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Jump to navigationMiles To Go
In his poem Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening the immortal American poet, Robert Frost, wrote these equally immortal words:
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
Today's Checker School "Gem" problem is by the somewhat less immortal checkerist Miles R. Smith. It's really quite nice, and we wish history had preserved more about Mr. Smith.
BLACK
Black to Play and Win
B:WK18,K19,K21:B22,23,26,K30.
Black is a piece up, but looks to be in a precarious situation; he can't avoid giving the piece back, hoping for a draw ... or is there another way? Can Black manage to still win this one? Miles to go before Black sleeps ...
See how far you travel in solving this one, then move your mouse inches ... not miles ... to click on Read More to see the solution.
Solution
30-25!---A 21x30---B 22-25 30x21---C 26-31 18x27---D 31x15 Black Wins with the move.
A---Other moves only draw, and 26-31 of course loses.
B---18x27 26-31 21x30 31x15 Black Wins.
C---18x27 26-31 30x21 31x15 Black Wins.
D---19-26 31-15 Black Wins.
A "gem" indeed!
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