Vicissitudes of a Problem.

Otago Witness, Issue 2298, 17 March 1898, Page 40

Vicissitudes of a Problem.

For thefollowinginterestingbisfcoryof an interesting; problem we (L^eds Mercury) are indebted t»Mr J. K. Lyons, draughts editor of the Wallasey Chronicle: —

Black to move ; White to draw. It is just 12 years since this position was iirst published in the Liverpool Courier, under the name of the late Charles M'Kechanie, who arriv. d at it from the " Cross" opening played in a little international match, Scotch v. Euglieh, held under the auspices of the old Liverpool Draughts Association, at the Argyle Cafe, then the Liverpool headquarters. By an oversights such as a careless editor never fails to set down to the " P. i>.," the terms attached to the position read, "Black to move and draw," instead of "wiD," as was intended. Then, as now, ciitics were keen on corrections, and it surprised no one when a correction appeared iv the Leeds Mercury Weekly Supplement of the following Saturday. Of course, the terms were amended in the Courier, and the following solution duly appeared :—: —

(a) A few weeks later Mr D. Robertson took up the position in tha Glasgow Herald, and showed a draw at this stage thus :—: — *5 9 *913 13 17 17 22 1611 2218 72 20 69 9 14 15 8 Drawn. (6) Several weeks passed over, and the following correcting play, restoring tho Black win, appeared in the Herald, credited to Mr T. Wardrop. The ingenious manner in which the old play for the win is worked up deserves credit :—

position was retet under the Dame of Frank Dunne, Warrington, with tbe terms as given above. Mr Dunue wrote:— "My attention has been redirected to this position owing to Mr I>. Robertson, of Gla gow, having published play in. the Glasgow Herald showing a "neat draw, which. occurs nearly at the end of Mr M'Kech-inie's aolutiou. Upon a careful examination I have come to the conclusion ihat, after all, Black cannot force a win, aad I therefore beg to submit the pioblem apaiu, with an extended solution, showing, I think, a draw for White against every line of attack that can be adopted by Biack." It is not my purpose to go over the^vvhole subject. The draw hinges wholly on the following play, which Mr Dunne was undoubtedly the first to publish : 5 r 1915* 9lt 1418 J(il2 2016 1518 10 2S 1219 2>24 24 19 Drawn. It is curious to note that Mr Dunne, in publishing his "Guide,"^entirely overlooked his own correction of the M'Kachanie position. Ihe problem is there given as No, 39 under Mr M'Kechauie's name, with the terms originallyintended — " Black to move and win." Latterly I have come aco&s the position set, with colours reversed, in the Pittsburg Chronicle-Telegraph, c spied f 10m the Minneapolis Journal. It does not appear to have h-id a name attached, and as ife has the iuconec'' to-ins and solution, including a few superfluous moves, exactly as given in " Dunne's Guide," it would be of some interest if its origin were traced. Mr L. Armstrong has shown a conectioa aa in note (c). doubtless unaware he was a dozen ytars behindhand. Not the least curious thitsg connected with this problem is that, quite unintentionally and by accident, the correct terms were at first appended.

811 - 716 L« 7 5 1 L4lO 1 5 6 8 5 9 811 9 5 1115 5 1-c 15 18 I 5 18 22 5 9 22 25 9 5 25 29 5 1 29 25 1 5 25 22 5 9 22 18 10 14 9 5 19 1C 18 15-6 12 2£ 5 1-a Black 7 2 wins. 1 5 M'Kechanie

lUII U X UXU if U U i9iV 5 1 1410* 15 IS 14 5 1 12 23 IS 23* 15 IS 15* 5 ] 6 2 *c15 2 0 5 9 14 9* 15 Black 7 2 5 1 23 18 15 JO 14 wins, (c) la the Courier of February 20, JSB6. the