PROBLEM 5843.

Otago Witness, Issue 3673, 5 August 1924, Page 57

PROBLEM 5843.

By

T. M. Kimmell, U.S.A.

Black.

This is a fine problem, which will not be found easy. It is a useful study, and worm while. TO CORRESPONDENTS. IT. Egan (Melbourne). —Will comply with requests with pleasure. Thanks for enclosaire. J. B. (New Plymouth).—Thanks for. items. Will be dealt with in full next issue. K E. H. (Kiverton). —It is quite right to “man off” if by so doing you can wun the game. There is nothing unsportsmanlike in doing eo; it is simply plain common sense. R. K. (Tapanui).—You are correct in solutions to Problems 5839 and 5840. In No. 5838 the White King on 12 should have been a Black King, as pointed out last week. GAMES. Played at Gore in the 1924 championship between Messrs J. Bruce (New Plymouth) and F. Hutchins (Invercargill). Game 6042—“ Denny.”

(a) This and 7 10, as in the next game, are both reckoned inferior to 11 15. (b) This weakens Black’s double _ corner; 12 16, 28 24, 16 20, etc., is a good line. (c) This loses; 3 8 draws. Game 6043— “ Denny.”

The following game from Glasgow Herald is worth noting. It waa played in the recent English championship, won by S. Cohen. Note (d) reveals of the difficulties which arise in. tournament play. In the game ‘ etc. is given in p 1 ace of an exchange. Game Go44—“Denny.”

(1) 17 13, 14 17, Etc., 26 22, Etc., 11 16, Etc., 13 9, 8 11, 9 6, 11 15, 6 2, 12 16, 28 24, 38,2 7, 8 12, 7 10, 16 19. Drawn. (2) 22 18, 14 17, Etc., 26 22, Etc., 7 10, 22 17, 4 8, 28 24 3 7, 17 13, 10 14, 18 9, 11 16, 9 6, 710 6 2,' 10 14, 27, 14 18. Drawn.

(a) In the 16th and deciding game in the recent English championship I played 8 11 and lest. It was suggested that 17 22 would draw, hut the important 23 18 reply wins. (b) Seemingly no draw after* this. (c) Given in the “Encyclopedia,” but is bad. (D) In the semi-final round, when twelve games had been drawn, the committee decided to introduce the "barred” openings. Four games were to be played, and in the event of a tie one of us was to be balloted out. I am not aware that this has been done before, hut, if unavoidable, it was decidedly harsh. Also the sudden introduction of the “barred” openings—which were not played in the tourney nor mentioned in the rules—gave but little time after the evening’s play for research. In consequence of this hasty examination I missed a win in the 14th game. lam inclined to think that the openings should not have been introduced unless mentioned in the rules. I contend it was the means of my losing the championship. Further, in the event of the ballot out being adopted, the outgoing player should be awarded half, the possible prize. Balloting out under other conditions is most unfair. The best intention actuated the committee, hut the course taken was unfortunate, so far as I am concerned.' (d) I was aware of this move, but, as stated, it was not possible, with four openings to examine, to give it attention. The "Encyclopaedia” gives 18 16, after which Black has much stronger play that might have won. I therefore decided to “chance” it. My opponent did not hesitate at 22 17, and apparently was prepared on it. I was not. (e) The piece on 14 has to be defended, and 8 12, 25 22 appeared doubtful, but may also draw'. NEW BOOKS. “KETCHUM’S HANDY MANUAL.” The Manual is a handy treatise on the game, designed specially for the learner on lines somewhat similar to "Lees’* Guide.”

The work evidently met with a good reception, for while the first edition was placed on the market only last year, a second edition is already available. The new edition has been enlarged, embodying new play and corrections of the first work. Being an American production, it naturally includes a great deal of American play, and on that account alone is worthy of a place on the student’s shelf. The new edition is in paper covers, price 3s post free from Mr H. Egan, Weekly Times Office, Melbourne. “MORRIS SYSTEMS SCIENTIFIC CHECKERS.” This is the title of another American publication just out. We have not seen a copy, but for the benefit of our readers we give the verdict of the Australian champion as embodied in bis notes in the Weekly Times: Despite faults absolutely inseparable from a book on draughts, Newell W. Banks s book “Morris Systems Scientific Checkers" is a most excellent work, and seldom before have experts been so unanimous as to the merits of a new book on the game. Unique in character, lucid m detail, ana beautilully printed, this book should certainly prove & most valuable addition to any player’s draughts library—be he newcomer, novice, or expert. Mr Banks’s memory, training, and visualisation charts are a treat, in fact, quite a revelation-something hitherto never attempted. As a text-book on t e game Mr Banks s book takes high rank, and is an extremely useful addendum to other fine books recently issued by American experts. Mr Banks runs the whole gamut ot the 47 playable openings, and much original plav is given. The book is priced at one and' a-half dollars in the United States; out a limited supply is on hand here, and may be had from the Weekly limes Oftice at 7s 3d, po-st free. draughts items. Mr Hun-h Egan, champion of AusLalia, writing on the 11th uit., refers to a remark in this column recently m connection with a game between Messrs J. Leggat, ot Wellington, and Benov, of H.M.S. Hood. Speaking of the champion of the fleet, this was given:— “lt is reported that Mr Benoy had a level sitting with Mr 11. Egan while m Melbourne.” Mr Egan comments tnus; “The fact is that Mr Benoy scored two araws in a simultaneous exhibition while I was playing him and about a dozen others, ineluding four of the strongest players in Victoria! It does not matter much, of course; but yo-ur paragraph might as well have gone the full course and stated the facts. lh justice to Mr Egan and ourselves we have to state that the paragraph was contributed with the game (the annotation was our own), and we had no knowledge whatever ot the facts apart from that. In view of the quality of Benoy’a play, however, we had doubt about the accuracy of the statement, and made it read: “It is reported,” etc. The English championship for 1924 was won by a youth of 18 years—Samuel Cohen. He entered the final after drawing 15 times with Mr F. Teeclieleit, the champion of London. He was opposed later by Mr Dulfioy (St. Helens), and won by two games to none. Three, games were drawn. He has a wonderful memory, a<nd can repeat all' the moves after a game. Mu Cohen, who is a skirt-pleatex in a tailoring establishment near Barbican, was elated at his success. He stated that he had been playing draughts about three years in his spare time, and that he considered that the game was more difficult than chess. He considers chess slow. He shared the second prize in the London draughts championship last year. He stated that the. English Draughts Association were going to try to arrange a subscription match between 0 Connor, the Scottish champion, and himself, ar.d if he were successful it was hoped to fix up a match with Robert Stewart, the world's champion. SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS Problem 5834 (by 11. Egan).—Black on 3, 11, 28; Kings 21, 31. White on 6, 12, 20, 26; King 5. White to move and draw. 26 22 21 17 5 9-c 310 20 11 17 '22 31 26-A 6 2 22 15 914 15 8 14 7 22 18 26 22-b 2 7 11 16 12 3 Drawn. (a) If 11 15 , 5 9, 28 32, 9 14, draw. (b) If 26 23 5 1 (18 14 loses), 23 14, 1 6, 28 32, 27, 3 10, 6 8, 32 27, 8 11, 14 10, 20 16, drawn. (c) If 18 14, 7 10, 27, 10 15, 7 16, 28 32, Black wins. Problems 5835, 5836, and 5837 have appeared. Problem 5838 (by L. M. Stearns). —Blade Kings on 12, 27 , 28. White on 11, 23, King 25. White to play and draw.

Problem 5839 (by J. A. Boreham). —Black oil 3,8, 16 18, 19, 21, 23; King 32. White on 9, 25, 26, 28, 29/ 30; King 17. Black tr> rilav and win.

last week. Problem 5840 (by P. Scott). —Black on 20, 25; Kings 10, 26. White on 18, 28; Kings 2, 19. Black to play and win. 20 24 10 7 26 23 25 30 18 15 2 11 19 26 B. wins.

Bruce’s move. 10 14 25 18 10 17 27 24 17 21 19 16 24 120 9 13-B 25 22 7 10 27 24 12 19 6 10-A 18 9 4 8 24 20 10 15 24 8 22 11 18 16 5 29 14 25 28 8 24 11 2 32 7 28 19 7 10 14 6 White 20 11 14 17 24 19 5 9 23 19 wins. 8 22 21 14 1 5 31 27 14 17-c

Hutchins ’s move. 10 14 8 24 9 13 15 24 10 17 17 21 24 20 28 19 18 9 28 19 18 15 31 27 10 4 8 5 14 2 7 6 9 3 8 23 19 27 23 25 22 22 18 29 25 ' 27 24 11 16 8 11 11 15 14 17 1 5 White 20 11 22 18 32 28 21 14 25 22 wins.

By F. Tescheleit, London. 10 14 30 26 24 19 11 15 11 16 18 15 23 18 10 H-c 8 12 17 13 27 23 26 31 14 23 22 17-d 29 25 Etc. 20 24 15 6 27 18 2 6-e 1 6-3 14 17 9 6 31 27 12 16 17 10 25 22 Etc. 24 27 6 1 32 27 6 22 6 10 8 11 6 2 27 18 16 20 25 18 22 17-2 13 9 27 31 1 6 26 23 9 14 4 8 7 10 22 17 16 23 6 10 Etc. 26 22-1 23 18 31 26 Drawn.

11 16-b Etc. Etc. C3) 17 22-a 62 22 18 25 22* 26 22 19 15 23 18* 30 25 7 11 10 3 7 4 8 ■ 22 25 2 7* Etc. 22 18 22 18 15 10 9 6 25 22 W. wins ”1 11 17 Etc. 25 30 18 15*

23 18 23 18 9 6 28 24 22 17 12 3 27 23 14 9 14 10 25 22 19 15 2 7 18 14 18 14 6 2 24 19 11 8 Drawn.

18 22 19 24 32 27 3 7 27 24 24 15 25 18 28 12 26 19 12 3 3 10 B. wins.