DRAUGHTS

Southland Times, Issue 23610, 10 September 1938, Page 5

DRAUGHTS

CONDUCTED BY T. 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 criticisms and analysis are invited. Draughts Club meets every Saturday at 7.30 p.m. in room at Everybody’s, Tay street. PROBLEM No. 1022 By W. R. FRASER, Canada Black.—3, 4,7, 8, 21, 25, 26, 28; Kings 18, 30.

White 9. 10, 12, 14, 15, 16. 17, 20. 23, 27. White to play and draw. A curio in problems. Kindly contributed by the author (the draughts editor’s opponent in the Canada v. New Zealand match). PROBLEM No. 1023 By the late G. H. SLOCUM Black.—4, 12; Kings 20, 29.

White.—B, 15, 27, 30. White to move and win. A neat study in the author’s own patent style. BRITAIN v. NEW ZEALAND Mail Games Below are two of the four games played in the Britain v. New Zealand correspondence match between J. Hirst, of Huddersfield, and the draughts editor. This match was played on the three move restriction. The result was one win each and two draws. The other two games will be published later. GAME |N°- 1285 "Denny” Black: Hirst White: Hutchins

Southland Times Notes (a) A very weak three-mover, some experts consider it an absolute loss. 11.15 is the usual and no doubt best. (b) Looks all right but my preference was 10.15 or 11.15. (c) With no guidance from the book this

looked best though White has several alternatives. (d) The cut 14.17 may give a better opportunity to draw. (e) This sacrifice proved a very useful one and completely wrecked Black’s game. GAME No. 1286

then 23.18, 11.7, 5.9, 13.6, 29.25, 30.14, 18.11, draw. (a) Varies from preceding game and does not appear to take the best advantage of Black's weakness. ' (b) Black’s position, although weak, looks drawable now. (c) I spent some little time over the position here and came to the conclusion that text would be most likely to draw. (d) The position here is very interesting and my opponent told me he expected to win it (see diagram).

Black to play. 6.9 looked tempting but would 105e—6.9, 24.20, 9.27, 20.2, 27.31, 17.14, 12.16, 2.7, 16.19, 7.10, 19.23, 30.25, 29.22, 14.9, White wins. (e) 6.9, 23.18, 9.13, 15.10, 13.22, 10.3, 16.19, 3.7, 19.23, 7.10, 22.26, 18.15, White wins. LOCAL PLAY These two interesting games were played in the contest for the Southland championship between Robert Walker, of Invercargill, and the draughts editor. GAME No. 1287

(a) This, the first move, forms the “Denny” generally considered weak as it allows less scope for attack, and White is safe to play almost any move against it. (b) 17.13 is the usual and was almost invariably played in the last international match, Great Britain v. United States. Text, however, is quite a good move and leads to interesting play. (c) Now into a line of the "Double Corner”—9.l4, 24.19, 11.15, 28.24, 7.11, 22.18, and so on. (f) My opponent said he did not know the book, but he hit the nail on the head here. It was quite the best. (g) The first variation from book play, 32.28 is given to draw. (h) Black appear to have the advantage and perhaps some of our students will show a win but White seems to have a way out and manipulated the pieces with consumate skill. < GAME No. 1288

(a) This is the usual line and was almost invariably adopted in the last international. (b) 3.7 is the usual ready to cut 14.17 when White plays 25.22. Text is described as hazardous in "Master Play,” but having winning chances if the operator can defend the danger spots. (c) 23.18 is best. Text restricts White’s Play. (d) This, cut should have been made in the previous move avoiding the nice shot which followed. (e) Possibly my opponent missed a win here by not moving 17.21 and releasing his king, we leave it to the critics. SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS PROBLEM No. 1018 ’ By J. STRATTON, London Black.—s, 6; Kings 4, 17. White.—ll, 13, 18, 20. White to play and draw. 18.15-a 11. 7 13. 9 7. 2 17.14 14.10 5.14 10.19 and 2.18, drawn. PROBLEM No. 1019 By J. STRATTON Black.—s, 6; Kings 4, 17.

WHEN THE “HERD LADDIE” LAUGHED When the late George Buchanan was about 15 years of age he was known as “The Boy Wonder.” He and I were friendly and played a good deal together. At the time Wyllie had just come back from his Australian tour and had arranged to give a demonstration in the Mount Florida Club room. After I had drawn the White side of a “Defiance,” I left the room and, meeting Buchanan, I told him about the “Grand Old Man” of draughts. He was all agog at once and went back with me to try his luck with the veteran. The game started, Wyllie having the Blacks, and Buchanan took the 26 23 lifts of the “Fife.” The youth played well, and looked to be safe for a draw, but Wyllie spotted a trap at this position: Black 12. 23, 24; King 31; White 9, 14, 17; King 15, Wyllie to play. He gingerly touched the piece on 12, and drew back his hand quickly. By this time Buchanan was on the alert, and on his feet, too, so great was the excitement. Wyllie pushed the piece slowly on to 16, and then swish went Buchanan’s King from 15 to 19, as there flashed through his mind, “A win off the 'Herd Laddie.’" Wyllie lay back in his chair, his whole body shaking with merriment. Buchanan turned red in the face, sensing something was wrong, and he realized his blunder when the old man went 16.20, 19.28, 20.24, 28.26, 31.6, and won decisively.—J. Stitt, Glasgow.

10.14 22.17-c 16.20-d 25.22 9.14 22.18 8.11 29.25 11.16 18. 9 6.10-a 17.13 4. 8 22.17 5.14 25.22 1. 6 21.17-e 8.11 22.18 11.16-b 24.19 14.21 26.22 White wins

''Denny” Black: Hutchins White: Hirst 10.14 8.15-b 9.18 1. 6 24.27 22.18 24.19 19.15 27.23-d 19.16 6.10 15.24 12.16 16.20 27.31 26.22-a 28.19 15. 8 23.18 13.11 10.15 4. 8 3.12 20.27 6.10 22.17 29.25 17.14 32.23 11. 2 15.22 8.11 18.22 12.16 10.17 17.10 25.22 27.24 18.15 2. 7 7.14 2. 7 22.25 16.20-e 31.27 25.18 22.17 21.17 17.13 7.10 11.15 14.18-c 25.19 20.24 27.23 18.11 23.14 31.27 23.19 16.11

“Denny” r Black: Hutchins White: Walker 10.14-a 25.22 7.11 27.11 30.26 22.17 6. 9 22.17 16.23 2. 7 7.10 23.18 11.16 11. 7 4. 8 24.19-b 14.23-f 26.22-h 23.26 24.20 9.13 27.11 1. 5 7. 2 28.24 8.15 17.13 26.30 draw 13.22 26.23 5. 9 22.17 25. 9 9.14 13. 6 9.13 5.14-c 31.27-g 2. 9 17.14 29.25 3. 7 23.18 10.17 11.15 30.26 14.23 21.14 Southland Times Notes

"Denny” Black: Walker White: Hutchins 10.14 23.16 2. 7 24.28 19.16 22.17 12.19 16.12 3.10 11.15 7.10 29.25 14.18-d 6.29 16.11

17.13-a 19.24 17.14 13. 6 25.22 11.15-b 28.19 10.17 1.17 11. 7 25.22 15.24 21.14 31.27 22.18 8.11 26.23 5. 9-e 7. 2 22.17-c 4. 8 18.23 27.24 15.19 11.16 23.19 27.18 17.21 20.16 24.20 8.11 3. 8 24.19 19.23 16.19 19.16 12. 3 29.25 2. 6 then 9.14, 6.9, 14.17, 9.13, draw.

White.--7, 13, 18, 20. Black to play and win. 6.10 7.14 3. 7 13. 6 7. 3 4. 8 16.12 2. 9 17.22 14.17 7. 2 22.26 3. 7 8. 3 17.22 15.18 22.15 20.16 5. 9 Black wins