DRAUGHTS ITEMS

Otago Witness, Issue 2761, 13 February 1907, Page 67

DRAUGHTS ITEMS

The Draughts World.— The January numbef of the World is to hand with the usual punctuality. In addition to the usual slot* of good things, with a New Year atmosphere about them all, there is the index for the six months, July-December, 1906, and a retrospect of the leading events of the past year. It is an interesting and valuable production.

Scottish Championship.— This important gathering was to be opened on ' New Year's Day in Glasgow. A heavy entry list was expected. Play was to be conducted on the two-move ballot restriction.

Continuing the fine form he has shown all through his tour, Willie Gardner engaged 14 of the Exeter players in a simultaneous blindfold :ontest, 'winning 10, losing 1, and 3 draws, and in cross-board play won the whole of the 20 games played. A like number of boards were awaiting him at Teignmouth, -where he won 10, with 2 each draws and losses, and won 28 games with 2 draws across board. These southern! players, however, are not as strong as he would meet in Yorkshire. Following this came Plymouth, where the champion won 9» lost 2, with 3 draws.

George Buchanan, the Scottish champion, 'under the auspices of Bonnybridge Club, gave a demonstration in the Co-operative Hall. In engaging all-comers, he played 44 games, winning 29, losing 3, and 12 drawn. He ajso ,played eight games blindfoldedsimultaneously, which resulted in 6 wins' an* 2 draws. Mr W. Scott, at the Amalgamated Presr Club, London, won 17 games and drew in a simultaneous display before a largt audience. Mr F. ¥, Lewis was au interested, spectator. After the play Mr Scott was -pre- | sented with a nicely bound pocket wallet as an appreciation of his services. The Checker World Prize Problem.— This new American magazine offers prizes for the solution of the following problem: — Black:, 19, 20, kings 8, 12, 21. White: 16, 25, 26, 32, kings 14, 30. Black to piny, White to win. Conditions: TTiis contest will remain: open for three months in the States, and four months in foreign countries. For the most complete analysis: First prize, 3 dollars; second, 2 dollars; third, 1 dollar, in books. For each correct solution without analysis, the Checker World for 1907, on payment of one-half the subscription price, one dollar. One free sample copy of the Checker World! sent to any address upon application. Address the Checker World, Box 653 Manchester, N.H., U.S.A. The American Champion.— C. F. Barker gave his second simultaneous exhibition i^t New York City on November 10, when ho engaged a" strong team. Though the most of his opponents played strenuously, Barker for the second time emerged from the contesb without the loss of a single game, winning seven, the remainder versus De Freest, Irwin, Thatcher, Peskie, and Brown, being drawn. The champion put up a great exhibition! among the Western checkerists, winning 81" games, and losing only 1, with 16 draws. Ha has met such experts as Hefter, Welen, Workman, etc., but the losses scored against tha " Lone Hand " are still few and far between.

An American tourney, open to all checker players in the United States and Canada... will be held in March in Boston. Substantial! prizes will be given, and an interesting meeting should eventuate between the leading; experts of America. Mr J. K. Lyons, in the Wallasey Chronicle,says:—An enthusiastic player is Mr H. Morris, of the Windsor D.C., who cycled from! Wrexham to Birkenhead to play in his club's match against B.D.C. The match concluded,, he was awheel agftin, and completed hit lonely journey in the small hours. Sixty milea cycling for two games at draughts! About half a dozen Morrises would, ba valuable acquisitions to one or two clubs wa could mention whose members happen to be etricken with the play-at-home-only complaint. " Stroke " problems 9re (says Chatter) right enough in their way, but thg real beauty, of the pastime of draughts lies in end-game". Moreover, to be of any value, a -iroblematio position should indicate a natural formation — that is, it ought to be one ih?t might occur in actual -play. Payne, in his original preface to his work; amongst other things, says:— " There is indeed on© secret boasted in the vrouci wlucn 1 cannot teach. Some men pretend to an infallible method, by which he who moves firs* shall win the game; but no such hero has it ever been my fortune to encounter, and tio such do I expect to find. Nor can it be proved that a first-mover has any considerable advantage over a person equally skilful with, himself." ,_ „ - . tiiMr T. GoMsboro, of Bradford. h»s lately, been giving blindfold and simultaneous exhibitions in that locality. At the Saltair* Liberal Club, in a aimuHatieona contest, h« played eight boards, at fiv« of which he won* and the remaining three were drawn. In* ft blindfold game 96 movet were made before * draw was agreed to.- At that point, however^ Goldsboro Had a winning position, bat the ending was too long to allow of its being, continued. After the game the " blind man " repeated without error the moves which ka4 been m&4e>