NOTES AND CRITICISMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2857, 16 December 1908, Page 67

NOTES AND CRITICISMS.

Mr J. A. Boreham contributes the following budget of criticisms end notes: — A Victorian Critic— lf there is any branch of our gT.ind old game that approaches the analysis of a difficult end-game for interesting 1 the solitary enthusiast, it is criticism in "a. ; good spirit. It tends to establish thoroughlysound play. Nothing gives the student a 1 sounder knowledge of the various important i moves in an> given game or variation than, a study of the critic's work. Take, for instance, a game between medium players. It comes to the critic in the rough: a weakness in the game catches his eye, and* at once all his analytical and critical knowI ledge is brought to bear on it. It is polished j up to his satisfaction, and stuffed up his sleeve as a future surprise or given for publication. Now, as the student looks up to^ thf critic foi accuracy, the critic muss needs make doubly sure before publishing; the alleged mistakes of other people.- Al* thi as introductory to expressing my own, pleasure thai a .new (to me) critic has sprung up. His advent will, I am sure, create increased, interest in your draughts column. Mr~ Egan has already had a -'good-naturedi pick or two at me; but Mr Hilliker ably annotated that game, and defeated th« critic's attempts all through. I cordially welcome Egan, and I will pay closa attention to him in future. I enjoy_ criticism of myself, and criticise others in the same spirit. • Game 6592.— 1n the Witness of September 23, Game 6592, Mr Veal, Southampton, England, gives, play to sorrect a Scottish tourney game, but I don't thinlr it will stand ti» test. Following position was given on -thft diaoram-me in the gamer — Black: 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 15, 18. White: 12, 13, 16. 24, 26, 30, 31Black tHulley) to play.- Mr Veal, to correct Mr BTuUey*s 6 10, plays: 5 9'- 16J4 211 15 19 32 28 23-ST 24 £0 tST-9 '- 3 7 » « 9 «s•• -D»7 H 710 Sfe£B IV 15 810 16 28 24 15 18 16 11* -S 8 7 5! 6 10- 8 2 C-10 U 18 23 914 14 18 28 S» 18 23 18 22 28 19 11 7 2 9 13 9 2 7 14 18 W. wins. (a) Mr Veal plays 31 27, and goes on. to draw. I can't *cc a hope for Black after 16 11. (b) 4 8 loses too. (c) 10 or 11 15, B. draws by 19 23, IS 22, 23 26, 30 23, 24 28. Problem 2611.— 1n the column of same date, in placing Mt Dunne's problem- (2611), I think the Black man- on 7 should be on 6. As it is it admits a dual br 7 11, 26 22,. 11 16, 22 17, 14 18, and scoop the man oru 27. Correct position would be: — Black: €. 14, 19. White: 21, 26, 27. Black to play and 1 win. Game 6593.— 1n the Otago Witness, Sep* tember 23, Game 6393, by Hugh Egan, Soutis Yarra, Vie, at the 21st move the following position occurs: — Black: 2, 4. 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 13, 19. White: 15, 21, 22, 24, 25, 2€, 28, 29, 31. White to play and win. 15 Ha 10 1» .18 » U »0-b % il *» 15 lit 12 IB * 22 18 S l4 31 27 13 17 31 17 14 15 9 14-B 25 22 10 15 C 22 lfrW.winf(a) This corrects- Mr -JJ'Lellan in th» Checker World game also M!r Egan, who adopts this line '(l.c., 24 20). (b) Nothing better. (c) 16 20, 27 23, eventually wins. The game mentioned above was played W a drawn result between Messrs Zink and . M'Clelland. Mr Egan also plays it to a* draw, but R: Boswell made it a White win. From the position ' given above Mr Egansolves the problem thus : — , 24 40 6 0 22 17 10 24-D 10 7 24 28 914 SO 16 13 22 28 19 12-19- 3 & 15 11 l'J 15 26 10 15 24 73- B-2 7 Drawr. (d) 19 23, 21 17, 12 19, 17 13, and Mr Egan. says White wins. Can he demonstrate a. White win "if Black continues 19 24? JJ fancy it draws. Again, Mr Egan's var. (h> is left rather problematical In the original game at the fourth move from finish we have this position: — Black: 5, 11, 12, 28, king 22. White: 13, 14, 20, 31, king 10. Mr Zink played 22 18, and? Mr Egan says 22 17 will win for Black; but I think 13 9 forces a draw. Against Mr Zink's 22 18 I think 31 27, instead of 9 as played, makes «• nice problem for White to win, and again correct M'Clelland's play- „ • Mr F. C. Barker, Ashburton, writes: — I noted Mr Hilliker's Problem 2640, correcting Game 6616. There is, however, a Blac-d win in the game at a. later stage, the 65th move, where position is : — Black : 10, 11, 15, 16, king 30. White: 20. 24. 32, king 12. M"r Veal makes a draw by 16 19, but in stead. 15 18, 12 19, 18 23, B. wins.