When this column first appears, we'll be just a few days away from the Fourth of July, America's birthday and one of our favorite holidays. We never tire of saying that we are unapologetic American patriots with a deep appreciation for our freedom and democracy. We're not one of those who believes that America is responsible for the ills of the world and we're proud of what's good about our nation.

We always turn to Tom Wiswell on this holiday. Mr. Wiswell, as we've so often noted, was a patriot who served our nation as did so many members of the Greatest Generation.

WHITE

BLACK
Black to Play and Draw

B:WK2,20,21,23,24,29,31:B3,5,7,8,11,14,22.

It's indeed a nice problem, as we have come to expect from Mr. Wiswell. Give it a good try and then click on Read More to see the solution and notes.

Solution

Notes marked (TW) are original to Mr. Wiswell. Notes marked (Ed.) are by your editor, using the KingsRow computer engine and 10-piece endgame database as generously provided by Ed Gilbert.

Or 23-19 5-9 19-16 (2-7 8-12 7-16 3-7 Black Wins) 9-13 16-7 8-11 24-19 11-15 19-16 22-26, 31-22 14-17, 21-14 10-26 Drawn. (TW)

If 8-12 then 20-16 11-20 2-6 White Wins. (TW) However correspondent Brian Hinkle has shown that 11-15 also leads to a draw here: 11-15 19-16 8-11 16x7 14-18 23x14 10x17 21x14 3x17 to a draw. It seems odd that Mr. Wiswell didn't annotate this. (Ed.)

Or 2-7 (19-16 5-18 16-7 14-18 etc. Drawn) 8-12 7-16 10—15 19-10 12-26 10-6 26-30 6-1 9-18 1-6 22-25 29-22 30-25 9-6 25-18 31-26 (31-27 18-23 Drawn) 3-8 etc. Drawn. (TW)

Alternatively, 2-6 loses after 9-13. (Ed.)

At this point 22-26 also suffices: 22-26 6-9 26-31 9-18 31-26 23-19 26-23 Drawn. (TW)

This time the maneuver works! (TW)

Left here by Mr. Wiswell as a draw. (Ed.)

Black must move away to avoid the trade and can no longer threaten the White man. Drawn. (Ed.)

We hope you enjoyed this fine problem. And now, enjoy the 4th of July!