She's searching for something and obviously not finding it. She'll just have to look harder, and hopefully eventually will achieve success.

It's the same in our game of checkers. In some of the worst circumstances, when we think we're hopelessly lost, we need to look harder. Checkers is full of subtle resources and often enough there is some hidden feature in the position that will allow for a draw--- or even a win.

In the diagram below, we see that Black doesn't have much in the way of options, and while we can't expect a Black win, it's worth looking hard for a possible draw. This one isn't too difficult and falls close to being a speed problem, but nevertheless there's something rather clever to be found--- if you look for it.

WHITE

BLACK
Black to Play and Draw

B:W27,23,21,13:B20,15,14,10

Have a good hard look and then let your mouse find its way to Read More to see the solution.

Solution

15-19---A 23-16 14-18---B 13-9 10-15 9-6 15-19 6-2 19-24 to a draw.

A---15-18? loses at once to 21-17.

B---Or 10-15 first; if 27-23 then 15-19! to a draw.

"Gosh Josh" Gordon found this draw over the board in a game with Lloyd Gordon. We thank them both for sending this along to us.