The Hedgehoppers were a relatively obscure band from Durban, South Africa, circa 1971 (just where do we come up with these things?). Quite honestly, we've never listened to their music; and today, we'd wager it would be difficult to find.

Perhaps equally difficult to find is Willie Ryan's classic book, Tricks Traps & Shots of the Checkerboard. Fortunately, we're reprinting sections of it here each month; and in our usual manner, our lead photo and full column have related titles. Today, we bring you Hynd's Hedgehopper, explained to us by Willie himself.

"Here is a good stroke by Champion John Hynd of Manchester, England, which is recorded in every expert's notebook. Hynd, by the way, has been playing top-flight draughts for almost half a century, and is still playing with the best. A former Champion of England, he played on the British team in the 1905 International Match.

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:W19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,31,32:B1,3,6,7,9,10,11,12,14,15,18.

A---Off the beam, and loses. Here is how black should play it: 6-9*, 32-28, 9-13---1, 19-16, 12-19, 23-16, 14-17, 21-14, 10-17, 24-19, 15-24, 22-8, 3-19, 27-23, 17-21, 23-16, 21-30, 28-19, 30-23, 16-12, 23-16, 20-2, 1-6, etc., for a draw; an old combination."

1---Ed Gilbert's King's Row computer engine gives 1-6 to draw here as well, and the continuation is also quite flashy: 1-6 20-16 11x20 19-16 12x19 23x16 15-19 24x15 10x19 22x15 14-18 15-11 18-23 27x18 9-13 11x2 3-8 2x9 5x30 to a draw.

Can you sing and dance your way through this one? Don't worry, sweet music can be had by clicking on Read More, which will take you straight to the solution.

Solution

"Continue: 20-16, 11-20, 19-16, 12-28, 21-17, 14-30, 23-5, 30-23, 27-2, 6-9, 2-6, 9-14, 6-15, 14-18, 22-17, 18-22, 17-14, 22-25, 14-10, 25-30, 15-18, 30-25, 10-6, 1-10, 5-1---2, and white wins. John Hynd."

2---White will quickly regain material equality, and Black will be left in an unplayable position, eventually just running out of moves. One finish might be as follows.

9-14 26-23 2-6 30-26 5-9 20-16 11x20 19-16 12x28 21-17 14x30 23x5 30x23 27x2 6-9 2-6 9-14 6x15 14-18 22-17 18-22 17-14 22-25 14-10 25-30 15-18 30-25 10-6 1x10 5-1 25-30 1-6 10-14 18x9 30-25 6-10 25-22 9-14 22-25 10-15 3-8 15-18 8-12 31-27 12-16 14-10 25-21 18-22 16-19 27-24 20x27 32x16 White Wins. King's Row.