Our first set of speed problems for the year are truly worthy of the title. They both fall decidedly into the "easy" category, but as we know our readers enjoy a challenge, we're setting the time limits at record lows--- five seconds for the first problem and ten seconds for the second! We think this should satisfy everyone. Advanced players can try to sight-solve the problems in the rather strict time limits allotted. Less experienced players can simply look for the solutions and ignore the clock (well, yes, that is easier said than done).

Are you ready? Click below to start each problem--- faster than greased lightning!

February Speed Problem No. 1 (five seconds)

February Speed Problem No. 2 (ten seconds)

When you're finished, slide your mouse over and zap Read More to see the solutions.

In the world of sports, sometimes a play is a really close call and quite an argument about it takes place. Today's checker problem surely falls into that category. Take a good look at the position below, with White to move. How would you call this one? White win, Black win, or draw? Show it to your checker friends and you're bound to generate a lot of, shall we say, animated discussion (we'd hate to accuse checker players of having heated arguments, after all).

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play, What Result?

W:WK29,23,19:BK30,5,1.

Make the call, and then do an "instant replay" to demonstrate the correctness of your decision. We'll just give you a bit of fair warning: this one isn't so easy, and just may surprise you. What do you say?

There's one call, though, we can always make without error: it's a certainty that clicking on Read More will bring you to the solution.

Our popular series of extracts from Willie Ryan's Tricks Traps & Shots of the Checkerboard continues this month with a shot flashy enough to be worthy of the great Bronx Comet himself. Here is how Willie describes it.

"The idea shown in the adjoining example occurs in several mid-game structures, and belongs to the vast family of in-and-out strokes. The first move in some coups is so startling and unexpected that players have been known to fall out of their chairs in sheer surprise! This one has unseated quite a few staunch sitters!

BLACK

WHITE
While to Play and Win

W:W14,15,18,24,26,27,28:B5,6,7,8,16,19,20.

A---Gone with the wind. Black's proper play for a draw is: 19-23, 26-19, 7-11, 19-16, 12-19, 14-10, 6-9, 10-7, 19-23, 7-3. Sam Levy, Manchester, England."

Can you solve this one, or will you get zapped instead? In either case, clicking on Read More will charge on over to the electrifying solution.

In today's Checker School installment, we have a position that is literally "on the edge" with nearly all of the pieces starting out on the edges of the board. It's yet another instance where you think the win ought to be clear; after all, Black seems to have real superiority here---- or does he?

We certainly don't call this an easy problem. The win is fairly long and involved and concludes with an elegant tableau, and it might be a bit of a challenge for you to find the solution. Here's the position.

WHITE

BLACK
White to Play, Black Wins

W:W31,30,20:BK28,22,12.

Can you edge your way to victory, or will you go over the edge instead? There's no need to worry; clicking on Read More will take the edge off your anxieties by bringing you a detailed solution with copious notes, and a sample game as well.

We haven't run a "stroke" problem in a little while, though it's something we like to do for the sake of variety on the first Saturday of some months. Today we return to that theme, and present a problem that was considered "easy" by the author.

Much as the photo above represents the bizarre side of architecture, stroke problems are certainly the bizarre side of the world of checkers. You either love them or hate them, and we think that depends in no small measure on whether you're able to solve them. Stroke problems call upon your ability to visualize long, forced series of moves. They are an excellent test of your skills, but seldom, if ever, an exercise in practical play.

So here's our so-called "easy" problem.

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:WK5,6,K9,10,12,19:B4,K11,K27,28,K32..

Could you find your way through, or is all simply too bizarre? Whatever your result, click on Read More to see the "easy" solution. Did we say "easy"? You may or may not agree!

Are you celebrating the upcoming New Year's Eve on an elegant cruise ship off the coast of O`ahu? Well, don't feel bad, we're not either (though maybe some day we might). We'll likely stay home in our Honolulu location and watch the goings on from our lanai.

We'd like to present you with an alternative, though, to parties and dancing. We have a checker problem that is difficult enough to carry you through the evening and into the early hours of the morning. It's non-alcoholic, doesn't require driving or pushing your way through a crowded dance floor, and is completely free. What else can you find on New Year's Eve that doesn't come with a stiff price tag? (That's why we're skipping the cruise this year, in fact; at nearly $300 per person we'd much rather play checkers instead.)

Here is a position that even champion Tom Wiswell called "challenging."

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Draw
W:W28,27,25,23,22,18,17,14:B20,16,13,11,9,5,3,1.

Can you cruise to a solution this New Year's Eve, or even sooner? There's no need to wait, though; clicking on Read More will ensure a smooth voyage straight to the answer.

As we continue to republish the unequalled classic Tricks Traps & Shots of the Checkerboard we today find author Willie Ryan ready for a real shoot-em-up. It's one we're sure you'll enjoy. Willie tells us all about it below.

"The ancient Souter opening, formed by 6-9 at the fifth move of the game tabulated below, was a great favorite with all the champions in Wyllie's day. According to historians, the opening was named after a Scottish shoemaker who knew his way around with it. Here's a Souter snare that will shake the crown from any king:

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:W9,14,20,22,24,25,26,30:B1,3,5,8,11,15,16.

A---The Souter opening, a standard debut leading to an equal game.

B---A good "catch" line for black is 5-9. After this move, 23-18, 8-11, 20-16, 11-27, 18-2, 27-32, etc., leads to a draw; but if white plays 25-21 after 5-9, then black scores with this impressive combination: 5-9, 25-21, 9-14, 21-17 (all that's left), 14-21, 23-18, 8-11, 31-27 (31-26, 3-8 wins), 11-16*, 20-2, 1-5, 18-11, 3-7, 2-9, 7-32, 9-6, 32-28, 6-15, 28-10. W. S. Lambert. A real beauty.

C---Well-known play to here. The text loses by the pending shot. The correct moves are: 3-7*, 25-21, 15-19, 24-15, 11-25, 9-6, 1-17, 21-14, 8-11 *, leading to a draw."

Were you quick on the draw in finding the solution? Don't be blown away; click on Read More to shoot directly to the solution.

In today's entry from our Checker School series, we have a most interesting position, as shown below.

WHITE

BLACK
Black to Play and Win

B:W25,K12,K2:BK11,10,K1.

In this position, Black's mobility is definitely in the plus column. And as our current World Champion has often stated, checkers is all about mobility. In fact, Black has a very neat win here. The position is almost 120 years old and is attributed to R. D. Yates. Well over a century later we find that it still entertains and instructs. It's a fitting tribute to the timeless attraction and value of the game of checkers.

Try to trap White, but don't be trapped yourself: clicking on Read More will move you to the solution, a sample game, and explanatory notes.

Our title is how famed problemist Tommie Wiswell referred to today's puzzler, which he drew from actual play. It's one of those cases in which the win is "obvious" but actually demonstrating how it's done is the real trick.

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:W12,K18,22:B5,13,21.

The Black pieces are all off on the side of the board, while White has good mobility and a king to boot. So the win should be easy, shouldn't it? But Mr. Wiswell notes that in play over the board, the White player missed the winning continuation. Can you do better?

When you've settled on the winning course of action, click on Read More to see the solution.

We've been promising an ebook version of the classic Let's Play Checkers, by Kenneth Grover and Tommie Wiswell, for some little while now. Here's what's been going on.

First, the ebook edition turned out to be a lot more effort than we expected. We'd rather be late than produce less than a top-quality edition, and typesetting this book is simply taking a lot of time to do right.

But there is another issue, one that we ran into at a fairly late stage in the project. While our initial research indicated that the book was in the public domain, and therefore eligible for reissue by us, we have recently learned that copyright claims had in fact been asserted, and therefore we must now seek permission to republish the book.

We're in the process of trying to locate the copyright claimant, which is difficult enough in and of itself; then we'll need to ask for the necessary releases, something which the claimant may or may not be willing to grant. Under current copyright law, the book won't go into the public domain until the year 2035! (We believe this is excessive and out of tune with the original intent of copyright legislation, but that's another whole topic.)

Of course we're hoping for the best and for a speedy result. We'll keep you informed as we go along.