The Unknown Derek Oldbury

COLUMN NUMBER 27

Problem Number 27: By Derek Oldbury

White to move and win

Handy manoeuvres to know

Solution To Problem Number 26: ... 9-6 (18-14 would lose); 22-15 23-19; 15-24 20-27; 10-14 27-23 (6-9 would lose); 14-17 6-9; 30-25 23-26; 25-22 26-30; 22-18 9-13; 18-22 13-9. A see-saw draw.

Game Number 27. 'Edinburgh' Opening

An original block trap which I have used successfully in my play. Set black men on squares 1 to 12; white men on squares 21 to 32.

Start moving: 9-13 22-17; 13-22 25-18; 11-15 18-11; 8-15 21-17; 4-8 23-19; 5-9 17-13; 8-11 29-25; 9-14 26-23 (best in my view); 1-5 25-22 (improves published analysis); 14-17 (6-9 is very hard to draw) 31-26; 11-16 (other moves lose) 23-18; 16-23 18-11; 7-16 27-18; 10-14 (as good as any) 18-9; 5-14 24-20; 16-19 20-16; 3-7 (of course, if 3-8, then 22-18 wins) 32-27; 7-11 16-7; 2-11 27-24; 11-15 24-20; 6-10 (17-21 is correct) 13-9; 17-21 9-6; 14-18 Forms Diagram: White to move

Continue: ... 6-2; 18-25 2-7; 10-14 7-11; 14-18 20-16; 25-29 26-22; 18-25 11-18; 19-23 18-27; 12-19 28-24; 19-28 27-32. White wins.