DRAUGHTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3333, 30 January 1918, Page 47

DRAUGHTS.

CONDUCTED BI JOS. ABERNETUY. Solutions of problems, games, and analyses Inrlted for this column. Games should bo written In six columns as below, and all correspondent* addressed to the Draughts Editor.

PROBLEM 4370. By W. o'Ma.li.ey, Invercargill.

"White.

Bla-ck to play and win

GAMES

The following beautiful example of play occurred] recently (says the Melbourne Weekly Times) at the Eichmond D'raughts Club, between Messrs B. H. Clarke (Richmond) and J. Boylca (Brunswick), both topboard players for their respective clubs. Game 3594—" Edinburgh." Black: Clark. White:. Boyles.

(Notes by "Whilter.")

(a) 11 15 is the accepted best reply at this point, but Mr Clark is partial to the text. (b) Obviously this position could be arrived at from the 22 18 "Edinburgh," thus:—9 13, 22 IS, 11 16, 24 19, 8 11. White, however, should avoid it by holding 24 19 back —i.e., 9 13, 22 18, 11 16, 18 14, etc., arid Black's game is practically untenable. Thus, along the 24 19 route Black has a sound game, but an effort to force it on in reply to 22 18 would lead) to trouble. 9 13, 22 18, 12 16, 24 19, 8 12 is the regulation method adopted by experts of forming the position at (b). (c) 28 24 leads to some fine play, and was prominent in tho second American tourney. See variation 1. (d) 10 14 runs into a variation that was played between the late E-. Jordan and W. Scott (London) in the 1910 England v. Scotland. Jordan got an equal game. (e) In. the match referred to in (d) Scott playedi 31 26 against Holmes. It seems preferable to the text; the Holmes-Scott being given in variation 2. (f) A brilliant conception, which completely alters the aspect of affairs, and gives Black quite a good game. (g) Of course, the two-for-two by 23 27, etc., draws; but the break is not necessary, and one never can tell what might happen. (h) A neat termination to an interesting game. Variation 1.

(i) Introduced by Hynd v. Barker in the 1805 Great Britain v. America match.

(J) In his rotes in the "Second American Tourney Book," page 65, Hugh Henderson says: "The text move looks very weak, if r.ot an Rctual loser." Despite this eminent authority's verdict, 1 think it is an excellent move, giving Black some trouble to draw. (k) In the second American tourney Henderson played 11 16 against Horr, and shouldl have lost, but escaped with a draw. Continue 21 17. 16 19, 23 16, 12 19. 15 ]O, 19 24, 30 26, 24 28, 31 27 (Hoir played 26 23, which allows a very critical draw), 26, 10 1, 7 11, 14 10, 9 14, 18 9, 5 21, 16, 3 8, 10 7, 21 25, 7 3, 8 12, 6 10, White wins.—N'. W. Banks. The previous nwve to this note, 19 15, is another "bogey-man" of Mr Henderson's, who claims that it loses by text. He gives no further play, which is rather an off-hand method of dealing with such an important variation. (x,) Corrects Game 461, Salt Bake City Tribune, Howe v. Dossett, where the latter played 31 27 and lest; also corrects Mr Henderson's note (e) in the "Second American Tourney Book.' The text was pointed oxit by Mr Banks in the Detroit jSTows Tribune, but he gave no further plav, other than to remark that: "31 26 forces 16 19, 23 16, 12 19." 1-hen 26 23, and Black must play carefully to draw.

NOTES AND CKTTTHISMR. Mr W. O'Malley, Invercargill, writes:—"l notice Mr Shepherd's play on my ending with Mr Diiick in the "Witness of "the lGfch. I think he makes a few slips. After his 17th move the position is:—Black 13, 19, kinc: 15. White 16, 2S, king 2. White to play. By a coincidence this position is identical with the solution to the thrcc-to-three prcblera of mine which appeared last week, at the 10th move, and which I think will correct Mr Shepherd, who continues 16 12, whilst 2 0 draws. He then follows with 15 11, 26, 13 17, which allows White to draw by 6 10, 17 22, 12 8, 11 -1, 10 15. Instead of" 13 17, however, 19 23 would give him the win." In re Problem 4363 (by 11. D. Lvmnn).Black en 10, 16. kings 14, 20. White kinga on 11, 26, 27. White to play and draw. I think this can be drawn in two White moves, thus—26 31, 14 9, 27 24. Mr Le Tetit, of this town, shows the draw by White keeping command of squares 11 and 23. —W. O'M

DRAUGHTS ITEMS,

Simultaneous Exhibitions.—Mr 11. Egan, formerly champion of Victoria, visited the Warrnambool Draughts Club recently by invitation, and gave two exhibitions of simultaneous play. A formidable team of 20 players faced ths visitor on tho evening of December 1, when 41 games wero contested. The single player scored 19 wins, 17 draws, and lost 5. On December 3 another exhibition was given, when 11 players were pitted against Mr Egan. He eooxed 21 wins and 5 draws, without losing a game. At tho conclusion of this exhibition _M.br Egan was presented with a silver ehaving mug as a momento of his visit to Warrnambool. A book of views was also presented as a souvenir. The two-move restriction has been adopted by tho Warrnambool Club, and further interest was added to the exhibitions by several players availing themselves of the ballot. During Mr Egan's visit several crossboard sittings wero played with Mr P. H. Faulkner, champion of Warrnambool, when honours were always even, the total scores boing 1 win each and. 6 draws. On the return journey Mr Egan visited the Hamilton Draughts Club and gave two exhibitions. These visits by a strong player undoubtedly give an impetus to the game in the outlying districts. Similar methods have frequently been adopted by our Dunedin experts, but not for some years; and a revival of the practice would be a good thing for the game next season.

SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS

Problem 4366 (by J. Wyllie).—Black on 6, 8, 10, 11, 14, 15, 20, White on 21, 22, 23, 2-1, 27, 28, 30. White to play and draw:

Problem 4367 (by W. Veal).—Black on 5, 15, king 1. White on 14, 17, 30. Black to play

Now 1 10, and Black wins. (a) 7 2, 19 15, anv—Black wins. (1) 14 10, 62, 17 13-(2), 59, 13 6,2 9, 30 25, 9 14, 10 6, 15 18, 61, Black wins, first position. (2) 30 26, 59 ; 26 22, 9 14, if 26 23, 9 13, Black wins. Problem 4368 (by J. A. Finn).—Black men on 2, 12, 13, 14, 23, king 30. White men on 10, 21, 28, 29, 31, king 15. Black to play,

(a) Corrects Problem 979, "Gould's Book of Problems," where. 15 11 and 29 25 allows Black to draw. (b) 18 15 wins. (1) 16 20-(2), 15 19, 30 26, 19 15, 26 17, 15 10, White wins. (2) 14 18, 15 11, 18 23, 11 20, 23 27, 20 2-1, 27 31, 22 18, White wins.

9 13 3 7 16 23 26 22 12 16 26 81 24 19 29 25 26 19 7 3 7 2 10 15 11 16-A 1 6-D 7 23-22-18 16 19 22 26 22 18 25 22-e 13 9 3 8 11 16 15 18 8 11-B 16 20 '6 13 2 6 9 13 81 27 18 14 31 20 14 10 11 7 2 6 20 16 10 17 11 16-p 13 17 18 15 18 22 27 31 21 14 18 15 28 24 7 3 6 10 18 27 6 9 10 14-p 17 22 6 9 22 26 31 24 26 22-c 15 11 24 19 3 7 10 17 80 23 9 18 13 17-F 22 26 9 14-G 13 22 H-24 19 22 8 22 13 19 15 7 11 16 11 ' ; 23 18 4 11 20 24 26 31 15 18 19 24 19 12 25 22 27 20 15 11 8 3 11 7 18 14 7 10 14 18 31 26 5 9 24 28 12 16 22 18 23 14 10 7 3 7 7 10 Drawn.

28 24-1 11 16 24 19 16 19 23 19 7 11 9 IS 29 25 16 20 23 16 24 28 14 10 28 14 4 8 19 15 12 19 19 15 9 14 16 23 25 22-J 12 16-K 26 23 2 6 18 9 27 18 8 11 15 8 " 19 26 21 17 5 21 .1 6 26 23 3 12 30 23 6 10 22 18 25 21 6 9 31 26-L 20 24 15 6 Drawn.

variation 2. 31 26 18 9 24 20 32 7 19 15 7 3 10 14 6 13 6 9 17 21 25 22 16 20 18 9 23 18 27 24 7 3 15 10 15 19 5 14 16 23 13 17 22 25 22 18 14 10 25 22 26 19 18 14 3 7 10 7 3 8 7 10 17 22 9 18 25 29 18 14 10 7 22 18 28 21 20 16 7 11 11 15 8 12 13 17 2 6 11 27 29 25 12 16 Drawn.

23 19 22 18 24 8 3 7 2 6 9 14 8 12 15 22 22 25 • 10 14 9 13 18 22 21 17 19 16 8 3 7 3 6 9 14 10 14 21 12 19 6 9 25 29 14 18 Drawn.

and win: — / 16* 19 24* 27 31 ! 6 1* 23 19 15 11 17 13-1 26 23 19 15 15 11 7 8-A 7 2 15 19* 24 27 81 26 26 23 19 15 5 9 30 26 23 19 14 10 11 7 10 7 13 G

White to win:- — 23 26 SO 26-1 17 22 26 31 24 19 11 7 31 22 28 24 25 18 23 18 11 7 21 17 12 16 26 17 14 23 31 27 19 16 13 22 10 6-A 24 20 24 19 20 16 7 2-B 18 25 2 9 16 19 23 26 27 24 16 11 9 14 23 25 15 24 19 23 16 11 2 6 6 10 White-wins.