DRAUGHTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3349, 22 May 1918, Page 53

DRAUGHTS.

CONDUCTED BX JOS. ABERNETHY. Solutions of problems, games, and annlyees u> rlted lor this oolumn. Games should be vrrlttoa In six oolurans as below, and nil oorrospondeni»» iddressed to the Draughts Editor.

PROBLEM 4390. By W. O'Malley, Invercargill. Black.

Whit©. Black to play and win

The ending is useful, but our contributor does not claim originality in the ending. A club ending gave rise to this position, which is worth analysing.

TO CORRESPONDENTS,

W. CXM., Invercaa-gill.—Thanks for note and problem. We had not observed the omission, which is herewith rectified!.

A.. S., Waimate The point in solution to Problem 4378 is debatable. Will submit • play if you send' it in. Thanks for problem.

GAMES. Game 3626—" Double Corner."

Recently played between "Outpost," Glasgow, and Mr James Cameron, Scotstoun, the latter havirig the Black sido.

(a) Very interesting from tliis stage onwards. (b) 26 22 does not seem to be an improvement, thus:—26 22, 18 23, 22 18, 15, 18 9, 5 14. 10 6, 14 17, 21 14, 23 26, 30 23, 7 10, 14 7, 3 26, 25 22, drawn.—Glasgow Herald. :

Following interesting off-hand game was played recently between Messrs J. Boyles and H. Egan, Melbourne.

(a) Off the usual track. As a rule players want nothing better than 24 19 at this point. Sometimes 26 23 is played, but the vacating of square 24 has been given preference for something like two centuries. In 1650 Juan Garcia Canlejas gave play on 24 19, showing the "shot" by 19 15, 10 19, 18 14, 9 18, 22 8, 4 11, 27 24, etc., if 8 11 is played in reply to 24 19. The reply should be 10 14* (b) There is a host of moves available, the difficulty being to select the best. 9 14, 18 9, 5 14 looks good. (c) 7 10 leads to some fine play. (d) 13 9 is interesting, but Black seems to get the best of it by "7 11, followed by 3 7. (e) Despite the advantage of a piece White can do nothing more than draw. —Melbourne Weekly Times. NOTES AND CRITICISMS. Mr A. Shepherd, Waimate, writes on Problem 4385 (by W. Heddle):—At the sixteenth move of Heddle's solution jI fancy White might draw, and give play as follows: Black kings on 15, 22, 23. White on 29, kings 2, 3. Black to play: 15 10 23 18 17 13 17 22 17 14 14 10 3 8 S 3 12 16 15 16 12 21 17 22 17 18 14 10 15 13 17 15 11 8 3 3 8 2 6-A 5 1 29 25 17 21 14 17 21 17 22 18 18 15 3 8 8 12 6 1 1 5 25 21 What result? (a) Heddle here plays 16 20, 15 19, 27, etc Can White draw with text move ?

DRAUGHTS ITEMS

Otago Club.—The annual meeting, which was to have been held on Saturday, May 11, was postponed till May 25 owing to the indisposition of the secretary. Last Saturday evening Mr Lucas played a number of boards Simultaneously, which was much appreciated as a change. Mr Lucas has bsen conspicuous by his absence for a year or two, but he hopes to be a more constant quantity in the chib this seasen. and that will be a very material help. There were two new members present also last Saturday. Valedictory.—The Ot-ago Club has suffered anotheT severe loss by the departure of Mr Walter Meldrum in Featherston, in prepara tion for service at the front. Mr Meldrum has been a meat valuable member of the club for a number of years, miaking steady progress in the game and in tho esteem of his fellow-members. Indeed, "affection" is the correct word to express the club's feelings towards tho departing member; and, if there is any efficacy in good wishes, Mr Meldrum

can bo assured of a eafe and speedy return. Ho is anxious, however, to do hi 3 share in saving the world from the Huns:

Invercargill.—Writing on the 13th inst, am Invercargill correspondent says:—"The Railway Library Draughts Club held their opening night about three weeks ago, when a match was played between sides selected by the president (Mr R. M. Isaacs) and the club captain (Mr Fa A. Le Petit). The latter side scored a good win after an interesting contest. A 'ladder 7 competition, with 20 competitors, started last Saturday." A Chance.—ln 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 swoTds with some Otago players in addition to the prominent Australian experts with whom ho is now engaged. His address is "car© of Mrs Lees, Etndcliffe, Kaiti, Gisborne." Wo hope someone will accept the invitation.

Town v. Country.—We would> again remind players that the annual Town _v. Country match wilbtake place this year in the Otago Club, Y.M.C.A., Moray place, on Wednesday evening, May 29, at 7 o'clock. Inquiries or entries should be addressed to the Secretary, Mr F. El. Hilliker, Princes street, Dunedin. SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. Problem 4369 (bv W. O'Malley).—Black on 5, 19, king 25. White on 17, 20, 28. White to play and draw: 17 14 22 18 20 16 " 913 16 12 c-17 21 25 22 10 6 5 9-D 2 6 15 11 10 14 14 10 18 15 6 2-A 13 17-B 610 Drawn. (a) 16 12, 15 11, 6 2. 9 13, 2 6. 19 23, 6 10, 23 27, 10 14, 27 32, 14 18, 32 27, Black wins. (b) 19 23f 6 2, draws, sams as not© (d). (c) 17 22, 12 8, 11 4, 10 15, drawn. (d) 19 23, 6 2, 23 27, 28 24-E, 27 32, 24 20, 32 27, 27, 27 23, 16 12, drawn. (e) 15 12, 15 11, 26, 27 32, Black wins. Problem 4370 (bv W. O'Malley).—Black on 1,2, 7, 13, 26. White on 22, 25, kings 9, 16, 27. Black to play and win: 26 30 22 18 22 18 918 15 25 21 25 22 15 11 2 6 2 9 30 25-A 18 15 18 14 11 2 532 Black wins. (a) 15, 27 23, 5 14, 16 18 15, 30 25, 15 10, 7 11, 10 7, 25 22, 7 3, drawn. 'These two problems had b-sen prepared for the printer, . but were inadvertently omitted in sending in the "copy." Problem 4386 (by A. C. Hews).—Black on 2 5 12, 13, 14, 26, 27, kings 22, 24. Whit© o'n 6,9, 10, 15, 19, 20, 21,-kings 3, 8. Whit© to play and win:—ls 11 7,2 11, -21 17, 14 21, 62, 5 14, 37,15 6, 2 25, 21 30, 8 22, Whit© wins.

Problem 4387 (by J. A. Buchanan).—Black on 5,9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 21, kings 28, 29. White on- 6,8, 11, 13, 18, 20, 22, 23, 28, 27, 30, 31. Black to play and win:— 21 25 'l4 32 82 27 119 19 15 18 14 30 21 21 7 ■ 31 24 11 7 2 6 B.wins. 16 19 15 18 28 1 29 25 15 18-A 23 16 22 15 13 6 7 2 26 22 (a) If 25 30 White can draw.

9 14 10 19 2 7 16 20 8 11 *17 22 22 18 24 15 31 27 32 27-B 16 7 10 26 5 9 16 19 8 12 7 11 1 6 28 24 26 22 23 16 27 24 26 23 '10 1 Drawn. 11 16 12 19 0 4 8 W 13 9 13 17 < 3 28 15 18 22 17 30 26 1 6 10 19 14 18 6 13 11 16 28 32 2-1 15 17 13 15 10 28 24 26 23 7 10 9 14 12 16-A 16 19 32 28 27 24 29 25 • 24 15 23 16 6 10 A nice finish.

Game 3627—" Bristol Cross." Black: Boyles. White: 1 Igan. 11 16 15 24 14 17 2 9 22 26 21 25 23 18 28 19 21 14 82 28 2 7 7 3 16 20 9 i4 10 26 9 13 13 17 22 26 22 17-A 26 23 31 22 28 24 7 10 3 7 10 15-B 6 10-C 7 10 11 15 17 21 26 31 18 11 22 18 22 18 18 11 18 15 7 11 8 15 11 16 3 7 10 14 26 31 25 30 26 22 18 9 30 25 22 18 15 11 11 7 4 8 5 14. 7 11 14 17 81 26 81 26 17 13 29 25-D 25 22 11 7 11 7 7 10 8 11 1 6 6 9 17 22 26 22 E-30 25 24 19 25 22 13 6 7 ! 2 10 15 Dxawn.