DRAUGHTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3327, 19 December 1917, Page 53

DRAUGHTS.

CONDUCTED BY. JOS. ABERNETHY. Solutions of problems, games, and analyses inrited for this column. Games should be written In Bii- columns as below, and all correspondent* iddroased to the Draughts Editor. PROBLEM 4364. By W. J. Wood, Waukegan, 111. Black.

White. Blaok to play and draw. GAMES. Following interesting games from* the Melbourne Times were played at top board between Messrs If. Darcy (Fish Creek) and H. Egan, in the last Town v. Country'match at Melbourne.

(a) 22 25 (preferable) or 9 14 are more usual at • this stage. / (b) 3 7 is safe, thus:—4 8, 7 14, 8 11 (8 12 also draws), 28 24, 26 31, 82 28, 23 32, 24 29, 32 27, 19 15, 27 23, 15 8, 23 19 (20 24, . etc., loses by 8 3), 8 3, 31 26, 3 7, 26 23, forcing White to retreat 7 3, for the draw, as 7 2 would allow a beautiful win for Black by 19 "15, 18 11, 9 18, 29, 5 14, 17 10, 20 24, Black wins. (c) Sets two neat traps. If 18 22, White wins by 13 9, 6 14, 15 10, 24 15, 6 1, 15 6, 1 19, White wins; and if 4 8, then 15 11, 24 15, 11 4, 15 11 (18 22 or 23 26 draws), 6 10, 22.18, 10 15, White wins. G-ame 3587 —"Single Corner." Black: Darcy. White: Egan..

attack" — . . - • (b) And this the best reply. (c) Safest. (d) Varies from Shearer's play, which is 26. "Sturge's Guide" has play on. 11 16. The text seems good. (e) 20 24 loses by 25 21,* 17 22, 21 17, 7 10, 15 11,.etc., White wirs.

DRAUGHTS ITEMS.

A well-known and respected draughts player in the person of Mr William Brownies died at Havelock, Marlborough, on Friday, November 30, at the age of 90. Mr Brownlee, who was born at Carluke, Scotland, came to New Zealand! over 50 years ago, and settled in the Catlins district, Southland, but subsequently transferred his home to Havelock. After building a number of sawmills in tho south he, with others, originated a large milling enterprise at Hokianga, which was subsequently soldi Kauri Timber Company. He was -an enthusiastic draughts player right up to the last, and was a liberal supporter of the game.-- He competed for the draughts championship of New Zealand in 1898, when the tourney was held in "Wellington ; and had been president and vicepresident of the New Zealand Draughts Association. ; The Melbourne Town v. Country match, in October, resulted in a win for the Town by 105 to 76 and 75 draws. Fifty boards were occupied. The greatest number of boards was reached in 1900, when 236 players took part in the match. SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. End-game by Mr White.—■ Black on 10, 11, 12, 18, 20, 23. White on 19, 25, 28, 30, king 2. White to play and win:—l9 16, 12 19, 30 26, 23 20, 27, 30 21* 77, White wins.

Game 3586--Wilter ." Black: Egan. White: Darcy. 11715 29 25 18 22 24 19 25 30 7 10 23 19 1 6 25 18 11 15 7 3 20 24 9 14 . 22 17 15 22 19 16 80 26 28 19 22 17 8 11 23 18 22 26 17 14-B 26 31 7 1131 26 10 15-A 30 23 10 17 10 1 25 22 16 20 16 12 15 19 21 14 81 24 11 16 19 16 22 25 23 18 26 30 c-1 6 26 28 12 19 12 8 19 23 18 15 23 26 6 9 23 16 15 22 3 7 9 18 6 10 17 13 14 18 8 8 -13 11 3 7 18 23 3 7 26 23 7 10 16 7 80 26 Drawn.

11 15 9 18 4 8 7 23 14 17 30 25 22 18 33 14 27 23 26 19 23 19 7 3 15 22 8 11 6 10 3 7 17 21-E 25 21 25 18 24 19 81 26 10 15 25 22 17 14 12 16 6 10 10 17 2 6 21 25 10 17 29 25 25 al22 13 32 27 22 17 19 15 16 20-A io 17 8 12 ■ 5 9 7 10 17 22 18 14-b 21 14 23 18- G 27 23 15 11 3. 7 10 17 1 6 11 15-D 9 14 25 30 Drawn. 21 14 26 22 18 11 30 25 11 7. (a) Shearer calls this ■ the ' 'niost enduring