DRAUGHTS

Southland Times, Issue 22508, 16 February 1935, Page 19

DRAUGHTS

CONDUCTED BY F. HUTCHINS.

"Let science give release To minds o’er wrought by care ana 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.

PROBLEM No. 675. By G. H. Slocum. Black—2l; Ks., 4, 31.

White—Kings, 12, 18, 30. White to play and win. Totally different from the author's celebrated "deferred strokes,” but of more practical use, and perhaps equally beautiful.—Launceston Examiner. PROBLEM No. 676. » By Campbell Blair. Black—2, 24, 28; Kings 14. 23.

White—ll, 15. 19. 22, 32; King 16. White to move and win. A pretty stroke from the Vancouver Sun. AUSTRALIAN CENTENARY TOURNEY GAMES. Our games this week are culled from the Melbourne Leader. The following Interesting game was played in the final of the Australian Centenary championship recently held in Melbourne.

GAME No. 828. “Edinburgh.” Black: V. Rickard. White; J. Boyles.

(a) Now similar to the "Wagram” with moves transposed. (b) In the preceding game Boyles. Black, took the two for two shot by 15.19, 24.15, 11.25, 30.21, then 1.5, to an easy draw. The text, 7.10, is a critical line featured in "Master Play,” page 74. Trunk, with the foot note. An improvement, introducing the old author, Sturges. (c) But is it an Improvement after 24.19, which was first introduced by Boyles in a Victorian championship game v. T. Devlin, Tramways, in September, 1933, improving the play shown In “Master Play,” which continues 26.23, 1.5, etc.? For game mentioned see The Leader, October 28, 1933. (d) Varies from the game referred to in (c), which the game continued 22.18, 12.16, 26.23, 8.12, 30.26, 24.28, 31.27, 10.15. 18.14, 15.18, 14.10, 6.15 . 23.14 , 2.7, 9.5, 15.19, 27.23, 19.24, 23.18, 16.19, 20.16, 11.20. 18.15. 24.27, to a draw. The text 26.23. prevents 12.16, and 1.5, and limits Black’s moves. (e) A losing move. _ (f) The commencement of a five for four shot, which settles the issue.

These two games were played in the losers’ final between V. Rickard and VV. McLaughlin, both of New South Wales, ana who eventually won the second and third prizes in the Australian championship tourney.

GAME No. 829. "Dundee.”

Black: V. Rickard. New South Wales. ■White: W- McLaughlin, New South Wales.

(a) Shown in Shearer’s Handbook and Wendemuth’s Checker Companion. Botn remark that this take draws, but Is very weak. (b) 24.19, looks stronger. . (c) Allows the cut by 15.18 and is weak. (d) 24.19 cannot be moved, and Whites position becomes critical. (e) From this point Black visualizes a (f) A fine stroke of five’ for four, which leaves Black with a piece up, and the game.

GAME No. 830. "Dundee.”

(a) The correct way to takp. (b) Varies from Shearers handbook, which playa 4.8, 25.22, 2.6. etc. , (c) This move turns out badly, 3.7 looks better. (d) The weakness of the men on 14 and 16 is now apparent. (e) Rickard won both sides of the two games and incldently the right to meet Boyles in the final contest for first and second prizes and the title. Previous Winners of the Title. 1885, J. Little; 1888, J. Patterson; 1890. W. Warnock; 1891,, R. Mar; 1909. J. Boreham; 1911. W. Penman; 1913, H. Egan; 1915, G. Cottrill; 1917, R. Holmes; 1920, H. Egan, 1922, H. Egan; 1924. H. Egan; 1926, H. Egan; 1927, J. Boyles; 1929, W. Penman; 1932, J. Boyles and 1934-35, J. Boyles. The next contest for the championship of Australia will be held in Hobart at Easter, 1936.

Below is the game, played in a correspondence match, in which arose problem 671.

GAME No. 831. Bristol.

SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. PROBLEM No. 671. By O. Muir (Invercargill). Black—l. 9, 19; King 15. White—l 7, 26, 28; King 7. Black to move and win.

Variation 1. 17.13 3.08 2.12-d 12.16 • 24.19 9.14 18.23 26.30 19.23 25.21 7, 3 26.22 22.17 28.24 Black 14.18-c 23.26 15.10 30.25 wins. (a) I consider 7.3 the strongest reply, for if 15.11, White can draw by 17.13 etc. For play on 17.13, see Var. 1. (b) If 8.3 same as Var. 1 at 3rd move, 13.9, 8.12-e, 14.18, B. wins. (c) If 15.11, White draws by 13.9 etc. (d) 22.17 also loses. (e) 8.11, 10.15, B. wind.

PROBLEM No. 672. By Ye Editor. Black—l, 3, 19: King 18. White—9. 10; Kings 2, 6. Black to play and win.

then 14.9, 7.2, 3.8 and Black wins. (a) 18.14, 9.5, 14.7, 2.11, 1.10, 11.15 draw. 1.5. 2.7, 5.14, 7.11 draw. SOLUTIONS RECEIVED. No. 672.—P. Drummond (Five Rivers), P. Rouse (Invercargill). No. 671 seems to have proved a stumbling block to our solvers, who either do not show the strongest play for the white pieces or try to take a short cut by 9.13, 17.14, 1.5, 7.2, 15.18, then 14.10 capturing the man on 26, but instead of 14.10—2.7, 18.9, 7.11 etc., and white regains the piece on 19, making an easy draw. PROBLEM No. 672. Insufficient time for analysis through an attack of sickness just prior to going to Press resulted in an oversight in No. 672. which the author noticed on looking over after publication. The king on 2 should be on 7. The position as it is. however, is interesting, but the terms should be, ‘'Black to move, White to draw.” You have seen the play to win, can you pick the draw? TO CORRESPONDENTS. G. A. Brown (Ch. Ch.— Many thanks for the games and your most interesting letter. J. Bruce (New Plymouth).—Your continued interest is appreciated. We can, however, hardly accept your 3 moves in Problem No. 671, as a solution. The position you speak of has not come under our notice. THE DRAUGHTS REVIEW. After ten years of regular monthly appearance the Draughts Review ceased publication with the December issue. About a year ago the publisher, Mr G. Barron, Hull, England, announced suspension, but loyal friends came to his assistance. Now in this issue Mr Barron says: ‘‘The decision to close down is final.” Let us hope that the absence of this, the premier journal of draughts, will only be temporary.

N.S.W. champion. Australian, champion. 9.13 5. 9 10.14 12.16-e 24.20 17.13 18. 9 32.28 11.15 9.14 7.10-b 16.19 22.17-a 22.18 24.19-c 13. 9-f 13.22 8.11 15.24 6.13 25.11 28.24 26.23-d 18.14 8.15 3. 8 11.15 10.26 21.17 23.18 23.18 30. 7 4. 8 14.23 8.11 2.11 29.25 27.18 9. 5 28.10 White wins.

12.16 4. 8 11.16 19.23-f 22.17 29.25 31.26 26.19 16.19 8.11 16.19 18.23 23.1G-a 2G.23-C 17.14 27.18 11.20 15.18 7.11 20.24 17.13 23.14 14.10 32.23 8.11 9.18 2. 7-e 15.24 25.22 30.26-d 22.17 28.19 11.15 10.15 7.14 6.29 22.17-b 26.22 17.10 Black wins.

Black: McLaughlin. White: Rickard. 12.16 22.18 4. 8 22.Io 22.17 9.14 27.23 15.22 16.19 18. 9 8.11 26.17 24.15-a 6.22 30.26 3. 8 10.19 26.17 7.10 31.27-d 23.16 11.15 17.13 8.12 11.20 29.25 9.14 9. 5-e 25.22 5. 9-b 13. 9 8.11 25.22 11.16-C Black resigned.

O. Muir, Black. W. O'Malley, White. 11.16 8.12 25.22 24.19 12.16 22.18 29.25 3. 7 27.31 3. 7 8.11 9.13 31.26 26.22 16.19 25.22 27.24 15.18 31.27 31.26 4. 8 19.23 22.15 19.15 5. 9 22.17 26.19 23.27 27.23 22.17 16.19 11.15 32.23 15.10 now 24.15 18.11 13.17 23.19 same 10.19 7.23 21.14 10. 7 as 23.16 14.10 7.10 19.15 problem 12.19 6.15 15. 6 7. 3 671. 17.14 2.27

1. 5 5. 9 31.27 23.19 11.15 19.15 7.3-a-l 6. 2 18.14 9. 6 1.10 28.24 15.10 9.13 19.23 27.23 15. 6 23.18 17.13 2. 6 14. 9 6. 9 12. 8 7. 2 9.14 18.22 23.26 23.18 6.10 15.10 3. 8 26.17 9.14 9. 6 8.11 24.20 10.15 13.22 26.31 18.14 10.14 18.14 8.12-b 6.10 14.18 6. 1 11. 8 20.16 15.11 22.26 31.26 14. 9 14.18 14. 9 13. 9 10.14 18.14 1. 5 8.11 16.12 14.18 26.31 26.23 9. 6 18.23 9. 5 9. 6 14.18 14. 9 5. 1 11. 7 12. 8 10.6 Black wins.

18.15-a 7. 2 25.21 2. 7 2. 7 26.30 2. 7 15.18 19.23 2. 7 21.17 7. 2 9. 5 30.25 7. 2 18.14 23.2G 7. 2 17.13 2. 7