DRAUGHTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11843, 21 December 1901, Page 6 (Supplement)

DRAUGHTS.

PROBLEM No. 1138. (By Mr. W. SEWARD, New York).

WHITE. White to move and draw. "OUR THAD." A correspondent of the Chronicle-Telegraph (Pittsburg) addresses the editor of that journal in the following terms: Mud Creek, September, 1901. " Mr. Editor,—Why is it you don't inquire how checkers is getting on in our town? Tell you what, the game is on the jump, and is likely to jump higher every day. You see, Morrison the Scholar has come home from the Philippines—with the high rank of ' corporal' and a huge roll of greenbacks—and he has judiciously invested! his superfluous cash in another trunk full of checker books—books and monthlies containing all the latest discoveries in the game. He proposes to fit himself the coming winter to play a. match with ' any man in the world.' As for Thaddeus— ' Our Thad'—it pains me to say lie is nearly as fat as ever, and is even lazier than ever. You couldn't induce him to look into a, checker-book— sirtfe; says it would 'give him sore eyes.' He would rather peruse a dime novel. 'Shiftless' as he is,.the Demon of Luck still guards and guides him. Note, for example, the games enclosed. "Wiggins."

" Wiggins" contributes with his letter four highly interesting examples of the Mud Creek talent's skill as follows: —

GAME No. 481.—" Whilter." Black, Thaddeus; White, Morrison,

11—15 7—ll 5— 9 1— 5 9—lß 16-23 23-19 25-22 17-13 31—26 26-23 27—18, 9-14 11—16 3— 7 14—18 a 8-11 10-26 22-17 26—23 29—25 23—14 23— 30—23 (a) " Your right play there." said Morrison, "was 8— then 2217, 16—20, etc., and you are on a safe line." (b) Morrison didn't make another move. He looked dazed, and didn't say a word. " Some more of the youngster's fool play," sneered our chief critic. "He wouldn't play that on Barker or any of them fellers."

(a) Morrison has consulted his library, and finds 30—26, 2—7, 23—18 is book play. . ; (b) "The h—1!" yelled our exasperated critic. " Another of them infernal, everlastin' traps." His heavy fist banged the table; the Black and White pieces flew all over - the room. " The' shiftless, worthless, good-for-nothin' cuss! He won't never try to larn tile game, and larn to play it right. The—" Still raving, he disappeared in the forest. Uncle Job, the cobbler, shook his sides till a horn button fell off his vest. As for Thad—the sleepy dolt—he lazily stretched himself, then sank into a profound stupor.

Mr. A. H. Wills, one of the Victorian athletic •representatives now in Auckland, is also a- good draughts-player, tile Melbourne Leader stating that ho is "undoubtedly a difficult player to beat, and one of the most trustworthy exponents of the modern school, though he has not yet attained championship form, but he would rank high amongst any players of the second grade."

GAME No.' 482." Souter." Black, Biergrant; White, Thad. 11—15 8-11 1118 1— 6 12—19 11—15 23—19 29—25 32—28 30—26 27— 26— 9—14 4— 8 9—14 7—10b 18—27 18—23 22-17 24-20 ; 26—23 13- 9 31— 6 6-10 6— 9 15-24' 10-15 6—13 14-18 15—19 17—13 28—19 19-10 24—19 6— ? 10—15 2— 14—18a 6-15 15-24 8-11 19-24 25-22 22-15 ■ 28-24 20-16 2- 6 15—19c. (a) " Dot vas petter as all the pooks," says Mr. B. " I vas schtudying on dot shust von year." (b) " Now wo blay 26—22, 15—19, and. your goose ish roasted," chuckled the German. (c) " Mine gracious," gasped the professor, trembling with emotion; "dot schleepy po.v everyt'ings turns downside up. De dyvil! I schtudies on dot game chust von year." One minute later the portly German could be seen through a neighbouring window, with a bologna in one hand and a foaming schuper in the other. , GAME No. 48;;.—" Souter." Black, The Coon; White, Thad. 11-15 . 6— 9 14-17 7-14 . 22-25 = 16-23 23—19 17—13 21—14 31—22 21—17 14- 9 8-11 2— 6 9—18 14—17 25—29c . 5-14 22-17 29-25 23—14 22—18 ' 24—19 18— 2 9—14 4— 8 10—26 17—22 11—16 25—22 26—23a 19—10b 25—21 17—14 . White' wins. ' ' • fa) "That's ragtime play," says Morrison, "It gives him a chance to'smash you up in so many different- ways." (b) " Jump the other one first." shouted our critic. " Can't you see he's goin' to push right into your king' row?" (c) The Coon pulled out a handful of coin, and ■wratlifully proposed to play for " live dollars a came." "Can't fool 'way no mo' time playin' for —speslily agin' secli fool play as dat, fat boy puts on de bo'd." GAMP, No. 484.—" Whilter." ;■ / Black, Thad; White, The Critic. ? :i 11—15 26-23 .2-11 30—26 20-27 21-14 23—19 16—20 26—23 13—25 23- 7 3—17 9-14 31— 4-8 29-22 9-14 28-24 22—17 8-11 23-19 5— 9 32—23 15-18 7—11 19—16- 8—12 19— ■ 14—18 22—15 25-22 12-19 17-13 12-19 23-14 6- 9 11-16 23- 7 14-18 27-23 10-17 13- 6b