DRAUGHTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3034, 8 May 1912, Page 59

DRAUGHTS.

Conducted by Jos. Abehnethy. Solutions of problems, games, and analyses Invited for this column, (fames should be written to six columns as below, end all correspondence addressed to the Draughts Editor. PROBLEM 3835. By P. B. Hillikeb, Champion of New Zealand.

Black: 2, 15, 18, 39, 26, king 30. White: 20, 27, 29, 31, 32, king 6. White to play, Black to draw. PROBLEM 3936. By Bobt. Boswell, Sockburn. Canterbury

Black: 2,6, 10, 12, king 27. White: 11, 13, 19, 21, king 3. White to play and draw. A correction of Problem 3926, by A. Jordan. TO CORRESPONDENTS. J. W., Oaniaru. —Letter with postal notes to hand. Will write. A. C, Tutnrau.—Thanks for report of meeting. N. W. M., Anderson's Bay.—Ticket aoad report received with thanks. Hope to get out soon. It. 8., Sockburn. —OViged to you for continued favours. P. E. H. —Problem, welcome. T. P., Peel Forest. —You are correct in solution of Problem 3933. S. J. R., Palmerston North.—Pleased to hear from you. Letter handed over to Witness editor. H. D., Inveroargill.—Letter card only received in time to acknowledge. Should haw, addressed it " Ofcago Wttness" Next week.

GAMES. The following are the scores of the final games between Messrs Alfred Jordan and James Forrie in the recent Scottish championship tourney: Game 3217.—" Bristol" (11 16, 24 20). Black—Ferrie. White —Jordan.

Then 18 15 and, the game was given up as drawn.

NOTES AND CRITICISMS. Mr J. A. Boreham writes that Problem 3928, by F. C. Barker, being a correction of Hill's Manual, appears in Richmond's " Single Corner " Book. In Problem 3929 (given to correct StuTges), note (d), after second move, the position is: Black: Kings 22, 24, 32. White: 23, kings 11, 16, 30. White to play. Mr Barker plays 16 20 .and Black draws, but White wins by 11 B.—J. A. B. CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNEYS AND STYLE OF PLAY. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Since the inception in 1896, at Wanganui, of the N.Z. draughts championships on the all-round system of play, the rules governing the contests have been gradually improved and perfected, as the outcome of practical experience, until to-day it is to the credit of New Zealand players that they have a system that easily b01d.3 its own as to (a) finding out the relative strength of tho players, and that (b) best encourages the game among all grades of draughts enthusiasts. (1) On a population basis the New Zealand tourney has a far larger number of competitors annually than any other country in the world. (2) The number of prizes, and the prizemoney annually distributed, outclasses all other national draughts tourneys. (3) There are greater objections to other systems of deciding draughts championships (the ballot in the one-life Scottish tourney at 12 games, for instance) than there can r.ossibly be to anything in the New Zealand system. The questions raised by Mr Calderwood in your last week's issue are not new; 'hey and others were faced and thrashed out by the players and supporters of the N.Z.DA. years ago, before the system of soaring by percentage points was adopted. The system was eventually accepted unanimously by the players when they thoroughly understood the pros and cons of the question, being convinced of its fairness and many advantages. It always decides an all-round tourney on the all-round play of the contestants, and that is right. Mr Boreham first introduced the percentage system of scoring to New Zealand, and he advocated it up hill and down dale for years before it was finally adopted by the N.Z.

D.A. Since Its institution the percentage system has twice previously been put into operation. At the 1906 N.Z. tourney at Dunedin. Messrs Gardiner and Bcrelmm's pointo for wine and draws were equal—i.e., 17J; but when their scores were put to a correct analysis Mr Gardiner Beared second place with H 8 and Mr Boreham third with 106 J percentage points. Again, in the 1910 tourney at Auckland, Messrsßoreham nnd Caldiarwood's points fox wins and draws were the same—l 6; but when the scores were made up on an accurate basis Mr Boreham was second with about three and a-half points to the good, and Mr Calderwood third. In an all-round tourney the most correct way of scoring for championship prizes is on "the percentage system, for under that each player receives his proper and true relative value for all his -wins and draws, those relative values being determined by the actual play of every other competitor throughout the tourney. To measure a championship score in an all-round tourney on the. win and draw points only does not give accurately the comparative merits of the competitors. As an illustration take the following:—*. A in his round secures two wins from the weakest player in the tourney, M, whose total score at, the close is six points; that gives to A 100 per cent, of M's score—via., six percentage points. A also plays N, a strong player, whose score is 20. and secures two draws, that gives to A 60 per cent, of N'« score—viz., 10, making a total of A of 18 points against the two. B also plays the same two: against M he secures a win and a draw, which gives him 75 per cent, of M's score of 6—viz., 4Jj against N he also secures a win and a draw; that gives him 75 per cent, of N*s score of 20—viz., 15, and a total score against M and N of 19J, thus beating A's score by 3J percentage points. This gives a. true •'■oniparative value of the scores of A and B, and shows to a fine point the relative merits' of their scores. Under the win and draw system of scoring their total would appear as three points each: yet one is most certainly a superior score to the other, as B scores his second win from a three limes stronger player than M. There is much that might be written on this matter, but this letter is already too/ long. It is only right that all rules and thei system of play should be set on a solid and fair basis: and to this end discussion and criticism aire good, and I am Euro will be readily welcomed by the N.Z.D.A. executive. If any member of the association thinks he has improvements, all he has to do is to give a month's notice of motion before ih» annual meeting, when the suggestions can bo brought forward and discussed. Thanking you, Mr Editor, for your space,—l am, etc., Fkank E. Hillikbr, Hon. Sec. N.Z. Draughts AssociationDuiiedin, May 6. DRAUGHTS ITEMS. St. Kilda.—We are indebted to the sear*. tary of the St. Kilda Club for a coraplimenta<ry ticket of membership, which is«> pleasant way of announcing the advent of the now club. The club meets Monday evenings at 7.45 in the Bungalow Assembly Rooms. Mr L. Edwards, sen., is captain, and Mr N. W. Mac Lean hon. secretary. It is proposed to start a handicap itourney on the 13th inst, and meetings with the St. Clair and Otago Clubs are already talked of. We wish them, success. Tuturau (Mataura).—The annual meeting! of the Tuturau Draughts Club was held in tbo schoolhouee on Monday, April 29, when thera v;aß a food attendance. Mr M O'Kourke was elected president, Mr W. Dickie vice-presi.-dent, and Mr A. Collie seorefary and treasurer. The club has every piospect of a successful eeason. Wellington Club. —At the annual meeting! of the chess and draughts sections of the Wellington Working Men's Club, held on April 22, the respective secretaries presented their reports. The draughts report (Mr H. G. Albortson, secretary) referred to the recent N.Z. championship meeting, so successfully engineered by the club; and speaking of the club's handioap tourney ho said: "The annual handicap tourney was («m----mienced with a largo number of entries, bub owing to our former hon. secretary (Mr J. M. Wilson) being unliable for several, weeks to attend to the posting of weekly drawings, etc. it was never completed. The competitors' showed that they had the best interests of the game at heart by allowing the prizemoney to swell the fund for the draughta championship of New Zealand." The election of draughts officials resulted:—Secretary, H. G. Albertson; referee, J. Darling (Peton-e WM. Club); consulting member, J. Reid; match committee—Messrs James Wilson, WrMit and Burgess. The balance sheet of the recently-held draughts championship tournament was presented by Mr Albertson, who was accorded a hearty vote of thanks fur his valued labours in organising and carrying out the contest to such a successful, issue. Mr Boreham's Letter.—The letter by Mr Boreham published in this column recontly on the system of tournament play has received attention elsewhere. The N.Z. Heraki reprinted portion of the letter, and in reply thereto Mr Edward Jones, hon. secretary to the committee who had the conduct of the draughts championship tournament held in Auckland two years ago, writes under date April 17 as follows:—"In re Mr Boreham s statement that four players at. the Auckland tourney decided that the championship should! be held by a North Island player it is no* true. The players were paired by oallot in each round; and, also, the players from each district played between themselves before they met those from another district. Whv did not Mr Boreham complain at tno time' It is certain neither the referee nor the committee heard anything about it until his letter appeared in the Otago Witness two vears after the tourney was held. It is true "he claimed the game from one opponent because he refused to start another earne within 20 minutes of the time for adjourning but the referee ruled against him, and on his appealing to the committee they upheld the decision of the referee, and at no time awarded him the game but requested him to go in and play the game, which he did." SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. Problem 3923 (By W. Veal).—Black: 18. 20, 22, 28. White: 24. kings 12, 19, 27. Black to'play, White to win. •K{> 3> 23 S 3 IS 12 19 fO 16 19 12 19 5 24 19 White wins Problem 3924 (By W. Veal).—Black: 5,7, 8 10 21. 28, kings 16, 17. White: 9. 14, 25. 26, 30, 31, kings 1, 27. White to play and win. ?5 22 10 17 2« 23 23 19 27 9 11 2 A .i7 13 31 24 17 26 16 2:1 13 6 26 31 57 32 514 White wios (a) 16 20, 22 13, 10 17, 1 6, 5 14, 27 23, W.. wins with a man down. Problem 3925 (author not given; contributed by J. A. Boreham). —Black: 6,8, kind 7. White: 16, 18, 20. Black to play and v in. HI! 7 3 3 7 7 3-a 3 7 7 8 16 12 18 14 12 8 8 4 4 8 815 Then 6 10, and Black wine) (a) It looks feasible to go 7 2 here, expecting 8 3, 6 10, 14 7, 11 15, Black wins; bu* inskad of 8 3 go 14 10, 6 15, then 8 S. awl White draws.

a i« 9 14 « 10 4 8 7 Hi 24 20 18 9 17 13 22 17 31 27 16 19 5 14 A- 1 6 8 11 3 8 23 1U 25 22 29 25 27 U 26 22 12 11" 10 15 8 12 Jl 16 Ferrie 22 18 22 17 £5 22 20 11 resigned (a) Jordan varied horo in the next, t&e final jjame, the play running ■as followa: — 1 5 14 18 18 23 18 27 IS £3 27 S3 9 « 6 2 9 6 22 >7 8 12 2 9 14 18 27 32 13 19 23 18 17 13 2 « 6 2 17 13 12 19 g 14 10 14 32 28 19 23 26 22 13 9 6 9 9.9 25 13 9 4 8 19 24 14 17 24 27 23 18 22 17 28 19 21 14 31 24 30 2fi 8 11 15 24 23 27 28 19 3 8 13 9 9 6 32 23 25 22 2 6