Here is a position that came up in my game against B. Dobbins ( black )
In this position I was hoping to get the Allen win , and not the Lucas draw !! But that would depend on what my opponent was going to play!!
With black to play , he should go 25-30 6-2 8-11 to the Lucas draw ( Std Position ). And definately NOT 25-30 6-2 7-11?? ( The Allen win ) A standard position that should be known by everyone ...
Because then follows 31-26 ( 2-7 11-15 etc. and black collects his man ) 13-17 2-6 17-21 6-9 21-25 9-13 25-29 13-17 29-25 17-21 25-29 26-22 !! 29-25 ( 30-26 goes down ) 23-18 !! 25-29 18-15 11x25 20-16 White wins
When my opponent however played 25-29 I had to work up a different plan to threaten the man on 8 ... So played on this way 6-2 7-10 2-6 10-14 19-15 29-25 23-19 25-22 15-10 14-17 10-7 22-18 , and the first phase of plan has been acomplished in a rather logical sort of way
Forming the following;
White to play
6-9 ( start of second phase ) 17-21 7-2 21-25 2-6 25-29 6-1 29-25 1-5 18-22 ( has to go ) 9-14 25-30 19-15 30-25 31-27 25-21 27-24 22-17?? ( error but perhaps not fatal ) 24-19 17x10 15x6 21-17 ?? ( game over now )5-9 17-22 14-18 8-11 6-2 White wins
Oldbury in his ency. repeatedly emphesised the importance of knowing and understanding certain key parameters and endgames and Bill could have saved himself a lot of trouble if he had only known the Lucas draw. I do not say that by playing 25-29 was a total loss , but it left certainly a lot of " meat " on the table , of the type that Oldbury loved to play !!!