The Checker Maven
Jump to navigationA Real Eye-Popper
We found this problem in a old and rather eclectic checker book. The author, who must have been an eclectic character in his own right, referred to the solution as "a real eye-popper."
You may or may not agree--- after all, what constitutes an eye-popper is in the mind of the beholder--- but we do think you'll enjoy solving this one.
BLACK
Black to Play and Draw
B:W30,28,K15,K1:BK29,K27,21,7.
Forces are even, but Black has a weak man that White can pick off in just a few moves. Can you focus on this one and see your way to a Black draw?
Don't be blinded by the seeming difficulty; clicking on Read More will provide 20-20 hindsight by bringing you the snappy, perhaps even eye-popping, solution.
Solution
29-25 1-6 25-22 6-2 22-26! 2-11---A 26-23---B Drawn.
A---Certainly not 30-23 27-11 Black wins.
B---White must either give the extra piece back outright or submit to a three for one shot. If 11-16 or 11-7 then 23-26; if 15-10 then 27-24. A very pretty solution and one that isn't so easy to visualize over the board.
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