DRAUGHTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3500, 12 April 1921, Page 45

DRAUGHTS.

CONDUCTED BY JO3. ABERNETHY. Solutions of problems, games, and analyses infiled for this column. Games should be writteG fa] six oolumns a 3 below, and all oorreepondeno# id dressed to the Draughts Editor.

PROBLEM 5590.

By

W. Veal, Southampton, England.

Black,

GAMES,

Played in the New Zealand championship tournament at Wellington last Easter between Messrs J. Mulvey (Wellington) and J. Leggatt (Masterton). Both players at one time stood high in the game, Mr Mulvey on one occasion being runner-up for tn© championship, and bad© fair to secure fus honours. But 10 years away from the game makes a difference, and the games herewith, indicate how the mighty have fallen. Mr Leggatt has not had much in the way or practice since leaving Wellington. • Game 5657—" Denny.”

Then 27 32, 11 16, "White wins. (a) The old-time favourite, though many experts to-day pronounce 11 15 the best reply. (b) No hope after this. Game 5658 —"Denny. Leggatt’s move.

Black wins. (a) Better than 6 10, hut not much fancied. (b) This is weak; 15 11 gives White a good game. If- Black replies 7 16, then 22 15 should about win; if 8 15, then 27 23, and White is good. (c) 25 22 is better. Game 5659—" Single Corner.”

ANNUAL MEETING OF N.Z. DRAUGHTS ASSOCIATION. The annual meeting of the Association was held at the Working Men’s Club on March 26. Mr F. R. Kelling occupied tlie chair, and there were 32 members present. Minutes of meeting held at Timaru, April 1, 1920, were read 1 and confirmed!. A remit from the Central Executive that the 1922 Championship be held at Christchurch was not adopted, the Christchurch representatives stating that they did not feel justified in undertaking the responsibility. On the motion of Messrs Brown (Christchurch) and Boreham (Dunedin) it was resolved that the 1922 Australasian Championship he held! at Dunedin. The following Central Executive at Dunedin was re-elected:—Messrs Abernethy, Caldow, Hutton, Holden, Muir, Tnainor, Boreham, and Hilliker. The following consultative executive was also re-elected:—Messrs P. C. M'Kay (Auckland), A. M'Donald (Hamilton), Chris. Souness (Dannevirke), J. Armstrong (Wellington), Jas. Gardiner (Westport), G. A. Brown (Christchurch), Alex. Beck (Timaru), P. C. Gray (Gore), F. Hutchins (Invercargill). Resolved that the Association record their very best thanks to the secretary, Mr J. Kent (of Wellington), for his energetic and successful efforts in organising the 1921 Wellington Tourney. On the motion of Mr Mulvey, seeondled by Mr Brown, an c T_ warmly supported by the chairman (Mr Kelling), it was resolved to place on record the appreciation of the New Zealand Draughts Association of the many years of service given to the Association by the secretary, Mr F. E. Hilliker. At 2 p.m. the Tourney was formally opened by the Chief Justice, Sir Robert Stout, who in felicitous and happy strain welcomed the contestants, and expressed his appreciation of the value of all social games and pastimes, the game of draughts among them, provided they excluded the element of gambling. His Honor recounted humorous incidents connected with his early recollections of the game, and after the commencement of play was an interested spectator for some time. Mr Mulvey ably responded on behalf of the Association. A vote of thanks to the president and committee of the Working Men’s Club for the use of their social hall for the tourney play, and to the chairman for presiding, brought the proceedings to a close. THE SCORE SHEET. The following score sheet of the New Zealand Championship Tourney played at Easter will be of interest. Play was on the all-round system, by which everyone meets everyone in a two-game round. Thus, with 17 competitors, every contestant plays 32 games; a win counts 1 point, a draw J point. The table shows not only the total of each player, but how it was obtained. For ex-

ample, under the heading "name,” take Boreham, follow down the line, and! you have hi 3 score against Hilliker, Botting, Carswell, Brown, etc., each figure indicating the result of a game—o for a loss, J for a draw, and 1 for a win. The handicappers were Messrs J. Reid and Coulter, Wellington, and an examination of the table shows there was need for invoking advice or aid from men outside Wellington who hadl knowledge of the various players’ strength. This would in no way have implied incompetence on the part of the handicappers.

Following are the names of competitors, ■with the district represented:—J. A. Boreham and F. E. Hilliker, Dunedin; R. Botting, Balclutha; W. Carswell, Mos-giel; G. A. Brown and C. Millington, Christchurch; J• Leggatt and W. MT.an, Masterton; O. Souness, Dannevirke; D. Gibson, Marten; J. Bruce, New Plymouth ; T. J. Lowry, West Coast; J. Mnnro, Timaru; and J. Mulvey, J. Burgess, C. Manson, and T. Costello, Wellington. The prize-list appeared! last issue. SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. Problem 5587 (hv J. Abernethy).—Black on 16, 28, King 23. White on 32, Kings 12, 14. White to play and ■win. 12 16 26 31-b 20 27 28 32 10 15 23 28 16 20 15 19 27 31 28 24 32 27-A 31 21 14 10-C 32 28 31 27 Black wins. (a) 16 20 will also win, hut by a longer way. Tire text compels Black. (b) If 28 32, 16 11; or of 26 30, 16 11, 15 39, 11 16, Black wins. (c) Only move to win. This sort of position is often drawn. Problem 5588 (by J. Hudspith).—Black on 5,6, 8, 13, 14, 24, Kings 1, 30. White on 7, 15, 16, 21, 22, 29, 31, 32, King 4. Black to play and win. 8 11 21 14 30 26 32 23 1 10 15 8 13 17 31 22 6 9 Black 14 17 22 13 24 27 13 6 wins.

Mulvey’s move. 10 14 7 10 6 1 5 14 16 19 16 19 22 18 18 14 27 23 10 7 6 2 14 9 11 16-a 10 17 3 7 11 16 19 23 b-12 16 26 22 21 14 29 25 25 22 2 7 10 15 16 20 9 18 6 9 16 23 4 8 20 24 22 17 23 14 23 18 31 27 7 10 32 28 8 11 11 15 7 11 2 11 8 11 16 20 17 10 24 19 14 10 27 9 22 18 9 6 6 22 15 24 9 14 11 16 11 16 23 27 25 18 28 19 18 9 9 6 18 14 15 11

10 14 23 16 18 27 22 17 6 9 25 22 22 18 12 19 32 16 9 13 29 25 23 26 7 10-A 18 15 10 19 18 14 9 13 31 27 25 22 2 7 22 18 13 22 14 9 26 30 11 16 30 25 8 11 25 18 5 14 27 23 2-1 20 14 18 26 22-c 4 8 18 9 30 25 16 19 27 23-b 19 23 16 12 11 15 23 18

By ~VV. Veal, Southampton, England. 11 15 24 19 10 26 28 24 5 9-a 3 7 22 18 8 12 31 22 14 18 17 10 14 18 15 22 26 22 8 11 26 22 9 14 7 10 25 18 4 8 22 17 9 14 27 23 18 23 12 16 22 17 2 7 22 15 6 9 10 15 29 25 7 10 17 10 16 19 13 6 20 24 10 14 17 13 7 14 25 22 3 7 15 19 18 15 12 16 30 26 19 28 10 3 24 27 16 20 19 12 11 16 22 17 12 6 Drawn (a) Published draw. play shows that 14 18 m ay

Name. o X | Ililliker | fee o X i 5 o c o 3 ! 1 _o 0 CJ bfj A & 5 >> 0 -1 £ O s 3 m 0 X O 0 02 I Handicap | O Boreham .. — 11 11 11 11 11 ll 1J 11 11 *1 44 11 11 u 11 •27J _ 271 Ililliker .. to 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 10 14 u 11 41 11 U id — 26 Botting .. ot 00 — 11 01 11 11 11 10 01 11 10 11 40 44 10 19 5 24 Carswell .. On 01 1C — u 11 00 11 10 '1 04 41 11 01 11 10 40 HI 9 231 Brown 00 00 11 n 11 11 u 11 11 11 10 11 44 OA a n 20 — 20 Millington 00 00 01 It no — 00 to 11 10 04 00 04 *0 01 00 14 7 6 13 Leggat .. 04 oo 00 1! 1C 11 — 10 11 10 H 11 liiii 14 4* 18 3 21 M'Lean .. Ou 00 Ot 11 01 11 11 10 10 U 00 10 00 01 uu n ilh 9 201 Manson .. ot 00 01 11 01 JO 01 — 14 h 00 4i lJ io 11 10 ut 13 27J Costello .. 40 11 1 4 11 11 Hi 01 01 14 41 11 Ou 40 ££ 01 15 10 25 Burgess .. 00 01 00 14 01 11 00 Ut 01 44 to 01 11 04 11 12 8 20 Mulvey .. Jo 01 01 41 01 11 0 11 11 5$ 44 4 OJ ll 10 ll 18 3 21 Lowry u 01 06 10 ■>0 11 (T 01 1 '* u to U "4 40 14 101 8 i8j Bruce 00 i] 10 .11 JO ll 01 ll 10 01 OJ 16 7 23 Manro 01 «>0 »T, JO ll 1J 0J u 01 J1 OJ u ii — OJ 01 13J 3 16® Souness .. Of 0} H ■1 Jl 11 JJ 11 IX a 01 h\ 1C ll 1C 16* 3 19* Gibson 00 JO 01 !1 )0 01 h\ io 0;l 0 * OJ 14 10 01 12l 7 19 J