The seventh game having been finished at a quarter-past 8 o'clock the players, after a brief intermission, agreed to start the eighth game.

Mr. Crane opened as usual with pawn to king's fourth, which move Mr. Wallace, in the previous encounters, had met with the same reply. In this game, however, he varied his play by adopting the "French defence," viz. 1... pawn to king's third. This line of play is usually resorted to when a draw is the goal of the second player's ambition. Knowing this, and desiring to avoid that result, Mr. Crane went in for an attacking variation which had not previously been played in Australia. The game proved interesting from the start, and promises to be one of the liveliest of the series.

After 13 moves had been played an adjournment till tomorrow was made.

The eighth game in this contest was resumed at the Australia Hotel last night.

The fairly even position of the pieces at the adjournment of play on Saturday, coupled with the open nature of the game -- a very unusual feature of the French defence -- led to some interesting developments.

The intricate nature of the middle game may be gauged from the fact that Mr. Wallace occupied no less than 40 minutes in the consideration of his 26th move, about double the time he has yet devoted to any single move in the match; the game is also the only one in the series which has been twice adjourned.

Mr. Crane emerged from the struggle with the loss of the exchange for a pawn, but has theoretical drawing chances.

We append the eighth game, which is one of the liveliest and best played of the series.>

<1...e6>

The first "king's pawn one sneak" played in this match.

<5.Bxf6>

5. P to K 5 is liked by attacking players, but it results eventually in Black's favour.

<7...g6>

Berger's analysis of this variation proves the danger of castling at this stage.

<10.Qxd4>

10. P takes P leads to a smart but unsound attack.

<12.Bxc6>

White is without his bishop, but the game is even for all that.

<14...Qa5> !

Well-played; any other move would give Black a bad game.

<15.O-O-O> (47 min.)

If now White continued 15. Kt to B 4 attacking the K P and K Kt P, then follows 15... B to B 4 ; 16. Q to Q 2 ; P to Q 5, with a good game.

<(15.Nf4 Bc5 16.Qd2 d4)>

click for larger view

<15...O-O-O> (21 min.)

<19...b6> ?

We must query this move.

<21...Qd8>

A good move.

<26.Qd3>

26. P to B 5 would be met by B to B 4, 26. Q to K 2 seems best; the text move loses the exchange for a pawn.

<26...Bc5> !

A forty minutes' move, which looks stronger than it proves to be.

<27.Rxh7>

The safest continuation, which seems to keep the draw in hand.

Suppose 27. Kt takes P ; P takes Kt ; 28. Kt takes B ; P takes Kt ; 29. R takes Q P ; Q to K 2, and we prefer Black's game.

<(27.Nxd5 exd5 28.Nxc5 bxc5 29.Rxd5 Qe7)>

click for larger view

<28...Ba4> !

Best; taking the R at once would bring the Kts into dangerous prominence.

<30.axb3> (1 hour 55 minutes)

<30...Bxd4> (1 hour 37 minutes)

<33...Qe7>

The adjournment move.

Black has no winning ways if 33... Q to Kt 5 ; 35. Q to Q 6 ch, &c.

<35...d4>

The exchanges do not improve Black's chances.

<41.Nd4>

White here proposed a draw, but preferred playing on.