DRAUGHTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3348, 15 May 1918, Page 45

DRAUGHTS.

CONDUCTED BY JOB. ABEUNETIIY. Eolations of problems, games, and ani>lj-»es inrited for this column. G.unej should be written In six columns us below, aud all correspondence iddressed to the Draughts Editor.

PROBLEM 4389. By C. W. Fowler. Black.

Whit©. White to play and win. This appeared in gome Home paper originally. Though not difficult, there appears to be only one line to win. TO CORRESPONDENT'S. J. M., Wellington.—Thanks for reports. Hope to hear of your debut in the “Windy City, 1 ’ where you will speedily recover your old form. With the “living wage” and good draughts practice things might be worse. Anderson should keep you busy in the clnb. An obituary notice of Erickson appeared in this column of March 20. Your letter just missed last issue. J- P* S., Gisborne.—Report appreciated. ■Sorry you did) not call when passing til rough Dunedin. Don’t do- it again! Yes, clubs are suffering by the ballots, but it cannot be Helped. Hope to hear from) you again before you go, if you have to. J- P., Wanganui.—You are correct in solutions to Problems 48SS and 4387. W. J. F., Ashhurst.—Sorry to hear of your mishap, even though it renews our acquaintance. Your private secretary writes a fine legible epistle, and you ridently play just as accurately with your left hand as yon used to do with your right, so all is well Yon are correct in solutions to Problems 4386 and 4387. GAMES. Played by Alfred Jordan at Seattle, ,n America. Game 3624—“Wi1l o’ the Wisp.”

— • J. l J.-X XC/ J-V,’ . Andi 6 9, drawn. (a) Mf Jordan pointed out that 30 26 here would win for White. (n) At this point Mr Jordan began to take notice, and claims this was his only move to draw, and a very pretty device it is. Few openings are better known in draughts than the u Olcl Fourteenth/* yet in the following practice a veteran who has been playing the opening for 40 years reckons he discovered something new. Mr Lindsay says that he got off the beaten track at (a).

-i-ii'oxj IU u, ill ILL VV Hi Lit? VVIIJiS. CLUB REPORTS. WELLINGTON W.M.C. The annual general meeting of the "Working Men’s Club’s _ chess and draughts see!ion was held on April 23, when there was a large attendance, Mr Allen "Ward (vice-president) in the chair. The twenty-ninth annual report contained the following paragraphs: Annual Tourneys.—The annual handica chess tourney (12 competitors) was won. bv cur club champion, Mr K. J. Barnes, who was alone on the scratch mark. He scored all his games, and thus adds one more success to his very formidable list of triumphs Messrs G. Greig, H. Douglas, S. Faulkner, and D. Wildl are the other prize-winners. The annual draughts- tourney (sealed handicap) attracted 15 entries, and was won in fine style by our club champion, the late Mr C. Erickson, with a tally of 52 points out of a possible SG. The other prize-winners were: P. M'Pherson (48 points), J. Burgess (45), T. Costello (44), and W. Connor (42). Ladder matches (chess) have been won by Messrs G Greig, D. Wild, and S. Faulkner. Inter-club Matches.—Wo played the Wellington Club (for the first time since 1904), and, as generally anticipated, were defeated (11 —17). We also lost our first match agamsl the Ngaio Club (4 —10), and won the annual fixture with the Wellington South Club (9 —G). The annual match against the Watersiders’ Draughts Club ended in our favour by 22 games to_ 14, and we thus hold the championship shield for the first time. Obituary.—The death of our popular and very unassuming draughts champion, Mr C. Erickson, which, occurred in Christchurch on March 8, is recorded with much regret. In addition to his success recorded above, he also won the first prize in the Watersicfers’ annual tourney, besides scoring both his games in the annual shield match. His match record for 1917 is thus 130 wins, 13 draws, and only 5 losses, a sterling performance, especially as several of his opponents wore seasoned players, armed with a lot of “book” knowledge. Local enthusiasts contemplate erecting a tombstone at his grave. We also lament the deaths of Messrs W. J. Smith (vice-president), Percy Wood (ex-yice-president), W. Brownlee, of Havelock N. (a country member who competed in 1898 for the draughts championship of New Zealand;), and John M'Glashan, who took a never-failing interest in our doings. Mr Thomas Oxr, an ex-member who died recently in this city, aged 83, took part in onr first chess tourney

(I 860). It is interesting to recall that his wedding wag the first celebrated in St. Paul's pro-Cathedral (1866). The election of officers resulted as follows: President, E. Mace; vice-president, A. Ward; hon. (secretary, S. Faulknor; lion, treasurer, Jas. Wilson; official reporter, P. K. Kelling; match committee—Messrs Greig, Burgess. Hennessey, and Faulknor for chess, »nd Messrs M'Pherson, Burgess, Coulter, Man-son, and Costello for draughts; refcreo for chess, Mr C. W. Tanner (president of the Wellington C.C.); referee for draughts, Mr J. Butler (of the Watersiders' D.C.); consulting members., Messrs Barnes and Eelling for chess, and Messrs Burgess and H. Douglas for draughts; delegates to New Zealand Chess Association, Messrs H. Arden and S. Faulknor.

A very hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the retiring hon. secretary (P. K. Kelling), several speakers eulogising the work done by him during the 16 years that he has held the office, and also his arduous labours in tho interests of chess generally throughout New Zealand. WELLINGTON SOUTH CLUB. This club's annual championship tourney came to a close on April'22, and was won by Mr G. P. Anderson with tho good score of 6 wins, 1 loss (to Mr Purchas), and 1 draw (with MrflL Clark). Messrs Purchas, Welton, and Harper are each half a point behind the winner, and Mr A. Clark is one point behind him. Mr Anderson, who was formerly a prominent player in Bristol, England, thus retains the championship and Mr Perrott's handsome trophy for another year. The winners of this annual championship tourney are as follows:—1916, D. Purchas; 1917, G. P. Anderson; and 1918, G. P. Anderson.

GISBORNE C. AND D. CLUB. The annual social and general meeting of the Gisborne Chess and B'raughta Club was held on April 24. There was a good attendance of members. Messrs J. H. Bull (president of the chess club) and W. E. GofTo (president of the draughts club) were in the chair and! vice-chair respectively. Mr Goffe, reporting on the draughts section of the club, said the present meeting augured well for the coming season. To become what may be termed good players of draughts on© needed to be at the club room almost every night. He considered draughts was a more difficult game than chess, as the former presented the losing player A'ith more alternatives. The players deserved congratulation for the loyal manner in which they had attended, with the result that some very interesting finishes resulted. He 3aid the secret of success in a club of any kind was enthusiasm, and he congratulated the members of the club on the past season's work.

Mr Bull intimated that he would present a trophy in each section for the coming season —(applause),—and if others would do likew'se it would serve to still further encourage enthusiasm on the part of the players. Mr J. W. Witty stated that the balance sheet showed a small credit Jialance, and considering the amount of expense the club had been put to by installing lights over aach table, besides the cost of new tables and additions to the club rooms, it disclosed a very satisfactory position.

Ihe presentation of prizes included a medal to Mr J. Turbitt as winner of the club draughts championship. Our correspondent mentions that Mr Turbitt is an old member of the Balziel and Hamilton Clubs, in the Old Band, and has played with such notables as Scobie, Connor, Stewart, etc., and cnly wants practice to be a top-notcher. He is at present engaged in a match of 16 games by correspondence with W. E. Cantwell, Ke. South Wales, and one of 14 games with H Egan, Melbourne. Now he would like to link up with someone in Otago. The enjoyable social part of the club evening comprised two songs by W. Bickson, our old Otago Club vocalist. DRAUGHTS ITEMS. . A Chance. —In the absence of championship contests some players may appreciate a chance to play a few games by correspondence with a worthy opponent. Mr J. Turbitt, champion of the Gisborne Club, desires to cross swords with some Otago players in addition to the prominent Australian experts with whom he is now engaged. His address is "care of Mrs Lees, Endcliffe, Kaiti, Gisborne." We hope someone will accept the invitation. Town v. Country.—We would again remind players that the annual Town v. Country match v-ill take place this year in the Otago Club, Y.M.C.A., Moray place, on Wednesday evening, May 29, at 7 o'clock. Inquiries or ontrie3 should be addressed to the Secretary, Mr P. E. Hilliker, Princes street, Dunedin. SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS.

Problem 438-1 (by W. O’Malley).—Black on 3, 20, 22, king 5. White on 6, 17, 20, king 11. Black to play and win:

(a) 14 17, 1 5. Black wins by first position. (d) IS 14,- 26 30, 14 17, 31 26, 17 13, 26 22, 13 9, 30 25, 9 13, 25 21, 13 9, 21 17, 9 13, 17 14, 13 9, 14 10, 9 6, 10 7, 6 9, 7 2, Black wins. (c) 18 14, 25 22, Black wins, similar to note (b). (d) 17 13, 25 21. 18 15, 26 22, 13 9, 22 17. 15 10, 17 14, Black wins. Problem 4355 (by W. Hcddle). —Black kings on 15, 22, 23. "Whits on 29, kings 2, 3. Black to ulav and win:

Black: 0. G-. Yoon g. White: A. Jordan. 11 15 8 11 11 16 19 23 9 18 23 19 24 19 31 26 21 17 11 7 9 13 4 8 16 23 12 16 3 10 22 18 29 25 26 19 28 24 . 30 26 15 22 6 9 8 11 16 20 23 30 25 18 25 22 17 13 24 19 82 7 10 15 2 6 l ll 16 20 24 30 26 18 11 22 17 19 15 18 15-b 15 11 7 23 13 22 16 19 24 27 26 23 27 18 26 17 15 11-A 17 14 19 16

Game 3625— “The Old Fourteenth.” Black: G. Travis, . White: W. Lindsay, sen. 11 15 17 13 10 19 31 22 26 30 23 19 9 14 24 15 9 14 25 21 8 11 29 25 12 16 27 23 30 26 23 17 5 9 26 22 18 27 23 18 * 4 8 26 23 14 17 32 23 26 22 35 22 1 5 21 14 14 17 18 14 15 18 30 26 16 19 15 10-A 22 IS 22 15 7 11 23 7 17 26 14 10 11 18 19 15 3 26 10 1 18 14 Then 10 6, and White wini 3.

3 7* 10 6 2-1 27 26 80* *26 22 11 2 9 5 10 14 25 21 18 15 5 1* 6 1 27 31* 80 25* *22 17 17 13 2 7 14 18-a 21 17-c 14 10 1 10 20 11 22 26* 31 26* *17 14 13 9 7 10 29 25-b 17 14-d 10 7 Then 14 10, and Black wins.

15 10 3 8 14 17 16 20 17 22 12 8 3 8 23 18 8 12 15 19 11 8 22 26 22 17 8 8 17 13 2 7 21 25 8 12 8 3 18 14 12 16 13 17 8 12 26 31 17 •21 3 8 10 15 7 11 25 30 B.wina.