The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-14
TIE CHESS TOURNAMENT.
The Recent Games at st. Louis-The Contest
Is Not Hippodroming Performance.

Correspondence of the Indianapolis Journal.
ST.. Louis. Feb. 12.-The middle part Of the
series of the games of chess for the worlds
championship between DR.. J. III. Zukertort and
Mr.. William Steinitz has been finished The
result here was one draw. and three for Steinitz.
Last Monday was the draw day. both in audi
erce and play Steinitz opened and played the
Ruy Lopez knights game. sometimes called the
Spanish opening, in honor of Lopez, a Spanish
priest who achieved some reputation with
this opening The moves made
with rapdty On both sides, till
the eighth, when Steinitz paused twenty min
utes for deliberation. The attack was vigorous;
the defense safe, and both so exhausted their
resources that on the twenty second move, at the
suggestion of Zukertort, by mutual agre ement,
draw was declared. One of the causes that
discouraged the players was the action of the
clock that for a time refused to do its duty.
This time piece is curiosity and is needed
in every well-regulated chess club. It
is 'see saw" clock, j. e., there are
two clocks about two inches in diameter. one at
each end of an eightinch ''see-saw." When
evenly balanced neither clock runs, and when
one is up and the other down, the former runs
and the latter not So when one player moves
he pushes his clock down, thus stopping the
is quite cheap. costing about 81. 90, and is manu-
featured by the Ansonia Clock Company. It
can be obtained by any jeweler.
On Monday last Steinitz won his third game
All the chess players are well-pleased with the
character of the playing. the friends of Steinitz
especially, and they have reason.
There are in the United States some thirty
and more newspapers and magazines which have
a chess editor, and devote more or less space to
chess. None of these have expressed
any opinions to the effect that
this contest has any of the appearances Of the
hppodrome. No chess player, who has analyzed
the games or is acquainted with the character
of the contestants can give any reason for think
ing this contest hippodrome. It is not such
Both of these men. like most chess players, are
above such conduct, as each has TOO much at
stake.
DR.. Zukertort tells good story on man who
has a brother residing in Philadelphia, and who,
he said. introduced himself as the champion
chess player of Indiana, residing in Indianapolis.
The meeting was in Philadelphia. They sat
down to play. The brother was very fine play
er, and was looker-on Zukertort saw that or
casionally the brother would with his foot reach
under the table and tap the foot of the Indian
apoIis player when he was about to make a bad
play. Zukertort said nothing, but awaited his
time After a time Zukertort got in
close quarters, and saw that If his adversary
moved his knight he would be in worse con-
dition. Twice his opponent reached out his hand
to move the knight and each time the Doctor
touched his foot under the table. and each time
the hand was withdrawn without moving the
piece Another piece finally was moved and the
Doctor won. The brother upbraided him for
not moving the knight, and as he was trying to
frame some excuse the Doctor laughingly told
what ne had done and they acknowledged the
corn The story is both chestnut and ''fshy"
Steinitz. though residing in this country is not
yet naturalzied, but expects to be when he wins
this match
In about two weeks the contest will continue
in New Orleans. Six games must be then won
by of them before the ending shall come.
Be prepared for many draw games. The con-
testants now tie, with four games each. R.