DRAUGHTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3511, 28 June 1921, Page 45

DRAUGHTS.

CONDUCTED BY

JOS. ABERNETHY.

Solutions of problems, games, and analyses Invited tor this column. Games should be written in six columns as below, and uli correspondence vddresaed to the Draughts Editor.

PROBLEM 5610. By “King Lear.” Black.

White.

Black to play and win.

The weakest point .in the above is the setting—two pieces threatened at once makes it unnatural. But it will please.

PROBLEM 5611 By IV Tait. Black.

White. Black to play and wir.

This is a neat problem of the Sloouta type, which first appeared, we believe, in the iate F. Dunne's Budget column. TO CORRESPONDENTS. 11. F., Clinton. — Thanks for ending, but hardly suitable for a problem. AV. "O'M l ., Queenstown.—Will convey your message. Regret that oversight, though no harm done. Your solution to Problem 5G07 correct. GAMES. Played between Mr W. Veal, Southampton, England, and a friend. Game sGs9—“Bristol Cross.”

(a) In Game 2343 in Draughts World 10 14 is played here, and White wins. (1) 18 14 1 10 7 22 6 6 9-b 9 14 16 20 14 7 24 27 27 32-A 32 27 J 7 32 2 G 20 24 Drawn. (a) If 27 31, 6 9, 31 22, 9 13, White wins. (b) If 26 2.3, 17 22, 23 18-C, 32 27, 6 9, 27 23, 18 14, 22 20, drawn. (c) If 23 19, 22 26, 30 23, 32 27, Drawn. HANDICAPPING. In reply to an inquiry on handicapping a team for an all-round tournament we reprint what we wrote some years ago for the s a mo xi urpo se : Handicapping* in club tournaments is net at all an easy matter, nor can the difficulty be overcome by any arbitrary rules. Tho best results can only be attained by a knowledge of the players, and a nice balancing of various factors concerning each and all of the competitors. Even after all that has been done competently there may still remain a ‘‘surprise packet” which will work havoc with a hand:capp-er’s calculations. We take the opportunity, however, of making a few suggestions on handicapping, bused on an experience covering a good many years of trial and a gratifying measure of success. Wo think success can be claimed when, in sporting parlance, the first half dozen competitors can bo “covered l by a blanket”—only a row points separating tiie- first from the sixth. With 19 compelitors in an all-round tourney wo have a possible of 36 points. In an average team the highest score may be put down at three fourths of the possible, which give s u s 27 for i he se r a lull n i.a n or mo 11 . The others are brought up to that level by the handicap, and that seems to be all there is in it. But the variations arc numerous. Tho shorter tho “tail” of ihe team, ihe lower the scratch man’s score will lie; and if tliero is only one strong player he may score nearly the possible. But one can’t even be sure <>f that, for in an Otago Club tournament a few years ago, with a team si lowing a strong combination of talent (including four oxchampions of New Zealand) and a short “tail,” Mr Brodio scored 150 i prints out of a. possible 34. That is a wonderful score, which no handicapper could be expected! to anticipate. Again, a 3 1 and leap per may handle the same players year after year, and yet find it jhard to guage individual improvement in play. The scratch man will probably remain stationary, while some “scrub” bounds suddenly into the limelight, and upsets all calculations. When a handicapper has to assess a player of whom ho has no personal knowledge, he may be able to arrive at a safe arrangement by consulting players who have- met tho unknown one, being watchful to “keep something* in hand.” But with all care and every good intention a handicapper, like a judge in musical competitions, must not expect he will please everybody or even himself. To err is human.

DRAUGHTS ITEMS. The following ending occurred recently in a game between Messrs S. Boreham and j-j-. Fret ten at Clinton: —Black on 4, Kings 8, 24, 28. White Kings on 11, 15, 19. V. iiite to play and draw. It is given as a problem; but readers will readily find that Black can do nothing. America is the home of big things. Mr C. Lawson and Dr Gilder sleeve are engaged in a match of 100 games. In the first 16 games the doctor was a game ahead. SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. Problem 5606 (by W. O’Malley).—Black on 3,8, 22, 28, King 14. White on 12, 13, 27, 30, King 6. Black to move and win. 28 32 24 20 710 30 23 11 20 73 27 24 3 7-A 615 27 11 3 7 16 11 32 27 12 3 22 26 20 16 20 16 2 6 Black wins. (a) 8 11 also wins. This problem, was withdrawn by the author some years ago on account of this 8 11, but we had not destroyed it. Coming across it again when going through accumulations, eve used it without noting it was a reject. We owe an apology to Mr O’Malley and! our readers for the oversight. Problem 5607 (by P. M. Bf.adt). —Black on 13, Kings 4, 15. White' on 18, Kings 11, 16, 30. White to play and win. 16 12 16 19 15 11 19 15 30 26 10 14 15 22 8 3-a 17 21 22 17 21 25 23 25 11 15 19 23 18 23-f 15 10 26 30 14 18 13 17 22 26-c 31 26 17 22 17 21 White 12 16 23 18 23 19 10 6-S 610 wins. 4 8 28 31 26 22 22 17 25 29 (a) 8 12-b, 19 23, 22 26, 23 18, 26 31, 15 11, 17 21, 18 23, White wins as trunk at t. (b) 17 21, 19 16, 22 17, 16 11, 8 12, 15 10, 17 22, 10 6, White wins as trunk at (s). (c) 17 21-d, 23 18, 22 17, 15 11, 17 13, 18 14, 13 17, 14 10, 17 22, 10 6, White wins as trunk at (s). (D) 3 8, 23 18, 8 11, 18 25, ft 18, 25 22, White wins.

Veal’s move. '1116 2 11 8 11 5 14 11 16 27 22 23 ltt 28 24 25 22 21 17 2 7--1 19 16 16 20 11 15 10 14 14 21 16 20 32 27 24 19 18 11 26 23 22 18 7 30 14 9 7 11 8 15 6 10 13 17-A 20 24 22 26 19 16 22 18 24 19 19 15 18 14 30 23 12 19 15 22 3 8 10 19 24 27 27 10 27 24 25 IS 31 26 23 7 16 23 9 6 20 27 4 8 9 13 8 11 17 22 18 22 32 7 29 25 18 9 7 2 23 19 Drawn.