DRAUGHTS

Otago Witness, Issue 3995, 7 October 1930, Page 65

DRAUGHTS

CONDUCTED BY

JAR BEECOT.

Solation* ol prooioma. gainoi, and analyse* Sited for thia column. Gurnee should be written Io elx columns as below, and all cerreepondeuee •ddreased to the Draught* Editor, Otngo Wllneso Office. Duuodlu.

PROBLEM 6459. Author Unknown. Black 3, King 32.

White 11, 16, 27. White to move and win.

PROBLEM 6460. By J. Macfarlane. Black 5, 10, 11, 25,

White 9, 12, 19, 28. White to move and draw.

The problems given above are taken from the Launceston Examiner with the following remarks: —No. 6459: This may look impossible at first glance, but give a second. No. 6460 : The draw is narrow, and corrects the play of a noted American Draughts editor of bygone days. GAMES. DOMINION TOURNEY. The following pair of games were played in the tourney held at Invercargill during Easter last. Mr Carswell is a well-known Otago player, and must be congratulated for putting up a good fight against the champion :—

• —Annotated by G. Brown.— (a) Makes a very even opening with plenty of variety. (b) Best. 6 9 and 14 18 will draw, but in both cases White is best. (c) A good defensive move that restricts Black’s play. (d) This is considered a strong line, of attack. (e) 24 20 is the usual reply. 22 18 draws, but is difficult. (f) 11 15, 24 20 would have brought the game back to usual play. (g) A natural-looking move, .but 15 19 is correct. (h) 15 19 looks good, but text allows White to force a very fine win. GAME 7939.—" Double Corner.”

(a) Not so strong as 11 15, but more likely to lead to original play. (b) 27 23 is a good and safe alternative of 19 15. The Encyclopaedia says: " A good line, but seldom adopted.” Master Play says: " Better than moving the apex piece 26 23.” I cannot say that I agree with either of these authorities.

(c) Switches the game into a "Dennv,” brought up by 10 14, 23 19, 11 16, 26 23, 6 10. Text is inferior to either 5 9 7 11 or 16 20.

(d) 24 20 and 22 18 are both stronger than text. In the Stewart-Banks match 30 26 was played.

(e) The subsequent exchanges give an easy game free of all complications.

AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIP. Following are two of the games played in the 1929 tourney between Mr J. V. Earle (champion of South Australia) and Mr H. Egan (champion of Victoria and Australian ex-champion) in the loser’s second round.. The games and notes are taken from the Brisbane Sports Referee, edited by “ Oblique,” and Mr Charles Scott, - the annotator of the games says they are interesting—both " Kelsos ” (24 20). In the first game Egan adopted a line at midgame which is tricky, and was won by H. B. Reynolds against L. Ginsbery. Earle’s i-eply—varying from Ginsberg—seems a good one. The game ended in a draw, but the score is only carried to a certain point. It is hard to say what the final moves may

have been. In the second Egan (White) appears to have broken new ground at mid-game, and soon drifted into an untenable position, but Earle misjudged the final play, and allowed a draw. In these • games Egan did not reveal himself at his best. Mr Earle won the set by 1 win and 3 draws.

GAME 7940.—" Kelso.” Black: H. Egan; White: J. V. Earle.

(a) The usual development, and considered strongest, as it takes command of square 19. 7 10 would run into a line of the “ Ayrshire Lassie.” Master Play gives some play on 6 10. ~ , (b) Best. 22 18, and Black can atttack by 6 10. z (c) More Interesting than 32 27. The Encyclopaedia says 32 27 gives White an uphill game.

(d) Tempting 9 14, 17 10, 19 24, etc., which loses. S. Grover beat A. Jordan in the 1905 international tournament. (e) 8 11, etc., draws, and 8 12, 27 24, 22 18 draws. (f) Tricky.

(g) Wanting 12 8, and Black might win by 10 14, 8 3, 11 16, 25 21, 9 13, 27 23-h, 15 19, 31 26, 1 5, 22 18, 2 7. Black wins. H. Reynolds beat L. Ginsberg. (h) 27 24 will draw. (i) Appears a very good move. (j) The score of the game stops here.

GAME 7941.—"Ke150.” Black: J. V. Earle; White: H. Egan.

(a) Varies from the previous game. The nmves invariably made here are 20 16 and

, (b) 23 19 is no better. 23 19, 4 8, 16, 8 12, 16 7,2 11 Black wins. (c) If 29 25 then 9 14, 18 9, 11 15 Black wins.

(d) This appears to allow a draw. See the diagram for the position. White.

Black. Black to play.

Instead of 11 15 the following wins:— 26 30, 14-10. 30 25, 22 18, 25 22, 18 14, 22 18, 14 9, 11 15, 10 C, 18 14, 6 1, 14 10. Black wins. SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. Problem 6455 (G. W. Dent). —Black 18, 22, 28, Kings 11, 20. White 5, 14, 27, 30, King 12. White to move and draw. 14 10, 11 15, 5 1, 15 6, 1 10, 28 32, 10 15-a, 32 23, 15 19. Drawn. (a) 27 23. 18 27, 10 14, 27 31, 12 8, 20 16, 8 3, 16 11, 14 18, 32 27, 18 25, 31 26, 30 23, 27 IS. Black wins. Problem 6456 (B. Kilner). —Black 1, 21, Kings 12, 13. "White 7, 11, 14, 29, King 3. White to move and win.

OBITUARY. ROBERT CALDOW. Draught circles and the Mornington district of Dunedin have lost a helpful, respected, and highly conscientious citizen in the late Mr Robert Caldow. Throughout his life he was keenly interested in the game of Draughts, and at his best a player of no mean merit. When the “ Herd Laddie ” visited Dunedin, Mr Caldow secured a draw against him. He was a cautious and keen end-game player. For many years Mr Caldow served the interests of the game as chairman of the Central Executive of the New Zealand Draughts Association. On a number of occasions he acted as referee at the New Zealand tourneys, and by his ability and keen sense of fairness, justice, and Impartiality had the esteem and confidence of all contestants. For several years past, through failing health, he has not been so closely associated with the game, but one and all who knew him will remember him with kindly feelings, and hold him in honoured memory.

TIT FOR TAT. Rather an amusing incident, bringing out a peculiar point in the Standard Laws, which occurred at a match at Kintore, has just been related to us by a county representative. He says: I had virtually won the first game when I got "huffed" through my Black man having been whitened with chalk on some occasion, likely to serve as a White piece. On my expressing annoyance, my opponent said he was forced to do his best for his side; and I would have to abide by the laws which gave him power to huff. “ Very well,” I said, " we’ll stick to the rules.” The recollection of the “ huff ” made me play well and carefully ; but a spice of revenge for the loss of the man made my wins as nothing compared to the pleasure I felt when at the fifth game I caught my invulnerable opponent tripping on rule 11. In reply to 11 15 I played 23 18, when he went 9 14, forming the “ cross-choice,” which leaves you the option of going 18 9 or 18 11. The usual reply is 18 9; and this my opponent evidently expected me to do, for, immediately on moving his piece 9 14 he innocently placed his hand on the man on 5 to take the exchange. " Now I’ve nabbed him," I mentally said, and I moved 18 11, whereupon he lifted his hand to play 8 15. " Oh, no,” I said. “ Obey the rule, * touch a man, play a man ’; you must play the man on 5.” " But I can’t,” he replied; “ you would huff my other man.” «I can’t help it; you

must play the man you touched,” I insisted. For some time we argued the little point; but as the ludicrousness of my hero’s position became more apparent, we both burst out laughing, my opponent winding up with : " They’re a confounded bother, these Standard Laws.”—The Vancouver Province,

GAME 7938. —" Defiance.” * Black : W. Carswell; White: D. Calderwood. 9 14 32 27-e 2 6 19 16 22 17 11 7 23 19-a 4 8-f 16 12 14 17 14 18 3 10 11 15-b 24 20 6 9 22 18 1 5 6 15 27 23-c 11 15 23 18 17 22 16 11 25 29 8 11 19 16 17 21 18 14 17 14 15 10 22 18 12 19 20 16 22 25 18 9 14 18 15 22 23 16 11 27 14 10 5 14 30 26 25 9 8 11-g 18 2 25 29 10 6 21 25 5 14 27 23 27 32 2 6 13 17 10 14 29 25 14 17-h 31 27 29 25 6 1 W. wins 6 9-d 21 14 32 23 6 9 17 22 25 22 10 17 26 19 25 22 1 6 9 13 28 24 9 14 9 14 22 25

Black: D. Calderwood ; ; White: W. . Carswell. 9 14 13 22 14 23 3 10 10 15 19 26 23 19 25 9 27 18 29 25 19 10 31 22 11 16-a o 14 8 11 11 15 6 15 Drawn 26 23-b 20 11 18 14 32 28 22 17 6 9-c 8 24 10 17 15 24 12 16 22 17-d 28 19 21 14 28 19 30 26 9 13 4 8 7 10 2 6 15 19 24 20-e 23 18 14 7 25 22 26 23

10 15 10 19 19 26 11 16 20 24 ■ 1 5 24 20 21 17-c 30 7 27 23 19 15 3 8 15 19-a 11 15 3 10 10 14 24 28 17 22 23 16 32 27 . 20 16-e 22 18 12 8 18 15 12 19 6 10-d 5 9-f 15 22 4 11 9 14 27 24-b 17 14 16 12 25 18 .15 8 15 10 7 10 9 18 8 11-g 16 20 14 17 Drawn 24 15 26 23 28 24-1 24 19 8 3

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

7 2-1 2 9 3 7 14 9 9 6 6 2 1 6 13 6 6 10 10 3 12 16 W. wins —Variation 1.— 14 10-2 8 4 3 7 7 10 15 18 22 17 12 16 16 12 6 8 3 9 16 19 9 13 3 8 7 3 4 11 11 15 18 22 17 14 13 9 9 6 1 5 12 16 19 23 13 17 -Drawn. i—A ariation 2.— 11 8 8 4 7 2 2 9 3 8 Drawn 12 16 16 11 1 6 13 6 11 7