We've received a comment from a highly respected reader to the effect that our speed problems are confusing and as a result, unfair. Our reader has asked us to state in advance the terms of the problem and to allow a little extra "orientation" time. Not displaying the Javascript clock was another suggestion, as the reader deemed it distracting.

We're trying out some of these ideas today. By eliminating the clock, of course, we eliminate the timed challenge and in a way negate the idea of a "speed" problem; the idea will be to simply see how fast you can spot the solution, without any external pressure.

The reader also suggested that since our diagrams show Red and White pieces, we should discontinue use of the term "Black" in favor of "Red." That's a bit more complicated, in that much of the literature we quote uses the terms "Black" and "White." In our early days, we indeed used black and white diagrams, but the red and white proved much more popular.

What to do? Red or Black? Le rouge ou le noir? For now, we're continuing with Black rather than Red, but we'd love to hear your opinions. Write to us at redorblack@checkermaven.com.

But let's go ahead and look a typical speed problem. Black (Red) is at the bottom of the board, moving up, and the terms are Black (Red) to play and win. There's no clock and so no particular time limit. We've also provided both a Red/White and a Black/White diagram. Which do you prefer?

WHITE

BLACK
Black to Play and Win

B:W15,K10,K9:BK19,3,1.

WHITE

BLACK
Black to Play and Win

B:W15,K10,K9:BK19,3,1.

Click on Read More when you're ready to check your solution.

Solution

1-5 9-13--A 5-9 13x6 3-7 10x3 19x1 3-7 1-6 Black Wins.

A---If 9-14 or 9-6, 3-7 Black Wins. Or, 15-11 5x14 10x17 19-16 Black Wins.