DRAUGHTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3244, 17 May 1916, Page 61

DRAUGHTS.

CONDUCTED BY JOS. ABERNETHY. Solutions of problems, games, and analyses invited lor this column. Games should be written in six columns as below, and all correspondence addressed to the Draughts Editor. PROBLEM 4275. By Hugh Egan, Melbourne. Black.

'" ' ' ~ White. Wliite to move and draw. A problem requiring nice strategy. TO CORRESPONDENT. H. Egan, Melbourne. —Your letter forwarded as requested. Will send slips. Thanks for problem and information in re Jones's. GAMES. Discovered by the editor of an American paper in an old scrapbook, under the designation '"A Brilliant Masterpiece." It will probably be new to many, while all will find it worth keeping. The following game of checkers was played at. the Detroit Checker and Chess Club betwce;i Ed Austin and Wesley Blyth, the former playing Black. -The opening was "Will o' the Wisp." and a new and striking display of draughts pyrotechnics was the result; developing one of the most 'beautiful "shots" ever seen on the board. The game was sent to the Pittsburg Dispatch for review, and the following criticism by Joseph Maize, its checker editor, who is one of the most accomplished draughts analysts in the countr-y, shows conclusively that its marvellous combinations are duly appreciated by a great expert. Mr Maize was asked also to analyse the end play and see if Black could not score a win. The following is the game: 9 13 25 18 8 11 32 28-F 11 16-A 26 3 23 19 5 9 24 20 3 8-G 20 11 13 17 11 15 29 25 610 19 16-u 829 21 14 22 18 10 14 28 24-d 12 19 30 25 9 27 15 22 27 23 1 6-B 24 C-c 29 22 Drawn. (a) Black being in for it, must now accept all that follows, as 14 17, 21 14, 11 16 or 11 15 would allow White to win. (b) If White has anything better than the big combination, wo cannot see it. Thus 25 22 seems to allow Black a good game by 11 15. This also applies to 26 22, while 19 15 brings up another combination "shot" as follows:—19 15, 10 19, 24 15, 7 10, 15 6, 11 16, 20 11, 8 29, 30 25, 29 22. 26 10, 13 17, and Black gains a man and the game. (c) If 23 10, then 14 23, 26 19, 8 12, and Black should win. (d) Varies from Anderson, who plays 82 27 at this sta.Re-. (e) 3 8, 25 23, 15, 82 28 is also back to Anderson's play, and 2 (5 or 11 16, in place of 1 5 or 8 8, is not a good alternative move; neither is 4 8.

(p) 25 22, 3 8, 32 28 is back to Anderson's play. Therefore it seems the big "shot" can be brought up soundly on both sides of the game by playing 1 5 prior to 3 8 and holding back the man on 22. (G) Forms a most fascinating position. Mr Maize concludes his c.-iticism by saying that he could not force a win in the end play, and adds: "This gams is .a fine illustration of the difference one or two moves make in the character of an opening. Here, by transposing 3 8 and 15, one of the prettiest coups known to the game is unearthed after being buried between two moves for 06 years.

Game 3357. The following is a game with some interesting notes. Roach had Black: 11 15 11 18 18 25 811 5 9 18 23 21 20 26 22-1 29 22 31 27 31 6 27 18 8 11 7 11 6 10 10 15 2 9 14 23 28 24 22 15 19 16 22 17 26 23 15 8 4 8 11 18 12 19 14 18 18 22 312 23 19 32 28 24 6 17 13 23 19 20 16 15 18 10 14 110 914 15 18 22 15 25 22 27 24 30 26 19 15 Drawn. Variation 1 contributed to Tribune-Farmer by Geo. A. Rudolph, who writes:—"Here is something new which I long time ago, but have never published." 32 28 31 26 30 26-c 15 11* 22 13 16 7 10 14 5 9-A 12 16* 815 711 18 22 26 23 26 22 19 12 28 24 19 16 25 18 913 1 5-B 710 3 7 18 23 14 32 19 15 24 19 26 16* 23 19* 26 19 E-7 2 711 2 7 11 20 13 17* 15 18 Drawn. (a) 2 7 is the usual continuation. (B) 27, 21 17, 14 21, 23 5, 11 18, 22 16, 7 11, 15 10, 6 15. (c) 28 24, 7 10, 21 17-D, 14 21, 23 7, 3 10, 22 18; Black wins.—Rudolph v. Rinus. (D) 20 10, 11 20, 22 17, 13 22, 15 11, 8 15. 21 17, 14 21, 23 7, 3 10, 25 11, 10 14; Black wins. (b) I also played Black in this game against A. Jordan, and he followed my play. TOWN v. COUNTRY MATCH. This match will take place on Thursday, June 1, at 7.15 p.m., in the Early Settlers' Hall, Lower High street. Simultaneous play against all-comers by New Zealand's best exponents of the game (names will be published next week) at 2.15 p.m. As there are quite a number of lads under 15 j'ears who are playing the game now m Dunedin, the secretary will be pleased to receive the names of any lads visiting the town during Show Week who would like to take part in the big match, when the town and country boys will be specially paired against each other. Send names and ages in early. Mr F. E. Hilliker, Princes street South, Dunedin, secretary. DRAUGHTS ITEMS. Otago Club. —The club meetings are well attended, particularly on Saturday evenings. Last Saturday night three tables were occupied, and some keen games were contested in the Junior tourney. Visitors are always welcome, and will appreciate the comfortable quarters in the Y.M.C.A. Rooms, Moray place. Next Saturday evening a teams match will bo played to inaugurate the new season. Play starts at 8 o'clock. The Liverpool and District senior championship was concluded recently, when out of a possible 60 points, C. Lowe came out victorious with 51; A. Cain, 1914-15 holder, 50; E. M. Jones, 1913-14 holder, 48; and W. Hyland, 40. A coincidence in the senior and minor competitions this year (notes the Yorkshire Post) was that in each No. 13 in the draw was the winner, each scoring the same number of points, the runner-up in each case being but one point behind. The contests have proved a most successful way of keeping the remnants of the membership together during the suspension of the inter-club eontests. Played Long Ago.—The late Frank Dunne was a keen student of draughts history, and some years ago wrote as follows: —"Long ere the Israelites were a nation, before even Abraham's visit or the advent of Joseph and his brethren to Egypt or the great law-giver, Moses, wrote his account of the Creation, the game of draughts was practised alike by the rich and poor; it helped many a- poor Egyptian slave, groaning under a hard taskmaster, to forget his heavy burden for a, while; and the king on his throne did not disdain to engage in the pastime with his courtiers. The toiling millions raising the Pyramids, the skilled artisans of Troy's immortal fame, the conquering hosts of Alexander .and Ccesar —all enlivened their labours by draughts. It flourished during all these long ages, and survived the existence of the greatest nations the world has ever known, and in one form or another still continues to be a favourite diversion in every corner of the -earth. Africa's ebony son, Asia's varied progeny, the red warrior of America, the nude blackamoor of the Antipodes, and the silk attired European all play at draughts."