DRAUGHTS ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2433, 31 October 1900, Page 53

DRAUGHTS ITEMS.

Draughts Club. — Mr P. Hilliker reports: — Last Thursday evening a meeting of draughts players was held at Mr F. Hilliker's, Princes street, when a" draughts club, to be called the Dunedin Draughts Club, was formed. Subscriptions and other details were arianged, and. the following officers elected: — President, Mr "Win. Crookston; vice-presidents, Messrs D. Murchiaon and D. Trainor; secretary, Mr F. . Hiihker.; treasurer, Mr A. Christie; auditor, ' Mr R. Muir; committee — Messrs E. Blee, W; P. Langstone, H. Williams, and the officers of the club: The club meets for practice Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, at 8 p.m.,^. at Mr Hilliker's saloon, 184 Princes street. Harry Freedrnan is reported to have played '_ a total of 19 games with Charlie- Hefter dur- , ing his visit io Chicago, the score being level — - viz., one win each and 17 garnet drawn. After - leaving Chicago he was expected to visit Molme, Illinois, and other western cities. A copy of a boys' popular periodical, says the Leeds Mercury, was put into our hands recently conUinrag the following highly-edifying decision re a disputed diaxights game: — '' "H. B. wants me to decide a disputed point in a game of draughts for hum The position of affairs is this. He had one king and four men" on the board, and his opponent had only one man. ' ti. B. blocked his opponent's man so that * ho could not X'OSsibly move, and he wants to know whether in those circumstances it is a drawn game. If "H. B.s" opponent was unable to move his piece at alf, then the games was drawn ; but if he ws s able to move, although in moving he must submit to being taken, then the game belongs to H. Bl' In sometimes happens, of course; that a player can so get his piece that he cannot move at all, even with ihe chance of being taken. If this , happens the game would be drawn." The abov&--must have been written by the same scribo who ' gave us the paragraph in the "British Encyclopedist." describing draughts as a game that ~ was played out, every possible move being known, buroly there can only be one man poc- . sensing .such dense ignorance of a popular pastime? Everybody else knows that ihe main object of the game is to capture or fix up your opponent's pieces so that "none can-be played." and the player who is reduced to this strait "loses the game" !

The way in which the game of dratights appeals to people of all ages was forcibly exemplified on "Wednesday, 17th inst v in the match between Dunedin and Port ChalmersPeninsula. At the top board there was the • veil-known figure oi Mr Hugh Montgomery, pitted against the champion of New Zealand. It is years now since Mr Montgomery was a young man — probabfy be was leckoned a good! . player long before his opponent saw the light • of day; yet he. has not grown weary of the game, but by his steadfast enthusiasm at all timcb he has rendered yeoman's service in tha interests of a pastime that, with chess, can, defy competition. Mr W. Crookston is another old-timer for whom the game has lost' none of its fascination. He seems to have acquired the mystic rejuvenating power of tha eagle, and has the majestic presence that belongs to genial old age combined with physical and mental strength. His level score against' such a player as Mr Hutton is sufficient proof that his right hand has not forgotten ita cunning. There were others whose names we might mention — but by way of contrast from; these two in; particular we turn to another table, where there are several young players — * boys, indeed, and one who doea not Jookinore than 12 or 13 summers. This boy — E. Edwards — has a fine grasp of Ihe game, and though over-matched by his opponent, he made a splendid stand, and. enforced the greatest care on Mr G-unthorpe's part. Thus does sweet Dameh draw her votaries from all ranks and ages.