DRAUGHTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3619, 24 July 1923, Page 51

DRAUGHTS.

CONDUCTED BY JOS. ABEENETHY. Solutions of problems, games, and analyses it&t flted for this column. Games should bo writt«J to six columns as beluw, and all correspondent addressed to the Draughts Editor. PROBLEM 5766. By J. A. Boreham, Dunedin. Black.

White. Black t-o play, White to draw. This is No. 286 in Horsfall’s Problem Book, by J. Churchill, where it is given as a Black win. PROBLEM 5767. By Itozam, contributed by A. Sinclair to Glasgow Weekly Herald. Black.

White. Black to play and win. Mr Sinclair writes;—This appeared in the Glasgow Weekly Herald many years ago. _ It was left as a draw, but the Rozam maintained it was a Black win. His play was upset by the late T. Cowie, Liverpool, and AM'Gill, Glasgow. In the Old South-Side Club the late George Buchanan gave his opinion that the position was only a draw. The above was the last line of defence played by the Rozam. GAMES. Played in the 1923 New Zealand champion ship at Hamilton between Messrs J. A. Scott (champion) and H. Batting. Mr Hotting is a son of Mr It. Botting, an old Otago Club member, who also was a competitor in the tourney. Botting junior put up an excellent record at Hamilton, and should be a quant.ty to be reckoned with in future events. We recall that when a mere boy he secured a creditable draw against A. Jordan during one of the latter’s exhibitions in Dunedin. In the games following he evidently found Scott below his form —and that without in any way depreciating Botting’s pei-formance. It is interesting to note that Botting is said to be practically ignorant of book play. Game 5882—“ Edinburgh.” Scott’s move.

(a) Probably not so well known as 10 15, but some authorities consider it a strong defence. Old-time players used to practice it, and It. Jordan drew it with Freedman in their match for the world’s championship. (b) Not considered so good as 21 20 or 24 19, though in this case it serves well. (c) Shearer proclaims this an essential move after the 18 14 cut. (d) Not so- good as 6 10. (e) In an Atwell-Vinck game the former went 8 12 here and lost. This looks better. (y) The effect of this second exchange is to take some of the strength out of White’s double-corner side. (g) This loses; 2 6 appears to draw. Game 5883—“ Edinburgh.” Betting’s move.

(b) This is obviously a weak move, and loses. If 24 19, 15 24 , 28 19, 11 15, 19 16, and White has an easy ending. (c) The shortest way. Following, from the City News, Manchester, is a neat win scored in a cross-board game played recently in Manchester.

(a) 1 5 seems bast, although 10 15 clears up the situation. (b) 15 24 is the same thing. 10 15 at (a) is quite good enough for all practical purposes, and is preferable to 1 5. —“Whilter,” in Weekly Times.

9 13 16 19-c 4 8-D 1 6 8 12 7 ii 22 18 23 16 29 25 31 26 25 22 18 9 12 16-A 11 2.0 6 9-E 6 9-p 11 16-g 5 14 18 14-b 24 19 26 23 26 23 22 18 White 10 17 8 11 9 18 9 18 16 23 wins. 21 14 25 21 23 14 23 14 14 10

9 13 7 16 8 11 1 5 '23 27 14 21 22 IS 24 20 28 24 23 19-b 30 25 22 18 11 15-A 3 8 6 9 14 18 5 9-c 15 22 IS 11 20 11 24 20 22 17 13 6 19 16 8 15 8 15 9 14 9 14 2 9 12 19 21 17 29 25 27 24 17 13 25 21 24 6 13 22 4 8 5 9 18 23 9 13 27 32 25 11 25 22 32 28 26 22 21 17 E . wins. (A) “Extremely weak,’ 5 ’ says Shearer. But, as in well. the previous game, a weak line serves

Game 5384- — 1 ‘‘Leeds.’* Black— -J. A. Milne. "White— •H. Moulding. 11 16 10 15-A 7 16 7 10 4 11 16 20 21 17 18 11 30 25 15 11 27 24 24 15 9 13 8 15 3 7 16 19-1 11 15 10 9 25 21 21 19 17 14 32 27 21 17 11 8 5 9 16 23-b 9 18 12 16 13 22 23 18 27 11 22 15 11 8 25 11 W. wins

Variation 1. 10 15 27 24 15 22 8 3 14 18 31 24 32 27 16 19 24 8 9 14 11 16 20 27 1 5 11 8 12 16 3 8 18 23 25 22 4 11 26 17 16 20 16 19 Draw. 5 2 22 18 13 22 8 11 23 27 —Shearer.