DRAUGHTS

Southland Times, Issue 20669, 15 December 1928, Page 19 (Supplement)

DRAUGHTS

CONDUCTED BY F. HUTCHINS "Let science give release To minds o’er wrought by care and thought. Let the checker board be brought. The battlefield of peace." Solutions of problems, games criticisms and analyses are invited. The games should be written in four columns as below. Items of interest to Draught players will also be appreciated. All communications to be addressed to “Draughts Editor,” 54 Biggar Street. Games, Items etc., must be in by Monday, solutions, Wednesday. The weekly issue of the Times with Draughts columns, will be sent post-free to any address in the Dominion for 8/8 per annum. Corrections—Through a printers error the terms of Problems 18 and 19 were omitted last week, both were (Black to move and win). A white man should have been shown on diagram of No. 19, on square 28. PROBLEM 20. (By F. Hutchins.) BLACK (10, 12, 15, 28.)

WHITE (13, 19, 26, 32.) White to play and draw. The above position is the end of a game played by correspondence between Mr. O. Muir (Winton), and your humble servant. I do not remember having seen the position published and leave players to judge as to whether it is worthy of a place among problems. PROBLEM 21. (By J. Dempster.) WHITE (18, 22, 32, King 15.)

BLACK (9, 13, King 23.) White to play and win. Showing one of the tricks in the game which the amateur will do well to study. The following games were played between Messrs. W. H. Brown (Marton) and J. A. Boreham (Dunedin), in the Dominion championship tourney held in Wellington, Easter, 1927. GAME 25. Brown’s Move.

(b) 6.10 is a good move here. (c) 29.25 is generally played but text I think is strongest. (d) 9-13 better. (f). 3.8 would be best. , (g). 11.15 looks like a draw. (h). Losing move; 14.17 would draw. GAME 26. | Boreham’s Move.

(b) 27-24 is the usual. (c) Looks risky. (d) Black’s position now looks hopeless. (e) Mr. W. H. Brown excelled himself in this game, and received congratulations for the first win scored against Mr. Boreham in the tournament. A Few More Notes on the History of Draughts. Quoting from the “Home Checker Companion in “Banks Scientific Checkers” we cull the following: It is established from Egyptian Monumental Paintings and Inscriptions the game was common at the time of the earlier Pharoahs. It was played then as now with pieces, all of which on the same board were alike in size and form, though on different boards they varied, some being small, others large and rounded at the top or carved into human heads. It has been conjectured that checkers was the game with which, in the first book of the Odyssey, Homer describes the suitors of the Penelope as amusing themselves, and that which, according to Philostratus was invented by Palamedes at the siege of Troy. But Rameses, the third 1300 B.C. as depicted on the Walls of Thebes in Egypt, is unmistakably playing checkers with a lady, and the British Museum has many specimens of ancient Egyptian draught men and draught-boards. GAME 27. ANOTHER EARLY LOSS IN THE BRISTOL CROSS.

(a). 8.11 should be played here.

We append a diagram after the fatal move. BLACK.

WHITE. White to play". (b). A beautiful coup by D. G. McKelvie of Glasgow. The beginner should study this position well to see how the pieces are forced to the necessary squares to get the shot. PLAYING THE GAME. No, he has not climbed to fame, Still, he loves the silent game, And he puts his heart and soul into its play; He is there to try and win, And will stick through thick and thin; He Is always pleased to meet you any day. When he has a losing game He will battle just the same And make you work until the game is o’er. He is pleasant all the while And he always wears a smile, Win or lose, he’s always willing to play more. Now, if all would show their skill With the same good-natured will, Rays of sunshine would be scattered here and there For no matter what the game, You bring glory to your name If you show a way to banish useless care. —Wm. Brogon, in the Vancouver Weekly Province. Solutions. PROBLEM 15. BLACK (4, 6, 12, King 14.) WHITE (17, Kings 7, 23.) White to play and draw.

(a). 23.26, 25.30. 26.31, 15.18. Drawn. No. 16. BLACK (5, 8. 16, 19. 22.) WHITE (15, 27 30, 32, King 10.) White to play and win. 15.11, 8.15, 27.23. 19.26. 10.12, 26.31, 12.16, 5.9, 16.19, 9.14, 19.15. White wins. N 0.17. BLACK (2,7, 9 10, 11, 12, 13.) WHITE (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 28.) Black to play, white to draw. 10.14, 19.15, 11.16, 20.11, 7.16, 15.10, 16.19, 23.16, 12.19, 10.6, 14.23, 6.1, 22.18, 26.30, 1.5. Draw. Correct solutions received: No. 15, 16 and 17. W.J.8., F.R., T. Henry (Invercargill), O. Muir (Winton), A. Scott (Titiroa). No. 16 and 17 only: D. S. McKenzie, G. S. Templeton (Glenham), and C. R. Dickie, (Tuturau.) D. S. McKenzie—Your move in No. 15, 17-13 would allow a black win by 12.16, 7.11, 16.20, 23.19, 9.14, etc. Answers to Correspondents. 0. Muir. (Winton) : Pleased to see you are taking such interest in column. The play you send in for a Black win in problem 15 must have given you some trouble. Position: BLACK (4. 6, 12. King 9.) WHITE (17, King 7, 23.)

(a). I think this Is where you miss the draw. Instead of 15.10, play 19.24 and black cannot get round to assist the 2 men on 8 and 12 owing to the threat of two for one by 26.23 or 26.31 and then 24.20, 31.27 etc. If black elects to move over the board to try and force the white kings away, white continues to move backward and forwards on 20 and 24 squares until the black king (position Black 8, 12, King 7. White Kings 15, 20) forces white from 15 when he moves to 19 and the see-saw Is renewed, black cannot force the win. The whole key to the problem is to keep the two men pinned by the one king. You have sent in some reallv fine play on var. of problem 13, published last week. I can find no flaw in your play for a draw after 16.19 is played; 16.20 (as you say) wins. Will publish as a problem next week. I hope you have some good games in your match. J. A. Scott. (Mossburn) : Papers received with many thanks. Your congratulations are very encouraging. Will have a look at the play and problem you mention and publish later. Glad to hear you are still on the mend. J.A., (Wyndham) : Criticism of game 23 very acceptable. Should stimulate interest. Banks v. Gonotsky. Shortly before the Cedar Point tourney, announcement came from Detroit that "Square Deal Miller,” a Detroit jeweller, would present the winner with a silver cup, and also donate a purse of $l,OOO to be played for between Newell W. Banks and the Cedar Point tourney winner. The tourney was won by Sam Gonotsky, hence a match between him and Banks is now scheduled for November 19, at the Hotel Imperial, Detroit. These wizards will adopt the 11-Men Ballot system of play. The $l,OOO "Square Deal Miller” purse will undoubtedly recompense them, inasmuch as there is no title at stake in the match.—"Roseville Citizen,” October 25. GAME 23. (Edinburgh.) 1. At the 32nd move 21.17 is playfed. Black 2.5. 6.10, 12.13. 19.20. White 15.18, 21.22, 26.27, 28.31. White to play. Instead of 21.17, play:—

Then 11.16. White wins. 2. 27.23 31.27 2.7 W. wins. 23.16 12.19 3. 27.23 18.15 12.16 2.6 15.11 11.8 6.9 If 9.14 or 20.24, 22.17 wins for white. The above is a criticism of game 23 (published last week) between W. Penman and D. Calderwood, forwarded by J.A., (Wyndham). Here is a chance for the experts and further criticism is cordially invited.

10.15 8.11 1.5 20.27 a-22.18 29.25 24.20 31.24 15.22 7.10 15.24 h—2.7 25.18 23.19 28.19 30.25 b-11.15 9.14 g—11.16 7.11 18.11 27.23 20.11 25.21 8.15 5.9 7.16 11.16 c-21.17 25.22 27.24 24.20 d-4.8 f —3.7 16.20 10.15 17.13 32.27 22.18 W.wins. (a>. Kelso exchange.

10.15 22.17 7.11 18.14 22.18 c—18.22 8.3 25.30 15.22 17.14 11.16 8.3 2548 10.17 1.5 26.23 11.15 21.14 22.26 11.8 18.11 1.6 30.23 30.25 8.15 26.17 19.26 3.7 29.25 6.9 5.9 6.10 4.8 31.27 16.19 14.17 25.22 9.18 27.23 10.15 8.11 16.11 19.24 7.10 a -24.20 7.16 23.18 15.19 6.10 d—20.11 13.17 10.15 b-23.19 5.9 9.14 25.21 15.24 17.14 17.22 17.14 28.19 9.13 18.15 21.25 9.14 14.9 26.30 8.3 27.23 18.22 15.11 25.22 11.15 9.5 30.26 3.7 19.16 15.19 3.8 22.26 12.19 5.1 22.25 15.18 23.16 3.7 14.18 e—24.27 14.18 11.8 2.6 W.wins (a). A strong move.

11.16 24.20 a—2.7 17.10 23.18 7.10 b—28.24 6.15 10.14 22.17 19.28 22.17 18.15 9.13 30.25 13.22 16.19 25.22 10.19 25.2 White wins.

7.11 4.8 22.25 10.7 9.13 11.4 23.27—a 22.25 17.14 12.16 15.19 31.26 13.17 4.8 17.14 25.30 14.9 16.19 19.23 26.31 6.13 8.11 27.31 18.22 23.18 19.23 25.22 Drawn. 17.21 11.15 14.10 18.22 21.17 23.18

7.11 17.22 26.23 4.8 9.13 18.25 25.30 24.19 17.14 13.17 23.19 31.26 13.17 25.30 30.26 15.10-a 14.9 17.21 11.15 8.11 6.13 30.26 26.31 Black 23.18 21.25 19.24 wins.

27.23 22.17 15.fi 14.10 10.7 3.8 20.24 13.22 9il3 9.14 14.18 23.27 23.16 26.17 17.14 18.9 7.3 8.11 12.19 6.9 2.9 5.14 18.23 27.32