DRAUGHTS

Southland Times, Issue 21431, 27 June 1931, Page 15

DRAUGHTS

CONDUCTED BY F. HUTCHINS. ”Let science give release To minds o’er wrought by care arid thought* Let the checker board be brought, The battlefield of peace ” All communications to be addressed to "Draughts Editor,” 54 Biggar Street. Solutions of problems, games, criticisms and analyses are invited. Notes, criticism etc., for publication in Saturday’s column must be in by the previous Wednesday. SELECTED PROBLEMS. No. 286—M. T. Tegerdine, Melbourne. Black 9, 10, 13; Kings 25, 29.

White 17, 18, 22, 26; King 32. White to move and win. This pleasing gem problem was credited by many overseas papers to "Author Unknown.” It should be solved from the diagram. No. 287. —G. .Thomas, Ashford. Black 7,8, 20; King 22.

White 15, 19, 23, 27; King 28. White to move and win. A practical and familiar idea in a “Slocum” setting. N.Z. CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES. The two games below were played in the Dominion Tourney between D. Calderwood (Hamilton) the present champion and T. Gilhooley, a promising young player of Dannevirke. They are worth a little study. Our younger players and experts alike will scan them with interest. GAME No 248. Kelso Cross.

(a) Forms the Kelso Cross, an interesting ballot as plenty of scope develops for original play, it not having been fully explored. (b) A favourite reply which often leads to complications. (c) There is very little published play on this line. It is quite safe, however, and serves to open up the game and avoid complications. (d) The natural reply. (e) Up (o this point the game is the same as one played in the last EnglishAmerican match between Ilorr and Kilgour. Kilgour played 24.19 here and the game ended in a draw. (f) This is weak. 2.7 before 11.15 would have given a stronger game. (g) Getting the grip. (h) We fancy the psychological aspect must have intruded here. Mr Gilhooley would not have made this move against a less seasoned opponent. GAME No. 249. Kelso Cross.

(a) Varies from preceding game and is better known. Much play is given on it in Kear’s Encyclopaedia. (b) Running into the strong 3.8 line of the Cross brought up thus: 11.15, 23.18, 7.11, 26.23, 10.14, 23.19, 14.23, 19.10, 6.15, 27.18, 3.7 etc. (c) It will be noticed now that the positions on both sides are identical. (d) 26.23 or 32.27 are both stronger than text. (e) Bad. No hope for black after this. 25.21, 16.19. 22.17 would have given a better hope of a draw.

STANDARD ENDINGS. STRICKLAND’S POSITION, < This position is deservedly regarded as a classic, one of the masterpieces in Draughts and our ambitious young players will improve their play by paying particular attention to each move in the solution and try to fathom its object. By this means they will acquire the proper mind development necessary to play a first class game. < White.

(a) 14.18, 19.16, 18.15, 16.12, 10.14, •12.8, 15.10 c, 8.11, 6.1, 13.9, 14.18, 25.21. Black wins.

(b) 14.18, 13.17, 18.23, 25.21, 23.27, 17.13, 27.23, 11.15, 2.7, 5.9, 7.2, 21.17, 6.1, 9.14, 1.6, 15.18, 23.19, 17.21. Black wins. (c) 14.17, 11.15, 17.13, 9.14, 13.9, 14.10, 9.13, 25.22, 2.6, 15.18, Black wins. ■ (d) 10.7, 11.15, 1.6, 9.13, 7.10, 15.18, 10.7, 5.9. Black wins.

(e) 6.1, 13.9, 14.17, 25.21, 17.22, 9.14, 15.19, 14.10, 19.23, 8.11. Black wins. (f) Black now forces an exchange by 21.17, then eventually gets three kings and wins. The main theory of this play is to either force an exchange or else force the single piece through and win with four kings against three. Solutions to Problems. No. 282—8 y E. E. Cresswell. Black 10, 11, 21; Kings 24, 29. White 23, 26, 32; Kings 1, 17. White to play and win. 1.6 27.18 23.18 25.30 .19.23 10.15-a 26.23 25.29 18.15 6.10 18.27 17.22 11.18 24.27 32.23 21.25 17.22 White 10.19 29.25-b 22.17 18.25 wins. (a) 11.15, 23.19, 29.25, 26.23, 24.28, 23.18. White wins. (b) 21.25, 23.18, 25.30, 18.15, 11.18, 17.22, White wins. No. 283—8 y J. V. Earle (South Australia). Black 3,8, 10, 21, 26, King 22. White 12, 19, 23, 30; Kings 9, 27. Black to move and win. 3.7 30.21 10.17 .26.31 21.13 12.3 22.18 21.14 3.10 B. win. 21.25 23.14 Solutions received: 282 and 283. —F. Rouse (Taramoa), Master A. Donald (Otahuti), S. Buxton (Otahuti). No. 282 only—J.M. (Bluff). Re Problem No. 282. Except J.M. (Bluff) our solvers, although right on (he trunk line of the solution, fell into a trap at var. (a) 11.15, 25.22 which allows 15.19, 6.15, 24.20, 23.16, 20.8 Black wins. A Review has been posted to J.M. To Correspondents. Master A. Donald (Otahuti): Your nice little letter to hand. We are sorry to learn that you have been ill so long and trust that your health will soon be restored to you. At eleven years of age you are a wonder and should be a champion some day. J. A. Lucas (Dunedin): Always pleased to hear from old friends and many thanks for problem. J. O’Neill (Tuatapcrc): Many thanks for play. Will have a look over problems in Review and will publish the one you refer to later. Sec. 5, Otahuti R.D. June 23, 1931. To the Draughts Editor. Dear Sir,—On the back hereof I have sent you solutions to problems No. 282 and 283 with a few variations to the former wjiich I trust are sound. This I consider is a very fine problem. Hope you will excuse pencil. Was very pleased that Allen Donald won the D. Review. He is of school age and has been lying on his back this past two years in hospital, but is now home, and I know for a fact that he worked the problems out himself. Hoping for success, Y'ours, S. Buxton. Tuataperc, 22.6.31. To the Draughts Editor. Draughts Review (May). Problem 1417 (T. Duncan). Black 1,2, 10, 11, 12, 14, 20. White 13, 18, 19, 21, 23, 27, 32.’ Black to play. The author plays. 2.7, 18.0, 11.15, 27.24, 20.27 then 32.28 and Black wins but instead White should play 23.18 and gain a move and draw. Sam Cohen sprung this same move on a crack player in England recently.—Yours, etc., J. O’Neill.

Black: Gilhooley. White: Calderwood 10.15 29.25 9.13 22.17 23.18-a 8.11 23.19-g 13.22 12.1Gb 25.22-e 15.24 26.17 26.23 7.10 28.19 - 9.13 16.19-c 24.19 2.6 2.6 23.16 9.14 30.26 13.22 11.20 18.9 20.24-h 6.15 18.11 5.14 32.28 • 22.25 8.15 19.16 6.9 19.16 22.18-d 11.15-f 11.7 24.27 15.22 16.11 1.5 31.24 25.18 6.9 7.2 White 4.8 27.23 3.8 wins. Notes by Draughts Editor.

Black: Calderwood. White: Gilhooley. 10.15 3.7-b 16.19 4.11 23.18 30.26 c 24.20 27.23 7.10-a 11.16 1.6 19.24 26.23 18.11 20.16 28.19 10.14 8.15 6.13 15.24 23.19 21.17-d 16.11 14.23 7.10 12.16 Black 19.10 17.13 32.27 wins. 6.15 9.14 16.20 27.18 13.9-e 11.8

Black. Black to play. 19.23 23.26 22.17 15.11 17.14 7.10 7.10 6.1-b 16.19 19.23. 17.13 13.9 7.10 11.15 10.6 14.10-e 20.24 26.31 21.25 25.21 10.7 10.7 15.10 10.6-d 24.27 23.26 31.27 9.14 7.10 7.10 10.15 6.9 27.31 30.25 27.23 14.18 10.7 10.7 15.10 9.13 31.26 25.21 23.19 11.15-f 7.10 7.10 10.7-a 26.30 26.22 19.15 10.7 10.7 / .2