DRAUGHTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3494, 22 February 1921, Page 45

DRAUGHTS.

CONDUCTED BX

JOB. ABERNETHY.

Solutions of problems, games, and analyses inSited for this oolumn. Games should be written In six oolumns as below, and ull oorrespoudeao* addressed to the Draughts Editor. PROBLEM 6679. By F. E. Hxllikeh, Dunedin. Black.

White. White to play and win. This occurred in play recently, Mr HiUUter effecting a nice win. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENT? P. G. H., Gisborne.—Pleased to hear from you. Your solution to Problem 5577 is quite correct. GAMES. The following games were played between Messrs D. Calderwood, Huntly (champion), and F E. Hilliker, Dunedin, in the Australasian Championship Tourney at Timaru last Easter. Play was conducted on the knock-out system with the two-move restriction. The notes are by Mr Calderwoou. Game 5638—" Double Corner.” Black —Hilliker. White—Calderwood.

(a) 31 27 is quite good, as played by Penman against Brcdie in the Dunedin tourney. (b) This style of playing this game gives White the choice of several lines in the end game. (c) 30 26 is more regular, but I prefer this. (d) I was quite surprised to get this move. Mr Hilliker must have been mixing this reply with the line referred to in note (a), 16 20 is the move, and I would have replied 26 22, 19 23, 15 10, 6 15, 22 17, 23 26, 17 10. 20 24, 27 20, drawn. (e) White gains a piece, and eventually wins. Game 5639—" Double Corner.” Black —Calderwood. White —Hilliker.

NOTES AND CRITICISMS Mr A. Shepherd, "Waimate, writes as follows:—The whole of the play given in the j Witness of January 25 on Problem 5564 seems to lack conviction, a.nd the play given by W. G. Moore, Dornoch, unfortunately allows a White win, which his play, given cn December 7 after fourth move, did not. I repeat it here, correcting his first moves. Black on 1, 3. 7, 10, 11, 14, 20. White on 16, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 32. Black to play.

(a) My play on 22 17 has already been shown. (b) A. Sinclair, Glasgow, gives 1 6 to draw here, but it won’t. At the 15th move of His play the position is:—Black on 10, 14, 38, 20. White on 13, 16, 21, 26, 27. White to play and win thus:—l3 9, 10 15, 9 G, 15 19 6 9 19 24. 26, 24 31, 6 10, White wins. (c) 28 24 . 5 9, 22 3 7-n, 3 8. 17 13 8 12 13 6, 12 28, 6 2, 7 11, 27, 11 16.’ 7 ll’ 35 19, 11 15, 28 32, 15 24, 10 15, 26 22, 11 18 23 14, 32 23, 24 28, 23 18, Black wine (D) 21 17, 14 21, 23 18, 7 11, 16 7, 10 14 18 It, 3 10, and Black should win. (e) Only move to draw. (f) 18 23, 26 22, 23 26, 16 12-0, 26 30 3A 8 3 12, 19 15, 10 19. 17 3. White wins (c) 7 11, 17 13, etc., White wins (h) 17 13, 26 31, 33 9. 31 26-1. drawn. (i) I’. Penman gives 31 27, but this draws at once. (j) ,7. Scot, Berwick, gives 23 19 to draw but it wont; 23 17 wins for White. , (k) W. G. Moore goes astray here witl the same move in his new play. Thus °3 39 13 8, 38 23, 17 14, 15 18, 33 9, 19 35 9 G 15 11, 8 4, 23 27, 28 24, White wins. At 17th move Trunk play by L. Rees the position is—Black on 3,5, 7, ]O, pi King 22. White on 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 21, 28 White to play and win. 12 8 3 12 19 15 10 19, 17 3, White wins. At 14th move of Trunk play from Glasgow Herald, tlie position is:— Black on 5. 35 17, 20. White on 33, 34, 24, 26, 27. Blael to 3 >1 ;r y and draw. 37 21, 26 23, 21 25 drawn. At 7th move of piny by W. G. Crom well, the position is:— Black cm 1,3, ]], j| 15, is. 20. White on 12, 33, 21, 23, 26, 27 28. Black should win here bv 1 6;’ to’pro vent tins. White’s previous move shoulc have been 33 9. not 32 28. THE WORLD’S CHAMPIONSHIP. NEWELL W. BANKS v . ROBERT STEWART. The following circular, signed by Adat: Smith, president, and John M’Kay, hor secretary, has been circulated and publishes

at Home, and summarises the whole posi- J tion: The Draughts Championship of the. World, having been in abeyance for more than 17 years, a match has now been proposed to decide who should be legitimately reoognised a® the rightful holder of the title. At many periods in the history of the game, American aspiration towards wresting thi3 coveted honour has been very marked, but ( so far, their efforts have failed in achieving their object. Some two years ago, however, the latest aspirant, in the person of Mr Newell W. Banks, son of Dr W. B. Banks, of Detroit, Michigan, then champion of America, challenged any British player to a match, specially particularising Mr James Ferrie, of Glasgow, an ex-Champion of the World, and Mr Robert Stewart, of Blairadam, who five times won the Championship of Scotland before retiring from these competitions, both of whom figured! prominently in the Great Britain v. America International Match, played in America a number of years ago. Traditional to British sportsmanship, and animated with a desire to accommodate, acceptance was immediately signified, but, being in the midst of the Great War, arrangements for tlie contest were necessarily postponed. Since the termination of the war, however, negotiations have again been proceeding, and at a conference held in Glasgow on March 6, at which representatives from many Scottish centres attended, it was resolved, on the motion of Mr James Ferrie, Glasgow, and seconded by Mr A. B. Scott, Govan, the present Scottish Champion, that Mr Rboert Stewart, of Blairadam, be the player to defend British prestige in a contest for the Championship title with the American Champion. On that choice unanimity prevails on both sides of tlie Tweed. The match has been arranged to be played in Glasgow next Easter, and, with a view to eliminating the element of gambling from the contest, will be for a purse of £SOO, raised by subscription, it having been agreed! to. raise £3OO on each side of the Atlantic, the remaining £IOO to be allowed the American Champion as expenses. Draughts, like its sister game of dies*, is a mental recreation, possessing qualities of a very high order, and we feel sure, were its merits more fully recognised and better supported financially in this country, it would be fraught with striking beneficial results. The game is worthy of the highest patronage, as it gives great scope to the thinking power and development of the mind generally, and stands out prominently when compared with many of the more popular recreations of tlie present day. The match will be of great importance, will create widespread international interest, and will do much to revive tlie old-time popularity of the game. DRAUGHTS ITEMS We are now only about a month away from Easter and the New Zealand Championship event at Wellington. Play in this event is on the all-round system, which gives rising players an excellent opportunity for first-class practice under match conditions, even if no other incentive were provided. In addition, there is the handicap and prizelist, so that, theoretically, any fairly strong player has a chance for the best that is going exclusive of the championship. We regret to learn from Mr D. Calclerwnod, holder of the title, that he will not be a competitor in the forthcoming tournament. This leaves a very poor prospect of a good first-class entry. SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. Problem 5576 (by W. O’Malley).—Black on 13, 14, 18, King 32. White oil 21, 25, 26, King 11. Black to play and draw. 32 27 27 23 14 18 23 26-c 26 31 31 26 26 22-A 22 15 11 16-b 16 19 19 24 24 27 Then 26 81, drawn. (a) 11 7, 27 24, 7 2, 18 23, 26 19, 24 15, Black wins. !b) 11 7, 23 26. 7 10, 26 23, 10 15. 13 17, drawn. (c) 23 27, 15 11, White wins. Problem 5577 (by the late L. M. Stearns). —Black on 2,4, 9. King 31. White on 11, 15. 18, King 1. White to move and win. 1 5 15 10 11 8 18 35 10 6 5 30 9 13 31 26 4 11 H 18 2 9 White wins.

9 14 16 19 2 7 18 23 26 31 32 28 22 18 23 16 17 10 26 22 14 10 0 6 5 9 12 19 7 14 23 26 6 15 12 16 25 22 22 17 31 27-c 8 4 32 27 6 9 11 1G 14 18 12 16 26 30 31 24 1G 19 18 15 17 13 30 26 22 17 28 10 While 10 19 9 14 8 12-d 14 18 18 23 wins 24 15 29 2o-A 15 11 4 8 13 9 7 10 8 12 16 20 19 23 23 27 27 24 26 22-b 11 8 8 11 9 6 10 19 4 8 20 24 23 26 27 32 24 15 22 17 27 20-e 17 14 6 2

9 14 11 15 4 8 6 10 8 15 16 23 22 18 18 11 29 25 14 7 19 10 27 18 5 9 7 16 2 6 3 10 14 17 Drawn 23 22 26 22 18 It 22 18 10 6 11 16 9 13 10 17 1 6 17 22 24 19 22 18 21 It 28 24 6 1 8 11 13 22 13 17 6 9 22 26 30 25 18 9 25 22 18 13 1 o 16 20 6 13 17 26 10 It 9 13 22 17 25 18 31 22 15 11 23 19

11 15 20 22 14 18 8 4 22 18 G 2 32 28-a 22 20 19 16 22 26 G 2 15 18 1 5-b 11 16-H 20 23 4 8 18 15 2 7 22 17-c 7 16 16 11 26 31 20 16 10 15 20 24-E 13 21 10 15-.T 17 14 23 18 7 11 27 2.1 26 31 21 17 31 26 2 6 13 8 13 18 23 19 15 19-K 14 10 18 14 4 11 23 li) 31 26 m 8 26 22 8 4 19 23 18 22-p 17 13 18 22 10 6 14 10 Dr a vn