Dunne It Again

20170407-dunneit.jpg

We found the above inspirational poster very appropriate to our weekly column, for doesn't checkers mirror life in so many ways? Trust in our abilities, a belief in our capacity to succeed and to do what we have to do; these attributes apply both to the game of checkers and to life in general.

Someone who has Dunne-it before and now has Dunne-it again is our old checker friend, F. Dunne. We've seen his studies and positions before, and today we have another one that is subtle and interesting. It's our Checker School entry for this month.

F. DUNNE
BLACK
20170407-dunneit.png
WHITE
White to Play and Draw

W:W30,23,22,21,20,19:B15,14,13,12,10,4.

Can you solve this and find the White draw? There's another inspirational saying from none other than Henry Ford: "Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right." Trust in yourself, think positive, and click on Read More to see the solution, sample games, and explanatory notes.20050904-symbol.gif



Solution

The solution, sample games, and lettered notes come from Ben Boland's Famous Positions in the Game of Checkers. Numbered notes are by the Editor, using the KingsRow computer engine and 10-piece endgame database, provided courtesy of Ed Gilbert.

30-25---A, 15-24, 22-18, 24-27---2, 18-9, 27-31---3, 9-6---B, 31-26---C, 23-18, 26-23, 18-14, 10-17, 21-14, 23-18, 14-9, 18-14, 9-5, 13-17, 6-2, 17-21, 25-22, 21-25, 2-6. Drawn---4.

Game: 11-15, 24-20, 8-11, 28-24, 9-13, 23-19, 6-9, 26-23, 9-14, 22-18, 15-22, 25-9, 5-14, 29-25, 11-15, 25-22, 1-5, 31-26, 5-9, 20-16, 3-8, 23—18, 14-23, 27-11, 8-15, 26-23, 9-14, 32-28, 7-11, 16-7, 2-11, 24-20, 15-24, 28-19, 11-15. Forms above position. F. Dunne, Leeds Mercury Weekly Supplement, 1878-9.

Game: 10-15, 24-19, 15-24, 28-19, 6-10, 22-17, 9-14, 25-22, 11-15, 27-24, 8-11, 23-18, 14-23, 17-14, 10-17, 21-14, 7-10, 14-7, 3-10, 31-27, 2-6, 27-18, 6-9, 29-25, 9-14, 18-9, 5-14, 26—23, 1-5, 32-28, 5-9, 25-21, 9-13, 24-20, 15-24, 28-19, 11-15. Forms above position. M. Barrie corrects Ballantyne vs. Crookston game in Ferrie - Jordan Match Book, 1896.

A---30-26 would lose---1; 30-26, 15-24, 22-18, 24-27, 18-9, 27-31, 26-22, 31-27, 22-18, 4-8, 9-6, 8-11, 23-19, 27-24, 19-16, 12-19, 6-2, 19-23. Black Wins.

B---9-5 is a more difficult draw, see the Jackson Position.

C---10-15, 25-22, 4-8, 23-18, 8-11, 6-2 (or 20-16, 12-19, 6-2), now it 31-26 or 31-27, then 20-16. Drawn.

1---A seemingly fine distinction, one worth taking the time to understand.

2---13-17 18-9 10-14 leads to a similar draw.

3---Now we see why 30-26 would have lost.

4---25-30 6-9 14-10 and the White man on 22 is saved, and the draw assured.

The above position by Frank Dunne may be found as No. 303 in Gould's Problem Book.

20170407-canorcant.jpg

06/24/17 - Category: Books -Printer friendly version-
You can email the Webmaster with comments on this article.