Some things, like this monster wave at famed Waimea Bay on the North Shore of O`ahu, have to be seen to be believed.

In fact, we often hear phrases like, "You have to see it to believe it," to refer to something far out of the ordinary; "I'll believe it when I see it," to express skepticism; the metaphysical version, "I'll see it when I believe it"; and of course, the ever-popular "I want to believe."

You've definitely got to file today's Checker School entry under "you have to see it to believe it." We won't spoil the fun by explaining quite yet; we'll just say that this one is--- well, truly something else. Let's take a look at the position.

G. BUCHANAN-J. DEMPSTER
BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Draw

W:W5,16,18,20,26,30:B1,3,7,11,21,K25.

Black has a slight superiority in force (a king vs. a man), but White has more mobility, and that's a huge hint to the problem's solution. We consider this one pretty tough and a real test of visualization skill. It's definitely worth spending some time on, even if you don't get it. After you do, we're sure you'll find it quite believable that clicking on Read More will show you the annotated solution and half a dozen sample games.

Solution

Numbered notes are by the editor, using the KingsRow computer engine. Everything else is from Ben Bolands Famous Positions in the Game of Checkers.

26-22---1, 25-29---2, 18-15---3, 11-25, 16-11, 7-16, 20-11, 1-6, 11-7. Drawn---4.

1---A star move. 26-23 would allow 25-22 while if 16-12 7-10 26-23 10-14 18-9 25-18 26-30 21-25 and White is out of safe moves.

2---The computer recommends 1-6 which also gives Black no winning chances, though avoiding the spectacular play that follows.

3---An astounding move.

4---3x10 5-1 6-9 1-6 10-14 6x13 14-18 13-17 18-23 17-22 23-27 22-26 27-32 Drawn. Isn't checkers something?

Game: 11-15, 24-20, 8-11, 23-18, 4-8, 26-23, 15-19, 23-16, 12-19, 22-17, 9-14, 18-9, 5-14, 25-22, 11-15, 29-25, 15-18, 22-15, 19-23, 27-9, 6-29, 15-6, 2-9, 21-17, 9-13, 17-14, 13-17, 28-24, 17-21, 32-27, 29-25, 31-26, 25-29, 27-23, 29-25, 14-9, 8-11, 23-18, 25-29, 24-19, 29-25, 19-16, 25-29, 9-5, 29-25. Forms above position. T. Ballantyne vs. G. Buchanan.

Game: 11-15, 21-17, 9-13, 25-21, 8-11, 17-14, 10-17, 21-14, 6-10, 22-17, 13-22, 26-17, 15-18, 29-25, 18-22, 25-18, 10-15, 24-20, 15-22, 28-24, 11-15, 23-19, 5-9, 14-5, 4-8, 19-10, 7-21, 27-23, 22-25, 31-26, 25-29, 32-27, 8-11, 24-19, 2-7, 23-18, 29-25, 27-23, 25-29, 19-16, 12-19, 23-16, 29-25. Forms above position.

Game: 9-14, 22-18, 5-9, 18-15, 11-18, 21-17, 14-21, 23-5, 8-11, 25-22, 4-8, 29-25, 12-16, 22-18, 10-15, 18-14, 16-19, 24-20, 6-9, 14-10, 7-14, 27-23, 2-7, 23-16, 8-12, 32-27, 12-19, 27-23, 9-13, 23-16, 14-18, 28-24, 18-22, 25-18, 15-22, 26-17, 13-22, 24-19, 22-25, 31-26, 25-29, 19-15, 11-18, 26-22, 18-25. Forms above position at 4th move.

Game: 9-14, 22-18, 5-9, 24-19, 11-15, 18-11, 8-24, 28-19, 4-8, 25-22, 9-13, 29-25, 8-11, 22-18, 14-17, 21-14, 10-17, 18-15, 11-18, 23-14, 7-11, 25-22, 11-16, 14-10, 6-24, 27-11, 12-16, 31-27, 1-6, 27-24, 6-10, 24-20, 16-19, 20-16, 19-24, 16-12, 10-15, 11-8, 24-28, 8-4, 2-7, 4-8. Forms above position. colors reversed.

Game: 11-15, 22-18, 15-22, 25-18, 12-16, 18-14, 9-18, 23-14, 10-17, 21-14, 8-11, 29-25, 6-9, 26-22, 9-18, 22-8, 4-11, 27-23, 16-20, 24-19, 7-10, 19-16, 11-15, 16-11, 5-9, 25-22, 9-13, 23-19, 15-24, 28-19, 10-14, 19-16, 1-6, 16-12, 6-10, 11-8, 10-15, 8-4, 2-7, 31-26, 20-24, 4-8, 14-17, 8-4, 24-28, 4-8. Forms above position, colors reversed.

Game: 11-15, 23-19, 9-13, 22-18, 15-22, 25-18, 13-17, 21-14, 10-17, 29-25, 5-9, 25-21, 17-22, 26-17, 9-14, 18-9, 6-22, 21-17, 8-11, 17-13, 7-10, 24-20, 10-14, 27-24, 14-17, 19-16, 24-8, 4-11, 28-24, 17-21, 24-19, 22-25, 19-16, 2-7, 13-9, 25-29, 32-27, 29-25, 31-26, 25-29, 27-23, 29-25, 23-18, 25-29, 9-5, 29-25. Forms above position.

The above game between T. Ballantyne and G. Buchanan was played in the 5th Scottish Tournament, Jan. 1897.

Although the above position is usually credited to George Buchanan, compare it to: John Dempster. No. 673 in Lyman's Problem Book, 1881; Black---3, 7, 13, 15, 17, 24. And White---12, 22, 26, 30, 32, King 4. Black to Play: Now 24-28, 4-8 Forms Buchanan's Position. colors reversed. but Dempster played 15-18, 22-15, 7-11, 15-8, 17-22, which is practically the same.

The above games may be found in the “Draughts Review," Vol. 7, May 1931, and in W. Ryan’s “Scientific Checkers Made Easy."