DRAUGHTS

Southland Times, Issue 21604, 16 January 1932, Page 17

DRAUGHTS

CONDUCTED BY F. HUTCHINS. “Let science give release To minds o’er wrought by care and thought Let the checker board bo brought The battlefield of peace.” All communications to be addressed to “Draughts Editor,” 54 Biggar Street. Solutions of problems, games, criticisms and analysis are invited. Notes, criticism etc., for publication in Saturday’s column must be in by the previous Wednesday. , PROBLEMS. - Our problems this week are specially prepared for the Southland Times by the author, our esteemed Dunedin friend. No. 344 is one of his usual little gems requiring exact play to obtain the desired result. •No. 345 is rather a fearsome looking affair and most of our experts will say “too much wood.” Mr Lucas says, "the wind blew it in.” We think it must have been a monsoon with "Ah Sin” behind it. At any rate we have to cater for all tastes and we have no doubt the amateur will be delighted with it, also many an expert will derive some pleasure in solving it. PROBLEM No. 344. By J. A. Lucas. White.—l 9, 31; King 13.

Black.—lB, 21; King 28. Black to play and win. PROBLEM No. 345. By J. A. Lucas. White.—B, 14, 16, 20, 29; Kings 7, 10, 13.

Black.—l, 15, 17, 19, 22, 23, 24; Kings 28, 30. Black to play and win. A CLASSICAL GAME. This well played and instructive game for which we are indebted to the Launceston Examiner will bo played over with interest by Southlanders. Played between a former world’s champion and the present holder of the title, the following classical game was sent to the Draughts Editor by a reader who had seen it in another column, and who thought it might here be reproduced to the advantage of our own readers. GAME No. 420—“Denny*

“Examiner” Notes. z (a) This first move forms the “Denny” opening, White having an advantage at the outset with 22.17, 22.18, 23.19, or 24.10 reply. (b) It being a good plan to know two linos of play (for use against strong or weak opponents, as the case may be) 6.10 here might be selected for defensive purposes, and 11.16 for win-getting. (c) Continuing the attack. Tame play is likely to result from 22.18, hence note (b). (d) 11.15, with 7.13 reply, is a fairly modem idea for an easier defence than the old 9.13 move (with 28.24 reply) admits of. (e) No doubt intended as a surprise move, but Ferrie was equal to it. It gives away White’s attack (sec next note), and makes a somewhat critical game for both sides. (f) It is interesting to observe how the same position comes quite naturally from the ‘ “Switcher” (an opening strongly favouring Blacks): 11.15, 21.17, 9.13, 25.21, 6.9, (occasionally played as a change from the stronger move, 8.11), 30.25, 9.14, 24.19, 15.24, 28.19. (g) An important "waiting” move; 22.18 should not come till after 2.6. (h) 8.11 and 7.11 are both answered by 19.15, in the latter case White forcing a w’in as shown by Dougherty: 9.15, 11.18, 22.6, 1.10, 27.24, 13.22, 25.18, 8.11, 24.19, 3.8, 29.25, etc., W. wins. (i) A useful idea to be noted, and this sacrifice would have been necessary if 17.13 were played instead of 25.22. (j) Returning the "gift” is better than 27.24 at once, though the latter will draw. The remainder of the play is neat but needs no comment. CROWN ON THE RIGHT SQUARE. Many games have been lost right at- the last—when no further thinking seemed necessary—by crowning on the wrong square. The following incident occurred in Launceston a few months ago, Mr R. McNair winning W*ith the Blacks of this ending from a 10.14 “Single Corner”: Black on 3,5, 13, 22. K. 32; White on 6, 10, 12, 21, 30. White’s turn and he went 6.1 (6.2 and he would have been all right). 32.27 followed, and White could neither bring his King out nor make any other move without immediate loss (of course 13.17 answers 1.6 or 10.6).—Launceston Examiner. A HANDY WIN. The following is a "Switcher” ending from The Draughts Review, the game being played at Perth, (Scotland) between T. Duncan (Black) and B. Wilson (White). Black on 1,3, 8,9, 19, K. 30; White on 10, 15, 20, 21, 27, 28, White after an uphill game-due to his opponent obtaining an early King—had manoeuvred his men into a position that promised a draw. But alas, it was not his turn to move, and he lost in this fashion: 19.23, 27.18, 30.26, 21.17, (what about 28.241— DE.) 26.23, 17.14, 8.11! 15.8,' 3.12, 14.5, 23.7, 28.24, 7.10 (beginners note this finish), 24.19, 10.14, 19.15, 12.16, 20.11, 14.18, and Black won. J. Ferrie twice scored this kind of win—with Black side of a “Double Corner” game against Wyllie in their match of 1894 for the world’s championship, and also in the 1899 Scottish tourney against Bonar with Blacks of a “Cross.”

Black: J. Ferric. White: R. Stewart. 10.14-a 26.17 7.14 23.19 24.19 8.11 28-24 26.23 6.10-b 25.22 20.27 19.16 22.17-c 12.16-i 31.24 11.15 9.13-d 19.12 1.5 16.11 25.22-e 11.16-i 29.25 23.26 11.15 12.8 -j 14.17 20.16 30.25 4.11 22.6 26.23 15.24 27.24 15.29 16.12 28.19-f 16.20 6.2 23.19 5.9 24.19 29.25 21.17 32.28-g 10.15 2.6 19.24 ’ 2.6 -h 19.10 25.22 17.14 22.18 6.15 24.20 15.19 13.22 17.10 22.26 Drawn.