DRAUGHTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3808, 8 March 1927, Page 69

DRAUGHTS.

CONDUCTED BY JAS. BKEOOT.

Matiimi •! >r«bl»m», games, and analyses InVlled for this eolumn. Game* should be writtoil aolumm as below, and all correspondence aadreesed to the Draught* Editor, Otago Witoeee Office, Dunedin. ......

PROBLEM 6085.

By W. O'Malley (Port Chalmers). Black Kings on 2, 31.

"White men on 14, 26; King 16. White to play and win. A pretty and decisive finish.—Editor.

PROBLEM 6086. By "Herakles,” Pittsberg. (From Pittsberg Weekly Despatch.) Black man on 2; King 28.

White men on 10, 18, 24, White to play and win. A pleasing little jem.

TO CORRESPONDENTS. E. G., Dannevirke. — Communication received. W. O‘M., Port Chalmers.—Many thanks for letter, problems, and book. G. C., Moonlight.—Your solution of Problem 6081 is correct. In 6082 at the 20th move of your solution, you play 3 7, but go 3 8, 23 19, 8 11, 19 24, 11 7 . 6 10, 14 18, and Black wins. See author’s solution this issue. I J. A., Wyndham.—Criticism received. Have written you. . ' F. K. K., Wellington.—Thanks for report received. F. 8., Oainaru. —Letter received, will carry ■out instructions. draughts in Britain. COHEN—BOYLE MATCH.' The following interesting game was played in the above important contest at Glasgow in 1925. It should be of interest to all grades of players. .. Game 6475. —"Edinburgh.” 9 13, 24 19 line.

NOTES BY S. COHEN. (a) Without doubt Black’s best development. 6 9 first was tried by one of the Scottish experts in the first British championship tournament, but proved fatal for the first player. (b) The correct , defence; 8 11 would be weak. (c) 22 18 and 22 17 are good alternative attacks. (n). Perhaps better than 8 15. the move that was favoured in years gone by. (e) 26 19 jump also gives White a good game. . ' .(f) 3 7 will also draw. i (g) Varies from the beaten track, and must be met correctly. As far as I am aware, ' this 31 27 “cook” was first introduced by H. J. Fricker in- the 1923 London championship tourney against R. Sallaway with a drawn result, 'although the former claimed . he missed a win at the time. The book continuation to draw is thus: —

(b) 14 18, 19 15, 12 16, 15 10, 16 19, 10 6, 19 23, 27 31, White wins. Problem 6082 (by W. j. Perrett): Black on 2, 20; White on 32; King 22. Black to move and draw.

SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP. CAMPBELL'S THIRD SUCCESSIVE VICTORY. The thirty-third contest for the Scottish Draughts Championship, which was played this year at Perth, ended ,on Monday evening in a third successive victory , for J. Campbell, a worthy successor to the many eminent players Glasgow has produced during the past 40 years. Campbell is. only 24 years of age, and has been practising the game for about seven years. He made a name for himself in the St Rollox Club tournament. Then he won the Glasgow championship in 1924, and he followed this success by winning the Scottish championship in 1925. Irr 1926 he repeated his victory, and now he has won again, beating the veteran A. B. Scott somewhat easily in the final round. Campbell had a prolonged tussle in the semi-final with the ex-champion, O’Connor, who defeated Cohen last year. The final score being, Campbell one win, O’Connor no wins, and 11 draws.

THE SEMI-FINALS. Thursday. O'Connor v. Campbell.—These players, who resumed their semi-final tie, had two - drawn games on the previous night. The ballot for third and fourth games produced 11 16, 22 17 opening. O’Connor (Black) cut up 16 19 at the third move, and an interesting game on similar lines to the O'Connor v Cohen match was played, which after nearly two hours was drawn. After a short interval play was resumed to play the other side of the opening. This time Campbell, having Black, took the 16 ’9 cut at the third move. O'Connor, however, with White, varied, and a. much simpler game resulted in a draw after only one and a-half hours’ play. The following are the endings of both games played from 11 16, 22 17, opening: Third game: Black (O’Connor); 1,2, 10, 14, 16, 18, 20: White (Campbell); 9, 17, 21, 23, 27, 28. 30. White (Campbell) to move. Continue: 28 24, 18 22, 9 5, 10 15, 17 10, 22 25, 1 17 , 25 30, 17 14 , 30 25, 10 7,2 11, 14 10, 25 22, 10 7, 22 17 , 7 3, 15 18 , 23 14, 17 10, 27 23 , 20 27 , 31 24, 11 15. Drawn. Campbell v. O’Connor (fourth game). Ending opening 11-IJ, 22 17. Black (Campbell); 1, 2, 10, 14, 15. White (O’Connor); 13, 19, 21, 22, 21. Black (Campbell) to play. Continue: 14 18, 22 17. 18 23, 17 14, 10 17, 21 14, 26, 19 10, then 6 15. Drawn. Kilgour v. Scott.—The ballot for the third and fourth games produced 9 14, 24 20, known as “Double Corner.” Scott, with Black, went 6 9 at the third move. Kilgour in mid-game got a nice shot which left him with a good position. He soon improved his game, and secured a piece up. Scott played with great skill, and tried to regain his piece. Kilgour played weakly near the end and allowed a draw. Ending of third game: Black (Scott); 2, 3. 5,9, 14, 16, 20. White (Kilgour); 6, 21, 26. 27. 28, 29 , 31.' Black (Scotti to plav. Continued: 9 13. 6 1, 3 8, 26 22, 8 11, 27 23, 11 15 . 29 25 , 5 9, 1 5, 14 18.” 5 14. 18 27. 31 24, 20 27, 14 IS, 15 19, 18 15, 19 23. 15 19. 23 26. 19 12, 27 31, 22 18, 31 27, IS 15. 27 23. 15 11, 23 18, 12 8,2 6. 11 7, 26 30, 7 2. 6 9, 8 11, 9 14 , 2 7 . 30 26. 28 24, 26 31, 24 20, 31 26, 20 16. 26 23,-16 12. 23 19, 12 8, 19 23. 8 3 , 23 26. 3 8, 26 23 , 8 12 . 23 26. 12 16, 26 31, 16 20, 31 27. 7 3. 18 23. 11 15, 23 26. 25 27, 26 17, 15 10, 27 31, 5 7, 31 26. Agreet

Kilgour aud Scott after a short interval started the second side of 9 14 , 24 20 “Double Corner.” Kilgour varied at the third move from the previous game, nlaying 5 9, and the game ran 22 18. Then Kilgour took 11 16 cut. An interesting position followed, which was agreed drawn after two hours’ play. The following is the ending position: Black (Kilgour); 1. 2, 11, 14, 15, 19. White (Scott); 5, 21, 26. 27, 28, 32. Black (Kilgour) to move. Continue: 26, 27 24, 14 18 , 32 27, 11 16, 24 20, 6 9 , 20 11, 18 23 , 27 18, 15 31, 21 17 . 31 27, 11 7 . 27 '23, 7 2, 23 18. 17 13, 9 14. 2 7. IS 15, 13 9. Agreed drawn. The Scott and Kilgour ballot for the fifth and six games produced 10 14, 22 17 Denny. A most interesting game resulted in a draw. The pair have now drawn five games, and have another one to plav. O’Connor and Campbell ballot for the fifth and sixth games resulted in 9 14. 22 17, opening coming out. O’Connor hfid Black, and played 11 15 at the third move, and some interesting play was the outcome. A draw being agreed after two hours.—(From Glasgow Weekly Herald).

IT. EGAN v. ALLCOMERS. SIMULTANEOUS PLAY. Mr H. Egan, champion of Australia, gave an exhibition of simultaneous play at the Central Cb’b last Saturday night, after the championship games were finished. The single player had 18 opponents, including Messrs Armstrong, Windsor, O’Brien, and W* H. Acott. He played 22 games for the score of 12 wins, nine draws, and one loss. Mr Hoskin, who plaved against Wyllie in Melbourne, during his Australasian tour of the late eighties, scored the only win, ancj fire following had draws: Messrs Armstrong (2), Acott, Lander. A. E. Watson. A. H. Roberts, Wilkins, Windsor, and Terkelsen.

NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIAN TOURNEYS. As a guide to any of the New Zealand experts who may have an idea to make the trip to Launceston, at Easte®> we may say there is a rule to bar them from competing. This rule cannot be deleted until the meeting .of delegates on the eve of the tourney. Official advice from Australia says: “I cannot say come! but it is practically certain that the rule will be deleted on the eye of the tourney, and should any New Zealanders be present they will be allowed to compete;

N.Z.D.A. CENTRAL EXECUTIVE. The central executive of the New Zealand Draughts Association was held in the rooms of the Otago Draughts. Club on Saturday evening last. There was a good attendance of membars, and Mr Joseph Abernethy presided. \ The business brought forward dealt mainly with a communication from Australia relating to the Australian and Australasian titles. After due consideration certain resolutions were passed, and these will be remitted to the hon. secretary of the Australian Draughts Association. We believe that as an outcome' of this meeting a, new era of friendly relations-will be inaugurated between this Dominion and Australia. ;

NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIP. Mr F. K. Kelling, acting hon. secretary' of the Wellington-Championship' Committee has favoured- us - with the- following report;

The annual tourney to decide the draughts championship of New Zealand is to be held in the rooms of the 'Wellington Working ■Men’s Club and Literary Institute during the Easter holidays, A further meeting of persons interested in the success of this tourney was held in the club’s draughts room on Saturday evening, when there was a large attendance. Mr A. E. Ballard (president) occupied the chair. The acting-hon. secretary (F. K. Kelling) read a number of letters received since ths previous meeting was held. In reply to inquiries it was decided to state that there is to be a sealed handicap connected with the two-round tourney for the Dominion championship. The contest will thus be on the same lines as that held at New Plymouth two. years ago, and at Wellington six years ago. There are to be three , prizes for the championship tourney, the remaining prizes being allotted to the handicap event. Further details, including the fixing of the time for the formal opening of the proceedings, the time for holding the pre-tourney meeting, and the hour of the opening round on April 15, are to be considered at a further meeting on the 12th inst. No effort is being spared by Mr Ballard (president) and the executive officers to promote the success of this impending championship contest.

To the Editor, Draughts Column, Sir, —I noticed in your column of February 15 last, a letter from Mr Bruce, alleging that my letter to the Wellington Executive was incorrect in that it stated that no one would enter a tournament to playone game with the other competitors with one exception, and also that the resolution movsd at the New Plymouth tourney to playone instead of two games was supported by only the mover. I’m afraid Mi- Bruce has rather misunderstood my letter, for a reference to it will prove that what. I did say was to the effect that the players at the New Plymouth tourney would agree with me that no player of any standing was going to consider entering for a tourney where he might be asked to play only one game with his opponents. Surely the vote on the. proposal must have convinced the players at New Plymouth that the one game tie was anathema to the player of standing, and this is the burden of my contention. Mr Bruce does not agree that only the mover supported the one game proposal. As the motion was seconded pro forma in order to decide the issue, and as no votes .were recorded for the motion, I consider I was correct in stating that the vote disclosed that only the mover supported it. However, I will concede that Mr Bruce may have~knqwr. of a* few local players preoared to adopt the one game tie, but probably when it became apparent that the visiting players were opposed to it, they thought it wise not to voice their opposition to the two game tie. I trust that our friend Mr Bruce will not take my criticism of the cne game tie as any reflection on the New Plymouth tourney, for I do not think that one could point to anv Dominion championship more efficiently conducted, and more enjoyable from the players point of view, than the tournament at New Plymouth in 1925.—1 am. etc.,

E. Gibbard

Black: M. Boyle. White: S. Cohen. 9 13 27 18-E 3 8-f 28 21 18 22 8 11 24 19 12 16 31 27-g 6 1O-I 25 18 26 30 11 15-A 26 23 16 20-h 18 14 15 22 23 18 28 24 8 12 19 16 9 18 10 7 30 26 G 9-b 24 19 12 19. 26 23 22 26 i 18 14 23 18-c 4 8 23 7 10 14 7 3 W . wins 1 6 30 26 2 11 17 10 8 12 18 11 8 11 21 17 13 17 3 8 7 23-d 32 28 10 15 22 13 11 16

22 17 9 14 25 18 5 14 23 14 13 22 18 9 10 14 29 25 16 23 26 17 . 6 22 18 9 14 18 Drawn . F. Tescheleit v, G Sneddon (1905). (h) Weak. The best defence is as under: — 10 14 6 10 2 18 18 25 9 14 26 31 28 24 15 6 19 15 29 22 7 3 3 8 16 20 14 17 12 16 11 15 14 17 16 19 18 .15 21 14 . 15 10 26 23 23 18 24 15 11 18 9 18 8 11 59 17 26 31 24 22 15 23 14 25 22 10 7 18 11 Drawn S. Cohen v. W. W. Coleman. (l) The losing.. move ! J. Campbell, the young Scottish champion, pointed out the following neat draw to me after the game. 8 12 16 19 10 26 13 17 30 26 26 23 23 7 7 2 21 14 6 10 12 16 . 6 10 26 30 9 18 26 23 17 14 18 11 25 21 . 2'6 10 15 Drawn SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS,... Problem 6081 (by James Murray): Black on . 10, 12 22; King 18: White on 19, 27, 30: King 32; White to move and win. *27 23 10 14-a. .27 31 22 25 26 23 ' 18 27 *23 27 17 21 19 16 19 26 32 23 14 17-b. 30 26* 12 19 31 20 W. wins ■ ‘ (a) If 22 '26, then 19 15 wins' for White.

20 24 24 28 2 7 7 11 11 15 15 18 22 18 18 14 14 18 18 22 22 26 Drawn