PROBLEM 5614.

Otago Witness, Issue 3513, 12 July 1921, Page 45

PROBLEM 5614.

By

F. C. Greytown.

Black

This at once proclaims its character. It will appea-l to those who may fail with “Atlantian’s.”

PROBLEM 5615

By

“ATLANTLAN"

Black.

A useful ending, not difficult if the correct strategy is grasped.

TO CORRESPONDENTS. T. L. W., Aloerewa. —You have been somewhat neglected of late, though quite unintentionally. You will have observed various solutions published to check your own play. Any points which do not seem clear we shall be pleased to consider. Your racy remarks always enjoyed. Postage is sufficient. This week’s problems will no doubt please you —one of each. GAMES. Played in the New Zealand championship tournament- (all-round system) at Wellington last Easter between Messrs J. A. Boreham (champion) and 1). Gibson. Game—‘‘Kelso Exchange.'’ Boreham’s move.

(a) The student will probably find this as good as anything, although he may safely follow published play with 11 16 or 6 10 or 9 14 or" 9 13. (b) White also has a gcocl selection here, as ‘26 22 or 20 25 or 21 17 are all considered safe. (c) 17 13 also looks good enough. (n) Natural play, t-o break the bridge position; but White seems to fear it, and “gets the wind up.” (f) Ho commits suicide to save being killed; but his alarm is needless, for 21 17 draws. (vj Spoiling the effect of White’s bridge. (a) 17 13 no better. (it) First move in a nicely-timed coup-de-grace. (t) And the deed is done. G AKE —“Kelso Exchange.”

(a) Making for a complicated game, with, good chances for White. (b) Published play by P. Thirkhill, as follows, will interest the student. He continues :

(c) Erroneously stated to correct Kcar’o “Kelso” and the 1907 English Tourney Book; this line is not given by Rear so far as we can find. (b) Corrects the P>.D.P., part 7, exercise 88, where 6 10 is played and White wins. (f.) This does mot seem to improve Black’s position; the four-for-four by 14 18, followed by 15 18, gives Black a good; ending. (f) This puts Black in difficulties, if not an actual loss; 10 15 appears good enough, (o) Just too late! DRAUGHTS ITEMS. The date of fifth American tourney, to be held in B-oeton in 1922, has been officially changed from January 1 to October 12.

Antiquity of Draughts.—Perhaps the most patriarchal sign is the Chequers, found in many houses at Pompeii. It is believed that it indicated originally that draughts and backgammon were played within. In the middle age-3 it represented the coat of arms of the Earls of Warren and Surrey, who bore cheque, or azure, and in the reign of Edward IV possessed the privilege of licensing ale-houses. It was also supposed to represent a table called the exchequer in tlie squares of which reckonings were made.—“ Signs and Signboards,” by the Rev. T. Whitby, M.A. Draughts at Westminster. —“The roughnesses of Westminster life have, however, been considerably smoothed of l-at-e years. The dormitory in old times was like nothing known to mortal schoolboys except Lord Chamber at Eton. It was all one long open room where the whole 40 boys slept in public—the juniors in not much greater comfort than the casuals in a modern union. The windows were continually' broken, and never repaired but during a vacation. In the winter time the atmosphere was consequently often at freezing point, and this was taken advantage of by such seniors as were given to vigorous exercise to order the fags out of bed, when a frost had set in decidedly, to pour water down the middle of the room, so as to ensure a practicable slide by the morning. The advance of science lia-d even taught them to use boiling water as freezing more rapidly than cold. The- same floor was on on© occasion converted into a draughts board. It was chalked out into large squares, and on each square a junior was stationed. Two of the seniors, standing on an adjoining table, played a gam© at draughts with these human pieces, and when a king was made his representative had to carry, by way of a crown, a small boy upon his shoulders.” — Extract from “The Public Schools,” by the author of “Etonians.” SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. Problem 5610 (by “King Lear”). —Black on 8,9, 11, 18, 27, kings 6, 32. White on 10, 15, 19, 22, 25, kings 4, 31. Black to play and win. 6 2 15 8 2 7 19 12 914 31 24 32 28 10 3 28 10 Blade 8 12 22 15 12 16 25 21 wins Problem 6611 (by P. Tait). —Black kings 4, 8 , 23 , 30. White 6, 16, 22, king 13; Black to play and win: 8 12, 16 11, 30 25, 22- 17, 25 21, 17 14, 12 8, 11 7, 21 17, 13 22, 2.3 18, 22 15, 8 11, 15 8, 4 18. Black wins.

10 15 8 11 10 15 IS 23 31 26 17 22 22 18 25 22 17 10 17 14-c 6 10 31 27 15 22 9 14 7 14 15 18-D 16 20 h-7 11 25 18 22 IS 31 2G 16 ll-K 10 15 27 31 11 15-A 6 10 2 7 7 16 3 7-f 11 16 18 11 18 9 20 16 14 10 21 17 31 27 8 15 5 14 12 19 18 22 26 22 5 9 24 1S-B 26 22 23 16 10 6 15 19-0 27 31 15 24 11 15 1 5 22 26 22 13 20 24 28 19 22 17 26 22 6 2 19 26 32 28 ■1 8 15 24 11 18 26 31 13 17 16 19 20 25 27 20 23 17 2 6 26 31 30 26 Then 9 13-1. Black wins.

Gibson’s it) ove. 10 15 8 11 10 17 12 19 15 19 15 10 22 18 20 25 23 19 23 7 16 11 8 12 15 22 7 10-B 7 10 2 11 19 23 19 24 25 IS 25 21 27 23 22 IS 11 7 12 16 11 15 9 14 17 21 14 23 5 9-G 24 27 18 11 2(5 22 21 20 26 19 13 6 16 20 8 15 3 7 15 24 11 15 1 10 27 31 21 17-a 31 26 2S 19 19 10 7 3 20 24 4 8 1-1 17-E 10 1-1-F 6 15 10 15 W. . wins 17 13 21 14 19 16 20 16 3 8

9 14 15 8 14 18 30 25 17 22 6 2 23 19 12 16 22 15 5 9 26 17 16 20 6 10 32 23 10 19 25 22 19 26 2 7 27 23 3 12 20 11 9 11 14 9 10 14 15 18 25 22 7 16 22 18 6 10 17 10 19 15 1 G-C 31 27 14 17 9 6 25 30 18 27 24 20 2 7-n 18 14 7 11 7 1G Drawn.