DRAUGHTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22356, 1 September 1934, Page 26

DRAUGHTS

Conducted bt JAS. BEECOT. Solutions of problems, games, and analyses invited for this column. Games should be written In six columns as below, and all correspondence addressed to Mr J. Beecot, 63 heckhampton court, or Otago Dally Times Office, Dunedin. PROBLEM No. 227. By O. H. Slocum.

Black 21. Kings 4, 31.

White Kings 12, 18, 30. White to move and win. PROBLEM No. 228. By John Way. Black 2, 12, King 31.

White 5, 14, 23. White to move and draw. TO CORRESPONDENTS. J. Gray, Roxburgh.—Solutions to Nos. 223 and 224 are correct. F. Stuthridge, Glenavy. Thanks for games. Hope to, receive the others. p. Butterfield, Oamaru. —Solutions to Nos. 223 and 224 are correct; In the former I consider the first two moves useless. The problem really starts "at 18 22, as you suggest. GAMES. MATCH IN AMERICA. A game played between J. Sheffield (Rhode Island champion) and IS. C. Waterhouse (Boston champion) is taken, with the notes, from the Launceston .Examiner : GAME No. 211.—“ Bristol Cross.” Black, J. Sheffield. White, E. C. Waterhouse. 11 16-a 5 14 7 14 2 7-h 9 13 k-20 24 23 18-b 25 22 30 23 15 11 48 23 16 16 20-c 11 15 48 7 10 1 5 15 19 26 23-d 29 25-e 24 19 11 8 8 4-1 16 12 811 15 18-f 811 6 9 16 19 37 22 17 22 15 31 26 84 23 16 12 8 914 10 26 11 16-g 10 15 12 19 711 18 9 17 10 19 15 25 22 27 23-3 8 3

and 5 9, 3 7. White wins, (a) some of the older works on Draughts designate as the “ Bristol ” all games commencing with this move, but nowadays distinctive names are given to most replies to It.

(b) The “Bristol Crosa." For the benefit of those just commencing the study of book play It may be mentioned that 11 15, 23 18 is termed the “ Cross ” opening, a favourite defence with White in pre-restrlotlon times. 10 15. 23 18 Is the “Kelso Cross”; 12 16, 23 18 is the " Dundee Cross ”; and 9 13, 23 18 Is the “Edinburgh Cross." (c) Black cannot find a better move than this run to the side. If 16 19 exchange, he has then a man on 12 which would be better on 10, and allows strong attacks—--18 15, 27 24, 22 IT, and 21 17; if 8 11, then 18 14 powerful; If 10 14, either 18 15 or 24 20 : or If 9 14, 18 9, 5 14. then 24 19, 16 23, 27 9, 6 13, 21 17 or 22 18. Each of these Black moves IS sound enough, and may be played for variety, but the expert player in going 16 20 adopts a defence (Black Is on the defensive with anything) which has proved best In innumerable contests.

(d) A change from the usual 24 19, and perhaps as good a' move. (e) Better than 30 26 or 24 19. (f) Smashing his opponent’s back row, but ■wrecking his own formation ! Black should play instead 7 11. as Banks did against Goldsboro, and Heffner against Cohen, in the 1927 international match, with a continuation in each case of 17 13, 4 8, 22 17, 15 18, etc. . (g) Loses. 2 7 seems to draw thus—--2 7, 25 22, 6 10. 19 16, 12 19, 23 16, 11 15, 27 24, 20 27, 32 23, 1 5, 23 19, 15 24. 28 19. Drawn.—Asa B. Snow. ("Somewhat after the style of Bert Titus's “ Fox Den."— D.E.] (h) 3 8. 26 22. White wins. (1) 8 11, 5 9 and White slips the win. (j) A good move (see next note). (k) Black, of course, saw that 5 9, 23 16, 14 IS, was useless because of 22 17 and 28 24 following. And it 3 7 (in place of 5 9), 23 16, 14 IS he would have lost by 22 17 and 32 27. A nice position. EXHIBITION AT HORSHAM. H. Egan, of the Melbourne Club, gave an exhibition of simultaneous Draughts at Horsham, playing against a team of 30 district players. Egan played 36 games, and scored 22 wins, 13 draws, with one lost game. Liudsay Smith scored the win. Below la one of the games contested : GAME No. 212.—“ Dundee.” Black, H. Egan. White. A. H. Wills. 12 1C 27 20 914 32 28 710 19 10 24 20 7 16-b 18 9 1 5 26 23 12 26 Sl2 20 11 5,14 515 22 11 15-f 5 1 28 24 815 27 24 2 7 28 24 26 30 3 8 22 18-c 811 23 18-c 59 15 24 19-a 15 22 29 25 14 23 20 16 30 25 11 15 25 18 6 9 26 19 14 17-g 5 9 20 11 48 24 20 10 14 21 5 25 18 15 24 31 27-d 913 30 26 10 14 Drawn. —Notes by H. Egan.— (a) 23 18 is more popular, and Is considered stronger, but 24 19 is an interesting attack. (b) The "ancients” took 8 15 at once with perfect safety, although 7 16 certainly seems better. (c) Some day, perhaps, somebody will feature 23 18 at this stage. (d) In a game, Asa Long v. A. Jordan, Jordan here played 29 25, to which the Encyclopedia added a question mark—and I add another in asking, Whv? (o) 22 18, 5 9, 28 24, "To 15, 26 22, 7 10. Black wins. At first glance 23 IS looks like winning tor white. (f) Or 5 9 first. (g) Black now draws by “ Cowan’s Coup,” a position which comes up in various openings, but is more usually identified with “ Double Corner ” opening, colours reversed to here. SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS; Problem No, 225 (J. K. Lyons).—Black 10 15, King 25 ; White Kings G, 17 ; White to move and draw. 17 13 22 IS 5 9 15 18 711 15 19 25 22 9 5 23 19 2 7 19 23 11 15 13 9 18 23 6 2 10 15 914 Drawn. A CORRESPONDENCE GAME. The Draughts match by correspondence arranged some months ago by us between Messrs Fred Stuthridgo (Gienavy) and L. Parris (Wellington) has been concluded, the result being six games drawn. Two of (he games have come to hand, and we hope to receive the others for publication in tills column. OBITUARY. A gloom will bo cast over the Draughts fraternity, not only of Southland, but the whole of New Zealand, by the sad news of the sudden passing of Mr J. A. Scott, of Mossburn. One of the foremost players of the Dominion and a competitor in championship tourneys for many years, he always emerged with credit. He won the New Zealand championship in 1923 at Hamilton, defeating the present champion, and was runner-up at Dunedin in 1926. Many of us who came to look upon him as a true friend will miss his genial smile and pleasant word. Good old Jim : You have fought the good fight and lived the good life and will rest peacefully. Your bright and cheerful nature, your ever readiness to ghfe advice and impart some of your vast store of knowledge of the game to lessor players, coupled with your ability as a player and many other fine qualities, has endeared you to all who had the privilege of your friendship. Farewell, friend and comrade, you have certainly left behind yon a token of love that serves to make your memory ever green. ” O might I leave behind Some blessing for my fellows, Some fair trust, To guide, to cheer, to elevate my kind. When I am in the dust,” —Southland Times.