New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-10
CHESS REPORTS BY CABLE.
AN INGENIOUS CODE INVENTED TO
SAVE EXPENSIVE DESCRIPTIONS.
HOW ONE WORD INDICATES THE OPENING AND
MANY MOVES AND A DEsCRIP-
rroN

HOW ONE WORD INDICATES THE OPENING AND
MANY MOVES AND DEsCRIP-
TON OF THE GAME
Chess players are probably less disconcerted
by the ominous sounds OF war and the excite
ment incident to the preparations for National
conflicts than any other class. During the
Franco Prussian war OF the early seventies an
international tournament was played at BADEN
Baden while the roar of the cannon OF the op-
posing armies could be distinctly heard by the
chess players and Stenitz who was one or the
players states that the games went on serenely'
as though It was only natures heavenly artll-
lery reverberating through the city. To chess
players therefore. no apology Is necessary for
presenting at this time story OF the develop
ment OF one OF those ingenious methods or con-
denslng news 80 that It can be cabfed across the
ocean for n minimum cost. known az cipher
code
The game Of chess IN this country. while grow
ing In popularity at n rapid rate. ia still in that
doubtful state where editors of newspapers look
askance upon reports Of tournaments and
matches and are inclined to refuse TO pay large
" fer matter. and when II refers to some event
in Europe where tho news must be transmitted
by cable the cost Is positively prohibitive. For
this reason It has been one OF the difficulties OF
chess Journalists to gain a footing In the papers
Of this country and until code was made up
European chess news was used with only meagre
details.
When GunsberR invited by the Havana
Chess Club in 1889 to play match in Havana
with Tschigorin. Mr.. Gunsberg and II. Cassel.
who came from England with him. first con-
sidered the expediency OF cabling reports OF tho
games from Havana to London They were con-
fronted by the problem Of expense. the cost OF
cabling from Havana to London being 30 cents
n word. and 1t at once decided that I'M
less some method could be found o. shortening
the reports II would not pay. Those men. with
the aid OF w. w Morgan. r.. Of London. devised
code by which descriptions Of the games could
be cabed by using one or two words FOR each
game. This code was found to be inadequate.
however. and many errors were made. From
that beginning Mr. Cassel worked out a much
more elaborate plan. which has stood the test
Of actual use In the cabling OF reports OF sew
eral important European tournaments played In
the last few years BY Mr.. Cassel's code II Is
possible to cable one word which viii give the
first sixteen moves Of q game. the name Of the
opening, and a short description Of the charac-
ter Of the game. telling how It was won or lost.
Some idea Of the amour. saved by such n sys-
sixteen moves OF chess would require about sixty
words and adding ten words for the descrip-
ton the cost would be about so In the tourna-
ment at Nuremberg in 1896 there were lU
games and me cost Of cabling report would
reach not less than $1,000.
Mr. Cassels code consists Of three parts first
q dictionary. second table Of the openings.
and third a table giving thirty-one sentences
deecr{hinr the possIble ways by which a game
may be won lost.
The dictionary used By Mr. Cassel is the Code
Book Issued by the international Telegraph
Union. which contains over 100000 words. In
adapting 1t FOR use ne chess cod" he subdi~
vilcd It into 1867 sections. each section CON
tanning thrty-two words. sixteen for White and
the same number for Black. The numerals show
tho number of moves made In the games. as
viii be- seen in the appended illustration. Inc
80" indicates that more than cigh'y-Ave moves
were made in the game. and the a" Is used
10 show that the game was adjourned unfinished
SECTIONS FROM TIE DICTIONARY