PROBLEM 991 By James Beecot, Mandeville. [Black.]

Otago Witness, Issue 2004, 21 July 1892, Page 36

PROBLEM 991 By James Beecot, Mandeville. [Black.]

[WIUTK] Black to play and win. LThe above is one of Mr Beecot's best efforts. It may not be found difficult, but it possesses three important features : Natural position, forced play, with neat ana decisive finish.] Mr James Hill, the famous author of "Hill's Synopsis," the " Magpie Club," &c, has, unsolicited, kindly favoured us with the following original article, the last from bis pen. It will give our readers an idea of the style of his book the "Magpie Club" :— THE MAGPIE CLUB. Mr benstead wins a hat from m'nih. While visiting London during the recent National Tournament, Mr W. Benstead, of Lowesloft, played the following at our club :—: — Gamk IS9O— " Kclso-Oross."

a 0 14 is the best here ; but Black is planning for complications, which he obtains later on, but not to his liking. bAn excellent move, that, to a certain extent, debars 9 14 or 8 12, because White replies 22 18 to the former and 24 IS) to the latter, with an impregnable game in both cases. c Leaviil? tlie books which play 8 12. i It has no merit except what might occur at (c) to the " Ex-Champion of Pollocksbaws." d Correct ; to compel Black to make the first break. x At this juncture, M'Nib took a seat beside us. We could see by the twinkle in liis eye he had been having a " wee drap." "Hum," ho observed, " Mr X " (he always calls me Mr X, because I'm out o' date), " our nautical friend is pushing ye a bit, by the look." We made no reply, hoping he might subside. « M'Nib shook his head and grunted, " Na, na ! " at this move. "What is the matter with that?" inquired Mr Benstead. "Tut-tut, mon, ye'r no' makin' the best moves." " Why, what would you do there ? " " Do, mon, do ? Why, is na' it as clear as the nos>e on ye'r face, yell force a fine win by 23 19 ? " " No, its not," said Benstead stoutly. "But do ye ken he can't go 1116?" • " Pshaw I There's nothing in it." " What ! Do you mean to come up 'ere fro' a little lishing village to learn me draughts? Why, mon ! I was the Champion o' Pollockshaws, long before you'd done with the nursing bottle." "I don't care a button what you were, that's the best move ! " "Now what would ye be inclined to wager I don't win it ?" " Oh, in -)*t anything you like." " What odds do ye give." "Odds? Why should I give odds'" " Because ye'r so cock sure aboot it. Now, if yell lay me five bob to tliree, I don't mind showing the play." "Very good, said Benstead, " I'm not a sporting man, but I'll tell you what I'll do. If you win, I'll buy a silk bat. If you lose, you buy me one." " Verra good, laddie ; I'm wanting a new silk hat. Faith, ye've just come from the country in time to provide one. Sit ye doon, and talc the Blacks." " No, no. The Ex-Instructor must play it out." " Oh, verra weel, it's all the worse for ye, for I ken by his rollicking 'cc he's had a drap too much Irish tea." l So Mac took Benstead's place, and we proceeded fiom (r.) cs follows :— 23 1!>, 48, 31 2(5, 5 !>, 25 22-i/, 11 Ifi. The position is here given :— White (M'Xib.)

"Now," said Mac, patronisIngly, "my young nautical friend, I think yell admit the beautiful play I'm aboot to demonstrate is worth a silk hat. Now then, watch me," and he moved 22 18, 15 31, 19 15. (" Ha. ha ! ye didn't ken that, laddie.") 10 19, 17 3, 9 14, 24 16, 31 24, 28 19. 16 23. B. wins. "Hold on, hold on I " exclaimed Mac. "Ye must ha' picked up twa men instead o' ane." "He did," said Benstead. drily. "At your first move, and you_ never picked them back again." And Mr Benstead returned to Lowestoft with a. new " topper" at Mac's expense. It afterwords leaked out that M'Nib got Blithers to analyse the position with him, and finding a win, Mac tried next day to lure our nautical friend into another wager, but in spite of the Scot's pcrsis'tence Mr Benstead always replied, " I'm satisfied with one hat, yo ken," much to Mac's chagrin. The following, J. learned later, is how Blithers was going to win. Play from (g) :— 26 2IJ 15 29' 17 1 1118 27 24 1116 1915 x-711 13 6 20 27 2318 1019 24 15 2 9 32 5 W. wins. But at (x) play 19 23, and what ? I will leave your critics to explain the capital letter (!') at tho 21st move. James Hux. Magpie Club, May 23, 1892! Played by correspondence between Messrs D. A. Brodie, of Dunedin, and C. Gunthorp, of Auckland : — Game 1890—" Bristol."

Draughts Items. English Tournament Games, 1892.— Subbcribers to this book will please observe that Problem 5 on the cover, by J. A. Kear, jun., should read Black to play and win not White to play and win. Sydney. — Thehandicap tournament at the Sydney School of Arts has progressed another stage. The final round between the winner of the losers' class (Mr J. Reid) and the survivor of the winners' class (Mr Drury) resulted in a victory for the former, thus placing the contestants on an equal footing — one life each. In playing off Mr Reid has won the first "two games, and as only six are to be played, there is little hope of Mr Drury equalising matters. The Sydney Echo expected the tourney to be completed on the 9th inst.

Wyilie v. Jordan.— The West Lothian Courier says that the play throughout the JqrdanWyllie match was of the highest order, and improved as tho match proceeded. Mr Wyilie admits his defeat, and speaks highly of Mr Jordan's skill. He does not acknowledge, however, that he has been conquered ; and he has intimated that in the courseof ashort timehe will challenge Mr Jordan to play a match of 52 games for L 25 a-side, with the condition that 26 openings shall be played, of which each shall name 13. lie will also give Mr Jordan the option of playing a match of 100 games at 50 different openings for LIOO a-side and the championship of the world. Wyilie, in writing to the Herald, says his defeat was due to his bad play on two days, and the number of games was not sufficient to enable him to retrieve his loss. Had the match been 50 games he says he could have beaten him easily. Blindfold Champion. — The Pittsburg Chronicle Telegraph says that Mr William Campbell, the blindfold expert, will soon leave Scotland with the intention of making his permanent home in Australia. We wonder which colony and which town will be favoured with his presence. Mr Robert M'Call.— Mr R. M'Call, who for a period of 25 years has conducted the valuable diaughts column in the Glasgow Weekly Herald, is about to resign that position. He is the president of the Glasgow Draughts Association, and has been. stakeholder in all important checker matches that have occurred in Scotland within the last 30 years. Playing Checkers. Ther's a lazy, lollin' feeling in the deep an' dreamy clays, The wind a kiss is stcalin' from the violets in the ways ; And now the red woodpeckers are ' druiumin' move an 1 nioie, v But the best of all, is checkers at the village grocery btore. Ah, me ! there ain't no say in' what fun ib in that game, When a feller gits to playin' 'till he mos' fergits his name ! Though one good sign of springtime is tax .vales. v ales on the door, The suresjt sign is checkers, at the village grocery store ! Answers to Correspondents. Solution or Problem 989. By James Bi:ecot. Ti. on 1, 11, 18 K6;W. on 12, 13, 20, 2!». Black to move and win. 18 22 22 2(5 2(5 30 1510 2318 12 8 815 25 22 17 13 7.2 15 6 1 1915 10 6 6 1 8 3 13 (5 2016 16 11 13 9 5 9 119 30 2(5 26 23 1 5 3 8 29 25 2217 11 7 B wins Jan. Hill, England. — M.my thanks for interesting contribution. Will write. J. A. Borebam. — Letter very welcome. Reply at earliest opportunity. W. S., South Wyndham.— Thanks for letter. "Will utilise enclosure next week. W. C. — Will endeavour to meet requirements. Will write. "Muircock." — Many thanks. Will appear next week.

Black— Hill. White— Ben .015 20 25 4 8 8 3 !318 914-a:2419 2 7 121(5 18 9 15 31 3 8 5117 514 32 27 24 27 Ll3 20 2217 3124 26 23 L 713 1 5 28 3 15 24 7 10-rt 31 26-« 11 15 8 15 26 23-b 12 16 3 8 10 26 3 7-c 26 22 20 24 17 3 25 21-(J 5 9- F 23 19 914 812 30 26 711 3 7 T Qstead. 26 30 2217 1418 711 CIO 1116 24 28 1611 1015 13 9 18 22 DvAwn.

1116 !4 20 L 619 !316 219 !218 914 •8 9 514 25 22 812 2217 4 8 Gunthorp s move. 29 25 1219 2215 1519 811 3216 1019 1115 27 24 711 1710 19 23 1115 16 7 615 1519 20 If) 211 11 7 23 27 3 8 28 24 24 27 19 23 25 22 1116 7 2 27 32 811 24 20 27 31 30 25 3127 1619 26 22 3127 1120 2016 19 24 2218 27 23 19 24 2 7 1 C 20 27 1611 2428 2117 2316 1518 711 610 Drawn.