Evening star., 1912-09-08
MEETING A FAILURE
N. Y. Chess Association Seems
at an End.
PlLLSBURY'S GREAT WORK
Former Master Once Played a Tour
ney While Conversing With
Ladies Away From Boards.
'lLLSBURY'S GREAT WORK

The annual meeting OF the New York
State Chess Association. lately concluded
at Trenton Falls, N. T., seems to have been
the last gasp Of an institution that once
rivaled the famous British and German
associations. Not single entry from
Greater New York! And but for the
chivalrous attendance OF the Boston ex-
perts, Southard. Walcott and Daniels
they, by the way, carried off all the
prizes). it is probable that the meeting
would have been abandoned in disgust
without game being played
Synchronously with this fiasco the
British Chess Federation held it's annual
congress with every noted player IN
England present. few enthusiastic
continental amateurs added for good
measure. and Blackbourne and Marshall
were among the spectators.
Some fourteen or fifteen years ago the
writer was spending vacation in the
Thousand Islands, by chance, at the hotel
where the New York Chess Association
met that year. Pillsbury, Steinitz, Ma
pier. Showalter and Delmar were among
those who played in the major tourna-
ment. which. II he remembe bers correctly,
was won by Pillsbury
This greatest American chess player
since Morphy was then at the height of
his power and gave an exhibition OF his
blindfold abilities, which must have
greatly irritated his opponents. but
which created the most profound aston
ishment and admiration among the ordi-
nary. chess ignorant guests of the hotel
He first taught a bell-boy how to re-
cord the moves. then, after ne had opened
game over the board. he would call
this boy to his seat and saunter out
on the veranda to talk to the ladies'
When his opponent would make a move
the "bell-hop" would write 1T down on
slip of paper and hum up Pillsbury
who would beg the ladies pardon for a
second, glance at the paper. scrbble his
reply and go ahead with .he idle persi-
hage."
Now that the hot weather is about due
to depart 1t Is UP to the officials of the
Southern Chess Association and the Wash
ington Chess and Whist Club to bestir
themselves to the end that the District
Maryland and Virginia affair next winter
may be an even greater success than last
year. If found practical. the period Of
time for this meeting will be extended to
two or three days, according to the num-
Der of entries. in order that a regular
tournament, not an elimination contest
may be held.
A great many solvers found no trouble
whatever in winning Mr.. Fox's little end
game published last week, but they
failed to see that the variation they give
to win only draws. thus: P-B7, P-B8
(Q); 2. BxQ, BxB; PCS (Q) wins (D.
Black can now play B-It8 Oh; ard If
KxB stale-mate results. $50 many failed
to see this move. which is The whole point
OF the study, that we keep hack the solu-
tion for another week.
Prof I. L. Rice, the New York "chess
Maecenas," has donated $50 toward a
prize fund for a correspondence tourney
to be played at what, for want OF an off,
cial name, may be called the Abbazia
variation Of the Kings Gambit; P-k4.
P-K4; 2. P-kB4 PxP; 3. Kt-K.B3 or
B-QB4 Pos. 1t is to be hoped that
some OF the local stars will enter this
event
The following game at the odds Of pawn
and move was played last week by Mr..
Fox Of the Washington Chess and Whist
Club and Mr.. Tribune, who has recently
been cleaning up all comers at the Cap
ital City Club. Another anne was also
played at the same odds, and resulted in
q draw. Previously eight games had
been played upon equal terms, all of
which were won by Mr. Fox.
RENf0EE