The Unknown Derek Oldbury

COLUMN NUMBER 36

Problem Number 36: By Derek Oldbury

White to move and win; a delayed sacrifice

Solution To Problem Number 35: ... 18-14; 9-18 23-14; 32-23 16-12; 20-27 12-8; 23-16 14-10; 6-15 7-2; 16-7 2-18; 4-11 18-23; 26-19 3-8; 17-26 8-29. White wins.

Game Number 36. 'Bristol Cross' Opening

One of the most interesting entrants to the recent British Championship tournament was the reigning Irish champion, Joe Gilliland; my opponent in the quarter-finals. Here is the game which won the set. Black: Derek Oldbury; White: Joe Gilliland.

Move: 11-16 23-18; 9-14 (a startling cut which I introduced successfully in the 1950 Scottish Open Championship) 18-9; 5-14 24-19; 16-23 27-9; 6-13 22-18; 8-11 25-22; 4-8 29-25; 12-16 18-14; 10-17 21-14; 11-15 (keeping the initiative) 25-21; 8-12 32-27; 15-19 (starting an unusual attack) 14-9; 7-10 27-23; 10-15 (very surprising to the onlookers) 21-17 (the Irishman picks the only move, as 23-18 is trapped by 3-7 in reply); 16-20 23-16; 12-19 9-5 (into the hole, and what I angled for) Forms Diagram: Black to move

Continue: 2-6 26-23; 19-26 30-23; 6-9 (my opponent saw his doom, and resigned here) 28-24; 20-27 31-24; 3-7 23-18; 7-11. Black wins. After seeing this game, in which I attacked vigorously throughout, it is rather curious to read in a current draughts periodical that Oldbury relied on "'passive resistance' and seemed content to wait for the win that eventually came his way."   What am I supposed to do? Bat 'em over the head with a shillelagh?