Fortunately, today we won't be discussing what is often known as "boxology" or the drawing of incredibly boring corporate organizational charts. But the term did come to mind when we looked at the "boxy" appearance of the pieces in today's edition of Checker School. The position is diagrammed below.

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Draw

W:WK2,19,20:B11,12,K27.

Boxy, yes; boring, certainly not! Although the two White men seem quite boxed in, there is a clever draw in the offing, one that is easier to spot than usual for a Checker School problem.

Can you find the draw, or will you be relegated to the bottom of the pecking order? We certainly hope that won't be your fate, and in fact clicking on Read More will leap you at once to the top of the charts.

Solution

The solution, game, and notes are from Ben Boland's Famous Positions in the Game of Checkers.

19-16, 12-19, 2-7, 11-15, 7-11, 15-18, 11-15, 19-24, 15-22, 27-23, 20-16. Drawn.

Game: 11-15, 23-18, 8-11, 27-23, 4-8, 23-19, 9-14, 18-9, 5-14, 22-17, 15-18, 26-22, 11-15, 17-13, 7-11, 13-9, 6-13, 24-20, 15-24, 22-6, 1-10, 28-19, 14-18, 30-26, 18-23, 26-22, 23-26, 32-27---A, 26-30, 22-17, 13-22, 25-18, 2-6, 21-17, 6-9, 27-23---B, 9-13, 18-14, 13-22, 14-7, 3-10, 23-18, 30-25, 18-15, 11-18, 31-26, 22-31, 29-6---1, 8-11, 6-2, 31-27. Forms above position. R. E. Bowen vs. R. D. Yates, 1877.

A---One of the finest games we ever saw; from this point out Whites were played very skilfully. Boston Globe, Game 556.

B---(Of course 17-14, 10-17, 19-16, 12-19, 27-23 draws. C. M. P.) Mr. Yates must have seen to the end of the combination, as that move looks like the worst possible one, and can only be drawn by this play. Boston Globe, Game 556.

1---A spectacular and well-prepared shot, but there is still a little work for White to do--Ed.

J. P. Reed (in 1881) asked Mr. Yates if he saw to the end of the game, and Yates replied that he did.

The above game between Bowen and Yates was played during the Christmas Tournament held in Boston in 1877. It may also be found as "Cross" Game, Var. 12, "R..D. Yates, Checker Player." The above position is No. 453 in the New England Checker Player, Vol. 5, May 1880.

To reverse a solution from Black to White or vice versa, all that is necessary is to subtract each number from 33! Take for instance 11-15. 11 from 33 is 22, and 15 from 33 is 18.T hus 11-15 reversed is 22-18. Kear's MSturges.