DRAUGHTS

Evening Star, Issue 22804, 12 November 1937, Page 2

DRAUGHTS

[Conducted by A.W.] fi ames, analysis, solutions to problems invited for this column. Games should lie written in five columns, as below, and all correspondence addressed to the Draughts Editor, the ‘ Evening Star.’ PROBLEM No. 555. (By E. J. Rees.) Black, 13, 20, 22, K. 25.

White, 21, 27, 30, K. 18, White to play and win. A position to remember. PROBLEM No. 556. (By E. A. Jones.) Black, 10, 17, 19, K. 2.

White, 29, 31, Ks. 12, 14. Black to play and win Simple, but decidedly attractive. GAMES. This is game No. 2 of the match between N. W. Banks (Detroit) and W. F. Byan (New York) for the blindfold checker championship of America, ployed at Tacoma, Wash., April 25. 1337. W. Byan won by three wins to two, seven games drawn.

—■“Denny” (10-14, 24-19, 11-16.) — Black, Byan; White, Banks.

(a) This is now considered a fairly even game, since G. O’Conner, the Scottish expert, demonstrated the fine play shown in nolo (c) (b) 22-18 lias yet to be explored, and may prove to bo powerful for White. The text move offers White nothing, and we predict it will hereafter be avoided in serious match play. After 22-18, Black must play 16-20, 32-28, 8-11 (perhaps there is better), 19-25, 10-19, 24-8. 4-11. 18-15, 11-18, 26-22, leaving White with a fine position. (c) Get a load of this move —it loses! Mr Banks takes a “ flier,” but not without cause. To here the play is the same as the Hanson-Hunt game in eighth American tourney book, where the latter-named took 32-28 and almost won. After the tourney there was a lot of discussion as to whether Black could draw after 32-28, and there was much analysis propounded to show it a winner. Then came the shock—George O’Conner, famed Scottish internationalist, came forward and in a stroke of splendid analysis proved conclusively that 32-28 was no more than a pipe dream, with Black (not White) getting the upper hand. . This explains why neither Banks nor I took 32-28. But here is the joker—32-28 must be, played, since it is the only move to draw! Thus Mr Banks jumped from the frying pan into the fire. But I did no better.

Drawn. Notes by 0. O'Conner, (rJ) Strong for Black and improves all published play where 2-7 is played, and barely draws. (e) 24-8 loses for White. (f) Keynote to a vicious attack by Black. (g) 26-123, 15-18, 22-15, 13-22, etc! Black wins.

(h) (From trunk). This move allows a draw. I should have beaten Banks by 8-11. (i) A life ringer, and saves a desperatelooking situation. From ‘ American Checker Monthly,’ latest issue, which gives the games in this match, annotated by W. P. Ryan. PROPOSED ADDITION TO RULES. The secretary of the New Zealand Draughts Association supplies the following information; —“ In accordance with the rules notice is hereby given that the following proposed addition to Rule 17, on page 16 of the rule book, will come up for consideration at the next annual meeting of the New Zealand Draughts Association:— ‘ln no case shall the handicap limit at any Dominion championship tourney exceed 25 per cent, of tjio possible score.’” Tliis addition is submitted by the Central Executive.

10-14 30-26 6-13 22-18 5-14 24-19 16-20 29-25 8-11 11-8 ll-16a, 22-18c 8-11 32-28 14-18 28-24 13-22 18-15 10-141 8-3 7-10 26-17 11-18 18-9 18-22 22-17b 9-13h 23-7 11-16 3-8 9-13 18-9 3-10 19-15 22-25 26-22 13-22 25-22 1-5 5-9 25-18 4-8 15-11 Draw agreed. Notes by W. Ryan.

Mr 0 'Conner’s superfine analysis follows: 32-28 l-5f 27-24 27-23 . 6-1 8-lld 27-23g 20-27 18-14 3-8 19-16 14-18 26-23 30-26 1-6 12-19 23-14 15-19 1-5 8-12 23-7e 9-18 23-6 26-22 6-9 2-11 7-2 19-26 10-6 23-27 24-19 12-16 17-10 22-17 29-25 4-8 2-9 26-30 14-9 18-23 19-16 5-14 6-1 17-14 9-18 11-15 31-27 27-31 6-2 23-14 16-11 16-19 25-22 28-32 25-22 8-12 28-24 31-27 9-6 11-7 19-28 22-18 23-18