The expression, "drum up some business" originates in the idea of beating a drum to attract attention to something--- presumably, whatever it is the drum-beater wishes to sell. The idiom has since come to mean applying persistent effort in order to obtain a desired end, in this case, more business.

The person in the picture above supposedly went to Europe to "drum up some business." We didn't ascertain just what kind of business, but the poor fellow seems to look much like the spy left out in the cold. We gather it wasn't the most successful trip.

Old-time checkerist J. Drummond "drummoned up" plenty of business over his checkerboard, and was rarely left out in the cold. Today's Checker School position is credited to him.

J. DRUMMOND
BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Draw

W:W20,21,22,23,26,31:B9,10,11,12,13,14.

Drum up the draw, then drum your mouse on Read More to see the solution, explanatory notes, and no less than six sample games.

Solution

Solution, samples games, and lettered notes are from Ben Boland's classic text, Famous Positions in the Game of Checkers Numbered notes are by the Editor, using the KingsRow computer engine and 10-piece database.

20-16---1, 11-20, 23-19, 20-24, 26-23, 24-28, 22-18, 28-32, 18-15, *32-27---A, 31-24 12-16, 15-6, 16-20. Drawn.

Game: 11-15, 23-19, 8-11, 22-17, 4-8, 25-22, 9-13, 27-23, 6-9, 23-18, 9-14, 18-9, 5-14---X, 26-23, 1-6, 30-25, 15-18, 22-15, 11-27, 32-23, 13-22, 25-9, 6-13, 29-25, 8-11, 24-20, 11-15, 25-22, 15-24, 28-19, 7-11, 31-27, 3-7, 27-24. Forms above position, colors reversed. J. Drummond, see below for history.

Game: 11-15, 23-18, 8-11, 27-23, 4-8, 23-19, 9-14, 18-9, 5-14, 22-17, 6-9, 25-22, 9-13, same as above at X. Chas. Hefter.

Game: 9-13, 22-18, 6-9, 25-22, 1-6, 29-25, 11-15, 18-11, 8-15, 24-19, 15-24, 28-19, 4-8, 22-18, 8-11, 27-24, 9-14---Y, 18-9, 5-14, 24-20---Z, 11-15, 32-28, 15-24, 28-19, 7-11, 19-16, 12-19, 23-7, 2-11, 25-22, 3-8, 26-23, 8-12, 30-26, 6-9. Forms above position. F. Smith vs. Holloway in Smith's Edinburgh.

Game: 9-14, 22-18, 5-9, 25-22, 1-5, 29-25, 11-15, 18-11, 8-15, 24-19, 15-24, 28-19, 4-8, 22-18, 8-11, 27-24, 9-13. Same as above at Y. C. Hefter vs. Dr. Chambers.

Game: 10-14, 22-18, 11-15, 18-11, 8-15, 23-19, 6-10, 26-22, 9-13, 27-23, 4-8, 24-20, 15-24, 28-19, 8-11, 22-18, 1-6, 18-9, 5-14, 29-25. Same as above at Z. C. Freeman vs. Hanes.

Game: 11-15, 23-19, 9-14, 27-23, 8-11, 22-18, 15-22, 25-9, 5-14, 24-20, 6-9, 29-25, 9-13, 25-22, 11-15, 32-27, 15-24, 28-19, 4-8, 22-18, 1-5, 18-9, 5-14, 26-22, 14-17, 21-14, 10-26, 31-22, 8-11, 30-25, 7-10, 25-21---B, 3-7, 27-24. Forms above position, colors reversed. J. Bertie, The Draught Board. June 1, 1869.

A---12-16---C, 15-6, 32-27---2, 19-12*---D, 27-18, 6-1, 18-15---3, 12-8, 14-18, 1-5, 9-14, 5-9, 13-17,9-13. White Wins. A. Heddle.

B---J. Wyllie vs. W. R. Barker in their 22nd game, 1874 match, Page 42 Gould's Match Book, the man on 27 is on 24 then 10-14 instead of 3-7, 25-21 to form above position), 25-21, 13-17, 22-13, 2-6, Drawn. Also may be found R. D. Yates vs. R. Martins, 1877.

C---32-28, 15-6, 28-24, 19-15, 12-16, 6-1, 16-20, 15-11, 24-27, 20-27, 1-5, 27-31, 23-19, 31-27, 11-7, 27-23, 19-16, 13-17, 7-2, 17-22, 2-6, 9-13, 5-9, 14-18, etc. Drawn. Smith vs. Holloway, Smith's Edinburgh, Page 11, Note H.

D---To correct Smith who played 31-24, 16-20, etc. As above to draw.

1---Typical in such positions is a non-intuitive first move, which proves to be the key. "Natural" options don't work.

23-19 11-15 Black Wins.

31-27 10-15 27-24 12-16 Black Wins.

22-18 10-15 26-22 12-16 31-26 (or 31-27) 15-19 Black Wins.

22-17 13-22 26-17 9-13 Black Wins.

2---16-20 also draws here.

3---Loses and represents erroneous analysis. Instead 18-22 1-5 13-17 12-8 22-25 31-27 17-22 27-24 25-30 8-3 22-25 3-7 9-13 etc. to a draw.

The game (above) which runs into above position may be found by John Drummond, in his "Scottish Draughts Player," 3rd Edition, 1861, Old 14th, Page 49. Note J.

Chas. Hefter in Gould's Match Games Book, Pages 270 and 271, reviewed the position. It was again shown in "Wood's Checker Studies," No. 7, Jan. 1936.