DRAUGHTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23500, 14 May 1938, Page 7

DRAUGHTS

Conducted by R. Weir. ■elutions 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 Daily limes Office. Dunedin. PROBLEM No, 617. By W. G. Clare. Brisbane. Black 5, 18, 22,

White 20, 32, King 19. White to play and win. Rather an astonishing three-for-three production, as Black seems certain to get through. PROBLEM No. 618. By H. Egan, Victoria. Black 12, 13, 18,

White 28, 31, King 29. Black to move and draw. Selected by Kear's Draughts Encyclopaedia as " a happy effort from the Antipodes." Black neatly escapes from a hopeless-looking position. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS Alex. Shepherd, Waimate.—Your comment and criticism much appreciated, and published below. Regards. J. H. Loudon, Invercargill.—Games cheque posted. Thos. McPherson, Waimate.—Your solution to Problem No. 615 is correct. Pleased to hear from you again Jas. Gray, Roxburgh.—Yoti are correct In your solutions to Problem Nos. 613, 614, 615, and 616. Best wishes GAMES DOMINION TOURNEY The pair of games contested in the Dominion championship tourney between Mr G. A. Brown and the Draughts Editor. GAME No.’ 643.—" Kelso 24 20.” Black, R. Weir; White, G. A. Brown.

(a) An opening favouring Black, although the advantage is only a slight one. ; (b) 15 19 is stronger. Text tends towards an " Ayrshire Lassie.’ 11 6 10, 28 24, I 6 is treated upon in the " Encyclopaedia.” (c) Although this move is standard, a better choice may be found, as 23 18, 15 19, 18 15, 11 18, 22 15 Us sound and forces originality. (d) The natural sequel to note (b). "The student should note that it is brought up more frequently from the “Ayrshire Lassie” thus: 11 15, 24 20. 8 11. 28 24, 3 8; now same as game. (e) Regarded as the only move. (f) A departure from the orthodox, but play on it has been published. It was played by Ginsberg in the last international match and was occasionally ventured upon by Wyllle in exhibition games. The usual play is 1 5. 30 2(i, 9 13, 32 28. 13 22, 25 9, 5 14 (or 6 13) is an old Yates v. Wyllle line which is well known. It is worth noting that 9 13 before 1 5 loses by 30 26, 13 22. 25 9, 8 13, 26 22 (note 21 17), 1 5, 23 18. 5 9, 21 17, 11 16. 20 11, 7 23, 18 11, 8 15, 27 11, 9 Hi. 24 9. 14 21. 22 18, 26, 11 7. 6 9. 7 2. 10 14, 18 15. 13 17, 26, 9 13, 6 9, 14 18, 9 14, 18 22, 15 11, 22 26, 31 22. 17 26, 11 8, 4 11, 19 15, II 18. 14 30, 12 18, 32 27, 16 20, 29 25, 13 17, 27 24. 20 27. 25 22, 17 26. 30 32 21 25, 32 27White wins. (g) 17 13 may also draw, but this is undoubtedly best. (h) Varies from the book play, which continues 15 19, 23 16, 12 19, 20 16, 8 11, 16 7,2 11 to a draw. Text appears the better move. (I) 22 17 is better followed by 15 18— Drawn. (J) Definitely a loss. After the game 29 25 followed by 1 5 was examined, the conclusion reached being that it was drawable, although still difficult. GAME No. 644.—“ Kelso 24 20.” Black, G. A. Brown; White, R. Weir,

(a) Varies from the previous game. (b) Tills run-off is safest, but to the win-seeking player 22 18. 6 10, 25 22, 10 14. 29 25 offers more opportunities. (c) 11 15 is also booked. (d) 32 27 first is fatal, because of 9 14, and Black occupies the two strongest ' squares, viz., 14 and 19. (e) 9 14, 17 10, 19 24. 28 19, 15 24 Is tempting, but it loses by 20 16. (f) Best 8 12. 27 24. 12 111, 22 18, 15 22. 24 6, 1 10, 25 18 is an easy draw. (e) 31 27 loses. (h) All book. GAME No. 645. —“ Paisley.” Black, J. Birkenshaw White, J, Hill.

(a) 11 16 may draw. ADJOURNED Beware of the adjourned game I I was caught once, but not a second time. It happened in this way and a good many years ago. X was playing the semi-final round of a Glasgow club tourney. Although my opponent was considered the stronger player, I had held my own with him, and when—what we thought would be—the deciding night arrived the score was a win each and a draw. X think the opening was the " Bristol,” a game I had looked up specially for this tie. The game lasted the whole evening, and when closing time arrived the pieces had been reduced to four or five a side. The usual sealed move was made. The game was adjourned on a Saturday night and plav was continued on the following Monday. In the interval, however, my opponent had several expert friends to his house on the Sunday, and among them they analysed the position so thoroughly that my opponent was shown a winning line against any move I chose to play. Once bitten, twice shy!—From the Glasgow Herald. COMMENT AND CRITICISM Mr A. Shepherd, Waimate, writes. ■Ra game No. 631), Weir v, Lucas, at fortyseventh move the position is Black 2, 12, 17, 20, -25, White XI, 27, 3X, 32, King 10. White to move. Mr Lucas missed an easy win thus; 10 14, 17 21, 14 17, 25 29, 17 22. White wins. The position left as drawn at the end of the game is also a White win. I won almost the same ending from Mr Lucas in correspondence some years ago. It was published in your paper as the longest game on record [With reference to the second part of Mr Shepherd’s criticism, play was continued in Game No. 639 for about two hours after the stage marked drawn in the official game sheet, but a copy of the moves was not kept. The game was eventually drawn, but the general opinion at the tournament was that White should have won the ending. Mr Shepherd’s analysis proves that opinion correct.— Draughts Editor.]

10 15 28 23 15 24 25 22 11 15 13 8 24 20-a 5 9 20 11 7 11 27 24■i i 10 7 10-b 22 17 8 15 31 27*1 15 18 32 23 38 24-c 11 16-f 27 20 15 18. 21 17 8 11 3 7-d 20 11 4 8 22 15 18 27 29 25 S3 19-e 7 16 17 13 10 26 17 10 12 16 9 14 24 20-g 2 7■h 30 23 6 15 B. wins

10 15 7 10■c 32 27 30 7 27 23 g. .22 18 24 20 27 24 6 10--e 3 10 5 9 15 22 15 19-a 10 19 17 14 20 16 28 24 25 18 23 16 24 15 9 18 8 11-f 4 8 1 6 12 19 21 17d 26 23 16 7 24 20 29 25 27 24-b 11 15 19 28 2 11 10 14 6 10 and 25 21 . 8 12. 31 CO CM —Drawn.

11 16 16 20 14 17 10 14 11 18 1 10 24 19* 22 17 21 14 25 21 19 15 30 8 11 6 10 10 26 3 7-a 10 26 5 9 22 10 17 13 31 22 22 17 17 10 7 2 10 14 2 6 7 10 7 10 6 15 W wins 26 22 25 22 29 25 18 15 13 6