 408.

But he loved the game of chess, too, and Bernstein set up the pieces in the postion which he won by a beautiful combination against that much feared attacking player, David Janoswki.

Mason - Janoswki
Monte Carlo, 1902

It is White to move, and Black is a Pawn down and has a "bad" Bishop. And Janowski was a fighter and is in position to seek counter-chances with his pressure on the Queen Knight file on which White's Knight is pinned. What more natural then that Mason should now exchange Queens and plod along working for more exchanges of the pieces to liquidate into the ending.


But no. With great insight, Mason has planned to sacrifice his Queen, to reach a won ending quickly.
48.Qh8+ Kd7 49.Nd4!
It is the depth of this last move which arouses Bernstein's admiration.
49...Rxb2
As a nice point, if the Knight is accepted (49...Rxd4), then mate follows 50.Rb7+. Of course, if 49...Rxh8 Black is helpless after 50.Rxb4.
50.Qxb8
Beautiful, simple and convincing. The Black Queen cannot escape, while White threatens to do so with check.
50...Rxb8 51.Rxb8 Kc7 52.Nxe6+ Kxb8


The positional point of all the fire-works is now revealed. White has quickly liquidated into the remote, won ending, which seemed so difficult to achieve a few moves ago.
White's Knight, too, fits onto the situation like a glove! Now Mason demonstrates the win.
53.Nd4 Kc7 54.g4 h4 55.c3 Kd7 56.Kg1 Kc7 57.Kf2 Kd7 58.f5 gxf5 59.gxf5 Kc7 60.Ke3 Bg2 61.Nf3 Bxh3 62.Nxh4 Bg4 63.Kf4 Be2 64.Nf3 Bxf3 65.Kxf3 Resigns.

Here is the complete game for your approval:

Wow, two fantastic combination's that deserve to be better known.

Chess Puzzle

Good luck with today's puzzle:


This beautiful study illustrates a point of the greatest significance in the end-game, especially in King and Pawn endings - the importance of exact timing. White to play and win.

Here is the solution to yesterday's puzzle:
Tonoli - Vandenbroeck
Brussels, 1967
If Black were to play at once 1...Rg2+ Kh5 Rad2 intending Rd8-h8, White would play 3.Rd7 defeating the whole scheme, But Black can most ingeniously gain a tempo as follows: 1...Rd8! (threatening 2...Rg2+ 3.Kh5 Rh8+ 4.Bh7 Rxh7 mate), 2.Kg3 Against 2.h4 Black plays 2...gxh4 3.Rc7 Rg2+ 4.Kh3 Rg3+ 5.Kh2 (5.Kh3 Rg1 6.Rxc6+ Kg7 and White is helpless), 5...Rd2+ 6.Kh1 Rxf3 and wins without difficulty. 2...Rd1 (threatening Rg1 mate), 3.Kg4 Rg2+ 4.Kh5 Rd8 forcing mate, e.g. 5.Kh6 Rh8+ 6.Bh7 Rh2.
Not at all easy.

Not at all easy to type in either - must have taken half an hour to check all the variations.

Dr. Osip Bernstein's favourite player

Came across the following article in "Chess Review" 1956. From  "Chess Heroes from the Golden Past" by Bruce Hayden.

I was looking out on the sea front of Hastings St. Leonards, Sussex, England and listening to the reminiscenes of Grandmaster Ossip Bernstein, now the last to survive to play chess from the age of Lasker, Tarrasch, Pillsbury - and even the youthful Capablanca, Alekhine and Rubinstein, before the First World War.
Bernstein was one of the great players from this golden age of chess. He knew and played against them all - even notching wins against the mighty Lasker. From the great St. Petersburg Tournament of 1909 down to the present day is a long trek; yet, when the veteran returned to the international arena at Montevideo, in 1954, at the age of 71, he won the First Brilliancy Prize by hoisting Nadjorf on the wrong end of a brilliancy in a demonstration of how he and his old comrades in arms used to do their stuff back in the old days.
But imagine my surprise when I asked the great old warrior who was his favourite among the players of the past. "James Mason," he replied, "Not because he was the strongest but because he played my two favourite combinations."
Then he showed me them on the chess-board beside us.

Mason - Winawer
Vienna, 1882
From his favourite Giuoco Piano, Mason now continued with the following.
40.Rxg5 hxg5 41.Qh7+ Nd7
On 41...Kd8 White's eye embraces the board to win back the Queen Rook! 42.Qh8+ Ke7 43.Rxb8. With the text, he wins a Knight.
42.Bxd7 Qg8
If 42...Qxd7 then simply 43.Qxd7+ recovering the Rook - or, as Tartakover gives, 43.Rc4+ Kd8 44.Qh8+. The text meets with an immortal reply.
43.Rb7+!!


Here is the wonderful point of the combination which makes this Bernstein's favourite. It is one of the finest conceptions in the literature of the game, says Tartakover, who adds that the themes of Deflection by 43...Rxb7 44.Qxg8, of Disorganisation by 43...Kd8 44.Rxb8+ (44.Qxg8+ will also do) and Disjunction by 43...Kxb7 44.Bc8++! form part and parcel of the whole conception. A wonderful double offer of the Rooks.
43...Kxb7 44.Bc8++ Ka8
Black avoids 44...Kxc8 45.Qxg8+ Kc7 46.Qg7+ and a prompt resignation.
45.Qxg8 Rxf5 46.Qd8 Rxd5 47.Qd7 Rb1+ 48.Kh2 Rd2 49.Qc6+ Kb8 50.Qxe4 Rbb2 51.Be6 Kc7 52.Qc4+ Kb6 53.Bd5 g4 54.hxg4 Rf2 55.Qc6+ Ka7 56.Qc7+ Resigns.
There was an elegance about Mason's play at its best, and an elegance about his Victorian prose in his chess writings. But, 'tis said, he looked upon the bottle long and lovingly-

For those interested in the complete game:

I will give the second position tomorrow...

Chess Video

Came across this video a few weeks ago, thought you might enjoy it.

Peter Cafolla (Annotated Game) II

Good news another annotated game from this year's Irish Championship.

Thanks to Peter Cafolla for sharing his work with us.

Chess Puzzle

Good luck with today's puzzle:


In this position, Black (to play) agreed a draw - no doubt fearing the effect of White's Rb6 followed by Rxc6+. He could, however, have won by a subtle and elegant manoeuvre. Can you find it?

Here is the solution to yesterday's puzzle:
Mlimaric - Predag
Sisak, 1970
(i) After 1...b1=Q? the game continued 2.e7+ Kf7 3.Rg7+ Kxf6 4.e8=N+ Kf5 5.Rg5 mate.
(ii) Black had to play 1...Ra5+! 2.Kd6 b1=Q and White can resign as the mating net no longer exists.
Black is severely penalized for an oversight which was very easy to make; White's mate is entirely fortuitous - an extraordinary stroke of luck.

Well done to Sean Coffey for solving yesterday's puzzle.

Chess Puzzle

Best of luck of with today's puzzle:


In this critical position, Black played 1...b1=Q. (i) What happened now? (ii) Was there a better first move for Black?

Here is the solution to yesterday's puzzle:
Taimanov - Smyslov
USSR Championship, 1967
White won by 1.Bf3! b5+! (and not 1...Bxf3? 2.h7 - still less 1...Bh7 2.Bc6 mate), 2.Kc3 (2.Kxb5? Nd4+ 3.Kxc5 Nxf3), 2...Ng5! 3.h7! (3.Bxe4? Nxe4+ 4.K moves Ng5), Resigns. 3...Bxh7 4.Bc6 mate or 3...Nxh7 4.Bxe4 Nf8 5.Bc6+ Nd7 6.Bxb5 c4 and White mates in four by 7.Kd4 (7.Kxc4?? stalemate), 7...c3 8.Kd5 c2 9.Kd6 c1=Q 10.Bxd7 mate.
A beautiful piece of play by both sides. This position is a reminder that even if Taimanov did lose 6-0 to Fischer he is a very strong Grandmaster.

Chess Puzzle

Here is the solution to yesterday's puzzle. Today's puzzle is a beauty!

Best of luck with this one, you'll need it.

Peter Cafolla (Annotated Game)

Wow, another great bit of luck Peter Cafolla has contributed one of his games with notes for your instruction. 

Thanks Peter looking forward to studying both games in depth. This is such a fantastic treat for the Irish chess playing community.

John Delaney (Annotated Game)

I really think Irish Chess is eventually getting places. The ICU site has made a huge leap forward in its coverage of Irish Chess news. The Leinster Chess Blog provides a welcome forum for discussion and  here I hope to fill the gap. 

Today on the Leinster Chess Blog we discussed ways and means of improving our chess. I said that Botvinnik stated the way to improve was to analysis your games and publish the results. With this in mind I offered to post anybodies games on this site. 

Well great news John Delaney has started the ball rolling with a game. I like John's notes as they provide more a window on his thought process than concrete analysis.

Hopefully this is the beginning of a new direction with this site. I would love to see this site grow with multiple contributors. If anyone is interested please contact me.

Chess Puzzle

Well how did you get on with yesterdays puzzle? Hope it wasn't too difficult, try today's it's a little easier!

Chess Puzzle

Today I'm going to start something new. I'm going to present a tricky chess position from play but I will not present the solution till tomorrow. It would be nice to see people post possible solutions in the comments field if they wish.

Beware, these are really diabolical positions!!

How to annoy people with your own chess site!

In the comments "tpe" (nice to hear from you) asked me about the game replay on this site - how's it done? Well firstly, a word of warning, I'm fairly new to all this. But this is what I've found so far - you have to use different methods depending on what you want to post.

I'll list the different sites I use:
chessflash (self explanatory really.)
chessviewer (have a look around the site it's slightly more difficult than the others but not too hard.)
chess (instructions on how to use are posted here.)

Chessflash

I've stopped using chessflash for presenting multiple games because it's been giving me trouble when I try to edit posts. Also it doesn't allow the download of the pgn. For single game posts it's good - the annotations can be clearly seen.

Chess

For multiple game posts I use chess.com. It also allows the download of the pgn and also allows the editing of posts without any problems. This is a big factor as I usually make a couple of mistakes during writing.

Chessviewer deluxe

Finally chessviewer deluxe: this is quite good for posting multiple games. It takes a small bit of tweaking to your blog settings but it's good for what it does.

Overall I think chess is the best. The ability to download the pgn file is a big factor for me when I visit other sites. I've provided a link to each - they're quite easy to use. Just read the instructions!

For chess diagrams I don't think you can beat chessup! It's main advantage over similar sites is the ability to add comments under the diagram.

As I said above - I'm quite new to this and if anyone has suggestions (about chess!) I'd love to hear from them.

A little humour!

I came across something similar on another site and I said why not!

I  thought they were very funny!

The lazy person's guide to the lazy person's guide to the endgame.

As you probably can gather at this stage I’m quite interested in endgame play. I’m always on the lookout for instructional articles on this sphere of the game. While looking through the net I came across reference to GM Ian Rogers articles “The lazy person’s guide to the Endgame” (1) (2). Well that sounded just right for me, I'm a fan of GM Rogers actually!

The articles are quite interesting however GM Rogers title had more than a little pun in it! I’m afraid on reading the comments attached to the articles the author had been a little lazy himself. I will present just a couple of examples the first is only a small slip.

In the following position:

GM Rogers has this to say: "Diagram 2 shows the only type of trap into which White can fall—Black has perpetual check because of the stalemate trick 1. Kh6 Rh7+! 2. Kg6 Rg7+ 3. Kf6 Rg6+!." 

Simpler is 1. Kh6 Rh7+! 2. Kg6 Rh6+!!

The next example:

"With rooks instead of queens, White would probably not be able to win but with queens on the board White’s life could not be much easier—White pushes the a- pawn and then moves the queen out of the way and creates a new queen. Black can try to whip up counterplay but against White’s perfect kingside pawn structure he has no hope, e.g. 1. a4 f6 2. a5 g5 3. hxg5 fxg5 4. a6 h4 5. Qb7+ Kg6 6. a7 h3+ 7. Kxh3 Qxf2 8. a8=Q and Black has no more than some checks."

The following position is reached:

There is a mate: 8... g4+! 9.Kxg4 Qf5+ (same after 9.Kh4 Qf6+ 10.Kxg4 Qf5+) 10. Kh4 Qh5++. This doesn't change the assessment of the endgame as totally won for White, and easily preventable by playing 8.Qe4+ first, and only then 9.a8=Q. The Rules 1 and 2 are still correct, but it can be added (Axiom A?), that even in easy endgames a chess player still shall be careful...

The title of the article could stand if your opponent is also a lazy  person of course! Joking aside the corrections have proved very instructional. I have updated my own copy of the articles and they could provide good study material in the future.

Hope you enjoyed!

Klatovy Open A 2010

Well our boy in the Czech Republic did good: finishing in sixth place overall with a score of 6/9. A performance rating of 2381 and lost only one game.

The performance is really excellent when the standard of play is considered, Rory played dynamic chess throughout and was always willing to enter into complications. His play was well below his usual standard in his one loss. Rory played no short draws and in a number of the drawn games I felt that he had the advantage.

Here is Rory's eight round game!

The following is Rory's ninth round game, he definitely had the better of it. I wonder if Rory's exchange sacrifice on move twenty-six was really necessary?

Well done again Rory, no criticism intended I couldn't have done it! That's a great performance I hope it gives you confidence to go forward.

Klatovy 2010 Open A

Just a brief post to let you know what's happening with our boy in the Czech Republic. As you know in the sixth round Rory had black against Kubecka (2291). Well thinks didn't go his way and he got slaughtered to tell the truth. Won't really know what happened till we hear from Rory. All I can say is that he played well below par. In today's round Rory had a win against Tomas Duran (2236). It was on board eight so can't comment on the game. The top six boards are broadcast live.

This win brings Rory up to fifth place and has him playing Joel Jancarik (2179) on board three tomorrow. So we can follow the action online! Rory is still in with a chance of a prize as he is only half a point behind the leaders with two rounds to go. Fingers crossed that he can keep his cool and get a result.

It's great to see an Irish player performing at this standard! No matter what happens he has done us proud!

Rory Quinn leads Klatovy 2010 Open A

Rory has drawn his fifth round game against the number three seed Jan Sodoma (2364) of the Czech Republic. It was a good game, with Rory looking to be in trouble for a while, however he had it all worked out and White could make no headway.

The top game was also drawn so that places Rory in first place technically. I know its early days yet but here's hoping Rory can keep it up.

After four round Rory's performance rating was 2610!! However, conceding a draw to Sodoma has brought this down to 2532. Rory will be very disappointed (ha!).

As the above table shows next round Rory faces Kubecka - well best of luck Rory.

I'll keep you informed!

Chess Puzzle

Came across the following study while doing a thrall of the net a couple of years ago. As usual in chess, as in life, it provides an opportunity to learn something if you are willing to give it serious attention. You will, I feel, as Andrew Martin states about analysis of chess studies: "notice a distinct improvement in your perception of the game if you do."

Give it a shot, but watch out for Black's stalemate attempts!
1.Rb7!!
I hope you didn't fall for 1.Rxg1? Rf8+ 2.Qxf8+ Kg6+ 3.Kg8 Rh8+ 4.Kxh8 stalemate!
1...Rf8+
Looks like all roads lead to the same conclusion, but Sileav demonstrates a beautiful concept.
2.Qxf8+ Kg6+ 3.Kg8 Rh8+ 4.Kxh8 Qh1+
Black is aiming for the stalemate manoeuvre.
5.Qh6+!!


What a move.
5...Qxh6+ 6.Kg8 1-0


The final position - Black has no moves. The threat of Rb6 mate is crushing.

Well what did you think? Is that not a brilliant concept presented with the minimum of material.

And now just to be honest here is the link to the original article by IM Andrew Martin.

Klatovy 2010 Open A

Breaking news, Rory Quinn of Ennis has been having a great run in the Klatovy 2010 Open A tournament. At the moment he is in second place!

The tournament is a nine round swiss open tournament, with a time control of 2 h + 30 s of compensation per move until the end of the game. Rory is seeded 43 of the 83 competitors. This did not appear to bother Rory as in the first round he was paired, on board two, against the second seed IM Hausner (2451). Rory proceeded to win this game to the great surprise of the locals. In the second round Rory faced Turner (2191) on board 13 and drew this game. The following round saw Rory again on Board 13 with white against Cernik (2205). Rory also won this game bringing him into fifth place overall in the tournament. In todays round Rory had white again against Vorisek (2250). Rory again won bringing his score to 3.5/4. Fantastic performance, and this after Rory stating on his excellent blog: "I most likely won't be taking the chess aspect too seriously in any case!"

Well I think that idea is under some pressure at the moment. However Rory is at the disadvantage of not having his laptop with him, thus preventing him from proper preparation for his future opponents.

I present below two of Rory's games for your enjoyment, beginning with his first round win:

Now the latest game, which was nerve racking to watch, no mind play, as black was in severe time trouble even from the point I joined the game at move fifteen. The 30 second time compensation making it worse.

I will keeping you informed of Rory's results. Here's hoping he can maintain this excellent performance.

You can keep track of the tournament on this site and you can watch the six top boards on this site.

Was William H.K. Pollock Irish Chess Champion?

I see many biographies of Mr. Pollock state that he won the Irish Championship in Dublin in 1885. It is a possibility as a brief biography on this Canadian chess history site states he was "born in England of Irish descent." Wikipedia give Gino Di Felice, "Chess Results, 1747-1900", McFarland & Company, 2004, p. 97 as one source for his having won the Irish Championship.

However, to cloud the waters the most contemporary work I can find: "Pollock Memories: A collection of Chess Games, Problems Etc." by Frideswide F. Rowland, Dublin, 1899. Gives the following obscure statement:

"In 1885 he also played in the Master Tournament of the Irish Chess Association, coming out first, with 9 points, thereby winning the Irish championship. Mr. Porterfield Rynd (of Dublin) was second, with 8½. In the Handicap, however, Mr. Pollock only tied for second and third places, Mr. Rynd being first."

That is as clear as mud, to me anyway. I have no problems in accepted Mr. Pollock as an Irish Champion - he was most definitely of master strength. I just present the intriguing question.

Well if anyone doubts his credentails just have a look at the following game:

Notes by Wilhelm Steinitz from the tournament book.

I know David McAlister will put me right, but I couldn't resist posting the game.

Steinitz's Dublin blindfold display

As part of the 1865 Dublin Chess Congress a number of different events, separate from the three tournaments, were organized. These included simultaneous displays, telegraph matches, and Blindfold chess. Here is a contemporary report of the blindfold display by Steinitz.

"That excellent player, Herr Steinitz, twice exhibited his skill in blindfold Chess, playing on the first occasion three games at once against some of the strongest Dublin amateurs, and winning them all. At the second sitting he won four games out of five, and drew the fifth, to the great satisfaction of a numerous and brilliant assembly. The Lord Chancellor of Ireland was present, and expressed himself much interested in the performance. Should Herr Steinitz continue to practice this difficult branch of Chess, he would bid fair to rival the achievements of Paulsen or Morphy."

The Chess Player's Magazine, 1865 p. 342.

Below I present two of the games from the second display, culled from the pages of "Neue Berliner Schachzeitung" of 1866.

In the following game Steinitz takes on G.F. Barry.

Tim Harding gives an account of G.F. Barry's career here.