DRAUGHTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3112, 5 November 1913, Page 59

DRAUGHTS.

Conducted by Jos. Abernethy. Solutions of problems, games, and analyses Invited for this column. Games should be written in six column? as below, one ail co.respondenc® addressed to the Draughts Editor.

PROBLEM 4066. By A. J. Heffner. [l3 LACK.]

Black to play and win. TO CORRESPONDENTS. A. K., Gore.—Thanka for report, which, unfortunately, did not reach us in time for last week. Congratulations on your success. J. G. t Taoanui.—-We can supply you with both books at 5a Sd, post paid. They are a whole library in themselves. C. D. C., New Plymouth.— held over till next week. J. F. Wanganui East. —Welcome back. Your solutions of Problems 4053, 4055, 4059, and 4060 are correct. D. C., Invercargill.—Thanks lor play, which will appear next week. Wish you luck. A. M‘D., Westport.—Will comply with pleasure. Thanks for contributions, which are much appreciated. GAMES. The following is one of a series of games contested in Christchurch between Alfred Jordan (the English champion) and J. Gardiner. This game should be found interesting, owing to the fact that Mr Gardiner introduces a move which corrects a game played between Hill and Feme in the International match, Britain v. America. We are indebted to Mr A. M'Donald, Westport, for the score and notes.

(a) Considered a very weak line. (a) Varies from Hill, who played 27, and lost. This seems a considerable improvement. (c) If 30 26, Black secures a good game by 12 16. (D) Mr Gardiner pointed out that 2 7 (a likely-looking move) would have lost by 26 22, 7 10, 22 15, 10 19, 21 17, 6 10, 25 22, 5 9, 22 18, 19 24, 27 20, 9 13, *4 8, etc.— White wins. Game 3900.—“ Denny.” The following game was contested recently between Mr J. C. Craig and Mr James Gardiner, both of Westport. Mr Craig is the author of a problem which appeared in the Witness some years ago, and created wide Interest in Australasia, Britain, and America. Score and notes from Buffer Miner. Black— Craig. White—Gardiner.

(a) Recommended by Shearer’s Hand Book as safe, and deserves more attention than it receives (b) The books favour 22 17 or 28 24 here.

(c) This clearance seems beet. (d) White seems strong here, and Mr Craig deserves credit lor the way he forces the draw. Ob) A forcing move, but perhaps not best. (F) Essential; any other seems to lead to disaster. A GOOD PROBLEM. In reviewing Mr M'Call's new book, “Midget Problems," we noted that a problem by Mr Boreham, from this column, was given a place in the book. When the problem originally appeared, we spoke of it as one of the finest two-totwo problems extant, having hunted up all available positions for comparison. This opinion has since been endorsed by a number of experts in Australia and at Home, and its appearance with faulty solution in “Midget Problems” does it no harm. We have shown Mr Boreham the solution, and he writes as under; —Position : CBulcx.l

Black to play and win. Mr ‘M'Call gives the solution thus; 21 25, 2r2 18, 25 30, 18 15, 30 26, 19 16, 26 23, 10 12-a, 9 14, Black wins. (a) Mr Boreham here says: —“lt does not matter whether 19 16 is played before or after 26 23; but 16 12 must not be played at this point, as it spoils the effect of my solution; 15 11 is the correct move, as given in*my solution in the Otago Witness. .After 13 11, if the king on souare 9 'is moved until the right time, White draws. Every move in the solution of my problem, as given in the Otago Witness, was starred. That is not the case in Mr W. T. M'Call’s solution, which, in itself, shows his play to be wrong. When I went to Brisbane I trotted out this and J. C. Craig’s famous position to all the champions, and did not fet a single correct solution to either prolem. Continue from (a) in the above play;—lnstead of 16 12, play 15 11*, 23 19, 16 12, 19 15,* 11 7,* 9 13 (or 9 5), 7 2* 15 10, 12 8, 10 6, Black wins. Just not© the beauty of these few starred moves, and you will admit that I have good reason for being annoyed by their omission from the “Midget Problems” solution."

GORE CLUB’S SOCIAL. . A wall-attended meeting- of the Gor© Draughts Club was held fa Paterson’s Tea Rooms on Saturday night, October- 11, when an enjoyable social evening was spent, as a wind-up to the current season.

Mr P. C. Gray (president), who presided, complimented the club on the success of the season which had just concluded. The club had sustained a big loss in the removal to the West Coast of one of its members, Mr James Gardiner, the champion of Australasia. A match had been inaugurated on the lines of Country Week in Dunedin, in which all the leading players in the district had taken part, and the speaker hoped that this gathering, so successfully begun, would be an annual affair. Financially, the club had been able to pay its way. The receipts amounted to £6 13s 6d, and the expenditure to £6 2s 3d, which left a credit balance of lls 3d. V?

The result of the club’s tournament was then declared, which was as follows:—John Beaton, played 18 games, won 11, lost 7 (handicap 7 jr), total points, 18 J, 1; W. M_‘Kinna, played 18, 'won 18, points 18, 2; J. Patterson, 3.

The prizes were valued at 20s, 15s, ar.d 7s 6d respectively, of a total value ’of £2 2s 6d. Of this amount the entry money amounted to £1 2s 6d (nine entries at 2s 6d each), while the president donated £l. A very hearty vote of thanks was carried to the secretary (Mr A. Kroning;, for the efficient manner in which he had discharged ■his duties during the year. An enjoyable, supper was then partaken of, and a short programme gone through, to which Messrs P. C. Gray, W. Templeton, and Gardiner (recitations), and R. L. Christie (songs) contributed items.

Game Black—Gardiner. 3899,—"Denny.” White —Jordan. 10 14 a-14 18 12 16 11 18 10 15 22 IS 23 14 24 19 20 4 21 17 11 15 9 14 15 24 24 28 5 9 18 11 20 22 22 15 29 26 17 13 8 15 7 11 9 18 I 6 9 14 24 20 21 17 25 22 31 26 13 9 4 8 B- 6 9 18 15 D- 6 10 2 7 28 24 c-17 14 HU 21 26 22 9 6 Then 7 11, etc , Drawn.

iO 14 4 8 11 15 7 16 14 17 .'4 in 25 O.) 19 16 23 19 21 14 7 10-A. 8 a 12 19 15 ?l 9 18 22 18 b 22 18 23 18-d 27 a 27 23 11 15 9 )3 2 7 50 15 IS 27 18 a 18 9 26 £3 30 £fi 32 23 8 24 5 14 . I 5 6 y. F 15 18 28 16 c 29 25 16 ll-E 32 27 25 21 Drawn