Then Ellis comes with rapid transit,
And few there are who can withstand it;
Some day soon he’s bound to land it.

So said the bard of Richmond Chess Club at their 1911 AGM. Arthur Compton Ellis was a man who lived his life, as well as playing his chess, with rapid transit. Although he spent little more than two years in the area, he flashed like a meteor across the Richmond and Kew chess scene.

Let’s find out more.

Our story starts on 20 September 1887, with the marriage between George Frederick Ellis, a surveyor aged 39 and Margaret Fraser, aged 31. Rather late for marriage in those days. Their only child, Arthur Compton Ellis’s birth was registered in the Pancras district of London in the first quarter of 1889.

In the 1891 census the family are living in Kentish Town. George is working as a Surveyor of Roads and Sewers, and they’re doing well enough to employ a servant. By 1901 they’ve moved a mile to the north, close to Parliament Hill Fields: George is now, just like James Richmond Cartledge would be a few years later, a Deputy Borough Engineer and Surveyor. Margaret is, perhaps unexpectedly, working as a Physician and Surgeon, while Arthur is at school. There were no domestic staff at home.

Arthur moved from school to the University of London, where he graduated with a BA in 1909, at the age of only 20. In the same year his father died: the death was registered in Camberwell, South London.

Perhaps he discovered the game of chess at university. He may also have discovered religion. In 1908 he was baptised at St Luke’s Church, Kew, with his address given as 40 West Park Road, right by Kew Gardens Station. At this point the family appeared to have connections, then, with both the Richmond/Kew area and South London.

He first turns up playing for Richmond Chess Club in December 1908, losing his game on bottom board in a London League match against Ibis.  It looks like he joined the club on the completion of his studies. Although he seemed to be struggling in match play at this point, in April 1909 he finished second in a lightning tournament, which, that year, replaced the annual club dinner.

In 1910, now styling himself A Compton Ellis, he was advertising his tuition services in the Daily Telegraph. LCP was a teaching qualification.

By Summer 1910 he felt confident enough to take part in a tournament. The British Championships took place that year in Oxford, and Arthur was placed in the 3rd Class C section.With a score of 10½/11, it was clear that he was improving fast, and should have been in at least the 2nd Class division. The prizes were presented by none other than William Archibald Spooner.

A handicap tournament also took place there, in which he won first prize: a model of the earth with a clock inside, enabling him to ascertain the time of day in any part of the world. This prize was donated by its inventor, James Haddon Overton, a schoolmaster from Woodstock.

In September that year, not content with only playing at Richmond, where he had now reached top board in a match against Acton, he was one of the founders of a new club in Kew.

Richmond and Kew weren’t his only clubs, either. He was also a member of South London Chess Club, about which there’s very little information online.

In this London League game he fell victim to a brilliant queen sacrifice. Click on any move in any game in this article for a pop-up window enabling you to play through the game.

[pgn]

[Event “South London v Lud Eagle London League”]
[Site “London ENG”]
[Date “1910.11.??”]
[Round “?”]
[White “Ellis, Arthur Compton”]
[Black “Anspach, Frederick Law”]
[Result “0-1”]
[ECO “C14”]
[Annotator “Tactical Analysis 6.4”]
[PlyCount “54”]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. Bxe7 Qxe7 7. Qd2 a6 8. f4 c5 9. dxc5 {[#]} Nc6 $146 ({Predecessor:} 9… Qxc5 10. Nf3 Nc6 11. Bd3 b5 12. Ne2 Bb7 13. c3 h6 14. Ned4 g6 15. b4 Qe7 16. a4 bxa4 17. Rxa4 Nxd4 18. Nxd4 Nb6 19. Ra5 Nc4 20. Bxc4 dxc4 {1-0 Steinitz,W-Price,J Four board blind sim Wilmington 1885}) 10. Nf3 Nxc5 11. a3 {C14: French: Classical System: 4 Bg5 Be7 main line.} O-O 12. Nd4 ({Better is} 12. b4 $14 Ne4 13. Nxe4 dxe4 14. Ng5) 12… f6 13. Nxc6 {Black is slightly better.} bxc6 14. exf6 Qxf6 15. g3 {[#]} Rb8 (15… d4 $1 $17 16. Na2 e5) 16. Rb1 $2 (16. O-O-O $1 $11) 16… e5 17. fxe5 (17. Bg2) 17… Qxe5+ $19 {Black is clearly winning.} 18. Qe2 {[#]} Qxc3+ $3 {Remove Defender} 19. bxc3 Rxb1+ 20. Kd2 Ne4+ {Deflection} 21. Qxe4 Rbxf1 $1 22. Rxf1 dxe4 23. Rxf8+ Kxf8 {KB-KP} 24. Ke3 Bf5 25. g4 Bg6 26. h4 h5 27. gxh5 Bh7 {Weighted Error Value: White=1.16/Black=0.36 Source: West Sussex County Times 25 November 1910} 0-1

[/pgn]

Arthur Compton Ellis was infectiously enthusiastic, ambitious and seemed to have contacts with a number of strong amateur players, mostly from the Civil Service, as is demonstrated by this event.

A win against our old friend Wilfred Hugh Miller Kirk was also evidence that Arthur was developing into a formidable player.

The 1911 census found Arthur and his mother still living at 40 West Park Road, Kew Gardens. Arthur gave his occupation as ‘Tutor’ while there was no occupation listed for Margaret.

By then it was time for another tournament. The Kent and Sussex Chess Congress, run by the Kent County Chess Association took place over Easter at this time. It’s little written about today, but it attracted some of the country’s top players. The top section in the 1911, for example, played in Tunbridge Wells, was won by Yates ahead of Gunsberg. The organising committee, coincidentally, included the Kent secretary Rufus Henry Streatfeild Stevenson, and the Sussex secretary, Harold John Francis Spink Stephenson. Arthur Compton Ellis took part in the third section down, the Second Class Open, where he was again too good for the opposition, finishing on 8½/10, half a point ahead of Battersea veteran Bernard William Fisher (1836-1914), who had been a master standard player back in the 1880s. Visitors included Frank Marshall, who gave a simul and a talk, and Joseph Blackburne, who gave simuls and played consultation games. Horace Fabian Cheshire gave a talk, with lantern slides, on chess players past and present, and also an exposition of the game of Go. It sounds like a good time was had by all.

Arthur persuaded Frank Marshall to visit Richmond and give a simul against members of local chess clubs, and that was duly arranged.

The AGM in September would report as follows:

Always eager to play in any event, he won the Dalgarno-Robinson chess trophy, competed for by members of local branches of the Association of Young Men’s Clubs, and played on top board when Richmond Chess Club visited Hastings, drawing his game against the aforementioned Mr Stephenson.

He decided to give the 1911 British Championship, held in Glasgow, a miss, though. Perhaps he wasn’t prepared to travel that far.

The Richmond Herald was now carrying less chess news, but we know from a report from the other end of Surrey that Kew Chess Club were becoming even more successful.

You’ll see that Ellis didn’t stand for re-election as captain. This seems to have been because Arthur and Margaret had moved from Kew to South London.

Over Easter 1912, though, he returned to Tunbridge Wells for the Kent and Sussex Easter Congress, this time promoted to the top (First Class Open) section. Now against stronger opposition, this time he found the going tough, only scoring 2½/8.

The winner was the future Sir George Thomas, who wasted little time of disposing of Ellis, who misplaced his queen’s knight on his 11th move.

[pgn]

[Event “Tunbridge Wells 1st Class Open”]
[Site “Tunbridge Wells ENG”]
[Date “1912.04.??”]
[Round “?”]
[White “Thomas, George Alan”]
[Black “Ellis, Arthur Compton”]
[Result “1-0”]
[ECO “C83”]
[Annotator “Tactical Analysis 6.4”]
[PlyCount “35”]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. c3 Be7 10. Re1 O-O 11. Nd4 {[#] C83: Open Ruy Lopez: 9 c3 Be7.} ({White should play} 11. Bf4 $11) 11… Na7 $146 {[#]} (11… Nxe5 $15 {stays ahead.} 12. f3 Bh4) ({Predecessor:} 11… Nxd4 12. cxd4 c5 13. f3 Ng5 14. Be3 c4 15. Bc2 Qd7 16. h4 Nh3+ 17. Kh2 Bxh4 18. Rf1 f6 19. gxh3 fxe5 20. dxe5 Bxh3 {1-0 City Groningen-City Leeuwarden City corr 1911}) 12. Bc2 $18 {Black must now prevent f3.} Nc5 $2 (12… Qd7 13. Nxe6 Qxe6) 13. b4 {White is winning.} ({Less strong is} 13. Qh5 g6 14. Qf3 Qd7 $14) 13… Nb7 (13… Ne4 14. f3 c5) 14. Nxe6 {White is clearly winning.} fxe6 15. Qh5 g6 {[#]} 16. Bxg6 {Demolition} hxg6 17. Qxg6+ Kh8 18. Re3 {Black did not feel at home in the position after the opening. Weighted Error Value: White=0.15 (very precise) /Black=1.88} 1-0

[/pgn]

However, he did have the satisfaction of defeating Fred Brown, one of two chess playing brothers from Dudley. (He had a brother Frank, who was also a strong player. Understandably, in the days when newspapers only gave players’ initials, they were often confused.) Fred shared second place with future BCM editor Julius du Mont in this tournament.

[pgn]

[Event “Tunbridge Wells 1st Class Open”]
[Site “?”]
[Date “1912.04.??”]
[Round “?”]
[White “Ellis, Arthur Compton”]
[Black “Brown, Fred”]
[Result “1-0”]
[ECO “B73”]
[Annotator “Tactical Analysis 6.4”]
[PlyCount “63”]
[Source “The Standard, 1912.04.13, p.5”]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be3 g6 7. Be2 Bg7 8. O-O O-O 9. f4 Ne8 {[#] B73: Sicilian Dragon: Classical System without 9 Nb3.} ({Black should play} 9… Qb6 $11) 10. Rb1 $146 ({Predecessor:} 10. f5) 10… Nc7 11. Nxc6 bxc6 {White is slightly better.} 12. Bd4 Ne6 13. Bxg7 Qb6+ 14. Kh1 Kxg7 15. f5 Nc7 {[#]} (15… Nc5 $11) 16. f6+ exf6 $11 {next …Qc5 is good for Black.} 17. Qxd6 {Na4 would be deadly.} Ne6 18. e5 fxe5 ({Better is} 18… f5 $1 $11) 19. Qxe5+ $14 f6 20. Qg3 Ba6 {[#] Prevents Bc4.} 21. Bxa6 $1 ({Much worse is} 21. Qd6 $6 c5 22. Qg3 Bxe2 23. Nxe2 Rad8 $11) 21… Qxa6 22. Rbe1 (22. Qd6 $16 Qc4 23. Rfe1 (23. Rbe1 Rae8 $14)) 22… Rae8 $11 23. Ne4 Nd4 (23… Nd8 $11 24. Qh4 c5) 24. Qc7+ (24. Qf4 $16 Qa5 25. Nxf6 {Discovered Attack} Qxe1 26. Nxe8+ Rxe8 27. Qxd4+ Kg8 28. Qf6) 24… Rf7 $14 {[#]} 25. Qxf7+ {Decoy} Kxf7 26. Nd6+ {Discovered Attack, Deflection, Double Attack} (26. Nxf6 $2 {perishes.} Rxe1 27. Rxe1 Nxc2 $19) 26… Kg7 $2 (26… Kg8 $1 $11 27. Rxe8+ Kg7 28. Re7+ Kh6 29. Rxf6 Nf5) 27. Nxe8+ $18 Kh6 28. Nxf6 {And now Rf2 would win.} Nf5 29. g4 c5 $2 (29… Nh4 $16 30. b3 c5) 30. Ng8+ $2 (30. Ne4 $18 {and the rest is easy.}) 30… Kg7 $16 {White must now prevent …Qc6+.} 31. gxf5 {Strongly threatening f6+.} Kxg8 32. f6 {Weighted Error Value: White=0.51/Black=0.62 Source: Globe 27 April 1912 (annotated by Ellis)} 1-0

[/pgn]

It seems that he was lucky here: his opponent resigned what may well have been a drawn position as he would have had chances of a perpetual check if he’d continued with 32… Kf7!. What do you think?

At the same event, Arthur and his friend from Kew, Montague White Stephens, played in a consultation simul against Blackburne. They were successful after the great veteran uncharacteristically missed a simple mate in 3 on move 19.

[pgn]

[Event “Consultation simul, 7b”]
[Site “Tunbridge Wells ENG”]
[Date “1912.04.??”]
[Round “?”]
[White “Blackburne, Joseph Henry”]
[Black “Ellis, Arthur Compton”]
[Result “0-1”]
[ECO “C25”]
[Annotator “Tactical Analysis 6.4”]
[PlyCount “98”]
1. e4 {Ellis’s consultation partner in this game was Montague White Stevens} e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4 exf4 4. Nf3 g5 5. h4 g4 6. Ng5 h6 7. Nxf7 Kxf7 8. Bc4+ {[#] C25: Vienna Game: Alternatives to 2…Nf6.} (8. d4 $17 {was the only chance.}) 8… d5 $1 $19 {[#]} 9. Nxd5 $146 ({Predecessor:} 9. Bxd5+ Ke8 10. d4 Bg7 11. Bxf4 Nxd4 12. Qd2 Ne6 13. O-O-O c6 14. Qe1 Qa5 15. Bd6 Ne7 16. Bb3 {Romashkevich,A-Tabunschikov,V corr 1895}) 9… Be6 {Threatens to win with …f3!} 10. d4 {Black is clearly better.} (10. Nxf4 $2 Bxc4 11. d3 Nf6 12. dxc4 Qxd1+ 13. Kxd1 Nxe4 $19) 10… Nf6 (10… f3 $1 $19 11. gxf3 g3) 11. Bxf4 $17 Bd6 $2 (11… Nxe4 12. O-O Kg7 13. Ne3 Bxc4 14. Qxg4+ Kh7 15. Qf5+ Kg8 16. Nxc4 $16) (11… Nxd5 12. exd5 Bxd5 13. O-O $14) (11… Bxd5 $17 {and life is bright.} 12. exd5 Qe8+ 13. Kf2 Na5) 12. Bxd6 $2 (12. O-O $18) 12… Qxd6 $14 13. O-O $36 {White is pushing.} Bxd5 14. e5 $2 (14. Bxd5+ $14 {stays ahead.} Ke7 15. Rf5) 14… Nxe5 $19 15. dxe5 Qc5+ 16. Kh1 Qxc4 ({Weaker is} 16… Bxc4 17. Qd7+ Kg8 18. Rxf6 $17) 17. Rxf6+ {[#]} Kg7 $2 (17… Ke7 $1 $19 18. b3 Bxg2+ {Decoy} 19. Kxg2 Qe4+ 20. Kg1 Qe3+ 21. Kh1 Qh3+ 22. Kg1 Qg3+ 23. Kf1 Qxe5) 18. Qd2 $15 {Strongly threatening Raf1.} Rhf8 $2 (18… Raf8 $15 19. b3 Qe4) 19. Raf1 $4 (19. Qxh6+ Kg8 20. Qg5+ Kh8 21. Rh6#) 19… Qxf1+ $19 (19… Qxa2 $2 {leads to mate.} 20. Qxh6+ Kg8 21. Rg6#) 20. Rxf1 Rxf1+ 21. Kh2 Bc6 ({Inferior is} 21… Bxa2 22. b3 $15) 22. e6 {[#]} g3+ $1 23. Kh3 (23. Kxg3 Re8) 23… Rg8 24. Qd4+ Kf8 25. Qd8+ Be8 26. e7+ Kg7 27. Kxg3 Kh7+ 28. Kh2 Rf2 29. Qd3+ Bg6 {Skewer} 30. e8=Q Rxe8 31. Qd7+ Kg8 {…Ree2 would be deadly.} 32. h5 Bxh5 33. Qxc7 Ree2 34. Qb8+ Kh7 35. Qxb7+ Bf7 {And now …Rxg2+ would win.} 36. Kh3 Kg6 {Hoping for …Rxg2.} 37. Kg3 Rxg2+ 38. Kf3 Rgf2+ 39. Kg3 h5 40. Qc6+ Kg5 41. Qc5+ Rf5 42. Qd4 Ree5 43. Qh4+ Kh6 44. Qd4 Bd5 45. Qd2+ Kg7 {…Rf3+ is the strong threat.} 46. Kh4 {[#]} Rf4+ $2 47. Kg3 $2 (47. Qxf4 $17 Re4 48. Qxe4 Bxe4 49. Kxh5) 47… Rf3+ 48. Kh4 Re4+ (48… Bxa2 $2 49. Qg2+ Kf8 50. Qxf3+ Bf7 51. Qa3+ Kg7 52. Qxa7 $18) 49. Kg5 Be6 {An exciting game. Weighted Error Value: White=1.01/Black=0.96} 0-1

 

[/pgn]

Montague White Stevens (1881-1947) was only a club standard player, but he edited the 1914 Year Book of Chess and produced a revised edition of EA Greig’s Pitfalls on the Chess-Board.

In April 1912 a new Chess Divan opened in the Strand, replacing Simpson’s Chess Divan, which had closed a few years earlier, and Gunsberg was appointed its manager. Arthur, who would go almost anywhere for a game of chess, was soon involved.  With lightning tournaments a regular feature, a devotee of rapid transit chess would be in his element.

In May’s lightning tournament there was a full house, with the participants ‘mostly first-class amateurs’. Arthur shared first place with future British Champion Roland Henry Vaughan Scott and future writer and historian Philip Walsingham Sergeant. Lightning chess was proving increasingly popular, and I would assume this tournament was played using a buzzer. But there was an announcement that the following week there would be a five-minute tournament ‘which affords such amusing play’. If you think five-minute chess is amusing, you should try bullet. Arthur would have loved that.

In June there were only 12 players in the lightning tournament, with Arthur Compton Ellis sharing first place with Harold Godfrey Cole, who had played in the previous year’s Anglo-American cable match and would, a couple of months later, take second place in the British Championship. It’s evident from these results that he was a formidable speed player.

He was, inevitably, involved in administration as well.

A strong and interesting line-up, you’ll agree, with players such as former World Championship candidate Isidor Gunsberg and top lady player Louisa Matilda Fagan amongst many well-known participants.

This wasn’t a standard all-play-all tournament: rather you could play as many games as you wanted against as many opponents as you wanted, with the player with the best percentage score of those who played at least 20 games winning. It sounds like you could improve your chances by playing lots of games against weaker players. On 22 June the London Evening Standard reported that Ellis had beaten Mrs Fagan and drawn with Scott.

There was further news in three weeks time, when some players had made a lot of progress with their games.

In this game against Scotsman John Macalister, a shorthand writer in the Admirality Court, he was winning but went wrong on move 19 in a complex position, eventually falling victim to a queen sacrifice.

[pgn]

[Event “Divan 1st Class Open”]
[Site “London ENG”]
[Date “1912.07.??”]
[Round “?”]
[White “Ellis, Arthur Compton”]
[Black “Macalister, John”]
[Result “0-1”]
[ECO “A43”]
[Annotator “Tactical Analysis 6.4”]
[PlyCount “56”]

1. d4 c5 2. dxc5 e6 3. e4 Bxc5 4. Bd3 Nc6 {[#]} 5. Nf3 $146 ({Predecessor:} 5. Ne2 Nf6 6. O-O d5 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. Nbc3 O-O 9. Nxd5 Qxd5 10. Nf4 Qd6 11. Be3 f5 {½-½ Hamppe,C-Harrwitz,D Match Harrwitz-Hampe +3-0=1 Vienna 1860 (3)}) 5… Nge7 6. c4 {A43: Schmid Benoni.} Ng6 7. Nc3 b6 8. a3 {The position is equal.} Nce5 9. Be2 Nxf3+ 10. Bxf3 Qf6 11. O-O {Threatens to win with e5!} Ne5 12. Be2 {Nb5 would be deadly.} Bb7 13. Nb5 (13. b4 $16 Bd4 14. Bb2 (14. Qxd4 $2 {is the wrong capture.} Nf3+ {Discovered Attack} 15. Bxf3 Qxd4 $19)) 13… O-O $11 {And now …Qh4 would win.} (13… Bxe4 $2 14. b4 $18) 14. b4 Be7 15. f4 {[#]} Nf3+ $2 16. Bxf3 $18 Qxa1 17. Qxd7 $2 (17. Qb3) 17… Bf6 {[#] Black is weak on the light squares} (17… Ba6 $142) 18. Qxb7 (18. Be3 $1 $18 {is the precise move to win.} Qa2 19. Qxb7 Qxc4 20. Qa6 (20. Nxa7 Rfb8 $16)) 18… a6 $2 (18… Bd4+ $16 {is a better chance.} 19. Kh1 Be3) 19. Nc7 $4 (19. Be3 $18 Qb2 20. e5 axb5 21. exf6) 19… Qd4+ $19 20. Kh1 Qxc4 21. Rg1 Rac8 22. Nxa6 (22. Nxe6 fxe6 23. Be3) 22… Qxc1 {Black is clearly winning.} 23. e5 Qe3 (23… Qxf4 24. exf6 Rc1 25. Qxb6 $14) 24. exf6 (24. Bc6 $142 Be7 25. g3) 24… Rc1 25. Bd1 Rd8 26. Qf3 {[#]} Qxg1+ $3 27. Kxg1 {Black must now prevent h3!} Rdxd1+ 28. Kf2 {Threatening mate with Qa8+.} Rf1+ {Weighted Error Value: White=1.08/Black=0.63 ‘and wins’ Source: Globe 06 July 1912} (28… gxf6 $2 29. Kg3 $18) 0-1

[/pgn]

By the end of August, Loman and Scott were both on 13/16, with 18 games now required for your score to count, but after that the trail goes dead. It looks to me like the whole concept was rather too ambitious to succeed.

But meanwhile, the 1912 British Championships had taken place in Richmond, familiar territory for Arthur Compton Ellis.  This time he was placed in the 1st Class Amateurs A section.

He made a strong showing with 7/11, sharing 3rd place behind Surbiton ophthalmic surgeon Thomas Wilfrid Letchworth (Wilfred Kirk won the parallel 1st Class Amateurs B section), but at this point he seemed to be a stronger lightning player.

This game shared the prize for the best game played in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd class sections, judged by Thomas Francis Lawrence. The winning move seems pretty obvious to me, though. There is some doubt as to the exact identity of his opponent: three possibilities were put forward in a recent online debate, and you could perhaps add a fourth. I’ll discuss this further in a future Minor Piece.

[pgn]

[Event “BCF-ch 9th First Class A Richmond”]
[Date “1912.08.20”]
[Round “?”]
[White “Ellis, Arthur Compton”]
[Black “Beamish, Alfred? Ernest?”]
[Result “1-0”]
[ECO “C90”]
[Annotator “Tactical Analysis 6.4”]
[PlyCount “65”]
[EventDate “1912.??.??”]
[Source “The Standard, 1912.04.13, p.5”]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. d3 {[#]} Kh8 $146 {C90: Closed Ruy Lopez with 7…d6: Early deviations.} (9… Na5 $11 {remains equal.}) ({Predecessor:} 9… Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. Nbd2 Qc7 12. Nf1 Nc6 13. Ne3 Bb7 14. Nf5 Rfe8 15. Bg5 Nd7 16. Bb3 Nf8 17. Bd5 Ng6 18. Bxe7 Ngxe7 19. Bxf7+ Kxf7 20. Ng5+ Kg8 21. Qh5 Nxf5 22. Qxh7+ Kf8 23. Qxf5+ Kg8 24. Qg6 Qd7 25. Re3 {1-0 Teichmann,R-Schlechter,C Karlsbad-02 International Masters Karlovy Vary 1911 (18)}) 10. h3 Ng8 ({Black should play} 10… Be6 $14) 11. Bd5 Qe8 {White is better.} 12. d4 Bf6 (12… Bd7 $142) 13. Be3 Nge7 14. dxe5 dxe5 (14… Nxd5 $14 15. exf6 Nxf6) 15. Bc5 $16 Bb7 16. a4 Rg8 17. axb5 axb5 18. Rxa8 Bxa8 19. Na3 Nxd5 20. exd5 ({Worse is} 20. Qxd5 Nd4 21. Qa2 Nxf3+ 22. gxf3 Bc6 $17) 20… Na5 {[#]} (20… Nb8 $142) 21. Nxe5 {White is much more active.} Bxe5 $14 22. f4 f6 23. fxe5 $18 {Black is weak on the dark squares} fxe5 24. Bd4 (24. Qd3 $18) 24… Bxd5 $2 {A mistake that costs the game.} (24… e4 $16 {might work better.}) 25. Rxe5 ({Not} 25. Bxe5 Qc6 $16) 25… Qd7 {[#]} (25… Bb3 $142) 26. Rxd5 $1 {Double Attack. White is clearly winning.} Qf7 27. Rxb5 Nc6 28. Nc2 Rd8 29. Qh5 Qf4 30. Qg5 Qf8 31. Rf5 Qe7 32. Qxe7 Nxe7 33. Rf7 {Weighted Error Value: White=0.37/Black=0.75} 1-0

[/pgn]

He later provided brief annotations for the press, where it appeared immediately above a Very Famous Miniature which had been played a few days earlier. I’m sure you’ll recognise it.

This thrilling game against music professor Edward Davidson Palmer (he taught singing), in which Arthur ventured the King’s Gambit, is a good demonstration of his fondness for tactical play. His opening failed to convince and Palmer missed several wins, but he ultimately escaped with the full point.

[pgn]

[Event “BCF-ch 9th First Class A Richmond”]
[Date “1912.08.??”]
[Round “?”]
[White “Ellis, Arthur Compton”]
[Black “Palmer, Edward Davidson”]
[Result “1-0”]
[ECO “C33”]
[Annotator “Tactical Analysis 6.4”]
[PlyCount “107”]
[Source “The Standard, 1912.04.13, p.5”]

1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Bc4 f5 4. Bxg8 Rxg8 {[#]} 5. e5 $146 ({Predecessor:} 5. Qh5+ g6 6. Qxh7 Rg7 7. Qh8 fxe4 8. Ne2 f3 9. O-O Rf7 10. gxf3 exf3 11. Ng3 d5 {0-1 Mayet,C-Neumann,G Match Neumann-Mayet +6-0=1 Berlin 1866}) 5… Qh4+ 6. Kf1 {C33: King’s Gambit Accepted: 3 Nc3 and 3 Bc4.} b6 (6… Bc5 7. d4 Be7 8. Nc3 $11) 7. d4 {Dodges Bc5} (7. Nf3 Qh5 8. c4) 7… Ba6+ $19 8. Ne2 {Black is clearly winning.} g5 {White is weak on the light squares} 9. Kg1 {[#]} (9. Nd2 $142 Nc6 10. c4) 9… f3 $1 10. gxf3 (10. Ng3 Nc6) 10… g4 11. f4 {[#]} g3 $1 {( -> …g2)} 12. h3 Bb7 13. d5 Bc5+ $2 (13… g2 {mates} 14. Qf1 Bxd5 15. Rh2 Bc5+ 16. Nd4 Bxd4+ 17. Be3 Bxe3+ 18. Qf2 Bxf2#) 14. Kg2 Nc6 {White must now prevent …Nxe5!} 15. Nbc3 $2 (15. Rf1 Bf2 16. Nbc3) 15… Ne7 16. Ng1 Bxg1 17. Rxg1 c6 18. Qd4 (18. Be3) 18… Rc8 (18… cxd5 $2 19. Nb5 O-O-O 20. Nd6+ (20. Nxa7+ $2 Kb8 $19) 20… Kb8 21. Nxb7 Kxb7 22. a4 $17) 19. Bd2 c5 20. Qc4 {[#]} b5 $2 21. Qxb5 $15 (21. Nxb5 $2 Bxd5+ $19) 21… Rc7 (21… Bxd5+ 22. Nxd5 Nxd5 23. e6 $16) (21… Rb8 $1 $17 22. Qd3 (22. Qxc5 Qh5 $17) 22… Qh5) 22. Qc4 (22. Qd3 $5) 22… Rg6 {Hoping for …Ba6.} 23. b3 $2 (23. a4 $11 {and White stays safe.}) 23… Rb6 $2 (23… Rh6 24. Kf3 (24. Rh1 $2 Ba6 $19) 24… Rg6 25. Ke2 $17) ({Better is} 23… Ba6 $19 24. Nb5 Nxd5) 24. a3 $2 (24. Qd3 $1 $16 {is forced if you want to stay better.}) 24… Ba6 $19 (24… Rh6 25. Kf3 (25. Rh1 $2 Ba6 $19) 25… Rg6 26. Kg2 $17) 25. Qa4 c4 $2 (25… Rh6 $19 26. Rh1 Qh5 27. Qxa6 (27. Kxg3 $2 Be2 $19) 27… Rxa6) 26. b4 $1 $11 Bb7 (26… Rh6 $5 27. Kf3 $8 (27. Rh1 $2 Qh5 $17) 27… Qxh3 28. Rxg3 Qh2 $11) 27. Qa5 Nc6 (27… Rc8 $11) 28. dxc6 (28. Qc5 $16 {And now b5 would win.} Rc8 29. Qe3 (29. dxc6 Bxc6+ 30. Kf1 g2+ 31. Ke2 Bf3+ {Discovered Attack} 32. Kxf3 Rxc5 $11)) 28… Rcxc6 {aiming for …Rd6+.} 29. Nd5 {Strongly threatening Be3.} (29. Qxa7 Rd6+ 30. Kf1 Rxd2 31. Ke1 Qxf4 32. Qxb6 Rxc2 33. Rd1 Rxc3) 29… Rc5 $2 30. bxc5 $4 (30. Qxc5 $18 c3 31. Be3) 30… Bxd5+ $19 31. Kf1 {[#]} Qxh3+ $4 (31… Bf3 $1 $19 {avoids the disaster.} 32. Be3 (32. cxb6 Qxh3+ 33. Ke1 Qh2) 32… g2+ 33. Rxg2 Qxh3 {Pin}) 32. Ke1 $18 Qh2 {[#]} 33. Be3 (33. Rf1 g2 34. Be3 gxf1=Q+ 35. Kxf1 Qg2+ 36. Ke1 Rh6 37. Bf2 Rh2) 33… Rb7 (33… Rb2 {was necessary.} 34. Rc1 (34. Qxa7 Rxc2 35. Qb8+ Kf7 36. e6+ Bxe6) 34… Bf3) 34. Qc3 Rb2 35. Rc1 (35. Qxb2 Bf3 36. Qb8+ Kf7 37. e6+ (37. Qxa7 $2 Qe2#) 37… dxe6 38. Qc7+ (38. Qxa7+ Kf8 $11) 38… Ke8 39. Qc8+ (39. Qxa7 $2 Qe2#) 39… Ke7 40. Qc7+ Ke8 41. Qc8+ (41. Qxa7 $2 Qe2#) 41… Ke7 42. Qc7+ Ke8 $11) 35… h5 36. Qd4 ({Not} 36. Qxb2 Bf3 37. Qb8+ Kf7 38. e6+ (38. Qxa7 $2 Qe2#) 38… dxe6 39. Qxa7+ Kf8 40. Qb8+ Kf7 41. Qc7+ Ke8 42. Qb8+ (42. Qc8+ Ke7 $11) 42… Kf7 43. Qc7+ Ke8 44. Qb8+ (44. Qc8+ Ke7 $11) 44… Kf7 $11) 36… Bc6 37. Qxc4 $2 ({Inferior is} 37. Qxb2 Bf3 38. Qb8+ Kf7 39. e6+ (39. Qxa7 $2 Qe2#) 39… dxe6 40. Qxa7+ Kf8 41. Qb8+ Kf7 42. Qc7+ Ke8 43. Qc8+ Ke7 44. Qc7+ Ke8 45. Qc8+ Ke7 46. Qc7+ Ke8 $11) (37. e6 $18 dxe6 38. Qxb2) 37… Bb5 $1 $11 38. Qg8+ Ke7 39. Qg7+ (39. Rxg3 $2 Qe2#) 39… Kd8 $2 {White stays focused until the end.} (39… Ke8 $11 40. Qg8+ (40. Rxg3 $2 Qe2#) 40… Ke7 41. Qg7+ (41. Rxg3 $2 Qe2#) 41… Ke8 42. Qh8+ (42. Rxg3 $2 Qe2#) 42… Ke7 43. Qg7+) 40. Qf8+ $18 (40. Rxg3 $2 Qe2#) 40… Kc7 41. Qd6+ (41. Qxf5 $2 Qe2#) 41… Kc8 42. Qd2 {Against Qe2+} Bc6 43. Qe2 h4 44. Kd2 {Threatens to win with Qxh2.} g2 45. Qa6+ Bb7 46. Qd6 Qg3 47. e6 dxe6 48. Qxe6+ Kc7 49. Qe5+ Kc8 50. Qxb2 {White threatens Rb1 and mate.} h3 51. Rb1 {White mates.} Qf3 52. Qh8+ Kc7 53. Qh7+ Kb8 54. Qd7 {Weighted Error Value: White=1.33/Black=1.06} 1-0

[/pgn]

Over the next few months there’s little news of his chess playing, but then something unexpected happens. He turns up in, of all places, Stoke on Trent, or, to be precise, nearby Hanley.

Why Stoke on Trent? What was he doing there?

There are two possibilities. On Board 2 for Hanley was schoolmaster Joshua Walter Dixon, whom he had met in Oxford back in 1910: they were in different sections of the main event, but both competed in the handicap tournament. Perhaps he had been in touch to offer him employment there, either in a school or as a private tutor.

But look also at Arthur’s opponent from Mecca: George Tregaskis. It appears that Arthur and George were very close friends. They may well have met earlier: George was originally from South London before moving to Stoke for business reasons, so could well have been a member of the South London Chess Club at the time. He also visited the Divan in 1912 when returning to London to visit his family, so, again, they might have known each other from there. Who knows?

Here they are, in the same team, playing for Hanley in a whitewash over Walsall. Their top board, Joseph William Mellor, was a particularly interesting chap.

Here’s Arthur’s win. He was in trouble most of the way until his opponent went wrong right at the end.

[pgn]

[Event “Hanley v Walsall Hickman Cup”]
[Site “?”]
[Date “1913.03.01”]
[Round “?”]
[White “Ellis, Arthur Compton”]
[Black “Beebee, James Henry”]
[Result “1-0”]
[ECO “C30”]
[Annotator “Tactical Analysis 6.4”]
[PlyCount “81”]

1. e4 e5 2. f4 Bc5 3. Nf3 d6 4. c3 Qe7 {[#]} 5. b4 $146 ({Predecessor:} 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb6 7. Nc3 Bg4 8. Be2 Nc6 9. Be3 Nf6 10. Qd3 O-O-O 11. h3 Nb4 12. Qb1 Bf5 13. Nd2 {0-1 Sournin,V-Estrin,L All Russian Amateurs-02 Vilnius 1912 (8)}) 5… Bb6 6. a4 {C30: King’s Gambit Declined.} a6 (6… exf4 $2 7. a5 $18) 7. Bc4 (7. fxe5 $11 dxe5 8. Na3) 7… Nf6 (7… exf4 $15 8. d4 a5) 8. fxe5 {The position is equal.} dxe5 9. d3 (9. a5 $5 Ba7 $8 10. d3 $11) 9… h6 10. Qe2 Bg4 11. Ba3 ({Better is} 11. a5 $16 Ba7 12. Be3) 11… c5 (11… Nh5 $1 $15) 12. Nbd2 cxb4 13. Bxb4 Bc5 14. Bxc5 Qxc5 15. Rb1 Qe7 (15… Nbd7 $11 {remains equal.}) 16. Qe3 ({White should try} 16. h3 Bxf3 17. Nxf3 (17. Qxf3 Nc6 $14)) 16… Nc6 17. Qb6 (17. Nh4 $16) 17… Nd8 (17… Bxf3 18. gxf3 (18. Nxf3 O-O $14) 18… Ra7 19. Bd5 $14) (17… O-O $1 $11 {keeps the balance.}) 18. O-O {White has more active pieces.} (18. Qb4 $142) 18… O-O $16 19. Nb3 Rc8 {Strongly threatening …Nxe4!} 20. Na5 Nd7 21. Qa7 (21. Qb4 $1 $11 Qxb4 22. cxb4) 21… Bxf3 22. Rxf3 {[#]} Qc5+ $2 (22… Nc5 $1 $19 23. Rb4 Qh4) 23. Qxc5 Nxc5 24. Rf5 (24. Rb4 $1 $14) 24… Nxa4 $11 25. Rxe5 (25. Nxb7 $11 Nxc3 26. Rb6) 25… b5 ({Not} 25… Nxc3 26. Rb3 $15) (25… b6 $19 26. Ra1 Nxc3 27. Bxa6 Rc7) 26. Bd5 (26. Bb3 $17 {was the only chance.}) 26… Nxc3 27. Ra1 Nxd5 ({Black should play} 27… Rc7 $19 {Threatens to win with …Ne2+.} 28. g3 Nxd5 29. exd5 f6) 28. Rxd5 $2 (28. exd5 $15 Rc7 29. d4) 28… Rc3 29. Kf2 (29. Rd6 {was necessary.}) 29… Ne6 {aiming for …Nf4.} 30. Kf3 Rd8 (30… Rfc8 $19 {Hoping for …Rc2.} 31. g3 Rc2) 31. Ke3 (31. Rxd8+ $17 Nxd8 32. Ke3) 31… Rxd5 $2 (31… Rdc8 $19 {…Rc2 is the strong threat.} 32. Rd6 R8c7) 32. exd5 $19 {Endgame. KRN-KRN} Nc5 33. Rd1 (33. Kd4 $5 Rc2 34. Re1 $15) 33… Kf8 34. Kd4 $1 Rc2 35. Re1 b4 {White must now prevent …b3!} 36. Nc4 $2 (36. Rb1 $1 $11) 36… Nb3+ 37. Ke5 Nc5 (37… Rxg2 38. Rb1 f6+ 39. Kd6 $15) (37… f6+ $19 38. Kf4 Nc1) 38. Re3 $2 {[#]} (38. Kd4 $17 {was forced.} Nb3+ 39. Ke3) 38… Nxd3+ $2 39. Kd4 $17 Nc1 $2 (39… Nf4 $15 40. g3 Nh5) 40. d6 $18 Ne2+ 41. Kc5 {Weighted Error Value: White=0.85/Black=0.98 Source: Staffordshire Sentinel 12 March 1913} 1-0

[/pgn]

The Kent and Sussex tournament took  place over Whitsun at Hastings in 1913. Arthur and George travelled down together, and were both placed in the First Class A tournament.

In his first round game against Inland Revenue man David Miller, Arthur switched from his usual e4 to d4, essaying the Colle-Zukertort Opening. It didn’t go well.

[pgn]

[Event “1st Class A Hastings”]
[Site “?”]
[Date “1913.05.12”]
[Round “?”]
[White “Ellis, Arthur Compton”]
[Black “Miller, David”]
[Result “0-1”]
[ECO “D04”]
[Annotator “Tactical Analysis 6.4”]
[PlyCount “50”]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3 c5 4. b3 cxd4 5. exd4 {[#]} Bg4 $146 ({Predecessor:} 5… Nc6 6. c4 Bg4 7. Be2 e6 8. O-O dxc4 9. bxc4 Rc8 10. Bb2 Be7 11. Nbd2 O-O 12. Qb3 Qc7 13. Rac1 {0-1 Halprin,A-Pillsbury,H Wien Imperial Jubilee Vienna 1898}) 6. Bd3 {D04: Colle System.} Nc6 7. Be3 Ne4 (7… e5 $17 {White must now prevent …e4.} 8. dxe5 Nxe5) 8. O-O {The position is equal.} e6 {…Bd6 would be deadly.} 9. c4 Bd6 {And now …0-0 would win.} 10. h3 Bh5 {Threatens to win with …f5. Black has more active pieces.} 11. cxd5 (11. Nbd2 $17 Nxd2 12. Qxd2) 11… exd5 $19 {Hoping for …0-0.} 12. Nbd2 {[#]} f5 13. Qc2 $2 (13. g4 fxg4 14. Bxe4 gxf3 15. Bxf3) 13… Rc8 {Strongly threatening …0-0.} 14. Rac1 (14. Bxe4 $142 fxe4 15. Nxe4 dxe4 16. Qxe4+ Ne7 17. Ne5) 14… O-O 15. Bxe4 (15. g4 $142 Nxd2 16. Bxd2 fxg4 {Discovered Attack} 17. Bxh7+ Kh8 18. Ng5 (18. hxg4 $2 Rxf3 $19)) 15… fxe4 {Black is clearly winning.} (15… dxe4 $2 {too greedy.} 16. Ng5 $19) 16. Ne1 {[#]} Nxd4 $1 {Discovered Attack} 17. Qxc8 (17. Bxd4 Rxc2) 17… Ne2+ 18. Kh1 Qxc8 19. Rxc8 Rxc8 20. g4 Be8 21. Kg2 Bb5 22. a4 Nf4+ {Discovered Attack} 23. Bxf4 Bxf1+ 24. Kxf1 Bxf4 25. Ke2 Rc3 {Weighted Error Value: White=0.96/Black=0.32 Source: Globe 24 May 1913} 0-1

[/pgn]

Arthur had beaten George in a club match, and, when they were in the same team, played on a higher board, but here it was Tregaskis who came out on top after his opponent miscalculated a tactical sequence.

[pgn]

[Event “1st Class A Hastings”]
[Site “Tunbridge Wells ENG”]
[Date “1913.05.14”]
[Round “?”]
[White “Tregaskis, George”]
[Black “Ellis, Arthur Compton”]
[Result “1-0”]
[ECO “D03”]
[Annotator “Tactical Analysis 6.4”]
[PlyCount “83”]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bg5 Ne4 4. Bh4 {[#]} g6 $146 ({Predecessor:} 4… c6 5. e3 Qb6 6. Qc1 Bf5 7. Bd3 Nd7 8. O-O e6 9. Nbd2 Nd6 10. Be2 c5 11. c4 Rc8 12. b3 Bg6 13. Rd1 Nf5 14. cxd5 exd5 {1-0 Alekhine/Esser-Levenfish,G Alekhine consultation St Petersburg 1912}) 5. e3 Bg7 6. Nbd2 {Strongly threatening Nxe4.} f5 {D03: 1 d4 d5 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 Bg5, including Torre Attack with early …d5.} (6… c5 $14) 7. Be2 O-O 8. Bg3 (8. c4 $16) 8… Nd7 {The position is equal.} 9. Nxe4 (9. c4 $14) 9… fxe4 $11 10. Nd2 (10. Ng5 $5 Nf6 11. c4 $11) 10… c6 {[#]} (10… e5 $11) 11. h4 (11. c4 $1 $16) 11… e5 12. c3 exd4 13. cxd4 c5 (13… h5 $15) 14. Nb3 (14. Qb3 $14 c4 15. Qc2) 14… c4 $36 {White is under pressure.} 15. Nd2 h5 (15… Nf6 $142) 16. Qc2 (16. b3 $5) 16… b5 17. Nxe4 dxe4 $19 18. Qxe4 {[#]} (18. O-O $142 Bb7 19. a4) 18… Qb6 $1 {And now …Bb7 would win.} 19. Bf3 {[#]} ({Don’t play} 19. Qxa8 Bb7) 19… Rxf3 $1 20. Qxa8 Rf8 21. Qd5+ {[#]} Kh7 (21… Rf7 $1 $19 {has better winning chances.} 22. O-O Bb7) 22. O-O $17 Nf6 {Black has strong compensation.} 23. Qd6 Qa5 ({Better is} 23… Bf5 $17) 24. Qc7 (24. f3 $1 $11 {remains equal.}) 24… Qa6 (24… Qxc7 $142 25. Bxc7 Bf5) 25. b3 (25. a4 $17 b4 26. Be5) 25… Bb7 $2 ({Black should try} 25… Nd5 $19 26. Qc5 Be6) 26. a4 $11 {Hoping for axb5.} Rc8 $2 {This move loses the game for Black.} ({Don’t do} 26… cxb3 27. axb5 Qb6 28. Rfb1 $14) (26… b4 $1 $11 27. bxc4 Be4) 27. axb5 $18 Qxb5 28. bxc4 Qb6 29. Qxb6 axb6 30. Ra7 Be4 31. Be5 Kg8 32. Rfa1 Rxc4 {[#]} 33. Rxg7+ $1 {Clearance} Kxg7 34. Ra7+ {Deflection} Kh6 35. Bxf6 {Endgame. KRB-KRB} g5 36. hxg5+ Kg6 37. Ra6 Rc1+ 38. Kh2 Rb1 39. Bd8 Kf5 40. Rxb6 Rf1 41. Rf6+ Kg4 42. Rf4# {Weighted Error Value: White=0.51/Black=0.85 Source: Staffordshire Sentinel 18 June 1913 (annotatated by Ellis)} 1-0

[/pgn]

Here’s how it ended up.

Unsurprisingly, the masters, Yates and Thomas, outclassed the opposition, who were mostly, with the exception of Middleton and Sugden, strong club players.

A remarkable performance, though, by George Tregaskis in his first tournament, but perhaps slightly disappointing for Arthur Compton Ellis, whose progress seemed, temporarily, to have slightly stalled. Perhaps he needed, as chess teachers always tell their young pupils, to slow down and control his impulses.

With two young and talented new players in their ranks, the future for Staffordshire chess was looking bright. Hanley, after a lapse of three years, won the North Staffordshire League, ‘due in no small measure to the fact that the usual team was greatly strengthened by the inclusion of Mr. A. Compton Ellis, whose enthusiasm for the royal game is unlimited’, according to the Staffordshire Sentinel (4 June 1913).

But then, on 9 July: ‘Local players will hear with much regret that, owing to professional and business reasons, Messrs. A. Compton Ellis and G. Tregaskis have found it necessary to sever their connection with this district.’

George’s work took him to Bristol, as you’ll find out in a future Minor Piece. Arthur returned home to South London. Had he not wanted to remain in Stoke with his friend? Had his teaching work not gone as he’d hoped? We’ll never know.

The two friends kept in touch, playing two correspondence games, one with each colour, over the summer. Although he’d now left the area, Arthur kept in touch with the local paper, followed their chess columns, and submitted these games for publication.

In his game with White, Arthur experimented on move 6, unwisely following a Blackburne game, and, by the next move had a lost position. George concluded brilliantly.

[pgn]

[Event “Correspondence”]
[Site “?”]
[Date “1913.08.??”]
[Round “?”]
[White “Ellis, Arthur Compton”]
[Black “Tregaskis, George”]
[Result “0-1”]
[ECO “C29”]
[Annotator “Tactical Analysis 6.4”]
[PlyCount “34”]

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. fxe5 Nxe4 5. Qf3 f5 6. Nh3 {C29: Vienna Game: 2…Nf6 3 f4.} (6. d4 $11 {keeps the balance.}) 6… Nc6 $17 7. Bb5 (7. d3 $17 Nxc3 8. bxc3) 7… Qh4+ $1 $19 8. Kf1 {[#] Black is clearly better.} Bc5 $1 {Threatens to win with …0-0.} 9. Nxd5 $2 {[#]} (9. Qf4 {was the only chance.} Qd8 10. Na4) 9… O-O $1 10. Bxc6 ({Reject} 10. Nxc7 Nd4 11. Bc4+ Kh8) 10… bxc6 {[#]} 11. Nxc7 $146 {[#]} (11. Ndf4 g5 12. d3 gxf4 13. Qxf4) ({Predecessor:} 11. Ndf4 Ba6+ 12. d3 Rae8 13. g3 Qg4 14. Kg2 Qxf3+ 15. Kxf3 g5 16. dxe4 g4+ 17. Kg2 gxh3+ 18. Kxh3 fxe4 {1-0 Blackburne,J-Mason,J North of Ireland Congress Belfast 1892 (2)}) 11… f4 $1 12. c3 {[#]} (12. d4 Bxd4) 12… Bxh3 $1 {A strong pair of Bishops.} 13. d4 {[#]} Bxg2+ $1 14. Kxg2 Ng5 15. Qd1 Be7 {( -> …f3+)} 16. Nxa8 f3+ 17. Kf1 Ne4 {White got outplayed after the opening. A brilliant game! Weighted Error Value: White=1.71/Black=0.62 Source: Staffordshire Sentinel 29 October 1913} 0-1

[/pgn]

In the game with colours reversed, Tregaskis improved on an Alapin game from the previous year, but went wrong in the ensuing complications. He then resigned a drawn position, missing the saving clause. Ellis’s opponents seemed to have a habit of resigning level positions!

[pgn]

[Event “Correspondence”]
[Site “?”]
[Date “1913.08.??”]
[Round “?”]
[White “Tregaskis, George”]
[Black “Ellis, Arthur Compton”]
[Result “0-1”]
[ECO “C77”]
[Annotator “Tactical Analysis 6.4”]
[PlyCount “56”]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. Qe2 b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. a4 Rb8 8. axb5 axb5 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Nd5 {C77: Ruy Lopez: 3…a6 4 Ba4 Nf6, unusual lines.} d6 11. d3 {[#] aiming for Bg5.} Bg4 (11… Nxd5 $11 12. Bxd5 Nb4) 12. Bg5 $1 $14 {Qd2 would be deadly. White is slightly better.} Nd4 $2 (12… Nxd5 $1 $14 13. Bxd8 Nf4) 13. Bxf6 $18 Ra8 {[#]} (13… gxf6 $2 14. Nxd4 $18) 14. Rxa8 $146 (14. Bxd8 $2 Rxa1+ $17) (14. Rb1 $142 gxf6 15. Nxd4 Bb4+ 16. Nxb4 Bxe2 17. Nxe2 (17. Ndc6 Qd7 $14)) ({Predecessor:} 14. Qd1 Rxa1 15. Qxa1 Nxb3 16. cxb3 gxf6 17. b4 c6 18. bxc5 cxd5 19. cxd6 Qxd6 20. O-O {0-1 Alapin,S-Leonhardt,P Bad Pistyan Piestany 1912 (15)}) 14… Qxa8 15. Qd1 (15. Ne7+ Kh8 16. Bxg7+ Kxg7 $17) 15… Nxb3 (15… Bxf3 16. gxf3 gxf6 17. Qc1 (17. Nxc7 $2 Qa5+ 18. c3 Nxb3 $17) (17. Nxf6+ Kg7 $14)) (15… Qa5+ {was necessary.} 16. Kf1 Ra8) 16. Be7 $2 (16. Nxc7 $2 Qa5+ 17. c3 Qxc7 $19) (16. cxb3 $18 Bxf3 17. Qxf3 (17. Ne7+ Kh8 $14) 17… Qa1+ 18. Qd1 Qxd1+ 19. Kxd1 gxf6 20. Nxc7) 16… Qa5+ (16… Re8 $5) 17. c3 (17. Kf1 $11 c6 18. Bxf8 (18. cxb3 cxd5 19. Bxf8 Kxf8 $11) 18… cxd5 19. Bxd6 (19. cxb3 Kxf8 20. h3 Bc8 $14) (19. exd5 Nd4 $11)) 17… Re8 {Strongly threatening …c6!} (17… Bxf3 18. gxf3 (18. Qxb3 $2 Qa1+ {Skewer} 19. Kd2 Qxh1 $19) 18… Ra8 19. O-O $14 (19. Qxb3 Qa1+ 20. Qd1 Qxd1+ {Remove Defender} 21. Kxd1 Ra1+ 22. Ke2 Rxh1 $17)) (17… Ra8 $5 18. O-O Qa2 $17) 18. Qxb3 {[#] Threatens to win with 0-0.} Qa1+ (18… c6 $1 $17 19. Ne3 Bxf3 20. gxf3 Rxe7) 19. Qd1 $11 Qxb2 20. Qd2 (20. Nxc7 $2 Qxf2#) (20. O-O $11 {keeps the balance.} c6 21. d4 exd4 22. cxd4 Bxf3 23. gxf3 Bxd4 24. Ne3 Bxe3 25. Qxd6) 20… Qb1+ 21. Ke2 $2 (21. Qd1 $17 {was the crucial defense.} Qxd1+ 22. Kxd1) 21… Bxf3+ 22. gxf3 (22. Kxf3 $142 Qxh1 23. Nf6+ gxf6 24. Bxf6) 22… Qxh1 $19 23. d4 Ba3 (23… c6 24. dxc5 cxd5 25. cxd6 dxe4 26. d7 Qxf3+ 27. Kf1 Qh1+ 28. Ke2 Qf3+ 29. Kf1 Qh1+ 30. Ke2 Qf3+ $11) ({Better is} 23… Bb6 $19 24. Bxd6 cxd6 25. Nxb6 Qxh2) 24. Qg5 $1 $36 {White is more active. The position is equal.} exd4 (24… Qxh2 $2 25. Nf6+ (25. Nxc7 $2 h6 $19) 25… Kh8 26. Nxe8 $18) (24… Kh8 $5 25. Bf6 $8 gxf6 26. Qxf6+ Kg8 27. Qg5+ Kh8 28. Qf6+ Kg8 29. Qg5+ Kh8 30. Qf6+ $11) 25. cxd4 {Intending Nf6+ and mate.} (25. Nxc7 $2 d3+ 26. Kxd3 h6 $19) 25… h6 (25… Qxh2 $2 26. Nf6+ (26. Nxc7 $2 {is the wrong capture.} h6 $19) 26… Kh8 27. Nxe8 $18) (25… Kh8 $5 26. Bf6 $8 gxf6 27. Qxf6+ Kg8 28. Qg5+ Kh8 29. Qf6+ Kg8 30. Qg5+ Kh8 31. Qf6+ $11) 26. Nf6+ $1 Kh8 27. Qf5 g6 (27… Rxe7 $2 28. Qh7#) (27… gxf6 $2 {is a self mate.} 28. Bxf6+ Kg8 29. Qg4+ Kh7 30. Qg7#) 28. Qh3 (28. Qxb5 $2 {loses.} Rxe7 29. Nd5 Rxe4+ 30. fxe4 Qxe4+ 31. Kf1 Qxd4 $19) 28… Qc1 $1 {A brilliant game! Weighted Error Value: White=0.64/Black=0.82. White resigned here, but after 29. f4! Qc4+ 30. Kd1! Black has no more than perpetual check. Source: Staffordshire Sentinel 08 October 1913} 0-1

[/pgn]

The 1913 British Championships took place in Cheltenham. Arthur Compton Ellis took part again, playing in the First Class B section, where he scored a half point more than the previous year.

This left him in second place behind his Lancashire contemporary Norman Boles Holmes. George Tregaskis wasn’t playing, but you’ll see his other Hanley friend, Joshua Walter Dixon, there in First Class A. Unfortunately, the BCM failed to publish crosstables of these events.

Both Dixon and Ellis scored other successes there: Joshua won two problem solving competitions, while Arthur, although he only finished 7th in the handicap tournament, won a prize in a Kriegspiel (‘a peculiar, and modern, form of chess, unknown to more than 99 per cent. of chess players’) event.

Returning to London, Arthur Compton Ellis submitted two puzzles based on his games to the Staffordshire Sentinel. (The chess editor preferred to remain anonymous: perhaps it was Joshua Walter Dixon.)

It shouldn’t take you too long to find the mate in 4 here.

Two weeks later he offered a mate in 3, which has, although he seemed not to notice, two solutions, both involving attractive (but different) queen sacrifices. Can you find them both?

On 13 September Alekhine, on a brief visit to London, agreed to play a simul at the Divan in the Strand. Arthur, of course, was there.

He lost a pawn and was slowly ground down, but did anyone spot he had a fleeting opportunity for a draw in the pawn ending?

[pgn]

[Event “Simultaneous Display”]
[Date “1913.09.13”]
[Round “?”]
[White “Alekhine, Alexander”]
[Black “Ellis, Arthur Compton”]
[Result “1-0”]
[ECO “D00”]
[Annotator “Tactical Analysis 6.4”]
[PlyCount “77”]

1. d4 d5 2. Bg5 Nf6 3. e3 ({Predecessor:} 3. c3 Nbd7 4. Nd2 g6 5. Ngf3 Bg7 6. e3 O-O 7. Bd3 c5 8. dxc5 Nxc5 9. Bc2 Qc7 10. Nb3 Rd8 11. Nxc5 Qxc5 12. O-O Bd7 13. a4 Ne4 14. Bh4 Bg4 15. h3 Bxf3 16. gxf3 {0-1 Jankowitsch,B-Tenner,O Hamburg Hauptturnier-B 1910}) 3… Ne4 4. Bh4 g5 5. Bg3 Bg7 {Threatening …h5.} 6. Bd3 {D00: 1 d4 d5: Unusual lines.} Bf5 (6… Nxg3 $11 7. hxg3 c5) 7. f3 Nxg3 8. hxg3 {The position is equal.} Qd7 9. g4 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 h6 11. Ne2 $36 {White fights for an advantage.} Nc6 (11… Na6 $11) 12. Nbc3 ({Better is} 12. Ng3 $14) 12… O-O-O $11 13. O-O-O Nb4 14. Qd2 e5 {White now steadily converts the win.} (14… Nc6 $11 {remains equal.}) 15. dxe5 $16 Bxe5 (15… Qe6 $16) 16. a3 $18 Bxc3 (16… Nc6 {was worth a try.} 17. Qxd5 Qxd5 18. Nxd5 (18. Rxd5 Rxd5 19. Nxd5 Kd7 $16) 18… Rd7) 17. Nxc3 ({Inferior is} 17. bxc3 Nc6 $11) 17… d4 18. Qxd4 Qxd4 19. Rxd4 ({Not} 19. exd4 Nd5 20. Nxd5 Rxd5 $16) 19… Rxd4 20. exd4 {Endgame. KRN-KRN} Nc6 21. d5 Ne7 22. Kd2 {Black must now prevent d6!} Rd8 $2 (22… f5 {is a better defense.} 23. Re1 Kd7 24. gxf5 Nxf5) 23. Rxh6 Nxd5 24. Nxd5 Rxd5+ {KR-KR} 25. Ke2 {Rf6 would be deadly.} Re5+ 26. Kd2 {aiming for Rf6.} Kd7 $2 (26… Rd5+ 27. Ke3 Kd7) 27. Rf6 Ke7 {[#]} 28. Rf5 Rxf5 (28… Ke6 29. Rxe5+ Kxe5) 29. gxf5 {KP-KP} Kf6 30. g4 Ke5 31. Ke3 c5 32. a4 a6 33. c3 b5 34. b3 $2 ({White must play} 34. axb5 $18 axb5 35. b4) 34… bxa4 $2 (34… c4 $11 35. axb5 cxb3 36. bxa6 b2) 35. bxa4 a5 36. c4 f6 {[#]} 37. f4+ $1 gxf4+ 38. Kf3 Kd4 39. g5 {Promotion. Weighted Error Value: White=0.33/Black=0.78} 1-0

[/pgn]

The following Monday he left London. He had a new job as an Assistant Master at Laxton Grammar School, part of the same foundation as Oundle School, but catering for local boys.

He soon encountered problems there, coming into conflict with the Headmaster, Rev Thomas Harry Ross. In November he was asked to hand in his notice.

What a tragic end to a short but eventful life. A life that promised much but ended far too soon. A man of great power and considerable ability. An impulsive young man. I think you can see that in his chess as well: at times brilliant, at times speculative, but almost always entertaining. You can also see how well he was thought of by his chess friends. Great power and considerable ability, yes, and also enthusiasm, energy and charisma. Looking back from a 2020s perspective you can perhaps see elements of ADHD and bipolar disorder, which tends to manifest itself between the ages of 20 and 25. Could Laxton have treated him better? Undoubtedly. You can only hope that, these days, someone like Arthur Compton Ellis would be better understood.

If he and his mother had chosen to remain in Kew, perhaps the history of chess in Richmond would have been very different. Had he devoted the next half century to playing and organising chess, you might have seen him as a British Championship contender, and perhaps an organiser of major chess events in my part of the world. If he’d lived a long life he might even have met me, and perhaps my life would have been different. I’d like to think that, as the founder of Kew Chess Club, which later merged with Richmond, some part of his spirit lives on in today’s Richmond & Twickenham Chess Club. Spare a thought for the short but frenetic life of a true chess addict: Arthur Compton Ellis.

There are a few loose ends to tie up. Arthur’s nemesis, Rev Thomas Harry Ross, in the years between the two World Wars, was Rector of Church Langton with Tur Langton and Thorpe Langton, where he would have ministered to the relations of Walter Charles Bodycoat, and perhaps to my relations as well. I’ll take up the story of Arthur’s friend George Tregaskis in a later article.

There’s one other mystery to look at.

St Albans? There’s nothing online yet about chess in St Albans at that time. He seems to have been in South London with his mother between leaving Stoke and arriving at Oundle. I suppose he might have been there late 1912/early 1913, when there was a gap of a few months in his chronology. We can also go back a few years, to May 1907, when AC Ellis, first from St Albans, then from Swindon, who was solving chess problems in the Bristol Times and Mirror.  Was that our man? Was he, perhaps, in those towns for teaching practice? Who knows?

There’s an implication that the family were having some sort of financial problem. There’s also a slight mystery in that the coroner’s report gives his mother’s address as 12 Kilsworth Road Dulwich, while his probate record (he left £560 17s) gave his address as 12 Pickwick Road Dulwich Village. I can’t locate Kilsworth Road (or anything similar) so it may well be a mistake for Pickwick Road, which could also be considered to be in Herne Hill. By 1921 Margaret had returned to Kew, living on her own at 333 Sandycombe Road, just the other side of the railway from where she’d been living ten years earlier. It’s not at all clear when she died: there’s no death record close to Richmond and the family hasn’t been researched. There’s a possible death record in Islington in 1930: perhaps she’d returned to the area where she spent the first part of her life.

Join me again soon for some more Minor Pieces investigating the lives of some of Arthur Compton Ellis’s chess opponents.

 

Sources:

ancestry.co.uk
findmypast.co.uk/British Newspaper Library
Wikipedia
chessgames.com
BritBase (John Saunders)
Yorkshire Chess History (Steve Mann)
Various other sources quoted and linked to above