CHESS & DRAUGHTS.

Otago Witness, 31 August 1888, Page 29

CHESS & DRAUGHTS.

[Conducted by Mb David R. Hay.]

DRAUGHTS.-Problem 672. By John T. Hennigan, Grnton, Mass. (From the Boaton Globe.) [Black.]

[White.] White to play and win.

Draughts in Dunedin. Sawykr's Bay v. Mosgiel.

The following games were played between Messrs Hugh Montgomery, of Port Chalmers, and Thos. Neill, of Moßgiel, in the recent match between the Sawyer's Bay and Mosgiel clubs. Game 1201— "Glasgow." Neill's move. 11 15 27 11 16 19 30 23 15 18 21 14 17 '22 23 19 716 25 22 811 22*5 30 21 1115 811 20 11 4 8 31 27 10 26 3 8 5 9 22 17 3 7 29 25 1216 11 8 6 9 15 10 1116 28 24 914 17 13 26 30 13 6 22 26 24 20 7 16 26 23 11 15 8 3 117 27 2J 16 23 24 20 19 26 20 11 14 17 811 914 Neill won. Game 1202—" Single Corner." Montgomery' 6 move. 11 15 24 20 610 24 15 2 6 27 23 30 25 22 18 1216 25 21 1118 32 28 22 25 3126 15 22 18 14 10 17 30 25 610 23 18 910 25 18 918 21 14 610 26 23 8 11 14 7 811 23 14 16 25 21 10 17 28 24 3JO 29 25 10 17 2524 10 17 23 14 25 30 26 22 4 8 21 14 16 19 21 14 17 22 24 19 10 14 Drawn. Game 1203—" Old Fourteenth " Neill's move. 11 15 24 20 11 18 31 26 19 23 24 19 26 31 23 19 11 15 25 22 11 15* 13 6 5 9 117 811 30 26 18 25 32 28 2 9 2 7 31 27 26 23 15 24 29 22 16 18 16 27 32 16 11 4 8 28 19 811 19 15 9 13 7 16 23 16 22 17 5 9 22 17 18 27 6 2 32 27 11 15 914 26 22 3 7 26 22 7 11 18 15 17 13 7 11 27 24 10 19 22 18 27 23 15 18 22 15 1 5 17 1 23 26 15 11 Montgomery won. *14 18, 23 14, 9 18, 26 23, 18 27, 32 23, 5 9, 23 18, 11 11, B. wins.— T. N. Played in the same match between Mr William Moir, of Port Chalmers, and Mr James Steele, of Mosgiel. Gamb 1193—" Single Comer." Moir's move. 1115 2114 13 17 1915 10 17 1410 18 11 22 18 16 20 31 26 13 22 8 4 6 9 918 15 22 23 18 6 9 15 8 17 21 10 6 *5 9 25 18 610 2419 411 24 19 25 22 W. wine 913 25 21 8 11 23 19 22 25 6 2 29 25 10 17 28 24 2 6 18 14 9 14 12 16 21 14 17 22 19 15 25 29 2 6 18 14 16 26 17 710 19 15 22 18 10 17 26 23 9 13 15 8 29 25 6 9 *Fatal slip. Draughts News. Mr Robert Boswell, of Ohristohurch, passed through Dunedin last week on his way to Melbourne, so he will be quite acclimatised by the time the Centennial Draughts Tournament commences. As the draughts tournament in connection with the Melbourne Exhibition is likely to commence immediately after the chess tourney is finished, Mr David R. Hay no* intends taking part in it, so New Zealand will probably have four representatives — viz., Messrs Robert Boswell, William M'llwrick, J. P. Bell, and D R. Hay. American Checker Review. — We have received fresh numbers of this magazine, and we cannot too highly recommend it to the favourable notice of our readers. The International Draughts Magazine, edited by Mr J. A. Kear, Bristol, is also to hand, and it well sustains its hijjh refutation. Draughts players nowadays are being well catered for, so it is their own fault if they don't improve in play. Waitahuna v. Lawrence and Blue Spur. — Just before going to press we learn that a match was played on the 24th inst., with 16 a side, between the above clubs. Scores— Lawrence and Blue Spur, 25 ; Waithauna, 40; drawn, 13. Pull particulars next week. Barker v. Smith. — Articles have been at last signed for a match between Mr C. F. Barker, champion of America, and Mr James Smith, champion of England. As both experts nre about 30 years of age, unusual interest will be taken in the event., Play commences on December 24 at Spennymoor, England. There was a large gathering of members in the club room last uight to witness the last games of the draughts handicap tournament played. The handicappers, Messrs Henry Howea and Lachlan Shaw, deserve the utmost credit for bringing the players so well to the post. As Messrs J. P. Bell and George Rankin tie for first prize with a score of 37 games -the former starting from scratch and the latter with 11 of a handicap they have agreed to divide the first and second prizes Messrs Thomas Dickson (16), F. W Bolt (17). and J. M. Hutton (6) also tie for third prize with a score of 35 games, and the committee have decided to present each with a prize. Messrs Robert Caldow and F. W. Bolt also tied for the special prize of a handsome walking stick made of New Zealand woods by Mr Henry Howes, and presented by that gentleman to tho one who scored the greatest number of drawn games. Their scores were 14 draws each, but in playing off the best of four games Mr Caldow won. Mr J. P. Bell'has won the handsome draughts board'presented by Mr John Mathieson, with the fine score of 37 out of a possible 44 games. The handicaps in this tournament were sealed until all the games were played, so those engaged did not know how they stood until the tournament was quite finished. This system has given great satisfaction, for there never has been a tourney in connection with the club in which the interest was so well sustained. Several of the other contestants were close up with scores respectively of 34. 33. 32J, and 30 games. The numbers after the garnet above denote the handicaps. Answers to Correspondents. Solution of Problem 669. By Mr Jakes Wyllie. BlWfcmeaon 3, 8, 7, 10, 14, 15, 18; White men on

17, 19, 21, 24, 25, 27, 28, 32. Black to play and White to win. Wyllie's Solution. 711 18 27 18 27 15 24 31 26 6 9 14 18 17 13 32 23 25 23 28 19 11 7 13 6 2 6 2 6 15 18 1115 27 31 -2617 17 13 W. wins 2723 24 20 20 16 16 11 7 2 6 1

The following play for a draw is given by Messrs Lachlan Shaw and Robert Barclay, Dunedin. 711 32 23 14 17-1 21 IT 2 9 16 12 10 14 17 13 15 18 21 14 27 31 13 6 7 10 710 3 7 24 20 1017 37 13 27 23 6 2 14 18 27 23 18 27 25 21 31 27 19 16 11 15 19 23 18 27 13 9 17 22 9 6 23 19 2 7 Drawn.

(1) 11 15 14 17 10 17 15 18 17 22 7 10 19 16 21 14 16 12 25 21 12 8 Drawn,

or 711 18 27 18 27 1418 3103 10- 15 19 26 23 17 13 32 23 25 22 19 16 17 14 20 16 Drawn, 2 6 15 18 27 31 10 15 10 17 31 2fi 27 23 24 20 22 17 16 7 2114 1611

There are a number of other variations, and we may mention that we have received similar play from Mr B. Harrison, Waihola.

Solutions of the D. R. Hay Problems. By.Mr Jas. Boheham, Pukeuri.

D. Black men on 6, 7, 11, 16, X 22 ; White men on 14, 27, 30, 31, X 24. White to play and win. 31 26 28 13 9 6 2 6 12 16 6 9 914 22 31 6 10 7 10 14 17 15 18 14 17 22 26 24 28 14 9 6 2 6 9 9 6 19 16 14 23 31 24 10 14 11 15 17 21 10 14 17 22 W. wins

Black men on 2, 9. 17, 25, Ks 1, 23, 30. 32 ; White men on 7, 18, 27, Ka 11, 14, 15, 29. While to play and win. 14 5, 23 14, 29 13, 32 23, 15 10, 14 18, 11 18, W. wins.

Black men on 1, 3, 14, 17, 19 ; White men on 9, 11, 15, 18, 25, 27. White to play and draw.

11 7, 14 32, 25 21, 3 10, 15 6, 1 10, 21 7, Drawn.

Black men on 18, 26, Kb 22, 32 ; White men on 25, 27, 29, X 23. Black to play and win. 26 30 27 23 23 26 17 14 26 23 9 6 15 10 23 14 19 16 14 9 29 25 1 6 21 17 9 6 30 21 22 18 21 17 26 30 23 19 19 15 10 14 27 24 14 9 16 12 25 21 6 1 17 13 6 2 32 27 18 15 15J11 30 26 14 9 6 1 14 9 24 19 9 14 9 6-16 1 15 5 9 B. wins

913 26 23 13 17 10 6 12 8 6 10 13 17 17 14 25 21 14 10 13 17 7 3 17 13 10 7 29 25 23 18 17 13 11 7 8 4 18 14 B. wins

Black men on!l, 4, 8. Ka 11, 31 ; White man on 6, Kb 10, 15, 23. White to play and draw. 23 19(a)10 7 723 19 24 24 28 23 27 28 19 11 18 1 10 811 4 8 812 31 24 Drawn.

(a) 15 19 would lose. L Rodgers, Invercargill — The [books will be forwarded SB soon as they arrive. B Harrison, Waihola.— Your solutions of the D. R. Hay problems are correct, and so is the one of Problem 670. Will be glad to see you at the match. Master William Home, Dunedln. — Tour solutions of the D. R Hay problems are correct, and do you much credit. Henry Mitchell, Taieri Beach.— Have replied ta your letter by post. John Plod, Broseha.— Your interesting letter will appear next week. J Sim, Temuka.— Book forwarded. " Back Man," Wyndham.— We consider the position a win for White. S X, Waikiwi.— The two games 'sent are almost up to our standard for publication.

CHESS.— Problem 672. By A. F. Mackenzie, Kingston, Jamaica. (First prize two-move problem in Northern Figaro tourney.) [Black. I

[White.] White to play and mate in two moves.

Chess News.

The father of Mr J. H. Blackburne, the blindfold champion, who is a phrenologist at Scarborough, predicted of his son, when the latter was a child, that he would become exceedingly proficient in chess.

Interesting. — A writer in the Paris Temps, discussing the origin of tho word " shah," says : " A last remark I dedicate to chess player* — Do you know the origin of the word ' cheek-mate ' ? It is literally the Arabic Es-chiek imat, the shiek (king) is dying. Liverpool v. Glasgow.— The first match between the Liverpool and Glasgow Chess Clubs took place recently in the latter city, when the visiting team proved victorious, the scores being : Liverpool s£, Glasgow 3? games. Apropos of the article in our issue of 10th inst. about the origin of clipss, the following by a correspondent in the last number of the Chess Monthly will be read with interest : — " It is an old story that the ingenious individual who invented the game of chess asked, as a reward, for a giain of corn to be placed on the X R sq, two grains on X R 2, and so on over the 64 squares, doubling each time. When the calculation was completed the number of grains was found to amount to 18,448,617,767 554.251,115. If we assume that lib aToirdupois weighs 7000gr, we have, neglecting a small fraction, 2.«}5,516,813.936,3231b. Now a bushel weighs 601b, therefore this give 3 us 43,925,280,232,232 bushels; and taking 40 bushels as the product of an acre, we get 1,098,132.005,807 as the number of acres required to produce the necessary grain. There are 640 acres ma square mile, so 1,715,831,231 is the number of square miles to be cultivated for the purpose. The surface of the earth contains 196,900,000 square mile*, consequently a field eight times as large p.s the earth would have been requisite to grow the corn to satisfy the demands of the gentleman referred to above."

The Stnrmer Chess Board. Knight's Tour— Problem No. 11.

Two slight typ graphical errors occurred in last week's puzzle; The third word on the right hand row Rhonld have been " quest " instead of " guest," and the fifth should have been " end " instead of " and." The errors would appear obvious to anyone attempting to solve the puzzle, and a 9 a proof of this we acknowledge with pleasure a correct solution from Miss B Kerr H, Dunedin.

Answers to Correspondents.

Correct solutions of Problem 669 received from J MTj, Que--nstwn ; TG, Waimate ; C H*B, TTaseby ; RBJ, Waihemo; C W, Balclutha; R B M'N, Invercargill ; and G B. and J R, Dunedin.

Solution of Problem 669. Key move 1 Q to X sq.

W By Roxburgh .—You will see from the above that you moved the right piece but to the wrong square. HH, Cbris^church ; OH B, Auckland ; O W Benbow, Wellington ; and H C, Adelaide.— Thanks for slips.

Thb New Tariff. — The imposition of 20per"cent. on carriage material will eventually raise the price of vehicles and harness to the roor farmer. Luckily for me I hold a very large stock of both the finished and unfinished articles. I will make no difference in price to my customers. The American Carriage Factor? will still, as ever, remain the oest and cheapest place ia Southland for the purchasing fof either. Write for prices to Box 52 IHVKRCABOII.I

THE FIRST BREATH OF SPRING. It stole o'er the cheek like a fond mother's breath, As she bends o'er the cot of her slumbering child; 'Twas soft as the hush in the chamber of death, And pure as the pray'r of a heart undefil'd; As full of glad promise, and thrillingly sweet As the first kiss of love 'neath the hawthorn's white bough; As welcome as home to the travel-worn feet,

Or land co the mariner's storm-beaten prow! The first breath of Spring!—how its tender caress Revives in our hearts the delights of the past: Bright Nature attired in her holiday dress, And sweet hours of summer too glowing to last; The singing of birds in the glades of the bush, Alive with soft twitter and flutter of wine: Ah, they feel the spell of this moment—for, hush! They're greeting, as I do, the first breath of Spring! It is but a breath, for 'twill pass and be quench'd For days, aye, for weeks, by the Frost King's chill blast; But the tyrant hath waver'd a moment—hath blench'd At the fairy's soft touch—and his kingdom is past! He may bluster and chill, he may frown and may rave, But we'll laugh at the threats of the poor dethron'd king; For soon the sweet blossoms will blow o'er his grave, That were charm'd into life by the first breath of Spring! —WYCH ELM. Moeraki, August 24.

A CURL OF HAIR. Strange fancies creep upon me Aa I stand in the dim cold room, With the misty sunlight gleaming Like gold 'mid its dusky gloom ; And my heart grows strangely childish, For I atand where feet once trod With th.9 glory of youth and honour, Now called to their rest and God. The ivy rustles wierdly * Against the time-dimmed glass, And the tiny birds from their quiet retreat Twit, twit as they flutter past. The dust sf time lies heavy On the book-shelve 3 damp with age, And the mouldy finger of time is left On each learned and precious page. With eager hands I gently raise A book from its long-time home, And carry it gently to the light, From out the dust and gloom, To where a dusky bar of gold Falls on the darkened floor, And I pause e'er I open its overs damp — i, ark covered with dust and mould. I pause ;— it seems to me sacred,

To touch its time-dimmed page, And a fluttering wave creeps o'er my heart; As I think of that silent age ; The light falls on it softly chaste As I flutter its time-browned leaves, When, lo ! in a burnished wave of light} It rests 'mid its parted leaves On a silky curl of golden hair, That clings to my finger cold, Ab I raise it it clings in curling waves, Shining like misty gold. A Ourl ! ah ! who could have placed it there In that distant long ago ? Retaining its glorious lustre still,

Though resting 'mia dust a.id mould. Perhaps a sister with aching heart Laid the shining tress ot gold Within this book when its fair mates clung Round a sweet face deathly cold ; Perhaps a father with stern lipß pale Laid hiß only treasure here, Or a mother with empty aching heart Bathed her treasured tress in tears ; Or perhaps a lover impassioned strong Placed his darling's gift 'neath these covers brown, And well hath it shielded the shining wave. By the sweet fair hand of his true love gave ; Perhaps, ah, perhaps we must wonder on, ' For the past lies hid with this tress of gold, And the heart that prized it in ages past Is stilled for ever 'mid dust and mould. Round my finger it clings like a thing of life, In the dim uncertain light, And an impulse seizes my longing heart, And dims my wondering sight. Gently I raise it, the silken wave, Unknown to me as whereon it rests, And a fluttering wave of light throb* back As it to my lips I gently press ; Then gently, softly I lay it back In its long time home 'mid the cold andgloom, As the mystic veil of night creeps o'er, And darkens the silent empty room. — MUTA.

August 18.