DRAUGHTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3247, 7 June 1916, Page 63

DRAUGHTS.

CONDUCTED BY. JOS. ABEENETHY.

Solutions of problems, games, and analyses invited for this column. Games should be written in six columns as below, and all correspondence addressed to the Draughts Editor.

PROBLEM 4278. By Jas. Gardiner, Westport. Blacky

White. Black to play and win. At tho Town v. Country match on Thursday last wo were discussing problems with some of the visitors when a southern flayer D’ jed the above position and asked if we seen it before. It was an end-game between Mr Gajdiner (Black) and a Gore player when the ex-champion lived in Southland, and is “just like Jim,” as someone remarked. Try it, and ‘‘sing out when you get there.”—Ed. TO CORRESPONDENTS. “Pentland Hills.” —Books were forwarded. J. A. B. —Shall be pleased to receive problem. GAMES. The two games and notes are from the Plymouth Mercury, the games occurring in Plymouth. Game 3364 —“Dundee.”

(a.) Balloted opening. (b) 16 20, 22 18, 11 15, 18 11, 8 24, 28 19, 9 14, etc., is a popular combination running into a familiar “Double Corner” variation coming up from 9 14, 22 18, 5 9, 24 19, 11 15, etc. (c) Unusually early for this move, but probably the intention was to invite a “Paisley” development. (d) This seems to fulfil White’s anticipation. 9 14 looks a likely move, for after 18 9, 5,14, 26 22, 11 15, keeps the Whit© double corner inactive or alternatively forces a break-up of that side by 23 18. (e) The game has played into a “Bristol Cross” and “Paisley” position, and Black goes off into unknown territory; 4 8 is a good waiting move, when if 17 18, 8 7 prepares for the “Bristol Cross” break by 31 26, 12 16, 19 12, 14 17, etc.; or if 25 22, instead of 17 13, 9 18, 18 9 makes a familiar “Paisley.” (f) Books Hire a loser; 22 26, 31 22, 87, 22 18, 9 14 gives a better chance. (g) 21 17 seems a likely winner here, but White evidently has his reason for this, as the little trick at (h) proves. (n) Very neat, and leaves only a slow road to the inevitable resignation point. Gams 3365-—“ Paisley.”

(a) Balloted opening. (b) A new move, but lends only to a onl do sac. (c) 16 12 would appear a natural sequence to 19 16; 23 18 Is fatal if met right. (d) Why not 8 12? Black gains the man, and its looks as if he could keep it. Our contributor writes;

(a) "5 0 was the move Black Lad intended to make here., but by mistake made the move as in the text. After the game was finished 6 9 was played, with the result that a very narrow draw was found after sacrificing a man. 5 9 was expected to bring 21 17 in reply from White, who, instead, played 26 23. Can readers find the draw after 5 9 is played?" AN INSTRUCTIVE ENDING-. Black.

White. Whits to play. The foregoing was the ending of a gam© between Messrs Boroham and Stevenson at one of the top boards in the Town v. Country match last week. We saw the play from a slightly earlier stage, but this makes a good study. Good players have fallen in on the same thing. If Whit© plays 7 10, Black wins, though it takes some demonstrating; if 7 11, 14 IS, 23 14, 6 9, 14 5 (if 13 6, Black wins), 25 30, 11 18, 30 14. 28 24, 48, 2-4 19, 8 11, 13 9, 11 15, 19 10, 14 7 ; and now if 22 18, 7 2 (7 11 only draws), and Black wins; bxrt 22 17, 72, 17 13, draws. TOWN v. COUNTRY. The annual draughts match between Dunedih and Suburbs and the Country Districts took place in the Early Settlers' Hall on the Ist inst. There was a good muster of players, but the war naturally affected the attendance, only 100 players taking part, as against nearly 200 in previous contests. The match, nevertheless, proved an enjoyable event, Country winning by the narrow margin of three games. Mr A. Murdoch (Waitahuna) acted as captain for the Country, and Mr R. Caldow (captain), and Mr Hilliker (secretary) supervised arrangements for the Town. Following are the pairing and scores: Wins. Town. Draws. Country. Wins. 0 D. Brodie ... 4 W. Davis ... 0 0 J. A. Boreham 4 Jas. Stevenson 0 1 R. Muir ... 0 L. Morris ... 1 2 H. Holden... 1 J. M'Farlanc... 1 0 P. G. Petersen 1 A. Mathieson... 0 0 A. Ross ... 1 Jos. Murdoch 0 3 G. Holden... 0 F. F. Bassell... 0 0 J. R. Fairbairn 0 J. Cochrane ... 2 1 H. Pithie ... 1 G. Clark ... 2 2 H. Batey ... 0 John Gardiner 2 3 A. Rawlinson 1 J. Brunton ... 0 0 P. Mark ... 3 T. Slater ... 0 1 J. S. Botting 2 S. Taylor ... 1 2 G. Walsh ... 2 J. Shore 0 1 J. Jarvis ... 3 A. Davidson ... 0 3 J. Shanks ... 0 J. Adams 0 1 J. H. Dixon 1 G. S. Wilson... 2 2 J. Marcella 1 W. M'Lean ... 1 1 T. Spenco ... 0 G.H.Johnstone 3 0 W. Meldrum 2 T. Udy 0 2 J. Harrison 0 W. Pearso ... 0 0 S. Scooncs... 2 J. Williamson... 0 1 A. Mitchell 0 Jas. Forsyth ... 3 0 E. Robertson 4 W. A. Broad ... 0 3 D. Bochel ... 0 W. Mackenzie 1 1 0. Blackmoro 0 W. Harrison ... 3 2 J. Guilmott 0 W. M'Leod ... 2 0 J. B. Hutton 1 A. B. Stewart 2 1 E. Towneend 1 A. Meo 2 1 W.H. Parkinson 1 S. Marjoribank 1 3 A. Smithson 1 C. M'lntosh ... 0 0 J. Beck ... 1 A. Murdoch (captain) ... 2 3 J. Hay ... 0 I\ Loitch ... 1 3 A. Waugh... 0 J. Nicolson ... 1 0 W. Kerr ... 0 J. Irvine ... 4 1 A. L. Hayward ... 1 P. Clarke ... 0 1 W. Stewart 0 R. Slocombe ... 1 1 D. Bruton... 1 J. Hastio ... 1 .3 J. Sanders... 1 W. Taylor ... 0 1 J. Hastie ... 0 Macandrew ... 3 0 W. Williams 0 A. White ... 4 2 D. Howatson 1 T. Tiley ... 0 2 M. Hutton... 0 J. M'Donald ... 2 1 W. Low ... 1 D. Gollan ... 1 2 W. B. Stewart 0 W. Fraser ... 2 Lads' Section. 4 T. Tunnago 0 C. Sinclair ... 0 0 H. Rennie... 0 G. Shore 4 0 J. Barron ... 0 J. Dixon 4 1 A. Moorhoad 1 N. Dixon ... 2 0 L. Mortimer 0 L. Dixon ... 4 62 44 65 Following are all the aggregates for all the matches from ISOS to 1916 inclusive:— 814 boards, 2783 games; Town 1161 wins, Country 1106 wins, 516 draws, making the Town leaders by only 55 games. During the afternoon on Thursday Mr Hilliker entertained all-comers in simultaneous play in the hall, and kept the boards well employed. Mr Hilliker is always '"'on the spot." The boys' section in the match was a new venture, and may grow to he a feature of the gathering. They did not. seem at all oppressed by the seriousness of the occasion, but cheerfully "waded through slaughter to a throne." "No surrender" was the motto, and four men down did not always moan defeat. They never "resigned." On inquiring after Mr Jas Gardiner (West-port) from his brother, who was present at the match, we learned that he wag well, and keening in touch with the- srame. In a recent letter he said "T can still see a two-for-one if it is not too difficult." Mr A. Matheson. who was a well-known Dunedin player until he decided to go hack on the land, received a warm welcome from his old club mates. He gets no practice, and finds no difficulty in losing a gam". Mr Davies and Mr Stevenson at the two top boards are to be congratulated on their scores against Messrs Brodie and Boreham.

Black: E. Potter. Whits: F. E. Davis. 12 1G 7 10 6 22 9 13 8 11 24 19-A 22 17 30 25 19 15-H 6 10 8 12-b 10 15-e 1 6-f 13 22 5 9 28 24-C 19 10 25 18 15 10 10 15 16 20 6 22 8 7 ,7 14 11 8 23 18 17 10 24 19-G 18 2 23 5 10 14-d 2 6 11 16 4 8 White 26 22 2-5 18 21 17 2 6 wins.

Black: F. E. Da\ ■is. White : E. Potter. 12 16 10 14 6 15 14 18 10 14 24 10-A 28 24 22 17 23 14 26 22 16 20 7 10 15 23 9 18 19 24 19 16-b 24 19 17 10 81 26 22 15 11 16 16 24 7 14 6 9-0 24 81 23 18-0 82 28 25 18 16 10 15 10 8 11-D 2 7 11 16 16 19 81 26 16 12 28 19 IS 15 10 7 80 28 4 8 10 15 1 6 8 10 14 17 26 23 10 10 29 25 12 3 21 14 Drawn.