NARA CC0

You can't win 'em all? No, but neither should you lose 'em all. In the cartoon above, Napoleon is essentially telling us that if we say "can't" we've already got a problem; instead, we must believe in ourselves.

We've all heard the checker maxim "Keep the draw in sight." But we've also heard it said, "You have to take the chances to make the chances."

When we're a piece up, we expect to win. That's another bit of checker wisdom, and it's true--- except sometimes when it isn't. That practical maxim, "You can't win 'em all" might apply, as it does in the position below. However "you can't lose 'em all" might also be apt.

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Draw

W:WK2,K6,11,29,30:B3,12,K13,14,15,K19

Black is a piece up but White can draw the game with the right play. It's really pretty easy and well within the reach of nearly all players. See how fast you solve it. Call it a personal win if you find the draw. After solving the problem a winning move would be to click on Read More to verify your solution.

Solution

11-7---A 3x10 6-9 13x6 2x11 to a draw.

A---A hasty 6-9 loses after 13x6 2x18 5x22 Black Wins.

Taken from an actual game played by regular Toronto-based contributers Lloyd and "Gosh Josh" Gordon.