DRAUGHTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3854, 24 January 1928, Page 69

DRAUGHTS.

CONDUCTED BY

JAS. BEECOT.

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PROBLEM 6177. By W. Veal, Southampton. (From Melbourne Weekly Times.) Black 18, 22, King 9, 30.

White 16, 29, 31, King 19. White to move and win. A useful, practical end-game study.

PROBLEM 6178. By F. Heckcord, England. Black on 19, 23, 25.

White Kings on 22, 32. Black to move and win.

A REVIEW BY W. J. MARSH.

Among the fine problems published In the column of late, I picked out one or two. No. 6157 is a neat thing, embodying a useful idea. Black man on 2, King 28; White men on 10, 12, 31. White to play and win. Apparently the Black King is going to enforce the loss of the White piece on 10, yet by a little artifice White sells himself dearly. Black gains the piece, but loses the ending decisively. Thus, 31 27, 28 32, 27 24, 32 27, 24 20 (one essential point gained), 27 24, 12 8, 24 19 (the critical point; Black King puts White on 10 en prise next move, so White must do the right thing as in some juncture in life. White must crown on 3 to do the trick), 8 3, 19 15, 10 7,2 11, 3 B—denouement I The student should cut this out, and " paste it in his hat.” 6158 suggests a vision of a fistic encounter between a lank, loose-limbed individual and a solid, well-built, stocky sort; the smaller fellow able to put in solid blows, while the other swings his limbs wildly. It is given as a Black win, but I see that Messrs Shepherd and Allan have shown a . White draw. In my many try-overs I got their position, taking different lines of play, but I never took the author’s unsound move, 24 19, which allowed his neat win to be effected.' The correctors (Messrs Shepherd and Allan) take the author’s position, and diagram it at this stage—Black on 1, Kings 11, 18; White 5, 17, 24, King 3, and with terms : " White to play and draw.” Instead of the author’s 24 19, they play 17 13, 18 15-a, 13 9, 11 16, 24 20-b, 16 11, 9 6, 1 10, 5 1, when they add : “ And Black has not the move to capture piece in double corner." (c). (a) But try 11 16 (and if 13 9, Black, with nothing better, might take the draw by 16 19) or continue 24 20, 16 11, 13 9, 18 14, 9 6, 1 10, 5 1, 14 9, 1 5, 10 14, 5 1, 14 18, 1 5, 9 6, 5 1, 6 10. At this juncture I remark on Note (c) that from this point one can force an exchange with the King in the double corner, but not without releasing the hold on two pieces by , the King on 11. Cut down to two and two, White has the move, and so draws. (b) Instead of 24 20, this seems simpler—--3 7, 16 20-d, 24 19, 15 24, 9 6—drawn. (11 16 was a threat. Let it be carried out, . find my simpler draw results.) (D) If 15 11, 24 19, or 24 20 will draw. „ As said before, I could not find the author’s win. I looked for it in the " forking ” grip by 11 (Black King). I have some other lines on this problem—but no proved win for Black in any. There is a great amount of varied play in it —all a wild-goose chase, I fear. The editorial note was my incentive—especially as the companion problem was so very good. Next is a . position in a game, “W. J. Marsh and a Friend,” and the play seems good to me, naturally, as I won. It may not be sound, but it is as we played it. I «.v. noted the position, but, as we played several games the same evening, I could not remember the opening position:— • Black on 1,3, 5,6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 18.

White on 13, 15, -20, 21, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31. White ;to play and win.

(a) Friend: I did not see that coming; it was the unkindest cut of all. Next, X wish .to give " honour to whom honour Is due.** (Here refer to two diagrams A and B.) When A appeared in the Witness, I think I sent you a memo, saying that I believed the-author was James Smith, of Spennymoor. I remembered it from my pre-Wyndham days. I searched through all the books I have (Lees, M’Culloch. Hill), and could find it not. I still felt sure. Strange to say, someone at Christmas time sent me four odd copies of the 1925 Draughts Review. Among them was one copy giving a special article to Smith. I looked for what I wanted to find, and got it. After six moves, diagram A evolves into diagram B (only colours reversed). Assuming that your contributor has authority for Wyllie’s remark to Ferrie, then Ferrie might well have answered : " It isna’ your’s either,” because it belonged to the genius of James Smith, of Spennymoor Durham, England. I give you the diagrams and references, so that you may yourself get the confirmation from Witness and Review. Honour to Smith I

DIAGRAM !.’ ’ DIAGRAM 2. Witness, April 12, Draughts Review, No. x, J 92- 8 of Vol. 1 (June, Mr Boreham’s Studies 1925), page 157 in Problems and End "Half Hours with Games (second the Immortals." • . James Smith Students’ Section. (1860-1890).

Black 1, 12, 26. White 21, 32, King 10 Black to move and White to move and win. w n.

In Diagram No. 1 Mr Boreham appended this note : " In the Ferrie-Wyllie match, the former won this from Wyllie. When Ferrie completed the win, Wyllie remarked : * That is na' yours. I won it frae a Glasgow player years ago.’ ”

In Diagram No. 2 this note is given: “ Another suitable ending for the tyro worth repeating is the following [diagrammed above] : White wins by 21 17, 13 22, 10 15, 18 23, 15 18. Easy of course, but easier to miss.”

KEEN CRITICISMS, Game 6583—“ Dundee Switcher.”

Mr Joseph Allan, Wyndham, writes: Mr G. A. Brown asks the lynx-eyed critics to show a draw in this game. Whilst not professing to be lynx-eyed, I offer the following : At the 3O.th move the position is as follows: Black 1,2, 6,7, 19, 20, 21 • White 9, 13, 26, 27, 30, 31, 32. White to play, and instead of 7 10 try:—

(a) If 32 28, 1 s—draws. (b) Mr C. Souness, of Wellington, also writes to point out a draw as under :— 1 5 23 16 211 22 17 15 19 9 6 27 23 711 26 22-0 14 18 14 9 19 24 514 16 7 11 15 17 14 610 61 —then 10 14 draws. „ , ( S ) A 22 228 ’ 14 18 > 31 27, 11 16, 28 24, 6 10, 13 9, 10 15—drawn. Mr Allan continues : Game 6585—“ Edinburgh ” (Variation 1) at the 14th move • Black 1,2, 3,4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 16; White 13, 18, 19, 20, 23, 27, 29, 31 32. Black to play. Instead of 10 14 allowing a White win, play 26, 18 15, 11 18, 23 7, 16 23 27 18, 3 10, and the draw is easy.

Mr C. Souness writes: Re Game 6556 and criticism by Mr Allan, Black position 2. 3 4,5, 7, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16 ; White 14, 20, 21’ 22 > 2 /’ 25 ’ 227 ’ 29 > 31 - 32 - Bldck to play and draw :—

—then 11 25—drawn.

< Corrects Mr Allan, who plays 3 8 ae F e '. This Play runs into the draw pointed out by the Draughts Editor when publishing Mr Allan’s criticism. 16 19 however played first move instead of 3 8 sustains the draw and prevents the White win therein shown.

TO CORRESPONDENTS. .. Y’. \ Wyndham.—Further contribution to hand. Will use as space permits. J. A., Wyndham.—Criticisms received. E -> Melbourne.—Budget to hand. A hanks.

_C. S., Wellington.—Criticism received.

SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. Problem 6173 (by “The Bo’sun.”) — Black on 1,6, 21, King 24 ; White on 12, 13, 16, 18, 19. White to play and win : IS 14 16 11 12 3 3 7 13 9 « 6 24 15 15 8 21 25 610 10 17 W. wins Problem 6174 (by A. J. Heffner). —Black on 6, 14, King 20 ; White Kings on 15, 25 Black to play and win :—

DRAUGHTS IN DUNEDIN. As an indication of the progress of the game m Dunedin I reprint an article from the columns of the local Star: " Dunedhi has long been regarded as one of the draughts strongholds of New Zealand, and among the players of this city there are some who can hold their own with anyone of Australasian championship calibre In order to strengthen still further the ’ local standard of play, the Dunedin Draughts Club has decided to join up with the many expert exponents of the game who play at the Athenaeum. Henceforward, therefore the draughts headquarters of the city will De at that institution.’* On Saturday night week in order to stimulate interest, an impromptu draughts match - was arranged between the members present in the club room Sides were chosen by Messrs Boreham and' Dotting. - The following players took part • Messrs J. A. Boreham, C. F. Moore, W Meldrum, C. Gray on the one sidm and Messrs R. Dotting, P. Peterson, d’ Wilson, and J. Beecot on the other. The match ended in a draw, each side scoring six wins, with three drawn games. A few days ago a prominent member with a mania for problems sought to puzzle the analysts present by setting them two beauty problems to solve, culled from his scrapbook. Solutions were quickly found, but not the author’s version, and the “setter" had to admit that the club analysts were correct and had found a dual solution in each case Position No. 1. —Black 13, 16, Kings s’ 21, 32; White 22, Kings 3, 17, 23, 27’ White to play and draw. .. Author’s solution —l7 14, 21 25, 22 18, 25 22, 14 9-a, 22 15 23 18, 15 22, 3’8,. 5 14, 8 12, 32 23, 12 10 ... "(A) Club solution—3 8, 22 15 23 18 15 22, 14 17.-82 23, .17 12—Drawn. No. ,2. —Black 2, 21, 28, King 29; White 30. 32.- Kings 1, 10. White to 4>lay< ■' - -

Author’s solution-—! 5, 29 25. 5 9 25 22, 9 43 » 22 18, 30. 26,. 21 25, 13 9 . 25* 30 9 5 30 23, 32 27, 23 32, 10 6,2 9,'5 23— White wins. Pretty. Club solution—lo 15, 29 25, 15 18— White wins. Simple.

13 9 31 6-, 2 -6 15 18 28.24 20 16 , .6,13 14 18 11 16 27 32 32 28 19 12 . 15 6 .6 1 6 10 18 23 24 20 , 11 7 „ 1,10 8 12 18 23 5 9’ 16 19 12 16 , 20 16 - 1 6 26 19 30 26 23 16“ 7 10 '-'12 19 3 7 16 23 9 14 28 24 : 16 19 : 97 23 6 2 <10 15 26 22 16 11 " 10 17 r.48 ; -27 -7 11 = .<23; .27 12 16 24 19 W. wins

19 24-b 19 16 9 13 2 7 22 17 32 23 9 5-a 14 17 11 7 25 29 27 23 28 32 24 28 31 26 17 22 7 10 17 22 19 15 26 23 6 9 26 17 29 25 19 16 32 27 7 10 13 6 13 22 10 15 20 24 Drawn 23 19 2 9 7 2 25 22 23 19 10 14 16 11 22 25 15 19 24 27

16 19 . 14 9 13 22 27 18 12 16 29 22 32 28 5 14 25 9 15 22 5 1 16 19 3 8 22 17 19 23 9 5 22 25 24 15

20 24 6 10 24 28 10 15 15 18 22 25 25 22 11 7 22 26 26 30 10 14 B. wins 24 27 27 24 14 18 18 22 18 23 15 11 7 11 11 7 7 10 14 18