DRAUGHTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3757, 16 March 1926, Page 73

DRAUGHTS.

CONDUCTED BX JOS. ABEBNETHT.

Solution! of problems, games, and analyses invited for this column. Games should be written Id six columns as below, and all correspondence addressed to the Draughts Editor.

PROBLEM 5083. By L. S. Head, in Liverpool Mercury. (Black. J

[White.] White to play and win. Not difficult, but very neat. PROBLEM 5084. By J. Stewart and W. Reid, [Black.]

[White.] White to play, Black to win. A neat ending from the Draughts World. GAMES. The two following games were played in the New Zealand Championships Tourney at Gore, Easter 1924, between Messrs Sutherland and Templeton. Game 6304 —“Dundee.”

(Annotated by Jas. Beecot, Dunedin.) , (a) The opening move forms the “Dundee.” Some experts consider it leads to a ci*amped game for Black; but, if handled correctly, it has many winning possibilities. (b) Now a “Paisley.” (c) This move is very weak; 10 14 is the strongest play here, though 16 20 or 4 8 is sound. The text move was played by Mr T. Turnbull- v. Mr J Scott in the 1925 Scottish Championship. (d) In the game referred to above, 16 19 is played, and the annotator remarks that the move makes it still worse for Black. Game 6305—“ Dundee.” .

(a) Not often played,' and' leads to original play. (b) This does not -strike - one as being strong: either 25 22 or 23 18 would be better. (c) White should draw from this position; 27 23 is better than the text. (d) A cramping move. NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIP. At last Saturday’s meeting of the Tournament Committee a system of playing the Exhibition tourney was submitted, by the chairman (Mr J. AbernethyJ and unanimously adopted In the* discussion on the subject various possible difficulties were brought forward, but all were explained to the satisfaction of the committee. Briefly the plan may be explained. An entry of 24 plavers is expected, and this we take for explanation. These will be formed into four sections, care being exercised in the placing of* the scratch men in the sections. The all-round for these sections will take five sittings for the ten games. There will be' no handicap in this. The winners of these sections will form a championship section, and will play an allround of four games per round—l2 games, six sittings No, handicap. Four prizes will be allotted to this section, the winner taking the title and first prize. The remaining 4 twenty players will form three sections, two sevens and a six, selected by tin har.dicappers. and each section handicapped and treated as a distinct tournament. Three prizes will be allotted to each section, say £3, £2, and £l, making nine prizes in the handicap and four for the championship. Funds permitting, four prizes could go to each handicap section. The highest score with handicap to take first prize. All sections should play out in six sittings; the preliminary all-round in five, making 11 sessions of play, or, eav, four days, including a “break-up” in the evening of the fourth day. The foregoing should produce these essential results: (1) It will find the beet player for champion; (2) it encourages every grade of player to “butt in”; (3) it gives plenty of good practice with a chance in the prize list; (4) it will save four days' time, «o that visitors mav play in the tournament and see the Exhibition in the time ordinarily occupied in playing 46 games. Should a tie occur in the preliminary allround or in the championship section. the percentage system will be applied to decide the places; in the sections the prizes will bs divided.

NOTES. Play begins Friday morning, April 2, at 9 o’clock, in the X.M.C.A., Moray Place. The anrual meeting of the N.Z.D.A. will take place in the I.M.C.A. on Thursday night, April 1, at 8 o’c'ock. Intending competitors should at once notify the eecretary, Mr J. Beecot, care Otago Witness, and state if accommodation ia required. Mr J. A. Scott intends to compete. SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP. Following is a further instalment of the endings from the Glasgow Weekly Herald report. —Fifth Day’s Play.— Most interest was taken in the third ties, in which J. Campbell, the present champion, took part, and the endings of the four games were as follow: Against T. S. Hulley in the opening 11 16, 24 20, Campbell playing Black pieces, the former was well trapped into the following position:—Black on 2,5, 6,7, 11, 12, 25. White on 13, 14, 17, 20, 24 . 26, 28, 31. White to play. He moved 14 10 and Black 7 21, and Hulley resigned. The second game with above opening brought the pieces with Black on 1,2, 4, 5, 13, and White on 18. 20, 21, 28, 29, Black (Hulley) to move. The ending play was 48, 20 16, 8 12. 16 11, 27.11 2, 1 6,2 9, 5 23, 29 25, 23 27, 25 22, 27 31. 22 18 , 31 27, 18 14, 12 16, when Campbell resigned, Hulley having an obvious win by Ist position “ Between Campbell and Hulley the next opening was 10 14. 22 18, Campbell with Black pieces. The play produced Black on I, 2, 10, 12. 13, and White on 19, 25, 26, 30, 31, with Black to move. The succeeding play went thus: 26, 25 22, 10 15, ,9 10, 6 15. 26 23, 12 16, 23 18, 15 19. 18 15. 19 23, 15 10, 16 20, 10 7, 23 27, 31 24, 20 7 , 7 2, 27 31, 27, 31 27, 7 10 27 23. 10 14, 1 6, 14 9, 6 10, 9 6, 10 15, 6 10, 15 19, 10 14, 19 24, 22 18, 13 17, 14 21, 23 14, Campbell winning by having the “move.” Only one game was played in the fourth round between Campbell and J. Love, jun. The opening was 10 15, 24 19. Love with Black pieces. The position taken was Black on 4,9, 10. 15. White on 11, 20, 22, 20. Black to lead. The moves were 15 19. 11, 7, 10 14, 7 2. 9 13, 27, 14 17, 22 18, 17 21, 26 22, 21 25, 18 15, 25 30. 15 11, 19 23, 22 18, 23 27, 18 14 . 27 31, 14 9. It was apparently a draw, but they continued for other twenty moveg before either suggested that result —Sixth Day’s Play.— Most interest was taken in the third ties, in which J. Campbell was opposed to J. Love, jun. The opening was 12 16, 21 17. Love with Black pieces. The position reached was: Black on 5,6, 8, 11, 12, 20; White on 17, 18. 22, 27 28. 32; Back to play. The game finished with 6 10, 18 14, 10 15, 14 10, 5 9, 10 7, 9 13, 17 14, 15 18, 22 15, 11 8, 7 3, 8 11. 3 S, 11 16. 7 10, 18 22, 14 9, 22 15, 10 14, 25 30, 9 6, 30 25, 6 2, 25 21, 27, 13 17. 7 10. 17 22, 10 15, 21 15, 14 17, 22 26, 15 18, 25 31, 18 23 , 26 31, 17 22, 31 24. 28 19. White won. With the board reversed in the same opening the ending showed Black on 1 2,3, 6, 16, 23. 24; White on 11, 17, 18, 21, 30,. 31, 32; White (Love) to move. The play proceeded with 31 26. 16 19, 17 14, 24 27, 30 25, 23 30, 32 16, 30 26, 14 9, 6 13, 25 22, 26 17, 21 24, 13 17, 16 12, 17 22. 11 8, 22 26, 8 4, 26 30, 4 8, 30 26, 18 15, 26 22, 14 10, 2 7. Black won. They played the second game, left over from the p-evious evening, in the 10 15, 24 19 openi.ig The ending showed Black on 3. 10, 11, 15; White on 21, 22. 28, 29: White (Love) to play. A draw was agreed to after 21 17, 15 19, 17 13, 19 23, 13 9, 23 26, 29 25, 26 30, 25 21, 10 15. 22 17. Between Johnstone and Rodgers in the evening the opening was 10 13, 22 18. the latter having Black pieces in the first game. The position latterly was Black on 2, 7. 13, 17 20, White on 15, 23, 24 , 27, 31. Black to move. The game was drawn by 17 22, 15 11, 7 16, 24 19. 13 17, 19 12. Their second game of the same opening brought Black to 13, 14, 15, 16, 20, and White to Kft, 21, 22, 23. 27. Black (Johnstone) to play. The moves came thus: 15 19, 8 12, 19 26 12 19 , 26 30. 19 23, 30 25. 22 18, 14 17, 21 14, 25 22. 18 15: 22 18. 14 9, 18 11, 9 5, 11 15. 5 1, 13 17 1 5. Drawn. White would Lave drawn with 27 23 instead of 19 23. —Seventh Day’s Play.— Love and Campbell opened with 11 16, 23 18, Love with Black, and the pieces came to the following position: Black on 1,2, 10, 12, 13, 20; White on 18, 21. 22, 28, 31, 32. Black to move. The end came with 1 5. 32 27, 27, 18 15, 10 19, 27 24, 20 27, 31 15 5 9 . 28 24 12 16, 24 20, 16 19, 15 11, 7 16, 20 11, 19 23, 11 7, 23 26, 7 2, 26 30, 26, 30 25 ,21 17, 25 18, 17 14. Diawn. Campbell and Inglis had the 11 16, 24 20 opening in their first game. A position was Black on 2, 5. 6,7, 11, 12, 25; White on 13, 14. 17, 20, 24, 26, 27 28. Black (Campbell) to lead. The moves were: 25 30, 26 23. 30 25, 14 10, 7 21 23 19. 21 25. 19 16, 12 19, 24 8. Drawn With board reversed in the above opening the ending was- Black on 3, 11, 13, 15, 16, 19, 21; White on 14, 22, 26. 28, 30, 31. The moves came thus: 16 20, 14 9, 11 16, 9 6. 3 8, 6 2, 8 12, 2 7. 15 18. 22 15, 21 25, 30 21, 19 24, 28 19, 16 30, 7 10. Drawn. The evening gaums between Campbell ar.d Inglis had the 10 14, 24 19 opening. In the first Campbell had Black pieces. The position taken was Black on 2, 11, 13 17. K3l; White on 8, 10, 22, 26. 30. Black to play. The moves came as follows: 11 16, 8 4, 16 20, 4 8, 20 24. 8 11, 24 28 10 7, 28 32, 73, 32 28, 3 7,2 6. 11 15, 28 21, 72, 6 9. 26, 9 14. 6 9. 14 18. Drawn. * Their second game with 10 14,- 24 19 opening ended with Black on 5. 10, 15, 26, White on 16, 17, 21, 23. Black (Inglis) to play. The moves were: 26 31, 16 11, 31 26. 11 7, 26 18. 7 2, when Campbell resigned after overlooking a draw

12 16-a Templeton’s mo\ 6 22 9 18 1 6 10 17 2 6 24 19 25 18 23 14 25 22 21 14 30 25 8 12 7 10-D 16 19 4 8 12 16 5 9 22 18-B 28 24 32 28 22 17 24 20 14 5 10 15-c 10 15 3 7 6 10 8 12 6 10 19 10 18 14 29 25 17 13 27 24 ' W. wins

Sutherland’s move. 32 16 8 12 5 9 11 23 19 23 27 24 24 19 25 22 29 25 27 18 14 9 21 17 16 20 12 19 9 13 7 11 20 24 24 20 22 18 23 16 25 22 21 17 9 6 10 7 31 15-A 9 14 10 14 11 16 24 27 3 10 18 11 36 11 31 26-c 18 14 6 2 2 7 8 24 7 16 6 10 10 15 27 31 23 26 28 19 22 18 26 23 14 10 30 25 7 14 4 8 14 23 2 7 16 19 31 27 26 30 19 16-b 26 12 23 18-d 17-14 25 21 wins