DRAUGHTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3870, 15 May 1928, Page 69

DRAUGHTS.

CONDUCTED BY

JAS. BEECOT.

Solutions of problems, games, and analyses In. viied for this column. Games should be wrlttoa In six columns as below, anti all correspondence •dtlressed to the Draught* Editor, Otago Witneas Office, Dunedin.

PROBLEM 6209.

By

J. K. Lyons,

Liverpool.

Black 3, 15, King 22.

White Kings 1,2, 16. White to move and win. Not difficult, but the win is neatly forced.

PROBLEM 6210.

By

H. D. Lyman.

Black 1, Kings 7, 19.

White 18, Kings 8, 20. Black to move and win. TO CORRESPONDENTS. G. A. 8., Christchurch.—Games received, With thanks. A. S., Morven.—Analysis to hand. W. P., Huntley.—Thanks for correspondence games. H. E., Melbourne.—Welcome budget to hand. “ Oblique,” Brisbane. —Many thanks for files. A. S., Morven.—The position you send does not appear to be quite correct, viz.. Black 10, 14, King 19 ; White Kings 7, 22. Black to move. In Mr Allan’s latest criticism the Black King is on 24, with White to play. Mr Allan plays 22 26 instead of Heffner's 7 11. GAMES. DOMINION CHAMPIONSHIP. The following pair of games were played In the tourney recently held at Christchurch : Game 6619—“ Double Corner.”

Notes by Draughts Editor. (A) 5 9 Is a stronger line. 6 9 running the game ijto a ” Denny ” variation is occasionally played, but is not so strong. (b) This is a bit weak, 7 11 is stronger. (c) 28 24 is better for White, and is the usual reply. (») At this stage the Black game looks quite good. (f.) There appears to be no need for this sacrifice, which loses easily. I submit the following to draw:—l6 20, 9 5, 20 24, 5 1, 24 27 (if 1 6 then 14 18), 22 18, 14 17, 21 14, 10 17, 18 15, 27 31, 1 6, 31 27. Drawn. Game 6620—“ Double Corner."

(a) 10 15 was popular at ono time, but has gone off. The text was frequently played in the last British championship, and was invariably taken in the second international Britain v. America match. (b) Black can “jump ” 7 16 if preferred. (C) Teschelelt says this move is a shade weaker than 4 8. (n) The published play is 19 16. and is better than the text. DRAUGHTS IN QUEENSLAND. The two games given below were played In the inter-club match between the Brisbane and South Brisbane A teams. They were contested by Mr J. T. Gray (ex-cham-plori of Queensland), and Mr J. F. Allan, a prominent South side expert. Score and notes from the Queenslander :— Game 6621—Bristol.”

—Drawn. (A) Quite regular play to this stage, and even this move seems to be quite in accord with the natural order- of things, but--29 25 Is given by the Encyclopaedia. (B) A very nice even game.

(a) Not very commonly adopted, but quite sound, and has the appearance of being aggressive. At any rate, it paves the way for a considerable measure of originality. (b) 8 11 and 9 14 may be adopted here. The text seems to be all right. (c) In tho circumstances how easy it might be to overlook the necessity of moving the piece from 8 to 12 and to leave on the shot by 22 18, 14 23, 28 24, 19 28, 26 3. White wins. (d) This, also, is a well-contested game, with original features. SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. Problem 6205 (by A. Rattray). Black 5. 6, 7 ; White 14, 20, King 21. White to move and draw :—

—then 19 10, 9 14, 10 17. Black wins. Variation A is given to show that 21 17 and 20 16 as initial play both loso. ln Pr °^ lem 6206 (b y s - J - Pickering). Black 19. Kings 5, 18; White 11, Kings 13, 31. black to move and win :—

CRITICISMS. ~ Mr hepherd writes to show that ProDiem 6200 (solution of which appears to<*ay) is a Black win, and noj a draw as shown. He follows tho author’s solution to the sixteenth move, but then, instead of 14 18 plays 21 25, 26 30, 25 29, 11 7 13 17 30 26, 29 25, 7 2. 25 22, 26 30, 14 18,' 2 6’ 18 23, 6 9, 22 18. Black wins. On April 17 Mr Allan gave play in criticism of Messrs O’Malley and Holden, and runs to this position : Black 10 25, King 27 • White Kings 16, 18. Black to play. He goes 27 24, allowing a draw’, but 27 31 Black wins. ITEMS OF INTEREST. The article given below Is taken from the Queenslander, and is written by the Draughts Editor of that journal. It will be of interest to draughts players:— —On Balloting for Openings.— By " Oblique.” Sb great has become the expertness of master players and the perfection of playing fields in many forms of sport and pastime, that to-day we find controlling authorities everywhere seeking new methods, or applying new rules, designed to brighten the play and render it more varied and attractive for both participants and onlookers. This applies to the indoor as well as to the great outdoor sports, and draughts, and now chess, are no exceptions to the rule. In draughts, for years past, there has been in operation a system of balloting to decide what openings shall be played in each set of two-match games, the object being to preclude dreary repetition by experts, some of whom would play nothing but one or two openings, of which they had made a special study. When this restriction was first applied in draughts, quidnuncs arose everywhere and said : “ We told you so ! Draughts is exhausted ! Every known move, in every possible game, are known to experts! ” That, of course, was sheer nonsense, as was demonstrated mathematically at the time, and repeatedly since then. A cricket match can be made barren by the constant pitching of the ball wldo of the off stump—off theory—or by the block, block, block, of a timorous stonewaller; and the dogged stonewaller at draughts does a like disservice for the “ silent game.” No just person would, however, condemn either game because of lack of initiative in some of its players. The inherent science, and the brilliance of each, still is there. In all these circumstances it now is interesting to “ Oblique ” to observe from sundry chess columns that the authorities of that great game are contemplating following the precedent set by its ancient sister, draughts, by the adoption of the system of balloting for openings. This position has been created by “ the dreary, almost deadly monotony of a chess match in which the opening is confined, game after game, to the same beginning, so strikingly exemplified in the recent CapablancaAlekhine struggle for the w’orld's championship, where in the continuous recourse to the Queen Pawn opening resulted in 25 draws.” No sane person would suggest that chess, as a game, was exhausted, or in any way wanting inherently, because of the lacking of any of Its exponentg, and it would be equally ridiculous to assume that draughts was making Its last stand, entrenched behind balloting for openings, or that cricket was doomed because of the innovation of the eight-ball over, or the suggested widening of the wicket,,or the planing down of the bat. All games and Institutions must go along with tho times. That Is what draughts has done, and, in their new move, it is what our chess friends are contemplating.

Black : R. H. Carey, Marton. White : F. Hutchins, Invercargill. 9 14 25 22 15 24 20 11 11 15 9 6 24 20 6 9 28 19-d 4 16 17 13 11-15 11 15-a 27 240 4 8 . 30 26 15 24 6 2 22 18 9 13 31 26 2 7 28 19 15 24 15 22 24 w 8 11 22 18 3 7 23 18 25 9 11 f5 32 28 7 11 13 9 W . wins 29 25 13 22 26 22 5 14 22 1 ' - E 13 8 ii-B 26 17 11 16 26 22 7 11

Black : F. Hutchins. White : R. H. Carey. 9 14 12 16-c 1 5 7 11 14 17 10 19 24 20 >28 24 27 24■D 24 20 21 14 11 7 5 9 16 20 20 27 11 15 10 17 2 11 22 18 24 19 31 24 20 16 19 15 26 22 11 16-A 4 8 9 13 15 24 12 19 17 26 20 11 29 25 18 9 28 19 23 16 30 7 8 22-b 8 12 5 14 3 7 7 10 6 9 25 18 25 22 32 28 22 18 16 11 7 2 —then escapes. 13 17, 2 6. Drawn. 9 13, and Black just

Blade : J. F. Allan. White : J. T. Gray. n 16 23 14 9 18 26 23 12 19 13 6 22 18 16 20 23 14 8 12 . 27 24 2 9 8 11 24 19 16 23 31 27 20 27 16 7 18 14 11 16 27 18 1 6 32 16 3 17 10 17 26 23 4 8 21 17 6 9 18 15 21 14 6 9 30 2 6-J L 16 19 17 13 17 22 8 18 25 21 12 16 23 16 7 11 B-28 24

Game 6622 —“ Bristol.” Black : : J. T. Gray. White : J. F. Allan. 11 16 27 24 10 17 24 15 6 9 23 18 22 18 7 10 22 13 6 9 22 18 22 26 16 19-a 24 15 9 14 13 6 14 17 30 23 23 16 10 19 18 9 1 10 18 15 d-19 26 12 19 29 25 5 14 25 22 9 13 Drawn 24 15 3 7 31 27 8 120 15 10 10 19 21 17 4 8 32 27 17 22 25 22 7 10 27 24 2 6 26 17 8 12-b 17 14 12 16 27 23 30 22

21 25-A . 20 16 18 22 11 7 7 10 6 9 5 9 9 14 13 17 26 31 14 10 16 11 22 26 7 10 14 7 14 14 7 14 18 17 22 23 27 25 22 22 18 26 30 2 7 14 17 9 13 17 21 18 23 22 26 27 32 —then 17 22. Drawn. Variation a. 20 16 17 14 18 15 12 8 8 o 6 9 18 23 26 30 11 5 9 21 17’ 14 18 16 12 15 19 3 7 9 18 23 26 30 25 25 21 11 15

15 10 16 11 10 3 6 10 7 10 20 16 24 27 2 6 3 7 17 13 28 24 11 7 27 23 10 17 10 14 —Black wins.