Contests in Progress:
In our photo, it looks like Christie O'Shea of Ithaca College is about to make quite a shot. Obviously, that would be a golf shot. Although we know Christie is a top-notch golfer, we don't know if she plays checkers; and our subject for today is of course a checker shot known most appropriately as "Christie's Shot." However, that's Henry Christie of Great Britain ... and we're getting ahead of ourselves. Willie Ryan, in his classic Tricks Traps & Shots of the Checkerboard presents both the history and practice of this deft maneuver. Let's let Willie take over the narrative.
"In the 1891 English Tourney, Champion Henry Christie hooked J. L. Richmond on the following blitzer, and ever since it has been known as the Christie Shot. However, some authorities claim Charles Hefter dropped J. P. Reed on the same scoop prior to 1891. Actually, the Christie Shot was first shown by E. Jacques of Malvern, Ont., Canada, in 1865, bringing up the stroke from a Cross game. Hence, Jacques was first. But it remained for Christie to give the coup historical significance. In this book, I have followed the policy of several authors, by labelling the stroke on the next page 'Christie's Shot,' so as to distinguish it from the Jacques Shot on page 95.
11-15 | 23-18 | 4- 8 |
22-18 | 6-10 | 19-15 |
15-22 | 25-21 | 6- 9 |
25-18 | 10-17 | 23-19 |
12-16 | 21-14 | 17-22 |
29-25 | 2-6---A | 26-17 |
9-13 | 26-23 | 9-13 |
18-14 | 13-17 | 15-10---C |
10-17 | 31-26 | 13-22 |
21-14 | 8-11 | 19-15. |
16-20 | 24-19 |
B:W32,30,28,27,18,15,14,10:B22,20,11,8,7,5,3,1.
A---Black can shoot for an alternative fast win by: 1-6, 26-23, 13-17, 31-26, 6-9, 24-19, 9-13, 14-9---B, 5-14, 18-9, 2-6, 9-2, 17-22, etc.
B---Into the cauldron! The correct sequence for a draw is: 19-15---1, 17-22, 26-17, 13-22, 14-9, 5-14, 18-9, 22-26, 9-5, 26-31, 5-1, 31-24, 28-19, 20-24,1-5, 8-11,15-8, 4-11, 5-9, 7-10, 9-13,11-15, 23-18, 15-22, 13-17, 22-26, 30-23, 24-27. J. Tonar.
C---Another good game gone wrong. White should play: 19-16, 13-22, 16-12, 1-6, 27-23, 22-25*, 30-21, 7-10, 14-7, 3-26, 12-3, 6-9, 3-7, 11-16, 32-27, 9-14, 18-9, 5-14, 7-10, 16-19, 10-17, 26-31; a draw. F. C. Oakley."
1---28-24 also draws---KingsRow.
Can you "drive" to a win, or have you "sliced" off a little too much? You can always "hook" the solution by clicking on Read More to see the proper follow-through.
[Read More]The triplets shown above have already graduated from school, so they won't need to study today's extensive Checker School lesson... if their degrees happen to be in checkers, at least. If you don't yet have your graduate's diploma in checkers, perhaps then you might wish to pay close attention in class. The checker "triplets" we'll set out are known as the Bowen Triplets, presumably because there are three related positions with three pieces on each side. In addition, we have nine other, similar positions, all of which also involve three pieces per side.
Let's see, that's three pieces per side, six pieces total, twelve positions in all ... we had better stop there and just present our material, which comes from Ben Boland's classic text Famous Positions in the Game of Checkers.
Note: for the sake of consistency, in all positions White is at the top and Black at the bottom, regardless of who is to move.
R. E. BOWEN 1 | R. E. BOWEN 2 | R. E. BOWEN 3 |
WHITE | WHITE | WHITE |
BLACK | BLACK | BLACK |
Either Plays, Black Wins | Either Plays, Black Wins | White to Play and Draw |
Black to Play and Win | ||
B:W21,K3,K1:BK14,K11,K10. | B:W21,K4,K1:BK14,K11,K10. | B:W21,K12,K1:BK14,K11,K10. |
Dr. T. J. BROWN 4 | J. GORDON 5 | E. CLARK 6 |
WHITE | WHITE | WHITE |
BLACK | BLACK | BLACK |
White Plays, Black Wins | Black to Play and Win | White to Play and Draw |
W:W21,K12,K9:BK22,K11,K1. | B:W21,K20,K5:BK19,K18,K14. | W:W21,K5,K3:BK31,K13,K11. |
D. MILLIGAN 7 | B. TAYLOR 8 | J. K. LYONS 9 |
WHITE | WHITE | WHITE |
BLACK | BLACK | BLACK |
White to Play and Draw | Black to Play and Win | White to Play and Draw |
W:WK31,29,K6:BK23,K22,K14. | B:WK31,29,K5:BK23,K10,K6. | W:WK30,13,K12:BK15,K10,K6. |
C. NELSON 10 | A. W. VALENTINE 11 | W. J. ZAHL 12 |
WHITE | WHITE | WHITE |
BLACK | BLACK | BLACK |
Black to Play and Win | White to Play and Draw | Either Plays, Black Wins |
Black to Play and Win | ||
B:WK31,21,13:BK23,K22,K19. | B:W29,K3,K1:BK14,K11,K10. | B:W30,K3,K1:BK14,K11,K10. |
It will take you some little while if you wish to work through all of these, but if you take the time and put in the effort, you cannot help but improve your play. So, we suggest that you double--- or better yet, triple--- your efforts and search out the answers. And, for extra credit, if twins are two, triplets are three, and so on ... can you tell us what twelve are called?
When you're done, you can click on Read More to see Mr. Boland's usual detailed solutions and copious explanatory notes, as well as the answer to our trivia question.
[Read More]The following announcement is reproduced with the kind permission of the American Checker Federation. As always, this promises to be an exciting match with checkers played at the highest grandmaster level.
The World 3-Move Title Match between Alex Moiseyev (USA, champion) and Ron King (Barbados, challenger) will be played Oct. 5-15, 2009 in Medina, Ohio, with Oct. 10th as a rest day. Match is 40 games (as needed). Referee is Steve Holliday.
The Rodeway Inn Medina Conference Center, Medina, Ohio, is located on 2875 Medina Road on the Northeast corner of I-71 interchange with state highway 18 (exit 218, just south of where I-71 and I-271 merge). Hotel is a quarter-mile from interchange. Room rates are $49.95 (single or double) per night plus tax. Seven-day rates (no pro-rating) are available for $149.95 plus tax (approx. $169). Phone number for Rodeway Inn is 330-725-4571. Please indicate you are there for the checker match to receive the discount.
For additional info, contact:
Richard Beckwith
(440) 516-1284
e-mail: beckwith24@msn.com
A major checker documentary is in the works. No, we are not kidding! It will be called King Me and you can read all about it on the King Me web site.
Professionally produced by Think Media Studios, the movie is being filmed on location in South Africa, Barbados, Canada, and the U.S. Crews will be at the 2009 U.S. Nationals in August.
No checker fan will want to miss this one. Be sure to follow the film's progress on the website linked above, or on the American Checker Federation site.
The Fourth of July, as we know so well, celebrates America and recalls the story of the brave band of patriots who, back in the 1770s, brought our nation into existence and gave life to the American dream. We've said before, and we'll say it again, that we're unabashed patriots ourselves, and personally owe much to America.
Celebrating the Fourth of July is something we love to do, and we'd like to once more carry that over to The Checker Maven and present a checker problem from the dean of American problemists, the legendary Tom Wiswell.
Mr. Wiswell's problems are not known for being easily, but they are worth the effort taken to solve them, and they never fail to delight. Diagrammed below is today's selection.
W:W9,19,24,25,27,30:B2,6,13,21,K32.
White is a man up, but Black has a king and will quickly get the man back. How can White win this one? The solution is amazing. Don't give up too quickly; you'll be richly rewarded if you do solve it. When you've drummed up your answer, click on Read More to see the revolutionary solution.
[Read More]It was a hot Saturday morning in June, hot and humid the way only Florida can be. Tommy and Uncle Ben were, as usual for a Saturday morning, sitting on Uncle Ben's porch with a checkerboard and a pitcher of Uncle Ben's incomparable lemonade.
"So, Tommy," began Uncle Ben, "I take it you've never been to Brooklyn before?"
"No, sir," replied Tommy, "but I'm really looking forward to it." Tommy's grade school checker team had done really well the past year in the Southeastern Checker District, and had been invited to play in the Eastern U.S. Regionals, to take place in July in Brooklyn, New York. Tommy, as Captain of the Junior Varsity Team, would be going along as a substitute.
"You know, Tommy, that I spent much of my life in Brooklyn, prior to my retirement. I wrote most of my books while I was there. I think you're going to enjoy your visit, and I hope you'll have time to do a little touring."
"Yes, Uncle Ben, Coach Hovmiller has given us an extra day at the end of the tournament to see the sights, and he's even arranged for a bus to take us to the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building!" Tommy paused for a moment. "But most of all, I'd like to get a chance to play, and maybe do well enough to make the Varsity Team next year."
"I was thinking about that," said Uncle Ben, "and today I'd like to give you some practice in visualization that could come in very handy. We're going to take a look at, of all things, something called 'The Brooklyn Stroke.' Quite appropriate, don't you think?"
And with that, Uncle Ben set up the following position on the checkerboard.
W:W14,17,18,22,23,26,28,31:B2,5,7,10,11,15,16,19.
"It's rather unique, Tommy," he said, "in that whoever plays first will win! Can you show me how? Start with White, and then try it with Black."
But Tommy was already deep in thought. It took a little time, and half a glass of lemonade, before he spoke. "Here you go, Uncle Ben!" he said excitedly, and began to move the pieces.
How will you do with this problem? Will half a glass of lemonade do the job, or is it a bit harder than that? When you've solved it--- from both sides, mind you--- click on Read More for the solution, a sample game, and over a dozen additional examples of this theme.
[Read More]Today's offering in our monthly series of excerpts from Willie Ryan's Tricks Traps & Shots of the Checkerboard, entitled Freeman's Flashback, is another entry that in modern terms can't be called "politically correct." Reflecting the approach of a different era, Willie makes a comment that, while innocent in intent, would no longer be considered "acceptable."
We note that we're not ourselves offended by remarks that mean no harm and in fact cause none, and it's our humble opinion that the notion of needing to be "politically correct" has been taken way too far. But that's a topic for a different forum, and we'd much rather let Willie show us another gem of the checkerboard.
"Here is how 'World Beater' Clarence Freeman of Providence, Rhode Island, polished off 'Stonewall' Barker of Boston, Massachusetts, in an American Championship match game, many years ago. Freeman, a full-blooded Pequot Indian, required no tomahawk to 'scalp' almost all of the leading players of his day. Like Reed, he was a brilliant cross-board player.
10-15 | 7-10 | 10-17 |
21-17 | 26-22 | 28-24 |
11-16 | 9-14 | 1-5 |
22-18 | 18-9 | 18-15 |
15-22 | 5-14 | 7-10 |
25-18 | 31-26 | 23-18 |
16-20 | 4-8 | 16-23 |
17-13 | 22-18 | 26-19 |
8-11 | 14-17 | 5-9---A |
24-19 | 25-21 | See the |
11-16 | 3-7 | diagram. |
29-25 | 21-14 |
W:W13,15,18,19,24,27,30,32:B2,6,8,9,10,12,17,20.
A---Barker walks right into the net. The only moves for a draw are: 2-7*, 18-14, 17-22, 13-9, 10-17, 9-2, 7-11, 15-10---1, 11-16, 19-15---2, 22-26, 30-23, 16-19, etc."---3
1---2-7 draws as well---Ed.
2---Or 10-7---Ed.
3---23-16 12-28 27-24 20-28 32-23 to a clear draw---Ed.
You don't need to be "PC" to solve this problem; you just need to be a good checkerist. After you've sought the "correct" expression of the solution, no one will dispute that clicking on Read More isn't the best way of seeing how it's done "correctly."
[Read More]Undoubtedly your school lunch (whether that applies to the current era or to yesteryear) at times contains (or did contain) some Graham crackers. This popular snack was originally invented in New Jersey something like 180 years ago by a Reverend Sylvester Graham, who thought that white flour lead to all sorts of evils not suitable for mention in a family-oriented publication, and that his graham-flour based preparation would save many a wayward soul. But today, sad to say, many so-called Graham crackers don't even contain graham flour! Such is the way of the world.
Today's continuation of our on-going Checker School series, though, is the real thing: a position attributed to a different Graham, old-time checkerist R. Graham, that's a cracker of a problem. While far from being trivial, it's less difficult than most of the problems in this series; and as usual, it's eminently practical.
W:WK23,28,30:B14,16,21.
White certainly has the better position here, including the "move" or opposition. Can you crack this one and bring the White side through to a win, or will you slip up and fall into a crack? Clicking on Read More will show you the solution, a sample game, and the customary explanatory notes.
[Read More]We thought we had completely run out of puns on the word "stroke" until the one above finally came to mind. Now, the Checker Maven offices have a strict no-pets policy, but it's hard to resist the charm of the photo above.
Today's problem is indeed a stroke, but is gentle in that it's less difficult than usual. We invite you to practice your visualization skills on the diagram below.
W:W6,9,21,22,29,30:B7,8,13,16,20,24.
When you've worked it out to your satisfaction, stroke the Read More button to see the solution.
[Read More]"Hey there, Sweetie!"
The raspy voice cut through the thick Florida air and Tina's arms and face burst out in goose bumps as she involuntarily shuddered. It was that horrible boy Joey again, pestering her as he did nearly every morning. No doubt he would ask her out for lunch ...
"Wanna go for lunch with me, Sweetie?"
Tina kept her head up and her eyes straight ahead as she walked by, refusing to answer. As she passed Joey's position, he blew a lungful of cigarette smoke in her direction. Tina's eyes started to water and she couldn't help but cough.
"Wassa matter, Sweetie, got a cold and lost your voice?" Joey started to chuckle, self-amused.
"Joey, you are a disgusting boy, and if Coach Hovmiller catches you smoking, he'll throw you off the checker team ... and good riddance, too! I just think I'm going to report you this time!"
"Aw, Sweetie, you done that before and it didn't do nothing. It was your word against mine and ole Hovmiller couldn't take no kinda action. Why dontcha just go for lunch with me and kiss and make up?"
"Joey, I'm going to wipe that grin off your face! Just wait and you'll see!" Tina strode along the path as quickly as she could and soon reached the safety of the school building. Inside, breathing hard and on the verge of tears, she balled her fists and proclaimed, "I'm going to fix that boy good!"
Tina knew that Joey had cheated his way on to the checker team, and continued to cheat to keep his place. Coach Hovmiller, although a rather stern leader, had yet to catch on to Joey's tricks.
But the school day passed as it always does, and soon it was three o'clock and time for team practice. Today Coach Hovmiller had scheduled the next round of the team board placement tournament. And, wouldn't you know, Tina was paired up with Joey. Tina sighed when she saw the posting on the wall chart. Why couldn't she be matched with Tommy Wagner, or even that nice boy Kevin? Tina smiled a little when she thought about Kevin...
"Sweetie! Hey, Sweetie! You ready for some action?" Joey snickered as he said the last words.
"Don't you be fresh with me, Joey!" said Tina, "or I'll ... I'll...."
"You'll what?" replied Joey. "Turn me in to the Coach like you said this morning? Oooh, I'm so scared! Hey, let's play our game. Tell ya what, how's about winner gets to ...."
"Oh, you just keep quiet, you awful boy!" said Tina. "Let's play our game and get it over with!" Without further discussion, they sat down at their assigned table and began to play. Tina had the White pieces; Joey lead off with Black.
1. | 10-14 | 24-20 |
2. | 6-10 | 22-17 |
3. | 11-15 | 17-13 |
4. | 1-6 | 25-22 |
A weak move; 28-24 is much better.
5. | 14-18 | 23x14 |
6. | 9x25 | 29x22 |
7. | 8-11 |
Black is somewhat better off here.
7. | ... | 27-23 |
8. | 4-8 |
This gives up the advantage; 15-19 would have kept a comfortable lead for Black.
8. | ... | 23-18 |
9. | 15-19 |
The tide turns in White's favor. 12-16 would have kept things even.
9. | ... | 32-27 |
10. | 10-14 | 18x9 |
11. | 5x14 | 22-17 |
12. | 6-9 | 13x6 |
13. | 2x9 | 17x10 |
14. | 7x14 |
After the exchanges, White might have a win.
14. | ... | 26-22 |
15. | 11-15 | 22-17 |
16. | 14-18 | 17-14 |
17-13 was more accurate. White lets her lead slip quite a bit.
17. | 9-13 | 27-24 |
14-9 would have been better. White has completely dissipated her advantage.
18. | 8-11 | 14-10 |
19. | 18-23 | 10-6 |
20. | 23-27 | 6-2 |
21. | 27-32 | 2-6 |
22. | 32-27 | 6-10 |
23. | 27-23 | 10-14 |
24. | 3-7? |
12-16 was correct here.
24. | ... | 30-25 | 25. | 12-16? |
23-27 would have been better.
Tina's heart leapt. Could it be? Yes... if she just moved here and then after that she'd move there. It looked like it would all work out! Satisified with her plan, she made her move.
W:W31,28,25,24,21,20,K14:BK23,19,16,15,13,11,7.
If you were Tina, would you be able to teach Joey a much-merited lesson in this position? Don't be intimidated; work out the solution and be sure to click on Read More for the correct answer and the unexpected conclusion to our story.
[Read More]