The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-11-04


Mr.. j. III. BlackDurne, the eminent chess
PLAYER, who has so strikingly added within
the last few days 10 his worldwide reputG-
ton by his victory in the chess tournament
ut Berlin, gave an exhibition OF his remark
able powers in "blindiold" playing last
evening at Mouilet's Hotel, Newgate street.
With this view q match, Of rQthCra number
Of matches, between this gentleman on enc
hand and eight amateurs Of ability and cX-
perience had been arranged by the City
OF London Chess Club, admission being
entirely free to members and their friends.
Without being literally blinGfoldcd, Mr..
Blackburne undertook TO play the eight
games simultaneously without seeing the
chess-boards or men, while his opponents,
Of course, iaborcd under no such rcstric-
ton. In the centre Of the large room were
two oblong tables, each provided with
four chess-boards, at which sat the anna
tour players, Messrs. Il. ii. Piper, w. T..
Chappen, :. j. Stevens, c. G. Cut
Ter, II. 7. GRstineau, j. K. llunneX, T..
Atkinson, and the Rev. j. i. Watson. At
the further end, where the floor Is on a
higher level, Mr.. Dlackburnc sat III Il high
backed armchair behind 4 wainSc0t and
with his back turned to the clesS-boards
beneath him. The plan Of operations may
be described i'm q few words. The first
PLAYER in rotation having started The game,
q teller, who Is placed between the two
rows Of boards, calls ont the name Of
the piece moved, together with the
technical name OF tue square upon
which it is placed. The "blindfolded >"
PLAYER then has TO realize mentally the
position OF the men upon The board, and
call out in q similar way his counter move,
which is made in accordance with his di-
rection. The first game is then left III
allowance, while no. makes his first move,
which is responded 10 in the same manner.
Nos. s, (, and 50 on up to having also
PLAYED in turn, No. then makes his second
move. and so the games proceed simulta-
neously until the players drop Of one by
one rs the games are decided.
play beam last evening at O'Clock, and
went on without interruption FOR about
three hours, when il was announced amid
hearty applause from the OnlOOkcrs, that
Mr.. Gastincau was checEmatcd. Some time
afterwards several OF the players resigned,
and at quaIter-past II O'Clock, when play
had TO be discontinued owing to the late
ness OF the hour, it proved that only in
one instauce-thnt OF Mr.. Piper-had
Mr.. Blacl,burne been defeated by
his opponent. The match with Mr..
ChapDeil stood adjourned, while that with
Mr.. s. ]. stevens was declared drawn upon
the proposition Of that gentleman. In the
other games the amateurs were defeated.
II will be seen that the tOar-deJorce which
Mr.. Blackburne thus in the main success
fully accomplished is remarkable rather as
a feat OF memory than brilliant perform
ance in chcss-playing. 1t is not wholly
without precedent, rs this blindioid play
ing has had a peculiar fascination for such
PLAYERS as Paul Morphy, Pauison, and
Zukcrtorf, while Nj. Blackeuine has
ON several occasions contcnded in q
similar WAY against even larger NUM-
hers OF PLAYERS. Still il Is evident
that the feat requires for It's accomplish
mcnt q rare combination OF qualities when
II Is considered that the moves once called
can never be referred to by the player, ana
that thus the latest phases OF a number OF
notwithstanding combinations must be
horne in Iaind with perfect distmctneSs
and accuracy. Among those who were
present at Mounet's Hotel last evening
were Messrs. Stcinitz, Ilirschield, Homer,
Mcdonnell, Maczusli, and Mason, and
Mr.. G.. Adamson, honorary secretary OF
the City OF London Chess Club.