Here at The Checker Maven, we've long felt that we've "hit the jackpot" with our more than 2,500 weekly readers and the acceptance and welcome our webzine has received in its first year of publication. To celebrate, we've turned to who else but Tom Wiswell, for a nice problem which he himself has entitled Jackpot. It's not too hard (at least by Wiswell standards) but has a neat finish that you can't help but admire. The problem is co-authored by Jack Botte and looks like this:

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

When you've pulled the lever on your solution, click on Read More to see what Tom had to say.

Solution

Here's Tom Wiswell's explanation, published over 45 years ago.

17-14a, 4-8b, 14-10, 8-11, 10-6, 3-8, 6-2, 8-12, 2-7, 11-16, 7-11c, 16-20, 11-15, 20-24, 15-11d, 23-27 (24-28, 11-15), 19-16!, 12-19, 11-16, 19-23, 16-19e, White wins i.

a--- If 17-13, 3-7, 13-9, 7-10, 9-6, 10-14 etc. Draws.

b---If 3-7, 19-16, 4-8, 16-12, etc. White wins.

c---If 7-10, 23-26, etc. Draws.

d---If 15-18, 23-27, etc. Draws. The finish is by H. Tonkin.

e---Jack Botte, the New Jersey Match Champion, hails from Jersey City and frequently enters (and wins) New York "knockout" Tourneys. This ending is a good lesson in timing and economy of motion. Frequently one wasted move will throw away a well-earned win or draw.

i---Editor's Note: Isn't this a neat wrapup? Black loses two men (or gets blocked) no matter what he does.