DRAUGHTS

Southland Times, Issue 21773, 30 July 1932, Page 15

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.”

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 No. 400. By R. Halding.

Black men on 15, 20; kings 13, 32. White men on 28, 30; kings 6, 16. White to play and win.

An instructive finish from the "Stirling Journal" per favour of T. Anderson (Ohai).

The problem by Gemmell, which appears on the board below, should entertain and instruct players of any grade. It is not difficult, but it unfolds a neat winning manoeuvre.—Brisbane Courier. PROBLEM No. 401. By J. Gemmell. Black—Men on 4, 14; king 20.

White—Men on 21, 23, 24; king, 26. White to move and win. The foregoing position originally appeared in the Glasgow Weekly Herald.

AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY.

The two games following with notes from the Launceston Examiner—which decided the tie—were the seventh and eighth between T. Devlin (Victoria) and his Tasmanian opponent. Game 484.—“ Denny.”

(a) Most replies to the initial 10.14 give White an advantage, but this one leaves Black somewhat the stronger. (b) Best, though 6.10 has been played a lot of late. See next game. (c) Better than 22.17. (d) If 26.10, Black is powerful with 6.15. (e) 1.6 is orthodox. No doubt 9.13 has been played a fair number of times, but the writer has failed to locate it in the books. Mr Devlin afterwards expressed the opinion that it was weak, possibly assuming it to be so on account of its absence from the standard works. (f) 24.19, 15.24, 28.19 should lead to an even ending. Onlookers thought 23.19 the loser, but the D.E. considers there is a good draw after it. (g) If 14.18, then 24.20, 15.24, 28.19, 4.8, 30.26, and White is all right, with winning chances. (h) No hope after this. Can the critics find anything like a forced win for Black if 31.27 here, with 30.26 to follow? The D.E. cannot. Game 485—“ Denny.” Black—Devlin.

(a) When playing this it is usually the intention to follow with the 11.15 cut, as in this game (same position then as from 10.14, 22.18, 11.15, 18.11. 8.15, 24.20, 6.10). (b) But 28.24 here is generally played, then 1.6, 23.19, 9.13—a good line for Black, if understood. Such play was not desired by White, who only needed a draw to win the tie. (c) Weak. Instead, 1.6, 18.9, 5.14, 29.25, 7.11, and a well-known “Defiance" line appears, but with colours reversed, coming up from that opening as follows:—11.15, 23.19, 9.14, 27.23. 8.11, 22.18. 15.22, 25.9, 5.14, 29.25. 6.9, 25.22, 9.13, 24.20, 11.15, 32.27, 15.24, 23.19, 4.8, 22.18, 1.5, 18.9, 5.14, 26.22. Probably Mr Devlin wished to avoid the “Defiance,” as he badly wanted a win; but apparently he only weakened his game by 7.11 at (c). That being so, 6.10 at (a) seems a poor move for attacking purposes. (d) Bad; 1.5 seems all right, and 15.18 appears to draw. (e) There is nothing else. (fj Here Mr Devlin resigned the tie, having no prospect of winning this game, which was recorded as a draw in the published reports—can our critics find a draw in the position left? R. F. O’Neill, the well-known analyst, who was a spectator, figured it out to a White win. SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. No. 394—8 y L. G. Vair (America). Black—7. king 29. White—6; king 20. White to move and win. 6.2 10.15-a 24.27-c 22.26 14.17* 7.10 20.24-b 18.22-d 10.14 30 25 2.6 15.18 6.10 26.30 17.21 And White wins. (a) If 10.14, White wins thus:— 10.14 17.21 25 29 25.29 25.29 20.24 10.14 24:27 23.26 17.22 14.17 29.25 29.25 29.25 W. Win. 6.10 14.17 27.23 26.30 (b) The White king must keep in front of the fleeing man; 20.16 would permit a draw. (c) White must still keep in front; 24.19 would permit a draw by 29.25, tollowed by 25.30. (d) 29.25, 6.10, then any move; and White wins by 10.14, followed by 27.23. No. 395—8 y F. Hutchins. White—2o, 30, King 22. Black—l 4, 21. King 19. White to play and win. 30.26* 16.11 23.19 16.12 12.3 19.24-a 27.31-b 27.24 19.15 14.17 20.16 26.23 19.16 22.26* 26.30 24.27 31.27 24.19 15.8 17.22 then 3.7, 22.25, 7.11 etc. Black wins.

v Variation A. 2.6 19.15 10.7 10.6 3.7 26.23 20.16 11.7 3.7 15.10 710 6.2 6.10 23.19 16*11 7.3 7.2 White wins. (b) Some of our solvers miss this line, the finest part of the problem. No. 396—8 y Fausto Dalumi. New York. Black 13, 28; kings 1, 31. White 5, 32; kings 11, 19. White to play and win. 11.15 1.6 1.5 31.26 24.27 (1)13.17 51 9.13 18.22 White wins 15.18 6.9 19.24 26.30-a (a) If 26.23, then 24.27 wins for White, and if 26.31, then 22.25, 31.26, 25.21; White wins. Variation 1. 1.6-b 15.18 31.26 10.7-c 9.6 5 1 9.5 15.10 26.30-d 18.22 6.9 19.15 5.9 1.5 White wins. (b) 31.26, 15.18, 1.6, 5.1; White wins. (c) The natural move, 1.5, allows a draw. (d) 9.5, 7.2 runs into a Problem by Lyman. No. 397—8 y the late Fred Allen (Leeds). Black: 15, king 19. White: kings 10, 26. 10.14 24.27 23.27 14.17 23.18 19.23 26.30 18.22 25.29 White 28.24 27.23 27.23 17.21 wins. 23.26 15.18 22.25 29.25 Solutions Received. Nos. 394-5-6-7—P. Hogg (Dipton); F. Trapski (Pukerau). Nos. 395-6-7—J. Reid (Centre Bush); I. A. H. Logan (Inv,); S. Buxton (Otahuti). Nos. 394-5-6—F. Rouse (Taramoa). Our solvers have not come up to expectations this time, but after vareful scrutiny we have decided on Mr P. Hogg as the winner and a Draughts Review has been posted accordingly. THE DAY. To-day the Big match, Eastern v. Western districts will take place at 1.30 p.m. in H. and J. Smith’s tea rooms. Many players have been looking forward to this event as one of outstanding interest that no lover of the game should miss. See that you do not miss it. You will be sorry if you do. Mr Marsh (Wyndham) in conjunction with the Invercargill committee especially Mr Mclntosh, have worked very hard for success and everything points to a record gathering. To Correspondents. J. Dore (Mossburn): Many thanks for your useful information. J. A. Lucas (Dunedin): Yours to hand and thank you for the information and encouraging remarks. Mr Lucas writes:—"Your column has stirred up the game down south and it is up to the players there to support you in this work. No matter how good or how hard the man behind the gun works he must have ammunition and the local players can supply a lot of this and if they do it gives him encouragement to carry on.” P. Hogg (Dipton): Yours to hand with thanks. J. Reid (Centre Bush): Thanks for good wishes. Trust for a revival after to-day. RETURN MATCH. The Hedgehope-Mabel return match at Mabel Bush resulted in a win for Mabel by four points. Scopes, 32% to 28%. Games:

Mr Warden thanked the visitors for coming along. Supper was provided and Mr D. Millar thanked Mabel for providing supper and giving all good games.

Black—Moodie. 10.14 18.9 15.18 28.19 24.20-a 5.14 24.20-h 11.15 11.15-b 22.18 18.27 26.23 22.18-c 1.5 31.24 15.24 15.22 18.9 11.15 16.11 25.18-d 5.14 20.16 7.16 6.10 29.25 2.7 20.11 26.22 11.16 25.22 10.15 7.11 20.11 4.8 11.7 27.24 8.15 30.26 12.16 3.7 23.19-f 8.11 Black 32.27 7.11-g 24.20 won 9.13-e 27.23 15.24

10.14 25.22 5.14 26.17 24.20 8.11 19.16 11.15 6.10-a 27.23 12.19 30.26 22.18 11.15 23.7 1.6-d 11.15 32.28 2.11 26.23 18.11 15.24 29.25 15.19-e 8.15 28.19 3.8 23.16 23.19-b 9.13 25.22 12.19 15.24 22.18 8.12 20.16 28.19 7.11-c 22.17 (f) 4.8 18.9 13.22

Mabel . Wins Draws Hedgehope. Wins J. Mallock 0 J. Livingstone 1 D. Flanagan 2 J. Whitely 1 G. Livingstone 1 W. McRae, jun 1 C. Warden 1 J. Wilson 1 A. McLeod 2 D. Millar 1 S. Hill 3 M. Hanning 1 L. Ross 1% 1 T. Hanning 1% J. Hanning % 1 G. Murphy 2% B. Maitland 1% 1 A Robertson % A. Adamson 1 A, C. Lion 3 H. Horton 1% 1 P. Barber 1% J. Walker 2 R. Wilson 2 E. Hanning 1 G. McKay 1 E. Sinclair 1 2 C. Coster 1 J. Campbell 4 W. McKenzie 0 E'. Livingstone 1% 3 J. McRae 2% 0. Fleming 2 2 L. Jones 2 F. McKay 3% 1 C. Bridgeman i % H. Somerville Va 1 J, Forde 2& J. Sinclair 2 W. Sands 2 285£