DRAUGHTS

Southland Times, Issue 22915, 13 June 1936, Page 23 (Supplement)

DRAUGHTS

CONDUCTED BY F. HUTCHINS. CHAMPION OF SOUTHLAND. “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. PROBLEM No. 793. By Nell Mac Vicar (Vancouver). Black—4, 9, 14; King 23.

White—ll, 26; Kings 19, 22. White to play and win. This position arose in actual play and was awarded a prize by the Vancouver Sun. It may bo mentioned that the author is Mr J. Sutherland’s (Invercargill), opponent in the Canadian v. N.Z. Correspondence Draughts Match now in progress. PROBLEM No. 794. By E. Halstead. Black—s, 18; Kings 4, 20, 27.

White—6, 14, 17, 26; Kings 11, 12. White to play and win. One that will please. Both our problems this week are from the Vancouver Sun. CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNEY GAMES. These four games were played at Dunedin last Easter by Mr R. Weir, the winner of the title. The first two with W. H. Nicholson (Invercargill) and the latter pair with D. J. Wilson (Dunedin). • GAME No. 999. "Old Fourteenth.”

(a) N. Banks in his championship matches with both Alfred Jorden and Asa Long played 15.19 here running into a "Double Corner Dyke.” (b) On the trunk line of the “Old Fourteenth" 11.15, 23.19, 8.11, 22.17, then 4.8 is correct, but in the circumstances under review it is weak; 11.16, 3.8 or 6.9 are all better than text. (c) The position is now very critical for Black. (d) Makes the already precarious Black game still worse and may be a loser—l4.l7, 21.14, 18.23, 19.10, 2.6, 27.18, 6.29 seems to give Black a fight. (e) Our young champion cleverly draws the net. GAME No. 1000.

(a) 23.19 is standard play. (b) Even here 23.19 is better than text. (c) Much stronger than 4.8, the same position comes up from the “Double Corner” 9.14, 22.17, 11.15, 25.22, 8.11. 29.25, 11.16. (d) 23.18. 14.23, 27.11, 16.20. 32.27, 7.16, 17.14 etc., seems to give White a fair game. (e) White has a difficult position to handle now. Possibly this move could have been delayed with advantage. 31.27, 16.19, 23.16, 12.19, 32.28 would have forced Black to weaken his stronghold. GAME No. 1001.

(a) The usual line of play is 9.14, 25.21 and 16.19 forming what is known as the "Double Corner Dyke.” 9.13 runs Into a line of the "Switcher.” (b) Made to command the centre. (c) 9.14 looks better. (d) A tricky move. (e) 4.8 or 11.16 is preferable. (f) Black’s position is difficult but interesting and possibly drawable. See diagram.

White to play. (g) This is probably a loser. 6.9, 25.21, 9.13 etc., seems to draw, GAME No. 1002. “Bristol.”

wins. (a) Turning it into a “Kelso” generally brought up by 10.15, 21.17. 11.16. (b) 24.20 is the'usual play. (c) 6.9 looks more promising. (d) The 2 for 1 looks tempting, but 6.9 is preferable. (e) Probably the losing move. 15.19, 23.16, 12.19, 32.28, 8.12, etc., appears to draw. SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. PROBLEM No. 789.

PROBLEM No. 790. By E. A. Jones, Essendon, Black—3, 11. White—2B; King 24. White to play and win. \ 24.19 7.10 23.26* 18.23 3. 7 19.23* 15.18 26.22* 28.24 11.15 24.19* 23.27 And 28.18, etc. White wins. SOLUTIONS RECEIVED. Nos. 789 and 790.—F. Trapski (Pukerau), F. Rouse (Invercargill). DRAUGHTS MATCH. OTAGO v. SOUTHLAND. Players, both Town and Country, are reminded of the Otago v. Southland match to be held in the Federal. Dee Street, on Saturday June 20, at 7.30 pan. (note change of venue). It is expected that the teams will number 25 to 30 a side, but all visitors to the match will be assured of a game provided it is not always left to the other fellow to provide a board. (Moral) bring along a board and men. A small charge will be made for supper. The Editor, Allow me to congratulate you on the fine performance you put up for the province at the recent congress in Dunedin. Playing draughts for a week is, I should say, harder work than digging coal. The Mataura Draughts Club opened up a few weeks ago and is now prepared to accept any challenge. The following local players are open for selection in the Otago v. Southland match: J. H. Clark, T. P. Bogue, V. Thompson, A. McLeod, T. Burgess, and possibly W. A. Dickie. The last two named are from Tuturau. Mr R. H. Dickie is not available. Yours etc., JAS. INGRAM. KEEN CRITICISM. Sir, —As a student I plead not guilty. Your problems were too difficult for me to finish within the given time, at least in so far as Problem No. 788 is concerned. I again give the position: Black (Ross).—2, 5. 7,8, 12, 16. 17, 20. White fPirie). —9, 14, 26. 27. 28. 30, 31, 32. White to play. Now in my opinion neither Mr Pirie nor Mr Ross took the strongest line. I think the initial move allows Black to draw as follows:

(a) Instead of 8.11 played by Ross. (b) 10.7 does not alter the result. (c) Possibly the man on 22 can be crowned. (d) 16.19 here loses by 23.16, 12.19, 14.10, 7.14, 9.6. (e) A problem within a problem. (f) 6.10, 24.19, 11.16, 27.23, W. wins. (g) 12.16, 9.14, 13.17, 18.15. P.S. Send me a new board! JAS. INGRAM. SOUTHLAND ASSOCIATION. ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report of the Southland Draughts Association states that since the last annual meeting the main activity of the association has been the running of the East-West match, which, although not as well attended as in previous years (there were only 33 boards in play), showed a small profit, to be placed to the reserve. _ There seems to be little doubt that interest in the game is somewhat on the decline, and it behoves every member to exert himself to instil a little more enthusiasm into his immediate circle. At present only three clubs are operating, those in Invercargill, Mataura and Riverton. Application has been formally made to the New Zealand Association for Invercargill to be the venue for the 1936-37 Dominion Congress. A meeting of that body was held on June 6 and advice as to the position is expected shortly. Should this be granted, the sum of approximately £l2O will be required and ways and means of raising this sum will require careful consideration and considerable effort on the part of the association. It is with regret that the association has to record the deaths of two stalwarts of the game during the year, Messrs J. Scott and J. Beecot, both of whom were widely known and respected by players all over the province. An old friend of the late Mr Scott has offered a valuable trophy for competition among Southland players, to be known as the James Scott Memorial Cup. The conditions under which this may be competed for have been left for this body to arrange, and careful attention will have to be given to this matter to ensure that the maximum of value to the game is obtained. The association extended hearty congratulations to Messrs Robert Weir and F. Hutchins cn gaining at the recent Dominion congress the respective titles of New Zealand and Southland champions.