DRAUGHTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23945, 21 October 1939, Page 2

DRAUGHTS

Conducted by R. Weir. Solutions ot problems, games, and analyses are Invited for this column Games should be written In six columns as below, and ail correspondence addressed to Mr R Weir. Otago Daily Times Office, Dunedin

PROBLEM No. 765 By C. J. Greensword Black 6. 12. 14, 15. 27,

White 23, 24. 25. 26, 30. White to play and draw. A bonny drawing device. The solution is an extremely short one.

PROBLEM No. 766 By Bert Oldman. Black 13, Kings 27, 31

Whitj 22, 30, King‘l7. White to play and draw.

Can be produced from either the " Edinburgh," “ Paisley,” or "Ayrshire Lassie ” games. The drawing coup Is very neat.

GAMES A "MASTER PLAY” CORRECTION A correction of “ Master Play ” is finely demonstrated by the New Zealand champion, Mr G. A. Brown, in this game. His opponent was Mr J, V. Earle (New South Wales), with whom students of this column have a previous acquaintance. GAME No. 777.—“ Denny,” 23 19.

(a) 6 10, 7 10, and 9 13 are inferior. (b) Strongest reply. (c) One of the standard replies given In the books, but it Is nearly a loser. 7 11 is correct. (d) Given in all the text books to draw, but I think It is a definite loss. 12 16 is a narrow draw. (e) Given in “ Master Play" to draw, but it forces a win. (f) Wins and corrects " Master Play,” when 14 10 Is played to a draw. A WEAK THREE-MOVE OPENING Played recently In the Fife Free Press correspondence tourney. The score Is taken from the New Draughts World, and the notes are by Thomas Cross. Kirkcaldy. GAME No. 778.—“ Dundee.” 24 20. 10 15.

(a) One of the weakest of the threemove openings. This opening Is, in fact, excluded from the recognised three-move ballot, but. in my opinion, undeservedly so.

(b) The recognised standard attack. (c) No other move. Black must try and relieve the cramp on his " Double Corner,” or compel White to weaken his position in Order to sustain it. (d) Some play has been published on 27 24 here (see Variation 1), but this is perhaps best. (e) 8 12 may prove quite an effective defence at this stage. (f) 21 17, etc., opens up a new avenue of play, but may be inferior to the text, which is given in the " Encyclopaedia.” (g) Again the only feasible play. (h) Now can the critics show a forced White win from this point? (1) White misses a win here. Try 15 10, 6 24, 27 11. 12 16. 25 22, and White can win. Variation 1.

27 24 18 9 28 19 18 9 20 16 26 22 812 514 824 514 12 19 b-14 18 24 19 32 27-a 27 20 29 25 23 16 3 8 11 15 4 8 10 15 811 Drawn-C 26 22 20 11 22 18 31 26 16 7 9; 14 15 24 1 5 710 211 (a) 28 24, 11 15. etc. (see Variation 2 at sixth move). (b) Nicely drawn. Can the critics find the flaws, if any, in this White side? (c) Played between J. Matthews and A. Christie. Variation 2. 812 514 11 15 811 1 6 4 8 24 19 29 25-a 20 11 22 17 25 22 13 6 914 3 8 716 16 20 6 9 2 9 18 9 27 24 26 22 31 27-b 17 13 Black wlns-c. (a) Similar to Variation 1. The following is an old line published many years ago. It may be possible to improve it, however: 26 22, 3 8, 27 24, 11 15. 20 11 7 16, 30 25, 1 5. 22 18. 15 22, 25 9. 5 14. 29 25. Left drawn. (b) My opponent informed me that 25 22 has been published to draw. (c) Played between G. H. Snallham and Thomas Cross. AN AMERICAN ANALYSIS An instructive " Double Corner ” analysis culled from Ryan’s “ Scientific Checkers.” GAME No. 779.—“ Double Corner.” 914 24 20 15 22 25 22 710 29 25 22 18 10 15 26 10 37 17 13 a-1 5 5 9 28 24 714 22 17 10 15 (a) Here Ryan's “ Scientific Checkers ” says: 31 26 might appear to be a playable move to many, but after Black answers 14 18, 23 14, 9 18, White is sorely pressed for a good move. If 30 26 is attempted, then Black wins with 14 18, 23 14, 9 18, 26 22. 12 16, 21 17, 2 7. 31 26 (b). 16 19. 27 23, 18 27. 32 16, 8 12, etc. At note (b) the positions are as follows: Black 4,5, 6, 7. 8. 11, 15, 16, 18; White 13, 17. 20, 22, 24, 25, 27, 31, 32. White to play. Instead of 31 26, play 17 14, 6 10 (c), 24 19, 16 23. 14 9, 5 14. 20 16, 11 20. 25 21. 18 25, 27 2, 8 11. 27, 11 15. 7 11. 15 18. 11 7, 18 22, 7 2, 10 15, 27, 15 19, 7 10, 14 18. 10 15, 19 23, 15 19, 23 26. 31 27. Drawn. (c) 18 23 (d), 27 18, 6 10. 24 19. 16 23, 20 16. 10 26. 31 22, 11 20. 18 2. Drawn. (d) 17 14, 16 19. 22 17, 19 28. 6 10, 13 9, etc., and White regains the niece and draws.

This game, which gives the solution of Problem 2772, was played between R. Martins and W. Wyllie, two of the most outstanding players of last century. They were also noted for their frequent meetings in match play, culminating in the famous 1897 match. GAME No. 780.—'"Ayrshire Lassie.’ Black, R. Martins. White, J. Wyllie. 11 15 15 18 913 2 7-c 59-137 24 20 22 15 19 15 25 22-d 26 22 28 24 811 11 18 711 18 25 711 18 22 28 24-a 32 28-b 31 26 29 13 22 15 25 18 4 8 10 14 13 17 11 18 11 18 White 23 19 26 23 24 19 30 25 19 15 wins (a) The "Ayrshire Lassie was Wyllie's favourite opening, which he played with much success against such contemporaries as Yates, W. R. Barker, and Freeman. (b) 26 22 gives rise to some beautiful play. (c) Although Black has the best of it, 0 9 only draws. (d) 19 16 seems to be much stronger. • Variation 1,

Black, J. V Earle. White, G. - Brown. 10 14 24 20 13 19 30 25 15 19 22 17 23 19 7 11■d 24 15 3 8 7 3 13 22 11 16-a 15 10■e 11 18 25 22 19 24 26 17 19 15-b 6 lS 25 22 6 9 3 7 28 24 16 19 27 23 18 25 14 10 24 28 17 13 22 17 18 27 29 22 11 15 7 11 9 14 14 18 32 27 8 11 18 11 28 32 31 26 17 14 2 11 22 18 8 15 11 15 4 8 9 13-C 28 24■f 1 6 10 7 32 28 15 10 White wins.

Black. A. Christie. White. J. Matthews. 12 16 10 15-e 1 6 11 18 10 14 6 10 24 20 30 25-1 24 19 22 15 27 24 14 9 10 15-a 15 22 15 24 3 7 16 20 3 14 22 18-b 25 18 32 28 20 11 31 27 7 '2 15 22 7 10-g 8 12 7 16 2 6 14 17 23 18 24 20-h 28 19 15 11-1 11 7 22 18 6 10-c 10 15 9 13 6 10 14 17 17 22 28 24-d 29 25 18 15 25*22 21 14 Drawn.

7 10 5 9 8 11 23 26 11 15 15 19 10 16-f 27 24 26 22 22 17 17 14 14 10 12 19 1 5 18 23 14 18•e 10 17 23 1G 16 12 24 19 19 16 21 14 Drawn. (e) 26 30. 20 16, 11 20. 19 15. 10 19. 17 1. Drawn. (c) 16 22 seems to lose thus; 26 22 11 18 7 3 6 10 7 16 28 32 3 7 21 17 26 22 3 7 12 28 20 16 22 15 14 30 3 7 10 15 27 24 15 11 7 11 23 7 22 18 19 10 18 15 Black 28 24 30 26 7 3-2 8 11 10 7 wins. Variation 2. 7 10 19 10 10 7 7 2 15 27 23 6 15 8 11 11 15 15 19 18 11 11 15 Black wins.