THE FIFTH POSITION

White is on the move, and it is evident that he loses if he moves the man on 27 permitting black to reply 11-15. The only way to save the game is to sacrifice the man on 20 by 20-16. The following play would ensue.

32 31 30
+———————————————————-+
| | | | | | | | | 29
|———————————————————-|
28 | | | o | | | | | |
|———————————————————-|
| | | | | | o | | o | 21
|———————————————————-|
20 | o | | o | | | | | |
|———————————————————-|
| | | | | | * | | * | 13
|———————————————————-|
12 | * | | * | | * | | | |
|———————————————————-|
| | | | | | | | | 5
|———————————————————-|
4 | | | | | | | | |
+———————————————————-+
3 2 1

DIAGRAM 106.

(2) 11-2O 27-23 (3) 20-24 22-18 (4) 24-27 18-9 (5) 10-14

Preventing 23-18

(5) … 9-6 (6) 27-31 6-2K (7) 31-27 2-6

White cannot save the piece and so he runs his opponent.

(8) 27-18 6-9
(9) 13-17 19-15
(10) 18-11 9-18
(11) 17-22 18-25
(12) 11-15 25-22

Drawn. White would lose by 21-17, as after (13) 15-18, 17-13; (14) 18-14, 25-22; (15) 12-16 he cannot gain the double corner.

The following has been suggested as a suitable problem to be called SIXTH POSITION.

32 31 30
+———————————————————-+
| | | | | | | | | 29
|———————————————————-|
28 | | | | | | | | |
|———————————————————-|
| | oo | | | | | | | 21
|———————————————————-|
20 | | | | | | | | |
|———————————————————-|
| | o | | ** | | | | | 13
|———————————————————-|
12 | o | | | | | | | |
|———————————————————-|
| | | | ** | | | | | 5
|———————————————————-|
4 | | | * | | | | | |
+———————————————————-+
3 2 1

DIAGRAM 107.—BLACK TO MOVE AND WHITE TO DRAW.

Black plays

(1) 7-2

threatening (2) 3-7 and (3) 15-11. White can prevent this only by

(1) … 24-20

Now 3-7 would only draw on account of 16-11.

(2) 2-6 20-24 (3) 6-10 24-20

Again 3-7 had to be prevented.

(4) 10-14 20-24 (5) 14-17 24-27

This time 24-20 would have lost, as Black would have replied (6) 17-13, 20-24; (7) 3-7, 12-8; (8) 15-11.

(6) 17-13 27-32

Avoiding 27-24 which would lose by (7) 3-7

(7) 13-9 32-27 (8) 9-14 27-24 (9) 14-18 24-27

Drawn. White has to watch 3-7 and to take care to play 24-20 at the right time so as to exchange 16-11 if 3-7 is played. At the same time he must beware of playing 24-20 when the Black Kings are on squares 15 and 5 or 15 and 13, as otherwise Black would reply 5-9, 20-24; 3-7, 12-8; 15-11.