DRAUGHTS ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2674, 14 June 1905, Page 62

DRAUGHTS ITEMS.

Draughts World.— The May number of the "evergreen" is to hand with its customary punctuality. It is an interesting number, for while it contains the' regular features, crisp and fresh, it has an added attraction in the form of some half a dozen pages on the great international match, Britain v. America. The notes and incidents of the tour are all good reading. Glasgow Corporation Trophy. — This tourney, which decides the championship of Glasgow and gives to the winner the custody of the trophy gifted by the corporation for -annual competition among- city players, condoled late in April. Aftei six rounds, A. B. Scott (Govan) and G. M. Bonar (Biidgeton) emerged as finalists from the 67 entrants. The final tie was carried through in the rooms of -the Central Liberal's Club, and some very fine play was shown. Five of the half-dozen game which constitute the tie weie drawn, but in the sixth, after veiy critical play, a like result seemed assured, when Bonar made a slip in the ending, which gave Scott the championship. We repiint the gani^s ol tlio final in this issue.

Robert Yates, father of the late Dr K. D.

born in Dundee, in 1826, and went to America when eight years old. He lived in Brooklyn for half a century, and was a restaurant-keeper in Fulton Market. He made the first shipment of oysters abio.vf. His son the late Robeit D. Yate?, wai tho world's champion when but sixteen jears of age. In the course of a same contested between Mr Richard Atwell and Mr George Buchanan, a position occurred in which Mr Buchanan had four kings to three. Mr Atweil mentions that he contended that in case of Mr Buchanan's not effecting an exchange within 40 moves, he would be entitled to claim the "draw." The point was referied to Mr W. Gardner, of Leeds, who said lhat when a player had the stronger force, he wns lerjuired by the rules of the game to show an "increased advantage" within 40 _ moves. Nobody was able, however, to give a. concise definition of the meaning of the term "increased advantage." Mr Atwell has now suggested' that, under such circumstances, players with the stronger force should be required to reduce pieces within 40 moves, or else to concede the draw. "There is no possible winning position," he thinks, "which could not be won under this ruling." In the annual team match Boston v. i\cw England, played at Boston, U.S.A., Boston was° a^ain victorious. There were 101 boards in play, and by far the largest gathering since. he P matches were instiled. The final score reads: -Boston, 166; New England, 101, .drawn, 110; total, 377 games. . A very rich but ill-bred man, being at a dinner party, observed » rare dish on the table. He reached for it, helped himself to an enormous portion, and passed it to tne gentleman on his right. His neighbour looked at the dish and at his -plate, and, thinking to rebuke him, said, "Pray, sir do you play draughts?" "Oh, yes; I do " he replied"Then sir," said the gentleman' "I must hxiff you. You have not taken all there was to a Lately we were playing (says the London coirespondent of a contemporary) at one oi the resorts, when a gentlemanly young fellowapproached and commenced to criticise our game. My opponent at once offered to vacate the chair and allow him to play, but he, with, a most superior and patronising air, Tephecl, "Oh, no; go on. You will soon improve. But after a great deal of persuasion finally sat down, and, taking the white pieces, played 22 18 before I made my move with Black. Ut course I said, "Wait until I make my move, please. Black must move first." "Nothing of the kind," replied my opponent. Father always plays White first, and he is a grea* player." . . Curious things occasionally happen m regarrt to problems. In December last we (Liverpool Mercury) published a problem by Mr C. Bailey of Cardiff, that we had had on hand for some weeks. About the same time Mr Frank Dunne evolved a position that becamer identical with Mr Bailey's at second move; and now we learn that the same idea, appeared in a London journal about the middle of December last. Mr Bailey s setting was: -Black 7, 9, 18. White 6, 21, 30. White to move and win. As we remarked, it embraced two "ideas" of Stuges's. The ideas must have been epidemic at the time. What is described as an "ancient draughts board" has been discovered in Crete. It must, by all accounts, be a very fine piece of work, since it is composed of natural crystal, ivory, gold, and silver; but it is by no means iinique. Draughts, chess, or the game from, which both aie derived, was known to nearly all the ancient civisations, and Greek and Egyptian boards are by no means uncommon. Now that the two-move restriction is all the vogue, a little invention, the work of MrJ. Jewig, of St. James's Club, Liverpool, will be found very useful, as it does away with the troublesome ballot. This useful article consists of a round metal disc, divided into three parts by concentric circles. The centre and inner parts are divided by seven lines, and the outer part by 42 lines Tadiating from the middle of the disc, where a balanced needle, spins on a pivot. The seven centre divisions are marked with Black opening moves, andl the 42 outer spaces with White replies. These are so arranged that one spin of the needle •hows at once the Black and White moves. In case the needle stops over a line, the seven White replies are marked on the inner spaces, and may be decided by a second spin. Mr Morrall was to take one of these devices with him for use in the America v. Britain match.