A Special Mid-Week Checker Maven Edition
Four Kings was a 2006 television program shown on the NBC network. It apparently didn't attract enough viewers and was cancelled after just seven airings.
Mr. Bill Salot, whose work and efforts were featured in a recent Checker Maven column, has a different take on the idea of Four Kings, and Mr. Salot's checker conception is the kind of happy success that television couldn't manage. His fourth problem composition contest, bigger and better than ever, is titled Kings at Play, as each problem has at least Four Kings on the board.
We're presenting the problems below just to give you an idea of how the competitions have grown and thrived, but we won't give you the solutions; those are found on the Contest Page. While you're there, be sure to cast your vote for the problem you like best. Polls close on Sunday, May 27, 2012.
W:WK4,7,10,11,K17,18,19,20,22,30:B1,8,9,K12,K14,15,21,23,24,K26.
April Fools
BLACK
WHITE
White to Play and Win
W:WK3,K6,K10,20,30:B5,11,12,K19,21,27.
Escaped Prisoner
BLACK
WHITE
White to Play and Win
W:WK5,K8,15,16,21,23,24,31,32:B7,K9,11,13,K18,K20,22,K25,26,27,28,K29,K30.
Multiple Choices
BLACK
WHITE
White to Play and Win
W:WK2,K3,K5,K17,K20,22:BK10,K11,K12,13,K25,K26.
Zonk
BLACK
WHITE
Black to Play, White to Win
B:WK1,7,10,11,16,17,19,K20,K21,30:B4,14,18,22,23,24,27,28,K29.
Mr. Salot also tells us "... please enter your original, unpublished, dual-free problems in future contests by sending them at any time to Bill Salot, 1006 Elmwood Drive, Colonial Heights, VA 23834-2905, or wjsalot@comcast.net. Try your hand at any size or style, corrections of published play, game positions, sight solvers, stingers, strokes, novelties, strategies, whatever strikes your fancy."
The Checker Maven is both proud and delighted to support Mr. Salot's efforts.