New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-22
WITH QUEENS AND ROCKS
1rNwARRANTED CRITICISM OF THE
BROOKLYN CHESS CLUB.

1rs ACTION IN REGARD TO THE CABLE CHESS
MATCH JUSTIFIED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES
-srnNIrz IN RUSSIA NUT FOR
soLvERs TO CRACK
7, ,s now matter Of history that In the hrst IN
ternatIonal team match played petwee" -
Britain and the United States the represeh'h"
of the latter country came out victor'ous W."
and one-haf to three and one-half games the 'ha'.
he,ng plaved by cable on March 10 and Ii. Inc
action of the Brooklyn Chess Club in arranging suc
n contest without the consent OF other AA'ei
clubs has been severely criticised. ana SUN oe w
manner In which the club selected the playe'S WV
were to fight for the honor OF their country AS
regards the first omission on the part OF 'he
yr CIub the least said about 1t the better IL mas
bsen found that In all affairs pertaining TO cness one
man or one club will always have TO take INC mt.
alive In this case ]. D. Elwell, OF the brooN''"
Chess Club, concocted the scheme ne "a' r
norted by j. T. Marean the president, VINO oec'aieu
his willingness to pay all the expenses In connec'oh
with the affair which, by-the-way, amouhteu "
over $500. and under those circumstances no o''"o
could h. attached to a club the president Oh "hich
was fully prepared to meet all the expenses ou. u
pure love for sport and because ne tnouei' nc
such a contest might greatly benefit the game u
chess in general and the Brooklyn Chess Cluo III pa"
tlcular.
Things. however are different as regards the Sc
,.o,,or n, the team On paper and in theory the
selection of a team to represent country ought u
he made by the principal clubs OF the land OTHERWISE
there is the danger of putting non-represehtalve
team into the field. In practice. however, espec'"'
in a country Of such dimensions as the Ol''eu $50
the scheme of eecting representative team py tne
leading clubs Ia almost out OF the queS''oA'
begin WITH 1t would be almost impossioie u Co"
Meeting of officials Of all the leading clubs Where
and how could officials from San Francisco Maine'
Ncw-Orleans St. Louis. Cincinnati etc., anu '
Eastern clubs meet? Who Is to pay the expenses VI
such a meeting? And. after all. where are the fiiis
burys Showalters. Hodgeses. ETC.. to be fouhd' Anu
which managing board could leave these men out vi
q team Under the circumstances the Brooklyn
C1ub aid the best it could 1t asked kindred clubs
Chicago Philadelphia. New-Orleans and eisewhere-
to cooperate with them and to forward the names
OF available men TO the Brooklyn headquarters, anu
finally left the selection OF the men to Phlsoury'
Hodges and Showalter.
These three well-known experts have had repea'eu
chances to meet all the players in the East ana
West: they knew the style OF every one OF them ana
they finally agreed to submit an eight to the BROOK
lyn Chess Club. which they considered the pest d.
their disposal 1t must be added here that Lapot''
Of New-Orleans, and Johnston, of Chicago were
unable TO compete. while the strong members OF the
Franklin Chess Club refused to assist in the fight
I, will therefore be admitted all around that the
team which did duty was the strongest available
one and as the Issue proved 1t was strong enough
TO achieve a victory.
People boldly asserted that the victory was
fuky one but such Is not the case BiacKourhe
admits that Plsbury ought to have beaten him. so
this victory for Blaokburne must be called nuke
showalter on the other hand achieved a splendid
,.lc,orv over Rurn Burile caught Bird in a mat
ing net and some thought that Burille was lucky
TO win Careful study OF the BuriIie-bird game
will show that the latter had the best Of the BAR
gain and sure draw in hand. Barry outpiayeo
T.nsley in the middle and end game. the Bostonians
victory being n highly merited one. The next three
Games were drawn, while Baird lost on board NO
I, will thus be seen that the Americans should
have won on boards Nos. /. and 4, drawn on
boards Nos. 3, ). and l. counting the BuriIe-biru
game as drawn. and lost on board NO Ctotai score
five to three. in favor OF the Americans Ihe Bit
ishers were lucky in losing the match by the odd
game when they should really have been beaten by
two points
BEFORE finally dlsmissng the subject OF the
cable chess match and the arrangements which
were made toward securing the success OF
the match at this end must be mentioned j. d.
Elwen The captain Of the American team was
solely responsible FOR all the work in connection
with the match. AZ this gentleman had an excel
lent staff his disposal. and as President Mareah
gave Mr. Elweli free rein as regards the expenses
everything went off without hitcn II Is needless
TO adj that the Commercial Cable Company ac-
quilted Itself we'll There was not an error made IN
the transmission Of the moves. II must, however.
NOW be taken a. a matter OF course that two days
are required tc play such contest. however well
the cable might do Its duty. Whenever game
exceeds the length OF forty-ve moves 1t cannot De
finished in one day. fortytive moves VIII take SIX
hours II the two players are sitting In the same
ROOM let alone If they are divided by distance OF
over 1900 miles.
LASKERS LITTLE JOKE.
According TO The Hereford Times" Lasker
,,avaJ , toke on Stelnitz at Riga. The latter, as
is well known Is unfortunately near sighted and
while PLAYING simulta neous!y at the Riga Chess
Club he was rather surprised TO find one OF his
adversares who sat with his head buried In both
hands apparenty In deep study. make some terrific
moves In reply TO his own. After time Steinitz
concluded to take good look at this very skilfu
adversary, and his establishment may be imagined
when he discovered that it was none other than
his great rival Lasker. Steinitz said nothing. but
quietly lifting his king from the board. proceeded on
his round much the amusement OF the specta-
| tors
The same paper states that Steinitz left ST.
Petersburg on January IS for Riga. where he re-
manned for three days under the engagement OF the
Riga Chess Club. Steinz played several games
M odds and other ofYhand games against the Riga
amateurs and he gave two exhibitions OF simulta-
moons MAY on the second day OF his visit he en-
counered thirty opponents vanqui shed tweh yne,
and drew with the other. On the Following evening
he played a picked team OF fifteen OF the strong,
est players of The Riga Chess Club, and defeated f
twelve drew with two. and lost one game TO Or
Mande baum. Steinitz was 10 have played one or
two games WIN I'm, NJ tho a. after was unfortunately in
disposed and unable TO play Steinitz therefore.
contested game against mree srImg 30
playing black At the conclusion Of his engagement
left for Moscow en- rEae os %sead n
at Charkofr as at first arranged .s,. o,... +, No..
,o,,r, NJ 10. ny OTTMAR MEMO VIENNA