The Checker Maven
Jump to navigationHappy Holidays 2018
Public Domain Pictures CC0
The story of the Three Kings is a central part of Christian celebration of the holiday of Christmas. Also known as the Three Magi or the Three Wise Men, and sometimes identified as Balthasar of Arabia, Melchior of Persia, and Gaspar of India, they traveled to Bethlehem with their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, each of which is said to have a symbolic meaning. And whether you celebrate Christmas or some other holiday, the Three Kings make for a fascinating and meaningful story.
We hope you'll have a little time for checkers during the busy holiday season, and in our archives we found a "Three Kings" checker problem. We lost track of the author's name, but nevertheless the problem is very fitting--- and a bit on the difficult side.
BLACK
Black to Play and Win
B:W32,30,21,K10,K7:BK26,K24,K23,13,3.
Were you able to solve it? The first move, as is often the case, is the key. We hope you gave it a good try; whenever you wish, you can click on Read More to see the solution.
Solution
The solution is fairly long, and numerous variations are of course possible. Use your computer to explore.
| 1. | 26-22 |
The only move to win. Some moves even lose (try it out yourself and see).
| 1. | ... | 7-11 |
| 2. | 22-18 | 11-16 |
| 3. | 24-19 | 16-11 |
| 4. | 18-14 | 10x17 |
| 5. | 13x22 | 21-17 |
| 6. | 23-18 | 32-27 |
| 7. | 19-23 | 27-24 |
| 8. | 23-27 | 24-20 |
| 9. | 27-23 | 17-13 |
| 10. | 22-26 | 13-9 |
| 11. | 26-31 | 9-5 |
| 12. | 23-19 | 5-1 |
| 13. | 31-27 | 1-6 |
| 14. | 19-15 | 11-16 |
| 15. | 18-14 | 16-12 |
| 16. | 15-19 | 6-1 |
| 17. | 27-23 | 1-6 |
| 18. | 23-18 | 6-1 |
| 19. | 14-9 | 30-26 |
| 20. | 9-5 | 1-6 |
| 21. | 18-15 | 6-1 |
| 22. | 15-10 | 26-22 |
| 23. | 5-9 | 22-17 |
| 24. | 10-7 | 1-5 |
| 25. | 9-13 | 17-14 |
| 26. | 13-9 |
Black Wins.
The Checker Maven wishes each and every one of our readers a healthy and happy holiday season. May all your holiday wishes come true.
NARA & DVIDS Public Domain
The Checker Maven is produced at editorial offices in Honolulu, Hawai`i, as a completely non-commercial public service from which no income is obtained or sought. Original material is Copyright © 2004-2026 Avi Gobbler Publishing. Other material is public domain, AI generated, as attributed, or licensed under CC1, CC2, CC3 or CC4 and the various CC options. Information presented on this site is offered as-is, at no cost, and bears no express or implied warranty as to accuracy or usability. You agree that you use such information entirely at your own risk. No liabilities of any kind under any legal theory whatsoever are accepted. The Checker Maven is dedicated to the memory of Mr. Bob Newell, Sr.
