The Checker Maven

Cute and Tricky

20260116-cutetrickycc0.jpg
Pixabay license

We think the title photo speaks for itself. This cute little one certainly seems to be up to something.

Today we have not one but two speed problems. The first one is very easy but quite cute.

Cute
WHITE
null
BLACK
Black to Play and Win

B:WK3,20,24,30:B12,15,22,K27

The second problem is a bit harder, but not much.

Tricky
BLACK
null
WHITE
White to Play and Draw

W:WK10,20:B8,12,K19

This problem could just as well have had the terms White to Play, Black to Draw. It's not at all difficult but it has a nice tricky little twist. You'll see what we mean when you solve it.

Are you tricky enough to solve a cute problem? (We won't ask you the implied inverted question.) When you've found the solutions, click on Read More to verify your solutions.null



Solutions

Cute

15-19 24x15 22-26 30x23 27x11 Black Wins. Yes, it's very easy, but the final position is cute.

Tricky

20-16---A 8-11---B 16x7 to a draw.

A---The only move to draw.

B---The key move: if 19-24 or 19-23 then 16-11 8-15 10-26 and White wins on the move .

Our thanks to regular contributors Lloyd and Josh Gordon of Toronto for sending us these problems.

02/06/21 - Category: Problems
You can email the Webmaster with comments on this article.



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.