DRAUGHTS

Evening Star, Issue 21315, 20 January 1933, Page 2

DRAUGHTS

[Conducted by A.W.] Gaines analysis, solutions to problems invited for this column. Games should be written in six columns, as below, and all correspondence addressed to the Draughts Editor, the ' Evening Star,' TO CORRESPONDENTS. G. Duncan, Dunedin.—Your solutions to Problems 47 and 48 are correct. R. Weir, Dunedin.—Solution to Problem 47 is correct.

PROBLEM 49. [By W. Veal, Southampton, England.] Black, 7,9, Ks. 4, 32.

While, 23, 30, Ks. 17,. 27. White to play and win. Very neat.

PROBLEM 50. [By G. R. Thompson, Edinburgh.] Black, 11, 17, 21, 26, 28, Ks. 5,6, 31.

White, 8, 13, 15, 23, Ks. 7, 14, 18, 24. Black to move and win. Brilliant display of fireworks. FORMER CHESS CHAMPION TAKES TO DRAUGHTS. Dr Emmanuel Lasky, ex-chess champion of Hie world, was recently in London, and, while he has retired from chess, still takes an interest in games requiring judgment and calculation, notably bridge and draughts. The following game is a specimen of his strength as a draughts player, and leads one to think that had lie chosen ho could have reached the same eminence in draughts that lie lias done in chess. Notes by Mr Cohen (English champion), who is draughts editor of ' Reynolds' Illustrated News' : A BRILLIANT GAME.

(a) Forms one of the most interesting openings on the board. (b) Rarely docs a player find scope to depart from the orthodox development at such an early stage. This is the first occasion that has come to onr notice of this continuation being adopted in actual play. 8-11 has been universal over a long period by the experts. (c) This position could almost he arrived at from the “Dundee” opening, thus: 12-16, 24-20, 11-15, 20-11, 23-19, the difference being that Black has a piece on 8 instead of 7. The reply 24-19 is natural enough, but 24-20 is tempting, while 22-18 and 27-23 look promising. (d) Obviously a very weak move. 21-17 would have set Dr Lasker quite a problem, while 22-17 lias its merits. Both players had conducted the pieces to this point as well as any first-class experts might possiblv be able to do.

(e) 9-14 looks good enough to win, but the great chess genius was undoubtedly planning some deep combination, as the later plav reveals. (fl 26-13, 19-26, 30-23 is beaten by 7-10, 24-19, 8-12, etc. (g) The sequel to noie (o) undoubtedly well planned, hut not forced, as 24-20 seems quite safe here. The text allows Dr Lasker to terminate the game in brilliant fashion.

WORLD’S CHAMPIONSHIP PRACTICE MATCH GAME. The spectacular example is taken from one of my matches with E. M'Cafferly (Scottish expert) in preparation for a match

for the world’s championship with R. Stewart, of Scotland, the present title holder, who declined my challenge unless 1 could put up a minimum of £SOO as my part ol the stake. (S. Cohen, champion of England.) GAME 42. —“Kelso Cross.”—

(a) Weakens the centre, 9-13 is best here. (b) Some years ago, following a simultaneous display at Leicester by me, a sitting was arranged with Mr Leader, one of the North of England experts, and he had the Blacks continuing 16-19 with a drawn conclusion. (c) To this point the play can be found in 'Master Play of the Draught Board.' The late Francis Teschcleit continued 9-14, 18-9, 5-14. 22-13, 1-5, 18-9, 5-14, 26-22, 11-15, 22-17. 15-24, 28-19, 14-18, drawn. But the Scottish expert puts in a. variation of his own, which does not work out as well as anticipated. (d) After the take, White has an advantage, but perhaps not enough to force a win. (e) When my opponent made this move I was rather surprised, and came to the conclusion that, instead of looking for a draw, he was actually trying to win it. It is therefore obvious "that the Scottish expert did not scent any danger, and this caused him to overreach himself. %5 appears to be the weak spot. 22-17, and White has no definite advantage.. (f) Terminates a most interesting game, which should have been drawn. FOR STUDENTS. The position set out below is one which demonstrates that the side with the greater number of pieces cannot always force a win, and, although this is not a drawn position of such renown as Payne's or Rodgers's draws, it is nevertheless a, useful study, well worth looking over carefully. [By W. G. W. Leggett.] Black, Ks. 12, 23.

White, 20, Ks. 3, 4. Black to play and draw. The draw is brought about thus:

/ Drawn. (a) At both notes (a) Black must keep dear of square 10, or White will win by 20-16, 12-19, 11-15.

—' Cross. — Black, Dr Em. Lasker; White, W. Skillicorn. 11-15 27-11 10-14 31-24 10-14 13-6 23-18a 7-16 18-15 9-13c 17-10 3-12 12-16b 22-18 14-18 22-18 13-17 24-15 18-11 16-19 32-27 5-9 22-13 1-19 8-15 25-22 2-7 25-22f 8-11 White 24-19c 4-8 27-23d 7-10 15-8 resigned. 16-23 29-25 18-27 21-17g 6-31

Black, E. M ‘Caffertj White, S. Cohen. 10-15 25-18 4-8 19-10 9-14 7-2 23-18 16-20b 26-22 6-22 18-9 5-9 12-16 24-19 7-10 17-10 5-14 2-6 21-17 8-12 32-27 22-25 10-7 9-13 7-10a 27-23 8-11 13-6 30-25 6-9 17-14 11-16 30-26 2-9d 7-2 22-18 10-17 29-25 10-14c 26-22 25-22 28-24 22-13 3-7 22-17 25-30 2-7 13-17 15-22 25-21 11-15 22-18 l-5e 31-261 Black r esigned.

23-18 3-7 18-14 7-11 11-15 3-6 15-11 6-2a 11-15 2-6 15-19 6-10 20-16 10-7 4-8 12-3 16-12