The Unknown Derek Oldbury

COLUMN NUMBER 38

Problem Number 38: By John Love

White to move and draw

A beautiful touch by the draughts editor of the 'Edinburgh Despatch'

Solution To Problem Number 37: ... 23-18; 28-32 18-14; 32-28 4-8; 28-24 14-18; 24-20 16-11; 7-16 8-12; 20-24 18-23; 19-26 12-28. White wins.

Game Number 38. 'Edinburgh' Opening

From the finals of the 1956 British Championship. Black: D. Oldbury; White: S. Cohen.

Move: 9-13 23-18; 5-9 26-23; 10-14 30-26; 7-10 24-19; 11-16 28-24; 16-20 32-28; 2-7 (a favourite formation of mine) 19-15 (in the 1951 English Championship Crabbe played 18-15 to a neat draw); 10-19 24-15; 13-17 22-13; 7-10 15-11; 8-22 26-17; 4-8 (the textbooks state that this loses, but it is Black's best move) 23-19; 8-11 19-16 (forced); 12-19 27-24; 20-27 31-8; 3-12 28-24 Forms Diagram: Black to move

Continue: 14-18 (secures the draw, and is what the 'books' overlook) 17-14; 10-17 21-5; 18-23. Black soon regains the piece. Drawn.