DRAUGHTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3274, 13 December 1916, Page 49

DRAUGHTS.

CONDUCTED BY JOS. AEDRNETIIY

Solutions of problems, games, and analyses inrited for this column. Gaines should be written In six columns as below, and all oorreiponderice addressed to tho Draughts Editor.

PROBLEM 4306. By H. J. -Feicker. London ("The Chequer Board"). Black.

White. White to move and draw. TO CORRESPONDENTS. Old Timer.—D. R. Hay died on October 20, 1914. He was the pioneer draughts end chess editor of Australasia. Ho left bunedin. for Melbourne in ISBB, since which time we have conducted this column in the Witness— 29 years. T. A., Marton.—You are correct in solution to Problem 4304. By repeating the position of a problem in figures there are two chances of mistake instead of one, and it really is no help. A mistake in the setting of a problem is rare. GAMES. Played between W. Veal, Southampton, England, and a friend. Game 3146—"Ke150."

(A) Why not US? (b) 11 S draws.

Played in the Melbourne v. Brunswick final premiership match, a year or two ago, between Mr F. T. 13est (formerly chaminon of Victoria), of the premier tcanx, and Mr G-. M. Strachan, Melbourne.

22 6 23 16 24 19 6 1 6 10 (a) Mr Strachan forces his favourite "Edinburgh" variation. Of late years this formation lias received considerable attention from tourney players as a safe gambit for Black in this admittedly weak opening. (b) 4 8 appears preferable, but appearances are deceptive. I think the text-move is stronger. (c) Simplifies matters. (d) 13 17 here would have lost by 24 19, 17 10, 15 6, 21 25, C 10, 25 30, 10 15, 30 26. 15 18. (e) An interesting game. Played in the same match. Game 3149 —"Denny."

21 19 22 15 11 7 2G 22 14 10 (a) 12 16 is more usual, and 14 17, 21 14, 12 16, 20 11, 8 25, 26 17, 9 18, 23 14, 6 9, 29 25. 9 18, 31 20, 1 6, lias also been adopted in several important contests. 610 is another very safo line. (b) 7 10 looks strong, but 27 24 appears to clinch it. (c) If 11 16, Black looks best by 20 11, 7 16. Can White draw? (n) 19 16, 12 19, 23 10 is quite- good for White. 15 18 seems tho eafest reply.

(e) To prevent White cutting the king off. (r) 23 18 loses, by 3 7, IS 9, 7 2, 6 10, 13 6, etc, W. wins. White, with "the move," has a forced win on the ending. (g) The ending has been fully exploited. Played in the same match, between Messrs M. Corless (M.) and Louis Esson (B.).

(Notes by Mr Esson.) (a) Tho old-fashioned attack. It is not so strong as tho "Flora, Temple." (b) 9 13 at once can bo recommended for safety. (c) Better than 26 22. _ (d) 14 17 i 3 the older line. (e) 31 26 leads to a, fine draw. (f) Premature. (G) 22 17 is no better.—Melbourne Weekly Times.

DRAUGHTS ITEMS

American players are about to lose an historic landmark in theii history of the game by the levelling of the American House at Boston, the hotel within one of whose spacious halls the America v. Great Britain match was contested. During the past 2-3 years it was the scene of many great gatherings and other draughistic events, and is tho home of the Boston Checker Club, which, it is hoped, will be able to find other central and equally commodious quarters. Items occasionally come to hand of cur game being played in various odd and outof the way corners of the globe. The latest sa}-s that —"In the matter of amusements the Eskimo is not badly off. he showing considerable skill in games. They have a form of the cup-and-ball game, the' ball being a block of ivory with holes at different angles, into which one of the players strives to insert an ivory peg as tho ball falls, the position of the hole determining the value of the stroke. Another game closely resembles dominoes, while, when they can borrow or purchase a pack of cards, the more intelligent of them will play with considerable skill; and they enjoy draughts, having learned these g-mos from the whalers. They also have a game exactly like solitaire, with the execpiion that ivory pegs take the place of glass balls. The special amusement of the women is a species of 'cat's cradle,' which has been brought to such perfection that they develop from the string 2:1 or 30 different figures. Indeed, they are extremely clever in performing tricks with string, windingand twisting a piece in and out among their finpors nod then disentangling it by a single pull at one end."

10 15 7 10 Veal's 3 7 move. 14 18 9 13 11 15 24 19 • 29 25 S2 28 22 15 31 26-a 14 7 15 24 11 16 7 11 9 14 13 17 15 18 28 19 18 16 28 24 21 17 11 7-B 23 14 9 14 1G 20 11 16 14 21 2 11 16 32 22 18 22 18 15 11 25 22 15 8 7 2 5 9 1 5 8 15 5 9 4 11 20 27 25 22 2G 22 18 11 22 18 18 14 2 9 B. wins.

Game 3147—"01< Friend's :1- Four! raovo. tenth." 11 15 10 14-A 0 14 14 23 22 17 2 7 23 19 24 20 28 24 27 18 14 18 17 14 8 11 7 10 14 17 6 10 20 1G 11 1G 22 17 21 17 29 25 25 22 11 27 19 15 4 8 14 21 17 26 10 14 32 14 16 20 17 13 23 7 31 22 18 9 8 11 14 10 15 18 3 10 10 14 6 14 14 9 7 11 2G 23 25 22 22 18 Drawn. (A) * Tot usu; il here.

Ga MB 3448--"Dundee." Blac k: Str; ichan. White: Best. 12 16 13 22 12 19 26 30 15 18 17 21 24 19 25 18 25 21 19 15 7 11 10 14 8 12 1 10 9 13 80 20 C-13 17 B-21 25 22 18 26 22 15 11 15 11 21 14 24 20 9 13-A 4 8 7 16 26 23 18 9 25 30 2G 22 29 25 27 24 11 7 32 27 20 10 1G 20 8 11 20 27 23 18 9 13 12 19 30 26 18 15 31 15 7 2 1 6 15 24 11 16 11 18 16 19 18 15 5 9 30 25 21 17 22 6 15 10 10 6 27 24 24 19 6 9-B 2 9 19 23 8 8 9 14 E-25 21 18 14 19 15 28 24 2 7 11 15 Drawn. 9 18 16 19 23 26 8 12 14 17

Blac k: II. Robinsoz i. Wi i!c: Eg an. 10 14 11 15c 10 19 2 11 17 2G 6 IS 21 20 18 11 21 17 16 7 31 22 11 18 11 15 8 21 19 21 2t 19 4 8C 1-12 1C 22 18 32 28 17 13 30 2G 7 8 20 11 15 22 7 1.'. 21 28 14 17 8 12 19 15 25 18 28 19 1G 11 7 8 22 IS 18 23 8 11-A. 11 15 9 14-e 19 15 19 23 16 8 0 25 20 10i) 2G 23 3 7 18 14 23 19 G 10-b 15 21 28 32 15 19 23 26-1? 8 11 25 22 27 20 23 19 7 11 8 8 I >rav m. 1 6 • 12 19 32 28 19 16 26 23 28 21 23 1G 19 1G 11 7 8 11 3 8 11 18 2-3 21 10 19 23 19

Game 3150— Single Corner. Blue k: Ess on. Whi te: Corless. 11 15 16 20 11 16 7 14 15 21 20 27 22 18 28 21 22 17 SO 26-E 28 19 18 15 15 22 e 11 8 ii-B no "27 27 31 25 18 19 16 17 13-c 26 22 27 21-F 15 C 12 16 4 8 10 15-D 6 9 20 27 7 11 29 25 25 22 13 6 24 19 81 24 6 2 10 14-a 6 10 15 22 11 15 16 20 9 13 21 19 16 12 26 10 82 28 ( j-22 IS B.wins.