DRAUGHTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3400, 14 May 1919, Page 51

DRAUGHTS.

CONDUCTED BY; JOS. ABEBNETHY. Solutions ol problems, games, and analyses Invited for this column. Games should bo written in six columns as below, and nil correspondence addressed to the Draughts Editor.

PROBLEM 4461. By W<. O'MAMiEY, Queenstown.

Black to play and win,

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. D. C, Huntly.—Thanks for game and in-

teresting' notes. A. S., Waimate.—ln your last week's play try 14 10 at notes (a) and (c).

GAMES. Mr D. Calderwood, Huntly, sends the following game and notes, which arrived just too late to appear last issue. It has reference to Gam© 3724, which was played and prepared for publication on a wet day at the seaside, where draughts books are unknown:— Game 3731 —"Second Double Corner." 11 15 21 14 6 9 26 22 22 26 19 15 24 19 16 23 29 25 610 6 8 27 31 15 24 27 18 16 20 24 19 26 31 21 17 28 19 12 16 32 27 2 6 27 24 81 26 8 11 26 23 812 14 9 20 27 17 13 22 18 4 8 80 26 514 18 14 26 22 11 16 31 27 11 16 18 2 31 26

18 14 8 11 25 22 7 11-D 8 11 9 18 27 24 1 6-B 22 18 16 20 23 14 3 8-A 22 17-c J 3 22 23 18 10 17 25 21 9 13 / 2 6 26 23 Brawn.—Published play. (a) This move inclines to weaken Black's game, I think; Whits won't play 24 20 with 8 12 waiting. (b) This position ie identical with published play to draw in various books. According to the "British Draughts Player" it is weak for Black, and! was considered a White win at one time. This position is brought up by a different order of moves in the "8.D.P." or "Lees' Guide." (c) 24 19 is played first in the above books; but 22 17 is perhaps best, and runs into same play. (p) The note (d) to your seaside game leaves off as a White win; the continuation is very nice.—D. C. The following pair of games were played in an Otago Club championship between the late A. Mathieson and J. A. Luoas:— Game 3732—"Dxmdce." Black: Mathieson. White: Lucas. 12 16 18 11 8 11 23 14 18 23 21 17 23 18 8 15 17 13 6 9 27 18 11 15 10 15 30 26 9 14 13 6 10 15 29 25 26 23 6 10 22 17 2 18 19 10 15 18 16 19 22 17 1 6 24 19 7 23 25 21 23 16 4 8 26 23 15 24 17 14 7 11 11 20 25 22 14 18 28 19 3 7 Drawn. Game 3733—" Denny." Black: Lucas. White: Mathieson. 12 16 24 19-A 6 24 17 14 8 11 17 13 23 18 15 24 22 18 16 19 26 23 7 10 10 15 28 19 4 8 23 16 11 16-b 14 7 21 17 9 14 26 23 12 19 25 21 3 10 16 20 18 9 24 28 29 25 2 6 B.wins, 25 21 5 14 21 17 19 24 21 17 8 12 17 10 11 16 30 26 15(a) .Evidently overlooking the destructive 9 14 which follows, giving Black a man up. (b) The learner should note how nicely Black's moves are timed for White's destruction. Played "Somewhere in France," between Lance-corporal T. M'Ewen and Private J. Mitchell (an old Bridgeton player). Notes are by the corporal: Black: Mitchell. White: M'Ewen. 9 13-A 15 24 9 18 2 7 11 15-e 10 14 22 18 28 19 22 8 • 26 22 18 2 19 16 10 15 11 16 4 11 16 3 8 12 19 25 22 29 25 25 22 30 25 2 9 23 16 6 9-B 8 11 7 10 16 20 i 5 30 W.wins. 24 19 18 14 22 18 21 17-c 31 26-D (a) Private Mitchell elects to do or die on the somewhat slippery rock of "Auld Reekie," his native city. (b) Owing to nerve-strain occasioned by bomb and shell-fire, readers should overlook the unorthodox method of defence and attack. (c) Merely trappy; 31 26 should win. (d) The bomb that sealed Black's fate. (e) 6 9 is more like the thing. Continue: 25 21, 9 14, 18 9, 5 14, 22 18, 13 22, 18 9, 22 26, 31 22, 11 15, leaving White with a pro blem to solve. Will anyone voice an opinion?—Glasgow Herald. BOREHAM'S TOUR. The plan of the -tour is gradually taking form, and we hope soon to publish the details. Play will probably start before the end of June. Gore players have announced their desire for a visit, and the other centres south are sure to be included. We should be pleased to hear from Mataura, Edendiale, Wyndham ; Woodlands, and Inveroargill as early as possible. Will any player in those districts oblige? DRAUGHTS ITEMS. Banks v. Ferric. —Mr W. Birrell gives the following explanation in a recent Glasgow Herald:—As mentioned before, I wrote to the U.S.A. Headquarters in France applying for leave for Mr N. W. Banks to visit Glasgow, with a view to backing up his challenges to Mr Ferrie and Mr Stewart. In reply Lieutenant-colonel H. H. Stout writes: "Acknowledgment is made of the receipt of your letter of February 2, 1919, relative to Corporal Banks. Very much to our regret, we are unable to comply with your request." The failure to fix a match is, therefore, not ours. Not only have we tried to accommodate Mt Banks in every way, but we have done our best to secure his release. Banks Still Anxious.—ln a letter to Mr W.

Rirrell, Corporal Banks says: —I am still hoping to get a chance to come to Glasgow, and if there is any chance I will wire yon . • . Mr Smith did not have an address on the telegram he sent, so I was unable to answer it. I appreciate what yon have done on my behalf, and trust you will explain to the Scottish players that I aim still anxious to meet Mr Ferric, but meantime I cannot get a furlough. Vancouver. —D. Jeffrey, writing from Vancouver, says: We had four contests for the championship of Vancouver, and a Scotsman has been successful on each occasion. In the first competition W. P. M'lnnes, who used to play for Bridgeton, beat me in the final; in the second R. Gray, an Aberdonian, won it, Mason, a Canadian, being runner-up; in the third contest I proved successful over W. Dudiex, who had ousted M'lnnes in the second round; and) I again won this winter, my opponent in the final being Coamb, who was well known in the Bannockburn district. I may add that i played for Gathcart in the Glasgow League in the season 1905-06.—Glasgow Herald.