DRAUGHTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3275, 20 December 1916, Page 53

DRAUGHTS.

CONDUCTED BY JOS. ABERXETHY. Solutions of problems, games, and analyses inriled for this column. Gaines should be written in six columns as below, and ull correspondence addressed to the Draughts Editor.

A CHRISTMAS DAY ADVENTURE. A MATCH WITH A MADMAN. By J. A. Looking through a table drawer in my "den" recently, i came across an old letter which I keep as a curio. It came to mo by poal some years ago, written by a man who was for years one of the. most prominent figures in New Zealand draughts, and well known in two hemispheres. He suffered a period of mental sickness of a pronounced type, and during that time wrote the letter mentioned above. 1 showed the weird-look-ing envelope Mid letter to a visitor who was in the room at the time, and said "Here is a problem for you. Examine that and fell me what you think of it." He spent a quarter of an hour on It, then delivered this verdict: "r\o sane m.'«« «>aid have produced that. Who was the madman?" I told him the name, and he shook his head sorrowfully. "Do you think a man in that condition could play a game of draughts?" "Oh, yes," I replied. "Why, look at these letters,"' and I handed him a few from a bundle by a Home writer. "They are quite incoherent; yet the writer holds a world's record as a solver of pro'blems and puzzles of all kinds, and lie is an inmate of a mental hospital. And I can give you a still better illustration. Let me tell you of a seaside adventure which has never been made public, for the simple reason that truth is sometimes stranger than fiction, and will more readily endanger one's reputation for veracity, especially when it is a fishing story. .But here it is :

"My holidays arc usually spent at the seaside with my family, our 'crib' being about eight or nine miles by road and four miles by sea from the big menial hospital at Seacliff. The coastline is rou-.'h and picturesque, comprising beautiful beaches, rocks, cliffs, and caves—all the fantastic'handiwork of the pounding sea. Good rock fishingplaces abound, some of the best spots being almost inaccessible, and involving no little risk in going and coming. "One Christmas morning I made a start at 5 o'clock, bent on trying my luck at a risky place, which could only be reached at near low tide. The 20' minutes' walk along the cliffs was thoroughly enjoyed, the morning being an ideal one; and I had visions of a big bag and a retreat before the tide cut me off. In making the descent to the rocks I was a bit surprised to see a strange figure of a man watching me from the top of a cliff. When I looked again he had vanished, and I gave no more thought to the incident, thinking he was a farm servant out for the cows.

. "I reached my destination safely, and quickly made ready for work. I had only had time to find that the fish were about, but had caught nothing, when I nearly fell into the deep water with fright as a voice at my back asked: 'How are you getting on?' "Kecovering my balance, I looked round, and saw the somewhat grotesque figure which had caught my attention on the cliff. He looked harmless enough, but had a shipwrecked appearance which I could not account for. But even city men may be found on the rocks in the early morning in strange garb, so I answered him jocularly to hide my confusion. " 'Oh, having a good time,' I said. "'How many have you caught?' ''Looking round at my bag as though calculating, I answered: 'This one that's biting and five more will make six.' " 'Ah, I perceive you are a clever man.' " 'Thanks—yes, of course. That's why I'm fishing.' "I noticed ho was looking at me—sadly, I thought; but I had to watch the waves and my line, and said no more. ■" 'Being clever,' the stranger broke in, 'you will be able to play draughts.' " 'Oh,' I answered, 'do clever people play draughts?' " 'Of course they do! I play the game.' "I raised my rod slowly before answering, with a smile: " 'Then, to be logical, I suppose I must plead guilty.' "'That is well. Yott must play me now!' "Sonielhing in his voice startled me, and as I examined him again I began to think furiously. What had I struck? The more I looked the more I didn't like his appearance, but I decided 1o take him pleasantly. "'I can't play just now, friend. A lot of these fish want out of the water, and I have come to help them.'

"There was no answering smile as he repealed in a majestic way: 'You must play me NOW! - " 'Oh,' I said, with what must have been a ghastly attempt at looking pleasant, 'I thought this was a free country ' " 'J\ T o man is free,' he said sternly. 'We are all under law, like the sea, the fish, the birds, and the beasts. It is decreed that you must play me now. If not, the penalty is death. You cannot escape. But if you play and win, look, these shall be yours.' "As he spoke he unelung a heavy-looking bag from his shoulders, and in an excited way showed me half o, dozen beautiful fish, two of which would scale fully seven pounds each. " 'These I have just caught,' he continued, 'and they shall be the reward of your victory.' "I bent down over the fish to gain time and think. The ocean seemed suddenly to have got into my head, and boomed as it does in a cave. Then n sudden ray of hope carne to me. I remembered it was best always to humour the insane, and he must be one—an escancp from the hospital across the bay. " 'Very good,' I said. 'Come with me to my house, and we shall play at once. I have a 'board.' "And T beamed on him as though he had suggested the very thing 1 I hungered for. But my hope was short-lived. " 'lt is decreed that you shall play me here and row. See, I have come prepared.' "And to my astonishment he brought out from -one coat pocket a small folding board and from another a little box of men. I looked round helplessly. We stood on a narrow ledge of rock. In front was the heaving ocean, with long whips of sinuous seaweed twisting and curling, and nn outer fringe of broken rocks; behind rose the cliff, on my right a deep channel cutting off further progress in that direction, and on my left the determined madman blocking the way by which I had come. There was clearly only one thing—play; and the one thing which would weigh with him would be that I should play well. I consented, and the board was placed on a juttinsr nie.ee of rock, and we

drew for colours. He got the blaeks, and the strange contest began.

"Thus far not a word had been spoken. So tense was it that I already felt the strain. My opponent sat like a statue, and I could not help wondering if his name was Barker. When I played the last move given above my heart was thumping- with excitement. His position looked almost hopeless, and I was not disappointed when he played 9 13. I had him boxed, and went 19 16, then began to take an interest in the scenery. This was the position— Black.

Black to play. "Tor the first time the madman altered his attitude. He leaned forward, and eo remained. The longer he took, the more I enjoyed the scenery, the swish and rush of the waves, and the cry of the gulls, until the world seemed very beautiful. I had turn beaten! Again he eat up, and his hand moved over the board. My eyes followed it; I ceased to breathe. Slowly his hand came down, and he moved 18 26! Black fear gripped my heart, and I felt as though I were falling down a well. Holding on to the rock with one hand, I played—

"I felt as wet as a shag, but my opponent gave no sign of satisfaction. He calmly reset the pieces while I used both hands to press my throbbing temples. Then at it again, after I had tried to congratulate him on his beautiful stroke. Game—"Centre." My move.

"I was feeling pretty hearty again at this stage. At (a) I felt sure he had played weakly, and I felt still better when I continued 6 9 and he replied 21 17, forming this position : Black.

Black to play. "His last move made me so eager that I did not see all there was in it. For example, if I had gone 18 23, White loses by 26 10, 9 18, 22 15. 13 22; or 27 11. 20 27, 31 24, 9 18, 22 15, 13 3.1, Black wins. I played 1 6, seeing that I had him if he replied 26 23, 15 19, 23 16, 18 23, 27 18, 20 27, 31 24, 7 10, 14 7, 2 27. From the position given the game continued:

1 6 18 23 21 28 10 19 918 319 24 19 27 18 31 26 23 16 17.14 22 15 15 24 20 24 010 28 32-a 711 32 27 28 19 26 23 19 15 18 15 16 7 B-15 11 Black wins. "(a) The draw here was plain, but I was bold enough to go for the win. "(b) Play was continued for a little while, then my opponent bowed with a smile—the first break in the ice,—and again reset the pieces. One game each.

Game —"Double Corner The madman's move.

"The game so far had progressed very slowly. At (a) I figured on his playing 38, which gives Black a good game; but 913 encouraged m«. As my attack developed he appeared to get more cheerful, and ao did I. When he threw away the man he said: 'You played well, but 1 think I can draw.' When I pushed up 14 10 —the last move in the foregoing play—he studied for some time, then slowly replied with 30 2G, forming the following position: Black.

White lo play. The game continued:—lo 0, 1 10, 8 7, '2G 23, 7 14, 12 16, 5 1, 10 19, 1 6, 19 24, 6 10, 24 27, and then he rose to his feet in surprise when

I played IS 15. For a time he gazed at th< board without a word, then laughed like I schooiboy as he continued 11 25, 20 16, 13 22 16 11, 8 15, 10 17, 27 31, 17 22, 25 30, 14 17,. White wins. "My strange opponent rose from his uncomfortable seat, picked up his bag, emptied the fish out on the rock, and held out his hand. ' 'Sir, you have done me much honour this day, and I thank you. The fish are yours. Farewell.' "Then, stepping quickly past me, ho took a. clean header into the channel, which ran under a natural archway, and with a few powerful strokes disappeared from view. What is beyond the archway I have never seen. "I reached home in time for breakfast, and surprised the household with my excellent catch.' Yet, but for the presence of tha fish, I should have imagined I had but dreamed." My visitor, who had listened patiently to my story rose with the remark: "Well, that is the first time I have heard of a draughts player taking a beating with pleasure." Yes," I replied, "and he was insane!"

G rAME — "Centre." The niacin lan's mo 1 :e. 11 16 15 18 4 11 12 16 16 20 6 10 ■2:: 19 19 15 17 14 2G 23 30 26 21 17 8 11 10 19 11 15 7 11 2 7 1 6 22 17 24 8 28 24 32 28 26 22 23 19

27 18 31 21 18 2 2 9 14 7 7 2 20 27 11 27 27 31 31 26 5 30 Black 26 V.'< 17 3D.

11 15 22 17 10 19 26 22-a 12 16 17 11 23 19 15 IS 24 8 11 15 30 26 9 13 8 11 19 15 i 11 2S 24 16 20 32 2S

9 14 6 15 10 15 6 9 4 8 16 19 22 IS 21 17 25 22 31 27 21 17 15 10 5 9 12 16 16 19 8 12 8 12 19 23 21 20 23 18 17 14 27 24 18 14 10 7 10 15 15 22 19 28 12 16 3 8 23 26 23 2-1 25 18 14 5 30 25 23 14 7 3 15 22 7 10 2 6 9 13-A 15 19 26 30 26 10 29 25 27 23 25 21 24 15 14 10