The Unknown Derek Oldbury


COLUMN NUMBER 22

Problem Number 22: By Derek Oldbury

 

White to move and win; an old theme


Solution To Problem Number 21:   20-16; 15-10 30-25; 10-14 25-22; 14-9 22-18; 9-13 18-15; 13-17 15-11; 17-14 11-8; 14-17 8-3; 17-22 3-7; 22-17 7-10; 17-22 32-28 (at last); 22-18 16-11. White wins.

Game Number 22. 'Dyke' Opening

This week I show a vital improvement on the practice of the old masters. Set black men on squares 1 to 12; white men on squares 21 to 32.

Start moving: 11-15 22-17; 15-19 24-15; 10-19 23-16; 12-19 25-22; 8-11 30-25; 4-8 22-18; 11-16 17-14; 8-12 27-23; 16-20 23-16; 12-19 25-22; 9-13 29-25; 6-9 32-27; 1-6 27-24; 20-27 31-15; 7-10 14-7; 3-19 18-15; 9-14 15-11; 6-10 11-8; 2-7 8-3; 5-9 (14-17 will draw also) 3-8; 10-15 8-3; 7-11 (this ending is thought to be strong for Black, and most players handling whites try to avoid it) Forms Diagram: White to move

Continue:  3-8 (my move, starting a forceful combination which has been overlooked by all the great players of the past two centuries); 14-18 (forced; if 11-16, then 8-12 White wins) 21-17; 18-23 (19-24 no better) 17-14; 9-18 8-3; 23-30 3-7; 30-21 7-14. Drawn. Throws new light on an ancient opening.


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