DRAUGHTS

Evening Star, Issue 23354, 25 August 1939, Page 3

DRAUGHTS

(Conducted by A.W.]

Games, analysis, solutions to problems invited for this column. Games should be written in five columns, as below, and all correspondence addressed to the Draughts Editor, the ' Evening Star.’ The Otago Draughts Club meets on Thursday and Saturday evenings in the Y.M.C.A. Rooms, at 7 o’cjock. Visitors are always welcome.

PROBLEM 739. (By K. M'Kenzie, Denhead, Monikie.)

Black, 2,5, 22, 23.

White, 8,9, 14, 29, 31,

White to play and win. Not difficult, but will bo appreciated,

PROBLEM 740. (By W. J. Wray, Halifax.)

Black, 11, 13, K. 12,

White, 30, Ks. 18, 20,

White to move and win. A splendid ending of fine cross-board play. Well worth studying. SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. Problem 737, by A. J. M’Douald. Black, 15, 18, Ks. 26, 28. White, 21, Ks. 7, 11, 17. White to play and win. 17-14* 7-10 11-7 a 10-15 15-18 26-23 _ 15-19 28-24 b 18-22. W. wins (a) A very unnatural move, but the only move to win. (b) If 18-22, then 14-18 wins, and if 19-24, then 10-15, 18-22, 15-18, etc., wins for White. Problem 738, by T. M. M'Grcgor. Black, 1, Ks. 14, 15. 29. White, 5,9, Ks. 7, 30.

GAME 824. —" Denny ” (24-19). —. , This game was contested between two noted Dundee experts, the late H. F. Shearer having the black side against Thos. Holden. The student will find m it a line that should suit him admirably when playing White. The notes are Mr Shearer’s: —

(a) This move has not found favour with the experts, probably because White has several strong attacks against it. Certainly 6- restricts White’s selection more than 7- but match play shows many dangers in 6-10 also.

(b) In Kear’s ‘ Encyclopoedia ’ Mr Alexander gives 28-24 and 22-17, Black coming out all right. In my ‘ Handbook 1 I give 22-17, bub it seems that Mr Holder’s play is a little more forcible than either of these.

(c) I expected 22-17 here, which I think the stronger continuation, although While gels a good hold by the Hue adopted. I append an off-hand game on the 22-17 line:—

And the game was drawn ultimately. (d) The position is now the same as a 1905 British-American match game, where Denvir (America) .played 16-20, 32-27, 8-11, etc., losing to Stewart (Scotland). It seems better to keep the piece on 16, although Black gets badly broken up. (e) 10-14 would allow White to win. (f) Trying to inveigle White into taking the “stroke ” by 21-17, etc,, Black then winning neatly. But White is not tempted, and puls up serious trouble for Black. (g) All that is left now. I had a bit of thinking to do for the rest of the game, but the draw seems there all the time. (h) Crowning the piece on 22 loses, as we found afterwards. (i) If ll'-7, the “ stroke ” by 13-17 and 22-26 draws. . (j) Very tempting to run in 23-19, 19-16, and 16-11, but White forces a winning ending. . (k) The sigh of relief comes in here. If 7-2, 15-6. 2-9, 1-5 draws. GAME 825. —"Dundee” (24-20).

(a) I doubt if there is any draw to this move, (b) This move is obviously powerful and much better than 24-19. (c) If 9-14 here, White could win by 23-19 and 22-17, or if 9-13, 24-19, 5-9, 22-17, 13-22, 25-17, 9-13, 30-26, White wins.

White to play and draw. 9-6* 1-6 , 7-11 14-5 S-9 1-10 10-15 15-18 15-8 11-15 5-1 6-10 10-14b 30-26 9-14 15-19 14-9a 19-15 , 8-11 Drawn. (a) 14-17, 7-11 , 15-18, 11-1 .5, 17-14, 15-24c, 14-7, 30-26, 7-10, 24-19. Drawn. (b) 11-15, 9-6, 15-24, 6-15. B. wins (c) 10-17 also draws.

10-14 19-6 9-13 11-7 24-19 12-19 14-10 18-22 7-10a 23-16 18-22 7-2 27-24b 2-7f 16-11 22-26 11-16 ‘ 22-17 19-23U 2-7 24-20c 13-22 31-27i 26-31 9-13 26-17 23-26 24-20 20-11 15-19 30-23 31-26 8-24 29-25 22-26 20-16 28-19 10-15 27-24 26-22 4-8 17-10 26-31 16-11 22-18 7-14 25-19 22-18 8-11 25-22 31-26 11-8 18-9 6-9g 19-16 23-19 5-14 22-17 26-23 8-4 25-22 14-18 16-12 19-15!c 11-15 17-14 15-18j Drawn.

22-17 8-11 22-18 9-18 9-13 15-8 15-22 23-7 25-22 4-11 25-18 3-10 5-9d 17-10 7-10 29-25 19-15 6-15 32-27 11-15 10-19 30-25 l-5e 25-22 24-15 2-7 18-14 5-9

(By Thos. Graham, Blantyre, ■) 12-16 15-22 l-6c 14-17 6-10 24-20 25-18 24-19 21-13 14-9 8-12 6-10 9-14d 10-17 White 28-24 29-25 18-9 18-14 ■wins. 10-15a 3-8 5-14 17-21 22-18 25-22b 22-18 26-22