We hope you managed to turn last month's Triple Play but if not, here's a chance to make a double play instead, as our lessons in Checker School continue with a pair of related positions.

In the first problem, White is a man up but Black is going to quickly even the count. How is White to pull off a win?

In the second problem, forces are even, but the White king is pursuing the lonely-looking Black men. Can you show how Black can save the draw?

R. E. BOWEN
BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:W13,19,20,30:B7,11,12.

H. D. LYMAN
WHITE

BLACK
Black to Play and Draw

B:W30,20,K7:B19,18,10.

Whether it's short to second to first or some other way, turn the double play before clicking on Read More to see if your solution is "safe."

Solutions

Solutions, game, and notes are from Ben Boland's classic Famous Positions in the Game of Checkers.

Bowen: 13-9, 7-10, 9-6, 11-15, 6-2---C, 15-24, 2-7, 10-14, 7-10, 14-17, 10-15, 24-28, 15-19, 28-32, 20-16, 32-28, 16-11, 28-32, 11-7, 32-27, 7-2 27-32 2-6 32-27, 6-9, 27-32, 9-14, 17-21, 14-18, 32-27, 18-22, 27-32, 19-24, 32-28 24-27 12-16,3 22-26, 28-32, 27-24, 32-28, 24-20---D. White Wins.

Lyman: (Off Note C) 10-15, 7-10---E, 18-23, 20-16, 23-27, 16-12, 27-32, 30-25, 32-27*, 12-8, 27-31, 8-3, 31-26---F, 25-21---G, 26-22, 3-8, 15-18, 8-11, 39-24, 10-15, 24-27, 15-19, 22-26, 11-15, 18-23. Drawn.

Game: 11-15, 23-19, 8-11, 22-17, 11-16, 24-20, 16-23, 27-11, 7-16, 20-11, 3-7, 28-24, 7-15, 24-20, 16-19, 25-22, 4-8, 29-25, 19-24, 17-14, 9-18, 22-15, 10-19, 32-28, 6-10, 25-22, 8-11, 22-18, 5-9, 21-17, 2-7---A, 17-14, 10-17, 26-23, 19-26, 31-6, 1-10, 28-19, 10-14---B, 18-9. Forms above position by R. E. Bowen, after first move. J. B. Macindoe, Game No. 26, American Checker Review, Vol. 1, 1888.

A---10-15 and also 19-23 is shown to draw by Macindoe.
B---Diagrammed at this stage in A. C. R.
C---19-16, 12-19, 7-2, 15-18, 2-7. Forms Lyman's position above.
D---This becomes an ending by Anderson. It can also be won with the move, see Sturges' Position.
E---7-11, 19-24, 11-16, 24-28, 16-11, 28-32, 20-16, 32-28, 16-12, 15-19. Drawn.
F---19-23, 10-26, 31-29. White Wins.
G---3-8, 19-23, 10-19, 26-31. Drawn.

R. E. Bowen's position may be found as No. 659, and H. D. Lyman's as No. 657, in Gould's Problem Book.