PROBLEM 5960.

Otago Witness, Issue 3755, 2 March 1926, Page 73

PROBLEM 5960.

By A.. Battbay, in Aberdeen Free Press. L Black, j _____

[White.] White to play and win. A neat end-game, with forced play leading to pretty finish. TO CORRESPONDENTS. J. R. C., Wakefield. Nelson.—Your play on Bruce's problem is a good endeavour; but you would notice since writing how Black gets the draw. See game last week. Thanks for note. R. S. C., Anderson’s Bay.—Your letter arrived while we were on holiday, you would notice the draw in game given last week. You are correct for a White win on the line given. W. D., Waikaia—Your play Tor a win is correct against 9 14; but you would notice in last issue tbc game showing the draw for Black. Always welcome. NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIP. TOURNEY. Play begins Friday morning, April 2, in Y.M.C.A., Moray place, Dunedin. Entry fee for championship: for the knock-out system, 21; for all-round handicap tournament. 10s 6d. Annual meeting of Association in Y.M.C.A. on Thursday evening, April 1. Intending competitors should notify the eecreiavy (Mr J. Beecot, care of Otago Witness) as early as possible if accommodation is to be secured for them. GAMES. The following games were played in the 1924 New Zealand Championship at Gore between Messrs Henry (Invercargill) and Young (Christchurch). Game 6300—“ Double Corner.” Henry’s move.

(Annotated bv Jas. Beecot, Dunedin). (a) 15 19, forming a “Dyke,” is considered Black's strongest attack, as it weakens the White Double Corner, and enables Black to develop a strong centre (3) It is always wise to restrict your opponent’s attacking powers. This move allows Black a big choice of strong lines. Then, again if White plays anything else, Black would probably cut 15 19 and secure a strong game. (c) Mr Henry played 7 11 here against Mr M'Kinna in the same tourney, but did not meet with success; although I prefer it to the text. (d) White's game weakens now; 17 13 would be better Game 6301—“ Pioneer.”

(a) See note (a) previous game. (b) 17 14 was .once considered weak, but it now regarded as giving an equal game. (c) This move cramps the White Single Corner, and it remains so to the end. (») 37 must be played to relieve the cramp. SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP. The thirty-second contest for the draughts championship of Scotland opened on New Years Pay in Glasgow. There were 36 entries. We append a number of the endings from the Glasgow Weekly Herald. First Day. P. Sweeney v M. Currie—Black on 7, 11, 17. White on 20, 30, 31. White (Currie) to play. The moves were 30 26, 7 10, 26 23, 11 15, 20 16, 10 14, 16 11. 15 18. 11 7. Drawn. A. Bain v. S. Parker—Black on 2,3, 6, 10, 13, 14, 20. White on 12, 21, 22, 23, 27, 30, 31. Black to play. The game proceeded 27, 23 19. 14 17, 21 14, 10 26, 31 22, 7 11. 19 16, 11 15. 27 23, 15 19, 22 18. Drawn. F. M'Gowan v. J. Gall—Black on 2,5, 12, 13 , 23 . 28. White on 14, 17, 18, 22, 32. king on 3. White (Gall) t,o play. Some critical positions cropped up, and White made a masterly draw when a piece down. The play went thus:—l4 10, 23 26, 17 14, 26 30, 18 15 , 30 26, 22 18 , 26 22, 3 8 , 22 17, 15 11, 17 22. 10 7, 22 15, 7 3. 13 17. 8 4, 15 8, 4 11, 17 22, 11 15, 22 26, 3 8, 26 30, 8 11, 30 25, 15 18. 25 21, 18 22, 2 6. 14 10, 6 15. 11 18, 5 9. 18 15, 12 16. 15 11, 16 20. 11 16, 9 13. 16 19. 20 24. Drawn. J. Burns v. J. Dunbar—Black on 8,10,11, 12, 13. 14. 16, 20. White on 21, 22, 23 , 24, 25, 27, 28, 31 White (Dunbar) to play. The final moves wero:-22 18, 11 15, 18 9, 16 19, 23 16. 20 28 , 21 17 13 22, 25 11, 28 32 , 27 24, 20 27, 31 21. White won. Second Day. The tie between A. B. Scott and T. S. Huiley attracted most attention, and the spectators were rather crowded. One of the endings came thus:—Black on 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 18. White on 17, 21. 25, 26, 28,-king on 6. White (Scott) to play. Tho subsequent moves were:—6 2, 16 19 27, 18 23. 7 16, 23 30, 16 23, 15 18, 23 19. A few shifts later Hulley resigned. Another ending by the same pair was Black on 3, 13, 15. 17. 28. Whito on 11, 22. 23, 26, 27. Black (Hulley) to play. The play proceeded by 28 32, 27 24. 17 21, 23 19, 38 ‘2B, 19 10, 28 19. 11 7, 21 25, 7 2, 3 8,

27, 25 30, 7 3, 90 23, 3 12, 19 16, 10 0, 23 18. Hulley won. In tbo extra games between J. Dunbar and. J. Burns the opening drawn was 11 16, 23 29. The first ending was—Black on 1,6, 10. 11, 12, 14. White on 19, 20, 21, 28, 26 , 32. Black (Dunbar) to play. Dunbar won by the following play:—ll 15. 39 38, 15 24 28 19, 6 9, 25 32. 9 13. With Burns playing Black pieces ;he ending came thus: —Black on 1,2, 9, 18. White on 6, 17, 21, king, 3. White to play. The concluding moves were:—3 8, 18 23, 17 13, 9 14, 8 11, 23 26. 11 25. 26 30, 15 10. 14 18, 13 9,. Drawn. Ona of the endings between H. Barr and 5. Parker came thus—Black on 1,7, 12, 13, 15. White on 21, 22. 26, 27, 32. Black (Barr) to play; and the game was drawn after 7 10, 26 23, 12 16, 27 34. 10 14 , 32 28, 16 20, 24 19, 15 24, 28 19, 20 24, 22 17, 1 5. 18 9, 5 14. Between J. Campbell, the present champion, and W. Mackie, one game brought the pieces to the following position: —Black on 3, 7. 11, 13, 14. White on 12, 20, 22, 24 , 30; with Black (Campbell) to move. Campbell won by the following play:—7 10, 24 19. 11 15, 19 16, 15 19, 16 11, 10 15, 11 8, 19 23. 8 4, 14 17. In a game between J. Love, jun., ami A. M. Craig, the ending came with Black on 7,8, 9, 12. 18. White on 15, 20, 25 , 26, 27. Black (Love) to play. A draw was agreed to after 9 13, 26 22, 7 11. 15 10. 11 15. 10 7, 8 11, 7 2. 13 17. 22 13, 18 22. 27 18, 15 29. Though a man dov.n for a long time. P. Dundaa struggled on, and the ending came with Black on 12 14, 19, king on 27. White on 7, 20. 2*2. 30, king on 1. Black (Dr.odas) to move. The succeeding moves were 19 23, 30 25. 23 26, 1 6. 26 30, 6 9. 30 25 . 9 18. 25 29, 18 23. He suggested a draw at this point, but his opponent laughingly declined. After prolonged play Dundas resigued, having previously mi6«ed to take a huff. Third Day. Councillor Kennedy, in opening the proceedings, hi 9 pleasure that the silent game wa9 on a revival, and related some experiences cf the introductions he had in the United States, where he had been recontly. Ho wa 8 astonished that draughts had such a hold where we thought the only recreation was the hunt for the “Almighty Dollar.” lie was pleased that he had heard that the abilities of Scottish draughts players were known over the water, and that his freier.d Mr I?. Stewart (of Kelty) had 30 far received no reply to his challenge to the States for tbs world for that matter). He hoped that the Scottish Association would succeed in their effort to secure another thousand members 1 his year. The following are a few of the endings: J. Campbell v. W. Mackie—Black on 2,3, 6, 14 . 20, 23. White on 11, 13, 19, 22, 28, 29. Black (Campbell) to play. The moves were -23 26, 29 25, 6 0, 13 6. 2 9. At this stage White resigned. A. Inrrlis v. J. Dunbar —Black on 2, 10, 13 15, 19. White on 9, 20, 22, 26, 28, 32. White (Dunbar) to play. The play proceeded by 9 5, 10 14. 28 24, 19 28, 26 23. Drawn. P. Sweeney v. W. Kilgour—Black on 2, 14, 20. White on 5, 21, 22. Black (Sweeney) to play. Sweeney lost by the following play when a draw was possible:—2o 24 ,51, 24 28. 1 o, 26, 51, 0 10, 22 17. W. IT. Johnstone v. J. Gall—Black on 4, kings 16, 23. White on kings 3,6, and 16. Black (Johnstone) to play. The play went: —ls 19. 16 11, 19 24 , 6 10, 24 28, 3 6, 28 32. 10 15, 32 28. 11 16, 28 24, 7 11. Prolonged play followed Ibis point, and eventually the game was drawn 11. Bair and S. Parker—Black on 13, kings 14, 13, 23. While on kings 1,2, 21, 30. Black (Ban-) to plav. Tho move 3 came thus: 13 17. 1 6. 17 22 6 1, 22- 26, 1 6, 26 31, 6 1. 31 26, 1 G, 26 22, 6 3, 22 17, 1 6, 17 13, 6 1. ]4 9. 1 5. 3 5, G 3, 23 19, 26, when Parker resigned. Fourth Day.— Mr James Cameron, -oi Moisnatk, opened the proceedings with a short speech, in which he leferred to the old saying . .at chess was the frame oi the profess I 0r.3 cad disvghts of the trader?. Tea naming > the pieces was perhaps the origin ox a “taw,” but he held that draughts was a game for anybody of He c.sutbr.ed young players about memorising “book" play overmuch, and advised them to use their reasoning faculty to the fullest extent. Most attention was drawn by the contests >n which T. S. Hulley took part. He succeeded in beating A. B. Scott an e>: champion. Their second game in the 11 16, 23 19 opening, produced Black on 3, 5. 6. 7 12. 20 White on 14, 19 .23. 25 , 31, 32. Black (Hulley) to play. Scott lost as follows, after missing two chances to draw:—7 11, 23 IP. 6 10, 14 7. 3 10, 25 22. 10 14, 18 9. 6 11. 31 27. 11 16 19 15. 14 18 22 17. 16 19. 15 11. 19 23, 11 8. In the evening Hulley met J. Campbell, who is defending Iris title of champion. The opening bell had Black pieces first. The position taken wa s Black on 2. 3. 6, 31, 12. 16. 20. White on 14, 18. 19 23 , 27. 28, 32. Black to play. The game proceeded with:—6 10, 14 7, 3 10 28 24, 2 7. 32 28 10 14. IS 9. 7 10, 9 6. 10 14, 18 15, 11 18, 6 2 18 22. 26, 22 26 6 10. 14 17, 10 15. 17 22. 23 18. 26 31. 18 11. 22 25 14 10 25 30. 10 7. 30 25. 7 3. 25 22. 3 8, 31 26, 8 11. Drawn. In their second game (Hullev Black) the board showed Black on 2,3, 6. 12. 13, 16. 20. White on 7, 19 21. 24. 25 . 27. 31, 32. Black to play. Black resigned after the following moves:—l6 23 , 27 18. 20 27, 32 23 . 3 10, ‘23 19. 1 5 , 31 27 . 6 9 . 27 23. ~ ’ W. Rodgers and H. Barr in the evening played the 9 14, 24 19 ODening (Barr having Black men). Position taken was Black on 1. 2. 6. 7, 9. 21. White on 8. 18. 22. 26 . 28. 30. Black to play. Barr resigned after the following moves:—7 10. 8 4. 10 14. 4 8. li 23, 26 19. 6 10 8 11. 10 14. 19 16, 9 13, 16 12 26, 11 16 6 9, 16 19. 1 5. DRAUGHTS ITEMS. The tournament for the British Championship is to take place during Easter week at Sheffield. This will be the first tournament for the title. At a meeting of the English Draughts Association Executive in December, it was decided that, after the four or six games which will constitute a heat have been played, the “barred” openings shall be played between the two contestants. This jdun will in most cases, speedily decide a In a paragraph in last issue we intended to mention the election of Mr R. Caldow ns referee for tho forthcoming championship tournament. Unfortunately the name /vas printed ns “Calder.” Mr Caldow is very well known throughout New ZealandThe delegates appointed as a match committee. representing tho Northern Counties Draughts Association, which includes the counties of Inverness. Ross. Sutherland, and Caithness, in connection with a competition to decide the championship of the North of Scotland, have closed the entrance lists after having recoivod a record of no fewer than over seventy expert exponents of the pastime. Never on any previous occasion in Scotland has such a large number of. players entered for a draughts championship competition.

11 15 9 13 11 15 15 15 18 3 1 38 22 17 24 20 32 28 18 9 22 8 21 17 9 14-a 16 21 15 24 5 14 3 19 11 16 21 19-B 28 19 28 19 19 16 20 16 B wins 5 11-C 13 22 4 8 12 19 7 11 26 23 25 9 33 26 23 16 16 7 6 9 5 14 8 11 10 15 2 11 30 26-D 26 22 22 18 26 22 29 25

11 15 23 16-d Young’s 5 14 move. 31 27 7 16 15 6 22 17 26 23 23 26 27 24 1 10 8 11-A 24 19 11 15 30 23 16 20 32 27 25 22-b 15 21' 23 18 8 11 24 19 33 wins 0 13 28 19 35 23 23 19 20 24 29 25-c 9 14 27 20 11 16 18 15 4 8 IS 9 14 23 20 11 24 28