DRAUGHTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3097, 23 July 1913, Page 59

DRAUGHTS.

Conducted by Jos. Aeeenethy. gelations of problems, games, and analyses inerted for this column. Games should be written is six columns as below, and all correspondence addressed to the Draughts Editor.

PROBLEM 4038, (By W. Veal, Southampton, England.) [Black.]

White to play and win. [Docs not look very likely; but a succession of forced moves produces the correct result. —Ed.] PROBLEM 4039. (By C. A. Paterson, Scotland.) [Black.]

Black to play; what result? [An unusual stylo of problem.—Ed.] GAMES. Game 3363.—“ Denny.” (By W. Veal, Southampton. England.) 10 14 6 15 9 14 22 18 4 8 22 17 24 19 25 22 8 11 15 10 11 16 15 24 . 5 9 19 15 2 6 17 10 28 19 Forms position on diagram. [Black ]

White to play and win. *lB 15 *3O 25 21 17 21 5 27 4 11 18 6 15 14 30 30 23 W. wins. The following- games of the M‘Kelvie-Ward match, annotated by Mr D. G. M'Kelvie, are from the Glasgow Herald.

(a) Players fight shy of this, which, I believe, is Black’s best defence (b) Rather a cheeky-looking move. (c) Saves the situation in the meantime. (d) There is nothing better. (e) Overlooking the “Half Nelson,” which Black at once puts on. (f) Mr Sallaway wandered at this point; if 28 2i, would draw. What do you think? Game 3367.— “Denny.”

(a) The only draw is by taking the stroke. (b) 7 2 is much safer, according to a good many who criticised this position. (c) The draw is now beautifully forced. (1) TO 24 14 18-d 8 11-f 811 14 9 11 15 28 1!) 16 20-e 3 8 16 19 6 10 Drawn 25 16 18 14 11 16 (d) 3 7, 20 11, 7 16, 12 19—White wins. (e) 16 19, 14 9. 16 19, 3 7—Drawn. (f) 20 24, 14 9, 6 10, 3 7—Drawn. DRAUGHTS MATCH. HIGHCLIFF v. ST. HILDA. At Highcliff School Hall a team from the St. Hilda Draughts Club met the representatives from the Peninsula, and after a close and interesting contest succeeded in winning by the narrow margin of three games. The detail scores are as follow: St. Hilda. Peninsula.

The match over, an adjournment was made to the supper tables, where a sumptuous repast had been prepared by the ladies. In announcing the result, Mr Muir returned thanks for the pleasant evening spent, and also for the hospitality shown. Mr Fairbairn, in responding, said his men were looking forward to a return match at an early date, when they hoped to turn the tables. Cheers were exchanged by the players, after which a vote of thanks was accorded the ladies for their hospitality, this being carried with acclamation. POINTS ON FIRST POSITION. Writing in a chatty way on first position in Jordan’s American Checker Player, the editor has the following for the instruction of beginners; About the only trap that is likely to floor anyone is at the following point. Black king on 28; man on IG. White kings on 15 and 32. White probably has in view the neat sacrifice, which would enable him to pin both Black pieces in the double corner, so instead of playing 15 11, which is correct, he goes 15 18, 16 19, 32 27, fondly imagining that Black will reply 28 32, and get bottled up by 27 24 etc. Instead of 28 32, however, Black goes 19 23, and the White win vanishes like a beautiful dream. W. Blakelev and N. W. Banks missed this against W. Gardner and H. Henderson, respectively Another point that should be noted is B. 4, king on 20; White kings on 23 and 28. White, thinking of the 2-kings-to-l operation, goes 23 18, and allows the king to join his mate, and draw; whereas, 23 19 wins all right. When there is an extra piece on the board; for instance, Black men on 12 and 21, king on 24, White kings on 22, 23, and 32. Instead of playing 23 18 here, as in the proper first position, go 32 28, 24 19, 23 16, 12 19, 22 18, 21 .25, 28 32, 19 24, 18 15, 25 30, 15 19. White wins. The following position draws: Black man on 12; kings on 21 and 28; White kings on 22, 23, and 27. White to play, so it is advisable to let the king out of 21. and then try and coax him into 13, where it will prove an unlucky number for him. The following is also a drawn position: Black man on 4 ; kings on 28 and 30; White kings on 19, 22, and 23. White to move. 23 27, 28 32, 19 23. 32 28, 27 32 28 24, 32 28, 24 20, 23 19. 20 24, 19 15, 24 27, 15 18. This is the psychological moment, and out comes 48, and Black escapes. By pottering about before turning the king out of the double corner, White can often induce Black to play 4 8 before the proper time, and so lose the game. 'The most celebrated problems leading to the first position are Dr Brown's first problem in embryo: Black on 1 and 3; White on 10 and 31. White to move and win; and Johnson’s position : Black man on 4; kings pn 26 and 27; White kings on 11, 18, and 19. White to move and win. White cannot win first position proper without the ihove, but with an extra piece on the board it is’ generally easier to win without the move than with it. Without the move the extra king can he pinned on 13, 21. 29, and 30. and the man on 4 or 12, and White ran win. Thus, for instance: Black man on 12; kings on 21 and 28; White kings on 18, 19, and 22 White to move and win. Go 18 14, 28 82, 19 24 , 32 28 , 24 27, 12 16, 14 18, 28 32, 27 24 , 32 28, 24 20, 16 19, 22 26, 21 25, 26 31, 27 24 , 32 28, 24 20, 16 19, 22 26, 21 25, 26 31, 25 30, 20 24, 19 23, 18 27 , 28 19, 27 23. White wins.

Game 3364.--“Edinburgh.” (M'Kelvie's nomination.) Black— Ward. White—M'Kelvie. 9 1! 28 1!) 11 15 26 17 2 9 29 22 22 18 4 S 19 16 13 22 27 21 18 25 6 9-a 27 24 12 19 21 17 9 13 11 8 25 22 8 11 23 16 15 18 24 £0-1 25 29 I 6-n 22 18 14 18 32 27 d 13 17 8 4 24 19-c 9 14 16 11 6 9 £0 16 15 19 H 15 18 9 7 16 17 13-k 17 21 4 8 18 11 5 14 £0 11 10 15 16 12 Drawn 8 24 24 20 18 22 13 « 22 25 U) The latest, and it may be the safest, defence. but I do not think so. (b) Tho necessary continuation. (c) 29 25 is usual here. (D) If 17 13. 18 23, : is bad for • White. (E) 11 7, 2 11, 17 13 is no better. (1) 31 25 24 19 15 10 22 18 £9 £5 11 7 18 23 23 26 22 rC 26 22 18 9 14 17 25 18 19 15 31 22 18 14 15 22 Drawn 15 22 26 30 30 26 £2 18 9 14 G ame > 3365.—“Edinburgh.” Black — M'Kelvie. White —Ward. 9 13 8 15 10 19 19 24-E 10 17 28 24 22 IS 18 11 22 18 £8 19 21 14 6 10 10 15 7 18 6 10 11 15 19 24 15 19 25 22 24 20 18 15 19 16 14 10 20 1C 5 0-a 16 19 4 8d 12 19 24 28 19 23 23 19-1) 32 27 15 6 22 17 10 6 16 11 11 16-c 6 10 1 10 13 22 28 32 23 27 18 11 27 24 29 £5 £6 17 6 2 Drawn 1C 23 2 6 8 11 9 13-v 32 £8 27 18 24 15 25 22 17 14 2 6 (a) This looks bad, and gets worse before it gets better. (b) 29 23 is also very strong here. (c) Compulsory. in) Forces the draw and now Black gains strength every move. (e) The only way. Game 3366. —“Denny.” (Ward's nomination.) Black■M'Kelvie. WhiteWard, 10 14 10 14 16 23 5 14 10 14 31 27 24 19 28 24 £7 18 26 23 2 7 18 15 14 1S-A 11 16-d 3 10 11 16 31 26 27 £3 22 15 31 26 24 19 17 13 7 10 15 11 11 18 6 10-C 8 II 14 17 14 :7 22 26 23 14 £5 21 25 22 13 9 10 15-f 11 7 9 18 1 6 6 9 17 22 17 22 26 31 21 17 £9 25 13 6 a 6 15 11 7 3 8 11 4 8 2 9 22 26 16 20 31 17 17 13 21 17-D 22 17 6 2 11 16 7 10 14 21 9 14 26 31 26 31 I B 23 23 7 18 9 32 28-e 23 18 M'Kelvie won.

Black—Ward. "White- — M 'Kelvie. 10 14 £6 22 2 11 14 10 1 6 3 8 24 19 9 13 21 17 15 18 32 28-C 11 16 7 10 18 9 30 14 2 6 30 25 a 11 22 18 B 14 24 19 18 22 SI 26 £3 19 11 18 28 24 16 23 6 9 22 31 14 9 26 23 3 7 27 2 17 21 29 22 Drawn 8 11 19 15 4 8 9 14 31 26 22 17 10 26 22 18 21 25 22 17 16 20 17 3 13 17 10 n 26 23 £0 26 20 30 18 14 25 30 17 13 n 16 3 7-a 11 15 7 3-b 8 ll-l

Wins. Draw e. Wins. 0 L. Edwards 0 J. Christie . 1 0 J. Pimlcy ... 0 J. Clark . 1 1 J. Jarvis 1 J. Riddle . 0 1 W. Hicks ... 1 J. Lament . 0 2 J. Shanks 0 J. Fairborn .. . 1 1 A. Henderson 2 W. Henderson 0 0 L. J. Edwards 2 A. Walker . 1 0 L. Lawrence 2 J. Cowie . 2 1 J. Talbot 1 G. Edwards . 2 2 D. Ilowatson 1 R. Morris . 0 3 B. Hicks 0 T. Cockerain 0 11 10 8