THE MAGPIE CLUB.

Otago Witness, Issue 2649, 21 December 1904, Page 67

THE MAGPIE CLUB.

THE INSTRUCTOR DISCOURSES ON

THE "DOUBLE CORNER."

According to contract, a week last Thursday, I delivered my disoourse. I send you all abstract of what was said concerning the 9 14 opening : —

." In the first place, I may tell you the 'Double Corner' is first cousin to the 'Bristol,' 'Denny,' and 'Paisley.' It seems to have been very much neglected by the leading exponents of the game during the last 30 j'ears. Neither Anderson, Wyllia, Martins, nor Barker appears to have had any decided preference for it. Consequently, until - recently its possibilities have been but little developed; though -T. P. "Reed appears to have had a fondness for an! done much to popularise its beauties. The earlier books, such as 'Anderson's Second,' and the 'American Draughts Player,' gave a very few variations. Drummond really developed the game more than any othei early author. Then followed 'Janvier's Anderson,' and later •'Robertson's Guide,' .which gives 80 variations, racking if, equal in importance to such games as the 'Fife,' 'Whilter,' "Dyke/ etc. The 'Double Corner' is now fast becoming! one of the mast popular of openings, as you njay jivdge from the large number of games that ar-e sent to ths numeroiis draughts columns thro'ighout the world."

"How do you account for that?" asked Corporal Blithers.

"Principally," I replied, "beeaus* it is a perfectly safe offensive and defensive game. First, it prevents the orrnation of the 'Single Corner,' which you all know nine tyros out of ten will force upon you if 11 15 is played— often + o your disgust. And in the second place, the charce for novelty and for winning are two to one over what they are with such hackneyed games as .the 'Old Fourteenth,' 'Whilter,' and 'Glasgow.' For the 'highways and byways and queer little sly ways' of playing, those old standards are now almost as universally known, and better xemembered, titan the ten commandments. The 9 14 opening also prevents the formation of Ithose, to a no-vice, treacherous openings such as the 'Second Double Corner,' 'Switcher,' 'Cross I ,' and 'Dyke.' " "What, thei 'Dyke' ! How about the GardnerBeattie games played in the Lancashire and Yorkshire, team match?" asked young- Snithers. "Gardner forced the game into the 'Dyke' — not Beattie,'' I replied. "Bxit why should he if he could have done better?"

"Ah, thai you mus' leave to conjecUire ; probably Gardner shrewdly said to himself, 'Beattie has evidently got something "cooked;" for me on this 22 17 line, so I'll switch him off into the "Dyke." ' "

"But isn't 22 18 much ike safer and better line?" persisted Snithers.

"Ah, that is a .matter of opinion/ I replied 1 , "Now, my theory is "

"Ay, ay," broke in M*Nib, "theory ia vera good in its way, but I ken many professors who can talk fine theory, but who are no so biilliftut- at »ractio». It's practice we wtmV

(I have a private opinion of this M'Nib, whicn I should publicly express with gratification, but for the fact that he is the best boxer m the club.) "Now," lie continued, "if yell tac sax boards and let sax of us play against your cracked-uti 9 34. that will be more hke."

"Yes, a capital plan," said Corporal Blithers, "it will show us some of the best ways ot playing it."

So this wp.s done, and the following were my opponents: — Blithers, M'Nib, Boyle, Throttle, Snitheis. and Professor Muzzlehoffer ; the other members looking on. Following is the play. The notes refer to my observations as the games progressed: — First Board Wiiite — Corporal Blithers. 9 14 18 11 8 11 18 15 16 23 27 23 22 18 824 22 18 11 18 26 19 • 11 16 5 9 28 19 11 16 21 17 3 7 31 26 24 19 4 S 29 26-B 14 21 £5 22 6 9 11 15-a 25 22 7 11-c 23 5 7 11 32 28 Drawn. (a) This, you will see, is the orthodox "cut" ; 11 36 is fully as good.

(b) Now. bewar? of 27 24, 16 20, 32 28, 20 27, 31 24, 10 15. B. wins — a famous trap the exhibition players always fish for. (c) I might have played 1 5, then 27 24, 16 20, 32 28, 20 27, 31 25, 9 13 is good.

Second Board. White— N". Snithers. 9 14 29 25-B 15 24 19 16-d 10 15 27 24 22 17 S 11 28 19 12 19 23 14 20 27 11 16 24 19 4 S 23 16 6 9 31 24 25 22 11 16-c 22 17 14 18 13 6 And a 16 20-a 17 13 8 11 2t5 2.3 2 18 critical

draw for white. (a) Gardner against Beattie might have played in this style ; or as follows, for which I can indebted to 'Mr J. H. Stiudwick: —

8 11 28 J9 10 15 25 22 7 10 20 16 24 19 4 8 18 9 16 19 26 23 15 19 1115 17 13 15 24 23 16 19 26 3126 29 25 811 27 20 12 19 30 23 *c. 15 24 22 18-k._ 5 14 22 17 11 15 B.wins.

to) If 22 ]7, 5 9"", 25 22, 11 15, 32 28, la 24, 27 11, 7 16 is good.

(b) 24 19, or 17 13 may be played, bnb the Inter is hardly so strong.

(c) If I had played 11 16, 28 24, 4 8, 17 13, 8 11, 22 18, 1 417, W. wins.

(d) Now 25 22, 11 16, 22 IS, 7 11, 18 9, 5 14, 26 22, 11 15, 23 18 is sound.

Third Board. White— Di Throttle. 9 14 29 25 10 19 24 ]5 4 8 16 7 22 18 8 11-a 21 35 16 19 B 27 23-c 3 19 5 9 18 15 7 JO 23 16 2 7 3L 27 25 22 11 18 27 24 12 19 23 16 Drawn. 11 16 22 15 10 19 32 £7 7 11 (A) I have played 16 19, 23 16, 14 23, 26 19,^ 8 11, 24 20, and drawn; but I have doabts about it; soundness. (b) 16 20 is also good. (c) 25 22 loses. Fourth Board. White— Dr Boyle. 9 14 32 27 10 19 21 17 3 7 22 IS 23 19 5 9-a 24 8 14 21 2(i 23 2 6 11 16 22 18 4 11 23 5 7 11 25 22 27 23 8 11 18 15 7 10 £9 25 11 16 1(J 20 19 15 11 IS 25 22 6 9 b-28 24 Drawn. (a) In 8 11, 2-2 18, 11 16, 18 9, there is room for variety. (bI And this 1 gives an easy draw, as played by Freeman and Heffner; but Boyle here played 31 26, 9 13 , 28 24, 16 19, 24 15, 10 19, 23 16, 12 19, and got into trouble. Fifth Board. White — ITjrr Muzzlehoffer 9 J4 25 9 9 13 22 17 15 24 17 10 24 20-a 5 14 13 19 13 22 28 19 ■ 7 14 11 15-b 29 S5 8 11 26 17 10 15 26 2a 22 38 6 9-c £7 23 11 15 19 10 15 18 15 22 25 22 2 6 31 2« 6 15 Drawn. j(a) This, you will note, is the only move to frustrate the genuine "Double Corner." N (b) 13 16, 20 11, 8 15, is no more satisfactory. (c)_This is practically the "Defiance" opening 1 . ' Sixth Board White— M'Mb. 9 14 26 22 1 5 £6 22 iO 17 15 U 24 19 16 20 3" 2(5-1) 3 7 25 21 E-10 15 11 16-a 22 17 11 15 22 18 17 22 22 18 8 11 18 11 14 17 19 15 5 fl-B 17 13c 716 21 14 7.0 (a) "You will observe, Mr M'Nib, if I had played 11 15, 22 18, 15 24, 18 9. 5 14, 28 19, it's the 'Second Double Corner.' " "I ken that weel," said Mac, "but it's die 'Third' Double Corner I'm looking for." (b) 8 11, 18 9, 5 14, and it proceeds into the "Paisley." (c) "Ah! that is weak," I observed; -30 26 is better." "Never you mind," retorted M'Nib; 'Tin no' playing on theory. I'll find -you something to do before we've done this game." So we proceeded (d) "Now, again, you might have done better with 31 26."

"Now, Mr Instructor, just wait till I'vs dono ; you'll be satisfied. I cut my eye-teeth, and ksnned a trick or twe at Pollockshaws before coming here."

fe) Up to this point '"Mac' 1 had sai'ed a'citg with as much jonfidence as an American ctrc doctor. Here he suddenly paused, squirmed in his chair, rubbed the tip of hi? nose for inspiration, desperately grasped both ears, aad then proceeded thus — 28 24, 16 19. 23 16 12 28 21 17, 20 24, 27 20, 15 19, 20 16, 19 23, IS 12, 23 26^ and, taking the "three for three," he lost the man on 17. When he'd given the problem up Blithers showed him this solution — 31 26, 22 31 18 14, 31 27, 28 1, 9 27, drawn ; after which he was as quiet and meek as a mummy. And, later on, when Dr Throttle proposed a votf of thanks to the Instiuctor, he actual! seconded the motion.

Jas. Hill.

Magpie Club, October 7, 1890.