DRAUGHTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3972, 29 April 1930, Page 65

DRAUGHTS.

CONDUCTED BY

JAS. DEECOT.

Solution* ol problems, games, and analyse* In* ylted for this column. Games should bo written In six columns as below, and all correspoiulenos kddressed to the Draughts Editor, Otago Witness pflioe, Uunodiu.

PROBLEM 6413. Black 1,3, 21, 23

White 9, 10, 12, 30. Black to play and win.

PROBLEM 6414. Black 1,3, 21, King 20.

White 10, 12, 30, King 11. White to play and draw.

The pair ot companion problems given above are taken from the Glasgow Weekly lieraid. The terms there given are: What result? and St. Ringans offers as a prize for the best solutions the Draughts Review (1930) for six months. As, I think, solvers prefer the straight-out terms, I have given them, as indicated by the winning solutions. GAMES. BY CORRESPONDENCE. The following game, taken from the Launceston Examiner together with the notes is the first game finished (and nicely finished too) of a number being contested by mail between J. C. (Launceston) and two Perth ppponents. GAME 6887.—“ Ayrshire Lassie.”

(a) “ Ayrshire Lassie ” now formed. White fthould never play 27 24 here, which would give him an extremely weak side game. Forming up in the way shown, he is almost pn an equality with Black. (b) And this should always be played in reply to the 4 B—in fact, it restricts Black’s movements after 3 S also. (c) As good as any. The two for two by 12 16 is calculated to bring wins when made by an expert, as a game critical for both sides then develops. Alfred Jordan favoured 9 14, which usually runs the play into the “ Old Fourteenth.” The learner will observe that 9 13 loses by 20 16, etc. (d) Just one good alternative, and that Is 32 28, as played by Wyllie. (e) Generally played, but there are several pound alternatives. (f) An opportunity for the novice to learn one of the old, old traps—26 22, 11 16, 20 11, 3 7. Nice, isn't it? (g) The writer has been unable to locate this move in any of his books, and Lee’s and Robertson’s Guides, also others, give 11 15 only. It appears to be sound, though followed by the 3 8, so was well worth trying. , (h) A threat behind this. The usual 32 28 follow is now impossible.

(i) Weakening White's position. Why not 32 28 now? It then becomes a struggle for “the move” (its retention or recovery), with White showing up quite strongly in the ending. A little experimenting with the position—one from which beautiful problems might be evolved —would afford excellent practice for even fairly strong play--6 S (j) Necessary. We diagram the position after this move : — Black 5,7, 8,9, 11, 12, 14, 17.

White 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 26, 28 White to move.

Ho . played 19 16, and Black scored a most beautiful win, but instead of 19 16 J. C. suggests the following nice play to draw :—

(k) The quick draw by 19 15, 11 18, 24 19 evidently overlooked. However, the continuation is quite instructive and neat.— Dr. Ed. Examiner.

(1) The ending now works itself out to a mechanical win, the three pieces being no match for the two.

A " SINGLE CORNER ” LESSON.

Below I give a lesson on the “ Single Corner ” Game as given in Wendemuth's Checker Companion : — GAME 6888. —" Single Corner.”

(a) This forms the opening, and is slightly in favour of the Black side. (b) Made with the object of playing 10 15 later on to cramp the White single corner. (c) To maintain the centre established by the man on 18. (d) For the object of cramping the men on 8. 11, and 12 with the help of the man on 18. (e) Threatening both 10 15 and 16 19 to establish a strong centre. (f> Finely played, as it prevents 10 15 by 24 19, 15 24, 18 14, 9 18, 22 8, which would win for White. (g) Again a strong move. If 24 19 Black would move 10 15, 19 10, 6 15 with a strong position. (h) Attacking the weakness in the White double corner, and eliminating the weakness of Black in the single corner. The game practically plays itself from note “ h ” to the end, having no special features. SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. Problem 6409 (J. A. Boreham, Dunedin). —Black 5, Kings 11, 31. White 22, 26, King 10. Black to move and win.

Black gets the man on 23 and wins. (a) When analysing, Black preferred 5 9 here, which allowed a very fine draw, as shown in the next problem.—J. A. B. Problem 6410 (J. A. Boreham). —Black 9, Kings 11, 31. White 22, 26, King 10.

DOMINION CHAMPIONSHIP. The annual Draughts Congress commenced at Invercargill on Friday last. Nineteen players are taking part, and, as the entry includes the names of four ex-champions as well as the present holder of the title, the play should be of a high standard. Reports of the play have been very meagre, and little is known about the tourney except the actual scores day by day. The annual meeting of the association was fixed for the Thursday evening preceding the tournament, but I cannot say if it was held then, as no report of the proceedings have been published. At time of writing (Thursday morning) after five days’ play the tournament appears to be in a very interesting stage, and it is beyond the powers of anyone to forecast the winner. Our local champion, J. A. Boreham, appears to hold a very favourable position with 201 points from 27 games played. D. Calderwood is also strongly placed with 22 points out of 29 games. G. A. Brown is also in the running with 19 points out of 26 games, as also is J. R. Clark with 21J points out of 30 games played. Several others are also close up, and will be well in the prize list when the handicaps are known.

Little is yet known of the individual bout, but apparently J. Lucas went down to D. Calderwood and W. O’Malley was congratulated for taking a win from J. A. Boreham, who in turn sprung a trap on R. Botting in the early stages of a game, and won in 15 minutes’ play. Up to Wednesday G. A. Brown and J. R. Clark had not lost a game, but then the latter met his Nemesis in the veteran H. Morris, who won a game from him. Mr Morris, by the way, has lowered the colours of many a fine player. The two ex-champions. J. Scott and J. A. Boreham, played two hard games, both ending in draws. The entry for the Southland championship was very disappointing, only four Southlanders taking part. There should at least have been a dozen. This title appears to be a gift to an ex-New Zealand champion, J. A. Scott.

CALDERWOOD RETAINS TITLE. INVERCARGILL, April 27.

The Dominion draughts championship, which commenced on Good Friday, was concluded on Saturday, when the holder of the title, D. Calderwood, of Hamilton, again topped the list with 274 points. Calderwood has thus established a record by winning the championship six times, the veteran Dunedin player, J. A. Boreham, being next with five wins. G. A. Brown, of Christchurch, secured second place with 264 points, and Boreham came third after having tied on points with J. Lucas, of Dunedin. The latter position was decided on a percentage basis, and Borehapn was placed first by a narrow margin, having shared the honour with the champion of securing most wins in the tournament. The final results of play were as follow, the first three-mentioned players . being placed first, second, and third in' the Dominion Championship, and the next six players being first to sixth in the handicap:—

Black: . J. C. ; White : Perth Opponents. 11 15 11 18 18 25 5 14 2 7_ j 5 9 24 20 26 22-d 29 22 26 22-1 19 16 12 3 '8 11 7 11 10 14-g 1 o 12 19 9 14 28 24-a 22 15 .* 1 23 32 28 23 16 3 17 ’ 4 8 11 18 3 8-h 6 9 14 30 18 22 B3 19-b 30 26 22 18 22 IS 21 14 17 26 15 18-c 8 11-e 9 13 13 17 9 18 1-30 23 22 15 25 22-f 18 9 31 26 16 12 B. wins

39 15 26 23 6 2-k 10 6 6 10 3 7 9 13 31 27 23 16 22 26 5 9 Drawn 18 9 23 19 2 7 6 .2 7 3 11 27 7 11 13 17 26 31 9 13 21 14 9 6 14 10 2 6 10 14 27 31 27 23 17 22 31 27 27 23

11 15 12 1G 9 14 13 17-h 11 1G 32 27 22 18-a 2G 22 18 9 22 13 20 11 31 24 15 22 8 T2-o r. 14 14 18 7 16 20 27 25 18 28 24-f 22 18 23 14 9 G 2 6 8 11-b 9 13 1 r. 10 17 2 9 12 16 29 25-c 32 28-g 18 9 21 14 13 G 6 10 4 8 6 9 R 14 16 32 16 20 16 19 24 20-d 24 19 25 22 14 9 6 J. 30 26 -Drawn.

11 16-a 5 9 9 13 31 27 27 31 26 22 10 14 18 23 18 23 19 15 26 23 19 12 16 19 19 16 16 12 12 16 31 26 22 15 14 18 23 18 23 19 22 18 15 19

White to move and draw. 26 23* 23 18* 10 14 14 17 IS 14 14 9 9 13 ii 16-a 31 26 26 23 16 19 19 15 then 9 5, and the draw is in sight. (a) 31 27, 18 14, 27 23, 14 9, 23 26, 22 18, 26 22. IS 14. Drawn.

P. W. D. L. S. Hp. Pts. D. Calderwood (Hamilton) 36 21 13 0 275 scr 271 G. A. Brown (Christchurch 36 17 19 0 261 scr 265 J. A. Boreham (Dunedin) 36 21 10 5 26 scr 26 W. O’Malley (Bort Chalmers 36 16 13 »* 22J 51 28 J. R. Clark (Christchurch 36 16 17 3 241 3 21 55 271 J. O'Neill (Waitati) 36 14 14 8 261 J. Lucas (Dunedin) 36 19 14 3 26 scr 26 J. Scott (Mossburn) 36 16 16 4 24 1 25 W. Carswell (Mosgiel 36 9 16 11 17 6 23 R. Bottlng (Dunedin) 36 13 14 9 20 1 21 J. M'Intosh (Invercargill) 36 fl 12 19 11 10 21 H. Morris (Tuatapere) .. . .. 36 12 10 14 17 3J 201 W. Young (Christchurch) 36 6 17 13 141 6 201 W. Meldrum (Dunedin) 36 8 12 16 14 6 20 0. Muir (Riversdale) 36 7 5 24 9J 10 191 J. Sutherland (Invercargill) 36 9 9 18 131 41 18 T. Gilhooly (Dannevlrkc) 36 5 12 19 11 51 165 W. Templeton (Naseby) 36 3 7 26 61 10 165 J. Shadbolt (Waikari) , 36 3 14 19 10 6 16