GAMES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2241, 11 February 1897, Page 40

GAMES.

Dealing with the oubject of the authorship of play the Aberdeen Free Press gave the following game as an illustration of the difficulty that may be experienced iv crediting play to its author. The same difficulty of course applie3 to problems. Someone publishes an excellent problem; another finds a Haw in it and alters the conditions, and, by simply appending the new conditions, claims the problem. But there you are, and cannot help ii.

(o) The " Ayrshire Lassie" is given by Sturges, but at this point he plays 23 Is. The play from (a) to (6) may be attributed to Andrew Anderson, i as it was, as far as we are aware, first published by him. (6) This move was introduced by J. Neilsop, Glasgow, and was published by him as a draw in Anderson's second edition. (c) Mr Neilson played HO 26 here, but the draw was challenged by Mr J. Drummond, author of the '" Scottish Draughts Player," who gave 12 16 as the move to win for Black. (d) Up to this point Urummond kept on the right track, but by proceeding 23 18 20 16, he went astray, and was corrected by Mr P. Rule, who pointed out a draw by 10 6 instead of £0 16. The position then gave rise to some discusbion, in which some draughts celebrities joined. Some interesting play was advanced for both sides of the question, but it \va« reserved for Mr J. Tonar, editor of the old " Draughts Board," to demonstrate the Black win by the move in the text to the satisfaction of everybody. Now, it m»y be asked, "To whom does the credit of the game us it now stands belong?" By the system at present in vogue, he who makes the last correction claims the game, and accordingly we find that in Robertson's Guide and Frazer's " Ayrshire Lassie " all the play from (&) is credited to Mr Tonar. With, however, all deference to Mr Tonar for his share in the elucidation of the correct play, it would n«t be according to justice to put his name at the end of the game as its author His foi'erunners must have their due slmre of the honour He did not even build on | the foundation, for the superstructure was reared , to almost completion when.he had the honour to add the finishing touch to the edifice.—Free Press, i Aberdeen, Scotland, September 28,1895.

The following came was awarded first prize in the Liverpool Mercury cempetition for the game selected containing the finest "shot." It was entered by Mr i/. S. Head. Game 2585-" Maid of the Mill." As played at Buffalo, N.Y., between Messrs Hodges acid Mercer. | ! |

White wins. (a) Mr Hodges had frequently drawn this continuation of the opening quoted, but his opponent persisted in playing the whites in the same manner time after time. This was unlike Hodges, but he knew somehow that sooner or later Mercer would introduce a variation. (b) They had been at thi« point many a time, and Mercer had always followed a course irritat- | ingly contrary to the fond wishes of the veteran. At last the " shot" was taken out of pure speculation. I (c) But the veleran of 87 year 3 was careful to take it the right way. (d) And continued operations after the same manner. 1 («) This game vaajtlaa eatwed, by Me W. &

Lambert, Edinburgh, -who divided the prize with Mr L. S. Head. For the two following garnet, with the accom* panying notes, we (Leeds Mercury) are indebted to an esteemed London correspondent. -

(a) A favourite line with Mr Birkinshaw, who plays it with success. (&) Perhaps this might hare been left till a little later on. (c) After the game was over Mr Strudwiot, an onlooker, suggested 25 21 as being strong for White here, (rf) Has White missed a win In above game ?

(a) 2217 makes a nice game. (b) Unusual, but aecms strong; 913 or 10 14 aro generally adopted. (c> Oan Black do better? (<i) Making a way out of difficulties. («) Just in time to escape with a draw.

G 11 15 24 20 8 11 28 24 4 8 23 19-a 15 IS 22 15 11 1H 32 28 10 14 26 23 Jame SoSi 6 10 31 2tt 1 6 26 22 9 13 . 22 15 7 11 30 26 II 18 19 15 10 Itt 24 15 'G ■ Ayrsbi 2 7 26 22-6 8 11 15 8 7 10 22 15 ]0 26 8 4 2« 30 27 24 12 16 c 20 11 ure Lassie. 14 17 9 14 » 21 U 24 20 30 21 d-14 17 29 25 20 16 21 30 17 21 24 19 16 I*2 :i0 £6 23 18 19 15 10 6 « 9 IS 14 14 10 6 1 26 23 13 17 28 24 B. wing

Game 2554— " Laird and Lady Rcfnsed." By L. Armstrong, Pitteburg Chronicle-Telegraph. 1115 5 9 15 24 711 4 8 15 23 39 26 23 2819 2319 2(5 23-2 29 25 811 914 1116 1115 811 2 6 2217 30 26 2011 32 28-1 3127 Black 913 3 8-a 824 1524 6 9 wins. 25 22" 24 20 27 20 2819 27-24-2016 1611 26 23 1710 2316 2117 15 24 24 28 10 15 . 15 19 10 19 12 19 Block wins. (2) 20 16 19 10 17 10 31 27 Black 10 15 6 15 12 19 15 Wins, (a) This knocks them all out. — L. A.

11 15 22 17 8 11 17 13 15 18 23 14 9 18 26 23 10 14 24 19 4 8 28 24 C 10 24 20 1 6o 30 26 14 1-6 23 14-i! 11 16 20 4 3 8 4 11 5 14 7 30 29 25 14 7 21 30 2 11 31 26 21 14 3<» 23 30 21 c-27 2 14 9-d

8— " Kelso." Black— L. S. Bobro. 10 15 18 9 1017 2117 514 13 9 11 16 25 22 7 10 1713 4 8 2622 16 20 29 25 17 26 24 19 a 11 IS 31 22 15 24 22 18-o 8 11 28 19 14 17 30 25 8 11 25 21 3 7 22 18 6 10 18 15 . 9 14-6 21 14 11 18 Whito-J. Birkinshaw, 22 6 1115 13 If 1 10 27 24 24 27 2522 2027 2 7 711 8 6 37 31 2218 1524 ' 711 2 7 615 3127 9 6 27 31 11 7 1014 9 6 2718 18 9 1620 d-19 24 710 6 2 Draw. 6 2 3126

" Game 2587—" Black— J. Birkinshavr. 11 16 9 14-6 10 17 2119 18 9 26 22 8 11 5 14 17 26 22 18 , 22 18 31 23 lti 20 14 17 7 10 25 22 21 14 18 15 4 8 1017 1 5-o 28 24a 23 21 15 6 lllti (510 -29 30 25 21 14 29 25 • 'Paisley." White-L.S. Bebro. 3 7 514 30 26 2217 27 9 1815 913 2027 2622 1714 32 23 «-1714 13 17 17 21 . 12 16 2318-rf 25 22 1510 16 23 21 25 8 12 1410- 2217 10 7 714 25 30 Draw. 18 9 23 18