DRAUGHTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3899, 4 December 1928, Page 67

DRAUGHTS.

CONDUCTED BY

JAS. BEECOT.

Solutions of problems, Rnmes, nnd analyses invited for this column Game® should be written In six columns as below, and nil correspond on co addressed to the Draught* Editor, Otago Witness Office, Dunedin.

PROBLEM 6267. By A. Shepherd, Morven, New Zealand Black 2,3, 5, 10, 11, 12, 13.

White 18, 19, 21, 22, 24, 27, 28. Black to move and draw. PROBLEM 6268. By A. Shepherd, Morven, New Zealand Black 2,3, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13.

White 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 32. Black to move and draw. The two companion problems given above are submitted by Mr Shepherd as a correction of Game 6704, by Mr G. A. Brown. The first diagram arises at the thirtieth move by playing 32 28 instead of 27 23. The second diagram arises at the thirty-first move, where a Black win is shown against 24 20. The author says that in Game 6704 White has two ways of avoiding execution. What say the critics? TO CORRESPONDENTS. A. S., Morven.—Thanks for problem. J. O’N., Waitati.—Criticism to hand. J. A., Wyndham.—Criticism received. E. G., Dannevlrke. —Thanks for letter and enclosure.

GAMES. Following are two games played by correspondence between Messrs Jas. Bruce, New Plymouth, and G. Lobban, Te Awamutu. The players quickly get on to original lines : Game 6711—“ Bristol.” Black : J. Bruce. White: G. Lobban.

(a) Black prefers the “Bristol” to an " Ayrshire Lassie.” (b) This is a good alternative to the more usual 9 14. It has never been very popular, though the “ Herd Laddie ” made frequent use of it.

(a) Mr Bruce says: “I think the critics will find this game interesting. Is there a possible win for White? ” [See note b. — Draughts Editor.] (b) 16 12 might win for White now.

(A) 27, 30 26, 22 17, 14 18, 17 13, 9 14, 19 15, 5 9, 15 10, 6 15, 13 6, 1 10, 24 19, 15 24, 28 19, 11 15, 20 16, 15 24, 27 20, 12 19, 26 23. Drawn. —R. T. Ward (People, May 11, 1924). (B) 9 13, 18 9, 5 14, 23 19, 7 11; same as trunk at thirty-second move; if 1 6, 26 22, 17 26, 31 22, 7 10, 24 19, 3 7, 20 16. White wins. (c) 11 15, 20 16, 15 IS, 19 15, 12 19, 10 7, 3 10, 15 6, 1 10, 24 6, 18 22, 6 2, 22 25, 2 6. 8 12, 26 22, 17 26, 31 22, 25 30, 6 9. Black wins.

(d) In Game 6703 24 20 was played by J. A. Boreham against J. O’Neill, who should have won as follows: 18 27, 31 24, 14 18, 21 14, 18 23. Black wins. [This win was pointed out by W. O’Malley in the Otago Witness of November 13, 1928.—Draughts Editor.] Or 26 22, 18 25, 19 15. 12 26, 31 6, 25 30. 6 2, 30 26, 24 19, 26 23, 19 16 8 12, 16 11, 23 18. Black wins. (e) 12 19, 23 16, 9 13, 16 12, 17 22, 26 17, 13 22, 24 19, 22 26, 31 22, 18 25, 10 7, 3 10, 15 G, 1 10, 12 3, 25 30, 3 7, 30 26, 28 24, 26 31, 24 20, 31 27, 19 16,

27 23, 16 12, 23 19, 12 8, 10 15. Drawn. (F) 26 23, 12 26, 31 6, 27 31, 6 2, 31 27, 24 19, 27 23. Black wins. 26 22, 17 26, 31 22, 12 19, 10 7, 3 10, 15 6, 1 10, 24 6, 9 13, 6 2, 27 31. Black wins. (o) 27 32,’ 11 4, 32 27, 24 20, 27 24, 28 19, 14 18, 21 14, 18 23, 4 8, 23 30, 8 11, 9 18, 10 6, 1 10, 15 6, 5 9, 11 15, 18 22, 6 2, 9 14. Drawn. " (H) 24 19, 14 18, 21 14, 18 23. Black wins. (I) 7 2, 27' 20, 26, 9 13, 6 9, 14 18, 21 14, 20 16, 28 24, 16 20, 24 19, 18 23. Black wins. (J) 14 18, 21 14, 27 31, 7 2, 31 22. 26, 9 13, 6 9, 18 23, 20 16, 22 18, 16 12, 23 27, 4 8, 27 32, 8 11, 32 27, 11 16. Drawn. ’ (K) 17 22, 7 2, 14 17, 21 14, 9 18, 19 16, 27 23, 16 12, 22 26, 4 8, 18 22, 8 11, 23 18. 28 24, 26 31, 24 19, 31 27, 19 15, 27 23, 11 16, 18 11, 16 7, 22 26, 20 16, 26 31, 16 11, 31 26, 11 8, 23 18, 8 4, 26 23, 4 8, 23 19. Drawn. SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. Problem 6263 (by H. T. Smith). Black 7. Kings 17, 31 ; White 19, Kings 8, 23. White to move and win : 23 18, 31 27, 19 15, 7 11, 18 14. White wins. Problem 6264 (by A. Rattray). Black 11. 13, 14, King 31; White 21, 22, 23, King 19. Black to move and draw: — 31 27 19 17 22 26 23 19 30 25 Drawn 22 18 13 22 17 14 27 23 15 11 11 15 21 17 26 30 19 15 23 19

KEEN CRITICISMS. GAME 6704, By G. A. BROWN. Mr J. O’Neill writes: At the thirty-third move the position is : Black 2,7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 ; White 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 32. White to play. Mr Brown submits the last move 3 7 to win, and correct play that has stood the test of time since 1756. He plays 21 17, and invites criticism. I submit the following play to draw :— [This correction was published by Mr A. Shepherd in last issue, but we republish it. as Mr O'Neill supports Mr Shepherd’s play with some additional variations.—Draughts Editor.]

(a) This seems the only reply to 3 7 ; any other move appears to lose.

(c) 9 14, 15 6, 29, 19 15-c, 16 19, 23 16, i 12 19, 15 10. Drawn. < (d) 7 11, 31 27, 22 18, 27 31, 11 7, 12 16, trunk at E. (F) White is under pressure till the very 1 last move, but this forces a clean-cut draw, ] whereas 15 19 would lose. , (g) Varies from Mr Shepherd’s play. , Mr Joseph Allan also sends play on Game J , 6704 at the position given above, viz.: Instead of 21 17 play 32 28 (if 26, 21 17, < White wins) ; if 11 16, 20 11, 7 16, then ( 28 24 forces the draw. If 10 14, 19 15, 11 16, 20 11, 7 16, 15 10, 16 19, 23 IG, 14 23, 16 11, 23 26, 22 8. Drawn. White is much stronger if instead of 25 21-a, 27 24 ; is played, followed by 8 12, 19 15, 11 16 18 14, 16 20, 32 27, 12 16, 15 10, or 15 ' 11, draws. (a) At move twenty-four of text 25 21 is very weak for White; also at thirtyfourth move 21 17 should not be played unless it can be supported.

PROBLEM 6256, By W. H. MADILL. Mr Shepherd in issue November 20 sent this position as a correction of above problem: Black 5, 21, 23, King 17 ; White 29, Kings 7, 24, 30. Black to move and draw. 5 9, 7 10-A, 9 13, 24 19, 23 27, 19 23, 27 31, 10 15 (here a note was inserted saying 23 18 wins, but this was an error, as Black escapes by 31 26, 30 23, 21 25.— Draughts Editor) ; 17 14. Drawn. (a) Mr Shepherd also gives this variation : 24 19, 23 27, 19 23, 27 31, 23 IS, 17 14, ’8 22, 9 13, 7 11, 14 10, 11 16, 10 15, 6 20, 15 19, 22 18, 31 27. It is now practically a draw, but White can continue: 29 25, 19 23, 18 14, 13 17, 20 16, 27 24, 16 11, 24 19 (25 22 draws at once), 11 7, 19 16, 7 10. 16 11, 10 6, 11 15, 6 9, 15 10, 14 7, 17 22, 25 18, 23 5. Drawn.

EASTER TOURNAMENT. Draughts players will soon be looking forward to the next annual championship tournament to be held during the coming Easter at Dannevirke. Borne months ago the local committee appued to the central executive and obtained its approval to conduct the tourney on the two-life knock-out for the championship, and an all-round twogame for the handicap. As the two-life knock-out system of play has not been adopted for many years, the following rule governing the play may be of interest: “ The New Zealand two-life knockout system with four games to a tie. In the event of any pair of players having a level score after four games have been played, play will be continued until four more games have been played, each player nominating one opening ; if after eight games have been played the scores are still level, play will be continued on the best of two games on the “ barred openings ” other than 9 14, 21 17. and 10 14, 21 17. If after 12 games have been played in all the scores are still level the committee appointed under Rule XXI shall meet and decide what action shall be taken. All pairing shall be by ballot.” It may also be mentioned that according to the rules three months’ notice of entry must be given by intending competitors residing out of New Zealand.

A DRAUGHTS ENDOWMENT. The will of the late Edward K. Chapman, known as “ The Christmas Tree King of Maine,” contains a bequest of £2OO to fihe Portland Y.M.C.A., the money to be invested for the benefit of the game of draughts and draughts players., In commenting upon this endowment the Buffalo Evening Times states: “Go below the serene outside of checkers, and .you will have plunged into a depth which no mind has been able to fathom. The game is one of the oldest—perhaps the oldest of all. But all the while discoveries in it are being made. Its positions, problems, and theories are numbered by tens of thousands. But its possibilities never have been exhausted, and in all likelihood are inexhaustible. Despite its intensive sublety checkers is a gentle game. It brings out the. sociability in human nature.”

11 15 25 22 7 10 22 17 12 19 21 14 24 20 14 23 29 25 11 15 20 16 1 5 15 19-A 27 18 8 11 26 23 14 18 31 27 23 16 9 14 25 22 19 26 16 11 3 7 12 19 18 9 4 8 30 23 18 23 27 18 22 18 5 14 17 13 15 19 17 14 7 16 10 14-b 22 17 8 12 23 16 10 17 B. wins

Game 6712—“ Second Double Corner.” Black : J. Bruce. White: G. Lobban. 11 15 18 9 16 20 17 13 15 19 18 14 24 19 5 14 25 22 14 17 18 15 11 18 15 24 25 22 8 11 21 14 3 ‘-8 14 9 28 19 11 16 19 16 10 17 22 18-b 18 23 8 11 22 17 12 19 27 23 y ll 9 2 22 18 4 8 23 16 17 21 16 7 21 25 9 14 29 25 11 15 23 18 2 11 A -30 21 —Drawn.

Game 6713 —" Ayrshire Lassie.” By A. E. Greenwood, Petone. Il 15 22 15 10 14 27 23 9 13 10 6 24 20 11 18 25 22 6 9 18 9 1 10 8 11 26 99, 18 25 22 18 5 14 19 16 28 24 7 11 29 22 13 17 23 19 12 19 4 8 22 15 9 13-A 19 151 17 22•C 24 6 23 19 11 18 30 26 7 11B 26 17 Drawn 15 18 32 28 2 7 15 10 13 22

Variation 1. 18 15 12 16-G 24 20-1 19 12 8 11 17 22 11 11 4 27 31-J 2 6 26 31 24 27 15 10 16 20 26 23 9 13 11 15 26 30 11 15 15 11-n 31 27 6 9 13 17 27 23 20 1G 27 32 23 19 14 18 20 16 < 22 26 15 18 11 7 27 24-K 21 14 12 19 10 19 15-n 20 27 19 16 18 23 15 24 3 17 18 27-E 31 24 24 19 4 8 31 26 13 31 16 11-F 27 7 2 23 26 9 13 5 ,9 -Drawn.

32 28-a 16 20 19 15 26 10 10 15 11 16-b 11 7 27 31 1 5 26 30 20 11 20 24 22 1S-D 14 23 f-15 18* Y 16 7 2 12 16-E 5 7 now if IS 15 24 27 7 10 16 20 30 25 2 6-c 2 7 31 26 7 10 18 23 15 11-G 10 14 10 1 23 26 Drawn —and if 30 26. 21 17. Drawn.

(B) 10 14 7 16 12 19 9Q 26 30 26 19 15 15 10 10 6 22 IS 5 14 11 16 16 19 14 oq 26 30 26 23 20 11 23 16 6 1 1 5 18 15 —Drawn.