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 DRAUGHTS chess. This is probably the case; but on the other hand, it must be pointed out that chess is the more picturesque in appearance; and this is a fact the value of which should not be underestimated in considering the game’s claim to popular favour or its desirability as a pastime. Both games, played in moderation, undoubtedly assist the mind towards a habit of concentrated and consecutive thought, coupled with carefulness in matters of detail; both games allow almost unlimited scope for brilliant and critical combinations. It is worthy of note, perhaps, that while so far the bulk of draughts-players have been members of the working and lower middle classes, the majority of chess-players have been drawn from the middle and upper classes. The calculations given above as to the variation possible at draughts will convince most inquirers that no player, however expert at the game, could claim to know the replies to every possible move. Were further proof necessary, one might find it in the fact that more than onethird of the games played in the Scottish Championship Tournament of 1901 resulted in wins; and this proportion is not affected even if the games of the first round, in which less able players were more likely to be engaged, be omitted. In different districts and at different times the greatest diversity of opinion has existed regarding the relative strength of the Draughts var ^ous openings. It used to be generally held that “open- an f°r the 0 black side 11-15 was considerably superior to lags. y ther move. Towards the end of the 19th century th isopening view became much modified, and though 11-15 still remained the favourite, it was recognized that 10-15, 9-14, and 11-16 were little, if at all, inferior ; 10-14 and 12-16 were rightly rated as somewhat weaker than the four moves named above, whilst 9-13, the favourite of the “unscientific” player, was found to be weakest of all. The white replies to 11-15 have gone through many vicissitudes. The seven possible moves have each at different times figured as the general favourite. Thus 24-19, which more thorough analysis proved to be the weakest of the seven, was at one period described by the title of “ Wyllie’s Invincible.” In course of time it came to be regarded as decidedly weak, and doubts began to be entertained as to whether the opening even admitted of a draw for white, its name being, in consequence, dropped for the less pretentious title of “Second Double Corner.” In the Scottish fournament of 1894 the opening was played between Ferrie and Stewart, and the latter won the game with white. The new play then introduced has stood the test of analysis, and the opening now ranks as but little inferior to those formed by the other possible replies, its main drawback consisting in the lack of scope for variations favourable to the player of the white pieces. The 21-17 reply to 11-15 was introduced by Wyllie, who was so successful with it that it became known as the “Switcher.” The opening is perhaps lacking in the solid strength of some of the others, but it so abounds in traps as to be well worthy of its name. The other five replies to 11-15, namely, 24-20, 23-19, 23-18, 22-18, and 22-17, are productive of games which are generally held to give equal chances to both sides. The favourite replies to 10-15 are 23-18, 22-18, and 21-17, but they do not appear to be appreciably stronger than the others, with the possible exception of 24-20. In response to 11-16, 23-18 is held to give white a trifling advantage, but it is more apparent than real. With the exception of 23-19, which is weak, the other replies are of equal strength, and are only slightly, if at all, inferior to the more popular 23-18. Against 10-14 the most popular move is 22-17, which gives white an advantage. Next in strength come 22-18 and 24-19. 23-18 is weak. The strongest reply to 12-16 is 24-20. The others, except 23-19, which is weak, give no initial advantage to either side. As already mentioned, 9-13 is black’s weakest opening move, both 22-18 and 24-19 giving white a distinct advantage. Nevertheless 9-13 is a favourite debut with certain expert players, especially when playing with inferior opponents.

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The three following games are typical examples of the play arising from three of the most frequently played openings :— Game No. 1.—“Ayrshire Lassie” Opening. a 11-15 2510-15 22-17 b 15-18 24- 6 13-22 a 24-20 23-19 24-20 2- 9 3- 8 8-11 266-10 26-17 17-10 18-27 28-24 11-16 8-11 5- 9 cl 27-23 31-24 9-13 30-26 9-14 20-11 16-23 Drawn. 22-18 1- 5 18- 9 20-16 It. Jordan. 7-16 15-22 32-28 5-14 29-25 12-19 a. 11-15, 24-20 forms the “Ayrshire Lassie” opening, so named by Wyllie. It is generally held to admit of unusual scope for the display of critical and brilliant combinations. b. 16-20, 25-22, 20-27, 31-24, 8-11, 17-13, 2-6, 21-17, 14-21, 22-17, 21-25, 17-14, 10-17, 19-1. Drawn. R. Jordan. (c) 26-23 28-19 20-16 7-11 14-10 15-10 9-14 2- 6 6-10 19-24 2623-18 18- 9 20-11 16-11 11-18 10- 7 10-15 58104- 8 24-27 20-16 29-25 27-20 11- 7 18-15 7- 3 1511-16 101427-31 816- 7 20-11 31-26 7- 3 22-18 3- 7 Drawn. 7-16 15-19 1831-27 27A. B. Scott 24-20 23-16 3-7 18-14 v. 7-11 15-24 12-19 23-30 30-26 24-20 R. Jordan. id) ( 197-10 23-19 11-15 16-11 25-30 12-19 6- 1 1527-24 1820-16 922-17 28-19 22-25 17-14 Drawn. 1526-23 829-22 10-17 R. Jordan. 24- 6 111914-18 21-14 Game No. 2.—“Kelso-Cross’ Opening. a 10-15 8-12 13-22 5- 9 14-18 22-25 a 23-18 25-21 20-16 26-17 17-14 2912-16 1- 6 d 19-26 2- 7 10-17 17-26 21-17 32-27 30-23 24-19 21-14 5- 1 9-13 12-16 15-22 15-24 6-10 26-30 17-14 27-23 24-19 2314- 9 1- 5 167-10 9-14 2410-14 3014- 7 24-20 19-12 31-24 195- 9 6- 9 3-10 11-15 9-13 14-17 26-23 b 27-24 c 22-17 28-24 24-20 9- 5 Drawn. R. Jordan. а. These two moyes form the “Kelso-Cross” opening. б. 27-23 is also a strong line for white to adopt. c. 30-25, 4-8, 18-14, 9-27, 22-18, 15-22, 24-15, 11-18, 20-4, 27-32, 26-17, 13-22, 4-8, 22-26, and black appears to have a winning advantage. R. Jordan. d. Taking the piece on 18 first seems to lose, thus :— 15-22 e 9-13 13-17 6- 9 5-14 24- 8 17-14 23-18 14-10 10- 7 White 4-11 10-17 17-21 9-14 2- 6 wins. 31-27 21-14 28-24 18- 9 7-2 Dallas. e. 2-7, 27-24, 22-26, 23-18, 26-31, 18-15, 11-18, 20-2, 9-13, 2-9, 5-14, 24-19, 13-22, 30-26. White wins. Game No. 3.—“Dundee” Opening. 12-16 1124-20 20-11 17-13 ' 18-15 26-22 31-22 8-12 7-16 5- 9 2-7 14-17 19-23 * 28-24 24-20 22-18 30-26 21-14 13- 9 9-14 b 16-19 15-22 10-14 18-23 12-19 22-17 23-16 25-18 29-25 27-18 9- 6 3- 8 12a 26-22 20-16 27-18 32-27 15- 6 Drawn. R. Jordan. a. This move is the favourite at this point on account of its “ trappiness,” but 25-22 is probably stronger, thus : 25-22, 16-19, 24-15, 11-25, 29-22, 8-11, 17-13, 11-16, 20-11, 7-16, and white can with advantage continue by 27-24, 22-17, 23-19, or 22-18. b. 15-19, 20-11, 8-15, 23-16, 12-19, 17-13, 5-9, 30-26, 4-8, 27-23, 8-12, 23-16, 12-19, 31-27, 1-5, 27-23, 19-24, 32-27, 24-31, 22-17. White wins. C. F. Barker. c. 8-11 27-18 15-18 7-10 14-10 24-27 16- 7 15-22 14-10 27-31 19-24 31-24 2-11 25-18 10-26 6-15 10- 7 16-20 22-18 10-15 31-22 17-14 18-23 3- 7 14-23 18-14 11-16 30-25 20-27 7- 3 Drawn. R. Stewart v. R. Jordan. The problem diagrammed on next page is the simplest form of that known to draughts-players as the “First Position.” It is of more frequent occurrence in actual play than any other end-game,