DRAUGHTS ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2471, 24 July 1901, Page 64

DRAUGHTS ITEMS.

Otago Draughts Cub —We dc^nc to d'.'u Special aUenUca, te aja alteration m the iiyiti oi

meeting of this club, as notified at the head of thi-> column. At a committee meeting held last Saturday evening, it was decided to meet on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday evenings. It has been found by expenence that this will fully meet the reqimements of the members, and with that in view it was decided to grant the application of the Citizens' Band for the. use of the room two nights a week. The clul) meetings continue to be well attended, and arlntißements are being made foi a series of club matches. Mr W. White (Peopled Journal office, Dundee' has jus>t issued a, collection ot 380 piobbltms, the great majority of which are by noted .Scottish composers. The book is described as being well printed on good papei with clear £,nd distinct diagrams. It contains, in addition to the pioblems, the standard laws of the game, the elementaiy positions, and articles on how to constiuct a problem, and on the value of pioblem study. Its price, in paper covers, is Is 2d post free. The Draughts World. — The June number of "the evergreen' 'is promptly to hand. Its regular "eatures are all of the usual high-class order. The games department is replete with good things, comprising an instalment of the eighth Scottibh Championship tournament games, ■which, as readers are aware, have not previously seen the light. Mr Frank Dunne.— Tho latest bulletin, we aie pleased to note, announces a change for the better in the health of the veteran Mr Frank Dunne. Hopes are entertained that he may scon return to his labours ra the Leeds Mercury. Boston v. New England —Two great matches, originating from the defeat of the New Englar.ders by the players of Boston on Washington's bnthday, came off at Bobton, on Patriots' Day. The ongmal challenge .\"=s a m>t..V< of 20 of the picked men of New Eiijrl,. d aj.uu^t an e M aal number of the p'.fi ers of Ho=icn. 'ihe eagerness of players on both sideb to l.'j"nc'udet! m the team was so great th'it it was mutually airangecl to play a seconcT ieim of 'JO playersMr Samuel Grover captained the Bo.ston first team and Mr C. W. Law=o/i captained the New Eiiganders. Contrary to expectation, the countiy players won by 21 games to 15, with 35 draws. The Boston second team wi-. wiptainecl by Mr C H. Polland. and Mr E. C. Mo\=e did similar duty ioi th" No\/ Enplsindrr? Boston, won this mdtcli by 30 mv.) Lo 15, with 32 diaws. T]ie ?,r f in r i totiiS wrie — Boston, 45: New EngM iiid, lb , ilrawn. 67. This leaves the country fLiyCi" 15 a game ahead oil the day's pay. The I* o games between the chamuions, Heffner and Deai'-mi, \v?fe driuvn, and great mieirst was. c;rtvrd .n the games between tlie c? plains of tii - fiibi team, whu' 1 \v* ■'•cproduce abo--p, takea 1 r j.i .in oxi h iiige. '.'. Srobip, of Hamilton, 'vas the successful competitor inthe Lanarkshire tournament, cairyin% 'jK the honours tor the second year in succession. By a strange coincidence, his opponent in the final was F. Blown, of Rutherglen, on both occasions. There was a very laige entiy. Of Freednian's match with Charles Hefter, o£ Chicago— 1 'win each and 23 drawn — Mr Hefter writes : "Thanks to Freednian's willingness to play restricted openings and go into original variations after the style of our old fucnd, Jenimie Reed. I secured an even score. Freedman is a wonderful player, and no doubt in a match would capture the most games from me : and if in good health, on edge as to condition, and with a trustworthy friend or manager behind him, will prove an adversary that no checkerist in the world would hold lightly. In fact, should he win from a Barker or a Jordan, it should occasion no surprise. Coriections of his play should be given only slight consideration, as all matches of experts, ■when departing from published lines of play, shov frequent errors." The typical amateur (says an exchange) 13 iuilnvtiious, intelligent, temperate, and tenacious. He has the patience of the angler, who for a week at a stretch can live in the pleasures of hope. He will play all day long on a sandwich and cup of coffee, which ho is too much nbsoibed to drink. He has the subtlety of the wily Hindoo, combined with the sagacity of the Noitb. American Indian, and the perseverance of the old maid determined to be married before ihe dies. He h?s certain weakni^ses. He is touchy, as actors and artists and singers are touchy. He over-estimates hi; strength as a player, is wont to insist that every game won from him is the worst he ever played, and stoutly maintains that its details are worthless for publication. Believing himself to be the best of the players of his own club grade, he is assured that if he cared to devote hxs serious attention to the game he could be a, Inst-claas player. The Liverpool Weekly Mercury says that, in consequence of sundry injudicious remarks made m reference to the Jordan-Barker niatcli by the editor of a draughts column which is not named, Mr George Crookston has suggested that a subscription should be opened, and that the editor should head it with a donation of £10. Mr Crook-L-ton will give an equal sum, flirt then disughts players may be invited to make up a purse of really substantial amount, to be I ofTiied as a supplement to stakes of £200 a-side, m older to bring about a second match betv,ten Mr Jordan and Mr Barkei. This second match should be played in Edinburgh or in. Glasgow. "British players," says Mr Crookston, "and. I daresay, Americans as well, are far from satisfied over the result of the last match. ... I am convinced th«t many players on both s-des of the Atlantic are anxious that the two champions should meet <^gi*m, and I have no doubt that they woulil willingly contribute," in order that the champions might be again bi ought together. '