DRAUGHTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8670, 12 September 1891, Page 4 (Supplement)

DRAUGHTS.

SOLUTION OF PROBLEM No. 508. 20—10 12—10 12- 3 9—lt 14—13 10-23 in— S .".—l2 5— 'J 7—lo 10-14 27—24 31—27 4— 8 3-7 White wills. PROBLEM No. GOl. (By J.vs. P. Kkki), in American Checker Review.) Black.

WlllTK. ' Black to move and win. TUB MAC!PI 14 CLUB. Ma. Wvi.ur Visits the Famous Kksout. StudlioiiN Contests with snitiikrs and Pitofussoa ;\1 IJZZLKIIOI'FKK. Bl.miKlt.S JiITS A Boll— Loses. (IJy J. 11., in Leeds Mercury Supplement.) Tho Herd Laddie visited us for the first time last week. When lie was conducted by Dr. Throttle within the luxurious precincts of our club, lie was visibly awed with its sumptuous appointments. Tins Turkey carpets, the inlaid mahogany boards and ivory men, the liberal supply of cuspadores and match boxes, the elegant easy chairs, the portrait ill oils of the great Anderson, over the oak-panelled mantelpiece, and Anally, the ceremony of passing round tho champagne cup by our venerable president, left him perfectly giddy with pleasurable wonder, so that it was some time before ho was in a fit condition to encounter such an army of masterly strategists. It had been arranged that our members should play Mr. Wyllie in the order of their ability, beginning with Corporal Blithers ; but the old warhorse sent word at the last moment that the had been summoned to Buckingham Palace to give a few tactical points to the Herman Kmperor, who was anxious to earn our popular Knglisli game. In fact, I noticed all our cracks suddenly developed a phenomenal rush of important business, so that the Rev. Tony Boyle had to begin. Below is the game t _

" Bristol." Black, Mr. Wylliu; White, Dr. Boyle. 11-10 IS—lf. 7—lo 15—11 11—18 23—10 22— ISa 11— 31— 10-15 19—15 2U-23X 10—14 22—15 10—11) 28—24 IS—23 AVyllio 25-22 0-13 24—15 13-17 27—18 Won. B—ll 20-22b It— 7 22—13 20—27 ! 29—25 5— 0 25—220 15—31 32—23 10-20 22—18 7—lo 23—19 31—20 (a) The Itev. Tony has a theory that this is the most forcible reply to a "side" opening and the cut which follows a powerful continuation. (li) The 0—13: threw the dominie oft his base; 24—19, 4—B, 28—24, 7—lo, 82—28, 2—7, 25—22, 5—9, H025, —5, 9—lo, &c., is the correct reply to draw. I suspect he was waiting for 710 instead of o—l3, when ho has some pretty traps in the end play. (c) All is over after this ; two for one is soon forced. : (x) "I resign, sir, and congratulate you on the originality of your development of the game," graciously remarked the Rev. Tony at this junetme. •'But I may tell you, sir, I am mentally fatigued, having devoted the greater part of the day to composing an original sermon, so you will readily understand I could hardly do myself justice." : "Oh, I ken it's as hard to write an original sermon as it is to find an original game," replied the Herd Laddie, politely. After our champion rose there was some delay in finding another opponent, not that they feared the result, oh, no ! but they wished to give the veteran . fimo to get- used to his, surroundings, &c., Ac. Finally McNib tilled the vacant chair, shook hands, and said, "How are ye, Mr. W-yylie " Very weel, thank ye." "That's bra Ye mind me playing ye at Tollocksliiuvs V

"Hey?" " Ye mind me at Pollockshaws ten year since? 1

" What'syer uaim;?" " Captain McNili." " Aye. I remember a McXib that broken bobby's nose for liutfiii' him in a fiiime for a shilling." "Y.i, va, dot vos the same man. lie dried dot drick mit me," said Professor Muzzlchoffur, "and he vos run in vor id."

"Then if ye're to play wi' mo, we'll bar hufSn'," said .Mr. Wyilie, with his usual prudence. " Vera weel," rejoined McNib, " 1m no particular," and opened as follows . "Switcher." Black, McNib; White, Mr. Wyilie. 11—]:. 25—21 12-10 24—20 20-11 20—2Se 21—17.1 5— !) IS— 9—14 7—lo 3- s

0-13 23-18!) B—ls (a) When Man saw this he exclaimed, "Just the Kami; I wanted 1 I'll give him a drubbing he'll 110' soon forget! I have it all analysed." (b) " He'll never draw this wi' me; just watch how I'll surprise him in a few moves," said Mac, sot-to voce, and we all watched. (<:) So far Mae had played with all the loquacious assurance of a bookmaker, but now lie began to silently scratch his head, rub the wart on his chin, grumble at the crowding and talking, and finally moved 3—B, observing : " That'll give him something to think aboot." But apparently it didn't; for with alacrity Mr. Wyilie replied, 22-18, 13—22, 18-0, o—l3. 31— ■22—31, 30—2f1, 31—24, 23-3, 10-14, 25—22, I—o, 20—25, and presently Mae had to "bang doon the saxpenco," exclaiming as he did so, " Ye'll no catch me wi' that again, my laddie !" " Do you think you'll draw it ?" asked the veteran. " Draw it, iiiou ! I becli, no ! I'll beat it! And would just, lioo but for the blithering chatter that is always going on in this club. Besides, I've had the lumbago a' nichr, which has upset my nerves, ye ken." Professor MuzzleholTer contested the next game. " I'.itjstoi,."

Black, Mr. Wyilie; White, Professor Muzsilebolfer. 11-10 17—14 o—lo 21—17 23—10 10— 0 24—20 0-10 2:l— 0-13 10-17 20-31 10—10 ]— (i .10-17 17—14 13—17 do— 23—10 I—l 7 20—22 22—20 20—Hi Sl— 12-1!) 25-22 17-20 14- !) 11-20 2- (> 22—IS IS—if. 31— 20-31 2—ll 20—22 10-14 80—lib 5— 0— 0 "Ift—23 0-10. 18-15 2— 0 22—18 31-20 11—loo 22 -20X 14—is 20—25 I.'!— IS—l4 17—22 10—0 21—17 a«— 25—21 20—23 14—10 20—22 9—13 27—23 c 17—22 0— 2 22—20 o—l Ox (a) It is no exaggeration to say that up to this point, livei minutes were taken up by the Professor's deliberations in yetting his Rotterdam pipe ill perfect pulling order, until smoke was belching forth like a little Vesuvius, much to the amazement of out guest, who, through the enveloping clouds, was struggling to gut a glimpse of his pieces. (b) Another ten minutes had been;used to this stag.! when the Professor paused to order two glasses of lager beer, one of which he placed before the champion, took a swig from the other, and the game wont on. (c) "I think ye know the book play," remarked the veteran. '"No, my fren', I blay no books; I pltymit my prains—the pooks vos a humbug; dot vos the troubles mit me at lirst, I belief all that the [looks say. Now 1 belief noding but vol I see. Id vos a lucky man dot win from me now. (Puff.) Id vos your move, Mr. Viley." (Puff.) "I ken that." said Mr. Wyilie, "but I cauna see the rd."

(d) Between Wyilie's gasping for breath and the time lost in groping for his men, and the Dutch deliberation of tile Professor, three-fourths of an hour, three glas-.es of beer, and three pipes of tobacoo had been consumed before this position was reached, and the champion was getting bewildered.

(e) "How vos dot strike yon, oil ? You must keep your eye open mit me," said the Professor, us he belched forth .mother cloud of smoke.

(x) These moves were repeated several times fore Mr. M'vllie finally announced the game a draw ; then he pointed nut that if inst-ad of 22— 22—IS, 25—24, 20—27, 10—7, 3—!U, 10—10, 23—10, 32—7 drawing. But Lite Professor replied, "You vos a very lucky man, a, very lucky mail inteed, for if you played dot 22—Is, I vos going to smash vou like 50—32—27, 23—32, 10—7, 3—lo, 12—8, 4—ll, 10—23. 11a, ha, ha! Now vot you dink 7" " Well," said Mr. Wyilie, stolidly, "1 think next time we'll have to play restricted." " Restricted ! restricted to vot?"

" Restricted to one pipe of tobacco." " You dink I'm a goot blayer, eh V" " Oh, 1 do; 1 wouldn't play ye again for a pound a game!"

The Professor was the proudest man in the club at having drawn a game. (The concluding portion of this amusing article will be given next week ]

Auckland draughts players learned with genuine regret of the death of Mr. R. Walsh, the particulars of whoso sad end were reported last week. His name will be familiar to perusers of this column as the most successful solver of the problems appearing each week, and also as the composer of several problems of considerable merit, his latest contribution being No. 591, for the solution of which the Auckland Draughts Club awarded a prize. '-.lie was of a cheerful, obliging disposition, and about the lust man one would expect to commit self-destruction. Mr. Walsh was an enthusiastic lover of the game, and even at the end it seemed to have a place in his thoughts, as among the messages left by. him, one addressed to Mr. C. Gunthorp says:— "Dear Charlie,—l am going to solve the problem Eternity, the Great Unknown. Good-bye." gA tremendous undertaking, truly ! but when the good and bad actions of his life are reviewed, ami the Blacks are pitted against the Whites, let us hope the result will prove a clear win for White. The Draughts Club room was closed on Saturday night out of respect to deceased. Mr. P. Oliphanthas been appointed referee in the coming contest between Messrs. Gunthorp and Wilson for the championship of the Auckland province. Ten unrestricted games are to lie played. At the conclusion of the match, the local club will commence a handicap tourney on the " two lives knockout" system. Mr. Wyllie's score with the London players, according to our latest advices, was, '238 games played, of which the champion secured 202, lost.'], and 3.'! were drawn. It is now definitely announced that Reed and Barker will play thirty restricted games at Chicago for the " World's Championship," beginning on Monday, September 11.