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.

BLACK

WHITE
Either to Play and Win

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.

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.

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

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."

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.

R. GRAHAM
BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

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.

Things don't always go right; our soccer players in the photo above are finding that out, it seems. Sometimes when things go wrong over and over in the same situation, we speak of a "jinx." In today's episode from Willie Ryan's Tricks Traps & Shots of the Checkerboard, some skilled checkerists seem to encounter a bit of a jinx of their own. We'll let Willie tell us the story.

"It was in 1905 that two very distinguished Englishmen of the draughts world, Harry Jacob and J. H. Strudwick, of London, produced a fine work on the Kelso opening, showing play on all white replies to 10-15 as an opening move. When the authors arrived at the position diagrammed on the next page, they pulled one of the most glaring boners in checker literature by overlooking the shattering shot revealed at the point of illustration.

The diagrammed position is reached by:

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:W13,17,19,21,22,23,26,27,30,31,32:B1,2,3,5,6,8,10,12,14,16,20.

A---Recommended by Jacob and Strudwick for a draw, but it loses. The following, however, will gain a draw easily: 11-15---1, 19-16, 12-19, 23-16, 2-7, 16-12, 7-11, 26-23,15-18, 22-15, 10-26,17-10, 6-15, 30-23, 11-16, 21-17, 8-11, 17-14, 15-19, 23-18, 1-6, 18-15, 11-18, 27-23, 19-26, 31-15, 3-7, 15-11, 6-10, etc. Wm. F. Ryan."

1---Deep computer analysis supports this line of play. Willie, of course, did it all on his own---Ed.

Can you find the win that Jacob and Strudwick missed, or will you be jinxed as well? Try your luck and then click on Read More to see the action-packed solution.

No, we don't know what they are either! When we think of "three of a kind" playing cards come to mind first, followed by a few other more ordinary images. Our photo is definitely "three of a kind" but the mystery of their identity will remain unsolved.

Today's Checker School entry is also three of a kind; or, at least, three variations on a common checker theme. In each setting, Black has three kings to White's two kings and a man, and it is up to Black to demonstrate a win. It's not an easy task, but the situations are very practical and knowing this theme will score you many an extra point in competitive play.

F. N. JOHNSON
WHITE

BLACK
Black to Play and Win

B:W29,K7,K6:BK22,K15,K14.

M. H. C. WARDELL
WHITE

BLACK
Black to Play and Win

B:W29,K3,K2:BK30,K22,K15.

R. E. BOWEN
WHITE

BLACK
Black to Play and Win

B:W21,K12,K1:BK14,K11,K10.

In a sense, if you can solve one, you can solve them all; but it's easier said than done. As a small hint, you may wish to do these in reverse order, starting with the third diagram.

Give it a try, and note that as usual one thing is no mystery: clicking on Read More brings you the solutions, sample games, and many explanatory notes.

The Hedgehoppers were a relatively obscure band from Durban, South Africa, circa 1971 (just where do we come up with these things?). Quite honestly, we've never listened to their music; and today, we'd wager it would be difficult to find.

Perhaps equally difficult to find is Willie Ryan's classic book, Tricks Traps & Shots of the Checkerboard. Fortunately, we're reprinting sections of it here each month; and in our usual manner, our lead photo and full column have related titles. Today, we bring you Hynd's Hedgehopper, explained to us by Willie himself.

"Here is a good stroke by Champion John Hynd of Manchester, England, which is recorded in every expert's notebook. Hynd, by the way, has been playing top-flight draughts for almost half a century, and is still playing with the best. A former Champion of England, he played on the British team in the 1905 International Match.

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:W19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,31,32:B1,3,6,7,9,10,11,12,14,15,18.

A---Off the beam, and loses. Here is how black should play it: 6-9*, 32-28, 9-13---1, 19-16, 12-19, 23-16, 14-17, 21-14, 10-17, 24-19, 15-24, 22-8, 3-19, 27-23, 17-21, 23-16, 21-30, 28-19, 30-23, 16-12, 23-16, 20-2, 1-6, etc., for a draw; an old combination."

1---Ed Gilbert's King's Row computer engine gives 1-6 to draw here as well, and the continuation is also quite flashy: 1-6 20-16 11x20 19-16 12x19 23x16 15-19 24x15 10x19 22x15 14-18 15-11 18-23 27x18 9-13 11x2 3-8 2x9 5x30 to a draw.

Can you sing and dance your way through this one? Don't worry, sweet music can be had by clicking on Read More, which will take you straight to the solution.

Volleyball players Heffner and Price were two of the mainstays of the Alabama women's volleyball team some six or seven years ago, but that was Erin Heffner and Erin Price. And for better or worse, our topic in these columns isn't women's volleyball.

Instead, it's our mission and our duty to focus on checkers, and today's lesson in our monthly Checker School series, drawn from the pages of Ben Boland's Famous Positions in the Game of Checkers, concerns closely related positions by checkerists A. J. Heffner and G. Price. We have no way of knowing if these gentlemen ever played volleyball, but their mastery of the art of Dama is undoubted.

A. J. HEFFNER
BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:WK9,31,32:BK8,12,20.

G. PRICE
WHITE

BLACK
Black to Play and Draw

B:W32,27,K10:B20,12,K8.

Now that we've served up these problems, can you volley back at us with the solutions? Give it a try, but if there are spikes in your path, click on Read More to jump to the solutions, sample game, and explanatory notes.

Fed by the clear, clean moisture of the beautiful waterfall shown above, flora in the area will certainly flourish. But in today's entry from Willie Ryan's Tricks Traps & Shots of the Checkerboard we dwell on a different meaning of the word flourish, a checkeristic version which Mr. Ryan credits to James Ferrie. Here's Willie to tell us all about it.

"This time we'll look a a common mid-game trap by Worlds' Champion James Ferrie. This trap has been the stumbling block to more than a few great players. The situation reached at the diagrammed stage may be brought up in play from more than a dozen openings, and hence its practical value cannot be overemphasized. Now turn to the next page and let's examine a pretty coup by one of the old masters.

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:W17,18,20,22,24,26,30,32:B3,5,7,10,11,12,13,15.

A---No draw after this. The only move is 1-6*, 26-23 (18-14, 15-18, black wins), 6-9, 32-28, 10-14, 17-10, 7-14, 24-19, 15-24, 28-19,14-17, 30-26, 17-21, 19-15, 3-8,15-10, 21-25,10-6, 25-30, 6-1, 9-14*---B, 18-9, 11-15, 1-6, 15-19, 23-16, 12-19; a draw. Wm. F. Ryan.

2---The game is still in computer book play, with 1-6 indeed being the move to draw at this point. Other plausible looking moves such as 12-16 also lose, for instance 12-16 26-23 3-8 32-28 8-12 24-19 15x24 28x19 1-5 18-14 and Black is finished.---Ed.

B---Should black bring out his king 30-25, white scores with this surprise: 30-25, 18-15!, 11-27, 1-5, 25-18, 5-32, 8-11---C, 32-27, 11-15---D, 27-31, 13-17, 26-22; white wins by First Position.

C---13-17, 32-27, 17-21, 27-23*, 21-25, 26-22, 25-30, 22-17, 30-25, 17-14, 8-11, 23-18, and white wins.

D---13-17, 27-23, 12-16 (11-15, 26-22 wins), 23-18, 16-19, 18-23, 19-24, 23-18, 24-27, 26-23, 27-31, 23-19, and white wins."

Would you flourish in this situation? Look for the solution, but don't wither; the refreshing solution can be reached by simply clicking on Read More.

Yes, there is in fact a Sixth Position in classical ballet, going literally a step beyond the five positions known to the typical neophyte ballet student, and it's being demonstrated by our ballerina in the photo above.

In a previous Checker School installment about Second Position, we made a similar analogy to dance arts, and in making a like analogy with Sixth Position, we are just as certain as we were in our earlier installment that both ballet's standard positions and checkers' standard positions are quite unfamiliar (to say the least) to the general public.

But we would certainly never dare to lump in our loyal Checker Maven readers with the general public, so we are sure that many of you have at least some familiarity with the Sixth Position of checkers; and today, we challenge you to either demonstrate your mastery, review or relearn an old lesson, or gain new checker knowledge, all depending upon where you currently stand on the scale of checker erudition.

Here, then, is the classic Sixth Position.

SIXTH POSITION
A. MACKINTOSH

Black Plays, White Draws

B:W12,16,K24:B3,K7,K15.

Demonstrate how it's done, and when you've finished, click on Read More for the solution, sample games, and detailed notes.

It seems that Mr. Lucius S. Head (whose visage, by the way, is certainly not shown in the picture above) is better known to us than to Mr. Ryan, as we know that he (Mr. Head) was once a resident of Chicago and played many games with old-time Windy City checker expert and somewhat controversial author John T. Denvir. Mr. Head also resided at one time in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and was Minnesota state champion. But such details notwithstanding, in this month's installment from Willie Ryan's Tricks Traps & Shots of the Checkerboard, we see an interesting and practical situation which Mr. Ryan attributes to Mr. Head. Here's Willie to tell us more.

"L. S. Head, of Albany, New York, American member of the 1905 International Checker Team, was a modest soul whose name rarely appeared in checker periodicals of his day. Yet he was a distinguished and widely respected player, as well as an accomplished analyst. Among the few notable items credited to his name is the practical position treated here, known as "Head's Draw," which keeps popping up in play every now and then.

WHITE

BLACK
Black to Play and Draw

B:W31,27,25,24,22,21,16:B20,18,15,14,13,7,3.

A---If 26-23, 10-15 are played, 23-19 insures a draw; but if 28-24 is used, black shoots the works with: 15-19, 24-15, 20-24, 27-20, 18-27, 31-24, 7-11, and black wins by capturing the piece on 25."

1---Despite the star here, KingsRow gives 1-6 to draw as well---Ed.

2---Again despite the star, KingsRow gives 15-18 to draw also---Ed.

Can you use your head and solve this one? Noodle on it for a while then head over to the solution by clicking on Read More.