DRAUGHTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2914, 19 January 1910, Page 75

DRAUGHTS.

Conducted by Jos. Abehnethy.

Solutions *f problems, games, and analyses in▼ited lor this column. Games should be -written in six columns as below, and all corrcspoudenca Rddsassad to the Draughts Editor.

Otago Club. —The O tago Club meets every Saturday evening, 7.30, in the Trades Hall, Moray place (opposite First Church). Visitors welcome. Gore. —Gore Club meets on Saturdays at Mr E. FrobartlTs rooms. Visitors welcome. —Geo. M‘Kay, secretary. PROBLEM 2736By W. Veal, Southampton, England.

Black: 1, 13, king £6. White: 7, 17, 22, king 4. Black to play; White to win. PROBLEM 27:57. By A. C. Hews, Somerset.

Black; 1,3, 6,9, 20, 27, kings 16, 25, 28, White; 7 10, 11, 13, 15, 18, 22, 23, king 20. White to play and win. An ingeniously constructed “ stroke,” from the. current issue of the Draughts World.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

J. M., Stirling.—Your solution to Problem 273-4 is correct. W. M. Mills, Sydney.—Your contributions very welcome. Thanks. W. Veal, Southampton, England.—Thanks

GAM MS

Wo arc indebted to Mr W. M. Mills, Sydney, for the following game, having an important feature at note (a).

And with 11 16 Black wins. (a) Unless the play for White can bo amended, this corrects Game 6735, Otago Witness, where 5 9 is given by H. D; Lynnaii to draw, also notes by the editor of the Budget, who says that in bis estimation the strongest continuation for Black is by 18 23, etc., and White has to wriggle for a draw. The game above was one of a series I piayed some years ago against an American, who has since returned to the U.S.A. He was not related to tbs late C, H. Freeman. W. M. M.

The following is a specimen game extracted from the new issue of the “Ferrie-Jordan Match Games,” just published by Messrs A. Bryson and Co., Glasgow. The notes by the late J. Lees. Game 2763. —“Ayrshire Lassie.”

(a) Perhaps it is rathe;: a misnomer to call this and the succeeding game " Ayrshire Lassie,” as, though opened as such, this exchange puts them into the regular “ Bristol ’’ opening, and is very frequently played by modern experts. (b) The best line of attack, and a great favourite with WyjKe. (c) First match in which this defence has been adopted, but the result is somewhat discouraging, and it is scarcely likely to he come popular. (d) Ferrie here introduces a, novelty with a, good result. The text move is given as a loss in “ Bowen’s Bristol,” Part I, but, as will be seen from succeeding notes, we do not think the play given by Bowen is sound. The usual continuation is 14 18, leading to an equal game. (e) 27 23 here will, we think, draw. (f) We suggest the following to draw': 30 26, 27 31, 26 22, 31 27, 13 11, IS 23, 7 2, 6 9, 21 17, drawn. (a) No doubt this was a blunder, but Blac'k has a decided advantage, at any rate. Of course, we are not prepared to say that there is no draw, but it will be more difficult to find then it appears at first sight. (H) 20 16 looks promising, but loses. See diagram following:

(i) 11 8 loses, similar to succeeding note. (j) The West Lothian Courier suggested 19 16 to draw, hut Black wins easily by 1 6, 16 11, 18 17, 21 14, 30 21, etc., B. wins.

(k) 27 23, 7 H-(l), 23 7, 3 13, 20 16, 8 11, 16 7,2 11, drawn. ft) “ Bowen’s Bristol,” Part I, gives 7 10, 23 16, 10 19, and White wins by 22 18, etc. (ji) Now a variation of the “Cross. ’

DRAUGHTS ITEMS.

Otago Chib.—The Otago Club will resume its meetings in the clubroom. Trades Hall, Moray place, on Saturday evening, February ° A Common Trouble.—Arrangements had been concluded for a team match (12 aside) between the Birmingham and Manchester Associations, to take place at Manchester on Saturday. November 27. Commenting on this, the Manchester Weekly Times says:—“The Birmingham League only desire to contest 12 boards—like the Scottish Association they have a weakness for their ‘ big men. and wish to run no risks with ‘lesser lights.’ This means that the Manchester Association will have to rely entirely cm outside ■assistance. as the best players in the city only figure on their debarred list.' "Blindfold.—The Yorkshire champion, Mr Willie Gardner, ■ gave an exhibition of blindfold draughts playing at the Harehills Club last week, which was witnessed by an appreciative assembly. Contesting eight games simultaneously, the champion came through with three wins to his credit, and the rermining five games were drawn. The Scoring Method.—There has been considerable discussion at Home as to the best method of counting the points scored by players in a tourney be it “all round” or “ knock-out.” the complaint being that, due consideration is not given to the losses. The wins and draws are counted (says .an exchange). but the losses are ignored. As to the “ all round ” system, in which each player should contest exactly the same number of games, we think that taking the percentage of a player’s wins to the total number of games he had. contested, would obviously be the fairest way of scoring—i.e.. counting two points for a. win and one point for a- draw, thus reckoning the percentage of points gained in its ratio to the highest possible score—viz., 100 per cent. For instance, if he won 19 games out of a total of 20, and lost one, his score would be 96 per cent.; but if he won 19 and drew one his score would then be per cent,; by which it will be seen that this system nays due regard to losses. But it must be borne in

] fair unless each contestant played exactly the same number of gars.es. , The Draughts World.—The December issue of the “ evergreen ” is to hand, and is an. I admirable number. In its literary departI merit, its games, and 1 its problems, we cannot discover a useless paragraph, nor an inch of space misused. The first page contains a moo photo, representing five generations of first-born, with the famous Barker Woolhou.se (London) as the G’.O.M. of the group, the others being his daughter, his grandson, his great-granddaughter, and hia, great-great-grandson. A. Bryson and Co., 92 . Tronga to, Glasgow; 3s 6d per annum. Mr | W. M. Mills, Jamieson street, Sydney; or Mr Hugh Egan. South Yarra, Melbourne, agents.

Gaiii-o 2761.— •“ Switch er.” Black--W. M. Mills. White—H. Freeman, 11 15 6 10 6 9 10 14 9 13 25 29 21 17 22 17 30 26 17 10 17 14 32 •28 !) 13 13 22 9 IS 7 23 13 17 29 25 25 21 26 17 26 22 2Z 17 25 21 2S 24 S 11 4 8 a-12 16 5 9 17 .22 23 26 17 14 2!) 25 19 12 24 19 14 9 31 22 10 17 1 6 18 23 15 24 22 25 25 IS 21 14 23 19 £7 IS 2S 19 21 J7 17 13

BIack—1 T erric. White— -Jordan. il 15 5 9 9 14 6 10 23 26 24 SO E-29 25 24 20 G- 3 7 16 19 a-15 19 7 1) 14 IS 12 16 26 30 S3 16 27 24 20 16 7 14 ,)-20 16 12 19 11 18 8 12 23 26 18 23 22 IS 24 15 ' 16 11 30 23 10 £6 B-10 14 a 7 19 23 27 9 30 23 C-27 23 £0 16 11 7 11 7 16 1! 8 12 7 11 23 °7 16 19 23 18 23 10 16 7 F- 7 ”s 7 3 11 7 12 19 3 19 27 31 9 14 1 6 18 15 22 15 28 24 3 7 7 2 4 S 14 18 31 27 14 IS 6 10 25 22 26 23 24 10 H- 7 JI 2 6 I!- 9 13 18 27 18 23 19 £3 30 15 1-32 27 31 24 15 11 111 16 E. wins.

Variation (1). 31 27 32 £7 £2 13 8 3 1611 5 9 9 14 18 22 9 14 32 27 29 25 21 20 25 18 3 7 11 7 1 5 e 9 14 32 30 15 31 26 k-20 1« 26 23 19 16 7 16 7 2 14 18 19 26 11 18 15 19 26 23 27 24 30 23 18 12 16 23 2 IS 7 U 3 7 8 1! IS 27 23 14 16 7 M-53 39 32 8 20 16 2! 17 2 11 13 17 7 10 27 31 Draws.