INTERNATIONAL DRAUGHTS MATCH Barker v. Martins.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 250, 28 March 1888, Page 3

INTERNATIONAL DRAUGHTS MATCH Barker v. Martins.

SIXTH D\Y. There was a crowded attendance when play was resumed on Saturday. This waa no doubt due to Barker winning a {jarae the previous night— the 10th of the matchthereby nrnkihg the score even. Barker received many congratulations on his win, but he showed no elation in the mattei, and treated the a Hair with the same cool equanimity as he did his lost game on the first day of the match. Martins, who was first player, again triod the " fife," which proceeded on the same line a? tho eight " Fifes " already played in the match ; the game resulted in n draw after fully an hour's play. Barker tormed the "Old Fourteenth " in the next game, the 20th of the match. Like the preceding, it went on safe '* book " lines and also resulted in a, draw, as did another "Fife." There being no evening play, this concluded the contest for the day, the scores standing — Martins, 1 ; Barker, 1 ; drawn, 19.

SF.VENTH IHY. There was a large attendance when pla^' commenced on Monday, and this was hourly added to, town and ccuntry draugh fc players taking advantage ot the holiday to see a £arne between the representatives of tho two countries ; indeed, towards the close of tho afternoon sitting the hall became too crowded for the late comers to have a chance of seeing "the brod." Saturday's pla} r left an even score— Martins, 1 ; Barker, 1 : drawn, 19. On the resumption of the mafcch, Barker, who was first player, tried the 'MYhilter" for the second time in the match, having essayed the same opening in the sixteenth jrame on Friday. The line adopted was kl book "for some 40 moves, and therefore tolerably familiar to both player:;. Position—Black men on 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 24 ; White men on 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, 22, 26, 30. White (Martins) to play :—

The usual play ab ninth move of abovo is 19-15, given in most ot the " bookb." Marbins'a new move, although leading to a pretty termination, gave him no perceptible advantage over his opponent, and after an hour and a-half's play the game was} given up as a draw. For the first time in the contest Martins opened with the "Glasgow 1 ' — a game, however, which had been three times tiied by Barker as his second, tenth, and twelfth game respectively. Although speedily oft' " book," the lines adopted have been greatly played in recent matches. It is a variation in which shortly after the opening White gives Black -a man up, and theieby secures so strong a position that if the extra piece is not given back ot the right moment Black has hard work for a draw. Position — Black men on 1, 2, 5, 8, 9, 12, 19, 23 ; White men on 10, 20, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32. Black to play :~

And aa the men were now i educed to tour a-side, with equal positions, it was mutually agreed to abandon the game as a draw. This game, which occupied nearly two and a-half hour!?, terminated the- play of the afternoon. Tho pressure round the contestant" on resuming piny in the e^ening• \w uic\fcl> relieved by fcheintioduction ot Mr Jl. Home's leviathan draught-board, nearly three feet square, with "men of coru-opondiug size, which was hung upon the wall, and on which the moves were reproduced as soon as made. This enabled the spectators bo take a seat and follow tho play >wlh comfort. Barker wps fir«t player, and again tried tho " Whilter." For 30 moves the jramo proceeded similar to the same opening 1 in the forenoon, at which .stage Martins varied. A lively and interesting game ansued, in which the strategy and ability of the players were perhaps* betier seen than in any previous game. Ko material advantage was gained by either player, and after an hour's play the pieces were reduced to six a-side, the following: being tho position : — Black men on 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 14; White men on 16, 17, 21, 22, 28, 29. White to play :— -

Play was continued for some time, but, bar aome glaring oversight, there was no chance of either securing a win ; and, aa both played with due caution tfnd care, a draw was latterly agreed to, nfter two hours 1 play. This finished the day's 1 P^y.

.4-18 52-15 .0-19 J,Y-J/t 10-23 21-17 23-26 26-31 17-13 8-11 ID- i 3-17 21-14 31-27 if- y 6-10 9- 6 10-15 o-15-1 24- i

9-14 !3-25 5- 9 10-16 1- 5 10- 6 9-13 16-11 8-15 31-27 2- 9 27-11 12-16 25-22 16-20 11- 7 11-17 7- 2 20-24 2- 7 19-23 26-19 17-26 30-26

.4-10 14-27 .0- 1 9-14 18- 9 11-25 30-21 5-14 26-22 27-31 1- 5 8 11 22-17 14-18 19-15 11-10 15-10 18-23 10- 6 2- 9 Id- 0 31-26 6- 2 Draw