PROBLEM 2496.

Otago Witness, Issue 2784, 24 July 1907, Page 67

PROBLEM 2496.

Mr Boreham's fine problem has evoked very keen interest, although it was published before. A large number of solutions were received, some giving very good analysis; but only four were :orrect:— F. Butterfield, "Highland Harry," W. C. Pottinger, and " Adam and Eve." Mr Butterfield's was first in, and is a little fuller than " Highland Harry's," received same day. The prize therefor* goes to Mr Butterfield. Space forbids making reference to the various solutions, but if ai)y solver sees any difficulty we 3hall jbe pleased to attend to it. Nearly all will discover their error by reference to what appears below. Mr Boreham makes remarks on the solutions, but only one or two are not met by solution. Here they are: C. F. Barker misses an easier win than shown by him. At sth move continue 20 16, 19 24, IB 19, 24 28, 19 23, 28 32, 14 17, W. wins. His finish is very neat.

Prospero.— At 4th move 25 21 i 3 best. You make it too easy.

G. Campbell.— At 6th move 31 26 draws.

The following play has Mr Boreham's commendation, and we give it as his solution. It v/ 98 forwarded by " Adam and Eve," a. few remarks by Mr Boreham being initialled:

" I wonder who borrowed my Leea' Guide. He evidently thinks that he has more -right to it than I have. At acy rate, I'll have to get another." These and other similar expressions of my husband's passed through my mind on noticing the ofter of Mr Borehp.m for first coriect solution of Problem 2496. Happy thought! I must try to win that prize to give as a present to my husband, and, incidentally, surprise him, as he always says » woman has no head for draughts. So I got out hia board and men and started right a.way to find the White win; and this is how I first played it:—

(a) A first-class draw is shown against thU in note (x).— J. A. B. (B) 26 23, 17 10, 12 16, 24 19, W. wins. (c) 27 32, W. wins. (x) I had come to the conclusion that the problem was solved, and was sort of reckoning -on getting this solution in first to get a grip on the book. But 26 30 .at (b) — a movo apt to be overlooked — upset the win on thia 'line, thus: — 26 30 12 16 16 20 90 24 21 28 ' 17 21 24 27-D 27 23 22 18 Brawn. (d) 22 IS. 30 26. 18 14, 26 22, 14 10, drawn; and I simply had to start over again'C "•- .-Shea the, following play came up: —

(v) Several solvers err here. — J. A. B. I'd just about got the above play, written out, when I was astonished to ccc my husband! Walk - in. I did not think it was even, lunch, time yet. and here he was home for his tea! He asked what I was doing, and for answer I handed over the solution (I recognised alt hope of » surprise was now ,gone), and toldt him to amuse himself running over it while J got- the tea. This he did. In fact, he> got so interested that I had to call hirnl several times for his tea. During the in**!; I asked him what he thought of my first* attempt at problem-solving. He said it ,was» .very good, but the play seemed familiar. " I'll look it lip after tea/ Thin he did, and! appended th* following: — ' Notes by, Adam. — In the foregoing solution, rotes a, »," c, and d are by J. A. Bojfcham, published in his solution to Problems,^2443 and- 2450. Note X is by Lucas and Mnk, Problem 2437. Notes v and a are by Darby) and Joan. " Then."- 1- said, " there is really very little of it original, and I feel annoyed at that Boreham! What did be want to find Jhatf play for — my whole d«y is wasted!" My husband sr.id that wa« nothing; better luck yxt time; and explained that he hao? once put in two weeks at a problem: andf sent it in as original, but was informed "that it was -published by P.nyne at the beginning of last century. " Very .well,", said I, " what about Darby and Joan's draw?'-' " Oh, '.they have evidently gone astray at note s — the • point of the" problem, and -one easily overlooked by even the best players. At any rate -they deserve credit for drawing attention to 1 a fine* problem that was- slippingthrough without its merits being recognised. "• " But," I said, " they might really have found a draw and be keeping it up their sleeves.""Well," he replied, "I'll present Darby and Joan, or whoever first sends in play for a. sound draw, with a set of draughts men— the 'best procurable. And now> as this is you* solution, and I've added the notes, and) the whole is a reply to Darby and Joan, we wiL» send it in as our combined solution by '' ■ Adam and Ev».

in 14- 55 91 IS 9M IX 17 9 14> - 1U 14 STD 21 19 *•> Id 1/ 9 14> ' 30 S5-A 31 27-E 26 3i 14 9-H 21 25 • 24 19 22 26-D 27 24 17 22 22 £6 W. wins. (A). 12 16-B 17 21 19 24 24 28 32 28 23 26 24 20 26 23 c 16 19 13 17 24 lflt 28 24 16 19 21 S5 24 $8 25 21 fi» 32 ,21, 21 30 14 17 23 IS 10 24 18 14 18 2% S4 19 30 26 SO 16 £8 32 £8 24 22 £r 30 1 25 W. wins. (+) 21 25 also wins.— J. A. B. (b)-30 26, 24 19. 2& 30, 19.23, 12 16, 14 17, W. wins. (c) 26 30, 20 16, 19 24, 16 19, 24 28, 19 23^ 23 32, 23 18, W. wins. (D). 21 25 19 23 30 21 30 26 16 £0 S7 3i 27 24 82 26 23 30 13 »7J 23 27 W.vriu. 25 39 29 25 12 16 26 23 17 22 ' (t) 21 25, 14 18, etc., wins.— J. K. B. 19 2fi 16 S6 23 32 £6 31 14 9 21 28 12 16 27 24-G 22 26 27 23 17 22 2i£i 3J 27-F S« 27 32 27 13 If 914-,/i5 2I Then~26' 17, 31 26, 17 13, 21 2o/ draws.— ♦ Lucas and Itark. (F) 23 27, 21' 25, 27 24, 25 21-V, 31 27, 22^* draws. » \' ' r (6) 23 19, 22 26, 19 24, 26 S6, 2428, 30.2% drawS. * ' '

10 U SO 25 3126.A asm £9 22 17 21 31 2t5 12 IB 10 17 SI 27 2fi 31b 10 20 24 19 TO 18 31 27 X-W.wins 17 10 27 3J.-0