Our Prize Problem contest, sponsored by Brian Hinkle, has ended. No, we can't offer the Nobel Prize, but Brian did offer $25 to the first person to solve it. He later upped his offer to $50, then $75, and finally $100.

But no one submitted a correct solution so Brian got to keep his money.

For those of you truly puzzled by the problem (which must be just about everyone), don't feel bad. The two most powerful computer engines in the world, KingsRow and Cake, couldn't solve it either! Here's Brian's solution and brief notes.

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:WK3,5,11,21,22,25,26,29,30,32:B1,2,4,10,12,16,19,20,23,28

3-7 10-15 7-10 20-24 21-17---A 24-27---B 11-7 2x11 10-6 1x10 22-18 15x31 17-14 10x17 25-22 17x26 5-1. White Wins.

A---Planning ahead for the fireworks.

B---16-20 25-21 24-27 11-7 2x11 30-25 23x30 32x7. White Wins.

WHITE

BLACK
Final Position, Black is Lost

B:WK1,29,30,32:B4,11,12,16,19,23,26,27,28,K31

White is down no less than six pieces, but still wins as Black will eventually run out of moves in this incredible block position. Marching the checkers on 11 and 4 down the main diagonal won't work as White will simply allow his piece on 29 to capture both of Black's approaching men. Try working through it on your own. You won't find a single variation in which Black doesn't eventually become completely blocked.

Block problems, along with fortress problems and "fugitive king" problems are notoriously difficult for computers to solve, and Grandmaster problemist Brian Hinkle has here created what may be the ultimate block problem of all time. We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did. In fact, if you'd like to see another Brian Hinkle classic, check out Bear Claw, published back in the early days of The Checker Maven.

On one of those hot, hot summer days in the Northern Hemisphere, the best thing to do is relax and cool off, as the young lady in the photo is enjoying doing. There are days when we just don't want to be bothered with any amount of effort or exertion.

Even we have to admit that on hot summer days, our attention can be drawn away from checkers. So today we've got an easy problem sent to us by regular contributors Lloyd and Josh Gordon of Toronto. It's one of those settings for which you'll either see the solution immediately, or you'll go astray at the outset.

WHITE

BLACK
Black to Play and Draw

B:W6,16,21,30,32:B3,7,14,18,24

Experienced players will make short work of this, and the rest of us will get it with a little thought. Keep your cool, see how quickly you can solve it and then click on Read More to check your line of play.

We're sure many readers of The Checker Maven will understand the context of the cartoon above. It's a bit of American history, in which a powerful man found himself pushed into a corner with no way out.

We continue our ongoing Checker School series, currently featuring problems and situations taken from Checker Board Strategy, a most unusual and entertaining book by Andrew J. Banks. Here is a "gem" problem composed by famous problemist S. J. Pickering and originally published in Elam's Checker Board.

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:WK8,15,22,K26:B1,7,20,K27

The title of today's column gives a huge hint and we suggest you take full advantage. Don't get cornered; work out the problem and click on any corner (or even the middle) of Read More to see the solution and notes.

Problem composing contest #57 is now live at contests.checkermaven.com!

Sponsored and produced, as always, by the seemingly tireless Bill Salot, this latest composing contest features three new and challenging positions.

Be an active participant by enjoying the problems and then voting for the one you deem best. Both Bill and the problem composers will appreciate your input, but above all you'll get to experience compositions by some of the very best contemporary checker problemists. What more can you ask?

You can also participate in the International Voters' Ladder by attempting to identify the problem that will garner the most votes. Details are on the contest page.

And now, as an introduction to Contest 57, here is a previous contest winner by Leo Springer, called Dutch Treat, which illustrates the new contest's theme of six star moves followed by a sextuple jump.

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:W6,K9,10,14,15,19,24,26:B1,2,3,5,12,13,25,K28

Click on Read More to see the solution and then go on to enjoy the new contest.

July 4, 2021 will be the day after the date of publication of this column. It's a brighter and more hopeful 4th of July than it was last year, when we were in the midst of the worst pandemic in a hundred years. But America is recovering, as it always has, and the future is looking better all the time.

At The Checker Maven we remain and always shall remain unabashed and unapologetic patriots. We believe in America and we believe in the American people. We're proud to celebrate the 4th of July, America's birthday.

Every year we turn to Tom Wiswell, himself a true patriot who served America in so many ways. Mr. Wiswell was famous not only for his great playing skill and masterful problem compositions; he also produced many wise and pithy quotes. We especially like this one: "Hard work makes playing easy." We think it's typically American.

And now here's today's problem.

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:W10,14,16,24,25,31:B1,2,3,5,23

White is a piece up but is bound to lose a man. Can you notch the full point by finding a win and avoiding what looks to be an inevitable draw? "Hard work makes play easy" --- this one will be a bit of work, but you can make it look easy. When you've found your solution, click on Read More to independently verify your work.

In today's Checker School column we return to Andrew J. Banks' curious and entertaining book, Checker Board Strategy, and our old friends Skittle and Nemo, who are joined by Stone. It's an example of how not to teach checkers. Let's hear the story in Mr. Banks' own words.

"Solve it yourself!" boomed the gray haired State Champion. By his perennial cheerfulness, Skittle had won friends in the Nation's Capital. His mirth was "like a flash of lightning that breaks through the gloom of clouds." He wished to be a "big shot" in Nemo's eyes; therefore, he had asked Champion Stone to teach him how to play expertly. Stone had set up a tough problem. Skittle was baffled.

"Show me how to solve it," he repeated, whereupon Stone roared, "Solve it yourself!"

Was Stone's method wrong? Yes; he failed to show where and why his pupil had failed--- consequently Skittle was crushed. A teacher must adapt his teaching to the ability and temperament of his student. Moreover, he must proceed from the simple to the complex. Do you not agree?

Indeed, hardly the way to encourage a student of the grand old game. The problem in question was a very old one by William Payne. It won't be hard at all for an experienced player but is a good exercise for the student.

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:B1,3,5,K25:W10,14,17,K13

We can't really understand why Stone thought this was a hard problem. Be that as it may, an expert will solve it in seconds though a progressing player might take a little longer. We're happy to show you how to solve it; just click on Read More, and we promise that no one will shout at you.

For the first problem of the month we've got one that's very easy and yet very entertaining. When you see the solution you'll understand the title of today's column.

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:W18,19,25,K4,K15:B3,6,K7,K22

Players beyond beginner level will get this one in a few seconds, and for beginners, the solution will be an amusing discovery.

Don't weasel out; solve the problem and then click on Read More to verify your solution.

For many years, checker problem legend Bill Salot has been running a series of checker problem composing contests that he calls the "Unofficial World Championship." There have been no less than 55 of these contests and they have seen the publication of a host of quality contemporary compositions, many of which indeed stand in the world-class category.

To date these competitions have been hosted at the American Checker Federation (ACF) website. But over the past few years the ACF website has fallen into a state of neglect, and no longer provides a viable hosting venue. So when Mr. Salot approached us to take over the contest hosting, we happily accepted in the interests of ensuring that these fine competitions would continue into the future as well as reach a wider audience.

Today we proudly host Contest 56 and you'll have not one but three sparkling problems to contemplate. You can access the competitions, now and in the future, at

Mr. Salot asks that you be sure to vote for your choice of winner after you've studied all the problems. More information is available on the contest page.

Please enjoy this new Checker Maven feature, brought to you by Bill Salot and some of the best contemporary checker problemists.

Prize increased to $100!

In checkers we think of a "prize problem" as one that is so good it has won a prize of some sort, presumably in a problem composing contest. But today we have a prize problem that gives a prize rather than wins one--- although we think it's more than good enough to take the prize in many a contest.

Brian Hinkle offers $25 to the reader who is the first to correctly solve the following problem.

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:WK3,5,11,21,22,25,26,29,30,32:B1,2,4,10,12,16,19,20,23,28

Is it difficult? You bet it is, and it will require much skill and board vision to work it out. Go ahead, give it your best. Set it up and move the pieces around.

We'll publish the solution on June 5 (Note: this has been delayed due to the increased prizes) and announce the winner (if there is one, and if the winner agrees to have his or her name and location published). The prize won't be awarded if no one solves the problem correctly.

Brian also asks you to help give a name to this problem. He's called it simply "Prize Problem" but wonders if there is a title that might be more thematic. Send your solutions and name ideas to Brian by emailing sbhinkle@charter.net.

Unfortunately in today's legal environment there are some additional terms and conditions. Please read them carefully.

Void where prohibited by law. Taxes, if any, are the responsibility of the winner. The composer, Brian Hinkle, is the sole judge of the correctness of submitted solutions and his decisions are final and without appeal. All correspondence and solution attempts must be sent to sbhinkle@charter.net. Do not send solutions or questions to The Checker Maven. All solutions and suggested problem names become the property of Brian Hinkle and The Checker Maven. If you submit a solution or correspond with Brian, you understand and agree that Brian will then have your email address and possibly your name. To receive the prize, the winner must provide Brian with a postal mailing address. Brian pledges that email and postal addresses will be used only for the purposes of the contest and will not be disclosed to any third party unless a legal obligation to do so arises.

Good luck to one and all!

Rebound. With the literal meaning of "bouncing back" the term applies to a number of things. There's the rebound in basketball. Someone recovering from an injury or illness can be said to be "on the rebound." And of course there's always the "rebound romance."

"Rebound" is an apt title for today's Checker School column. You'll see why when you solve it.

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:W19,20,22,23,26,30,31,32:B2,7,10,11,12,13,14,21

This one is probably around medium in difficulty. You may not get it on the first try, but we're sure you'll "rebound" from any such small setbacks and find the solution. When you've either figured it out or bounced around enough, click on Read More to bound over all barriers and see how it's done.