Just about everyone has heard of Gibson guitars; Gibson is the maker of the world-famous Les Paul guitar and many other instruments of the highest quality and finest sound. Gibson was founded by Orville H. Gibson well over 100 years ago, and given the time in which Mr. Gibson lived, we've little doubt that he played checkers at least casually at some point.

Checkerist R. W. Gibson was a contemporary of Orville, although it's highly unlikely that they knew each other or were in any way related. Mr. Gibson (R. W., that is) is credited with today's entry in our Checker School series. It may not be the "Les Paul" of checker problems, but it is certainly a nice one, with a solution as pleasing as the sound of a Gibson guitar.

R. W. Gibson
BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:WK10,13,15,27,28:B5,8,12,19,20.

We're not just stringing you along; solve the problem and strum your mouse on Read More to see the solution, notes, and a sample game.

Solution

The solution and lettered notes are from Ben Boland's Famous Positions in the Game of Checkers. Numbered notes are by the editor using the KingsRow computer engine.

R. W. Gibson
BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:WK10,13,15,27,28:B5,8,12,19,20.

13-9, 5-14, 10-17, 12-16, 15-11, 8-15, 17-22. White Wins---4.

Game: 11-15, 22-18, 15-22, 25-18, 12-16, 18-14, 9-18, 23-14, 10-17, 21-14, 6-10, 29-25, 10-17, 25-21, 17-22---A, 26-17, 8-11, 27-23, 4-8, 23-18, 8-12, 17-14, 1-6, 31-26, 6-9, 32-27, 16-20, 26-23, 11-16, 30-26, 2-6, 18-15, 9-18, 23-14, 3-8, 21-17, 7-11, 14-10, 11-18, 10-1, 18-22 (18-23 draws)---2, 26-23, 22-25, 17-13, 25-30, 1-6, 30-26---3, 6-10, 26-19, 24-15, 16-19. Forms above position. R. W. Gibson.

A---Kear's Encyclopedia shows 1-6 and also 8-11 to draw---1.

1---In fact, the computer thinks that 17-22, 16-20, 1-6, 8-11, and 8-12 all are probable draws, though obviously over the board some will be much easier than others.

2---While 18-23 indeed draws, so does this move.

3---This is the actual losing move, surprisingly enough; 8-11 would instead have drawn.

4---Black loses two men no matter what he does.

The above may be found in the Leeds Weekly Draughts Player, Vol. 1, 1882. And No. 836 in Gould's Problem Book.