DRAUGHTS

Evening Star, Issue 23384, 29 September 1939, Page 3

DRAUGHTS

[Conducted by A.W.] Games, analysis, solutions to problems invited for this column. Games should bo written in five columns, as below, and all correspondence addressed to the Draughts Editor, the ‘ Evening Star. The Otago Draughts Club meets on Thursday and Saturday evenings in the Y.M.C.A. Rooms, at 7 o’clock. Visitors are always welcome.

PROBLEM 747. (By W. Veal.)

White, 7, 21, Ks. 8, 30,

White to play and win A fine finish.

PROBLEM 749. (By E. Robertson.)

Black, 5,7, K. 11,

White, 12, 20, K. 1,

Black to play anti win. A very fine ending; worth knowing. SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. Problem 748, by K. M’Kcnzic. Black, 3,8, 11, 12, K. 18. White, 10, 14, 19, 20, 23. K. 6. White to play and win. 6-9 28-24* 9-13* 24-15 10-7 18-23 a 23-16 16-19 . 11-18 3-17 and 13-15. White wins. (a) 18-22, 9-13. 11-15, 20-16, 15-24 , 28-19, 22-18, 10-7, 18-9. 13-6, 3-10. White wins.

GAME 834. —“ Kelso.”—

' The following, with informative notes, by E. M’MUlau, 'he well-known Sydney analyst and player, was specially contributed to ‘The Examiner.’ Mr M'Millan remarks that it is a grenl pleasure to contribute when one’s work is so much appreciated by the draughts editor and his readers.

(a) Regarded by many players as a strong attack for- White, it has been tried on several important occasions, notably by S. Cohen v. G. O’Connor in their match, also by M. Lieber, T. Goldsboro (and via 22-17), J. Alexander and others in the second Great Britain v. America match of 1927. On every occasion that it was played in the latter match the result was a draw except when Liebcrman won with it from Ferric and Moulding lost with it to Lieber. (b) 6-10 is considered as a likely move for good results, and was the lino Lieber used when he beat Moulding; but on that occasion Moulding blundered badly on the ending with a sure draw in hand. ( c ) The books favour this move, although I suppose 21-20 could be played. J. Alcock played 24-20 against, G. Moodie in Hobart in 1937, but whether before or after 6-9 I am not at all sure, [lt was the eighth move and was wrongly answered by 3-8 instead of 16-19, Black ultimately losing exactly as Boyles lost to Straclian shortly before in the Victorian championship tournev— thus: 8-11, 24-20, 3-8, 22-17, 16-19, 25-21, "6-10, 27-24, 1-6, 17-13, 10-17, 21-14, 12-16, 29-25, 8-12, 32-27, etc. The 3-8 must not be played too soon, but after 8-11, 24-20, 16-19, 27-24 it is then time to play it, and if next 32-27 (as in J. H. Bailey’s play on page 248 of * Master Play ’) Black goes 6-9, withholding the 12-16 for the time being. —Draughts editor.] (d) If 19-15 the published play then is 6-9 and 9-13, B. wins. (e) The .* Encyclopajdia of Draughts ’ queries this move, which seems to Icgc, but by 26-22 instead a somewhat pretty draw is forced; continue with 18-23, 27-18, 24-27, 32-23 (31-24 loses), 7-10, 14-7, 3-26, 22- 26-30, 31-26, etc. (f) The position now makes a fine problem study. To this stage the play has followed that of the ‘ Encyclopaedia,’ which breaks off abruptly here by declaring the result “ 0.K.” This continuation, however, is submitted to correct the ‘ F.ncyclopa'dia,’ Var. 45. note (c), page 207, at last move. (g) White's po-ilion is desperate now because 3-8 and 7-11 threatens to force 2-for-1, so this move is all that is left. H gives a ray of hope. (hj Effective. White is now in a corner from which there is no escape. Ho can avoid this coup by playing 19-15 a few moves earlier and avoiding the 12-16 .“throw”; however, Black can then win as follows:—lnstead of 11-8, try 19-15, then 31-26, 22-18, 12-16*. 15-10, 16-19, 10-6, 26-22, 18-15, 22-18, 14-9 (14-10 no better), 18-14, 9-5, 19-23, 6-2, 23-26 (3-7, 11-8, 7-11. 15-10, Draw), 5-1, 26-31, 1-5, 31-26, 5-1, 26-23. 1-5, 23- B. wins. [Players of various grades will learn much by carefully going over the above very fine play—Draughts Editor.] GAME 835. The following game and correction of standard work is taken from ‘ Our Checker Player,’ edited by Hex B. Wood, XJ.S.A.

(a) 24-20, 11-15, 22-17*, etc., is best hero as given in tho ‘ Encvcloprcdia.’ 29-25 instead of 22-17 is the way G. Buchnan lost to R. Stewart. (b) Tho Bookworm would find better play in the ‘ Encyclopaedia ’ (page 184, var, 14), bv 4-8, 29-25, 16-19, 23-16, 12-19, 26-23, 19-26, 30-23, 8-12, and now 15-10 is given to lose, but in the supplement we find the correct way to draw is by 25-22, 12-16, 22-17, 16-19, 23-16, draw. (c) The Bookworm thought he was safe because Banks in his 1 Scientific Checkers ’ says; “The saving link to the Black ending and forces the play to a simple draw,” but it loses. L. S. Hart tipped off Shy lock through the ‘ Roseville Citizen ’ that 2-6 is the correct way to draw. (d) This corrects ‘Scientific Checkers’ (page 106. var. 1), where 10-6 is continued to draw. It w.as first shown by Verner Toppari in the ‘ Cleveland Plain Dealed,’ and just a little later by L. S. Hart in the 1 Roseville Citizen.’

10-15 1-6 5-9 26-22 21-17 29-25 17-14 18-15 11-16 16-20 9-13 22-18 17-14a 24-19 14-lOg 15-10 9-18 8-11 7-14 18-9 25-14 17-15d 15-11 8-4 8-11 11-16 14-17 13-17 22-17 19-15 2b-21 4-8 6-9b 16-19 18-22 17-22 26-25 30-26 21-14 8-11 9-18 19-24 22-26 22-26 25-14 ■ 32-28e 31-22 11-7 4-8 18-23 24-31 26-31 25-21c 26-19 11-8 7-2 15-19 6-9 31-26 9-5 24-15 13-6 22-18 2-6 11-18 2-18 12-16h 5-1 28-24 21-17f 19-12 B. wins.

— " Second Double Corner.’ : Black, The Bookworm uinn Shylock. i; White. The Col-11-15 31-24 3-12 11-8 84-19 7-11 24-19 51-27 15-24 22-18a 9-13 8-4 28-19 11-16 18-9 27-23 8-11 19-15 5-14 4-8 22-18 10-19 29-25 23-27 10-14 24-15 13-17c 8-11 25-22 16-19b 19-15 27-23 11-16 23-16 12-16 11-15 27-24 12-19 15-10 23-27 6-10 26-23 -16-20 15-19' 32-28 19-26 23-19d 27-32 16-20 30-23 20-24 19-23 18-15 4-8 19-16 32-28 20-27 28-24 24-27 23-26 15-6 8-11 16-11 White 1-10 15-8 27-31 wins