j Obviously trusting to secure a loophole of escape via his Q B, but producing a most curious finish. We confess, however, that we at first thought that White had a saving resource at this juncture in 15 Kt-K B3! instead, but the follow ing variation seems to prove it unavailingls Kt-K B 3, q-q 4 ch : 16 B-Q 2, p x b ! [not 16 kt x b, because of 17 P-K 4 ! kt x p dis ch; 18 B-Q 3 ! etc.); 17 P-Q 84, q x p; 18 Kt x P, q-q 4 ; 19 R- R2. b-k 6; 20 Q-Q 88, q xr! 21 Q-Q B 2, kt-b 7 ch 24 Kxß,q xq, and wins. (Jan our readers find any flaw in this variation ? k Truly a remarkable finish to a remarkable game. CHESS GOSSIP. Mr Mellor will give an exposition of Mr Pilleau’s new chess notation on Wednesday, December 16, in the Otago Chess Club Rooms, at about half-past eight in the evening. The Otago Chess Club, at their Committee meeting last Monday, nominated Messrs R. A. Clelaud, J. Edwards, J. Mouat, and J. W. Mellor for the annual New Zealand Championship Tournament, commencing at Christchurch on December 26. Un fortunately neither Mr Cleland nor Mr Mouat can attend, so that Dunedin will be represented by Messrs Edwards and Mellor. In answer to a correspondent in the ‘ Daily News’Mr Gunsberg writes as follows: — “ More than one first move to a problem constitutes a fatal defect. The problem is unsound. If White has more than one second move, that constitutes a blemish only, aud the problem is then said to have duals. There are various degrees of duals. If Black can avoid them by correct play the duals are less objectionable. In the best problems duals are avoided as much as possible. It is then said the problem is “ clean,” but some exceedingly fine problems have been composed where duals occurred. Very often duals can be avoided only at the cost of many good variations. Many authors submit to duals in preference to spoiling fine mating conceptions. 