DRAUGHTS

Southland Times, Issue 24065, 2 March 1940, Page 9

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. Contributors of games should write them out in four or five equal columns as below. PROBLEM No. 1154 By S. J. Pickering. Staffs. (Contributed by author.) BLACK—I 3, 14, 15, 26. .

WHITE—22, 31, Kings 29, 32 White to move and win. An int finishing theme.

PROBLEM No. 1155 By R. Holding

Black to play and draw- Avoiding the American position. A good example of a close finish.

SOUTHLAND CORRESPONDENCE TOURNEY GAMES

Below are tw.o interesting games played in the above and contributed with notes by Mr J. Mclntosh.

Dear Mr Editor, On behalf of my opponent, 1 will say we have had a very interesting and instructive "first round," and are keenly waiting for our next struggle. Attached you will find two of our most interesting games, not highly constructive but the draw secured by my opponent in both seems very critical and, if they stand the test of your readers' known ability, I will add full of merit. To each game, I have appended a few notes which may be a happy hunting ground for your critics. My kind regards, Mr Editor, J. McINTOSH. GAME No. 1470 “Denny”

White. (b) Generally considered safest and best. (c) Keeping up the advantage of attack. (d) 31.27 or 24.20 also good here. (e) The “shot” 19.15, 10.19, 22.17, 6.10, 18.15, etc. is much superior to text which appears somewhat weak. (f) Agreed as drawn, but some enthusiast may find a win in this intricate ending. From note (e) White’s play appears as forced and Bob has earned his draw. GAME No. 1471 “Will o’ the Wisp”

(a) Forms the Will-o-the-Wisp opening. (b) Much better than 22.17. t (c) 10.14 is considered a safer line. (d) Not in any of my books and is not to be commended, as the 19.15 "cut” keeps Black hard on defence. (e) Failing to take advantage. 11.16 or 11.15 would attack, an essential phase to successful draughts. (f) 15.6 would probably lose. (g) From Note (f) Black secures an interesting and meritful draw in which any likely variation would lose. POSITIONS FOR STUDENTS By E. A. JONES From the “Launceston Examiner” Set VIII. No. 1: Black on 7, 15; K. 14; White on 8, 22, K. 4. Black to play and win. (A win nicely hidden—Draughts Editor). No. 2: Black on 15, Ks. 1, 31; White on 25, Ks. 17, 23. Black to play and draw. (A lesson in forcing—which should bfe gone over a few times—also in finding a loophole of escape). No. 3: Black on 6, 20, K. 30; White on 5, 18. 32. Black to play and win. (Very handy). No. 4: Black on 14. 20. K. 23; White on 25, 28, K. 6. White to play. Black to draw. (The different methods of bringing about this amillar draw are interesting to note). No. 5: Black on 3, 18, K. 28; White on 12, 26, K. 10. Black to play and draw. (Before resigning owing to the loss of a piece, always look for a possible draw). No. 6: Black on 11. Ks. 7,9; White on 8, 20, K. 2. Black to play and win. (The disadvantages of being without "the move” is here overcome very prettily).

Solutions to above — No. 1: 7.11. 8:3, 15.18. 22.8. 14.10. B- wins. No. 2: 1.6*. 17.13. 6.10. 13.9, 10.7. 9.6, 7.10, 6.2, 10.14. 25.22, 15.19. 23.16, 31.26. Draw.

No. 3: 6.10. 5.1, 30.26. 1.6, 20.24, 6.15, 24.27, 32.23, 26.10, B. wins. No. 4: 25.22, 23.19, 6.10, 14.18, 22.15, 20.24, 10.7. 19.3, 28.19, 3.8, Draw No. 5: 28.24, 10.15, 18.23. 26.19, 3.7, 19.16, 24.20. 15.11. 7.10, 12.8, 10.15, Draw. No. 6. 7.3, 8.4, 9.14*. 2.6. 14.10, B. wins. •Easy to stray here.—D. Editor.

PROBLEM SOLUTIONS GAME No. 1154 By Pickering. White to win. 32.27 27.23 22.18 31.26 29.22 26.30 30.25 15.22 22.31 ‘ 14.17 and 23.26 —W. wins. GAME No. 1155 By Pickering. White to win. 18.15 11. 7 2.20 *24.20-b 16.12 10. 6 30.14 4. 8 16.19 White 30.25 7. 2 20.24-a 20.16 wins 23.30 16.23 12.16 19.24 (a) 15.10. 8.11, 10.7. 11.15. 7.2, 15.19. 2.7, 19.23, 20.24, 23.26. 7.11, *26.30. 11.15, *30.25. 15.18, *2s.2l—Drawn. (b) Otherwise Black appears to draw. GAME No. 1156 By R. Holding. 29.25-a, 25.21, *21.17, 22.25 Drawn. 32.27-b 27.23 13.9. (a) 22.25 loses by 31.27, 25.30, 13.17, 29.25, 27.23—W. Wins. (b) 13.9, 25.30, 9.14, *30.26, 31.27, 22.25— Drawn.

TO CORRESPONDENTS H. Egan (Melbourne); Art McNamara (Toronto). Interesting budgets received and thank you. J. A. Lucas (Dunedin): Why worry? as Mr Henry remarked recently—“ The man who never does anything is the only man who never makes a mistake.” PROBLEM No. 1151 On further analysis of above we regret to announce that it will not stand the test as a problem for the simple reason that there are at least three different ways to win. We frankly admit that, relying upon the standing of Mr J. A. Lucas as a problemist we only gave it a very perfunctory examination. To all those who have gone to the trouble of sending in solutions we are posting a magazine. On referring the position back to -Mr Lucas, he writes—- “ Will you please apologize to the players in my name for the trouble I have caused them ... I can hardly believe that a man could overlook such a dual win, it will bo a lesson to me,” etc. Look for the next prize winner.

J. McIntosh, Black. R. Walker, White. 10.14 10.19 16.20 14.18 24.19-a 24. 8 31.27 23. 7 6.10-b 4.11 11.16 16.32 27.24-c 25.22 28.24 24.19 11.15 7.10 9.13 32.27 22.18 28.24 18. 9 7. 3 15.22 11.16 5.14 9.14 25.18 24.19-d 22.18 3. 7 8.11 3. 8 6. 9 6. 9 29.25 32.28 26.22 7. 3-f 1. 6 8.11 2. 6 19.15 30.25-e 18.15 (a) An opening move favourable to

R. Walker, Black. J. IV(cIntosh, White. 9.13 6. 9 10.19 15.18 23.19 30.26 23.16 31.26 11.15-a 2. 7 8.11 . 5. 9 22.18-b 24.20 16. 7 24.19 15.22 1. 5 3.10 20.24 25.18 22.18 32.27 27.20 7.11-c 7.10 10.15 18.27 26.22-d 20.16 28.24 26.23 10.14-e 11.20 13.17 17.22-g 18. 9 18.15 29.25 25.18 5.14 12.16 .9.13 27.31 27.23 19.12-f 26.23 18.15 Drawn.