DRAUGHTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17686, 25 July 1919, Page 3

DRAUGHTS

Oonducted by Jos. Abebnethy. rSolnH(Hi9 o( problems, games, and analyses Invited for this oohmin. Cramos should bo written in eix colnmns as below, imd all oorrtespoudeuoo addressed to tlho Draughts Kditor.] PROBLEM 4475. By "Wllmah Xaylor, in. Peoplo'e J<rornal. Black.

White. White to piny and draw. The above, an ending from the dreaded "Edinburgh" opening, is one of the class whioh is shunned by novice twid expert alike. 'J3>o White pieces in the king row, together with the Blaok piece on 23, give a fancied resemblance to a bridge, and similar endings are known as "bridge" positions. In the great majority of cases tho side holding the " foundations" of the bridgo (a White in this caee) can win, but Mr Taylor, by fine play, proves this one of the exceptions. We will suppose that we are.handling the Blach pieces, and our Arst consideration ie: "How many probable lines of attack are at White's camBand?" Ho must not try 13 17 or wo should tram lhe tobies by 23 26, and then 37. If 21 17, then again 23 26, followed by 31 26, drawn. Should he ait, by 13 19, w© bring out king round to 19, and tihen tho piece 3 8, S 11, 11 16, when we can en t by 23 26 and draw comfortably. So there are left only two eowses—lß 14 and 18 15—both menacing. In tho first place, 18 14. Well, if wo lot this piece -go one step further he will crown, end oxer doom is sealed. So we must go 37. He dare nofe reply 13 17, for 23 26. This ie his best play:—l 49, 5 14, 13 17, has a double breach"; but, fortunately, we have a way of escape—l 4 18, 17 19, 18 23, 19 26, 31 22. White now crowns his piece on 32 and wo oars on 7, and get up to eqnare 18 in time to bold hie king from relieving hie imprisoned pieces. A useful draw with a piece ehoxt. To go back again to the diagram. In the second place, he might play 18 15, end again we most stop his career by 3 7. Now it will not profit him to try 15 10, 7 14, 13 17, for we draw by a similar etratagem to that shown in the previous case. Therefore he proceeds bv 21 17, 31 96*, 17 14 It is "do or die" now. 22 25, 30 21, 23 27, 32 23, 26 17, 13 22 and it looks as though White having the move; but Mr Taylor steers Block to safety by 7 10, 22 26, 10 15, 26 31, 5 9, 31 27, 15 18 27 24, 18 23, 21 17, 23 26, 24 19, 26 19 9 13, drawn. If the student masters the points in the foregoing play he has mounted another step -towards the expert stage. GAMES. Last week -we promised a few variations on the Cross" opening, as diagrammed below. In. the last two issues "Cross" games have appeared on the eame line, but varying after the 11th move. The following game and variation J, with notes, are from an American paper, the Tribune-Farmer:— Gajie 4489—"Cross." Black: MTjlvaaey. White: EOingwood. 11 15 811 4 8 914 514 6 9 23 18 27 23 23 19 18 S 22 17 And -we diagram it:— Black.

White. White to play.

■ Black wdne. (g) Theso moves correct a game played between Lambert and Smith. BOREHAM'S TOUR. Boreham was to have started at Oamaru on Tuesday, 22nd, but tho date had to be altered to Thursday, 24th, and he will spend tho week-end in Oamaru, going on to Timaru on Monday next for two nights. At time of writing dates further north cannot be given, but wo hope to get word from Waimate and. Geraldine. Mr BorelHun informs us that his promise of a book to winners of a game from him cannot bo fulfilled at present, as tho books are unprocurable; but he has ordered a, supply, and will "make good" when the hooka come to Land.

1-31 27-4. 9 15 21 IS 7 11 26 23 12 16 IB 29 22 7 10 24 19 18 22 D-24 20 17 13 15 18 27 24 18 23 28 24-c 31 26 2 6 22 15 10 19 32 28 27 31 20 4 25 22 11 18 24 15 11 18 23 18 26 10 17 19 15 3 7 19 15 22 26 B.wins. 21 14 10 19 28 24-B 23 27 30 23 (a) For the $Jayer who wishes a eafe lino before all others, the 25 22 move at this point is recommended. (b) Went -wrong here; 32 27 better— Mulvanoy. (c) Wiiy not 23 18 at once? (d) 18 14 looks much better. Probably Wlite missed a draw somewhere after 28 24 at (b). Variation 1.—Jordan v. Farmer: 2-26 22-e 32 23 18 14 15 10 29 25 9 6 9 13 13 22 17 22 20 27 26 23 2 9 31 27 25 9 14 9 30 25 1 5 5 14 1 6-B 6 13 8 11 7 14 12 16 20 24 27 23 23 18 9. 5 25 9 25 22Dra.wa. 15 18 13 17 11 16 27 31 23 19 22 15 21 14 19 15 5 1 22 17 11 27 10 17 16 20 31 26 1G 20 (e) The Syracuse newspaper reports landed this Tnove to the skies, much absurd 1 ci.l k being indulged in regarding its merits, etc. But, as D. D. Curtin writes tie editor, it ia not nearly &o strong as the orthodox 25 22 play at this point.—Ed. (p) F. Wolf claims that 11 16 here wins for Black. Variation 2.—J. W. Dawson, in Yorkshire Post: — 26 23 11 15 22 18 12 19 17 10 14 21 15 18 25 22 • 1 5 23 16 7 14 31 22 17 13 9 13 18 9 14 18 3-29 23-a 21 25 18 27 24 20 5 14 21 17 18 23-H 16 11 13 6 15 24 30 26 13 22 25 22 25 30 2 9 28 19 11 15 26 17 23 26 22 17 32 23 8 11 19 16 10 14 22 17 Ztewra. (h) 15 19, 31 26, 18 23, 26 22, etc., drawn. Variation 3. 31 26 16 12 26 23 29 25 25 22 20 16 14 17-o 18 22 22 26 17 21 26 30 15 19