DRAUGHTS

Evening Star, Issue 19127, 19 December 1925, Page 19

DRAUGHTS

[Conducted by Arcabt.] Commumcations intended (or this column should be sent to •' Draughts Editor,” ‘ Evening Star.’ Problems, games, criticisms, analyses and news Invited. The subscription rate (or the draughts issue is 8s 8d per annum, posted to any address in the dominion. TO CORRESPONDENTS. “ Hngh Egan ” (Melbourne)^—'Thanks for excellent budget. “ ,T. M'Kay” (Edinburgh).—Draughts literature arrived O.K. “ TX).C.” (Milton).—Tour second budget test in time before going to press. Solutions 85, 86, and 87 are correct and annotated in excellent style. "E.G.” (Dannevurkc)^— The draughts literature you refer to will bo kept note of. Yes, I believe that the North Islanders will flood Dunedin during the holidays, but still there is plenty of room. “ GA.B.” (Christchurch).—Thanks for items of news. “G. Barron ’* (Hull, England).— ‘ Draughts Review ’ for November is duly to hand, and contains a lot of interesting news, as well ns games and problems. “ J. 8.” (Dunedin).— Your notice re O.D.G. was duly received and replied to. PROBLEM No. 88. i By J. Wyllic. Blade.

White. Black: 1, king 3. White; 21, 29. While to play and draw. PROBLEM No. 89. By N. W. Banks (American champion). White.

Black. BM: 10, W, ”, 20 , kill o . White: 5,7, 9, 15, 2d, 28, 30, king L Black to move and win. Columbus won with a fleet of three, Weathered the gales and the heavy sea. Will this checker fleet of five With its handicap survive? NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIP. —The End of a Long Tie.— The following games were played between Messrs T. Rc-a (Dunedin) and G. A. Brown (Chi isichurch) in the New Zealand chain* pmnsnip tourney held at Dunedin in 1922. 1 heso are the last of the twelve gomes played, with honors even;— Game No. 128, Edinburgh (23-19 line). Rea’s move.

Annotated by Mr Brown. (a) A very popular reply, forming the “ Will o’ the Wisp.” (b) Not so good as 10-I'l. (c) A bad move; 27-23 should have been played. (d) Tom’s memory evidently failed him, for 12-16 wins, forming a position I had shown him a few years before. Game No. 129, Edinburgh (23-19 line). Brown’s move.

fa) Varies from previous fame., a.nd is a safe move. (h) 26-23 is more popular and Ki.ro.ngej tha.n text. (c) Better than 5-0. Game No. 130, Edinburgh (22-13 line), Rea’s move.

(a) This forms the weakest of all the openings for Black. (b) Experts differ as to which is strongest, 12-16, 6-9, or test. (c) These exchanges are usually taken. Game No.. 131, Edinburgh (22-18 line). Brown’s move.

(a) 11-15 draws, though Shearer has published play allowing a White win, (b) 24-20 is stronger; text is tricky, and has to bo met correctly. (c) 21-25 is bettor. (d) An oversight; 31-27 wins easily. These last two games were played in twenty minutes SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. Problem No. 85, by J. Stratton.

Problem Ko. 86, by S. Cohen. Black: 21, kings 4, 25. White; 30, kings 11, 26. White to move and win.

Problem No. 87, by J. B. Green. Black: 7, 22, 24. White: 8, 29, king 82. White to play and win.

CRITICISMS AND COMMENTS. Penman’s Problem. Re Problem 82, by Mr Penman—Black, 8, 12, 14, 15, 18,’19; Whits, 7, 16, 2G, 27, 28, 32. White to play. What result? Mr Penman’s play only allowed for one key move, but Here seems to be three variations, all leading to sound White wins—e.g., 7-2, 7-3, and 16-11. Mr L. R. Morris, fossicking on 16-11, a barren-looking claim, found only blade sand for a start, but later struck good gold, as the following play will

Variation L ] 17 21 7 2 15 10 22 26 11 16 27 21 18 22b 16 11 913 2i 25 30 26 19 23 21 20 2 6 10 15 26 30 16 20d 22 18 32 27c 11 15 13 17 25 29 26 31 23 27 20 16 6 9 15 II 17 22 20 16 W.w. (b) Penman’s play, 18-15, 21-25, 7-3, 25-30, 5-7, 30-26, 15-18, 21-20, 7-11, 25-31, only draws. (c) The move that does the trick. (6) 35-11, 27-24, 11-15, 24-50, 1511, 22-18, 29-25, 26-51, 25-21, 31-27, 19-23, 27-31, W. wins. A lot of hard work was also pnt in on 16-11 by Mr J. O’Neill, but he abandoned this variation after discovering that Black could draw at. twelfth move (see Morris’s trunk play), instead of 20-24, play 19-24, 28-19, 20-36, and the draw is easy. Mr O’Neill _ next pegged off 7-3, and succeeded in getting some good colorings of gold: 7 3 32 23 11 4 4 8 3 7 15 19 14 17 17 21a 25 30 30 23 19 23 10 15 27 23 16 11 23 1 6 811 710 W.w. 18 27 21 25b 12 19 23 18 (a) 17-22, 26-17, 19-26, 16-11, 15-18, 11-4. W. wins.—J.O’N. (b) 15-18, 23-14, 8-15, 5-7, 15-18 c, 7-11, 18-23, 26-22, 25-26, 11-15, etc. W. wins.— “ Arcaby.” (c) 21-25, 7-11, 15-38, 26-22, 18-23, 11-15 W. wins.—“ Arcaby." The prize-winner, Mr D. J. Wilson (Dunedin), was the first and only solver who sent in exactly the same solution as tbo author of the problem. This play (on variation 7-2) has already been published. THE OLD DRAUGHTS BOARD. On the old draughts board, once so fondly adored, With a tearful eye I gaze; Como down, old friend, for an honr well spend O’er a game of the bygone days. I play once more, as in days of yore, To the moves that taxed the brain. To the lessons dono, and the viclory won. In the old house down the lane. Once more, in their rows, my brave men repose On thy mystic squares, old friend; And these warriors, of mine, with the veterans of Tyne, In visions and science blend; And I seem to stand with the veteran band To list to their voices again, As they tell me with zest of games played best In the old house down the lane. Then onr cares were few, and our friends were true. And our griefs were rare and light; Then draughts were naught (so we fondly thought) But a fountain of pure delight. But its glory hath sped, and trmo hath fled With hopes we cherished in vain, And passed away are the grave and gay From the old house down tho lane. But -we’ll sing no more of the days of yore. For the tear-drop dims the eye; Rest on, old board, by the silken cord. As in days that have glided by. Still memory shall trace in thy checker’d face

The records that cast no stain On deeds that were done and victories won In the old house down the bane. J ami’s Oar., Leeds, England.

9 13 6 9 5 9 2 6 18 22 30 25 23 19 27 23 27 17 28 24c 23 19 15 19 11 15a 13 17 9 13 10 15 22 26 31 26 22 18 21 14 18 14 30 26 2 7 11 8 15 22 11 15 13 22 6 10d 26 51 25 22 25 18 18 11 26 1,7 13 9 7 10 8 3 8 11b 9 27 6 10 10 14 17 21 22 18 19 15 32 23 14 7 9 6 19 15 3 7 10 19 7 16 3 10 15 18 21 25 12 16 24 8 23 18 31 27 6 2 15 11 19 12 4 11 1 6 16 20 14 17 25 30 26 23 29 25 25 21 17 13 26 23 10 15 Draw

9 13 12 19 6 10 •11 15 2 6 19 26 23 19 24 8 30 25 25 22 23 19 31 15 11 16a 4 11 1 5 7 11 15 24 3 7 27 23b 22 18 22 17 22 18 28 19 21. 17 16 20 10 14 13 22 15 22 9 14 20 24 32 27 18 9 25 9 26 17 10 15 17 14 8 11c 14 5 1.4 11 15 10 10 24 28 19 16 25 22 29 25 17 13 27 23 Draw

9 33 n 16c 7 16 3 7 7 11 32 16 22 18a 18 IT 22 18 30 25 26 22 27 23 10 15b 16 23 4 3 16 19 11 18 18 27 25 22 27 18 18 15 32 27 24 15 15 11 6 10 8 15 10 19 5 9 3 7 8 15 23 19 18 11 24 IS 27 24 31 27 Dr aw

9 13 11 20 1 6 6 10 7 10c 5 9 22 18 24 19 29 25 25 21 14 7 23 18 12 16a 8 11 6 10 10 17 3 10 25 21 18 14b 27 23 25 21 21 14 19 IGd 18 15 10 17 6 10 10 17 13 17 10 15 9 13 21 14 25 21 21 14 23 18 16 7 28 24 16 19 10 17 2 8 17 21 15 22 20 27 23 16 21 14 30 25 25 23 7 3 Draw

Black; 2, 9, 12, , 17, 20. kin •j 15. White ; 16, 24, 27, 51, king L Wliito to play and draw. 24 19 12 19 22 26 11 15 30 23 31 26 15 24 6 22 7 11 27 23 24 23 Draw 1 6 2 7 26 30 19 26

26 31 22 25 27 23 25 29 15 19 30 23 25 22 31 27 30 23 19 15 25 30 19 26 30 26 25 30 23 19 21 25 11 16 W.w.

8 3 7 10 14 17 28 32 20 25 25 17 7 10 14 17 22 26 27 31 30 26 13 22 3 7 10 14 32 28 17 13 25 22 W.w. 10 14' .17 21 24 27 26 30

show 16 11 4 8 11 18 7 2 7 11 14 17 22 31 24 20-1 17 22 a26 31 11 4 8 11 18 15 2 7 32 27 18 22 51 24 20 24 22 26 W. .w* (a.) ,11 26-30, JA-16, ye. /wins*