DRAUGHTS

Evening Star, Issue 22145, 27 September 1935, Page 2

DRAUGHTS

[Conducted by A.W.] Games analysis, solution to problems invited for tins column. Games should be written in live columns, as below, and all correspondence addressed to the Draughts Editor, the ‘ Evening Star.’ TO CORRESPONDENTS. G. F. M‘Cluskey (N.E.V.).— Re problem 319, your play is 0.K., and is quite as good if not rather better than the author's solution. Pleased to know you are about again. CRITICISM. Mr M'Cluskey gives the following play to improve the author’s solution of problem 319. Black, 4, 21, 22. White, 30, Ks. 7, 28. White to play and win.

PROBLEM 329. [By W. Turvey.] Black, 22, 27, K. 12.

White, 30, Ks. 4, 7. White to play and win. PROBLEM 330. [By E. A. Jones, Australia.] Black, 11, 13, Ks. 22, 27.

White, 18, 23, 30, Ks. 3, 10, While to play and win. SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. Problem 327, by G, L. King (U.S.A.). Black, 5, 18, Ks. 4, 16. White, 6,9, 14, 15, 23. White to play and win. 6- 10-6 7-11 15-11 6-1 16-19 24-27 31-22 8-15 White 15-10 2-7 11-15 14-10 wins, 19-24 27-31 4-8 5-14 Problem 328, by P. Dalwin (New York). Black, 11,' 12, 20, K. 18. White, 7,8, 24, 27. White to move and draw. 7- 15-19 6-10 4-8 15-19 11-15 24-15 12-16 27-23 Drawn 2-6 18-4 10-15 8-12 DOMINION TOURNEY GAMES. The following pair of games was played in the recent tourney at Dannevirke last Easter: — —Game 362, “ Edinburgh.”—

(a) Best. 6-9 is a variation of the “ Kelso,’’ much favoured by Scottish tourney players some years ago, to which 18-14 is the best reply. (b) 21-17 is also good. (c) The loser. Nothing left but 6-10, which might draw. —Game 353, “ Edinburgh.”— •• Black, F, Steele; White, W, Redmayne.

CENTENARY TOURNEY GAME. The following interesting game was played in the above tournament between W. M'Laughlin and Rickard (the New South Wales champion). M'Laughlin considered he should have won it, and gives a few moves to support his assertion. Where he leaves off the play is continued by “ J.C.,” Caulfield, who seems to show a nice forced win. Had M'Laughlin won he would have fought out tho final with Boyles instead of taking third prize; and is taken from tho Launceston * Examiner ’: — ■

‘ Examiner ’ Notes, v (a) Some remarkably intricate formations come from this opening, likewise from two other counterpart openings—10-15, 23-18, and 12-16, 21-17 White, in both “ Denny ” and “ Kelso Cross ” having somewhat the stronger game with correct play. (b) Probably best, but 14-18, 6-10, 7-10, and 9-13 are all sound moves. (c) 22-17 and 26-23 make somewhat easier games to play. After 19-15 tho position is the same as from 11-16, 23-18, 10-14, 18-15. (d) Usual; but less complicated is 16-20, then 22-17, 7-11, 17-10, 11-18, 26-22, 6-15, 24-19, etc. Or if 24-19 instead of 22-17, it is a ” Bristol Cross ” position (by 11-16, 23-18, 16-20, 24-19, 10-14, 18-15). (e) 24-20 either hero or for White’s next is quite good, ({) If complications are wanted Black can liave them by 14-18, then 17-14 (another counterpart and the possibilities this

position admits of are amazing, but chiefly m White’s favour.

(g) This, 17-13 and 24-20 are all considered good, but Black goes nest into 13 if White does not.

(h) ‘ Master Play ’ gives 10-19 also, and the late Frank Dunne was of the opinion that it gave Black slightly the better game —•if so, then 27-23 at (g) must be inferior to the alternatives mentioned above.

(i) 32-27 is published play, but Rickard’s innovation appears to be all right. (j) An idea often seen, but there should be no delay in equalising with the 2 for 1 afterwards. *

(k) 26-23, 19-26, 30-14, 15-18, 27-23, 18-27, 31-24; now if 8-12 or other move go 24-19, and the draw should be easy.

(l) Going the right way for a win. (m) But crowning on the wrong square. White then making a good “ getaway.” Mr M’Laughlm suggests for the win: 27-32, 23-19, 20-24. 19-15 [l9-16 would, of course, lose by 2-6], 24-27, 15-11, 27-31, 10-7, 32-27, 7-3, 27-23. Mr Caulfield continues:

The learner will observe-the difficulties in the way of planting Black’s king on 10 and how these are skilfully overcome. The position where the win error making a difference of at least £lO in M’Laughlin’s prize money, as he Jest the next two games, is here diagrammed:— '

Black now went 27-31, as shown at (m), instead ,of 27-32. However,'every tournament shows a number of missed wins, and MXaughlin greatly impressed the experts present with his wonderful skill. Although this young player gets little practice apart from book study and correspondence play (living “ outback ”), he defeated in succession O’Neill, Windsor, Acott, Armstrong, and Riley, besides winning one game from Rickard. His first opponent was Wilkins, who put him into the losers’ section after a strenuous tie of six games.

7-11 24-19 19-15 11-16 16-11 22-25 29-25 21-25 30-23 21-25 23-24 30-26 15-19 19-26 26-22 25-29 25-29 25-30 29-25 W. wins. The author's solution is 7-10 29-25 20-24' 25-30 16-19 22-25 28-24 11-16 18-23 23-16 10-15 4-8 24-20 21-25 20-11 25-29 24-20 16-19 23-16 White 15-18 8-11 30-26 30-23 wing.

Black, W. Kedmayne; White, F. Steele. 9-13 29-25b 15-24 23-16 9-14 22-17 4-8 28-19 12-19 26-23 13-22 25-22 10-14 15-10 19-26 25-18 5-9 27-23 14-23 30-23 ll-15a 23-18 11-16 31-27 White 18-11 7-11 19-15 6-15 wins. 8-15 24-19 16-19c 27-4

9-13 4-8 14-17 15-24 1-10 22-17 25-22 13-9 28-19 26-22 13-22 8 r ll 5-14 ' 10-14. 17-26 25-18 21-17 22-13 19-16 31-22 11-15 6-9 14-17 12-19 10-15 18-11 17-13 27-24 23-16 32-27 8-15 9-14 2-6 6-9 14-18 29-25 24-20 24-19 13-6 30-25 White wins.

Black, M'Lauglilin ; White, Rickard. 10-14 12-19U 6-15 16-20 23-19a 29-25 21-17k 31-26 ll-16b 5-14 8-111 23-27 19-15c 25-221 17-14 26-23 16-19d 3-7, 18-231 27-31m 22-17e 22-17 27-18 23-19 7-10f 7-11 15-22 31-27 27-23g 32-27] 26-17 19-16 9-13 11-18 19-23 27-23 23-16 24-15 14-10 10-7 13-22 10-19 11-16 Drawn 25-9 17-10 17-13

28-24 . 8-12 3-7 7-3 31-27 23-19 19-23 6-10 24-20 12-8 30-25 3-7 23-18 1-6 23-19 10-15 3-8 8-3 25-21 7-3 27-23 18-14 19-23 - 23-19 Black should win.—J. Caulfield.