The Unknown Derek Oldbury

 COLUMN NUMBER 18

Problem Number 18: By Derek Oldbury

White to move and draw
A practical touch for the amateur

Solution To Problem Number 17:   6-10; 22-18 9-6; 18-9 19-16; 12-19 10-14; 9-18 20-16; 2-9 16-5. White wins.

Game Number 18. 'Defiance' Opening

A game played in a recent match, Kimberworth v Sheffield. Black: Derek Oldbury (Kimberworth); White: T.F.Russell (Sheffield). Set black men on squares 1 to 12; white men on squares 21 to 32.

Start moving: 11-15 23-19; 9-14 27-23; 8-11 22-18; 15-22 25-9; 5-14 29-25; 11-15 25-22; 4-8 24-20; 15-24 28-19; 10-15 19-10; 6-15 22-18; 15-22 26-10; 7-14 31-26 (see Game Number 15 for 31-27 at this stage); 8-11 26-22; 11-15 22-17; 2-7 17-10; 7-14 30-26; 15-19 23-16; 12-19 Forms Diagram: White to move

Continue:   26-22 (evidently thinking this would squeeze through); 19-23 22-18; 1-5 18-9; 5-14 32-28; 23-26 28-24; 26-31 24-19; 31-27 19-15; 27-23 15-10; 23-18 20-16; 18-15 10-6; 3-8 (ends it quickly and neatly) 16-12; 15-18 12-3; 14-17 21-14; 18-2. Black wins.