DRAUGHTS

Southland Times, Issue 23047, 14 November 1936, Page 13

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. Draughts Club meets 7.30 Wednesday evenings, in room at rear of Moore's Cycle Shop, Dee street. PROBLEM No. 837. Author unknown. Black—Kings 4, 18, 19.

White—ll, 13, 17. White to move and draw. Snappy and practical. PROBLEM No. 838. Author unknown. Black—l, 3, 20, 21; Kings 18, 22.

White—6, 10, 15, 27. 30; King 11. White to play and win. . Our problems this week are contributed by Mr Alex Rea of New Plymouth. They are not difficult but will appeal to the amateur and professional alike as useful end-game studies. DOMINION TOURNEY GAMES. Here are two well contested games played in the Tourney last Easter at Dunedin between James B. Shanks, winner of the handicap (Dunedin) and J. O’Neill (Waitati) another strong player, and a competitor in many tourneys. Southland Times notes. GAME No. 1079.

favoured by R. Jordan and other experts. (b) 28.24 is a good alternative, but text is more often adopted. (c) The usual, though 11.16 is quite safe. (d) 26.22 is more aggressive and If not properly met gives White a powerful game. (e) Now back into a trunk line of the “Double Corner” generally brought up by 9.14, 22.18, 5.9, 24.19. 11.15, 18.11, 8.24, 28.19. 4.8. 25.22. 8.11. 22.18, 11.16, 29.25, 7.11 and 18-15 etc- . (f) An interesting game running on book lines throughout. GAME No. 1080.

(a) Varies from precedin’ game. It is not so strong, but may lure an opponent into a weak reply. (b) 26.22, 28.24 or 27.24 are all better than text which leads to a weak game for White. If well known it is drawable, but there is small prospect of a win. (c) This move, which many would hesitate to take appears to be the best one to draw on this particular line. (d) Evidently both players were conversant with this line of play. O’Neill might have scored a win here, but his opponent was too wary. 10.15 here instead of 10.14 then 18.23, 27.18, 20.27, 32.23, 26.10 would win for Black. The interesting games below were played in the same tourney. They are taken from The Otago Daily Times, the players being R. Weir (Dominion champion) and J. O'Neill (Waitati): — GAME No. 1081.

Notes. (a) This is one of the most popular replies to 11.15, and it has been most extensively analysed. It is regarded as a very sound defence. (b) The popular “take,” though 26.17 can be played. (c) This is the old way. and is good, but many experts prefer 12.16. (d) This is a critical line for White, and was once rated as a loss. (e) This is given in Master Play to draw. Tescheleit also gives 27.23 to draw, but 28.24 loses. (f) 16.12 is given as a loss by Anderson. (g) 2.6 is also given in Master Play to draw. (h) Evidently the loss; 5.9 or 15.18 is given to draw. The ending is critical, so I give the play. Play 5.9 as follows to

SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. PROBLEM No. 833. By H. D. Lyman. Black—l; Kings 7, 19. White—lB; Kings 8, 20. Black to play and win. 7.10, 18.15, 10.6, 15.11, 19.16, 11.7, 6.10, 20.11, 10.12. Black wins.

PROBLEM No. 834. By G. V. Swainson. Black—3. 11, 19. 21; King 29. White—l2, 27, 30; King 26. Black to play and win. 29.25 19.23-b 21.25 16.20 26.31 26 31 26 19 19.1 a 31.27 2<—3 25 2’* 11.16 25.30 30.26 22.18 30.26-a 27.23-c 23.18-d 18.14 Black (a) James Wylie gave this to draw. (b) Submitted to correct the Herd Laddie’s" terms in Problem No. 416, "Draughts World" page 947. (c) 19.15, 16.19 etc. B. wins. (d) 15.10 or 15.11, 30.26. B. wins. SOLUTIONS RECEIVED. Nos. 833 and 834.—P. Hogg (Dipton), T.K. (New Plymouth). No. 834.—F. Rouse (Invercargill). The Award. Were these too difficult for our Southland solvers? We do not think so, but as they will see by the solution of No. 834, the direct route to the win was not taken. The shortest way home is the best and T.K. is awarded the Crossboard News. KEEN CRITICISM. Criticism and still more criticism. That is what we want and here is something for the boys to scratch their heads over. Tins is really worth a bit of scratching. Thank you Mr Ingram.—D.E. ■ Mataura, Nov. 10, 1936. To the Editor. Sir,—Re. Problem No. 832. I regret I was unable to solve this problem. I may mention that I "stumbled” into the solution as it appeared in last week’s issue but I also found that it would not stand the acid testhowever, there may be some small poirt, I am missing. The position is: Black—4, 8, 14, 18, 21; King 28. White—l 9, 26, 27; Kings 7, 13, 29. The initial move in the solution I think allows a draw as follows: 26.22, 18.25, 29.22, 8.12, 27.23, 14.17, 22.26, 28.24. 26.23 as the opening move allows a draw by 28.24. 28.32 loses. At the same time there may be more in it than I have seen and probably now that tire Memorial Cup contest is drawing to a close the contestants therein may be able to find something useful in it. Yours faithfully. JOHN INGRAM.

“Double Corner.” Black: J. O’Neill. White: J. B. Shanks. 9.14 29.25 6. 9 23.14 22.25 24.19 7.11 31.26 16.30 24.19 5. 9-a 18.15-e 2. 6 11. 7 2G.23 22.18-b 11-18 32.28 30.2G 19.15 11.15-c 21.17 11.16 14. 9 25.30 18.11 14.21 22.18 6.10 3. 7 8.24 23. 5 9.13 9. 6 12.16 28.19 1G.23 18.15 10.14 15.10 4. 8 2G.19 10.14 6. 2 16.20 25.22-d 3. 7 15.11 14.18 10. 6 8.11 25.22 21.25 7. 3 1.10-f 22.18 7.11 30.21 18.22 7.14 11.16 27.23 14.18 28.24 Draw (a) Quite as strong as 11.15 which was

"Double Comer.” Black: Shanks. White: O’Neill. 9.14 13.22 3. 7 10.17 8.11 21.19 26.17 31.26 18.15 2. 7 ll.lG-a 6.22 7.10 7.11 11.15 22.18 30.26 22.18 15.10 14. 9 5. 9 11.16 1. 6 17.22 15.18 25.22-b 26.17 18. 9 10. 6 7.10 8.11 10.14 6.13 22.26 31.26 28.24 17.10 26.22 19.15 10.14-d 16.20 7.14 2. 7 11.18 18.23 22.17-C 29.25 22.18 23.14 27.18 9.13 4. 8 13.17 26.31 20.27 18. 9 25.22 21.14 6. 2 Draw

Black: “Single Comer.” Weir. J. O'Neill. White: R. 11.15 17.14-d 6.10 23.18 15.18 18.15 22.18-a 16.19 31.27-f 9.14 11.15 25.22 15.22 23.16 17.21-g 18. 9 18.22 15.10 25.18-b 12.19 28.24 10.14 26.23 22.18 8.11-c 27.23 10.17 9. 5 22.26 24.19 29.25 9.13 23.19 7.10 15.18 27.24 4. 8 23.16 7.10-h 16. 7 26.31 19.16 24.20 6.10 16. 7 14.18 18. 9 17.22 10.15 32.27 2.11 7. 2 31.27 . 1. 5 25.22 10.17 27.23 18.25 23.18 24.19 12.16 18.14-e 5. 9 2. 7 25.29 9.14 21.17 1. 6 19.16 10.14 5. 1 19.12 8.12 27.23 3. 7 and 22.26, 20.16. 7.11 29.25 White wins. 14.23

draw:— 5. 9 16. 7 3. 7 22.18 13.22 18.11 19.10 2.11 27.23 17.22 19.16 10.15 7.14 24.19 7.10 26.17 11.15 11. 7 Drawn—McCaughie v. R. Martins. Now play 15.18 as under:— 15.18 23.18 25.29 27.23 22.18 7. 2 22. 8 17.22 18.15 9.14 23.19 22.26 3.12 16.11 29.25 19.15 13.17 30.23 26.23 22.25 15. 6 25.22 11. 7 18.27 7.10 . 11. 8 2. 9 15.11 17.22 Drawn J. Ferguson. ( JAME No. 1082. ‘Single Comer." Bia ck: R. Weir. White: J. O'Neill. 11.15 29.25 8.12 32.27 16.19c 23.16 22.18 4. 8 27.24 10.15 23.16 , 15.19 15.22 24.20 9.13-b 19.10 12.19 17.14 25.18 12.16a 24.19 6.15 27.23 2. 6 8.11 25.22 5. 9 21.17 1. 5 30.25 White wins. (a) This and 10.15 is best. (b) 10.14 i£. an alternative. (O The game has followed published play to this stage. The following is given to draw: 7.10 10.17 17.26 5.14 15.24 14.17 27.24 23.19 31.22 24.19 28.19 22.18 1. 5 16.23 9.14 11.15 3. 8‘ 8.11 17.14 26.10 18. 9 20.16 30.26 Drawn W. H. Broughton v. C. F. Barker.