DRAUGHTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3383, 15 January 1919, Page 47

DRAUGHTS.

CONDUCTED BY JOB. ABEBNETHY. Solutions of problems, games, and analyses lB« ♦ited lot this oolamn. Games should be written In six columns as below, and all oorrespondeno* Addressed to the Draughts Editor.

PROBLEM 4441. By W. O'Malley, Queenstown. Black

END GAME. The following nice ending occurred in an Oamaru tourney between Messrs Henderson and Horr: —

Black

White.

Black to play and draw. Henderson, with Black, played 31 27, 17 14-a., 27 25, 15 10, 9 18, 11 7,2 11, 8 29, 13 17, drawn. (a) Horr oould have tried for 23 19, 27 23, 8 12, 23 7, 15 11, and "White wins; but 27 31 instead of 27 23 draws. GAMES. ■The following interesting play was arranged by Hugh Henderson and published in the Pittsburg Dispatch, in which he conducts the draughts column : Game 3697—11 15, 22 17.

(a) The "cut" on to square 14 or 19, as the case may be, is generally a very commendable one. As a rule it initiates the highest kind of draughts strategy, and in this case very strong and aggressive. (b) 30 25 and 27 23 is the preference here. The former introduces a complex, interesting game, with many winning opportunities for both sides. The Latter has more of the defensive tinge about it, and if carefully played a. safe plodding draw is the result. The next move is, in spite of many virtues, inferior to the alternatives mentioned. (c) A very commanding move. From here on Black's variety of strong attacks is very great, and White has to run Hard for the draw in every case. (d) From this point the play is by the celebrated Anderson, and is unusually in-

(r) A lot of interesting play can be involved from here. See Scliaefer's "Dyke," variation 30. The text move forces a beautiful draw. Variation 2.

(g) For alternative and interesting play, see "luces' Guide," page 97, "Douglas." (h) 14 18 was played by Wyllie against Jewitt in an international match. The foregoing play should prove interesting to the learner, as, for instance, at note (j), if Black plays 27, the game is fiito a phase of a line that played havoc in the big international (American v. Britain) match, arising from the 9 14, 22 17 opening. "The British Draughts Player" treats this line very fully, but the latest improvements are to be found in the "International Games Book." DRAUGHTS ITEMS. What Result? —The question has often arisen in my mindi (says the draughts editor of the Sunday Telegraph) as to whether the maximum instruction possible is derived from the myriad problematic situations published! week by week in the various draughts columns, inasmuch as they axe one and all published with definite terms, as "White to move and win, or draw, etc., as the oaso may be. Now, the highest form of problem can only be an adjunct to the game proper, and to ba of the greatest value the conditions of all problems should bear as great a

similarity to those appertaining in actual play as possible, but across the dambrod the question propounded is never "White (or Black) to move and win, (or draw), but simply "White (or Black) to move, what result?" Therefore, problems would better fulfil their mission by being published with the indefinite term "What result?" But in advocating this theory I in no way wish to encourage the stamp of player who endeavours to take advantage of other people's brains by sending "What result?" positions to poor draughts editors, without any play in support of any contention regarding them. Such an individual does not propound a. problem; he asks for an adjudication, which is a different matter altogether. The play for a definite result would bo in the hands of the editor just as Under the system now appertaining, the only difference being that the solver would) have to do. that, which he has to do in actual play—viz., discover the result of a •eries of moves, instead of having that result already declared for him.

Quick Games.—The following paragraph on quick played games appeared in ft Home paper:—"Commenting on the lady chess players at the Southport congress, ft writer draws attention to the faot that the third round in the ladies' championship was finished 'at one sitting, and before the time for adjournment, while in the British championship only two games were . decided after four hours' play. The superior speed of the ladies is attributed to their impulsive temperament as compared with that of the other sex. I would .be inclined to put it down (says "Boreas," in the Aberdeen Weekly Journal) to inferior knowledge of the game With ches3 I have a nodding acquaintance and I claim a familiar intimacy with the sister game of draughts. My experience is that neither women nor men can excel in chess or draughts who play what is called 'the quick game.' A couple of novices can finish ft game at draughts in little over five minutes, and would have no difficulty in playing six games in an hour, while one game m an hour by experts would be exceptionally quick time. With the novice 'play' is the proper name for it, but with the expert it is ft scientific study. Many people imagine themselves fairly efficient at chess and draughts who do not understand the rudiments of either, from tho scientific side." " Dameh's Realms.—Poetry and rhyme are bubbling up in strange places We build our fabrics as the spider's web, Then on these structures gloat with dotard's gleej And all unconscious that our zeal will ©bb, Reel almost drunken in wild rhapsody. But all our visions soon are apt to be Swept like the flimsy, gossamer web away, And prison'd thought in brain-cells, hap-go-free ; Thus our creations through the livelong day Fade into nothingness: e'er night has pass'd away.

Our oastledl "aqua/res," like empires by the sea, Sport their brief day, then moulder and decay: And, unlike beauty, harp, or minstrelsy, Then vanish as the rainbow tints, awayl The glints of gold in maiden's hair at play,— The echoing glee of naiads of the stream,— Are fixed perspective—nor from the memory stray; But these our plays in Dameh's realms, 'twould seem, Bear but illusive impress of de-lusive dream.

11 15 c-9 14-2 11 15 20 27 12 19 22 17 27 23 25 22 82 23 22 17 16 19-A 6 10-1 8 11 8 12 6 10 24 15 23 16 81 27-D 30 26 13 9 10 19 11 20 3 8 2 7 10 15 23 16 22 17 28 24 17 14 26 22 12 19 4 8 1 6-E 10 17 7 10 25 22 26 23 23 18 21 14 14 7 8 11 7 11 14 23 16 19 5 21 17 13-B 29 25 27 18 23 16 Drawn.

terestrng. ■» - (e) 8 12 1 oses by 13 9, etc If 2 6, then— 23 18 5 9 21 14 27 81 8 11 14 23 80 26 11 16 26 22 20 24 27 18 1 6 18 4 81 26 11 16 20 27 17 14 9 27 4 8 26 23 82 23 10 17 22 17 16 20 17 14 Draws. Variation 3 11 16 22 18 20 27 18 15 6 31 22 17 5 9 81 24 8 12 7 8 7 10 26 22 • 11 16 15 11 20 24 29 25 19 26 24 19 14 18 3 8 4 8 80 23 16 20 23 7 Drawn, .85 22 16 20-]? 32 27 9 14 8 11 28 24 ' 8 8 17 10

4 8 8 12 8 12 23 27 9 25 22 18 23 16 22 17 80 26 26 22 9 14 12 19 14 18-J 12 16 25 30 18 9 32 27 17 14 24 20 22 18 5 14 7 10 10 17 1 5 etc., 29 25 25 22 21 14 81 24 Drawn. 11 15 3 8-H 18 23 6 9 27 23-G 27 24 26 22 20 11