DRAUGHTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3912, 5 March 1929, Page 67

DRAUGHTS.

CONDUCTED BY

JAS. BEECOT.

Solutions of problems, games, end analyses la»lted for this column G run co should be written in six columns as below, and all correspondence addressed to the Draughts Editor, Otago Witnsos Office, Dunedin.

PROBLEM 6293. By J. A. Bomham, Dunedin,-New Zealand. Black Kings 18, 23, 24.

White 31, Kings 12, 20. Black to move and win.

The above position cropped up in play recently between two of the Athenaeum habitues.

PROBLEM 6294. By George Jewitt. Black 2,5, 8, 10, 13, 14, 19

White 21, 22, 24, 26, 28, 31. Black to move and win. This is one for the learner. TO CORRESPONDENTS. J. A. 8., Dunedin. —Thanks for problem. S. D. M'C., Aramoho. —Your criticism of problem is noted below. G. M., Launceston. —Many thanks for Slips. J. A., Wyndham.—Your criticisms are <!ealt with below. E. G., Dannevirke. —Thanks for reports.

GAMES. DOMINION CHAMPIONSHIP. The following pair of games were played tn the tournuy held at Christchurch during Easter, 1928. Game 6743—“ Edinburgh.” Black :W. B. Rendall, White: L. R. Morris,

Notes by Draughts Editor. (a) This move is usually taken, and the game generally reverts to a Switcher. (b) Some attempts have been made to show a win against this line. (c) Hugh Henderson suggested 12 16, etc., to win. (d) Black appears to have taken the wrong way. Try 15 22, 25 18, 13 22. Black wins. Game 6744 —'* Edinburgh.” Black :L. R. Morris. White :W. B. Rendall.

(a) Although this move is frequently taken, either 5 9 or 11 15 are considered better. (b) 9 14 runs into well-known play. SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. Problem 6289 (by A.' Campbell). Black on 1,4, 20, 21, 26, King 31 ; White on 19, 24, 27, 28, 32, King 16. White to move and draw :—

(a) Giving away a piece at once. (b) Making the capturing piece a prisoner, (c-c) King goes to defend from a rear attack.

(e) Most natural move, and Black scores nothing better. Variation 3.—1 5-r, 20 24, 5 9, 23 19, 9 14, 32 23, 30 26, 16 12. Drawn. (F) Beware of 31 26, 24 31, 26 19. " (G) Better than 16 11, and prevents 31 26, as 19 16 would follow. (h) Gets clear just in time to- save capture. (I) 21 25 is no better; thus 20 24, 25 29, 23 19, 30 26, 32 23, 29 25, 16 12. Drawn. Problem 6290 (by J. Birkenshaw). Black Kings 10 23; White 12, 20, King 2. Black

KEEN CRITICISMS. Mr S. D. M'Cosh, Aramoho, writes: I beg to draw your attention to Problem No. 14, by W. Beattie, in Jordan-SteWart Match Games Book, page 60. Black 19, 21, King 15 ; White 27, Kings 6, 22. White to move and win :—

Now if Black moves 19 23, how would White win? (A) 15 11, 9 14, 11 16, 14 18, 16 11, 22 26, 21 25, 26 31, 25 30-B, 18 15. White wins. .(b) If Black moves 19 23, how would White win? I can only suggest a printer’s error ; probably the man on 27 should be a King instead of a single man.—Draught Editor. z —Game 6704. — Mr Jos. Allan writes : Mr Brown's analysis in issue December 24 last gives this position : Black 2,3, 5,7, 12, 13, 20; White 14, 15, 22, 24, 25, 27, 28. Black to play.

(a) Mr Brown invites me to show a draw against this. (b) 15 10 is played, allowing a Black win. (C) 26, 28 24, 6 9, 15 10. Drawn. This would seem to be the correct interpretation of this position, as if 7 11, 14 10, or 13 17, 22 13, 7 10 lead into the same line of play. —Game 6724.— Mr J. Allan continues; In Mr Shepherd’s criticism, Variation B, he leaves this position as a White win : Black 5,7, 8,9, 11, 13, 16, 19, 20 ; White 14, 15, 17, 18, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28. Black to play. But continue 8 12, 15 8, 7 11, 14 10, 9 14, etc. Draws.

NEWS OF INTEREST.

SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP.

The annual tournament to decide the Scottish Championship was opened on New Year’s Day in the Edinburgh Working Men’s Club by ex-Bailie Smith, Coatbridge, president of the Scottish Draughts Association. The president Explained the all-round system, which, for the first time, supersedes the old " knock-out ” system in the competition. The contest would be played under three sections. “ A,” “ B,” and “ C,” and the first two players in each section would enter the final section and play on Friday and Saturday to decide the championship. The championship carries with it a prize of £2O, and the runner-up receives £lO. There was 18 entries. HOW THE GAME IS FOSTERED IN AMERICA. Before the commencement of the contest for the Scottish championship, the president, ex-Ballie Smith, referred to the way in which " checkers ’’ had become such a popular game among old and young in the United States. It was to healthy competition among the pupils of elementary schools in the United States and to the fostering of a love for the game amongst the young that the United States owed her ascendancy as " checkers,” an ascendancy which could be seten in the thorough way their American friends of the dambrod trounced Great Britain in the international match played in New York in 1927. Their team then consisted of veterans, to a great extent, unable to cope with the American team containing at least 50 per cent, young men, in whom love of the game had been carefully fostered for years. That training of young draughts players in America was shown by the fact that in a tournament, run by a Chicago educational body about a year ago. for players under 15 years of agu, 1100 entered. Mr Smith said that, as a member of the Lanarkshire Education Authority, he had proposed that draught contests should be run in elementary schools in this country, as in America, but the suggestion had so far not been taken up.—Glasgow Weekly Herald.

DOMINION CHAMPIONSHIP.

AT DANNEVIRKE AT EASTER. £lOO PRIZE MONEY IN VIEW.

The Championship Tournament Committee appointed under the rules of the New Zealand Draughts Association met at the Dannevirke Draught Club’s room recently, and reports showed that arrangenients were well in hand for the championship meeting.

The tariffs of the hotels and accommodation houses in Dannevirke had been obtained, and are to be published elsewhere for the information of intending competitors. The committee undertook to subsidise £1 for £1 up to £5O all moneys obtained elsewhere than in Dannevirke. This means that with entrance fees, sale of games and funds provided locally, the committee guar2?*,ee to ralse £s °- "With this nucleus of £5O the members of the committee feel confident that players and supporters of the game throughout- the Dominion will appreciate the efforts made by Dannevirke, and respond generously. Contributors will know that every £1 donated up to £5O means £2 for the prize fund, and there can be no doubt that the Tournament Committee will be called upon to subsidise to the full extent of their offer.

The committee fixed the prizes provisionally as follows: Championship: First £25, second £l3, third £l2 ™ Handicap: First £l2 - second £lO, third £9, fourth £B, fifth £6, sixth £5. In arranging the above prize list it had to be kept in view that under the rules of the association on’e half of the prize money, has to be awarded to the championship, and the other half to the handicap event, while the first prize In the handicap must not exceed the third prize in the championship.

If there are more competitors In the championship than in the handicap, and sufficient funds are available, thv committee will increase the championship second prize, and also add a fourth prize. This would mean a corresponding increase in the amount allotted to the handicap. The Tournament Committee has finalised arrangements for holding the championship in the Manchester Unity Hall, which has been engaged for a fortnight. Morning and afternoon tea will be available, and the hall is provided with a fire place and heaters, so that the comfort of competitors is assured.

Dunedin. Christchurch. 9 13 25 21 11 15 22 18 30 26 18 15 21 17 3 8 27 24 13 22-n 25 22 22 29 11 15-A 30 25 8 11 20 16 26 17 24 19 23 18-b 5 9 31 26 11 20 29 25 20 24 6 9-c 23 19 4 8 18 4 12 16 Drawn 18 11 7 11 26 23 22 26 19 12 8 15 24 20 2 6 4 8 10 15 26 23 15 24 32 27 26 30 11 18 9 14 28 19 1 5 8 11 17 22

9 13 23 14 6 10 22 18 14 18 7 3 21 17 10 17 29 25 10 17 23 14 8 12 6 9-A 21 14 10 17 21 14 16 23 3 8 25 21 4 8 21 14 7 10 22 18 23 26 11 15-b 24 19 1 6 14 7 13 17 Drawn 30 25 15 24 25 21 3 10 14 10 8 11 28 19 11 16 18 15 17 22 IT 14 2 6 27 23 10 14 10 7 9 18 25 21 6 10 26 22 12 16

27 23-a 19 16-d 23 19-f 16 12-g H-23 19 20 27-b 30 25-3 1 6 10 14 18 23 16 20-c 20 24-c 32 .23 19 16 24 20 26 30-1 25 22-e 6 10 22 18 Drawn

Variation 1. 1 6-2 6 10 10 14 26 30 30 26 26 22 10 16 20 24 23 19 32 23 16 12 19 16 —same as trunk at fifteenth move. (d) Better than 19 15, , which leads to a critical position. Variation 2.—4 8, 19 16, 26 30, 16 12, 8 11, 23 19, 30 26, 32 23, 31 27, 23 18. Drawn.

to move and draw:— 23 19 16 11 19 15 12 8. 16 11 2 6 20 16-. L 24 19 8 4 11 16 3 8 11 7 19 24 11 8 15 11 8 3 10 15 Drawn 10 (A) 12. 12 8, 19 2 15. 20 16, 15 11. 16 7,

6 9 10 15 22 26 25 29 30 26 29 25 15 10-A 13 17 21 25 17 22 15 11 26 31 9 13 15 11 26 30 11 15 22 18 W. wins

3 8-A 22 15 22 26 10 7 26 31 15 19 24 19-b 13 17 15 11 9 14 7 11 26 30 7 10-0 25 21 8 15 7 3 18 22 21 17 14 7 17 22 19 10 14 18 11 15 Drawn 2 18 28 24 5 a 3 7 22 26