DRAUGHTS. PROBLEM 1647. GAMES. Scientific Recreation, DRAUGHTS ITEMS. TO CORRESPONDENTS. Solutions of Problems.

Otago Witness, Issue 2379, 5 October 1899, Page 48

DRAUGHTS.

PROBLEM 1647.

GAMES.

Scientific Recreation,

DRAUGHTS ITEMS.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Solutions of Problems.

Conducted by Jos. Abernethy.

Solution, ot prohicins. game*, imci uiahvM in»Hed for tbii talußin. Games should be written iv six columns »s below, ant »ll oorrospcndeDse addressed to Ihe Draughts Kdltor

By J. Yeldarb, in Glasgow Herald. [Black.]

Game sSo4.— '

•" Old Fourteenth."

The. following game was played recently betveen Mr W. J. Wray and a friend. We are ir.debted to the Sheffield Independent for game and notes.

Drawn. (a) Drummond plays 32 2S here, and Mr Tescheleit has shown that 30 25 loses as fol30 25' 10 15-c 13 6 14 23 18 9 3 7 7 10 19 10 1 10 27 J8 5 M 32 28 25 18 622 23 18b 10 14 24 1!) 7 10 B- win?. (b) If 23 19, 11 15, 20 16, 15 18, 24 20, 5 19, 32 28, 18 23— Black wins. (c) This wins and corrects published play. — F. Tescheleit, in Pittsburg Telegraph.

Game 5905 — " Souter." By Thomas Cowik, iv Liverpool Mercury.

(a) In " Lees's Guide," trunk of " Souter " game, note (b), this is given as a losing move. This move is not noticed in any other standard work, but play upon it was published before Mr Lees gave it as a losing move. Mr D. G. M'Kelvie, in the Glasgow Citizen, wrote : — " This is a move I cannot recommend. Thoujrh it probably draws it requires to be in the hands of a skilful player, and one who has given considerable study to the position. A many years ago the late Mr Strickland published an analysis of it, and pointed out the various irethods of attack on Black's part. I do not remember them all, but, like him, I failed to discovei & Black win. Still, I incline to the belief that White ought to Ice." When Mr M'Kelvie wrote this. " Marlins's Souter " was litJe known, and as it is a sovnd draw and this hue of play can be turned into it, the sting is taken out of the strongest line of play at Black's command, and the 26 22 move becomes a sound rlr.iw.

(b) I am not aware that r.i yeno has °hc\vn that 30 25 as in text brings the play into what i« known as " Martin's Souter," acknowledged to be a sound draw. Mr Lees in his " Guide " plays 27 23 and Black wins. '

Drawn — Wyllic v. Martins

(c) An extended analysis showing different linos of play on the 30 25 move i" Martins'*

Scuter " move) is to be found in the Draughts world for October, 1897. (d) 30 25, 4 8. This is the well-known losing move, on which much play has been published.

(b) If 4 8 be played here White replies with 27 23, and if Black responds with 15 18 we have one of the " strokes " that delight the novice. Fifteen pieces are removed in succession, making it about the biggest possible, stroke that can occur at draughts. 4 8 11 15 3 8 ' 15 31 10 26 7 10 27 21 30 2(5 31 26 ' 22 15 37 10 25 4 15 18 8 11 11 16 31 22 6 15 W. wins 32 27 26 22 24 20 £0 2 13 6 M'Kelvie.

(By Arnous de Riviere.)

It is not only 'in our day that the intelligent and skilful man has applied the gifts of science to supply the means of recreation for his leisure hours.

From the same source he has at all times derived games and amusements, but in the main their interest has been quickly worn threadbare; they have lacked the vital spark, and have not possessed the power of constant renewal from the never-failing sources of mathematics. *

The foundation of the game of draughts is mathematics, and the game and its combinations teem with problems derived from geometrical situations, within the limits which are determined by the special rules of the game. The particular conditions of the game are such as will easily lead you out of your depths in your calculations; they demand great aptitude for receiving new impressions and ideas; and also the experience of long practice; and you mu3t have these, in addition to the full possession of the majority of the physical and mental attributes. The great simplicity of the movements of the men (pawns) across the board is far, very far, from being a defect; on the contrary, it is a most admirable quality. Sancta simplicitas." The beauty of anything is not complete without harmony, and the g:\me of draughts is the perfection of harmony! What is the question for the beginning of the argument? Take a position, note the movements of the adverse men obstructing each other's passage to the front; some are led perforce to the sacrifice, so as to force a passage for others to reach the "King row " ; or, perhaps, in aid of some skilful manoeuvre, they are sacrificed with advantage until at last all are gone!

It is probable that if the game is conducted correctly on both sides it may terminate in a draw, on account of neither party having gained at any point sufficient advantage of active forces to win ; but, nevertheless, the equality of forces and positions is very difficult to maintain. One "slip," even an apparently very trifling one, is sufficient to create a marked disadvantage, leading to consequences serious enough to cause one of the two players to lose the game.

The best player is he who can look furthest ahead, and who can distinguish the greatest number of practical variations — he who unites clearness of mental vision with profundity of thought. But even he cannot see everything; he is at times at fault, and cannot perceive what course tj adopt, until a point* is reached when a feeble opponent has the intuition of a decisive attack, and by chance succeeds in snatching a victory.

Do yoix not see every day at billiards some mediocre amateur practising a very difficult " cannon," and if once he succeeds in accomplishing the " stroke " he may be a bit astonished, but he won't forget to shout " 1 have done it " ; and this vainglory he cannot shake off, although it has its comic side. Thus chance is a factor of success, but not necessarily so. Why? Because in every difficulty your intellect, skill, and ability remain to aid you to fathom the depths of the reality. The game of draughts is bidding fair to become very popular; but now and ugain there is a lapse in" the literature of the game — the organs of the propagation and technical instruction are missed — although, for some time past, the gaps show a tendency to close and fill up, thanks especially to the initiative of the " Cercle Dv Damier " of Amiens. "La Societe dcs Sciences Recreatives " (of which the writer has the honour of being president) is doing not a little to incite and encourage the master players to resolutely persevere in the path which they have opened out until they succeed in raising the game to the level of the other scientific recreations which for a long time have held the sway and attracted the thousands of adepts. The recent institution of tho international championship is the best of all the stimulants, and the pending publication of the fine game 3 played in the Amiens tourney will illuminate the globe and enlighten the public upon the strategy of the noble " Jeu de Dames." — Translated from " La Tribune dcs Damistes " by F. Dunne.

A match is being arranged between R. Holmes, Bonnybridge, and James Currie, Slaniannan, for £20 or £25 aside and the Championship of Stirlingshire. The proposed Gardiner-Campbell match for the blindfold championship is at length assuming a definite shape. Mr Gardner agrees to play 20 games upon the Searight-M'Kelvie restriction, if the first aix are played simultaneously.

Wo (Falkirk Mail) have received a letter from the champion, in which he, speaking of the proposed Barker match, says that he will come home first. While he does not pay when that may be, we take it from the tone of his letter that it won't be lomg. Wiiting of the colonial player", ho mentions a number who, he says, are well posted and quite able to hold their own with the best amateurs at home.

Jordan v. Moore. — The subscription draughts match between Jordan, champion of the world, and Moore, one of the leading players of the Collingwoort Draughts Club, took place at the rooms of the .Melbourne Draughts Club, and extended over six nights. Play at times v/as very close, and some very difficult problems occurred. Although Moore manifested his beat form, he was no match for the champion, who came ont on top with eight games out of 15 to his credit, the remaining seven games being drawn. Melbourne Town v. Country. — The eighth anrual match between draughts players resident within five milos of the Melbourne General post office and those resident at a greater distance -was contested on Saturday, September 9. The play took place in the supper room of the Melbourne Town Hall ; Mr F. Brown, champion of Victoria, waa the captain of the Town team; Mr Joseph Irvine, of Drysdale, was the captain of the Country team ; and Mr Thomas Harlin acted as referee and director of nlay. Proceedings commenced at 2 o'clock, Mr D. E. M' Bride presiding. Sir Frederick Sargood was present, and delivered an address, 111 the course of which he said the game of draughts was a good game — a game that could be playetl ixi -any leisure time that a player might have at his disposal; but perhaps its claef value was 'that it was a pastime that could be played :it home in the evening, and regarded from that point of view he considered the gpme to be even more useful iv the country than in the town. The speaker then presented the Sargood challenge shield to Mr J. C. Carter, vice-president of the Collingwood Draughts Club, the winner. The Town v. Ccuntry match was then proceeded with. There were 83 boards engaged, the Town v, inning nnrlowly by the n.qre of 194 against 187, and 102

diaws. The following shows how the country players have improved in form during the past few years : —

In 1895, when the number of games played was almost the same, the Town won 233 games, the Ccuntry 118, and 93 were drawn. This gave the Town a majority of 115 wins, whereas this year the majority is only seven.

A Boy Champion. — Master G. D. Cairns, the boy champion of Ballarat, who is only 14 years old, has just completed his 48 games in a handicap tournament, with the remarkable score of 45 wins arid three draws. — Melbourne Times.

A Unique " Board."— Mr ,S. Jeffery, of Ka. tandra, han Jed to the secretary, at the Town and Country social on Saturday night, a beautifully knitted draughts board, made of wool, and composed of 41,000 stitches, to be given to the winner of the Jordan-Moore match. The Weekly Times says it is admirably adapted for travelling, and the squares are suitably coloured and of the standard size.'

-J. B. (Allanton). — Your solution of 'Problem 1G44 is correct. Pleased to hear from you at any time. Amateur. — You will observe request is met.

Pioblem 1639 (By W. Veal.)— Black on 12 ; king, IS, 17 ; White on 6, 11, 27 ; king 19. White to move and win. 19 15 6 2 £7 24 24 IST 15 18 18 23 16 7 7 3 17 22-A 22 26 2S 31 W. wins (a) 17 13, 24 19, White wins. Problem 1640 (By D. A. Brodie).— Black men (Br. die) on ], 2. 3, 5, 20, X 26 ; White men (Jordau) ou 11, 73, 14, 16, 17, 21, 2S- Black to play and draw.

Problem 1641 (By A. Cain).— Black men on 8, 12, 13 ; White men on 9, 31, K2. White to play and wio. 2 6 31 27 15 19 9 6 6 2 7 11 12 16 13 17 22 26 30 26 11 16 22 18 6 10 10 ]5 19 24 24 28 2 7 28 24 16 20 17 22 26 50 8 11 26 22 W. wins

Problem 1642 (By J. Deroprter).— Black men 9. 13, K23 ; White men, 18. 22, 32, X 15. White to play and win. 32 27 15 10 10 6 6 1 15 23 32-a 32 57 57 23 23 14 W. wins (a) 23 14, 27 523, 14 17, 23 IS, 17 26, 18 14, 9 18, *15 31. White win 3. Problem 1613 (By J. Mackenzie).— Black men 3, 4, 23 ; White 16, 2i, 31. White to ploy and win. 24 19 811 6 2 11 16 11 16 23 27 4 8 10 6 8 12 711 20 24 19 16 15 10 3 8-A 2 7 16 20 16 20 12 19 W. wins

P/oblem 1644 (By A. Toshach).— Black men 13, 15, 17 ; White men 25, £6, X 26. White to move and win. 25 22 2fi 30 30 26 26 30 30 26 26 31 17 21 35 19 21 26 25 29 29 25 25 IS Then 27 23, W. wins.

11 15 23 19 8 11 22 17 4 8 25 22 15 18 22 15 11 18 17 13 7 11 24 20 2 7 £8 24 10 14 2<i 23 Wray's Move. 18 22 7 23 23 18-a. (5 2 14 23 11 ]5< 27 18 32 28 6 10 ltJ 13 6 2 9 10 15 5 14 19 10 24 19 15 24 21 25 28 19 1!) 15 23 2G 3 8 30 23 IS 14 8 11 11 18 21 17 31 26 14 21 22 31 23 18 SU Jy

1 15 « 19 9 11 22 17 6 !) 17 W 2 (S 26 22-a 8 11 22 17-» 38 ->5 14 18-E 29 22 £5 22 4 8 83l 2,

Mr Martina continues under : — 9 14c 11 15 5 9 2,7 23 T5 22 S3 19 15 18 15 24 II 15 ?2 ]5 28 19 19 lfi II 27 7 11 14 18 32 23 31 26 17 14 8 11 ]2 10 10 17 24 20 19 12 21 5 to ?h 19 2f> JO f3 25 30 22 17 ■A 0 95 16 11 2*l 21 17 14 ho\7 the cl ; fi 9 i 33 6 ) 1 17 r, i > 17 22 i 22 26 t 6 10 Irr.w as 15 10 11 7 If) 24 20 ]fi 20 31 16 11 31 20 10 6

5 H 8 4 27 23 9 18 14 5 27 31 15 15 22 26 23 4 8 23 19 17 14 17 14 19 75 5 9 22 17 m 19 J4 9 10 16 14 9. !6 12 31 27 21 17 17 14 20 ?4 9 ' 6 1(5 11 9 6 II 8 1 10 8 4 2 9 24 27 5 1 10 14 13 6 Then 2 7. 18 15, 7 11 drawn. 14 Si 6 1 9 5 1 6 5 1 6 9 1 5 9 14 5 1 14 18 1 6 28 24 6 10 2418 10 6 19 15 6 2 15 8

Boards.^ Games. Wins. LS94 „ 105 604 280 .895 .. 84 484 233 LS96 .r 81 474 234 .897 *.r 62 364 173 .808 .. 94 529 232 L 899 .. 83 483 " 194 Wins. Drawn. 212 112 118 93 149 91 119 72 205 92 187 102