GAMES

Otago Witness, Issue 2808, 8 January 1908, Page 67

GAMES

We have given several samples 1 of Australian championship play, by which our Teaders may gauge the relative strength' of our cousins across the sea. Here is another sample. The follo.wing four games (from the Queenslander) were played between George -Cottrill (Victoria) and J". T. Gray (Queensland) in the tournament for the championship of Queensland:—^

Game 6493.—" Cross."

(b) Mr Cottrill gives this as the losing move; 15 11, etc., appears safe for a draw. (c) Mr Gray thinks this the loser, and suggests 17 14 as a drawing alternative. (d) Correct; this move sustains Black's ■nin. — (c) White's final but futile effort; Black maintains his grip throughout.

(a) 16 19 is a more usual continuation, but the text ia sound. (b) White may also play 31 27 with perfect safety. (c) "Unlikely looking, but the only move to d!ra.w (d) Black's weakness after note (c) is mote apparent than real, and White had to play with ciuition. '

Gams 6495.—'

■" Glasgow."

(c) A compulsory sacrifice. (F) 16 11, 6 10, 11 7, 10 15, 7 2, 15 19, and Black wins. To draw, White must drop the piece as in text. (a) A similar ending from the "Glasgow" is given in " Lee's Guide," but the sequence of moves in the game differs somewhat from that in the text. *•

Game 6496.—'

•" Kelso."

development, and was adopted by Mr Graf as » forlorn hope to equalise the score! however, Mr Cottrill knew his " book "- t« well, and secured the required' draw.

(Notes bj A. J. Heffner.)

(a) 25 22 is a very good move(b) Dunne's Guide gives this a's * loss, but is probably wrong. . (c) 7 11 is the move given to win, the plajf being continued with 25 18 25, 29 22 £ 6 10, 22 18, I 6, 18 9, 5 14, 26 22, 6 9, BlacK •wins. Instead of White's last naove (26 22) play 19 15; if 10 28, 23 19, 16 23, 27 9, and! ■White, though a man down, has a. strong position. Again, if instead of 10 28, Black captures by XI 18, which is probably best, then 24 2Q will draw. (d) This move was taken by Mr Markle, of Rochester, N.Y., against W. G. Hill, and: in this way attracted • the attention of G. W. -Dearborn, .who discovered! that, while the ' game ended in a draw, Mr .Hill should h*v« lost. - • f •

(E)"Hill versus Markle played _J. 6, 2§ 2s~ 6 13, 22 6, 2 '9; Markle replied with 25 22> >but r right, -here Dearborn says 19 15, wita no draw for Black. The text seems ill th^al

(f) Dearborn's way of 'winning, should Hill's reply of 1 6 be avoided. (o) 4 8, 26 '2% 11 15, 22 18, Drawn.— GlasgowHerald. * .

Black— Gray. White— CottnU. [0 15-a 29.26 3 7 25 22 JO 15 24 15 SI 17 710 30 25 - 11 15 8 3 610 II 16 25 21 4 8 23 18 7 10 14 7 17 18 dl 42824 - 14 23" 22 J7 218 16 SO 18 9 8 11 27 11 23 26 13 9 !2 18 5 14 88 18 16 23 17 14 Drawn. Ifi 22 2| 19 1 6 11 8 10 17 >S 18 11 16 18 9 gQ 27 21 14 . 811 S6 23 5 14 31 24 ~ 15 19 $4). Thiu opening admit* e£ »woK critic^

Black— Cottrill. White— Gray. 11 15 3 7 9 18 8 11 13 17-D 21 25 23 19 28 24 22 15 30 28 22 13 18 14 811 716 10 19 5 9-A 2 6 25 30 22 17 24 20 32 28 ' 22 18 20 16-E 14 9 11 16 16,19 6 10- 9 13 11 20 30 20 24 SO 25 22 25 22 18 9 19 15 6-19 2 16 S3 4 8 10 14 15 IS 16 Drawn. 2? 11 29 25 2(5 23 31 26-B 21 17-F 716 19 24 39 26 514 14 21 20 11 17 14 2S 19 26 22 c 23 18 (a) A tricky line of tie " Glasgow." (b) Anything else would lose. (c) It is obvious that 19 16 would allow . a Black win.

*» G-ame 6494. — " Double Corner." Black— Gray. . "Wnite— -Cottrill. Jl4 10. i 9 8 H-c ,8 11 19 23 27 31 18 24 15 15 8 25 22 , 28 24 17 14 5 9 2 7-A 312 II 16 20 27 10 1! !5 22 32 27-B 24 15 17 13 3124 2114 LI 16 16 19 10 19 16 20 23 27 19 2S 15 18 23 16 17 10 13 c 30 25 D-20 It 10 19 12 19 615 110 X I2 16 Drawn. !4 15 26 17 21 17 22 18 24 20 7 10 7 10 4 8 15 22 16 19 27 24 27 24 29 25 26 17 25 21 •

Black— Cottrill. , White— Gray. 1115 7*14 16 19; 15' 18 g3 tf 10 23 18 2tf 19 21 37-A 16 11-E 20! 4 15 6 811 913 3 7 716 S3 30 22 15 27 23 30 26 24 20-b 27 23 25 21 6 1 10 14 , 11 16 4 8 18 27 30 25 19 23 23 19 19 15 20 16-c '31 24 22 18 B.wins. 14 23 14 18 5 9d 918 25 22 - 19 10 38 2? 17 14 24 20 4 8 (a) A. plausible move is 15 11, but it loses by 19 23, 26 19, 3 7, 22 15, 7 32, and Black wins. /

Played in the final round of the America* tourney by Messrs Barker and Heffner, till latter having first move. * " ' v Game 6497. — " Denny^" C 10 14 9!8 16 2u" 514 24 27 17 21 22 17 £6 23 22 -6 - 30 26 22 18 15 10 710 10 14 - 110 11 15-G 14 17 §12 17 13 31 26b 23 18" 19 16 21 14 10 3 3 7 6 10-c 14 23 12 19 10 17 12 18 24 19 13 9-D 27 18 '23 16 18 15 Drawn. 1116 8 11-E 20 27 15-19- 27 31 28 24-A 9 6-F 32 23 25 22 23 18 14 18 2 9 914 19 24 4 8 23 14 26 22 18 9 £6 23 18 14