DRAUGHTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 4039, 11 August 1931, Page 61

DRAUGHTS.

Conducted by

JAS. BEECOT.

■“-oWon* o» problem*, game*, end anaWaee lc

PROBLEM (1547. By Saul Cass. Black 2,4, 5, 21, Kings 20, 24.

White 9, 11, 14, 16, 19, 30 31, King 8.

White to move and win

PROBLEM 6548By L. J. Vair, Denver. Black 10, 23, Kings 28, 32.

White 25, Kings 1, 16, 20 White to move and win.

Our selected problems this week are taken from the Checkergrain. Regarding 6547, illie Ryan, the editor of Checkergram, says: “ Ulis is undoubtedly the finest problem of the month,” and the first time published. No. Gs4B.—The solver needs to be careful with this one, as a note in the solution says Black can hardly be blamed for expecting to draw with this move, but with two simple moves. White shows that the best laid plans of mice and the erring Checker players "gang aft agley.” GAMES. The following pair of games are contributed by Sir G. A. Brown, ex-Dominion champion. The play will be found interesting, as the first shows a correction to note (c) of Game 8069, O.W. In the “ Switcher ” Mr Brown introduces a new White attack and secures a good game :— GAME 8081.—“ Denny Lassie.” By G. A. Brown, Christchurch, ex-champion.

(a) The annotator of Game 5069 says: "All the . authorities condemn this.” I have played this move dozens of times without ever being in a lost position, and there will have to be a big improvement in the published play of Black attack before I accept that 28 24 is a safer move. (b) The strongest line of attack. (c) Supposed to be a loss, but the play for the win is not very convincing; even if this line can be shown to lose, White has two better moves. 22 17 and 27 23, cither of which gives White a sound game. (d) White has now a safe position and can draw against any Black play'. (e) Draws and corrects the play given in note (c) of Game 8069, where White " commits ” suicide by’ playing 22 18. GAME 8082.—“ Switcher.” Black : G. A. Brown ; White : C. Millington.

(a) Forms a very difficult opening for White. (b) The only reply that gives Black the advantage. (c) The strongest reply, but 30 25 is safer. (d) Best reply, but other lines will draw. (e) 28 24 loses. (f) 11 16 is the strongest move; text Is a favourite move with local players. (g) This is given in the books, but I was not familiar with the plav; 32 28 is my defence with the Whites. ’My innovation, however, seems to be quite sound, but gives White an advantage. GONOTSKY v. LIEBER. Following are two more of the games played in the 40 drawn games match between the above American experts. The games with notes are taken from the Weekly Province :— GAME 8083.—" Denny.” Black: Gonotsky; White: Lieber.

Note: Playing time two and threequarter hours. (a) 17 13 is generally adopted here. The text was played by Kilgour in the second International match against Lieberman and Lieber; with the former Kilgour missed a win, and against Lieber he lost. The line was regarded as one of the " cooks ” thatthe British team had prepared. (b) Spectators watching the match fully expected the cut here by 19 16, and were agreeably surprised when this inove was /

(c) The game was now becoming interesting. Some thought that Lieber had pulled a " boner,” for it looked as if he was tying himself in a knot. (d) Gonotsky took his full time before making this move. (e) If the cut off by 8 11, 16 7,2 11, then 30 25 would have given Lieber a nice wm. Lieber, when playing Kilgour, moved * 8 note and at this stage cut 8 11, . . 2 11. Then Kilgour made his mistake by playing 22 18 instead of 30 25, and Lieber escaped and scored. (f) If 1 5, then 24 20. White wins— Gonotsky. (g) A fine game and nicely played. GAME 8084. —** Denny.” Black : Lieber ; White : Gonotsky.

hours' 6 * time two and a-quarter (a) Plenty of good lines can be introduced here. 1 his is Gonotsky’s favourite. (b) Played quite a lot in tournaments bv British and American experts, and is stronger than 8 11, usually plaved (c) Tescheleit’s "Master Play” gives 25 21, 5 9, 32 27, 6 10. The above seems to be an improvement. .. t d \ 5 . 9 follov ’<--d by 25 21 would bring it back into Tescheleit’s play. (e) Starred move. Anything else would be weak if not a loss for White. (f) Beware of the trap that lurks here by 18 22, 26 17, 13 22, 31 26, 22 31, 16 JL -31 24, 28 10, for then it is all over. Lieber was not to be caught. ERRATA. Solvers would notice a slight error in Problem 6546 in last week’s issue The White piece on 22 should be on 25 Trv again. SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. Problem 6543 (G. 11. Slocum) .—Black 13, Kings 6, 16. White Kings 21 31 . Black to move and win.

FORTY-TWO YEARS AGO.

I am indebted to Mr Joseph Abernethv. who so ably conducted this column for 'a period of about 38 years, as by his kindness I am privileged to get a glimpse into the pages of the past. The gift of a complete file of the Otago Witness Draughts column covering the years 18S9-90-91— 40 to 42 years ago—affords very interesting reading, and I intend to reproduce a selection of games, problems, hnd other interesting matter from time to time. The matter is 1 think, old enough to be new to most of our readers at the present time. The file contains a large number of games played in the Australasian and South Seas championship tourney held in Dunedin, January, 1899, and won by W. Warnock, New South Wales. Games played in the two matches between Wyllie, the “ Herd Laddie,” and Marr at Brisbane in 1890. Mr Marr won the first match and Wyllie the second. A Boreham v. Brodie match of 10 games, 1899. Interprovincial match by telegraph between .Otago and Canterbury, and a number of games contested in the Boreham. and Drury match in Sydney. 1891, tiie New Zealander winning by 6 ' vias to ~ with 12 draws. On October 9. 18J0 41 years ago—the detailed scores of eight Draughts matches are given, and looking down the names I find a number of the players are still with us and “ going strong”: Harry Morris and E. Le Petit (Invercargill), J. Leggett (Longbush) —-is this the Mr Leggett lately residing in Wellington ?—W. M'Kinna and J. Gardiner (Gore), Tom Ayson (Wyndham). J. M. Hutton and J. Lucas (Dunedin), W. Carswell (Mosgiel), J. A. Boreham (Oamaru). of course, be many more, but these are the more prominent names, and all mentioned in one issue. LIFE’S CHECKERS. We are no other than a moving row Of Magic shadow-shapes that come and go, Round with the sun-illumin’d lantern held In midnight by the master of the show. Important pieces of the game he plays. Upon the Checker-board of nights and'davs; Hither and thither moves and checks and slays. And one by one back in the closet lays. —Omar Khayyam.

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

11 15 22 17 3 8 23 14 14 17 6 2 21 17-a 13 22 28 24 2 6 23 18 11 16 9 13-b 26 17 10 15-f 17 13-g 17 21 20 11 25 21 JU 8 23 19 6 10 19 16 8 15 8 11 24»0-d 15 22 14 9 12 19 07 23 17 14-c 1 6 o 7 24 5 14 24 6 ~4 8 10 17 29 25-e “g 9 32 28 7 10 21 14 18 2‘> 31 27 22 26 18 14 8 12 6 10 25 18 9 18 30 23 10 17 Drawn

10 14 11 15 3 8-d 4 27 2 6t 9 14 22 17 24 20 20 16 31 24 23 18 2 7 7 10 15 24 15 18-e 9 13 6 9 23 26 25 22-s i 28 19 22 15 30 25 18 15 7 II 9 13 8 11 13 22 13 12 16 26 30 24 19 32 28-b 26 17 25 ~9 15 6 11 15 o 9 11 15 8 11 *6 13 16 23 14 17 27 24 28 24-c 15 8 29 25 6 2 21 14 -then 30 21- £■ Drawn.

10 14 9 25 15 19 6 13 8 15 25 30 22 17 29 22 30 25 18 14 23 16 24 19 7 10 11 15 10 15 10 17 13 17-f 15 24 17 13 24 20 32 27-c 21 14 2G 23 27 20 3 7 7 11-b 6 10-d 15 18 18 22 17 22 25 22-a 23 18 25 21 22 15 28 24 10 14 17 12 16 1 6 11 8 25 Drawn 21 14 27 23 13 9-e 20 11 14 10

16 11 26 22 6 10 21 25 14 9 31 26 7 2 18 22 13 17 B. wins. 11 7 18 10 14 22 13 Problem 6544 (G. H. Slocum).—Black 23 , Kings 12, 14. White 11, , 20, 28, King 31 Black to move and w in. 12 1G 3 8 19 28 12 16 10 7 S 11 11 16 7 10 19 8 15 12 12 16 15 11 15 16 10 11 8 12 24 28 24 B. wins. 7 3 15 11 16 12 24 28 12 8 14 10 28 24 28 24 11 8 7 3