DRAUGHTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3415, 29 August 1919, Page 53

DRAUGHTS.

CONDUCTED BY JOS. ABERNETHY. Solutions of problems, games, and analyses Invited for this oolumn. Games should be written in six columns as below, and all eorrespendenc* addressed to the Draughts Editor. PROBLEM 4484. By H. Morbaix, England. Black.

White. Black to play and draw. v . Contributed by a correspondent, and evidently first published in a Home paper. TO CORRESPONDENTS. J. M., Ida Valley .-In re Game 4494, see mme below. You are correct in solution to Problem 4480, though you can make-a more complete sweep. In Problem 4478 Black can draw at fourth move by 24 20. H. Egan, Melbourne.—Received with thanks. W. M'C, Timaru— Complied with. D J. W., Botorua—Thanks for problem and play. See. next week. Have you noticed that tournament is postponed till Efcster, 1920? R K, Tapanui —Will correct the error in name. In solution to Problem 4478 at fourth move 24 20 draws. Your play on Problem 4479 is same as Sturges, but it seems to be a draw You are correct in No. 4480. p C. 8., Timaru.—lt is good to eee the old name. May be able to find your play and compare with Wilson's. A. S., Waimate.—Thanks for enclosures. GAMES. Mr J. Morris, Ida Valley, writes questioning the fifth move in Game 4494—" Double Corner," where 11 16 is played, which is given as a loss in "Lees' Guide." We give the following in answer to his query, and! leave it for discussion:

(a) The move in. question. The succeeding play is the "Lees' Guide" line for the win. The British Draughts Player speaks of 11 16 as secure, though weak; ".rlobertsoii's Guide' treats it as a draw; and Shearer in his '•Handbook" (1912) says: "Generally denounced ea weak, but the . weakness consists fn a cramped position for iabout 10 or 12 moves, after which there is not much advantage _ (B) 7 11, 22 17, 16 20, 17 13, 11 15, 18 11, 8 24, 28 19, 4 8, 30 26, 8 11, draws with care.— Shearer. (c) Shearer gives play for a draw against 17 13 by 1 5, 31 26, 3 8, etc., and against 25 22 by 9 13, which forms the trunk line of Robertson's "Bristol," part 111. (r>) Shearer says 11 15 or 913 draws, although, the learner should observe, 9 13 instead of 16 20-for the previous move ia given in Anderson as a loss. The following game was played between Mr W. Veal, Southampton, England, and a friend: Game 4503—" Bristol." Veal's move.

10 14 13 9 9 6 6 22 6 6 15 18 9 2 7 7 10 11 15 15 24 14 17 5 14 Drawn. NOTES AND CRITICISMS. Problem 4481 is by R. Kirk, Tapanui, not W. Kirk. Problem 4479. —This Sturges' position, submitted by D. J. "Wilson as a correction of the book, has been previously published by P. C Barker, Timaru, as Problem 3929 in this column, showing the draw. Mr A. Shepherd, "Waimate, writes under date August 21:—In re the Boreham-Herald Game 4500 and the later part of note (p). At the 76th move, above game, the position is: Black on 1, 5, 6, kings 18, 19, 23; "White on 11, 13, 21, 28, kings 7, 12. This position looks as if it were possible for Black to force a win. I submit the following play in order to draw attention and probably more able criticism on this interesting position:

Black wins by Wylie's problem. (a.) At this point AYhite could refuse to go 21 17, but I think Black can win by confining White's two kings in the Single Corner, then crown the piece on 9 and force a win, the play proceeding as follows: —8 3, 23 IS, 3 8, 18 15, 8 12, 9 14, 12 8, 14 18. Now, at thi3 point it will be noticed) that White dare not exchange nor allow Black to force an exchange of kings, so the only moves left are 8 12 or 21 17, both of 'which Ipse. What do your readers think? CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNEYS. Although the championship events have been postponed till Easter, 1920, the secretary (Mr M'Clatchy) desires that all subscription lists should be returned to him as soon as possible. This is really necessary, as it would not be a good thing to hang everything up for seven or eight months. It is also desirable that public acknowledgment be made of all money received, as oollectocß

themselves will expect for their own protection. We would remind those holding books of art union tickets that blocks should be returned at once, if not already in. SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. Problem 4469 (by J. C. Craig).—Black on 5, 13, kings 23, 80. "White on 15, 31, kings 10, 14. White to play and! draw Mx Craig sent no play, but we have no doubt he made the draw as follows:

(a) Cutting off runs into position at end of trunk play. (b) If 15 19, 12 8, 8 12, 28 24, White wins neatly. (c) Or 14 9, 19 15, 11 18, 10 14, etc., drawn. .(d) 31 27 is better.—Ed. Problem 4473 (by D. Bower).—Black on 2,6, 7, 12, 13, 14. White on 15, 16, 19, 21, 22, 25. Black to play and win:—6 10-A, 15 6, 29, Black wins. (a) "JDenvir's Lessons" gives 14 18 and 14 17 to draw.

Game 4502—"Double Corner.' 9 14 22 17 11 16 22 17 20 27 14 9 22 18 16 20 ' 25 22 7 10 • 32 23 5 14 5 9 28 24-c 14 17 18 14 3-10 22 18 24 19 4 8-D 21 14 9 18 18 14 W.wiiis. 11 16-A 17 13 10 17 23 7 2 7 26 22 1 5 - 29 25 16 23 25 22 8 11-B 31 26 17 21 27 18 8 11

11 16 9 13 1 17 4 8 ' 25 21 22 26 24 20 26 22 27 23 28 24 9 13 6 2 16 19 7 11 18 27 7 10 18 14 26 31 23 16 17 14 32 16 24 19 10 17 2 7 12 19 3 7 8 12 8 12 21 14 31 26 22 18 22 17 25 18 29 25 13 17 7 16 10 14 13 22 12 19 6 9-1 14 9 26 23 18 15 30 26 26 23 13 6 17 22 19 15 14 18 6 10 19 26 2 9 9 6 12 19 9.1 17 15 6 81 13 Drawn.

6 9 9 14 10 15 6 2 18 15 10 15 13 6 8 4 8 3 7 3 3 10 3 8 1 10 14 10 9 14 "23 18 15 6 15 18 7 14 12 8 17 10 3 8 4 8 8 11 18 9 5 9 15 6 2 7 6 10 18 23 11 8 21 17-A 3 7 8 3 8 3

10 6 23 26 10 14 15 19 6 10 80 25 80 22 11 15 1 6 23 26 14 10 25 11 6 1 19 23 14 18* And how, if 26 80, 18 22. 5 9, 22 18, etc., drawn; or if 26 31, 10 14, 81 27, 18 16, etc, drawn. Problem 4470 (by F. Tescheleit).—Black on 2, 6, 10, 12, 16. White on 13, 19, 22, 23, 28. Black to play and win: — 16 20-A 18 15 31 27 7 14 19 15 22 25 22 17 2 6 7 8 15 19 22 25 15 10 20 24 15 11 27 24 14 18 16 20 25 21 23 18 27 81 3 7 12 16 25 22 9 14 24 27 11 7 24 15 18 22 5 9 B.wins. (a) Corrects published play. Problem 4471 (by W. Beattie).—Black on 12, 18, 21, king 28. White on 30, kings 19, 32. "White to play and draw: — 19 15 22 25 f 27 31 82 27 31 26 32 28 18 22 32 27 25 29 26 31 29 25 24 19 15 19 28 32 31 26 27 32 19 24 Drawn. Problem 4472 (by P. Tescheleit).—Black on 3, 6, 7, 8, 10, 14. White on 12, 13, 19, 20, 21. 23,' 28 Black to play and draw: — .8 11 10 15 19 23 82 27 31 27 15 10 19 16 6 2 2 6 13 17 30 26 14 9 14 17 26 31 23 27 27 32 27 31-b 10 15 21 14 13 9 9 13 17 22 26 23 9 6 10 17 31 27 27 32 32 27 15 19 15 18 23 18 9 5 6 9 22 26 . 23 18 24 19 17 22 15 19 32 27 27 31 19 15 18 14 18 14 5 1 13 17-a 26 30 28 24 6 10 22 26 27 23 27 32 81 27 D-15 10 c-14 17 14 9 16 17 14 14 17 22 25 10 6 6 10 23 18 18 15 27 31 10 15 17 14 9 6 6 9 9 13 17 22 18 14 Drawn.