The Checker Maven

Some Things Don't Work Out

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PxHere CC0

Looks like something didn't work out in the photo above. Maybe whoever is responsible needs to try again, or try a little harder in the first place.

This month's speed problem--- we'll call it that because it's on the easy side, if not quite in the 10 second category--- illustrates the concept. Not everything works out. If you can see what doesn't work out, you'll find the solution right away.

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Draw

W:W14,15,19,23,31:B6,7,8,12,16

Once again we won't use our Javascript clock; just do the best you can to sort out right from wrong. And something that's right for sure: clicking on Read More will show you the solution.null



Solution

What's really interesting about this problem is what doesn't work.

23-18!---A 16x23 14-10 7x14 18x2 Drawn.

A---At first glance you might think 31-27 is correct, but 31-27 7-11 14-10 11x18 10x1---B 8-11 23x14 16x32 Black Wins.

B---23-14 6-31 Black Wins.

This problem was contributed by regular correspondents Lloyd and Josh Gordon of Toronto, a father and son team who play checkers together every night and come up with very interesting cross-board positions.

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03/07/20 - Category: Problems
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