D. R. Hay vs. M. Ott, Match, Dunedin, 1878
The friendly match between Herr Ott, an Austrian gentleman now on a visit to this city, and Mr David R. Hay, has been won by the latter gentleman, he having won two out of three games. It was at first intended to play the best of seven games, but Herr Ott's business engagements made his stay shorter than he at first anticipated, so the best of three games was fixed upon before commencing play. The time occupied in playing the three games was two hours, four nours and a-half, and two hours and three-quarters respectively. The match created considerable interest, and there were many eager onlookers. Herr Ott intends settling permanently in Wellington, and we have no doubt he will prove a valuable acquisition to the chess club in that city. [1]
Games
Otago Witness 28 September 1878
Hay, D. R. vs. Ott, M., 1st Game, Match, Dunedin, 1878
ECO "C52" Evans Gambit Accepted
Annotator "J. Mouat"
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. d4 exd4 7. O-O Qf6 {This is not a commendable mode of defence. Taking QBP is preferable, although it gives White a strong attack.} 8. e5 Qg6 9. cxd4 Nge7 10. Qb3 {10. Ng5 seems stronger; for instance, O-O 11. h4 anything 12. h5 And it is all but impossible for Black to save the game.} 10... b5 11. Bd3 Qe6 12. Qxe6 dxe6 13. Bxb5 O-O 14. Ba3 {Threatening to win the exchange.} 14... Nb4 {Apparently the best reply to White's last move.} 15. Nbd2 a6 16. Bc4 Nbc6 17. d5 {This appears to have been a miscalculation.} 17... exd5 18. Bd3 Re8 19. Nb3 Bc3 20. Rac1 Bxe5 21. Bxe7 {Well played, gaining a piece.} 21... Nxe7 22. Nxe5 Nf5 {Black's game is not very hopeful, and he certainly does not improve it by this and subsequent moves. With two passed pawns he might have still made a fight had he devoted his attention to preserving and advancing them, but he seems recklessly to have abandoned this, the only strong point he had.} 23. Rfe1 f6 24. Nc6 Bd7 {From bad to worse. Thio settles the matter, and White does not fail to take immediate advantage of it.} 25. Bxf5 Bxf5 26. Ne7+ Rxe7 27. Rxe7 Kf8 28. Rcxc7 Rc8 29. Rxg7 Re8 30. Rcf7# 1-0
Otago Witness 19 October 1878
This is the second game played in the private match between Herr Ott and Mr D. R. Hay.
Ott, M. vs. Hay, D. R., 2nd Game, Match, Dunedin, 1878
ECO "C29"
Annotator "J. Mouat"
1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. exd5 Nxd5 5. Nxd5 {Taking the Xt is not advisable. 5. fxe5 is preferable.} 5... Qxd5 6. Qe2 Be7 {Black has now an undoubted advantage in position : more than equal to the Pawn which he sacrificed.} 7. fxe5 Bh4+ 8. Kd1 O-O 9. c3 Re8 10. d4 Nc6 11. Bd2 a6 12. h3 b5 13. Qh5 Be7 14. Nf3 Bb7 15. Bd3 g6 16. Qh6 Bf8 17. Qh4 Rad8 18. Bh6 {18. Ng5 seems stronger.} 18... Nxe5 {Black gains a Pawn and strengthens his attack.} 19. Be2 Nc4 20. b3 Ne3+ 21. Bxe3 Rxe3 22. Kd2 Rde8 23. Rae1 Bg7 24. Bd3 Rxe1 25. Rxe1 Rxe1 26. Qxe1 Qd7 27. Be4 {The game should result in a draw.} 27... c6 28. Qg3 Bc8 29. Qb8 f5 30. Bd3 h6 31. Ne5 Bxe5 32. dxe5 Kg7 33. Qd6 Qxd6 34. exd6 Bd7 35. c4 c5 36. b4 cxb4 37. c5 Kf6 38. Bc2 Ke5 39. Bb3 a5 40. Kd3 f4 41. Bf7 g5 42. Bg8 Bc6 43. Bf7 Kf6 44. Bg8 {Black would probably have done better by advancing the Pawns on the Queen's side.} 44... Ke5 45. Bb3 h5 46. Bf7 g4 47. Bxh5 gxh3 48. gxh3 Kd5 49. Bg4 Kxc5 50. d7 Bxd7 51. Bxd7 Kd5 52. Bxb5 {Resigns.} 1-0
Otago Witness 9 November 1878
The following lively and interesting game is the final one in the private match between Mr David R. Hay and Herr Ott, of Vienna, who happened to pass through Dunedin on his way to Wellington, where he is now settled.
Hay, D. R. vs. Ott, M., 3rd Game, Match, Dunedin, 1878
ECO "C52" Evans Gambit Accepted
Annotator "J. Mouat"
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. d4 exd4 7. O-O dxc3 8. Qb3 Qf6 9. e5 Qg6 10. Nxc3 Nge7 11. Bb2 {Some players prefer 11. Ne2, but this is a very strong move, as it frees White's pieces nicely.} 11... O-O 12. Rad1 a6 13. Bd3 Qe6 14. Bxh7+ {Gaining a valuable. Pawn, as of course Black could not take the B for fear of White playing 15. Ng5+ winning the Q for N.} 14... Kh8 15. Bb1 Ng6 {Black would have done wisely to have exchanged Queens at this stage, as that would have weakened While's attack considerably.} 16. Nd5 b5 17. Ng5 Qg4 18. f4 Bb7 19. Rf3 Nh4 20. Rg3 Qe2 21. Bd3 {The situation is now very critical, and, as a natural consequence, interesting.} 21... Qh5 22. Rh3 Nd8 23. Be2 Qh6 {The only move he had, for had he taken the B, White follows by 24. Rxh4+ Kg8 , followed by 25. Ne7#.} 24. g3 Bxd5 25. Qxd5 Qb6+ 26. Bd4 Qc6 27. Rxh4+ Kg8 28. Qxc6 {White might h»ve done better by playing his 28. Qb3, followed by Qb1, with a view of supporting his KR (h4) in the attack, but still his King is now very much exposed. So, perhaps after all, the move played is the best. } 28... Nxc6 29. Bb2 Rfd8 30. Bf3 Rab8 31. Bd5 Nb4 {31... Rf8 seems preferable, but anyhow Whito has now a winning position.} 32. Bxf7+ Kf8 33. Bb3 c5 34. Bf7 Bb6 35. Rd6 c4+ 36. Kg2 Bc5 37. Rg6 Nd3 38. Rh7 {Well played.} 38... Nxb2 {Exactly. Just what White wanted, as it onables him to finish the game very prettily.} 39. Rgxg7 Nd3 40. Rg8+ Ke7 41. Bxc4# 1-0
Time: Two hours.
The score was: Mr Hay, 2 ; and Herr Ott, 1;
References:
[1] Otago Witness 28 September 1878