DRAUGHTS ITEMS.

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

DRAUGHTS ITEMS.

-The Two-move Restriction. — We have pre«. viously referred 1 . to the necessity for special study on the part of anyone who hopes t<< make a good showing under the two-nwvt'i ballot system. Home' experience bears 'th« same .testimony. As the forthcoming New , Zealand championship tourney will^be playecl on the two-move system, intending "competitors should prepare accordingly. The best aid in euch preparation is "Dunne's Praxis, a book that has "no rival in, this special department. For- the benefit of wa have secured » number of copies of thai - work, which we. shall be pleased, to suppljl to inquirers. .Price 6s 6d, post paid. Otago • Club.— As. previously intimated, th»' Otago 'Club closed for the holidays, and -wiUrresrane its ordinary meetings on Saturd'ayy - January ,18, when the* treasurer hopes to meet' all the members-. who " can attend for 1 • the opening of the new half-year. 1 Visitors to Town. — During the holiday* - quite a number of visiting players were m town, and enjoyed a friendly tussle / witlt Dunedin players. • Among them was Mr John' Thonipson, who, it will, be remembered,'" put up a good score in the Christchurch tourney. He came out very well in sittings witK Messrs Bbreham, Bro'die, and Hillikeiy , Thompson's total score "reading — -Won 3.' losf ■ 4, drawn; 4. Considering- the. calibre or th^ players helmet, Mr Thompson, is to be con.« gratulated-on. his performance. " The TSintfß World Beeord." — This is JiW i heading of the wonderful record of problent ' solving lately to hand from Captain Challice, 8.N., Great Yarmouth, England. The gal«~ l«nt captain gives us his record up to weeS( ending November 2, 1807, which is as follows:—■Ohess problems solved, 12,036; 'chess keys at sight, 617; draughts problems solved, 2X03; draughts keys at Bight, 734; prize com> . petitions and puzzles, 2290-; various elimina? tions and' positions resolved, etc., 1181 ;,.-r* total, 19,561. This" is for a period of 102* weeks, whicli gives an average of over MT correct solutions per week for the wholft. period. Thus • might well stand as a. worlds ' record! Think of the labour entailed 1 . Our " funny man " was , playing a " I/airdl • and Lady " game with one of our best players', and had evidently got into difficulties, by-thd look of /things. He had been glowering *i • the position for fully fifteen minutes, wh'ent his next door neighbour quietly asked him:' "Have you lost your way?" Not'exactly,"replied 1 the F.M., " but _ I'm fixed something 1 like' the little boy, who 7on being asked a similar question, replied, 'No! — bob — hoo;! but I've found a street I don't know.' "—* " Peewit," Newcastle Weekly Courant. ; "Do you think they approved of my ex* ; hibition?" inquired! the "blindfold expert to his janissary, hoping 1 he had made a good! impression. "Yes., I think so," was th« . reply; they were all nodding." — '\Peewit," ia' Newcastle-on-Tyne Weekly Courant.

In sending the following position to tha - Glasgow Herald, Mr 'M'Kelyie says: — "On! the 6th September last I noticed ,my friends, Mfessrs J. K. Lyons (White) and G-. Smith) (' Artful Joe ') trying the position, which they dtew once or twice. . I myself being convinced that Black ought to win, had a try for a few minutes, but failed 1 to improve matters. Subsequently the artful one demonstrated a beautiful win. I am not sure whether the position has been previously' published or not, but in any case I' think it well worthy' of reproduction." The posft tion is: — Black: 3, kings 11, 15, 18. White: 12, 20, kings 1, 2. Black to move and win. Solutions invited.