It was the end of the school year, and Tommy Wagner, a young student completing his freshman year at a high school in central Florida, had a big week ahead. Tommy was an up-and-coming checkerist, and had the rare distinction of being Captain of the Junior Varsity Checker Team while still a freshman.

He had tried out for Varsity (see previous Checker Maven story) in the fall, but didn't make it. His school's Varsity team was very strong and Tommy, though a fine player, was told by Coach Schann that he wasn't quite ready. Small wonder; Varsity had four experts and a titled Master.

But this time around, Tommy was hopeful. His rating had advanced to the top of Class A, just short of expert in the non-professional rankings, and he thought he might have a chance.

All year, he had continued his Saturday morning lessons with retired professional master Uncle Ben. Of course Ben wasn't really Tommy's uncle, but everyone called him Uncle Ben out of respect. Lessons took place on Uncle Ben's front porch, and were usually accompanied by a pitcher of Uncle Ben's homemade lemonade, the art of which Uncle Ben had also mastered.

Tommy had greeted Uncle Ben and taken his usual seat in front of the checkerboard. "Varsity tryouts start on Monday, eh, Tommy?" Uncle Ben asked.

"Yes sir," Tommy replied. "Monday right after school, and they run every afternoon through Thursday."

"And what are your expectations?"

There was that look in Uncle Ben's eyes. Tommy had been sorely disappointed with not making Varsity last time, but Uncle Ben had counseled him about being patient and putting in the necessary time and effort. Making Varsity wasn't easy.

"Well, Uncle Ben, it's kind of like you taught me. I've done everything I could to prepare and be ready. Whatever Coach Schann decides, that's how it will be."

"Will you be disappointed if you don't make it again?"

"Honestly, sir, I will. I've worked very hard. But I do know that few freshman ever move up. It takes until Junior Year for nearly everyone, and that's another year off for me. So I guess my feelings would be mixed." Tommy paused for a moment and then smiled. "But that doesn't mean I won't give it everything I've got on Monday!"

"Very wise, Tommy, and very grown up, and I know you're sincere about what you say. You might make it; you've really become quite the player. But the others have advanced, too, although I hear that Reynaldo will be graduating as will two other players, so there will be some vacancies." Reynaldo Garcia was a Master and one of the top scholastic players in the state. He would be going on to the University of Notre Dame with a full four-year checker scholarship.

"So let's do a little practice, shall we?" Uncle Ben asked. "I'm going to put you through your paces with a dozen problems today, and you'll only have five minutes for each. So have some lemonade and get ready for some hard work while I set up the first problem."

Tommy eagerly accepted a glass of lemonade and sipped thoughtfully while Uncle Ben laid out the following position.

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Do you think you can find the solution in five minutes, as Tommy has been asked to do? Since you're playing along at home, you can actually take as long as you wish. Then, when you're ready, you can click on Read More to see the solution, and a dozen or so additional problems and solutions on the same theme. You'll have to provide your own lemonade, though.

Solution

For the solution to today's problem, see No. 11 below.

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Something more than an hour passed, at the end of which Tommy had solved 10 out of 13 problems.

"That was very good, Tommy," Uncle Ben said. "Most of my students wouldn't get more than 6 or 7 of them. So, go out there on Monday and show Coach what you've got. Whether or not you make Varsity, I think your Coach will be pleased."

Tommy thanked Uncle Ben, said his goodbyes, and started out for home. He'd review everything he learned tonight and work some more tomorrow afternoon. He'd be ready when Monday came around.

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Following is a sample game and many examples of today's theme, taken from Ben Boland's classic work, Familiar Themes in the Game of Checkers.

Game---11-15, 23-18, 8-11, 27-23, 4-8, 23-19, 9-14, 18-9, 5-14, 22-17, 15-18, 32-27, 11-15, 26-23, 7-11, 17-13, 1-5, 25-22, 18-25, 29-22, 15-18, 22-15, 11-18, 30-26, 3-7, 24-20, 14-17, 21-14, 10-17, 23-14, 6-9, 13-6, 2-18, 26-23, 18-22, 23-18, 5-9, 18-15, 7-11, 15-10, 9-13, 10-7, 22-26, 31-22, 17-26, 7-3, 26-31, 19-16, 12-19, 3-12, 31-24, 12-16--~Forms No. 11.

1. J. K. Lyons, No. 30 Dunne's Guide. B--5, 13, Kings 18, 27; W--8, 14, 28, King 9. White draws. 8-3, 27-23, 3-7, 23-26, 28-24, 26-22, 24.20, 22-17, 7-10, 18-15, 10-19, 17-10, 19-15, 10-19, 9-14,

2. Freer and Mackay, No. 408 H. P. Book. B--5, 13, Kings 17, 18; W--14, Kings 3, 6, 9. White draws. 6-10, 18-15, 10-19, 17-10, 19-15, 10-19, 9-14.

3. A. Schaefer, No. 12 His Checkerist. B--5, 13, K--17, 23. W--14, 30, K--9, 10. W. D. 30-25, 17-21, 25-22, 21-17, 22-18, 23-26, 18-15, 26-23, 15-11, 23-19, 11-7, 19-16, 9-6, 16-11, 6-2, 11-15, 10-19, 17.3, 19-15, 13-17, 15-18, 17-21, 18-22. Drawn.

4. W. D. Benstead, No. 376 H. P. Bk. B--5, 6, 13. K--32. W--11, 12, 14, 28. W. D. 28-24, 32.27, 24-19, 27-23, 19-15, 23-19, 14-10, 19.16, 10-1, 16-7, 1-6, 7-10, 6-9, 10-19, 9-14, 19.23, 12-8, 23-26, 8-3, 26-22, 3-7, 22-25, 7-10, 25-21, 10-15, 13-17, 15-10. First appeared as No. 2462 New Castle Wkly. Chron.

5. C. Lawson, No. 20 His Ck. Friend. B--13, 19. K--24, 30. W--20, 28. K--11, 15. B. D. 30-26, 11-16, 26-23, 15-18, 23-14, 16-23, 14-18, 23-14, 24-19.

6. E. A. Jones, No. 31 Wood's Study 6 (No. 3629 Melbourne Times). B--14, Kings 12, 16, 17; W--13, 21, Kings 2, 10. Black draws. 16-19, 2.6, 19.23, 6-9, 23-18, 10-15, 18-11, 9-18, 11-15.

7. S. J. Pickering, End Game No. 2057 R. C. May 27, 1937. B--10, 14, 24, K--17. W--13, 21. K--9. B. D. 24-27, 9-18, 10-15, 18-11, 17-14, 11.7, 27-31. This Pos. arose from a game in the 1937 English Trny., between Dawson and Dufficy. The game was drawn. S. Cohen suggested the above Pos. would win for White.

8. A. H. Tate, No. 5232 R. C. B.---5, 13, Kings 19, 26; W--14, 18, Kings 9, 10. White draws. 18-15, 26-22, 15-11, 22-17, 11.7, 19-16---A,B, 9-6, 16-11, 6-2, 11-15, 10-19, 17-3, 19.23, 13-17, 23-18, 17-21, 18-22, 5.9, 2-6, 3-7.

A--The 2 for 1 loses.

B--19-23, 7-3, 17-22, 10-7, 22-18, 7-11, 23-19, 3.7, etc. At 5th move, same as Schaefer's at 11th.

9. H. Adams, No. 840 Advocate, 1937 at 2nd move. B--5, 13. K--15, 21, 26. W--14, 29. K--2, 9, 10. W. D. 10-19, 21-25, 29.22, 26-10, 2-6, 10-1, 9-14.

10. Dr. Louis Schrieber, No. 7, Brewster Stand. 1937. B--1, 13, Kings 12, 23; W--15, 18, 32, King 9. White draws. 18-14, 23-18, 15-10, 1-5, 10.7, 12-16, 7-2, 16-19, etc.

11. D. Bryant. 11-15, 16-23, 15-18, 23-14, 24-19, 14-10, 13-17, 10-7, 17-22, 7-11, 22-26, 11-8, 26-31, 8-12, 31-27. Played by correspondence between D. Bryant and J. Rodgers. Game No. 1387 Draughts Review, Vol. 6, 1930.

THE GERM

Probably this position by Drummond (G. P. Bk.) B--24, Kings 28, 30; W--Kings 27, 31. Black wins by 30-26, 27-20, 26-23. Another one by Spitz: B--2, 14, King 10; W--9, Kings 3, 5. Black wins by 10-6, 3-7, 6-13, 7-10, 2-6*, 10-1, 13-9.

Note that this theme can end either in the single corner or double corner side.

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Uncle Ben's Porch is a purely fictitious series featuring the work of the great checker writer and teacher Ben Boland. The series is ambitious and complex, and errors undoubtedly creep in. Please let us know if you find any mistakes in our presentation.---Ed.