The Checker Maven
The World's Most Widely Read Checkers and Draughts Publication
Bob Newell, Editor-in-Chief
Published every Saturday morning in Honolulu, Hawai`i
Noticing missing images? An explanation is here.
Solution to CV-6: Metamorphosis
BLACK
WHITE
White to Play and Win
W:B7,18,K1,K23:W9,14,31,K5,K30
Solution and notes are by problem composer Ed Atkinson.
30-25---A 23-19---1 25-21 18-23---B 14-10 7-14 9-6 1-10 5-9 14-18 31-26 23-30 9-14 10-17 21-16 White Wins with the move.
A---31-26 23-19 26-22 18-25 30-21 is a piece down draw.
B---18-22---C 14-10 7-14 9-6 1-10 5-9 22-25 9-18 25-30 18-15 White Wins.
C---19-23 31-27---D 23-32 9-6 1-17 21-23 32-28 23-19 7-10 5-9 28-32 19-23 32-28 23-18 10-14 18-22 White Wins.
D---31-26 23-30 9-6 also wins.
1---Black could also just play something like 7-11, losing in a routine man-down situation---Ed.
Ed adds, "The solution is short, but, I think, is well concealed. There is quite a bit to look at. This problem, under the name Transposition, won one of Bill Salot's contests some years ago. When it appeared, ACF Master Joe Moore called it a 'masterpiece.' Since then I've composed several other problems on the same theme. Brian Hinkle also used the idea. I had been calling it a freeze, but I think Brian calls it a hesitation stroke. I like his name better. The inspiration was a problem by J. C. Greensword."
Ed concludes, "Let's hope that you don't need many (more) CV (problems)." And as much as we've enjoyed presenting this series, we have to agree.
We hope you too have gotten some entertainment from these special Wednesday columns. Stay safe and well, checker fans, wherever you are.
Editor's Note: Our columns are usually written well in advance, so we don't know what the status of the recovery will be when this edition is published. We are of course hoping for the best.
Take The Short Road
We've not made much use of the Javascript clock in recent months because we're trying to make our website as cookie-free and Javascript-free as possible, so it can be accessed easily and safely by all. So today's speed problem won't be timed, but you won't find it very hard at all.
WHITE
White to Play and Win
W:W19,20,K22,30,32:B12,13,21,23,K27
It turns out that White can grind out a win with 19-15. That's all well and good, but there's a shorter road to victory. Can you find it? When you have the answer, move your mouse a short distance to Read More and give it a quick click to reveal the solution.
CV-6: Metamorphosis
Today's problem by master composer Ed Atkinson, CV-6: Metamorphosis, is the last in our series of special Wednesday publications, intended to provide a little extra checker diversion during the public health crisis.
BLACK
WHITE
White to Play and Win
W:B7,18,K1,K23:W9,14,31,K5,K30
None of the problems in this series have been easy, and this one is no exception. You have the usual two weeks to find the solution before we publish it in this column. Meanwhile, stay safe and healthy, checker fans, wherever you are.
Solution to CV-5: Mindbender
WHITE
White to Play and Win
W:WK5,K11,12,16,K19,21,25,28:B2,3,6,K10,13,14,20,26K
1. ... 5-9---A 2. 14-18 12-8---B 3. 3x12 28-24 4. 20x27 21-17 5. 13x29 11-8 6. 6x13 19-23 7. 12x19 23x7 8. 2x11 8x22 White Wins---C
A---A star move and the only one to win. Seven other moves merely draw.
B---The order of moves is critical; if 1. ... 12-8 2. 3x12 5-9 now 3. 14-18 loses but 3. 26-30 draws (KingsRow).
C---Tom Wiswell called this one-holds-two formation the "Spread Eagle": 13-17 22-13 29-25 13-17 or 29-25 22-29 13-17 29-25 17-21 25-30, White Wins.
Composer Brian Hinkle says that this is one of his best problems. That's really saying something, as Brian has composed countless world-class checker problems. He also tells us this one was partially inspired by Ed Atkinson's "Jack in the Box" theme, in which a king becomes surrounded by four opposing pieces, as seen in our 15th Anniversary problem.
Thank you, Brian, for sending this one to us.
Memorial Day 2020
Memorial Day has a long history. Once called Decoration Day, it began in various forms after the Civil War, at least as early as 1868, but it wasn't until 1971 that it actually became an official Federal holiday in the United States. Originally it was celebrated on May 30, but it is now observed on the last Monday of May. (There is even a Confederate Memorial Day celebrated at the end of April in a few Southern states, but apparently it's not "politically correct" to mention it.)
Memorial Day is an important observation, a day to honor and remember those who gave everything to safeguard our freedom. As is so often said, freedom isn't free.
On Memorial Day weekend we like to feature a checker problem by a celebrated American composer from the past. Often it's Tom Wiswell, but this year we turn to Charles Hefter, who as a keen analyst specialized in problems that represented corrections to actual play. This makes Mr. Hefter's offerings practical as well as entertaining.
WHITE
White to Play and Win
W:WK1,K9,14,20:B5,7,15,K23
The White win proposed by the problem terms might look a bit--- problematical-- but it's there, and not really all that difficult to find. Can you solve it? See what you can do and then click on Read More to see the solution.
CV-5: Brian's 8x8 Mindbender
Our special Wednesday CV series is intended to provide a little extra checker entertainment during difficult days. Our fifth problem, CV-5, comes from master composer Brian Hinkle. He didn't give this composition a title, and just points out that it's an 8 by 8 (eight pieces per side). We call it a "Mindbender." Keep in mind that the CV problems are intended to be challenging!
WHITE
White to Play and Win
W:WK5,K11,12,16,K19,21,25,28:B2,3,6,K10,13,14,20,26K
You'll have two weeks to solve it, at which time we'll publish the solution. Good luck, and stay safe and healthy, checker fans, wherever you are.
Solution to CV-4: Donnybrook
BLACK
WHITE
White to Play and Win
W:W6,13,20,21,24,28,31:B4,5,7,14,K22,K23,26
24-19 23x16 20x2 14-17---A 21x14 22-17 31x22 17x1---B 28-24---C 4-8 24-19 8-12 2-7---D 5-9 13x6 1x3 22-18 3-7 18-15 White Wins---E.
A---Black has a wide variety of possible moves here, but this 2 for 2 may give him the best chance for a draw over the board.
B---White seemingly has a crushing grip on the game, but in fact very precise play is necessary.
C---Moving the piece on 22 or playing 2-7 would give Black a 2 for 1.
D---But now White can and indeed must give Black a 2 for 1.
E---Winning with the move.
Problem composer Ed Atkinson notes that all White moves are star moves, and says of his problem, "This one has been described as 'weirdo' by a well known problemist and as 'psycho' by an expert player and solver."
We'd prefer to just call it "unique and entertaining." We hope you enjoyed it, and our thanks to Ed for sending it our way.
CV-4: Donnybrook
Our ongoing series of special Wednesday columns, intended to provide a little extra checker entertainment when we need it the most, continues with another fine and tough problem from master composer Ed Atkinson. He named it after Donnybrook Fair, which was known for its frequent brawls. If you solve this problem, you'll see why the title is appropriate.
BLACK
WHITE
White to Play and Win
W:W6,13,20,21,24,28,31:B4,5,7,14,K22,K23,26
Be forewarned; this is a doozy! Once again, you have two weeks to work on it before we publish the solution.
We hope you are enjoying this series. Stay safe and healthy, checker fans, wherever you are.
Solution to CV-3: Sturges Remembered
Two weeks back, we presented Ed Atkinson's "Sturges Remembered" problem. We said that the title might give a slight hint toward the solution. Judge for yourself.
BLACK
WHITE
White to Play and Win
W:B5,K2,K26:W10,23,29,K17
1. ... 23-19 2. 26-23 19-16 3. 23-19 16-11 4. 19-15 10-6 5. 15x8---A 17-13 6. 2x9 13x6 7. 8-12 6-10 8. 5-9 29-25 9. 12-16 10-15 10. 9-14---B 25-22 11. 14-18 15-11 White Wins---C.
A---The order of the jumps is immaterial.
B---Ed informs us that this is now into a problem by--- Joshua Sturges!
C---18-25 11-20 winning with the move, or 16-7 22-15 likewise, with the single man trapping the king!
Ed points out that all of White's first 10 moves are star moves--- no other moves will garner the win.
Our thanks to Ed for this fine composition.
The Merry Month of May
It's May and summer is just around the corner. We're writing this in March so we don't know how late winter and early spring unfolded, but we're hoping that everyone came through it in good health and spirit. We trust that some merriment will be in order, perhaps such as a beautiful walk in the park, followed by this nice checker problem sent along by Josh and Lloyd Gordon of Toronto.
BLACK
Black to Play and Draw
B:WK4,14,19,26,30,32:B3,6,11,17,24,28
White has the first king but it's trapped in the corner, so maybe Black can pull off the draw. The problem itself isn't all that tough, although it's a little bit beyond the strict "speed" category. So take as much time as you need, after which you "may" click your mouse on Read More to see the solution.
Stay safe and well, checker fans, wherever you are.
The Checker Maven is produced at editorial offices in Honolulu, Hawai`i, as a completely non-commercial public service from which no income is obtained or sought. Original material is Copyright © 2004-2025 Avi Gobbler Publishing. Other material is public domain, AI generated, as attributed, or licensed under CC1, CC2,CC3 or CC4. Information presented on this site is offered as-is, at no cost, and bears no express or implied warranty as to accuracy or usability. You agree that you use such information entirely at your own risk. No liabilities of any kind under any legal theory whatsoever are accepted. The Checker Maven is dedicated to the memory of Mr. Bob Newell, Sr.
