DRAUGHTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9497, 28 April 1894, Page 4 (Supplement)

DRAUGHTS.

PROBLEM No. 737. (By W. Walkinshaw, Glasgow. From the Dundee People's Journal.) White.

■ V '■ -Black; ■'". Black to more and draw

SOLUTION OF PROBLEM No. 735. 10-14 B—7 .12- "■ 20-31 8—1(1 31—13 18-9 Black wins. * THE INTERNATIONAL MATCH. The forthcoming match between England and Scotland, at Whitsuntide, forms the chief topic of interest to draughts-players in both countries at present, and is being discussed among oil classes and grades of players, especially as regards the choice of the teams. In the match played ten years ago there was but one metropolitan player in the English team—Mr. Woolhouse. It shows the progress the game has made in London during the interval, when nearly half the team are resident within the sound of Bow Bells. Beattie, Birkenshaw, Jordan, Granger, and Teschebit have places as players, and J. H. Bailey is one of the two reserve men. Many take exception to the inclusion of Granger in the team, owing to his poor display against Jordan for the London Championship. Nottingham expresses dissatisfaction at Mitchell only beiaijj placed on tie reserve, and not included in their team, " for." says the Nottingham Guardi in, " in the opinion of those who ought to know, he is the equal of several of the chosen ones, and superior to at least one of them." Among Yorkshire players surprise is expressed that Bradley, of Hull, is not included in the team. He made a good stand in the '91 tournament, and is certainly to be reckoned among the " Al's." Taken on the whole, however, we consider the selection committee have chosen a fairly representative team, and one that will do full justice to the confidence reposed in them. The Scotch have not yet chosen their team, but expect to do so by about the end of the month. Of the eleven ' English players who took part in the 1881 contest, five find a place in the present. These ar« W. Beattie, J. Birkenshaw, W. Gardner, G. Jewitt, and J. A. Kear. Of the other six, Smith and Strickland have joined the great majority, each in his way an almost irreparable loss to Knglish draughts ; Bletcher is abroad ; the veteran, Barker Woolhouse, still hale and hearty, says the younger ones must now show the stuff they are male of; Jackson is back again to Scotland, and in all probability will be called upon to battle for his native country during the Whit-holidays. Patterson, a native of Shetland, but for many years of Liverpool, last but not least of the six mentioned as having played in '84, has tutored so many able players in Liverpool that, in Beattie and Clark, he may almost be said to be represented in the tourney.—Leeds Mercury, March 24. The following are a few of the specimens of games forwarded to the Liverpool Mercury in competition for the prize of one guinea awarded to the game containing the finest shot :— "Double corner." Won by Hefter from Freeman at Chicago. Black, Hefter; White, Freeman. 9-14 11—16 14—23 1— 6 10-14 15—19 24-19 29-25 28-19 18— 9 8-3 30-26 5— 9 7—ll 9-13 5—14 18-23 19-15 22-18 25—22 31—24 30-26 20—22 26-17 11-15 10-15 2-7 11-15 23-26 15-10 18-11 19—10 24—20 19—16 3— 7 28—32 8—24 6—15 7-14 12—19 26—30 20—16 28—19 27—24 32-27 23-16 7—ll 32—27 4— 8 16—20 3— 7 14-18 19-24 16-11 25-22 23—19 27—23 16-11 11-15 27—31 8-11 20-27 7—lo 15-19 24-28 11- 7 22-18 19—10 22-18 11— 8 Hefter won. " Ayrshire Lassie." Selected from the practice of Mr. Bartlett, of London. 11-16 6- 9 15-24 7-11 1- 6 2—7 24—20 23—18 28—19 22-17 26—17 11— 2 B—ll, 3— 8 11— 13—22 11—15 4— 8 28-24 26-23 20-11 30-26 18-11 2— 9 9-13 10-14 8—24 14-17 a 9-27 5—30 32—28 24-19 27—20 21—14 31—24 24—19 * ' Black wins. (a) The shot which follows is neat, practical, and decisive. " Land and Lady." 11—15 10-17 12-16 IS— 3-28 20-27 28-19 21-14 24-19 25-18 12- 3 29-25 8-11 15—18 10—20 11—16 2-7 I—s 22-17 19—15 28-24 19—12 3—lo 26-21 9-13 4- 8 13-17 7—lo 6-31 17-23 17—14 26-23 31—26 14— 7 27—24 Our competitor now leaves the game with the remark " Black wins." (a) The commencement of the " shot." The judges unhesitatingly awarded the prize to the competitors who sent in the following game. The notes are by Mr. Lambert :— As played at Buffalo, New York; " Maid of the Mail" opening :— 11—15 9—lß 6—lo 11—16 2—ll 29—25 22—17 26-23 24—20 20—24 21—14 21-30 8-11 IU-14 I—6a 3-8 30-21 31-26 17—13 24—19 30—26 4—ll 14— 9d 30-23 15—18 4— 8 14— 7—30 6—14 27— 2e 23—14 28—24 23-14 c 14— 7 White wins. (a) Mr. Mercer, having the Black pieces, against the veteran, Mr. Hodges, had frequently drawn this continuation of the opening quoted, but his opponent persisted in playing the Whites in the name manner time after time. This was unlike Hodges. But he knew something, and felt that sooner or later Mercer would introduce a variation. (b) They had been at this point many a time, and Mercer had always followed a course irritatingly contrary to the fond wishes of the veteran. At List the " shot" was taken out of pure speculation. (c) But the veteran of 87 was careful to take it the right away. -(d) And continued operations after the same manner. (e) Seventeen pieces have been taken off by the " shot." Who can do better ?

Mr. J. Entwistle, of Liverpool, recently played an sight-game match with Mr. Allan Hyde, of Manchester. It resulted in a drawn battle with the score of two wins each and four drawn games. The tournament at the Sydney School of Arts lapsed for want of .-sufficient entries. It will now be tried -is a handicap tourney, as that plan admits of a better chance for weak players. Mr. Osmond, a Victorian player, has been paying a visit to Sydney. _______^___