DRAUGHTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3942, 1 October 1929, Page 65

DRAUGHTS.

CONDUCTED BY

JAS. BEECOT.

Solutions of problems, games, nnd analyse* la* wiled for this column. Game* should be written In sis columns no below, end all correspondent* addressed to the Draughts Editor, Otnco Witness Otti.v, Dunodiu.

PROBLEM 6353. By Hugh Egan (Victorian champion) Black 3, 11, 28, Kings 21, 31.

White 6, 12, 20, 26, King 5. White to move and draw. When publishing the above problem the Melbourne Leader, edited by “ Chequers.” remarks : “ Some overseas experts and analysts seem reluctant to recognise that Australasian players are capable of originating new play or composing a decent problem. in W. Ryan’s new book, ‘ It’s Your Move,' the only piece of Australasian players’ work is the above problem, given among 50 problems by the ‘ world’s greatest players,’ but the author’s name is not given, which seems Strange, as the problem appeared in most of the Draughts columns.” PROBLEM 6354. By Chas. Pickering. Black 2,5, 9, King 30.

White 14, 15, 18, 22, King 11. White to move and win. TO CORRESPONDENTS. J. T. G., Brisbane.—Many thanks for package. G. A. 8., Christchurch.—Criticism received. GAMES. DOMINION CONGRESS. The following pair of games were played in the championship tourney held at Dannevirke during Easter, 1929 :— Game GSl5.—” Switcher.” Black: G. A. Brown (Christchurch). White: E. Gibbard (Dannevirke).

913 15 24 10 17 11 15 11 15 32 28 21 17 28 19-c 21 14 32 28 29 25 18 14 11 15 11 16-d 16 20 15 24 15 24 10 15 25 21 22 18 25 22-e 28 19 22 18 14 9 811 13 22 6 10-f 711 24 28 28 °4 30 25-a 26 17 14 9-g 9 5-h 25 22 B. wins 48 811 514 20 24 28 32 24 19-b 17 II 18 9 27 20 22 17 (a) A good defensive move, as it limits Black’s attacks. (b) The correct reply, anything else and Blgok can win. (c) This is the " book ” reply, but I prefer 27 20. (d) 11 15 1* considered stronger; if 10 14 White has an equal game. (e) This is now a Second Double Corner position. 25 21 is the old Hue, but White has a hard ending; 32 28 loses. (f) Varies from my play against the same player at the Wellington tourney, where I piayed 6 9, and the game was drawn. (g) 31 26 is doubtful. (h) Losing move; 22 18 draws.

(a) Forms the Switcher, an opening very strong for Black. <b) White’s strongest reply, but one wants to be well posted before adopting it as it gives Black plenty of scope to initiate many strong lines of attack. (c) 29 25 loses. (d) 15 18 is stronger. (e) This is stronger than 1 6, which is very often played. (f) Anything else is very doubtful. (g) 11 16 and 11- 15 are good alternatives. (h) Not so easy as 25 21. (i) Introduced by F. Tescheleit; it is the only move to draw; from this stage the game follows orthodox play.

AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIP. Tn the losers’ third round of the Australian championship tourney at Brisbane the tie between J. V. Earle. South Australian champion, and W. W. M’Laughlin, the youthful player from Macksville, New South Wales, ran to six games, Earle winning by three to two, and one drawn game. The following are the first two games, and with notes are taken from the Sports Referee, edited by “ Oblique." The notes are specially contributed by Mr Charles Scott (New South Wales), country champion:— Game 6817. —“ Kelso.” Black: J. V. Earle White: W. W. M’Laughlin.

24 15 6 10 13 9-f 14 17 30 14 10 19 17 13 19 24-g 21 14 710 —Notes by Charles Scott.—

(a) To occupy square 19 is considered best. 7 10, 28 24, 3 7 would be an ” Ayrshire Lassie," brought up thus : 11 15, 24 20, 8 11, 28 24, 3 8. (b) The strongest way to attack. If 22 18, Black gets a fine game by 6 10. 25 22, 10 14, 29 25, 14 23, 27 18, and then 9 13. (c) Unusual, and not as good as 21 17, which generally runs this way: 21 17, 11 15, 32 27, 6 10, 17 14, 9 18, 26 23, and White has an equal game. (d) Black gets the better of the game here by 6 10, 25 22, 10 14. (e) The position is now much like a “ Bristol " formation. In fact, it would be a “ Bristol ” if pieces were on 7 and 27. (f) A strong attack on Black's double corner. (g) Relieving the pressure.

(h) This loses: the following draws:— 7 11, 16 7. 2 11. 9 5, 11 16, 13 9, 15 19. 26 23, 19 26, 30 23. (i) Mr M’Laughlin scores a neat win from the South Australian champion. In the second game the young country player, W. W. M’Laughlin. breaks away from orthodoxy, and, playing very exactly, scores a brilliant victory from one of Australia’s acknowledged experts :— Game 6818.—” Kelso. Black: W. W. M’Laughlin; White, J. V. Earle.

10 15 24 15 15 22 32 27 9 14 13 6 24 20 10 19 25 18 811 27 23-f 1 10 15 19 21 17-a 9 14 30 26 11 16 27 24 23 16 II IG-b 17 10 5 9 25 21-g 10 15 12 19 20 11 6 22 29 25-e 2 6-j 26 22 27 24 8 15 26 17-d 3 8 31 27 B. won 7 10 22 18-c 48 17 13 69 (a) The usual play. 32 27 is also very good, but 22 18 is rather weak. (b) The move invariably made here is 11 15. The old masters have set precedents in certain lines of Draughts strategy, which have been too often s'avishly follow’ed to the neglect of other attacks, which, though they may be considered less strong, are quite sound and full of fine combinations. One finds very little play on this 11 16 defence. Even Tescheleit, in his extraordinary collation of games in “ Master Play of the Draught Board,” gives no play on 11 16. does not even mention it. from which it Is reasonable to conclude that he deems the line of little importance. The brilliant young American master. Willie Ryan, however, gives precedence to this very line in his book entitled “ It’s Your Move,” and shows a pretty game arising from it. Here is the game from this point—--11 16 914 18 23 15 18 11 18 69 20 11 17 13 24 20 29 25 20 1G 13 G 8 15 48 8 11 2 6 18 22 1 2G 32 27 27 24 17 14 26 22 25 18 30 23 610 14 18 10 17 38 23 26 19 26 25 21 22 17 21 11 22 15 31 22 Drawn (c) Varies from Ryan’s game, where 32 27 is played. (d) The forces are now far from contact, and so the work of combination has to be thought out again. (e) An easy draw could be found this way: 17 14, 9 18, 27 23. 18 27. 31 8, 3 12. (f) This loses. See the diagram:— Black 1,2, 8, 11. 14, 19.

White 13, 25, 26, 27, 28, 31. White to move. The draw can be found as follows :—

(j) Seals White’s fate, and enables Mr M’Laughlin to score another fine win from the South Australian master.

CRITICISMS. Game 6501.—” Shadbolt v. Lyon." Mr G. A. Brown writes: After the 24th move of game 6801 the position is as follows:—Black 1,2. 3. 6,7, 11, 14, 20: White 12, 18, 21, 23. 25, 30. 31. 32; Black to play. Instead of playing 7 10. the New Encyclopaedia gives the following play for a Black win:—

SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. Problem 6349 (Joseph Allan. Wyndham). —Black 3, Kings 1, 10; White 11. Kings 2, 16. White to move and draw—

JORDAN AT NIAGARA FALLS. A humorous incident is told of Alfred Jordan's last trip to Niagara Falls. It was at the time of the eclipse, and Alt had left Detroit, en route to Washington and Florida. Journeying with a friend to the Horseshoe Falls, they paused to drink in the glorious vision. After a spell of meditation the friend spoke first: “ Say. Alf, I am just reminded that there is a famous Indian legend connected with the falls. The story runs that if one throws a coin over the falls at this spot the Great Spirit will bless him with everlasting luck, and I suppose that means luck at checkers, also.” " By jove, that sounds Interesting," quoth Alf, “ but what kind of a coin do you have to throw over? ” “ Oh, anything will do,” answered his smiling friend. Alf fished «round and presently pulled out of his pocket a 50-cent piece. “ This is the only change I have, and I jolly well believe I will try It, but ” "But what?” queried his friend. " I say. old chappie, have you got a string? ” was Jordan’s reply.—Checkerist.

Game 681G.— Switcher.” Black : : E. Gibbard ; White : G. J, i. Brown. 9 13 22 17-c 6 9-g 27 23 3 8 19 15 21 17 13 22 23 18-11 16 20 17 14 16 19 11 15-a 26 17 1 6 32 27 10 17 23 16 25 21 4 8-d 17 13-1 8 11 21 14 12 19 8 11 29 25 10 17 30 25 6 10 7 3 17 14-b 2 6-e 25 22 11 16 14 7 R 12 10 17 24 19-f 17 26 22 17 9 14 DrawR 21 14 15 24 31 22 7 10 18 9 6 10 28 19 11 16 25 21 5 14

10 15 22 18-c 8 11 28 19 10 17 14 7 24 20 9 14-d 29 25 15 24 20 16 2 20 15 19-a 18 9 4 8 26 23 12 19 9 5 23 16 5 14 25 22e 24 28 23 16 1 6 12 19 25 22 *3 7 31 26 h-15 18 1-5 1 27 24-b 11 15 22 17 11 15 26 22 W. wins < 10 22 17 8 12 17 13 18 25

27 24 21 20 26 22 22 17 11 3 9 G 11 15 1 *; 23 26 30 26 11 15 19 31 27 27 21 25 21 17 11 13 9 24 15 11 18 18 23 26 30 6 10 10 23 11 18 -Draw. (g) 13 objective. 9 is better, but just fails in its

G 9 32 28 9 13 22 13 1G 30 6 2 25 22 1 o 18 9 14 18 14 9 26 31 7 10 28 24 *1 14 23 14 30 26 B. wins 31 27 11 1G 30 2G 10 17 9 7 2 7 24 19 13 17 21 14 7 11

16 19 2 7 7 2 19 15 2 9 a-15 19 1 5 10 6 6 1 1 6 5 14 14 18 and 19 15 draws. (a) Black cannot < come on 10, as this would allow 11 7, etc., i tlrawr i. Problem 6350 (L. M. Stearns). —Black 16, 24, King 5 ; White 30, 32, King 3. Black to move, White to win16 19 5 9 9 14 14 18 24 31 31 22 30 26 3 7 7 11 32 27 11 16 16 14 —White wins.