DRAUGHTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3205, 18 August 1915, Page 64

DRAUGHTS.

Conducted by Jos. \behnetht. Solutions of problems, games, and analyses tnrlted for this column. Games should be written It, g ix columns as below, end all correspondence addressed to tha Draughts Editor. PROBLEM 4219. By J. T. Gordon, Sheffield. (Contributed.) Black

I ■ White. Black to play and draw. TO CORRESPONDENTS. H.. H. ( Port Chalmers.—Your solutions to Problems 4212 and 4213 handed to Mr Brodie. E- M., Tuatapere.—Thanks for note on Problem 4216. Greetings to your lather, lour solutions to Brodie's problems handed in. &.. D. S., Waimate. —Pleased you have struck the solution and answered your own queryin re Problem 4216. Mr Hilliker's has a neat ending; preserve. I'our friend's solution to Problem 4210 is correct, but not 4211 D. 8., Tapanui.—Solutions to Problems 4212 and 4213 handed in. A. 8., Uunedin.—You are correct in solutions to Problems 4215 and 4216. The position and terms of Problem 4217 are correct. Try it again. Out of the book just now. Wit' notify you next week if any to hand; if not, will return P.N. W. C.| Mosgiel.—Solutions handed over to author. "Pentland Hills."—Thanks for games; also for note on. Problem 4216. Not "surprised, but pleased, to hear of step you have taken. Congratulations. Your solution of 4216 is correct. T. C. M'K, Eltham.—Your solutions to Problems 4214 and 4215 are correct. T. M., Timaru.—Your solution to Problem 4218 received N. M., Port Chalmers.—Solutions to Mr Brodie's problems handed to him. In problem 421 C you are correct until you play 30 26, which will not win at that stage. Black can crown the man on 21 instead of cutting off. GAMES. The following 'games were played between Messrs Shadboit (Waikari, Canterbury) and W. Young (Eakaia). The notes are Mr ghadbolt's. Game 32-53. —"Laird and Lady."

(a) 7 11 is only move to draw. Schaefer, Horr, and Denvire all went wrong here in 1905 international. (e) 11 18 for the White win. Jordan's -celebrated 32 28. "Cook" on the so-called White Dyke has been a terror and enabled him to score many wins, but here he slips. (c) A dandy move, giving White the labouring oar, if, indeed, there is a draw. (d) Natural, but not as good ,as 25 22, which makes the win difficult. (e) Frazer has ably piloted his men to a well-deserved victory. NOTES AND CRITICISMS. Problem 4216. —Mr Morris, Tuatapere, Southland, writes stating that Problem 421 G appeared in this column many years ago, and that it is by Dr Brown. We thought it was by Heffner. A Waikari correspondent (Mr J. Shadbolt) says it is by H. D. Lyman in Stearns's Book of Portraits. He has seen it published four limes, and always with a different author's name attached. Problem 4218.—This problem, by Mr BoreJSis.ni, in last issue, has so far defied solvers.

A small prize for best solution was offered to readers, Dunedin players being excluded, because tire position bad been under review by several in the city. That restriction is now removed, and Mr Boreham hopes Dunedin and suburban club members will take it up. DRAUGHTS ITEMS. An excellent method of balloting the openings (says an exchange) has been patented by Mr Samuel Severn, Dorchester avenue, Chicago. A pack of 47 cards is used, one for each opening. On each card is printed a strong trunk-line, together with guide-posts indicating the leading variations. The value of the system lies in the fact that it forces players to adopt, according to the draw, any one of six linos of the regular openings, thus giving a total of 216 distinct games. The first 36 cards give the standard openings, but all the cards should be used when the twomove restriction is adopted. The variation is decided by the throw of a single dice. The cards were used at the last American tourney. Newall Banks, the young American expert, expresses a desire to play M. E. Pomeroy, of Binghampton, a match of any style, and for any reasonable stake, so long as he is given a fair chance to select terms. Pomeroy is a firm adherent of the ancient play-as-you-choose method, and through his friends asserts that restriction brings about an element of chance. Banks does not agree with this view, and as a test of skill suggests playing with eleven men a-side. SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS Problem 4209. —Withdrawn. Problem 42X0 (by an American composer).— Black men on 5,7; king 20. White men on 15, 22; king 12. White to play and win. 22 17 13 9 5 1 5 9 ‘ 14 18 7 11 5 9 14 18 22 26-a 31 27 32 23 8 12 17 13 9 5" 15 9 14 12 8 914 18 22 26 31 27 32 White wins. (a) This is the author’s solution, but it allows a neater finish by 1 6, 7 10, 12 16, White wins. Problem 4211 (by H. D. Lyman).—Black men on 5,9, 10, 26. White men on 23; kings on 2, 21. White to play and draw.—The author’s play was by 26, 10 15, 6 13, 26 31, etc., allowing a Black win. But the terms are correct: —23 19, 10 14, 26, 9 13, 69, 14 18, 9 14, 18 23 , 21 25, 26 30, 25 22, and now ordinary care enables White to draw.

Black: Young. White: Shadbolt. 11 15 15 10 10 17 10 15 31 27 23 19 11 15 3 10 23 27 15 19 8 11 32 28 18 23 15 19 5 9 • 22 17 15 24 10 14-D 27 32 19 15 9 13 28 iJ 23 27 19 23 27 31 17 14 7 11 24 19 32 28 29 25 10 17 19 15 27 31 23 26 31 27 21 14 12 16-1 5 19 15 28 24 25 22 15 18 10 7 31 27 25 22 27 31 19 15 3 20-i : 15 10 24 27 15 10 4 8 31 15 27 23 26 31 31 27 24 19 11 18 10 6 17 26 f-22 17 13 17 20 4 23 27 31 22e 13 22 28 24 16 6 2 27'31 18 25 17 21-A 4 8 27 23 22 18 27 23 24 20 2 7 2 6 31 27 25 22 6 9 8 3 23 27 11 10 23 19 26 23 6 10 6 10 27 31 22 18 9 13 27 24 27 23 10 15 W. wins. (a) 6 9 is usual here. (b) The unexpected move, and gives White a nice shot; 2 7 followed by 13 17 almost wins for Black. (c) 3 17 has the same result. (d) The play is all forced after this. (e) The "point" in the ending. (f) Quickest way of getting the hold. Game 3254. —'•Denny.' Black: Shadbolt White: Young. 10 14 10 19 2 25 5 9 18 22 22 18 27'24 29 22 17 13 17 14 11 1C-A 4 8 9 14 16 d-9 18 24 19 24 15 28 24 30 26 21 17 8 11 16 19 6 10 11 15 12 16 25 22 23 7 32 28-C 26 22 7 10 11 23 8 11 14 18 Black 19 15-B 26 19 22 17 22 17 wins. (a) This is supposed to give Whit© the best game. (b) The start of a neat shot. (c) Black seems to have the grip from here. (d) White dashes for a draw. (k) But this dashes his hopes. The following g 'ame and note s are from the Pittsburg Leader: — Game 3255.—"Paisley." Black: Frazer. White: i L Jordan. 11 16 16 23 1 6 3 10 ' i 8 10 5 9 24 19 27 18 30 26 18 15 21 14 15 19 8 11 12 16 11 16 10 19 10 17 9 14 22 18 28 24 32 28 24 15 7 2 19 15 4 8 8 12 6 10 2 6 17 21 14 17 18 14 26 23 29 25 15 11 2 6 15 19 10 17 16 20 10 17 9 14 21 25 30 25 21 14 31 27 21 14 11 7-B 6 10 19 15 9 18 6 9 7 10-A 14 17-C 2 5 20 e-25 22 23 14 25 21 14 7 25 21-D 10 15 B. wins.