DRAUGHTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3018, 17 January 1912, Page 82

DRAUGHTS.

Conducted by Jos. Abernethy. Solutions of problems, games, aud analyses tn»ited for this column. Games ehould be written in six columns as below, and all correspondence addressed to the Draughts Editor. Otaqo Clob.—JTle Otago Club meets every Saturday evening at Sweetings, Rattray etriet. Visitors welcr.ma. PROBLEM 3911. By W. Veal. Southampton, England.

Black: 2,5, IX, 20. White: 9, 19, 24, 27, 32. White to play and win. PROBLEM 3912. By J. Kidd.

Black: 11, 20, king 21. White: 22, 26, 27, 29. White to play and win. A strategic point of practical value is illustrated in this problem. Several solvers failed to obtain tho correct result in a recent competition (says tho Plymouth Mercury). We have not seen the solution, and in trying it over fancied for a few minutes that the win could not be forced. But it can, and is very nice.—Da. Ed. O.W.

GAMES. Played between Mr George Jewitt and the late K. Jordan, champion of tho world. Gam© 3191. —" Edinburgh."

(a) This forms Problem 3809 in tliia column; the play following is the solution. It was won by Jordan in the 1910 international l>etween England and Scotland. This seems the only move to win—and an unnatural-looking on© it is. (u) In the- Boston international Alfred Jordan played the following against Barker:

Played in the tournament for the championship of tho Sydney Central Draughts Club. Opening balloted. Mr Shaw is an old-time I>unedin player of prominence, who used to coach D. A. Brodie. Games and notes are from Sydney Mail.

(a) 11 16, as played by Robertson v. Wyllie, seems a little stronger, and runs into a variation of " Pioneer" opening—-see Lees' Guide, vol. L

(b) 23 19 would form-a variation of "03d Fourteenth " opening. Game 3193.—" Whilter."

(a.) Said to be weak, but it avoids the perplexing lines which spring from the usual 23 22, followed by 26 23. (b) Dr Yates, against R. Martins, played. 8 11, 22 17, 3 8, 31 26. 11 16, 26 22, etc., ultimately drawn. Another interesting " Edinburgh" game, which w,as won by Mr R. T. Ward, of Birmingham, from Mr W. Nixon, a etrongj Xiiverpcol player who has not been much in evidence of late years. Mr Ward had the Bl'ack pieces.

Black to play and win.

19 23-a. 17 *Z £3 l 7 2 18 31 27 2ti 19 11 10 IS 11 19 15 V 4 20 21 17-B 7 23 6 It) *7 :{l 18 22 31 24 S 5 18 IB b 16 10 Black wins (a) A subtle move, the full significance of which is Been when

(b) Black m«ke3 the second sacrifice. Although two men down, Black has a formidable attack, and gradually improves it until be werar3 down White's defence.

DRAUGHTS ITEMS.

Dunedin. —The game in Dunedin is still very quiet owing "to the holiday time, and a number of players are out of town. Sydney.—We regret to hear from Mx W. M. Mills that the Sydney Morning Herald hoes decided to discontinue its chess and draughts columns. Only half a column was devoted to each, but their stoppage will be a loss to both games. Mir Mills expresses his intention of relinquishing his charge of the Sydney Mail column aiso, as it is so email that he thinks it is not worth while. The Australasian Champion.—ln the course) of his letter to us Mir Mills says:—"The champion of Australasia, Mx W. Pennmn, and his brother Alex, left Sydney to-day (January 6), per R.M.S. Orama, for Scotland. Calling at Melbourne, etc., Mr Penman played two games simultaneously last night against Messrs D. Shaw and John Lr©e, but lost them both. After the very rough trip, and being seasick all the way, his condition was unfit for a two-handed tussle against players of such calibre." Mr F. Salmon, ex-charnpion of Victoria, was recently on a holiday visit to Sydney, and three other members of the Melbourne Draughts Club—Messrs Hilliard, Hornby, and iJadgery—were expected in a few days. It was suggested that a little match with a quartet of Sydney players might be arranged at the Sydney Central Draughts Club.

The Brisbane Draughts Club is now a very strong organisation, which meets in the. ckibroc-ni *t the Y.M.C.A., Edward street, en Tuesday and Saturday nights. The secretary is Mr H. E. Roberts, and visitors from other States will be warmly welcomed. St. George's Draughts Club, Glargow, inaugurated an all-round competition, the winner of which was to be entered for the national championship at the New Year—a capital idea, which will probably be taken up by other clubs in the future. Mr A. H. Shah, of Melbsurne, recently returned from a visit to Brisbane, where ho played 16 games against individual members of the Brisbane Draughts Club, with the result that he won 10, lost three, and three games were drawn —a much better score than he made in Sydney.

The "Oxford champion. Mr L». S. Burrows, gave a simultaneous display at the Portemouth Club against 22 opponents, comingr cut on top with 10 wins, five losses, and seven draws. The Yorkshire Weeklv Pest announces that two County Durham players, Mo39rs J. Hunter and J. Barry, wore leaving for Australia by the R.M.S. Orama on the 17t!i October. They may come to New Zealand. Players will no doubt take notice.

An enthusiastic feathering; of tho Tynesida League honoured tho secretary, Mr George. Beckley, with a testimonial in the shape of a silk umbrella and a purse of sovereigns for the groat work be has done in tho causo of draughts on Tyneside. SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. Problem 3899.—See Game 319-9 above. Problem 3900 (By W. Veal).—Black: 12, 17 18, 19, 22. 21. kins? 31. White: 9, 20, 27, kings 10, 13, 28. Black to -play and -win. IS 23 19 23 £8 26" 22 25 13 20 3 13 27 18 BlacTc wins -~ Problem 3901 (By W. Fowler).—Black: 7, king 27. White: 23, 24, king 9. White to play and win. 2.3 - 9 0 fi 10 1« fi 10 10 19 £7 20 7 11 II 15 20 11 White wics Mr Robert Bos well when in D'unedin lately said this was an old friend of some 40 years ago, and ho thought the author'a name should b? Flower.—Dr. Ed. Problem 3902 (By T. F. Cleary).—Black:' 7. 21, king 18. White: 31, 15, king 9. White to play and draw. 15 10 14 17 26 23 23 18 13 29 7 14 9 13 21 25 22 15 15 18 31 26 18 22 Drawn

Bla-ck--G. Jowitt. White—R. Jordan. 9 13 12 16 9 14 2 7-a 20 24 24 1!) £6 83 18 9 31 2« 22 18 11 15 8 12-b 6 22 16 20 24 27 28 24 24 10 55 18 22 17 18 9 6 9 3 7 10 14 8 11 27 31 23 18 30 '. 6 18 9 f6 22 23 18 1 fi 4 8 5 14 11 15 7 11 18 11 22 17 £9 25 32 28 18 14 7 23 1.1 22 7 10 15 24 W. win3 27 18 26 17 25 22 2* 19

10 20 3 7 2 11 11 15 15 19 2» 19 IS 15 2-5 23 19 16 11 7 K 12 7 11 20 21 12 19 10 15 £2 <7 21 17 27 20 23 1« 7 2 4 8 11 18 t; 10 8 12 15 18 30 26 23 7 31 21 10 11 Drawa Game 3192.- -" Doubl. 3 Corner.'

Black— -L. Sha\ v. White—John Lreo. 9 14 15 19 7 10 22 17 18 27 30 2C 22 17 24 15 24 15 7 10 31 15 12 1<5 11 15 11 18 10 19 27 21 3 7 2fi 22 25 22 22 15 26 22 14 18 37 14 16 20 8 11 10 19 8 12 24 15 6 9 22 17 17 13 :i J 6 32 27 10 19 13 6 7 11 i 8-A 12 19 2 7 26 23 1 19 14 9 29 25-B 27 24 Drawn

Black--John Loo. White—L. Shaw. 9 14 5 9-n 1 5 19 16 18 27 £5 21 22 17 2d 23 ro n 12 19 31 15 6 10 11 15 3 7 8 24 23 16 9 18 8 3 23 19 22 17 32 2S 14 18 IK 11 30 25 7 11 7 11 4 8 17 U 18 23 3 7 17 13-A 29 25 24 19 10 17 11 8 10 15 11 16 11 1(1 8 11 21 14 23 26 7 10 £5 22 24 20 30 £6 15 19 15 11 15 19 lfi 23 15 24 Jl 15 £6 21 £6 30 11 8 2B 19 £8 19 Drawn

Gam© 3194.—" Edinburgh." 9 13 21 14 8 11 19 15 SO 24 22 18 12 Jfi 27 23 16 19 23 16 6 9 26 £3 4 8 30 £6 12 19 18 14 16 19 S5 21 1 6 £9 25 9 13 23 16 8 12 32 27 fo IDS 21 14 11 20 S3 18 13 17 position 10 17 24 19 11 IS 27 23