Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-12-07
cHEss-pLAY1KG EXTRAORDINARY.

J. 81. Blackburne, the eminent chess
PLAYER, who has SO strikingly added within
the last few days to his worldwide reputa-
ton by his victory in the chess tournament
at Dublin, gave an exhibition of his remark
able powers in "blindfold" playing last
evening at Moufet's Hotel, Newgate
street. With this view match, or ratker
number of matches, between this gentle
man on one hand and eight amateurs of
ability and experience had been arranged
by the City of London Chess Club, admis.
sion being entirely free to members and
their friends. Without being literally
blindfolded, Mr.. Blackburne undertook to
play the eight games simultaneously with
out seeing the chess-boards or men, while
the opponents, of course, labored under no
such restriction. In the center of the large
room were two oblong tables, each provided
with four chess boards, at which sat the
amateur players, Messrs. I. II. Piper, w.
T. Chappell, s. J. Stevens, c. G. Cutler, ii.
f. Gastineau, J. r. Hunnex, F. Atkinson
and the Rev. J. E. Watson. At the fur
Their end, where the floor is on higher
level, Mr.. Blackburne sat in a high-backed
arm. chair behind wainscot, and with his
back turned to the chess boards beneath
him. The plan of operations may be de-
scribed in few words. The first player in
rotation having started the game, teller,
who is placed between the two rows of
boards, calls out the name of the piece
moved, together with the technical name
of the 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 similar way his
counter move, which is made in accordance
with his direction. The first game is then
left in allegiance, while number two makes
his first move, which is responded to in the
same manner. Numbers three, four, and
SO on up to eight, having also played in
turn, number one then makes his second
move, and so the games proceed simuita-
neously until the players drop off one by
one as the games are decided. Play began
last evening at o'clock, and went on with
out interruption for about three hours, when
it was announced, amid hearty applause
from the onlookers, that Mr., Gastineau was
checAmated. Some time afterward several
of the players resigned, and at l2:l5
o'clock, when the play had to be discon-
tinued owing to the lateness of the hour, it
proved that only in one instance-that of
Mr.. Piper-had Mr.. Blackburne been de-
feated by his opponent. The match with
Mr.. Chappell stood adjourned, while that
with s. j. Stevens was declared drawn
upon the proposition of that gentleman.
In the other games the amateurs were de-
feated. 1t will be seen that the tour. de.
sforce which Mr.. Blackburne thus in the
main successfully accomplished is remark
able rather as feat of memory than a
brilliant performance in chess playing. 1t
is not wholly without precedent, as this
blindfold playing has had peculiar fasci-
nation for such players as Paul Morphy,
Paulson and Zukertort, while Mr.. Black
burne has on several occasions contended
in similar way against even larger num-
bers OF players. Still it is evident that
the feat requires for its accomplishment a
rare combination of qualities when it is
considered that the moves once called can
never be referred to by the player, and
that thus the latest phases of number of
constantly changing combinations must be
borne in mind With perfect distinctness
and accuracy.-[London News, October
18th.