DRAUGHTS

Southland Times, Issue 21732, 18 June 1932, Page 15

DRAUGHTS

CONDUCTED BY F. HUTCHINS. “Let science rive rslesee To tnlnfls o'er wrought by ind thought. Let tbs checker baud bo brought, The bsttlefleid ot 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. PROBLEM 388. (By J. C. Whitfield). Sacrlston, Durham. BLACK 10, 12, 22.

WHITE 16, 19, King 23. > White to play and win. PROBLEM 389. (By S. J. Pickering.) WlllenhaU. BLACK 11, 14, 17, Kings 15; 30.

WHITE 16, 23, 26, Kings 7, 20. White to play and draw. The above problems are culled from the last issue of the Draughts Review. No. 388 is a pleasing 3x3 study. No. 389 illustrates a little coup that could be applied in numerous endings. AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY. Below are two games from the Launceston Examiner played in the preliminary round of the tournament recently held in Melbourne. Allowance must be made for Mr Corless’ being without any book knowledge, as his general play throughout the three rounds contested by him would tend to show that if supplemented by study of the books his natural ability would have placed him well up in the prize list. As it was, one more victory would have given him a prize. GAME 4GB—"Edinburgh."

Notes by Mr Moodie. (a) Most of our readers now know that this line is commonly called “The Dreaded Edinburgh”—some experts dread having to play the Black side of it as much as they do the White side of any of the “barred openings.” (b) The writer recollects seeing play published on this line but once—a game in the Draughts World about 40 years ago! Mr Corless explained afterwards that, being of the opinion that White could force a win against anything, he decided to try a move which would probably be unexpected. His opponent, though, had once experimented with It himself. (c) The one “run-off" and the threat of another is perhaps the best attack, and White gets a very strong central development presently. (d) Little left in it after this. (e) 6.9. 22.17, a quick finish. (f) 16.19. 23.16. 12.19. 11-8, 4.11, 14.9 (better than 27.24). 5.14, 27.24, 20.27, 31.6. W. wins. GAME 469—" Edinburgh.”

(a) As good as. or at any rate no worse than any other. Nothing quite satisfactory, but 10.15 is perhaps the best for getting wins against weak play on White’s part. (b) Strong, but hardly so forceful as 25.22. . (c) Premature: 24.20 best here, then 11.15. 32.28, 15.19. 23.16. 12.19. with next the 25.22 cut, is the main attack shown in Master Play on Corless’ 18.14 line of play. (d) White was left with little choice, his attack having failed. (e) Undecided whether to play this or 6.9 (which would seem powerful), Black made an open game of it, hoping for winning chances in the ending—but they came not. (f) There was nothing to gain by going 9.14, so the short cut to a draw was made. Of course, 3.8 in place of 3.7 would have lost practically at once.

CHAMPIONSHIP FINISH. . Boyles’ Victory. The contest for the Australian draughts championship commenced on March 26, and finished on April 13—nine days after the Tasmanian’s enforced return. Armstrong, defeating Egan in the losers’ final by I—o and 5 draws—again met Boyles, but the former, having lost °ne “life.” it was necessary for him to beat Boyles in two sets in order to win the title. In this he failed, after a splendid effort, winning the first set by 2—l and 7 draws, but losing the second by I—2 and 5 draws. Boyles thus secured the championship for the second time. The prizes on this occasion total about one-half of what they did in 1924, when the national tourney was last held in Melbourne, and are as follows:— First (J. Boyles), £25 and the £4 championship trophy; second (J. Armstrong), £l2 10/-; third and fourth, £7 10/- and £5 (divided between H. Egan and G. Moodle); fifth and sixth, £3 and £2 (divided between J. Hornby and S. Wilkins). —Launceston Examiner. SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. No. 384. By Anderson and Hibbs (Nightcaps). BLACK—3. 5,6, 19, 24, Kings 25. 29, 30. WHITE—I 6, 14. 16, 17. 18, 23. King 20. 20.27, 6.22, 27.31, 19.26, 14.9, 5.21, 16.11. White wins. No. 385. D. G. McKelvie. BLACK 20, 21, Kings 24, 29. WHITE 26, 30; Kings 14, 32. White to move and win.

(a) 29.25, 14.18. 25.29, 18.15, 24.27, 23.19, White wins, as in trunk. (b) 27.23, 19.16, 29.25, 15.19, 23.18, 19.24, 20.27, 32.14. W.W. . (c) Here, at the very last move, 14.17 would allow Black to draw. Drummond, 14/6/32. To Draughts Editor. Sir.— Problem 381, by J. A. Lucas. Solution goes 22.18, only move to win. Try 2.7, 4.8, 7.10,. 8.11, 22.18, 11.16. 10.15, 16.20, 15.19, 21.25, 18.23. 25.30, 23.27, 30.26, 3.7, 26.22, 19.24, 22.17, 7.10, and White appears to win. There will be about 15 players in for the big match from this district, perhaps I may get 20. Our club meets every Thursday evening in the Oddfellows Hall, visitors welcome. D. Jones, chairman; J. Smith, secretary; A. McFarlane, captain. We would like a match with Mr Hogg a club.—Yours etc, A. McFarlane.

Tararnoa, June 14, 1932. The Draughts Editor. Sir—l think Peter must be fast approaching top form for the big match. I tried very hard to upset his arguments re var. e, Problem No. 281, but as I found them much too strong I went a bit further back and have enclosed the result which I think will maintain the terms of that variation. I have also enclosed solutions to Problems No. 286 and 287. Re big match, I would like to hear the opinions of some of the country players re time of starting. As quite a lot who intend going have a long way to go and as the weather and roads are not likely to be at their best at the date proposed, I think it would be better to start as soon as possible after lunch. Of course, the main thing is to get as large a muster as possible and at the least inconvenience.—Yours etc., - „ F. Rouse. Problem No. 281. At the 2nd move in var. e Mr Lucas plays 18.14 instead 15.19, 25.21-a, 18.22, 8.11, 3.7. 11.16. 22.18, 16.23, 18.27, 21.17, 7.10. 17.13, 10.14, 12.8, 27.23, 8.3, 23.18, 3.7, 18.15, W wins. (a) 8.11, 3.7, 11.16, 7.10 w. w. To Correspondents. A. McFarlane.—ln your correction of Problem 281 at note a, instead of 11.16 at 6th move play 21.25. 10.15, 11.16, 18.23-a, 25.30, 23.27. 30.25, 27.24, 16.20, 24.27, 25.22 and you cannot prevent one of the black kings reaching the double corner line. The same is the case if you cut at a 15.19. 16 23, 18.27, 25.30, 27.23. 12.16 and you cannot hold the two black kings. F. Rouse. See reply to A. McFarlane, the position you leave as a white win. BLACK—Kings 12 and 30. WHITE— Kings 7 and 27 is only a draw by 12.16, and whatever white plays you cannot prevent one of the Black kings making the double corner. In Var. 1: Black—kings 12 and 25; White— Kings 7 and 32, you play 25.21. whereas 25.22 or 12.16 will both draw. Your play to maintain the win in var. e is sound.

THE BIG MATCH. , To the Editor. Sir.—lt has been suggested by the Mataura and Tuturau players that the hour of 7.30 pm. for the commencement of the match is‘too late and would suggest that it be played in the afternoon. Such arrangement would allow a better opportunity for distant players to participate and get home at a reasonable hour. If. the match takes place In the afternoon you may expect approximately 30 players from Mataura and Tuturau, but if played In the evening it would not be possible to secure that number.—Yours etc. Jas. Ingram. Mataura, June 15, 1932. The Town Committea are only desirous of meeting the wishes of the country players, and are waiting for expressions of opinion as above before coming to a final decision.—D.E. PROBLEM 281. Var. e. Re Mr P. Hogg’s criticism of above published last week we have given it a good overhaul, and have come to the conclusion that Mr Hogg’s play is sound and there is no win if Black plays 22.17 at sth move. We thank Mr Hogg for pointing this out. The value of the problem however, is in no wise affected. The 2nd move in the var.— 18.14 can be put down as a clerical error. The position is: Black—B, Kings 12, 25; White.—Kings 3, 15, 18. White to play. 15.19, 25.21, 18.22, 8.11, 3.7 etc. runs It into the trunk line again and the win is apparent.

Black—W. II. Corless. 9.13 29.25 11.16 22.17 22.18-a 17.21 26.22 10.15-f 13.17-b 24.19 3.8 14.9 21.14 11.16 19.15 5.14 10.17 18.14 1.6 17.3 25.21-C 8.11 15.11-d 15.19 6.10 25.22 8.15 31.26 21.14 16.20 18.11 White 10.17 22.18 6.10-e won

Black—G. Moodie. 9.13 24.19-d 11.15 20.16 22.18 15.24 26.22 7.10 10.15-a 27.20 7.10 16.11 18.14-b 13.17-e 30.26 10.14 15.19 22.13 5.9 11.7 24.15 6.9 17.13 14.18 11.18 13.6 3.7-f 7.3 28.24 2.27 13.6 18.23 8.11 31.24 15.18 28.24 25.22-c 4.8 22.15 23.30 18.25 21.17 10.19 Drawn 29.22 8.11 24.15 11.15 32.28 1.19

28.23 19.16 2.7 15.18 23.18 17.10 24.27a 29.25 13.9 1.6 9.5 21.25 14.18 16.11 7.11 18.22 18.14 10.14 27.24 25.22 9.6 6.10 5.1 25.30 18.15 11.7 11.16 30.26 14.9 19.23 24.27 22.17 6.1 10.14 1.5 30.25 23.19 7.2 16.19 26.23 22.17 C14.18 27.24b 17.13 24.28 14.9 5.14 W.W.