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.
Thanksgiving 2015
Stockvault CC0
This is Thanksgiving weekend, definitely our favorite time of year, when the wonderful Thanksgiving holiday is celebrated in the United States. It's a great family time, with food--- lots of it--- and festivity and reflection on the many things for which we all can be grateful.
On such occasions we like to feature a Tom Wiswell problem. Mr. Wiswell, a great checker champion, checker writer, and American patriot, represents for us the spirit of America and the spirit of the American holidays.
This year we've picked out a problem that is a real dandy.
WHITE
White to Play and Win
W:W10,13,15,25,30,31:B1,2,6,20,K24.
White is a piece up, but Black has a king and the White win is yet to be demonstrated. It's a practical problem but not necessarily an easy one.
So, see how you can do. Take your time; it's a holiday weekend and some leisurely checker enjoyment is most appropriate. When you're done, click on Read More to see the solution. Then, do as we invite you to do every year at this time--- help yourself to another slice of pumpkin pie.
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Canadian Nights
Public Domain
Josh and Lloyd Gordon of Toronto have been regular contributors to The Checker Maven, and we're most grateful for it. The Gordons spend many of those long Canadian winter nights playing checkers at home, and we've noticed that over time their checkerboard skills have been growing steadily.
So we weren't all too surprised when the Gordons sent us an interesting problem position with a very clever and very pleasing solution. Better still, the position arose in the course of over the board play.
The initial position was this.
WHITE
White to Play
W:W31,30,28,27,26,25,23,21,19,18,15,13:B24,20,14,12,11,10,9,8,6,5,3,2.
The next few moves are pretty clear: 25-22 (there's nothing else) 22-17 (likewise) 22-17 (certainly not 19-16) 11-16 which now gives us the situation diagrammed below.
WHITE
White to Play and Draw
W:W31,30,28,27,26,23,21,19,18,17,15,13:B24,20,16,14,12,10,9,8,7,6,5,3.
Things really don't look so great for White, yet there's a star move that draws, although both sides will have to play quite carefully until the position is settled.
This is not an easy problem by any means, but it's a great challenge, whether or not many months of long, cold winter nights lay ahead for you. Don't freeze up; give it your best, then thaw out the solution by clicking on Read More.
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A Problem for the Advanced Player
Public Domain
"Advanced" problems are an interesting thing. They're supposed to be difficult, usually targeting an expert practitioner in search of a real challenge. But, properly explained, such problems can be of great use to us lesser mortals, too. The math problem above is probably beyond most of us, but today's checker problem, we think, is an example that imparts practical knowledge.
WHITE
BLACK
Black to Play and Win
B:W32,K29,22,K13,10,K6:BK31,K30,27,23,K20,K5.
It's definitely a Black win, but is this an "advanced" problem? We'd rank it perhaps as "advanced intermediate" rather than "expert." What do you think? The real point, though, is that the solution demonstrates a winning technique that is useful and practical.
When you've advanced your knowledge by solving the problem, advance your mouse to Read More to see the solution and explanatory notes.
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The Speed Problem Returns
Shades of the Terminator! Luckily whoever this is hasn't showed up at our offices!
What is back at our offices is our old favorite speed problem. We haven't run one in a little while, so today we're returning to that theme and subjecting you once again to our unforgiving Javascript clock. The good news, though, is that the problem is very easy.
Oh .. the bad news? You'll have five seconds to solve it!
Fear not. Most players will see it at a glance, but if it takes you a little longer, no matter. Working it out is what really counts.
When you're ready, click on the link below. After you've solved it come back and click on Read More to verify your solution.
August Speed Problem (very easy, 5 seconds)
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Labor Day 2015
Public Domain Pictures CC0
Each year we mark Labor Day, the celebration of the men and women who make America what it is --- the workers of our nation. From factory worker to small business owner, from taxi driver to doctor, millions of Americans keep our nation going and help make it strong. We're not ones to make class distinctions; we believe that all honest work is worthy of respect and recognition.
The sketch above is of one of the very first Labor Day celebrations, in New York City way back in 1882.
Often on great American holidays we turn to Tom Wiswell, but today we instead offer a setting by another great American problemist of days gone by, Charles Hefter. Mr. Hefter's settings meet Mr. Wiswell's criteria of being natural, clever, and pleasing. Here's one that's simple in form and challenging in execution.
BLACK
Black to Play and Win
B:W23,21,19,13:B14,6,3,1.
The position is from a game played about 80 years ago; in the actual event, the game was drawn. Mr. Hefter later showed that Black has a win. Can you find it? Labor away and when your work is done, click on Read More to see the solution and notes.
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Now We Have a Nice Problem
In the chart above, Apple Computer has the "nice problem" of having to figure out what to do with all the money they've made.
"A nice problem to have" is a phrase often heard when someone faces a "dilemma" in which any choice is a good one. Here in Hawai`i, we sometimes have to decide between going to the beach or going to the mall. That's considered a nice problem to have, especially in January.
"A nice problem" in checkers of course means something else, and this week's position, attributed to W. J. Wood, is an example. Mr. Wood himself, after presenting the run-up, stated "Now we have a nice problem." Did he intend a pun or play on words? We rather doubt it.
BLACK
Black to Play and win
B:W29,21,20,K6:B16,K14,11,9,7.
We'll warn you that the solution is very long, but it is also very methodical, and you should be able to work out the general direction if not every detail. There is a trap or two along the way, however, so be careful, and when you've given it a nice try, click your mouse nicely on Read More to see the solution and notes.
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Fourth of July Celebration
Pexels CC0
This year our Fourth of July column appears on the day itself, America's birthday. It's a time to reaffirm our patriotism and honor the greatness of America. At The Checker Maven, we're proud American patriots who are profoundly grateful for the opportunities and blessings that come from living in America, and thankful to the men and women who give so much to defend our freedom.
Pexels CC0
There's nothing like a Fourth of July picnic to celebrate, and there's nothing like a Tom Wiswell problem to make checkers part of the day. Mr. Wiswell was a great American player, problemist, and patriot, one of the "Greatest Generation" who served in our armed forces during the Second World War.
Here's the problem.
WHITE
White to Play and Win
W:W28,26,K21,13:BK29,20,10,5.
Mr. Wiswell called this one "Strolling Through The Park" because he happened upon some players in the park (presumably Central Park in New York City) and saw the White player miss the win. We wouldn't say that the problem is super-hard, but it does require a good eye and good judgment.
Take a little stroll with this one, then walk your mouse to Read More to see the solution.
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Burning the Candle at Both Ends
Today's Checker School entry is a fascinating position we call "Burning the Candle at Both Ends," because the terms could just as well have been "White to Play and Draw." To be sure, this isn't in keeping with the traditional meaning of the phrase, but to us it seemed rather apt. See if you agree: First White must find the right move to save the draw. But then Black has the same task and must hew to the correct path. It's a double-ended problem with both ends burning.
BLACK
WHITE
White to Play, Black Draws
W:W31,27,25,21,20,19:B14,13,12,11,10,5.
Can you work out both sides of this very interesting endgame? We hope you won't have to burn your own candle at both ends in so doing, and rather than stay up all night, you can always click on Read More to see the solution, a sample game, and detailed notes.
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Not So Fast
Last month we brought you "not quite" a speed problem, and this month is no different. We originally were going to publish today's entry as a speedster, but the position requires a little thought, so again we're dispensing with the JavaScript clock and letting you take all the time you need.
WHITE
White to Play and Win
W:W26,K21,K12,11:BK29,K4,K3,1.
At first glance (aren't those famous last words?) it looks like White has it sewed up, as all three Black kings have no safe moves. That just leaves the single Black man ... oh ... wait ... Black has "the move" and White can't necessarily trap the Black man ... hmmm ... not so simple after all.
The winning technique is well worth knowing, so take your time and see if you can figure it out; then click on Read More to see the solution and notes.
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A Textbook Win
Rawpixel CC0
"Hitting the books" is something we were admonished to do throughout our academic years, from grade school all the way through graduate school. There was certainly a lot of knowledge in those weighty textbooks, and though acquiring that knowledge wasn't always an enjoyable experience, hitting the books usually paid off.
The same is true with checkers, although we have to admit to enjoying checker study a little more than we enjoyed things like tensor analysis or the works of Kant in the original German. Besides, if we want to be good at checkers, book learning is a necessity, not an option.
Today's study definitely could have come from a checker text.
BLACK
Black to Play and Win
B:W28,21,K15:BK27,13,9.
White has just played the losing 19-15. What should White have played? And more importantly, how can Black win? This problem is another example of the beautiful subtlety of checkers.
It's only fair to warn you that it will take Black a little while to win this. But the process is no more than a logical and methodical application of textbook principles.
Write a chapter in your own checker textbook by solving this problem, then click on Read More to see our own annotated solution.
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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 © 2004-2026 Avi Gobbler Publishing. Other material is public domain, AI generated, as attributed, or licensed under CC1, CC2, CC3 or CC4 and the various CC options. 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.
