DRAUGHTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3954, 24 December 1929, Page 65

DRAUGHTS.

Conducted by jas. beecot. Solution* o! problem*, games, and analyses laTlted lor this column. Games should be written ■ t I, RX columns as below, and nil correspondence Bddregged to the Draught* Editor, Otugo Wilnoea Vffioe, Dunedin.

PROBLEM 6377. By E. E. Cresswbli,. “A Christmas Cross.” Black 10, IS, King 2.

4 White Kings 9, 11, 26. White to move and win. M" PROBLEM 6578. By S. J. Pickering. Black 1,2, 3,7, 12, 13, 16, 20, 24, 26, Kings 17, 27.

jyhite 10, 11, 14, 15, 18, 19, 21, 23, 25, 28, 30, 32. .White to move and win.

S _xr- TO OUR READERS. A MERRY CHRISTMAS. By the time this Issue reaches our readers the Christmas holiday season will again fee with us, and the chequered board will undoubtedly be laid aside for a few days. Therefore we have served up something of a lighter nature this week, feeling sure that you will have plenty of “ nuts to crack ” at the festival " board.” The selected problems this week are appropriate to the season; they were contributed to the Draughts Review. Mr Cresswell calls his composition a "Christmas Cross,” but apart from this fancy it is a good problem. Mr Pickering says No. 6378 is a Christmas curiosity. The Review remarks : “ It does look a little indigestible, but there is a delicate echo at the end.” Wishing you all " A Merry Christmas.” •—The Draughts Editor.

MR WYLLIE VISITS OUR FAMOUS RESORT. STUBBORN. CONTEST WITH PROFESSOR MUZZLEHOFFER—BLITHERS BETS A '• BOB,” AND LOSES. Mr Wyllie visited us for the first time last week. When Dr Throttle, our worthy president, formally introduced “ The Herd Laddie ” within the luxurious precincts of pur club he was visibly awed with its sumptuous appointments. The Turkey carpets, the inlaid mahogany boards and ivory men, the generous supply of suspadores and matchboxes, the elegant easy chairs, the portrait in oil of the great Anderson over the oak-pannelled mantelpiece, and finally the ceremony of passing round the champagne cup by our venerable president left him perfectly giddy with pleasurable wonder, so that it was some time before he was in a fit condition to encounter such an array of masterly strategists. It had been arranged that our members should play Mr Wyllie in the order of their ability, beginning with Corporal Blithers; but the old war-horse sent word at the last moment he had been summoned to Buckingham Palace to give a few tactical points to the German Emperor, who was anxious to learn our popular English game. In fact, I noticed all our cracks suddenly developed a phenomenal rush of important business, r~ ‘’’at the Rev. Tony Boyle had to begin, i - the game ;—

(a) The Rev. Tony has a theory that this is the most forcible reply to a “ side ” opening, and the cut which follows a powerful continuation.

(b) The 9 13 threw the dominie off his base; 24 19, 4 8, 28 24, 7 10, 32 28 2 7. 25 22, 5 9, 30 25, 1 5, 19 16, ate., is the correct play to draw. I suspect he was waiting for 7 10 instead of 9 13, when he has some pretty traps In the end play. (c) All is over after this; two for one is soon forced. (n) " I resign, _ir, and congratulate you on the originality of your development of the game," graciously remarked the Rev. Tony at this juncture. “ But I may tell you, sir, I am mentally fatigued, having devoted the greater part of the day to composing an original sermon, so you will readily understand I could hardly do myself justice.” " Oh, I ken k_ as hard to write an original sermon as it is to find an original game,” replied the Herd Laddie politely. After our chaplain arose there was some delay in finding another opponent, not that they feared the result, oh, no! but thev wished to give the veteran time to get used to his surrounding, etc., etc. Finally, M'Nib filled the vacant chair, shook hands, and said—- " How are ye, Mr Wyllie?” " Very weel, thank ye.” " That’s braw. Ye mla’ : > playing ye at Pollokshaws? ” " Hey? " " J e kent me at PolloksLav.a ten year ngo? ”

" What’s yer name? ” “Captain M’Nib.” " Aye, I remember yc noo. Ye broke a bobby’s nose for buffing ye in a game for a shilling. I min’ it wcel.” " Ya, ya ! dot vos de same man. He dried dot drlck mit me,” cried Professor Muzzlehoffer, " and he vos run in for id." " Then if ye’re to play with me we’ll bar huffing,” said Mr Wyllie with his usual prudence.

“ Vera weel,” rejoined M'Nib, " I’m no, particular," and opened as follows:—

(a) When Mac saw this he exclaimed : "Just the game I wanted; I’ll give him a drubbing he’ll no’• soon forget I I have it all analysed ! ” (b) "lie’ll never draw this wi’ me; just watch how I’ll surprise him in a few moves,” said Mac, sotto voce, and we all watched. (c) So far Mac had played with all the loquacious assurance of a bookmaker, but now he began to silently scratch his head, rub the wart on his chin, grumble at the crowding and talking, and finally moved 3 8, observing; “ That’ll give hime something to think aboot." But apparently it didn’t, for with alacrity Mr Wyllie replied—22 18, 13 22, 18 9, 6 13, 31 26, 22 31, 30 25, 31 24, 28 3, 10 14, 25 22, 1 6, 29 25—and presently Mac had to " bang doon the saxpance,’’ exclaiming as he did so: “ Ye’ll no catch me wi’ that again, my laddie.” “ Do you think you’ll draw it? ” asked the veteran. “ Draw it, mon ! By the great Macgregor, I’ll beat it I And would just noo, but for the blethering chatter that is always going on in this club I Besides, I had the lumbago a’ nicht. which upset my nerves, ye ken.” He then made room for Professor Muzzlehoffer, w’ho contested the next game. SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. Problem 6373 (W. C. Beldon).—Black 22, 27, King 15; White 9, 14, 20, 28; Black to move and draw:—

CRITICISMS. Mr J. Allan writes: Diagram, Game 6840. —Black 1,3, 5,6, 7, 13, 15, 19; White 14, 20, 21, 22, 26, 28, 30, 31 ; White to play : 20 16, 6 10, 16 12-a, 10 17, 21 14, 1 6-b, 14 10, 7 14, 22. 18, 14 23, 28 24, 19 28, 26 1, White wins. (a) Correct move to win for White, 30 25, as given, being purely defensive. (b) 7 11 loses by 31 27. [Mr Allan in note " b ” says 7 11 loses by 31 27, but continue 11 16, 30 25, 16 20, 27 23, 20 24, 23 16, 24 27, and Black appears to have a safe draw.—Draughts Editor.]

— Bristol. •» Black : :.Ir Wyllie ; White : Rev. Tony Coyle. 11 16 18 15 7 10 15 11 14 18 23 19 22 '18 11 18 31 26 10 15 19 15 i 1-26 23 10 14 22 15 10 19 28 24 18 23 25 22 9 13 24 15 13 17 27 18 8 11 26 22b 3 7 22 13 20 27 V.’yllle 29 25-a . > 9 25 22-c 15 31 32 23 vca. 1G 20 22 13 7 10 23 19 31 26

—" Switcher.”— Black : Captain M'Nib ; White: Mr Wyllie. 11 15 25 21 12 16 24 20 1 1G 21 17-a 59 18 11 9 14 26 23 9 13 23 18-b 8 15 20 11 c-3 8

15 11* 6 2 30 26 19 16 8 12 14 9 96 26 30 24 19-a l 11 8 16 11 18 15 22 26* 28 21 26 23 2 7 23 18 Drawn (a) 14 10, 26 23, 10 7, 27 32, 7 3, 32 28, drawn. Problem 6374 (J. W. Carnes). —Black 7, 11, 20, 21, King 25 ; White 23, 26, 27, 28, 30 ; White to move and win :— 23 19 11 15 12 8 25 22 23 19 7 10 16 12 14 17 28 24 26 22 19 16 10 14 26 23 22 26 W wins