DRAUGHTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9367, 25 November 1893, Page 4 (Supplement)

DRAUGHTS.

SOLUTION OF PROBLEM No. 713. 23-18 23-14 2-11 19-23 7-11 "3— 27—23 35-10 16-19 11-15 8-12 28-32 7- 2 11- 7 3-7 4- 8a 16-19 White wins. (a) 23-271), 28-32, 27-31, 15-19, 4-8, 19-24, White wins. (b) 23-26, 15-19, 4-8, 32-28, Whito wins. PROBLEM No. 715. (By Mr. F. W. Brown, Guratown.) Black.

White. White to play and win, FERRIE V. WYLLIE. On Monday, October 2, an agreement was entered into between those two players to contast a match for the World's Championship, and a stake of £100. By the arrangement come to, every possible opening move is to be made by Black and every possible reply by White, but these mores may be made in any order the players please. As there are seven opening mo7es for Black, and seven replies by White to eAch of these moves— in all -this would make a total of 98 openings when each had played both sides ; but 21—17 in reply to 9—14 or 10—14 being barred, as it throws away a man, this reduces the openings to 94. The system agreed to may be described as " play every opening and open

as you please, but no repetition." The date for starting play gave rise to little or no discussion, and the principals will face each other in the first sitting of the match—some six months hence — Saturday, 6th April, 1894. The settlement of the hours of play showed a greater difference of opinion. Wyllio's first proposition was for six hours a day— from 3 till 5, and from 6 till 10; Perrie was for seven hours a day, and proposed 12 till 4 and 7 to 10. After some discussion, it was mutually agreed to play fiom 11 in. till 3 in., and from 6.30 till 9.30 daily, until the match was brought to a close. A new feature is introduced in one of the articles. In the event of illness, either of the contestants may, on notice to his opponent, take two single days on different occasions, or two days on end, without penalty. The first deposit of £10 a-side is to be made on Friday, Ist December, and two of £20 each at intervals of eight weeks. The winner is to have the copyright of the games, subject to the payment of a sum (the amount of which is yet to be tixod) to the loser. What strikes the ordinary observer first is the great number of games to be played in the match, the greatest number, we believe, ever contested in a single match. In the last championship match between Wyllie and Martins 72 games were contested ; since then we do not think more than 50 have been reached. Under these circumstances, the match cannot fail to be a most protracted one, and will probably occupy quite a month in playing. That the veteran " Herd Laddie" should enter into such an engagement at his age, against such a redoubtable opponent as Ferric, betokens wonderful pluck, and should he come off victorious, it will doubtless be the crowning achievement of his long and chequered life, and no one will be able to dispute his title to be called the "Champion of the World."— Mercury. DRAUGHTS IN AUCKLAND. The scores of three out of five games played last week between Mr. J. M. If ui.ton, of Dunedin, and Mr. C. Gunthorp, of Auckland, will be found below. Mr. Gunthorp won 4 and Mr. Hutton 1, but it is only fair to the latter to state that not being in good health he was not in proper form. Air. Hutton also played four games with Mr. D. Grubb, winning three and drawing the other :— "Old Fourteenth" Hutton's move. 11—15 28-24 9-13b 25-22 29—25 27— 22-19 8-11 22-17 17—22 6— 9 20—27 B—ll 26-23 13—22 19-15 10— 6 15—10 22—17 9-14 2U-16 21—25 I—lo 12-16 4— 8 31—20 11-20 30—21 2— 6 29—25 17—13 a 6— 9 21—17 22-26 9—13 31—26 15—18 13— C 14—21 15-10 6—15 23—18 24—20 2— 9 23—14 20—31 3— 8 26—22 11—15 26—22 10—17 Black wins. (a) In another game Gunthorp varied as below, (b) This is a losing move for Black. (c) Through this out White played very bad. 25-22 19-12 27-23 18-11 8— 4 9-25 9—13 15—19 B—ll 7—lo 10—15 29—22 27-23 24—15 32—27 24—15 4—B 19—23 5- 9a 10-18 1— 5 10-19 15-18 26-19 23-18 31—27 27—24 11- 8 23—14 17—U 12-16 11-16 11—15 C—lo White wins. (a) This is a very weak line of play for Black. "Dyke." Cunthorp's move. 11-15 12-1!) 4- 8 6-14 C- 9 23-20 22-17 25—22 25-22 18- 9 28—24 81—22 15—19 8-11 B—l2 1- 5 7— 11—15 24—15 30—25 26-22 27—18 24—19 18-11 10—19 9-13 19—23 5—23 3— 7 7—23 23—16 18-14 14- 9 22-18 32-28 B. wins. An interesting game played between Mr. John Mellows (Black) and Mr. J. H. Strudwick (White), contributed to the Evening News and Post, with notes by Mr. Strudwick. Mr. Mellow's move. 11—15 25-22 4- 8 25—22 9—13 19-12 22-18* 16—20 30—25 1— 6 18- 9 10—26 15-22 24-19 10—14 22-18 5-14 21-19 25-13 5- 9 13-15 13-17 c 22—18 2- 7d 12-16 28—24 11—18 26—22 B—l2 9— 2 29-25 8-lib 22-15 17—20" 18- 9 26-31 i 9—l3a 32—28 7—lo 31—22 12—16 Black (Mr. Mellow?) wins. * The " Single Corner." (a) Forms the "Flora Temple." Wyllie's favourite gambit, 10—14, is considered the best by several .Scotch experts. (b) B—l2 is also a very strong move, as it prevents running the piece 19—10 and 16—12. (c) No mistake about this move. If 19—16, then S—ll finishes it. (d) A brilliant termination to an original game. Mr. -Mellows is one of the old-time players of about 30 years ago. He plays a strong game. In the second match between Freeman and Reed, played at Chicago, each contestant won three games, with 15 draws. It is stated that the game* in the Pittsburg match between Freeman and Keed were sent by Mr. cable to Andrew Cirnegie in Scotland. Even for a millionaire this would be rather too expensive a hobby to be indulged in frequently. Taking the figures contained in each game-not the moves, of course— the low average of 200, the 16 games would then cost, at Is a word, the tidy little sum of £160. Mr. Carnegie takes a considerable interest in the game, and on more than one occasion Keed has been asked to show Ids skill before the Pittsburg ironmaster—particularly in blindfold games against picked teams.

i Since Wyllie's arrival in Glasgow, rather more than twelre mouths, he has contested with city ' players alone a total of 1870 games. Of these he won 1695, drew 177, and lost 4. Tho following are Mr. Wyllie's matches played with Mr. Martin from 1859 till 1880 :— 1859.. .. Match for £200 . . .. Martins won 1863.. .. Match for £200 .. _ Drawn. 1864... .. Match for £200 .. _ Wyllie won. 1807.. .. Match for £200 .. „ Drawn. 1367.. .. Match for £100 .. «, Wyllie won. 1572.. .. Match for £100 . . .. Wyllie won. lfcSO.. ..Subscription match _ Wyllie won.