International Draughts Match.

Otago Witness, Issue 956, 16 May 1889, Page 29

International Draughts Match.

We are in receipt of a pamphlet containing full detalb of the match between Messrs Barker and Smith. It contains a brief record of the events leading up to the match, biographical sketches of the champions, official scores of the games, and valuable and suggestive notes by the editors, Messrs Beattie of Liverpool and F. Dunne of Warringfcon. They have not fallen into the error of many draughts publications of larding the text with innumerable variations, calculated to weary and distract the student; they simply suggest in a gossipy manner the best lines of play, and leave the details to be filled in by the student. Though as a rule the werk appeals more to the draughts -expert than the novice, still the latter has not been forgotten; the 27th and 28th games are annotated solely for his edification. The diagrams and typography are excellent, and remarkably free from those errors which mar bo many of our draughts publications.' j We seleot the following game and notes from the pamphlet. The ninth game of the match :— Game 1349—" Edinburgh." ' Smith's move.

and the game was drawn. « Premature. The formation on lines similar to the " Ayrshire Lassie "—25 22, 29 25—has a better appearance. By that method White, without sustaining the slightest injury to his own impregnable position, awaits the development of Black's somewhat crippled forceß. It may be taken for granted that Mr Barker manipulated the white pieces as well as he knew how; yet, as it will presently appear, he had to run for a draw. 6 Exception, may be taken here, perhaps. Evidently Black purposes the planting of a man on 18, and we think White's judgment in frustrating that design may be questioned. 26 22 is not at all a bad move; but suppose instead of either White plays 25 21, and on Black's outting 16 19, then the exchange 26 22 leaves a position from which White obtains a splendid centre. Curiously enough, if we allow for a little stretch of the imagination, the play Biny run into the very fine point of the fifth game. , Instead of 26 23 play x—

and the position is now the same at that arrived at tf (he 37/ th move of the filth game,

c A very critical stage. White hai severaljwayito lose, but he takes what is probably the only move to' draw.'

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