DRAUGHTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 4030, 9 June 1931, Page 61

DRAUGHTS.

CONDUCTED DY

JAS. BERCOT.

Mattan* of prcaiema, games, and analyses In* Ttteil for thia column Guinea should be written la six columns as below, mid all cerreajioiKleuee addressed to tha Draught* Editor, Olngo Witness Dffioe, Dunadlu.

PROBLEM 6529. By “ Sacramento Slim." Black 19, 24, King 3.

W’hite Kings 15, 31. Black -to move and win. PROBLEM 6530. By •' Sacramento Slim.” Black 10, 16, 19, 22, 23.

White 30, 31, 32, King 7. Black to move and draw. The above pair of problems from the Vancouver Sun will tax the efforts of our young solvers, and a little time spent in solving them will repay the student. They are natural end games likely to crop up at any time. PRIZE PROBLEM 6523. By " Phil Garlick.” Black 2, 14, King 10, 22. W T hite 9. 21, King 1, 11. White to move and draw. A number of solutions were received to this problem and were submitted to the author for examination. Solutions from the following were marked correct: —W. J. Marsh, Wyndham ; Fred Stuthridge, Glenavy ; E. Sutherland, Waitati; and J. F. Reid, Centre Bush, to whom a Draughts Review will be awarded. It was intimated that starred moves would count, and this has helped to decide the winner. Although four solutions are given as correct that of Mr Fred' Stuthridge has been selected by the judge, as his starred moves are considered correct, and a more complete analysis of the position is given. Mr Stuthridge’s solution follows:—

(a) 1 5, 14 17, 21 14, 22 17, 5 1, 17 10, 16 23, 15 19. Black wins. (b) 14 18, 21 17. 22 13, 6 1, 13 6, 1 19, 26, 16 11, 6 9, 11 15, 13 22, 19 23, 9 13, 15 18, 22 25. White wins. (c) If 18 15, White wins by 1 6. (d) Sets a trap. White could go back 19 16 same as first move of trunk, but text is sound. (e) 10 15 loses by 23 18, 14 23, 21 17, 22 6, 1 26. White wins. [Note: Ketchum’s “How To Win” will be posted to Mr Stuthridge.—Dr. editor.]

GAMES. SOUTHLAND CORRESPONDENCE TOURNEY. The two games below were played in'the Southland correspondence tourney now in progress. As will be seen by those who play them over, both are well contested. The games and notes are taken from the Southland Times.

—Notes by' F. Hutchins.— (a) This forms the oldest line of the Bristol ” opening. It is slightly in favour of the Black. (b) Best, anything else is weak. (c) Undoubtedly the best reply. (d) 10 14, 8 12, and 8 11 are all good; 9 13 is weak. (e) 27 24 and 27 23 are not so strong as text. By running off the man by 27 23 we have what Is called the knock down ’• Bristol." (f) This line is favoured by the American players, and have figured very prominently in many matches. Banks played it against Stewart for the world’s championship. (g) 6 10 was the reply made at this stage by Banks and Is generally favoured, but text is quite safe. (h) We cannot find any play on this jnove. 20 16 is the usual, followed by 2 7. 30 25, 8 12. 28 24, 19 28, 26 22, 12 19, 22 18, 15 22, 25 2, etc., to a draw.

(1) 14 17 here would have made for complications. Text gives White a safe passage.

(1) Bringing an Interesting game to a safe draw.

(a) Varies from the preceding game and is generally considered stronger. It was invariably played, on this line at the last International match, America v. Britain. (b) 8 11 was played by Stewart against Banks, followed by 29 25, 4 8, 25 22, 26, 22 17, etc. (c) 19 24 would appear to give Black the best of it. Text allows the stroke which follows, but Black is still left with the advantage. I cannot, however, find a win, and leave it to the critics. The position is interesting and the draw well played. (d) The position here is interesting. Black is a man. up. Can any of our readers make a win of it? We diagram the position for reference :

Black. Black to play.

—Black wins. TOWN v. COUNTRY MATCH. This match, which players have been looking forward to for some time, was played at the Dunedin Athenseum on Thursday night last. Seventeen boards were occupied, and the match resulted in a win for the Town team by the narrow margin of one game. At the conclusion of the match the players adjourned to the Strand Tea Rooms, where refreshments were served. Mr R. Dotting captained the Country team and Mr F. E. Hilliker the Town team. In the course of bis remarks Mr Hilliker said he was very pleased to see so many country players present, and congratulated them on their performance. Next year he hoped to see a larger combination from the country playing against the Town team. Mr Botting replied on behalf of the Country team, and promised that next year an effort would be made to induce some of the many strong country players to attend who were not present that night. Messrs J. A. Boreham and James Beecot also emphasised the need of some organisation of the country players, and remarked that it should be possible to place 50 men aside in the field, the record in past years having been 9G boards. Appreciative references were made to two old-timers—Mr A. Murdoch, who for some years acted as captain of the Country team, and Mr James Stevenson, of Riversdale, who sent along a word of greeting to the meeting. Following are the scores :— W. Town. D. Country. W. 0 J. A. Boreham 2 W. O'Malley 0 1 F. E. Hilliker 2 R. Botting 0 1 T. Rea 2 A. Shepherd 0 1 W. Mpldrum 0 J. Berry 1 2 P. Peterson 0 F. Trapski 1 4 A. White 0 E. Anicich 0 3 R. Bews 0 A. Johnston 1 1 L. Donald 1 A. Smith 1 0 J. Douglas 0 J. S. Gerrard 3 0 J.M'Kewan 0 W. Foysyth 4 0 F. Boreham 1 D.M'Lennan 3 3 A. B. Stewart 1 G. Botting 0 2 P. Anderson 1 'William Johnston 0 0 J. Cunningham 2 J. M'Gregor 2 0 H. Lordern 0 Walter Johnston 2 4 R. C. M'Murray 0 A. T. Johnston 0 0 J. Dawson 1 O. Forsyth 3

11 16* 17 13 *19 23 15 18 26 23 11 16 22 17-1 9 6* 10 15 *23 26 15 11 2 6 16 10* 2 9 *1 6 18 15 6 2 16 20 —then 6 2. Drawn. -Variation 1. — 10 15-2 21 14 17 14 20 24 15 10 1 5 1 6-a 22 17 16 20 7 11 24 19 Drawn 14 17-b 14 10 14 7 6 1 10 14 -Variation 2.— 14 18-3 10 14 22 17 14 "5 IS 22 22 25 16 19* 1 5 5 1 21 14 19 23 Drawn —Variation 3.— 22 18 19 23-d 10 15 5 9 15 22 Drawn 16 19 2 7-e 1 5 22 17 21 14 18 22-e 9 6 7 11 9 18 22 18

GAME 8051.—" Bristol.” Black: : F Trapski, Pukerau; White Hodge, Waipounamu. : T. 11 16 25 22-e 4 8 21 17 1 17 2 7 24 20-a 10 15-f 25 22 14 21 13 9 26 31 16 19-b 22 17 14 18-1 26 23 7 10 7 10 23 16 7 10-g 22 17 19 26 9 6 14 17 12 19 27 24-h 10 14 30 14-j 17 22 22 18-c 2 7 17 10 15 19 6' 2 9 14-d 29 25 7 14 24 15 10 14 18 9 8 12 31 27 6 10 27 24 5 14 17 13 3 7 15 6 22 26

GAME S052.—" Bristol.” Black : T. Hodge; White: F. Trapski. 11 16 10 15 12 19 30 23 15 18 26 31 24 20 22 17 20 16 27 4 22 15 1 6 16 19 6 10-a 8 12 19 23 6 10 31 27 23 16 29 25 25 22 4 8 15 6 6 10 12 19 8 12-b 3 8-< 3 12 19 2 18 27 24 22 18 17 13 21 17 8 3 ■d 13 9 10 14 9 14 1 6 14 21 7 11 18 22 23 26 18 9 27 23 30 25 3 7 9 6 Drawn 5 14 4 8 21 30 11 15 22 26 25 22 23 16 31 27 7 14 _ 6 1

SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. Problem 6525 (Maurice Hammer). Black 5, 7, 9, 10, 13. King 19. White 8, 14, 17, 18, 21, , 22, King 4. Black to move and draw. 19 16 11 16 " *12 8 26 23 IS 23 9 6 8 3 8 11 11 7 2 7 7 11 JI 15 16 11 ’ ‘16 12 8 3 23 18 23 18 6 2 3 S 11 2 14 10 6 2 11 16 Drawn 11 16 10 15 25 30 18 15 17 13 8 3 18 11 2 6 2 6 21 14 16 11 9 25 30 26 15 18 IS 9 3 8 17 14 7 2 6 1 16 11 Problem 6526 (J. E. Webster). — -Black 20, 23, 27, King 22. . White 30, 32, Ki la. White to move, Black to win. 15 19 19 24 24 19 19 28 30 25 28 19 22 26' 27 31 *20 24 *31 27 *27 24 26 31