DRAUGHTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3315, 26 September 1917, Page 47

DRAUGHTS.

CONDUCTED BY JOS. ABERNETHT. A— ' ' " Solutions of problems, games, and analyses Inrlted for this column. Gamoa should be written fa si? oo'.uruns as below, and all correspondent** iddrcflsed to the Draughts Editor.

PROBLEM 4352. (Author unknown.)

Black.

White.

Black to play and win

GAMES

The following is from an old number of People's Journal, and will be found "worth examination.

G-amk 3659 —"Defiance.' 11 16 15 22 918 2 6-D 8 8 S 3 19 25 9 24 20-c 22 18 F-26 22 9 14 5 14 11 15 14 17 17 26 27 23-a 29 25 82 27 21 14 81 22 8 11 6 9-B 16 24 10 17 22 18 25 22 23 19 19 15-E Forms position:

Black to move and win. 13 17 13 6 80 23 23 19 27 24 22 13 1 26 7 10 8 11 4 8 6 9 Black wins—Wyllie. (a) This move forms the opening, which is a, defensive one for the "White side. It prevents Black forming several openings, in which the first player is supposed to get some advantage. (b) This is almost universally adopted, and is probably the strongest move at Black's command.

(c) A judicious waiting move. (d) This is not geruerally considered strong, but is worth playing, if only for the trap which finishes off the game. (e) 19 16 is the best play here, as follows:

(r) Allows a neat finish. 23 19 will draw, but White has all the worst of the ending. FIRST OFF THE BOARD. This style of play, generally called the "losing game," though that title has always sounded rather parodoxical when considering that to lose is to win," is played seriously by very few players, though many occasionally use it to pass a little ©pare time when tired of the more fatiguing effort necessary in the usual game. Very few who thus lightly daily •with it dream of the amount of skill that may be called upon to play it properly; and, as there is Tory little book knowledge to be gained, in response to a number of queries lately to hand we give these notes, which, while they may not he of great instructional value, may help the student to gain and cause a little amusement. At odd times, after defeating a strangle player at the-ordinary game, we have asked him whether be thought he could give all his pieces away first? "Yes" is usually the answer in such oases': but our knowledge of "first off the board," though slight, has served us .well. Setting the Black men on squares 1 to 12 as for ordinary play and apparently oarele6sly pushing a White one into the single corner (29), we ask, "Oan you lose that one before we lost those 12?" A glance at the opponent's face denotes that the waning spirit is reviving, and in reply to his more confident "Yes," the game proceeds: 11 16, 29 25, 7 11, 25 22, 27, 22 17, 9 14, 17 13, 6 9, 13 6, 11 15, 6 2, 14 18, 2 20, 12 16, 20 11, 18 22, 11 25, and it is but a matter of time and oare. Resetting the Blacks we push the White inan across the board to 28, and with the remark, "Let us see if you can do any better from the other side of the board and a row further advanced," lead off this time with 12 16. Play continues: 28 24, 16 20, 24 19, 11 15, 19 16, 8 11, 16 12, 3 8, 12 3, when time' and care does the rest. With Blacks set for play and a White man on 32 is the only remaining position where this can be worked (the White being uncrowned). In this case lead off 12 16, 32 27, 11 15, 27 24 (if 27 23, 16 19, 23 16, 8 11, 16 12, 3 8, eto.), 16 19. 24 20, 10 14, 20 16, 8 11, 16 12. 3 8, etc. By the time these trick problems have been tried upon the tyro, he will begin to look upon your knowledge with some veneration and res-poet. If any combative spirit yet remains, it may be remarked that he will, probably, do better if he has a king, so place the Blacks in usxiol order, and a White king on 26. This position is taken from Dale's book, the only work on this style of play, published in Deeds, 1866. Play proceeds: 10 14, 26 23, 14 17, 23 26, 17 22, 26 17. 9 13, 17 22, 13 17, 22 13, 6 9, 18 17, 9 13, 17 22, 13 17, 22 13, 6 10, 13 17, 10 15, 17 22, and the formula, "time and care," applies. With these examples a little practice will daow that the 12 men can be sacrificed if a White king be placed on any one of the squares 25 to 32. We recollect the late Fred Allen trying _ to advance a row nearer by placing the king on 22. It failed to work thug; 12 16, 23 17, 9 14, 17 23, 14 17, 22 18, 6 9, 13 17, 9 14, 17 22,

and Blacks are unable to keep the opposing king from close quarters. Playing the king on 24 seems to give more scope, though a brief examination has not shown us how to clear the oouree. "We present the probl<am to our readers for elucidation with the following figures as foundation from which to work:—lo 14, 24 19, 12 16, 19 12, 11 15, 12 16, 15 19, 16 23, 14 17, 23 19. Whatever is now played the king returns to attack on 16, and cannot be driven off. It is an error to suppose that victory is assured by retaining the majority of forces. This does most frequently apply, though it must be remembered that one king agains, two will often draw, while two kings in the single corner hold an impxegniablo fortress against any number. The rules of playing the game are the same as in the usual game, with the alteration that he is the victor who first gives away all his movable pieces. Thus any pieces that are "blocked" are called dead, and off the board. Our own practical knowledge _of this variety is not great,„ and in presenting to our readers from Dale's 'Sheffield Draughts Player," "A Mathematical liulo for Playing the Losing Game," we do so, leaving them to study out its merits or demerits:—"Black by this rule has four rows or 16 good squares to play on, and White the same, and 19 times out of 20 you lose the game by being out of them; and, when you are out, you must out or exchange to be aaie, but always avoid getting on White's second, and always try to get your opponent on your fifth square (see diagram), open your game freely for the first tour or five •moves to single them out, then, after that, be very careful how you play, and with al little practice by this rule you will soon be ■a good player." The diagram referred to in the above note numbers the 16 good squares for Black:—• 1,2, 8,4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28. The remainder are the select ground of White's. As the numbering is consecutive from left to right, the reference to Whitens second is square 21, and Black's fifth is square 12 of the ordinary notation. —Yorkshire Post.

DRAUGHTS ITEMS.

Mr Richard Botting, who for a number of years has been a popular member of the Otago idub, suffered a eevero loss in the death of a eon last week, aged 21 years. "Wo are sure all who know Mr Botting will join in our expression of sympathy with him in his bereavement.

The Australasian Championship.—Evaders ■will remember that an effort was made early this year to get into communication with Australian draughts players in an official way in hopes or arriving at a settlement over the Australasian championship. The local association forwarded a letter with alternative proposals, to be considered by the Australian players at the Perth tournament last Easter. The attempt, however, was futile, as the following extract from the Australian reply shows. The letter oame to hand last week:

“The only difference of opinion existing between Australia and New Zealand regarding these contests is that the former is of opinion that tho tournament should be held biannual ly, taking each State that has a draughts association in rotation. The competitions have been conducted up to date as follows: —Queensland, 1909; New Zealand, 1911; New South Wales, 1913 ;• Victoria, 1915; Western Australia, 1917. The next tourney will be held in Queensland in 1919, and then comes New Zealand’s turn again in 1921. New Zealand contends that the competitions should be held in the State in which the winner of tho previous tourney resides. This matter cropped up previously to the Sydney tourney, held at Easter, 1913, land a similar tourney held at the same time in New Zealand for the same title. The Western Australian Draughts Association thrashed the matter out at the time,,, and then notified the New Zealand' executive that its support was given to the Sydney tournament. The association desires me to state that it does not see why it should alter- its decision, as it strongly adheres to tho rotation method as being tho fairest. I have also to draw your attention to the fact that the tourney held here iat Easter, and won by Robert Holmes, was for the title of draughts champion of Australasia, and not, as Mr BLillikex styles it in his letter, the Western Australian draughts championship, 1917. Tho tournament for this -title has yet to be contested, provided the Draughts Association decides to hold a competition this year. —Yours sincerely, 8. N. Mynakd, "hon. secretary Wi.O.A.” This reads well, only it is not true. The Queensland tourney was organised to settle the championship, which was then vacant. It wias won by Mr J. A. Boreham, and was then his to keep until someone could defeat him. There were no restrictions as to time or anything else. In the interests of the game, however, Mr Boreham generously handed his title to be competed for by tournament under properly-constituted rules and regulations, in the framing of which Australia had a part. Australia violated these regulations, and has since presumed to play for a title which is not theirs to offer and which they could not win. As matters now stand, Australia’s refiisal to adhere to the conditions under which Mr Boreham offered his title leawes _no other course than that he should retain it. If Australians want the premier title, let them send a man to secure it if they can. Mr Boreham is the champion of Australasia. Wellington.—We are indebted to Mr F. K. Kelling for the following particulars:—The combined championship and sealed handicap tourney of the Watersiders’ Club has been closed, the best play having been shown by Mr C. Erickson, who won the championship with the fine score of 78 wins, 9 draws, and only 8 losses, ox 82| points out of a possible 90. J. Burgess (774) points won the second prize, and W. Connor (75J points) the third prize. The next best tallies are: W. Wright 73A, J. Reid 73J, G-. Wilkinson 6GJ, C. Manson G 6.” W. Cain 65J, and E. Butler 64. When the envelope containing the sealed handicap was opened, it was found that the three “handicap” prizes had been won by Messrs W. A. Roberts, J. James, and H. Martin, as

In the 'Wellington Working Men’s dub’s annual draughts tourney Mr C. Erickson, the club champion, is repeating the consistency that he has shown in the Watersiders 5 tourney, his score to dat.i being 42 wins, 4 draws, and 2 losses, or 44 points out of a possible 48 Th© next best scores are: M’Pherson 31—5, Costello 80—7, Connor 37—10, Manson 22 9, Burgess 25—15, Barking 24 —15, Colville 24 —20, and Wright 21 —19.

19 16 1 10 80 16 28 30 27 23 12 19 27 23 13 17 6 2 JO 15 28 16 8 12 18 14 - 7 11 23 18 4 8 23 18 17 21 16 7 15 22 IS 15 12 19 14 0 80 25 2 6 6 19 26 22 21 25 81 27 15 6 17 26 9 6 25 21 Drawn, , Gardner—Strickland.

follows:— / Roberts Score. 56 Hdcp. 40 Total. S6 James 554 86' 914 Martin m 46 884 Burgess 77J 8 854 Connor 761 10 851 Wright, W. 73 1 10 834 Reid, J. 731 10 831 Cain .. 654 18 834 Osborno 43 40 83 Erickson 821 ecr 821 Wilkinson 664 16 821