The Checker Maven wishes all of our readers the happiest of holiday seasons. Regardless what holiday you might celebrate or how you might celebrate it, we hope this time of year brings you happiness and contentment.

During the holidays perhaps you have a little more free time, but even if you're busier than can be, one can always make time for some checkers. Today we present a study by that renowned player and author, the late Ken Grover; it's quite interesting and should give you plenty of holiday checker enjoyment.

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:W30,28,27,26,22,21,20,18:B16,15,13,11,10,9,7,5.

Can you find a winning line of play? We'll be fair about it: Mr. Grover published one win and the computer found another that was similar but not quite the same. See if you can work it out and then click on Read More to see the solutions.

Solution

Here's the solution and notes as originally published by Mr. Grover.

26-23, 9-14---A, 18-9, 5-14, 21-17---C, 14-21, 27-24, 10-14---D, 24-19, 15-24, 28-12, 11-15---E, 12-8, 7-10---F, 8-3, 14-17, 22-18---G, 15-22, 23-18, 22-25, 3-7, 25-29, 7-14, 29-25, 18-15. White wins.

A---10-14, 21-17, 14-21, 27-24, 9-14---B, 18-9, 5-14, 24-19 runs into trunk solution.

B---7-10, 24-19, 15-24, 28-12, 10-14, 12-8, 14-17, 23-19. White wins.

C---Corrects Tescheleit's Master Play where the following is given to draw: 27-24, 14-17, 21-14, 10-26, 24-19, 15-24, 28-12, 11-15, 23-18, 15-22, 30-23, 7-10, 23-18, 22-26, 12-8, 26-31, 8-3, 31-26. Drawn.

D---Should Black pitch 13-17, 22-13, 15-18, 23-14, 10-17, 13-9, 17-22, 9-6, 22-25, 6-2, 25-30, 2-6, 29-25, 30-26, 25-30, 26-23, 30-25, 23-18 White wins.

E---7-10, 22-18, 14-17, 23-19. White wins.

F---7-11, 8-3, 14-17, 22-18, 15-22, 23-19, 22-25, 3-8, 11-16, 19-12, 25-29, 8-11, 29-25, 11-15. White wins.

G---Black secures a neat draw if 30-26, 10-14, 3-7, 21-25---H, 7-11 (If 7-10, 15-18, 22-15, 17-21 Drawn.), 15-19, 23-16, 25-29 and the White man on 22 is gone.

H---If Black attempts a fancy pitch by 15-19 he would lose by this pretty coup: 23-16, 21-25, 7-10, 25-29, 16-11, 17-21, 10-17, 29-25, 26-23, 25-27, 17-22. White holds the two pieces with his King and wins.

The computer solution begins with 27-23; it's a little different, but the principles are the same, and we think Mr. Grover's analysis is both more interesting and more informative. For the sake of completeness, here's the main line of play from the KingsRow engine.

27-23 15-19 21-17 9-14 18x9 5x21 23-18 10-15 18-14 13-17 22x13 15-18 13-9 White Wins---J.

I---Black must now return his extra piece. (Editor's note: The move reference for this note seems to have been lost in the process of publication!)

J---Black loses at least another man.