DRAUGHTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11191, 13 August 1898, Page 7

DRAUGHTS.

CONDUCTBO BY JOS. ABEkNETHY. Solutions ot problems, juu, and analyses invited lor this .a_am_i. Games should be wiiuen in fl»t columns as below, and all conesin>"", en:e addressed ta llie Draughts Kdltor. PROBLEM COMPETITION. . . THE AWARDS. Just after this column went: to press last week we received the whole of the awards in tbe Problem Competition, and have much pleasure now in appending the judges' awards and comments in full :— ■END-GAMK PROBLEMS. Judge: Mr H. Montgomery, Port Chalmers. Uiiiglnai. Section.—First prize, £I—No. 4 in Competition, by "lierta" (Mr J. A. Boreham, Oamaru, Champion of New Zealand), [Black.] J

[White:] ' ''~' '■: ■ Black to play and draw. This was an ending from a "Paisley" played jetween Measrs C. F. Abraham and F. Cassey for che championship of Queensland. Passey won with White. Solution:— ' *16 19-a 26 31 30 28 22 17 ■ 17 22 '- 31 27 11 16 Hi 10: 2. 6 ' 9 13 19 21* 31 26* 22 17* 17 22 26 23 27 IS 18 15 11 7 6 i) 15 10 . 22 26* 26 22" 17 22 22 17 23 26 ' •'. ■ 811 15 11 72; 19 15-B'Drawn .", (__) Mr Abraham played 30 26 and lost the game, (b) "White, althaueh a .man up, cannot' compel Clack to retrtat. . • i This is a credit to " Burta," and gives a scientific/ lesson in end-gamg play. : ■ Second prize. 10s^-No. 13 in Competition, by " Mons Meg " (Mr J. Sim, Temuka). [Black.]

(White.] White to play and win. .An end game fi-oro the " Fife." Lees's Guide " .Fife" Game, var. 4 (c), up to tenth move; thei pUy instead df 20 16 as follows:—21 17, 6 9, 17 13 9 14.13 9. 14 17. and we have the position, thi Uat move being a loser. Solution :— 9 f_ 13 17* "SH 30c 30 2fi 6 9 17 21 3 S 25 29 85 28 29 25 G 2 17 21' 31 26 14 9 -9 14 • 21 25-A 25 22-2 10 14-3 29 25 25 29 2 6 23 18 £fl 23 9 6 14 18 25 30 22 25 14 17 25 29 29 25 6 9 21 :i0 23 18 6 2 26 30 8 11-1 15 22 17 21 29 25 White *9 13-B 30 26* 18 14 2 6 wins. 30 25 22 25 - • 29 25 20 29 ,'a) lf S 11, White replies 2 6, as 2 7 allows i draw. (1) 30 25 3 7 811 11 27 White 20 16" 9 6 23 18* 18 2 wins. (2) 25 38 16 19 23 27 28 24 32 28 31 26 21 15 22 18 7 10 20 16 15 18-4 11 18 W32 24 28 White 23 7 21 17 18 15 15 19 wins. 30 16 18 23 32 28 28 32 7 .3 17 22 3 7 10 15 13) 1115, 26 22, 8 11, 30 25, White wi&s. (4) 10 14 30 23 8 11 19 28 24 19 19 10 10 7 14 9 9 6 2 6 14 ISd -11 15 23 19 28 24 White 23 14 73 '38 62 wins. IB) 9 6, aiid we have a nice problem—Elack to play and draw, as followa :— 9 6 9 13-E 13 17 10 7 19 10 -3 8 25 21 10 14* 30 26 12 28 6 9 31 27 17 10 7 16 30 25 21 25 '26 30 26 22 / And Black can force a draw, (c) 26 22. 25 30, 2218 only draws. (d) If 1115, then 23 19, White win's. '-'.':<«.. "•"'''.: 3126 26 22 22 17 914 ". '" 25 30 30 25 25 21 15 18 And Elick has the better game. Selected ~'Section. — Bear' problem, \ 10s—, M'Culloch'e famous ." single corner" ending, selected by "Dilettante" (Mi J. B'eecot,'South'; land). • ' " ''■'■ ' Black man on 3; kings 2, 16, 16. ;'' ' " White men bn 12, 28 ; kings 1, 9. Black to rhova and will. ' ■ ihis was originally contributed to the D.P.Q.R., which, journal remarked: "Mr M'Culloch haa done many grand things in oui beautiful game, but. this is we believe the best we have seen." The came position > had previously engaged the attention of some of the leading .Home players for some time, and wae ' anally considered a draw.. In contributing the problem t<? the D.P.Q.R. Mi M'Cullooh said: " The mistake that Bugbee, M'Farlane, and Lees make ie trying to play the man on 3, as will seen by the solution ":-r----15 10 7 2* 14 10 7 2* 18 15 1 51 1 5 9 13-B 1 5 c-20 16 16 19 23 IS 18 23 23 18 7 2 913 5 1 13 9 5 1 6 9 2 7' 10 14 2. 27 10 14 14 10 13 9-a 15 24 20 1 5 5 1 19 23 2 7* 27 23 2 7* 16 7 5. 1 J8 24-2 5 1 9 6 B wins (a) Any other move would lose at once, (fl) 51, 18 14, 9 18, 10 6—B. wins, (c) S2, 1118— B. wins; or 69, 7 11,— B. wins. Variation I—9 13, 2 6, 1 S, 10 14, S 1, 6 10, 1 5,. 10 15, S 1-D, IG 11, 1 6, 15 .18, 6 1, 11 15, ,16, 14 17— B. wins. (D) 13 9, 16 11— B. wins Var. 2.-9 6, 18 15', 28 24, 7 2, 6 9, 15 18, 9 IS, 18 23, 13 9, 14 10, 9 13, 23 27, 24 20, 27 23, S 9, 27, 13 17, 23 18,17 13,10 14, 95, 7 11, 61, 11 15, 20 16, 14 17— B. wins. STROKE PROBLEMS. Judge: Mr James Mo_lve?, Gore. Original Section.—First prize, £I—No. 11 in cempetitidn, by "Wait-a-Bit'.' (Mr D. A,. Brodie, Dunedin); second. prize, IDs—No. 3S in competition; by " Sacrifice " £Mt P. A. brodie).

fWhite.] [Wbite,] White to play and Black to play and win. . win. FIRST SOLUTION. 15 11 13 29-a 10 17 2!) 22 328 14 21 6 9 21 14 7 31 Wwina 22 17 5 14 30 25 10' 7 (a) If 2114, 10 17, 13 29,- 69, (514, 30 25, White ins.' '-.■•• SECOND SOLUTION. 23 27 14 23 15 19 29*22 319 32 It! 2125 24 15 38 11 B wins 17 la 714 22 18 16 7 - judge's remarks. First Prize.—No. 11 in competition.by "Wait-a-Bit." This is a very creditable, composition, the stroke being very well hidden, and not easily seen even after the first move. •' Second Prize.—l had some difficulty in awarding this prize, but think that No. 3G, by "Sacrifice" deserves it, as it is a very pretty compound stroke, and it is not at all easy to Bee through. This problem was closely pushed in order ofmerit by No. 28, by " The Coon," which has <t very natural setting, with a, good stroke; also by No. 48, by " Red Pine," whicb^is also a. good stroke with a fairly natural appearance. Next in order come No. 27 by "The Coon," No. 20, by "The Captain," and No. 12 by "Jumbo," which are all very creditable productions. I had a little trouble in analysing some of the problems, especially one or two which had been referred to by some of your critics, who however gave no play to uphold their assertions. This style of criticism is very annoying, and puts the judg» to extra bother, instead of helping him. I refer particularly to some criticisms by " X. X. R." in regard to problems 24 and 27, in both of which he makes assertions, but gives no play, and in both instances I think his assertions are erroneous. I should like to say a few words now regarding dual solutions. L clo not agree with some of yo,ir critics who argue that a transposition of moves constitutes a dual, but it is undoubtedly , a point against a problem if it can be com- i menced by two different moves, as the solution

is much easier to get at, there being different points from.which it can be commenced.

V,> desire to tender our heartiest thanks to the judges, Messrs Montgomery, Lucas, and Mulvey, for their excellent work.

Prize-winners will please note that the following amounts have been forwarded to them, and will oblige by acknowledging its receipt. —Mr !>'. A. Brodie, first and second in games and fix it ancl second in stroke problems,, £3 ; r Mr J. A. Boreham', first in end-game problefti9, £1; Mr J. Sim, second in end games, 10s; Mr J, Beecot, selected end-game and selected 3troke, £1; Mr Blakey, selected game, 10s.