Public Domain Pictures CC0

We're trying something a little different today; it's a "speed" problem with a much longer timing than usual, because the solution, while short and clever, may not be immediately obvious. We owe this one to regular contributor Josh Gordon of Toronto (that's definitely not Josh in the photo above).

We'll give you a full minute to solve it. Of course, master players won't need anything like that long, but ... well, we won't give it away. Click on the link below to display the problem and start the clock, then come back and click on Read More to see the solution.

March 2016 Timed Problem (medium difficulty)

Wannapik by Wannapik Studio CC BY 3.0

No, we're not presenting a public service safety announcement this week, although the lesson above is obvious. Instead, we're presenting a "shocker" of the checkerboard kind.

Problems with "dual" solutions, that is, more than one way to solve them, are in general not considered aesthetically pleasing, and are usually disqualified in problem composition contests. But in actual play, a selection of feasible lines of play is a frequent occurrence.

In the problem below, Black's best move is indeed a shocker, and we're certain the composer intended that to be the sole solution. But there is a shocker in here for the problem composer as well, in the form of an unanticipated and rather mundane alternate solution.

WHITE

BLACK
Black to Play and Win

B:W32,30,K19:B27,23,K22,9.

Give yourself full credit for finding either solution, and an A+ for finding both. When you've solved it, zap your mouse on Read More to get a charge out of the full solution.

PICRYL CC0

The Single Corner opening with 11-15, 22-18 is very popular and full of interesting play, but sometimes a seemingly reasonable and natural looking move will singe a player's fingers, so to speak. We'll look at one such situation in today's original study.

To set the scene, here's the run-up, without commentary.

Here's the position as it now stands.

WHITE

BLACK
Black to Play and Win

B:W31,30,27,24,17:B16,15,8,3,1.

White should have played 17-14 but didn't, and it's a win for Black, but how? Could you have drawn with White had you played 17-14? Black still would have an edge and the draw is not easy.

WHITE

BLACK
Black to Play, White to Draw

B:W31,30,28,27,14:B16,15,8,3,1.

So we've burned the candle at both ends, and left you with two problems. Show the Black win after White's 28-24, and show how White could have made a draw with 17-14.

Too much? Burned out? Set your mouse aflame on Read More to see the solution and explanatory notes.

Kvintich CC BY 4.0

We're always looking for entertaining and instructive speed problems. Unlike like the young racers above, our goal today isn't to cross the finish line first; it's to further develop our checker visualization skills, and one way to do that is with a good problem solved against the clock.

Regular contributors Josh and Lloyd Gordon of Toronto sent us a speed problem that is relatively easy, but quite surprisingly, it arose in actual over the board play. You'll see what we mean when you solve it.

Click on the link below to display the problem and start our unforgiving Javascript clock. Then come back and click on Read More to check your solution.

February 2016 Speed Problem (easy, 5 seconds)

Public Domain Pictures CC0

We hope that your holiday season is going well, and that it is filled with everything you might wish for. Our holidays definitely include time for checkers, and today we'd like to turn to someone who was without doubt one of the greatest American players of his day, Samuel Gonotsky.

Mr. Gonotsky suffered from poor health made worse by his reputed lack of interest in taking care of himself, and a perennial lack of money. Had he lived beyond his twenties, who knows what checker mountains he might have climbed?

Today, let's look at one of his relatively few problem positions.

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Draw

W:W27,25,17,13:B19,18,12,10.

This one will require some thought, so maybe it's one to try to solve with that cup of coffee after dinner or a slice of leftover mince pie. It's up to you how to go about it, but the main thing is to enjoy. When you're ready, click on Read More to see the solution.

TerraS12 CC BY-SA 4.0

(Editor's Note: The next installment of The Lindyville Checker Club serial will be delayed until January 9 so that we may accommodate today's special column.)

This week the release of the seventh film in the immortal Star Wars saga is big news. Star Wars promotions and features are everywhere, and The Checker Maven is joining in with our own entry.

In checkers a star move is the only move possible in a given situation to obtain a win or a draw, as the case may be. In today's problem, Black can get a draw only by making five consecutive "star" moves. Star Wars indeed!

WHITE

BLACK
Black to Play and Draw

B:WK23,K1:BK21,9.

Black has a tough position, but the force is with him and if he navigates the "star" wars he can obtain a draw.

Is the force with you? Can you "force" a draw by solving the "star" wars? "Do. Or do not. There is no 'try'"--- Jedi Master Yoda.

When you're ready, force your mouse onto Read More to try out the solution.

Fjana CC BY-NC-SA 3.0

We meant "CCCP" to stand for "Clever Canadian Checker Problem" since we found today's speed problem in the pages of an old edition of Canadian Checker Player. But our art department came up with a bilingual pun, and we thought it was pretty good. (Extra credit if you can explain it on your own.)

The problem really isn't so hard. But the holiday season is approaching, and we're feeling extra-generous, so we're giving you 15 seconds to solve it. When you're ready, click on the link below, then come back and click on Read More to check your solution.

December 2015 Speed Problem

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.

BLACK

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.

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.

BLACK

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.

BLACK

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.

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.

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.