DRAUGHTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24409, 21 September 1940, Page 14

DRAUGHTS

Conducted by R. Weir. Solutions ot problems, games, and analyses are Invited for this column Games should be written In six columns, as below, and all correspondence addressed to Mr H Weir, Otago Daily Times Office. Dunedin

PROBLEM No. 863 By J. C. Gribbin (Belfast) Black 3, 5. 20, King 9.

White 6, 10. 17. 28, 31. White to play and win

Compositions of tl is genre, where the numerically weaker side must play to achieve equality of pieces and is in consequence compelled to enter into a trap, are much in vogue. While Mr Gribbin’s effort is no classic of its type, it will be found to be both ingenious and entertaining.

PROBLEM No. 864 Author unknown.

Black 5,9, 13, King 23.

White 8, 15, 19, 21, 30. White to play and win

White's second move is the crux of this setting. Once that is discovered the ending plays itself.

GAMES A " SWITCHER ” DISSERTATION ' GAME No. 914.—“ Switcher.”

913 24 IS 15 24 29 25 13 17 22 17 21 17 15 24 27 20 610 26 22 12 16 11 15-a 28 19 610 25 21 17 26 19 12 25 21-b 11 15-e 25 21 10 17 31 22 10 15 8 11-c 17 14 10 17 21 14 811 17 13 30 25-d 10 17 21 14 2 6 23 19 15 22 4 8 21 14 1 6 22 18 610 Drawn. (a) The “ Switcher ” opening is now formed. Draughts annals attribute its origin to James Wyllie, the famed “ Herd Laddie,” but there is little doubt that this claim to authorship is apocryphal. The “Herd Laddie,” however, is deserving of great credit for his diligent investigation and. intensive exploitation of the opening, .culminating in the publication ot ” Wyllie’s Switcher Book.” one of tne minor classics of the game. Apropos of this fact, a little'story may well be told. Wyllie had just concluded a highly 'UCcessful simultaneous exhibition when he was asked by one of his erstwhile opponents, evidently desirous of knowing the reason for the old master's superiority. if he played by the books. Fisy by the books?" queried the doyen of Apparently Wyllie’s copious analyses were firmly impressed on his memory, as | there is no recorded instance of the ' Herd, Laddie ” having been hoist with his own petard. ~ i .. (b) Best, but 23 18 is tenable. The discerning tyro will observe that 23 I.J would lose, as after 5 9, 27 23, 19 14, 25 21 the “ Laird and Lady Refused (which is a loss for the second player) is formed. . , „ ■ „ Q (c) Better than either 5 9 or b 9, though in certain circumstances they are to be preferred as being less stereotyped than the text. The tendency, so prevalent among contemporary Playersblindly following the impress left by the old-timers cannot be too greatly deplored, and a little more initiative would serve to enrich the literature of the game and also would produce a more diverting contest for the players themselves (d) This is In ray opinion the best move at White's command. 17 14 was for many years In high favour, and is still extremely popular, though 24 19 has its adherents. Neither of the moves mentioned offers the clear-cut, concise draw demonstrated after the text move (e) More forceful and natural than 11 16, but the latter has a “ booby trap, as White must take the break by 22 18 to draw. If 17 14 then Black wins by 13 17 followed by 6 9 PLAYED, BY CORRESPONDENCE A correspondence game from an old Crossboard News that will bear examination : GAME No. 915.—V Second Double Corner.” 11 15 4 8 10 17 3 7 f-15 18 1-25 22 24 19 17 13 18 14-b 25 21-e 6 2 27 24 15 24 811 11 16-c 610 18 22 20 27 28 19 26 22 29 25 30 26 2 6 11 20 811 914 711 10 15 22 25 k-22 2j 22 18 18 9 14 9-d 14 10 6 10-g 32 23 11 16 514 1 5 714 25 29 25 30 25 22 22 18 19 15 9 6 10 15-h 20 24 16 20 14 17-a 11 13 2 9 29 25 14 18 22 17 21 14 23 14 13 6 15 11 Drawn. (a) 1 5 is perhaps stronger, and it certainly limits White’s scope. (b) 26 is more usual, after which Black has the choice of the shot by 12 16, or can try !!• 16 if on the lookout for complications. (c) 11 15 is stronger, text move has the noint of forcing the replies. (d) Alexander vi Atwell played 25 22, 17 26, 31 22 in the 1902 English tourney, and should have lost, though the game was drawn. Text is starred in the Encyclopaedia.” but no play is given. The move puts Black on the search for 5 draw. (e) Tempting 17 22 In reply, when 14 10, 7 14, 21 17. 30 26, White wins.—F. Dunne. (f) Dunne gives 5 9, 6 2, 9 13, 26, 15 19, drawn; but 27 23, 19 24. 6 9. 14 13. 17 22 26 17. 14 10. White wins. (g) 26 23, 16 19, 23 16. 12 19, 27 23 draws. (h) Left as drawn here, but the continuation is worth noting. (i) This leads to a simple ending. _ (k) Best. 22 18 loses, and 5 9 is doubtful. SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS Problem No. 799 (A. J. Heffner).Black 9. 11. 12. King 23; White 20, 22, Kings 2. 10. White to play and win. 2 7(a), 23 27. 7 16, 12 19, 22 17. 9 14, and 10 15. White wins. (a) A move easily overlooked. In practical play any expert would play 2 6 without hesitation, but it allows White to draw. Problem No. 800 (E. A. Jones, Victoria).— Black 7, 12, 20, 22. King 16; White 8. 27, 23. King 15. White to move, Black to win. 7 3 26 31 15 19 26 31 19 15 20 24 22 26 27 23 20 24 14 18 16 20 Black 310 31 26 10 14 31 27 28 19 wins. Problem No. 801 (J. Wyllie).—Black 9, 11, 18; White 21, 30, Kings 3. White to play and win. 3 7 16 20 15 18 913 23 32 24 27 nl6 11 15 23 27 18 23 20 24 30 26 7 11, 18 23 21 17 13 22 32 28 22 31 and 28 32. White wins. Problem No. 802 (H. C. Steiner. U.S.A.),— Black 9, 19, King 30; White 22, 32, King 18. White to play and win. 22 17 18 22 22 29 32 27 29 25 27 23 913 30 25 13 22 22 26 26 31 19 26 and 25 30 White wins. Students will observe the similarity of theme in the two preceding problems, each making use of the same resource. Problem No. 803 (late W. H. Tyson).— Black 7, 11, 13, 15; White 22. 23, 28. .10. White to play and win. 23 19 710 30 26 21 25 22 6 15 24 22 18 17 21 18 15 White wins. 28 19 13 17 26 22 11 18 Problem No. 804 (E. A. Jones, Victoria).— Black 14. 24, Kings 2.6; White 15 19, Kings 13. 31. White to play and win 15 10 24 27 27 32 29 610 31 26 615 3127 1823 13 6 2631 1518 19 10 14 18" 10 6 23 26 10 15 White wins