DRAUGHTS

Southland Times, Issue 23182, 24 April 1937, Page 18

DRAUGHTS

CONDUCTED BY F. HUTCHINS. EX-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 criticism! and analysis are invited PROBLEM No. 884 By N. W. Banks (U.S.A.) . WHITE—2I, 29, 31. ’King Ik

BLACK—7. 9. 10. 16. 23. BLACK—6, 14; King 20. A good example of draughts strategy. PROBLEM No. 885 By A. J. Heffner, U.S.A. BLACK—6. 14; King 20.

WHlTE—Kings 15, 25. Black to play and win. Somewhat difficult but like all Mr Heffner’s productions, instructive. GAMES Here are four games played in the match for the Scott memorial challenge cup, between J. Mclntosh and F. Hutchins. No doubt they will interest our students. GAME No. 1163 - , “Cross”

Southland Times notes. (a) Forms what is known as the “Crescent Cross.” 27.23 Is more usual. (b) Sometimes 4.8 is played first. (c) Kilgour against Hanson in the last International went 22.17 here and had a long arduous game which he should have drawn but for a mistake In the ending which allowed Black to win by Ist position. 1 ' ’ 1 1 ?, (d) This take is starred in "Lee's Guide. ’ (e) 6.10 Is the usual. (f) 22.17 looks safer. (g) Black has the advantage but not sufficient to win. GAME No. 1164

25.22 24.19 2. 7 (a) Forms the “Bristol,” If 8.11 the "Ayrshire Lassie.” (b) Generally considered best though 21.17, 22.17, 27.23 and 27.24 will draw. (c) 16.14, 8.11 and 8.12 are also good. (d) 27.23 running off the piece on 19 Is what is known as the "Knock down Bristol.” (e) 7.10 is not quite so strong. (f) This looks like the loser. 27.23 draws easy. (g) 31.26 and then 15.18 would have given a pretty shot by 9.6, 1.10, 20.16, 12.19, 2.6, but if instead of 15.18, 25.30 Black would still win.

GAME No 1165 ‘ 12.16 24.20

26.23-b 24.19 22.18 (a) An old line which is not so popular now. However, it is a good alternative to 3.8. (b) A strong line and a favourite with the great American expert A. J. Heffner. (c) Scobbie against Bradford m the last International went 1.6 here but 10.15 is still on book. (d, The Encyclopaedia gives 23.19 but text looks quite O.K. (e) 12.16 looks better, text appears to give White the r.dvartage and is probably a loser. GAME No. 1166 12.16 24.20

(a) This move has become very popular among players in U.S.A. It war. played 16 ou) of 17 times in the last International. (b) 17.13 is given in the text books. (c) Not so good as 22.18 or 23.18. (d) This move is decidedly weak. (e) But Black fails to take advantage. 9.13, 16.12, 5.9, etc., would give Black a strong ending. (f) 14.17 looks better, text leaves a very much cramped double corner. (g) There may be a better move than this. We leave it to our students. SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS PROBLEM No. 880 By Nell McVicar (Vancouver) Black.—l, 14. 17, 19, 21, 22. King 28. White.—s, 7, 8. 16. 29, 30; King, 31. Black to play and win. 21.25, 30.21, 14.18, 21.14, 22.26, 31.24, 27.17, 29.25, 17.14, 25.21, 1.6. Black wins by first position. PROBLEM No. 881 By E. S. Cresswell Black. —6, 9. 10.

(a) 17.13 only draws by 10.15. 16.11, 15.19, 11.7, 19.23, 7.2, 23.27, 30.25, 27.31, 25.21, 31.26 and White is too late to squeeze off the piece on 6. The whole crux of the problem is allowing the man on 17 to remain till forced to 14. Mr P. Hogg sent in some very fine play on 9.14 after 17.13, but 9.14 is not the best for Black. The problem is a beautiful example of draughts stategy. SOLUTIONS RECEIVED Nos. 880 and 881.—W. Scott (Riverton), J.F.S. (Invercargill).

No. 880. —A. Findlay (Thombury), P. Hogg (Benmore), E. A. Le Petit (Invercargill), A. Neilson (Invercargill). NOTES At the annual meeting of the New Zealand Draughts Association, held at Feilding on March 26, 1937, the following were elected to the central executive:—Messrs RWeir, R. D. Russell, G. Duncan, G. F McCluskey, A. White, J. Blythe, R. C. MacMurray, E. Campbell. T. Milne, R. Ednie, J. McKee and J. Cunningham. The annual report presented at the meeting disclosed that at the 1936 Congress at Dunedin, £9O was paid out in prize moneys and a surplus of £l6 handed over by the Dunedin Committee to the association. Another interesting‘item in the report is that the trust fund of the association, established many years ago by farseeing administrators of the game, now reaches £llB. The annual Interprovincial match. Southland v. Otago, is due to be played in Dunedin this year. (It is rumoured that our Southland friends are sending up a very strong contingent.) All players who played in either of the previous matches are reminded that now is the time to get prepared for the invasion. A definite announcement regarding the date ot tills important fixture will be made at an early date. PERSONAL Mr and Mrs C. Donald, of Otahuti, left on an extended holiday to the Old Country on the 15th. The genial Charlie Donald is a player of no mean ability and has made many friends among the draughts fraternity by his spirit of goodwill. These will all join with us in wishing him and his wife a very pleasant tou-. TO CORRESPONDENTS C. Richmond (Mataura).—Your solutions of Nos. 877 and 878 were correct but arrived too late for press. Solutions must be in by Thursday for Saturday’s column. A. Findlay (Thornbury).—Criticism welcome.

P. Hogg (Benmore). —You'll have to watch out. D.M. (Invercargill).—Replying by letter. A. McFarlane (Drummond).— Many thanks for interesting games Publish later. INVERCARGILL DRAUGHTS CLUB TOURNEY Twelve have entered for the club tourney so far:—Muir, Nicholson, Loudon, McKenzie, Cooper, Siocombe, McGregor, Henry, Kidd, Hutchins, Beatty and Main Entries will close next Saturday, May 1. The club now meets every Saturday evening in the room at the rear of Moore's cycle shop, Dee street. All players who have the welfare of the game at heart should join up. The fee is 2/6 a quarter. t! KEEN CRITICISM Thombury, .9. 1937. Sir,—Game No. 1162, played between W. Ryan and J. Stiles, America. Judging by Mr Ryan’s notes you would think White was absolutely slaughtered at 23rd move. Ryan plays 4.8, White replies 22.17 and loses. White should play 28.24 and draw. If Black should play 16.20. play 22.18. I have tried it all ways and still a draw. Perhaps your students could thrash it out as a problem. Position now is:— • Black.—l, 2,8, 9, 10, 14. 16. White.—2l, 22, 23, 24, 26, 29. 31. Black to play and White to draw. —A FINDLAY.

Hutchins, Black. McIntosh, White. 11.15 7.10-e 5.14 8.11 14.18 23.18 28.24 26.23-g 25.22 23.14 8.11 10.15 '6. 9 1. 5 9.18 26.23-a 32.28-f 24.19 20.16 6. 2 10.14-b 15.19 2. 7 11.20 27.31 30.26 24.15 • 22.17 18.15 28.24 4. 8 9.13 13.22 20.24 31.27 24.19-c 18. 9 25.18 15. 6 24.20 15.24 11.27 7.10 24.27 27.20-d 31.24 29.25 22.17 Drawn

"Bristol” McIntosh, Black. Hutchins, White. 11.15 ' 14.18 15.24 12.16 24.20 22.17 28.19 2.11 15.19-a 10.14 18.22 3.12 23.16 17.10 27.23 7.14 12.19 7.14 25.30 15. 8 22.18-b 32.27 23.18 Black 9.14-c 2. 6 30.26 wins 18. 9 21.17 19.15 5.14 14.21 26.23 25.22-d 26.23 15. 8 10.15 19.26 23.14 22.17 30.14 8. 4 6.10-e 21.25 14.18 17.13 14. 9 4. 8 8.11 6.10 18.15 27.24 9. 6-f 13. 9 4. 8 10.14 22.25 29.25 6. 2 9. 6-g 8.12 14.18 1.10

McIntosh, Black. Hutchins, White. 12.16 10.15-c 6. : 23.26 24.20 31.27-d 20.16 27.32 8.12 7.10 1. 6 White 28.24 25.22 23.18 wins 9.14-a 10.14-e 14.23 22.18 30.25 27.18 3. 8 15.18 6.10 18. 9 22.15 18.15 5.14 11.18 8.11 23.19 25.22 16. 7 16.23 18.25 12.18 27. 9 29.22 15. 8 6.13 2. 6 16.23

Hutchins, Black. McIntosh, White. 12.16 27.23 7.11 8. 3 26.22 7.10 24.20 8.12 26.23 16.19 2. 7 27.30 8.12 23.16 19.26 3. 7 22.29 10.17 28.24 12.19 30.23 11.15 7.11 25.22 3.8-a 20.16-d 2. 7 20.16 23.27-g 17.26 22.17-C 6.10-e 27.24 26.30 32.23 31.22 16.19 16.12 11.16 16.11 18.27 21.17 24.15 1. 6 24.20 19.23 3. 7 4. 8 10.19 31,27 7.11 7. 3 29.25 17.14 23.16 9.14 22.17 30.26 11.15 Drawn 12.19 17.13 15.19 11. 7 10.19 25.22-b 5. 9-f 12. 8 15.18 17. 1 11.15 29.25 19.26 7. 2 9.14

White.—16, White to 16.11-a 19-23 17, 30. move and win. 18.15 17.22 15.11 26.31 17.13 27.23 11.15 31.27 30.25 23.27 15.18 9.13 10.15 11. 7 2. 7 23.27 15.19 7.11 27.23 17.14 22.26 11.15 7. 2 27.31 25.21 13.17 21.17 31.27 and 14.9 White wins