DRAUGHTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10223, 29 August 1896, Page 4 (Supplement)

DRAUGHTS

SOLUTION OF PROBLEM No. 859. 20-24 18-16 11-18 27-23 18-27 ?*—22 211 Drawn.

PROBLEM No. 861. (By J, Jardinb. From the Leeds Mercury Supplement.) White.

Buck. Slack to move anil win.

' ' CRITICISM. Mr. Walter M. Hawkins, Mldhirat. Taranaki, writes oil August 13: —" I have been greatly interested in the dispute between Messrs. Blakev ami Bruce, over the Fife ending; and as ray old friend Air. Booker has also failed in the attempt to draw the position, I hopo you will excuse me for sending the enclosed play. Ilnve been overall the variations, and I am quite sure that it is only a draw. Position:—Black men on 12, kings on 24. 27, 31. White men on 22, 26, kings on 15 and 21. I think this is the position in dispute—Mr. Blakey for a win, and Mr. Bruce for a draw. I shall only take the 12—10 variation, as mo-t of the others lead to the same play :- Var. (1) -12-10,18(a), 24—19. 21-25, 27-3 V), 25—30(b), 31-27(2), 22-1?, 27- 23(c), 18-27, 32-23, 17-13, 23 27(d), 13-!), 19-15,9-6, -10, 20 -22, 1(1-14(3), 30-25, 27-23, 25 -21, 23-26, 22-17, 14 -9, 17—13. Drawn.

(a) 15-11, -20, 11-15. 27-32, 21-25. 20—'24(g), 25-30, 32-28, 15-18, 24-19, 18-23, 28 -32, 23—IS, 31—27. Drawn, see (i) variation 1. (b) 18-23, 31—27, -22-18, 27-31, 25-22, 19-24, 18-14, 24 -27, 23—IS. 111-10. Black wins. (c) If Black plays 27—31, then 28 -23. Drawn. Agdn if the man in moved on 27—24, Black can only draw. (d) 16-20, 28-22, 19-15, 13-9, 15-11), 22-17, 23—18, 17-13, 18-22, 9 -5, 22-17, 6-1, 20-21, 30—26, 17-14, - 23. Drawn.

(«) If 19-15, then 22—18. Drawn. Again if 10—1«, 23-19. Drawn (f) 20—23, .11—26, 15-11, 20-19, 11—27, 32-23. Rhck wins liv first Position. (') 27—23, 18- 27 , 31-24 , 22-17, 19-15. -22, 24-19,17 -13, 19-23, 25-21, 15-10, 13-9, 10-14, -5, 23-26, ;2—17, 14-9, 17-13, 9- 0, 5-1, 0-10, 13—9. Drawn.

(g) 32 -28, 15 ~ 18(h), 28-21, 25-3), 10-19. 26-23, 10-20,39-23,24-19,23-10, 20-11, 22-17,31-20, 17—13, il—7, 18 -16. Drawn. (ll) 20-23, 31-2 a, 15-19, 26-1?, 19-12, 28-24. Black wins.

At variation (a), second move, Mr. Blakey says this wins.

Var. (2)-18-20(3), 18 - 23,19—24(i-), 30-25, 31-27, 2*218. Drawn.

Var. (3)-32 -28, 18-23, 28-21, 23-27, 21-20, 27-23, 10—24, 23-27. Drawn.

Var. (4) —32—2S, 15-18(5), 28-24 . -30, 10-14, 20—23, 19—20, 30-23, 24—19, -If, 21'-11, 22-17, 31-20, 17-13, 11 -7, IS—ls. Drawn. Var. (5)—911-23, 31-20, 15-19, 20-17, IJ-15, 28—24. Black wins.

Mr. Blakey writes to ask Mr. Booker to forward extended play for the draw indicated by him. Mr. Blakey states that in future he does n..t intend to take notice of one-move variations.

"TWO GRAND OLD MUN." PROPOSED SUBSCRIPTION MATCH BETWEEN WVI.LIE AND MARTINS. Whilst we are hearing of matches upon matches (or the world, quite a novel draughts competition, and one to he highly commended, is on the Input. It is more than a rumour, says the Draughts World, tint a (gentleman in good circumstances is willing to head a list with a handsome sum for a .subscription mitch between Wyllie and Marlins, both exchampions of the world. This would certainly lie a novelty in its way, as both contestants are far beyond the "allottoil span." but are still in the pink of playing powers, and richly deserve our sympathy in some tangible form at this time. Lists will shortly be sent round, and a substanli.il response i< expected. Both players deserve well, not only of this country but of every draughts-playing country in the world, as no other two men have dune moio to stimulate and uphold the grand old same of draughts. The match will probably consist of about sixty games, and will be played in Glasgow, Liverpool, and London. Stakes and conditions will in due course be arranged. In the meantime, and to help on this laudable object, any sums sent into the Glasgow Herald Oltice will he duly acknowledged and taken care of, and we trust to see a hearty response to gladden the hearts of the old veterans in their journey down tho hill of life. On what terms the match will be played is not yet settled, but a responsible committee will lie appointed to carry out the details. Such a cont6-,t was first mooted by Mr Win. lleattie about four years ago, but, through circumstances to which we need not reler, it fell through. Now that the matter is put before the followers of the " quiet game," we shall he disapnointed if the outcome is not such as to be worthy of the status ami unsullied reputation of the Two Grand Old Men."

A draughts match is at present in progress bptween Messrs. Alex. Beck (challenger) and J. Sim for the championship of South Canterbury. The match is twenty-four games, nominated openings, and is hein : well contested. Kightesn games have been played, and the scores are equal, each player having five wins to his credit and eight draws. A special meeting of the managing committee of the Scottish Draughts Tourney of 1890 was held in Glasgow oil Saturday, June 20, for the purpose of electing a new president The vacancy had been caused by the resignation, through ill-health, of Mr. Robert M'Call, who had been president since the establishment of the championship tourney as an annual fixture. Mr. M'Call was unanimously chos-n as hononary president for life; and Mr. A. Brydon was elected as Ins Mlcces-.ni in the office from which he had felt it his duty to withdraw. The death w<w recently announced of Mr. Kisher K. Bonstea'l, whose library of draughts works is acknowledged to he the most complete in the world. His mm de plume as a writer on ilie game was " Bootle " and as an analyst he id few superiors. He carried on a very extensive business in Liverpool as a fruit merchant; ami at the tune of his death he had only reached the age of 52.—Australasian.