DRAUGHTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23108, 6 February 1937, Page 5

DRAUGHTS

Conducted by It. Weir, Dominion Champion,

Solutions of problems, games, and analyses are invited for this column. Games should be written in six columns, as below, and all correspondence addressed to Mr R. Weir, Otago Dally Times office. Dunedin.

PROBLEM No. 483 By W. Jordan. Black 17, Kings 14, 15

White 25, Kings 6, 27. White to move and draw. A smart escape from a difficult position,

PROBLEM No. 484 By E. A. Jones. Black 3, 12, 15, King 19.

White 14, 20, Kings 6, 13, White to move and win, A little snap. .

GAMES The following pair of games, played in the 1931 Dominion championship tournament at Invercargill, have been kindly contributed by Mr E. Gibbard, Dannevirke. These games were originally intended for publication in the Dannevirke Evening News in a column edited by Mr Gibbard, who, however, was forced by pressure of business to discontinue the column. These games are therefore now published for the first time. The annotations are by the Draughts Editor:— GAME No. 484.—" Denny," 23 19.

(a) A distinctive opening, tending to complications favouring White. (b) Undoubtedly the strongest. 14 18, 22 15, 11 18, 21 17, 9 13, 17 14, 8 11 is the "Laird and Lady" opening, while 7 10 is very strongly met by 19 15. (c) Again the strongest. Plausible alternatives are 28 23, 27 23, and 22 17. For play on 26 23 see Variation 1. (d) Safest. The usual line is by 18 19, 22 17, 14 18 (7 10 is better), 17 14, 9 13, 24 20, 7 11, 14 10; and now Black must play 5 9 to draw, as 2 7 loses by 26 22, 7 14, 22 17, etc. White wins. (e) Another instance of the transpositions of the game. The game is now the same as the regular " Bristol u Cross, brought up by 11 16, 23 18, 16 20, 24 19, 10 14 (8 11 is a well-known loss by 19 15), 18 15, 7 10, 22 17. Same. (f) 2 7 is a'published loss. • (g) A weak but tricky variation,can be formed by 26 22. It invites 27, which loses by % a big stroke; but 59, 30 26, 27, 27 23, 20 24, 19 16, 10 19, 17 10, 7 14, 32 27, 1 5 has White on the run, although he can still draw. ■ (h) Better than 32 27, although the latter has some adherents. The position is now rather trappy, and requires to be known. (h) Correct. 7 11, 21 17, 11 18, 26 22, 14 21, 23 7,2 11, 19 16, and White wiris beautifully. . , ' • (i) Again correct. 7 11, 22 17, 11 18, 19 15. White wins. (j) Now it is White's turn to be careful. 22 18, 6 9, 15 6, 11 16. Black wins. (k) 17 13. 10 15, 13 6,2 9, 19 10. 14 17, 21 14, 9 27 is a neater draw. Text is, however, reputed to be the strongest move. Variation 1.

(a) Played between R. T. Ward and P. A. Crabbe. GAME No. 405.—" Denny," 23 19. . Black, J. Lucas. White, J. O'Neill.

(a) Varies from the previous game: It has the merit of simplifying the game, but in so doing White rellquishes his advantage. (b) Varies from the published play 4 8. After 4 8 continue 24 20, 11 15, 29 25, 15 24, 28 19, 8 11, 22 18, 9 13, 18 9, 5 14, 25 22. 11 15, 32 28, 15 24, 28 19, 3 7, and now 30 26 draws, but 22 18, 7 11, 18 9, 11 15 Black wins. (c) a well-played game, but after the initial break-up it is difficult to go astray. SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS Problem No. 479 (J. A. Lucas, ex-cham-pion of New Zealand).—Black 14, 15, 21, King 25 ; White 23, Kings 5, 24. White to play and draw.

MR PETER PETERSEN We received a letter from a friend and former clubmate, Mr Peter Petersen, recently. Now a resident in his old home town in Denmark, for which he left Dunedln about two and a-half years ago, Mr Petersen will be well and favourably remembered by the majority of local Draughts players as a fine cross-board player and an enthusiastic supporter of the game of Draughts. He was also a competitor in the New Zealand championship tournaments. Mr Petersen informs us in his letter that he has been unable to obtain a game in Denmark, but confesses that time has not dulled his appetite for news of the old game, and he would appreciate any information concerning it. It is hoped that some of his one-time Draughts associates accept this opportunity of keeping in touch with an old friend. His address is »Mr Peter Pederson. Glatved Strand, Pr. Balle Station, Denmark. ITEMS Victorian Championship.—Alter winning the winners' section of the Victorian championship, Hugh Egan was unfortunate in the play-off with J. Boyles, and lost by 1 game 11 draws to 0 wins 11 draws. This necessitates another play-off between the two players. In the minor championship the final of the losers' class stands:— E. W. Brown 1 win, P. Bownds 1 win.

Black, J. O'Neill. White, J. A. Lucas. 10 14 5 14 6 9 11 15 32 27 9 14 23 19-a 21 25 19 15-k 7 3 3.7 13 9 11 16-b 3 7 10 19 15 18 5 9 27 31 19 15-C 31 27-g 17 10 23 19 , 7 11 28 24 16 20-d 1 5-h 9 14 18 23 14 18 32 27 24 19 25 22 23 1G 19 16 11 15 24 20 7 10 20 24-1 12 19 23 27 18 23 31 26 22 17-e 27 20 26 23 3 7 21 17 16 11 9 13-f 7 11 19 26 2 11 27 32 27 31 27 23-g 22 17-j 30 23 16 7 20 16 '20 16 13 22 11 27 8 11 27 32 23 27 14 18 25 19 32 23 10 7 7 3 17 13 15 22 and 26 17. Drawn.

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

10 14 7 14 9 13 1 6 15 19 G 13 23 19 26 19 22 18 29 25 24 15 21 14 11 16 8 11 3 7 4 8 8 11 10 17 22 17-a 25 22 18 9 30 26 22 18 23 18 16 23 6 10 6 14 11 15 13 17 17 22 17 10 27 23 24 20 25 22 18 9 26 17 and 13 22. ; Drawn.

5 9 25 30-b 32 23 15 18-a 27 32 14 17 24 27 18 27 9 13 17 22 17 22 31 26 13 17 26 31 23 27 22 26-c 22 25 Drawn. (a) 14 17, 9 8 draws. (b) 25 22, 27 32, White Wins. (c) 22 25, 17 32 draws. Problem No. 480 (L. M. Stearns).15 17, 24, King 31 ; White 6, 13, White to play and win. —Black 25, 30. 25 21 30 26 21 17 17 22 22 25 31 22 13 9 22 13 6 1 1 28 13 G W. wins,