DRAUGHTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3336, 20 February 1918, Page 47

DRAUGHTS.

CONDUCTED BY JOS. ABERNETHY. Solutions of problems, games, and analyses inrited lor this column. Games should be written In six oolumns as below, and all oorrospondenM addressed to the Draughts Editor.

PROBLEM 4374. (Author unknown.) Black.

Whit© to play and win

Although White is numerically stronger, it looks as though Black could draw. It is lLeat.

GAMES. The following "Double Corner" play is related to the compilation in last issue, and will make an interesting basis for private analysis. The first two games herewith were played between two Home players, and the notes to thsni are by J. A. Buchanan.

Game 3598. —"Double Corner." Black: Nesbit. White: R. Allen

(a) 22 18 is probably easier for "White. (b) 14 18 is another good line. (c) 5 9 is usually played here. (d) 13 9 is more often played here, but the text makes a, fine variation. (e) Very weak. (y) 19 16 would give "White a strong game. (o) 21 28, 12 8, draws. (u) 19 16, 10 6, 16 7, 6 2, drawn.

(i) "Shearer's Handbook" gives 21 17. (j) Mr Allen was culled away, and a draw waa agreed to. Mr Buchanan continues play to prove same. Variation 2.—A Jcwilt v. Hirst game continued thus:

(k) 30 26 looks stronger. (l) "White's game is now hopeless. Instead pi;;,- 31 27, 6 9, 27 24, 15 18. 23 19, 18 22, 25 is, 14 23, 19 16, 23 27, 16 11, 27 32, 20 16, 31 26 and White could draw.

DRAUGHTS ITEMS. It. 13 with very sincere regret we have to announce the death of Mrs J. A. B«reham, which took place suddenly on Sunday, 17th inst., at Oamaru, where she had been spending a holiday. Mr Boreham was, as far as we know at time of writing, in Central Otago working, arid) word might not have- reached him until Monday. The Joss of a wife and mother out of a homo cannot be measured by words. W© can but extend the deepest sympathy to Mr Boreham and the family in their irreparable loss, so tragic in its suddenness ; and in doing so we know wo are expressing the feelings of all draughts players throughout New Zealand. Draughts players throughout the world will be eorry to learn that Ml- "W. T. Call, secretary and treasurer of the Gage Publishing Company, New York, died) on November 13 at in Brooklyn. He was a successful business man, an, able checker player, and the author of several books on draughts, including "Vocabulary of Checkers," "The literature of Checkers,' and "R. D. Yates, the Checker Player." Ho also wrote "Life As It Is" and "A Plea for Shakespeare and "Whitman." Home papers anncunce with much regret the death of Mr Jas. Deans, which took place at his residence, Caldierside Cottage, Shotts, in November. He was in his seventy-third year. He was a man of many activities, taking a keen interest in public affairs, and acting for many years as correspondent for several Scottish newspapers. Draughts was his hobby, however; and, in addition' to a great deal of analytical work, he filled with much acceptance the post of secretary to the Lanarkshire Draughtsi Association for the long period of 35 years. He reported every Scottish tourney up to last year.

9 14 8 11 7 14 9 13 2S 32 23 27 22 17 22 17 16 12 19 16 27 24 8 4 11 15 16 20 19 24 13 22 20 27 27 31 25 22 19 16 23 19-D 28 19 81 24 15 11 8 11 12 19 6 10-E 15 24 32 27 19 1G 17 13-3 23 16 82 28-3? 26 17 24 19 11 7 11 1G 11 15-B 1 6 14 18-G 27 24 16 11 24 19-1 26 23 25 22 17 14 19 15 7 2 15 24 15 19-C 6 9 10 17 24 19 5 9 28 19 30 26 13 6 21 14 14 10 10 G 4 8 10 15 2 9 24 28 18 23 -H etc. 29 25-A 17 10 2a 17 16 11 11 8 Drawn.

Variation 1.—'Nesbit varied thus: — 29 25-2 8 11 23 16 6 9 23 17 5 9 1G 20 18 9 15 10 13 6 14 23 15 10 21 10 5 14 22 18 2 9-j 26 19 14 18 15 24 25 22 14 23 16 12 9 14 21 17 28 19 11 15 27 18. 1 5 17 10 9 13 ■1 8 19 1G 19 24 31 26 7 14 17 14 22 IS 12 19 26 22-1 10 14 19 15 Drawn.

24 20 15 22 27 23-K 4 8 27 20 15 18 3 8 2G 17 19 26 24 19 8 11 22 15 20 11 16 19 30 23 11 15 29 25 etc. 7 16 23 16 8 11 32 27 11 15 33.wins. 22 18 12 19 28 21 15 21 25 22-L

variation 3. —Hero is a sh appy American ending:— 24 20-4 23 18 20 11 24 20 21 17-M 1G 11 8 8 14 23 7 16 16 19 9 14-N 12 16 28 21 27 18 18 11 17 13 20 16W.wins. 5 9 11 1G 8 15 4 8 . 14 21 (m) Baiting the trap. (n) Caught! Black expected) 30 26, 14 30, 31 27, 30 23, ' 27 4, -which would give Black the best end■game. ' "Good things" should be looked at i sloseJy. Variation 4, .—Collingwood v. M'Ewan, in Glasgow Herald: — , 29 25 24 15 25 22-0 22 17 24 19 r-11 7 11 16-5 10 19 8 11 6 9 2 7 23 26 23 18 17 14 31 27 17 13 18 15 80 14 14 23 7 16 19 23 1 6 9 18 10 17 27 11 22 18 20 19 28 24 15 11 B.wins. 16 19 4 8 16 23 11 16 7 10 (o) 18 15 seems better and should draw. (p) Loses at one©; 21 17 is better, but seems to lose as follows: — 21 17 12 16 8 3 19 26 12 16 11 15 18 22 14 7 15 19 8 12 80 26 25 30 27 18 8 10 3 8 16 20 16 11 82 28 16 2-3 11 8 23 26 17 14 22 25 26 22 18 14 10 15 30 23 26 30 B.wins. Variation 5. —M'Ewan playei 3. Black thus: 4 8 19 15 7 14 27 24 13 17-6 15 6 23 19 10 19 23 24 7 10 26 23 1 10 15 18-q 24 15 9 13 24 20 18 27 23 18 22 15 6 9 24 19 3 7 32 23 W.wins. 11 18 17 10 2 7 20 16 6 9 (Q) 6 9, 17 13, 2 6 is best here. Variation 6.- — Following seems to draw: — 18 23 13 22 6 9 9 14 10 17 23 26 25 23 26 17 15 6 13 9 9 6 SO 23 14 18 18 22 1 10 14 17 7 10 10 15 22 17 32 28 17 13 21 14 6 2 Drawn.