DRAUGHTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13781, 20 June 1908, Page 4 (Supplement)

DRAUGHTS.

SOLUTION OF PROBLEM No. 1475. Position White kin? on 19, men on 23, 25, 20, 30; Black.king on 32, men on 11, 13, 2*. 22. 25-22 22—17 11— 30—23" 24—27 13-22 19—23 22—25" 23— ' 18—15 ' 18-27 23-22 • 27—31b And White wins. (a-) If 29—25 the continuation is :— • 29—25 • 25—17 10— 7 24—27 27—31 ■ 21-14 17-22 22-26 25—21. 11—16 • 7— £7—31 31-26 14—10 16-20 32—2? 19—24 13-17 And the game is drawn, (b) If 11—16, which seems a likely move to draw, then 19—12, 27—31, 30—25, etc., and White wins. PROBLEM No. 1477. (By MP.. R. T. SMITH. Chelsea. From Newcastle Weekly Chronicle.) BLACE-

Warm Black to move and win. One of the cleverest ••strokes" extant. LEV- INSTITUTE DRAUGHTS CLUB. The first sealed handicap tournament of the above club for the present season was concluded at the club's rooms en Monday night, ami resulted in a, win for Mr. J. Oooiian, with Mr. W, Somers second, and Mr. Kaynos third. Eighteen players took part in the. tourney, and quite a number of very interesting games were witnessed. In connection* with this tournament the committee altered the system of scoring, viz., allowing two points to count for a. win and one lor 8 draw, hence the high number of points credited to the contestants. As showing how well the handicappers gauged the merits of the players may I* seen on reading the accompanying table. The honours of the tourney undoubtedly lie with Mr. W. Somers, who went through with but one loss. As evidencing this player's consistency, it may be mentioned that this is the third occasion on which he has acted as runner-up, almost from scratch on each occasion. There were quite a number of new eoifflietitors this time, thereby adding to the popularity of the game in this district. The following Jkows the positions of the players :— Name. Handicap. Total score. J. Goonan ... ... 15 63 XV. Somers 3 60 Raynes ... ... 37£ 52} Loader 22], 56], M. O'Connor ... ... -27 56 Ton-ens 13£ -^i Uillen ... ... ... 34', . sSjr Lndgate ... ... 19i 544. Mackay set-. 55 T. Wilson 22 Herring 15 -1 ,T. Wilson 30 48 Mcintosh 22} 47A K. Johns 18 46 V. Williams 13£ 44} Abercrombie 22-'. 431 S. Elliott 194 40i . McClelland 15 39 j The committee of the club intend taking an' important step by instituting a tourney for the championship of the- province of Auckland, which is a step in the right direction. Since the days when Mr. C. Ounthorp obtained the championship of the district, no such contests hove, taken place—and that event would be. beyond the recollection of most, of the players *of the present day. It would be. perhaps better-to coaflac the championship to Auckland city and hood, as there Are many good players hsjJiEuiotc. country districts who would be unable to compete. In order to allow intending competitors plenty of time to get into form, nominations are open till July 20. receivable by the secretary, P. J. Koefocd, play in the tourney to commence early in August. The committee are also calling entries for the second tourney of the present season, to close on Thursday, July 2, play commencing on the following Monday. In order to encourage the juveniles, it is proposed to carry out a tournament for them alone, for which entries will bo received on Thursday, July 2. In this connection the club ore indebted to Mr. M. Casey for presenting trophies.

Game No. 882.—" Slip Cross." Played between Mr. Robert Martins and a London amateur, who moved. 11—15 , 10—14 7—lo 19—28 10—>—10 23-18 ..25—22 17—13. 9—.6 61-10 24-27 B—ll 4—B 10—19 15—19 15—19 10—7 27—23 29—25 25—22 23—18 21—17 20—24 11—16 B—ll 6—lo 19—24b 31-27 23—19 18—11 31—27 13— 6 27-23 17—33 16—23 16—20 5— 8 10—15 24—27 27-31 7—16 24—19 19—15 18— 9 6—2 10-15 12—19 7-16 2— 7 1-10 27—31 19-24 18-15 22—18 2-2—17 28—24 - 2- 6 White win?. (a) A very ingenious move. In reply, 5—14 loses. (b) This is said to be drawable, although a piece of Black has a,bad ending. The. following is better: 10—14 27—23 24—27 26—22 11—15 18- 9 20-24 17-10 19-26 23—18 5—14 22-17- 27—31 30-23 £—11 Drawn.—A. Brooks. (c) Black should have no draw now.

la a 'handicap tourney recently contested at tire City of London Draughts flub the prizes were presented to Mr. T. 0. Blmidell. who' wished to test the effect on the players of a time limit of a minute and a-half per move. Twenty. seven competitors entered, none of whom was inconvenienced by the quickened rate of play. The first prize was won by Mr. W. It. Farmer, and the second prize wau won. by Mr. W. T. Wray. ITlic challenge sent out a short time ago by the Birmingham Club, Edward Road, to play any club in England at draughts, billiards, bagatelle, and whist combined has been accepted by the crack London Wanderers.