DRAUGHTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3853, 17 January 1928, Page 69

DRAUGHTS.

CONDUCncp BY

JAS. BEECOT.

Q ?i en k ? ’ P r ? b,#ms » games, end analyses invited lor this eelumn. Game, should be writt.n *“ * lx •olomna as beiow, and all oarresDendencs rr,W>hto Kditor - Otago

PROBLEM 6175. By H. Egan, Champion of Victoria. (From The Draughts Review). Black on 13. 16, 20, King 27.

White on 21, 28, Kings 11, 14. White to play and win. The Review says: “This fine problem has already appeared in the Brisbane Referee, but will bear reproduction, as it deserves the widest attention.

PROBLEM 6176. By C. Hefter, Chicago. Black Kings 10, 32.

White 24, King 8. Black to play and win

Although not new the theme of the above cannot be too well understood by all grades of players, and it is frequently turning up in practical play. TO CORRESPONDENTS. J. 8., New Plymouth.—Letter received, and will be attended to. R. C., sen., Benhar.—Criticism arrived this time. W. J. M., Wyndham.—Thanks for contribution. GAMES. The following pair of games were plaved in the tourney held at Wellington last Easter :— Game 0586.—“ Old Fourteenth.” Black: T. Costello, Wellington. White: G. Davy, New Plymouth.

Notes by Draughts Editor. (a) The game is now into a regular Old Fourteenth, and the 25 22 line is one of the safest White defences. (b) This move gives an even game, but 9 13 is perhaps best. (c) 9 14 or 7 11 are the best moves here. (d) Looks weak. (e) 18 23, 27 18, 14 23 and Black must win. (f) The score sheet now shows 23 27, 32 14 W'hite wins; evidently a two for nothing blunder, but Black has a winning advantage at this stage.

(a) The “ Dyke ” was quite a popular game with the old go-as-you-please players before the two-move restriction came into vogue. (b) White has quite a choice of moves here, of which perhaps 30 25 and 27 23 are preferred. The text is good, but a satisfactory draw is doubtful with 29 25. (c) 22 18 followed by 9 14 gives Black an advantage. DRAUGHTS AT SEA. The following game was played on the s.s. Winifredian during the voyage of the British team to America between R. T. Ward, champion of Great Britain, and John Campbell, Scottish champion. Game 6588.—" Edinburgh Lassie.” 9 13, 24 20 line.

Notes by Mr Ward and Mr S.'Cohen. (a) Has been played with much success recently on several important occasions, but is weak. (b) Mr N. W. Banks, the American match player champion, favours 23 19, and it may be best (S. Cohen). Here is how it might

14. 10, then 27 31, 13 9, 23 27, 9 6, 27 32, • 2, 32 27, 2 7 seems a White win (Cohen). (c) A very powerful move, and much superior to 24 or 23 19. In the recent

English tourney Mr S. Cohen played 24 19 against Mr John Hynd, and eventually lost a somewhat protracted game. (d) 11 15 runs into the same play as note e.

(e) This loses. I suggest as follows for a narrow draw (R. T. Ward) :—

SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS

Problem 6171 (by Jos. Abernethy).— Black on 5,9, 10, 13, 14, 15 : White on 12 17, 20, 21, 22, 28,’31.’ White to move and draw.

34 27_A ’ 44 48 - 28 24 - 18 25 > 2 7 23, 13 22, 23 18—drawn.

If 31 26 > 14 18, 17 14, 10 17, 21 14 10 ’- 15 19> 10 7 ’ 30 25 » 26 22 9 14 Black wins.

Problem 6172 (by Robert Martins). — Black 1,9, 28; White 20, 22, King 10. White to move and win.

* 4 ® 45 , A 2 27 18 45 ’ c 27 23-d 18 27 26 31 J’ 32 : 1 2 ? 19 914 15 18 17 26 11 7 *l5 18-a 1 6-B 16 11 14 17 27 23 —White wins

(A) Playing thus prevents the Black King getting to the relief of his men, viz. square 31, because if he makes the attempt White simply pins him by 18 23. (B) The expert may easily observe that this is the best defence. Black must evidently be pinned to the side, unless he now attempts to run the gauntlet. The following variation is by Dr T. J. Brown : 27 24 11 7 16 11 17 14 16 19 14 9 16 11 19 16 22 17 913 710 W wins 2419 7 2 11 16 27 1517 ™ itself this is not a bad problem. (D) Black may vary here. In the first P lac g 44 48 > 22 17 - 18 22, *l5 18, 22 26, 7—White w’ins. And secondly, 27 32, 11 7, 31 27 *7 3 27 31, 3 7, 31 27-, 7 11 —White wins. KEEN CRITICISMS. Game 6517. —Craig v. Davy, published July 5. Through the courtesy of Mr R. Craig, sen., Benhar, the following correction 'has come to hand from Scotland. In writing to Mr Craig the Ayrshire champion, Mr Ben Milligan, takes the position at the thirty-eighth move : Black 2,4 6 9 18 19, 22 ; White 11, 21, 28, 29, 30, 32, King 3. White to play. Instead of 3 8, which allowed a draw, play 21 17, then if 9 13 the shot by 11 7,2 11, 29 25 White wins, or if 19'23, then 17 14, 9 13, 14 9, and White wins.

Il 15 11 18 7 10-E 9 14 2 11 10 15 22 17 17 13 29 22 18 19" 15 13 9-F 8 11 10 14-C 18 23 ~8 12 10 19 25 22 19 15 27 18 18 9 24 8 4 8 12 16 14 23 5 14 12 16 23 19A 26 23 25 o»> 15 11 8 4 15 18B 16 20 20 27 14 18 6 10 15 23 19-d 31 24 11 7 21 17

Black Game 6587.—“ Dyke.** : G. Davy. White : T. Costello. 11 15 25 22 9 14 22 18 3 7 21 14 22 17 *8 11 18 9 1 5 30 25 6 10 15 19-A 17 13-b 5 14 18 9 15 18 15 6 24 15 4 8 25 22 3 14 24 15 2 27 10 19 29 25-0 8 12 31 27 18 27 Drawn. 23 16 11 16 27 23 10 15 32 23 12 19 22 18 7 10 27 24 14 17

Black : J. Campbell. White : R. T. Ward. 9 13 8 15 15 18-A 1 5-d 3 7 6 13 24 20 21 17 28 24-b 30 25 20 11 26 22 11 15 5 9 4 8 11 16-b 7 16 W. wins 22 17 17 13 32 28-c 20 11 28 24 13 22 9 14 8 11 y 16 ’ 2 7 33 11 29 25 25 21 24 20 13 9

EO . 23 19 11 15 27 23 2 11 6 1 6 10 4 8 28 24 3 9 26 23 15 19 2 7 26 23 7 11 32 28 15 18 24 15 10 15 1 u 21 17 9 14 23 19 10 19 7 10 31 26 14 21 19 16 18 23 11 7 23 27 8 11 23 7 12 19 19 16 14 18 10 14 25 21 3 10 23 7 11 15 z 2 18 23

11 15 19 16 3 8 22 17 5 14 27 24 24 19 12 19 22 15 6 10 10 7 23 26 15 24 23 7 10 19 13 9 14 18 Drawn 28 19 2 11 26 22 10 15 7 2 7 11 26 22 *8 12 17 10 19 23