DRAUGHTS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1749, 13 September 1905, Page 51

DRAUGHTS.

(Communications to this column will he welcomed. All correspondence to be addressed Draughts Editor, "New Zealand Mail.") (Those forwarding games would oblige by placing record of play in four columns. Solutions of problems are invited.) SOLUTION TO END GAME NO. 2. W. B. W. B. 7 10 9 13 14 10 10 14 13 9 END GAME NO. 3. Either to move. White to win.

("Double Corner.") By tbe Draughts Elditor "Newark Call.”

(a) By playing 24 20, 11 16, 20 11, 8 22, 25 18, 12 16, 28 24, 16 20, 24 19, 4 8, 29 25, 8 12, we arrive at the same position as above at (s). (b) The usual continuation is by 25 22. (c) 7 11 loses by 22 17, 11 18, 19 15, etc. ("Edinburgh,") By D. Macfarlan, Gartmore.

("The Soutar.") The following study on the "Soutar" is by Mr E. E. Cresswell —the draughts editor of the "Nottinghamshire Guardian'’ —Mr Creeswell's notes being given in condensed form :

and the game is drawn. (a) This move should lose for White; 25 23 is the safe draw; and 31 27, which is an old move and certainly weak, is rarely played. It has always been in disfavour with experts; and in a little treatise published in 1892 the late Mr T. J. Riley said of it:—‘‘From the time of Sturges to the present there is no record of its ever having been adopted in any important match. In Gould's book there is not one solitary example of this line of play. In 1800, Sturges considered 31 27 a losing move; and this opinion was entertained till 1860, when play for a draw was first given in "Spayth's American Draughts Player." The following play is from "Riley's .Soutar":

and the game is drawn. (z) The "British Draught© Player" says that 14 18 would leave White with a weak, if not a lost, position. "Lee's Guide" makes no reference whatever to the 31 27, 5 9, etc., line of play. (b) Black wins by 5 9, 17 14. 10 17. 19 10. 7 14, etc. The text move is suggested as an alternative by Mr C. H. Smith, the junior champion of London. Mr D. G. .vL'Kelvie shows, however, that 8 11, instead of winning, ought to lose. (c) Given in "London Opinion" as a winning move for White. As shown m the "People," however, by Mr I). G. M'Kelvie, the correct winning move is 13 9. Mr M'Kelvie’s play is as follows:

(y) Mr M'Kelvie says:—"This fine move is overlooked by Mr C. H. 'Smith and a good many others." The move played here is 5 1.

(x) Mr M'Kelvie says:—"Black's position is hopeless. I think it will be admitted that this change from the man up to the man down is rather remarkable; and yet the throwing away of two pieces is the oniy correct method." (d) Correcting the play in "London Opinion." This is:—2l 25, 26 22; 18 23, 7 11; and White wine.

9 14 11 16 5 14 7 10 22 18 29 25 25 22 25 21 5 9 16 20(s) 11 18 10 19 24 19(a) 26 22(b) 22 15 21 14 11 15 1 5 2 7 19 24 18 11 31 26 30 26 27 23 8 24 3 8 14 17 24 27 28 19 18 15 21 14 23 19 4 8 9 13(c) 10 17 27 31 25 22 22 18 19 16 14 9 8 11 7 11 12 19 31 22 22 18 18 9 23 16 Drawn.

9 13 28 19 6 9 5 9 22 17 11 15 17 13 14 18 13 22 27 24 15 18 , 21 17 25 18 7 11 13 6 23 27 11 15 23 18 18 27 17 13 18 11 6 9 6 1 27 31 8 15 26 23 11 16 9 6 29 25 9 14 24 20 2 9 4 8 18 9 1/5 23 13 6 25 22 5 14 31 24 7 11 8 11 32 28 10 15 6 2 24 19 1 6 1 5 31 27 15 24 22 17 3 7 Drawn.

11 15 9 18 19 23 15 18 23 19 22 17(a) 25 22 2 7 9 14 8 11(b) 23 27 11 15 22 17 26 22 17 14 30 26 6 9 18 23 27 31(d) 18 22 17 13 31 27 22 17 26 17 2 6 5 9 31 27 14 9 25 22 27 18 14 10 7 14 8 11 10 14 7 14 9 18 29 25 19 10 17 10 24 19 4 8 14 21 27 28 15 24 24 20 18 14 13 9 28 19 15 24 6 15 23 18 18 22 28 19 14 5 10 7 17 14 11 15 12 16 3 10 22 18 27 24 22 17(c) 9 6 14 9 14 17 16 10 18 14 21 25 21 14 32 28 6 2

31 27 27 23 26 22 16 12 5 9 1 5 17 26 18 22 20 16 23 19 30 16 12 8 10 14 3 7 7 10 15 18 19 10 19 16 6 2 10 14 12 28 8 12 15 19 19 23 22 15 15 10 2 6 8 3 14 17(z) 6 15 10 15 22 25 25 21 13 6 6 10 32 27 7 14 12 19 14 18

13 9 25 22 10 14, (x) i; 5 16 19 15 19 18 9 15 19 9 6 5 1 11 15 5 1 1 10 19 23 6 2 19 24 22 18(y) 19 28 1 6 7 11 1 6 and White wins