DRAUGHTS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 9989, 19 March 1898, Page 3

DRAUGHTS.

-*_ "Weekly Pre3S and Referee.". ' Edited by J. Little. Ghampion of Aug^a^ie^ Weekly Press. March 16. Problem No. 564 in last issue should have a black man on 15. PROBLEM NO. 565 (A Notable One). ByMrS. G. Veiteh, Youghioghenny, Pa., U.S.A. From Pittsburgh "Chronicle Telegraph."

White to play and win. The "Chronicle Telegraph" says :—We very much appreciate the contributions of our friends at all times, and when something out of the ordinary is presented, we are inclined to elaborate. The problem above, with accompanying solution, annotations, and reading matter, is quite a catch for any checker department. We thank Mr Veitch very much for his consideration. Mr Editor, —I enclose you a position which is one of Sturge's, and was contributed by J. D. Janvier to Leeds : ' Weekly Express "as No. 20. I don't show as much play on the position as Mr Tonar, but it will serve as a correction on Tonar and Wardell and all who claim a draw. Do you know if J. D. Janvier accepted Mr Tonar's play as a settlement of this dispute, or if his play was corrected ? Please state through your columns. There is a *hard solution to this position for even the faithful worker, and it requires great patience to accomplish the task. —Your friend, S. G. Veitch. [We have a MS copy of Payne's Games and Problems, 1756. No 210 is the same as above. Solution thus—B 11, 31-26, 10 6, 2-9 W. wins. But modern experts give White a harder battle to win than that meagre solution.—Dr. Ed. W„kki.y Press.]

(a) Percy Bradt has the honour of first striking for the draw. (b) This move is by M. H. C. Wardell, and acknowledged by Mr Tonar as the only move leading to a draw. (c) This corrects J. Tonar, who played 19.23 and missed tbe win. I claim there is no draw if careful play is adopted. (d) I submit this to correct Mr Wardell, who played 14 18, which led to a draw, and would be pleased to see the draw from any one who is interested in this ninety-eight years dispute.

[ There are five pages of play giving the history of this position in No. I. Vol. I. "Draughts Player's Quarterly Review," September, 1888, and Mr James Tonar, of Newcastle, England, was awarded tbe prize for best solution, and makes it out a draw, when it had baffled J. D. Janvier, P. Bradt, R. E. Bowen, J. P. Reed, Mr Wardell, Mr Lyman, McNight, James Bryson Mr Gaw and others.—S. G. Veitch. (5) 11—16* f-16 20 51—27 10 15 26—31 19 12 26—23 23 2b 31—27 25 30 2—ll 20 24 '27—31 30 25 31—26 9 14 23-26 26 30 27-31 32 27 11—15 24 27 15—19 15 19 W. wins 12 16 26—31 14 10 31—26 J. Little. 30-26-e 27 23 19-23 19 24 (*) Mr Janvier gave this to draw and left the position at (c) with the remark, " Seems to draw." (f) Solution of Problem No. 564. (6) As Mr Janvier wished to see a White win after 22 18 at this point, and as Mr Tonar's play on this line is defective, we give the following as an improvement :— 22-18 19 12 18-22 22 26 25-29 14 9-h 2-11 10 14 29—25 23 18 18-11 * 5 1 17-21 12 16 29 25 10 7 11-15 14 17 25—29 26 30 13—17* 1 6 22—25 16 19 25 29 9 5 15—18 17 22 29—25 18 22 11—16-g 6 10 25 29 19 23 W. wins. J. Little. (g) 17-21, 5 1, W. wins same as trunk atS. (h) Tonar played 19 23, 18 9, 23 18, 13-17, 10 6, 17-21, 6 1, 21-25, 15 10, 2-6, 18 15. (*) 9-13, 1 5, W. wins. (*) Instead of 913, play 9 5 seems to draw.—J. Little. *

The following is Mr Veitch's solution :— 8 11 18,-11 24 27 25-21 *19 24 14_17- a *10 7 20-16 15 10 6—9 21 14 17—21 3 83-21-17 27 31 31-26 s-5 1 16-20 23 19 20—27 22 18 21—25 8 11 17—22 31 24 26-22 1 5 21-25 19 23 9—13 11 15 25-30d-ll 15 22-17 24 27 22—17 5 9 25—30 23 18 21—17 15 19 5-30-25 14 181-17-21 27 31 17—22 9 14 30—26 *18 22 17—26 18 15 25-21 27 31 20—16 31 22 6-13-17-b 19 24 26-30 *10 15 W. wins. 14 9-c 11—16 18 23 16-20 22—18 7* 34-30—25 15 19 9 5 16 20 31 27 2—6

20—16 217-13 16-20 2—6 20—16 18 15 10 14 15 19 19 15 15 19 W. wins. (2) 17-21, 10 14, 21-25, 14 17 or 19 15.—W. wins.. (3) 21—25 10 15 2— 6 19 15 26 30 23 18 16—20 18 14 22—26 15 11 20—16 15 19 25-22 27 30 W. wins. (4) 2—6 18 22 26—30 17 22 16—23 23 18 30—26 31 27 20—16 27 18 6—9 2a 17 9—IS 16.18