DRAUGHTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23517, 4 June 1938, Page 26

DRAUGHTS

Conducted by R. Weir,

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 Daily Times Office, Dunedin.

PROBLEM No. 623 By J. M. Napier (Nyasaland, S.A.) Black 14. 18, Kings 13. 23.

White 9, 24. Kings 2, 3. White to play and win.

PROBLEM No. 624 By J. Charles (Ponkey). Black 2 ,6. 16, 17, King 1

White 11, 20, 26, 29. King 15

White to play and win. Two excellent examples of correct timing.'

ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT Alex Shepherd (Waimate).—Many thanks for criticism. Best wishes.

for criticism. Best wishes. i GAMES DOMINION TOURNEY A further pair of games contested in the recent New Zealand Championship Tournament held at Invercargill. The contestants ware Mr F. Hutchins, who took second prize in the handicap, and I the Draughts editor. >

(a) A favourite opening half a century ago when the play-as-you-please style was in vogue. » (b) Not quite so string as 9 14, as played in the next game, hilt, as giving greater variety of play, preferable. (o> Much the best. Actually ?7 23 is more often played, but it gives a dull, more or less stereotyped game, with Black possessing more wipnipg chances. 26 23 forms the M Nailor,” and is seldom played, but it contains a trap which may be worth trying for. Continue —2G 23, 4 8, 22 17, 15 18, 23 14, 9 18, 24 20, 11 15 (10 15 better), 28 24, 8 11, 17 14, 10 17, 2l 14, 6 10 (loses: 18 ?2, 19 10. 6 15, 26 18, 15 22 draws), 30 26, 10 17, 19 10. 7 14, 26 22. 17 26, 31 8, White wins. (d) Forms the “ Old Fourteenth.” an ancient but still fashionable opening. (e) A shade weaker than 25 2?. 9 13, 27 23, 0 9, 23 18, 6 14, 18 9, 5 14. 26 23, 1 6, gO 25, 15 18, 22 J 5, H 27, 32 23, 13 22, 25 0, 6 13, etc., but offers more interesting play. (f) Better than 9 14, 25 22. 15 18. 33 15. If 18, 29 25, 7 11, 26 23. which is hard for Black.

(g) T}ie popular variation is 11 15, 28 24, 8 11, 28'23, 9 14, 31 26, 8 9, 13 6,2 9, 26 22, 1 6, 3? 28. 3 8, 30 26. 9 13, 19 16, 12 19, 23 16. 13 17, 22 13. 8 12, 24 19, 15 31, ?9 22, \2 }9, 92 8. etc,, 'which is pjobably the most widely known variation in the game of Draughts, Text is rather tripky. (h) Varies from oook play, which continues 28 24. 15 19 (12 10. 23 19, 16 23. 20 16, 11 20, 25 22, White wins), to a draw.

(1) Seems to lose. 1 6 may be better. (j) 32 28, 15 24, 28 19, 8 11, 27 24. 11 15, 20 16, 3 7, 21 17. 14 21, 23 18, wins for White. (It) glack has now a fighting chance, (1) Apparently White has stronger play here, Bis later trouble was caused by searching too hard for a non-existent winGAME No. 653-—" Glasgow.” Black, F. Hutchins: White, R. Weir, 11 15 11 16-d 3 7 711 10 15-g 12 28 23 19 24 20-e 11 8-f 20 23 22 17 25 22 9 14-a 16 23 411 16 20 11 16 914 22 17-b 27 11 29 25 28 24 17 10 22 17 8 11-c 716 11 16 5 9 16 10 15 18 25 22 20 11 31 27 17 13 23 16 30 25 * ’ White wins (a) Varies from the previous game. (b) Allows Black a wide choice of attack, but there is no better move. |c) 7 11 and 6 9 are also good, forming the Whilter ” apd "• Souter " respectively. (d) Now a " Glasgow," regarded by oldtime experts as a splendid opening with which to develop one’s end-game talents. (e) Pocking up with either 26 or 27 is about a loss. (f) Unusual, but quite sound The published play is 28 24, 7 16, 24 20, 16 19. 29 25, 4 8, 22 18, 14 23, 17 14, 10 17, 21 14, 27, 31 27, 6 10, 27 18, 10 IT, 25 21, 1 6. 21 14. 6 10. 30 25. 10 17, 95 21. l!) 93- , drawn. (g) Losing move. The tie-up after the two-for-two is complete and rather unique. COMMENT AND CRITICISM Mr A. Shepherd (Walmate) writes re garpe 643 (Weir v. Brown). At the twenty-third move the position Is Black 1, 6. 8. 0. 10. 11, 12. 14, 15; White 13. 20, 21, 22, 23, 29, 31, 32, White to move and win, I have analysed this position very carefully before giving the above terms. The winning line has not been suggested before so far as 1 know. Mr Brown lost by 31 27, and you suggest 22 27 to draw. I now give 22 18, 15 22, 30 26, ll 15, 26 17, 8 11, 32 28, 15 18, 23 19, 18 22, 28 24, White wins. The ending is fairly long, and numerous variations, but White has in all a strong win OTAGO V, SOUTHLAND MATCH The date fixed for the popular anpual Otago v, Southland fixture is July 30’ the same day as the Ranfurly Shield match between the two provinces This is a convenient arrangement, as players can witness the Ranfurly Shield in the afternoon and play their games the same evening. Arrangements are in the hands of Mr R. D. Russell.

GAME No. 652.— * Old Fourteenth.” Black. R. Weir; White. F. , Hutchins. 11 15 11 15 30 20 10 14 31 27 14 18 23 19-a 27 24 16 20 7 11 1 6 2 6 8 11-b 8 11 26 22 14 17 27 23 18 22 22 17-c 31 27 19 16 9 5 28 24 1 5 4 8-d 12 16 22 26 23 18 23 27 22 26 17 13-e IB 12 32 28 13 9 24 20 5 1 15 18-f 11 16 26 23 18 14 27 23 26 30 24 20 20 11 16 11 11 15 6 1 1 5 9 14-g 15 18 23 27 17 22 23 18 30 25 26 23 22 15 11 8 24 19 1 6 5 1 10 15 10 26-k 14, 18 27 24 18 15 25 22 19 10 11 8 8 4 20 27 6 1 1 5 6 15 14 18 18 22 31 24 14 18 22 18 23 19-h 8 4 4 8 9 6 2 6 5 1 15 24 9 14 22 25 1 10 3 7 18 14 28 19 4 8 8 11 15 6 6 2 6 2 2 6-j 18 22 25 30 24 15 7 10 14 9 30 26 8 11 21 17 5 1 2 6 1 6 5 9 22 25 30,26 22 26 18 14 17 14 26 23 24 19 17 14 6 2 6 2 6 13 7 10 25 30 26 23 26 23 14 17 15 10 25 22 27 24 14 9 1 6 2 6 Black 18 25 26 31 6 10 15 11 10 14 Wins. 29 22 11 1.8-1 >11 7 6 1 6 2