Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-03

only correct Interpretation was to divide
| the scoring in two sections: firstly, to con-
slQer bhe Keys and "cooks,n and secondly. II
| then TO score the variations, and, finally, the
| duals. Ihe logic of this is evident. Second
| solutions demolish the problem, While no
| amount OF duals have any such power.
Ihey ulmlnish the value OF the composition,
| Dut cannot render it unsound; they are,
! therefore, of only an infinitesimal import
ance us compared with keys. Anyone must
| see that two whimsical dual-mates should,
unuer no circumstances, count as much as O
complete second solution.
Inc She1ileld Independent, under the editor
snip OF MI. L. B. Rowland. held several solv-
ing contests under the following conditions:
Two points for each key.
one point for each dual, two 1or trlplets
three Ior Quadruple and above. In case OIL
an unsound problem duals do not count
Two points for provinga n problem 10 De
unsound or an impossible position.
que point off for incorrect claims.
Here, again, quadruple amounts to more
than a complete solution. Because such
tn11ngs 1Is, nave been practiced ana accepted by
solYers Il have myself contested in one OF
those tourneys) that does not sanction them
any more than the civilized world accepts
polygamy because Mormons and Mohamme-
dams practice it.
DualS should never count unless the score
for keys (autliors' or accidentally be so high
that the duals cannot overcome the odds.
From experience 1 know that 100 for keys
and one for duals would give about an
equitable result, but why subject the tour
ney conductor to such an enormous amount
OF labor when the division of the scoring
into primary and secondary examination
gives correct result in one-tenth of the
time?
Therefore, would suggest the following
schedule for Journeys of some length OF
time:
Two points for two movers for solutions or
proof of impossiDility of solution.
Four points for three movers and upward,
for solutions or proof of impossibility OF
The distinction between these two classes
needs hardly any explanation; every solver
must have found in his practice that this is
the least difference in the relative merit be-
tween two and three movers, while above
that the difference is not so marked.
OF three movers, the main play and at least
two of the best variations ought to be given.
For omission of the main play or fagrant
errors in this or any of the principal vaTla-
tions, the solution might be entirely dis
qualified.
Second solutions should count as much as
the authors key, since they fulfill the condi-
tlons OF the problem just as well.
Proving n position to be impossible in
actual play, points, and solutions i'll such
cases not to he credited. However, if a key to
a mover "A and more movers correspond
ingly) leads to mate in two moves, no mates
i'll 3 with the same key should count
Wrong claims forfeit as many points as the
correct claim would entitle to.
Under similar conditions, though not quito
SO comprehensive, 1 have during my prac-
tice not seen many ties, except in exclusive
2-move Journeys. In any case, prospective
tourney conductors can apply to the most
successful tourney conductor, Mr.. X. d.
Peterson, Milwaukee, for informato how to
obtain tie-breakers he always has Il full sup
ply of them on hand.
For short Journeys such as the one above
mentioned, containing only Il small number
of problems and resulting in ties as far as
keys are concerned, the conditions might be
slightly altered by requiring all the varia-
tlons. For missing any of the important
variations one point might be counted
against the solver; duals to count one point
tripets ii. e., three ways of carrying on the
attack on second move) two points, ETC. OF
course, whenever in a problem whites first
move constitutes q threat, and black, by not
attending to it, opens dual ch, that counts
only for one dual, no matter how often the
move may recur. If there are still ties left
then dual mates Tor in four movers the sub
duals) may be counted on Il similar scale.
This is merely intended to set the ball roll
ing in order to induce the great, shining
lights to tackle the subject and reduce it to
some rules, as has been done for problems.
Lack of time and consideration of space for
bid more explicit language, but Il little
familiarity with chess terms is presupposed
from the reader.