DRAUGHTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3830, 9 August 1927, Page 69

DRAUGHTS.

CONDUCTED BY

JAS. BEECOT.

Solutions ef problems, games, end analyses InTiled for this column. Games should be written in six columns as below, and all correspondence addressed to the Draught* Editor, Otago Witness Ofliea, Dunedin.

PROBLEM 6129.

By A. Shephehd, Morven. Black on 23, 24, Kings 26 27.

"White on 30, 32, King 15. White to move, White to draw. The author says: " The earnest beginner Should not find it hard. Yet it contains a point for experts.”

PROBLEM 6130. By N. A. Dunn, Victoria. (From the Weekly Tinies.) Black on 3, 11, 13, King 7.

White on 5,9, 22, King 1. Black to move and win. Another lesson for the new-comer —a win to him crops up rather sudden and unexpected.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

W. J. M., Wyndham.—Thanks for article. J. 8., New Plymouth.—Your interesting letter is welcome. The game will appear soon. . . . J. S., Morven. —Your budget of criticisms Is to hand. J. A., Wyndham.—lnteresting letter and criticisms to hand. I don’t agree that you need a spell; keep going. _ J. 8., New Plymouth.—Your correction of Problem 6117 was pointed out in last week’s criticisms. See solution Problem 6122.

NEW ZEALAND GAMES.

The following pair of games were played in the Dominion tourney recently held at Wellington :— Game 6530 —“Old Fourteenth.” 11 15, 23 19 line.

Notes by Draughts Editor. (A) 22 17 is the old familiar line, but 30 26 loses by 9 13, 32 28, 6 9, etc. (B) Though this game is quite familiar to the experts, there is plenty of room for the novice to go astray; either 14 17 or 8 12 played here loses for Black. (c) 24 19 as played by Anderson is also good. (d) The old line is:—lB 25, 14 5, 10 14, 5 1, 6 10, 13 9, 14 17, 21 14, 10 17, 9 6, 26 31, 6 2, 31 26, 24 19, 15 24. 28 19, 26 23, 19 16, 23 18. 16 12, 25 30. 1 6, 30 26, 6 9. 26 23, 12 8, 23 19, 9 13 ; Drawn. .—Anderson.

(a) Messrs W. M. Purcell and H. T. Smith claim that this move will win, and correct Anderson’s Guide. (b) H. T. Smith holds that this move is essential to the Black win. (c) I think this move draws and corrects H. T. Smith’s analysis, which shows that 24 19 and 23 27 both lose.

SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. Problem 6125 (by A. Shepherd). Black men on 3, 20, 21, King 19 : White men on 6,' 7, 10, 28, King 4. White to move and win. 6 1. 20 24. 1 6, 21 25, 7 2, 3 8, 4 11, 19 23, 28 19, 23 14, 6 10, 14 7, 2 11; White wins.

Problem 6126. Black on 5, 18, King 32 ; White on 24, 2C, King 12. Black to move and win : — ?

Variation 1.—10 6, 9 13, 6 2, 13 17, 26, IS 22 ; B. wins. Variation 2.—10 7. 23 26, 7 2, 9 13, 27, 26 30, 7 11, 15 19, 8 3, 10 14; B. wins. Variation 3.—6 2, 9 13, 27, 26 30, 7 11, 15 10, 8 3, 10 14 ; B. wins. KEEN CRITICISMS. —Mr Shepherd in a Critical Mood.— Our correspondent writes:’ Re Mr A. E. Greenwood’s criticism on July 19 of Game .6507, at the following position: Black on 3,5, 6, 7. 12, 17, 20; White on 14, IS, 19, 23, 27, 30, 32. White to play. Mr Greenwood says White can draw easily, but I submit that Black can win easily as under : 18, 15 17 21 (instead of 17 22 as given), 23 18, 3 8, 27 23, 7 11, hen if 30 26, 20 24, B. wins (or if 32 27), 11 16 wins. Re Mr Boreham’s diagram on July 19. He shows an improvement of Mr Gonotsky’s

play by saving 19 moves, but about another dozen moves can be saved by playing 15 11 at the third move of Mr Boreham’s play. When looking through some (years old) Otago Witness columns I came across this problem by Mr Boreham : Black 18, 19, 22, 23; White, on 28; Kings 13, 30. Black to play, White to draw. I could not find the solution among my numbers, so went at it myself, but can find no draw. Mr Boreham makes few mistakes in end game play, therefore I may be at fault, but I make the position s- Black win. [Perhaps Mr Boreham will supply the solution. —Draughts Editor.] I also came across a bridge problem by Mr Craig, of Westport, for which I cannot find a solution fitting the terms, viz. : Black 12, 20, 23, King 26 ; White 30, 32, Kings 2, 15. Black to play, White to win. Try the following (Draughts Editor) : 20 24, 15 19, 24 27, 27, 27 31, 7 11, 31 27, 11 15, 27 31, 32 28; W. wins. If this solution does not meet with the approval of Mr Shepherd, perhaps the author will oblige with the correct solution should this note cat-h his eye.—Draughts Editor. Re Mr J. Allan’s criticism of Variation 1. Game 6520, by G. W. Bass. At the sixth move instead of 24 19 play as under, and White wins : 30 25-a, 1 5, 24 19, 15 24, 28 19, 27, 31 26, 9 14, 18 9, 5 14, 22 18, 14 17, 21 14, 10 17. 25 21, 17 22, 26 17, 13 22, 19 15 ; W. wins. (A) 26, 21 17, 10 14, 17 10, 13 17, 22 13, 15 29, 9 14, 7 3, 29 25, 24 19 ; W. wins. Mr AEan has corrected his play in this position by playing 24 19 at the second move instead of 23 18, thereby getting a White win. See below. —Draughts Editor. Mr Shepherd conti~ues by way of instruction to young players: “ There appears to be some difference of opinion how to know when you have the move with an unequal number of pieces, such as the third position. Here is the rule I follow. Count all the pieces of both colours lying on the vertical lines of squares which have a White square next you. If the number be odd, and it is your turn to play, then vou have the move. Therefore Black has the move in the third position.”

Game 6520 —Penman v. Calderwood. Mr Jos. Allan writes: Research and science are bound to alter many lines of play which in the past have been looked upon as sound. Now I can assure you I am in no way concerned about upsetting the play of the great masters, and am nly too pleased when I find their work theoretically sound. So I feel convinced when you look into Game 6520, Variation 1, by G. W. Bass, you will find 24 19 (Given below. —Draughts Editor.) leaves Black with a very weak single corner, and that White is very much stronger than appearances would seem to indicate. If you would agree to open this variation up you would get Mr Penman’s best, for sure, and I feel convinced there is a case to answer. At the fourteenth move the position stands: Black on 1,2. 5, 7. 10, 11, 12. 13, 16; White on 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, -6, 28, 30, 31. White to play and win.

(a) * 5, 22 18, 9 14, 18 9, 5 14, 26 22, and either 11 15 or 14 17; White wins. (B) If 7 16, 28 24 ; W. wins. (c) In my criticism on July 26 I gave 23 18 here to draw; but 24 19 wins for White, ai.d sustains G. W. Bass. (d) Forced. This is a very difficult and intricate ending. I thought perchance Mr Penman would be having a go at this variation, so after a thorough examin ‘ion of the different lines of play am sending this, so you can please fight it out and give me a spell.— [By no means. —Draughts Editor.] Game 6498 —Boreham v. Botting.

Mr Allan maintains that this game can be drawn by White after the tenth move 29 25. In a former issue our analyst gave play to draw; this was corrected by Mr Shepherd, who showed a Black win. Mr Allan now returns to the attack in support of a draw. Take the position at the eighteenth move of the game: Black 1,2, 3,5, 6, 8 9, 12, 14, 16, 20; White 15, 18, 19, 21. 22 23 25, 27, 30, 31, 32. White to move and draw. Instead of 31 26, as played by

(a) This improves my first play where 30 26 was taken. 1 believe 18 15 to be the only move to draw. (b) Forced. (c) 9 13 or 8 11 lose for Diack. (d) 5 9 draws.

A REJOINDER. In my criticism of Mr Boreham’s end game talks my ideal has been the good of the game—its dignity. Draughts practice should have an influence on character and conduct, ’nspiring courtesy, gentlemanliness, and, above all, fraternalism amongst players. It is because (in his instructions) he, as an undoubted leading expert, fails to measure up to the ethical standard that I join issue with bin I do not wish to be ungenerous or querulous, and frankly admit that he merits the thanks of devotees of the game for placing at the disposal of students the knowledge of scientific play which he possesses. I was under no illusion regarding the point in your note. Mr Bore-

ham declared that the two-piece player (in Payne) "now has the strong side.” and he ran it out to a win when he “ clumped down on 21.” My 9 14 was intended to answer that it was “ not the strong side.” If one’s opponent have the “ strong side,” it is wise to take the draw if the opportunity offer. Great player as Mr Boreham is, still he is not infallible. “ Homer nods sometimes.” you know. So let me point out that in his thesis on fourth position he errs when he says: “28 24, forcing two for one.” Not so (see diagram). It is only one for one. Black.

White. White,-instead of 27 31, would go 23 18, and crown in the double corner. This would have given him fresh opportunity to tell studets hov- to win the position—three crowns in the centre of the board against one in each double corner. Again he sets up a claim to be the first to show a win by 23 IS, as the initial move in fourth position, " improving play that has stood for a century.” I submit that 22 25 is as good as his 23 IS. Try it. W. J. Marsh. Wyndhcm, July 30, 1927.

Black : T. Costello, White : W. B. Tlendall, Dunedin. Wellington. 11 15 28 21 1 6 22 13 14 18 15 23 19 8 11 52 28-a 8 12 07 23 Drawn 8 11 26 23 3 8 25 22 C 19 26 2*2 17 9 14 30 26 12 19 17 14 4 8 31 26 9 13 22 17 10 17-d 17 13 6 9 19 16 5 9 21 5 15 18 13 6 12 19 26 22 18 25 24 20 2 9 23 16 18 25 5 1 11 15 26 22 13 17-B 29 22 10

Game 6531 — “ Whilter.” 11 15, 23 19 line. Black: W. B. Rcndall. White: T. Costello. 11 15 11 16 12 19 11 16 20 27 6 21 23 19 27 23 23 7 27 23 19 16 13 9 9 14 16 20 2 11 20 24 12 19 1 10 22 17 32 27 21 19 25 22 23 16 B. wins 7 11 3 7 15 24 24 27 14 23 17 13 29 25 28 19 31 21 26 19 5 9 7 11 8 12 16 20 10 11 25 22 19 16 22 17 22 18 17 10

A CORRECTION. Game 6532—“ Double Corner.” By G. A. Brown Christchurch. 9 14 22 17 9 if 10 6 20 24 18 23 22 18 10 19 17 10 17 22 14 10 16 11 5 9 23 16 7 14 6 2 23 18 C-23 18 25 22 12 19 31 26 22 26 10 6 3 7 11 16 17 10 15 19-a. 2 6 18 15 18 23 29 25 6 15 26 22 26 30 6 9 7 10 8 11 27 23 19 26 6 9 15 11 23 19 18 15 2 7 SO 23. 30 26-b 9 14 Drawn 11 18 23 16 1 5 9 18 11 16 22 15 4 8 22 18 26 19 14 18 10 19 16 12 5 9 18 22 24 27 21 15 8 11 18 15 19 23 32 23 16 20 21 17 9 13 22 17 19 26 25 22 11 16 15 10 16 19 28 24 7 10 26 23 13 17 17 14 26 31

32 28 *5 9 *23 26 10 15 30 25 15 19 24 19 *12 8-1 8 3-3 7 2 10 17 17 13 28 24 *18 23 *15 10 *15 19 25 18 18 14 19 15 26 22 6 2 2 7 3 7 B. wins *24 19 *19 15 *9 14 *26 30 19 15 15 10 10 6-2 2 7 7 10 7 2

5 0 15 24-b 1 5 2 7 13 17 5 H U 19-c 28 19 26 22 18 15 30 26 19 16 n 15-A y 16 16 20-d 10 14 9 13 W. , wins 20 11 22 18 31 27 22 18 18 9

Mr Botting, play 27 24 : 31 26 27 21 6 10 22 17 9 18 18 14 20 27 15 6 3 7-c 39 26 10 17 22 17 31 24 1 10 17 13 IS 23-d 21 14 7 11 16 23 18 15-a 14 18 27 18 27 31 25 21 32 27 2 G-b 23 14 20 27 26 22 Drawn