The Fourth of July, as we know so well, celebrates America and recalls the story of the brave band of patriots who, back in the 1770s, brought our nation into existence and gave life to the American dream. We've said before, and we'll say it again, that we're unabashed patriots ourselves, and personally owe much to America.

Celebrating the Fourth of July is something we love to do, and we'd like to once more carry that over to The Checker Maven and present a checker problem from the dean of American problemists, the legendary Tom Wiswell.

Mr. Wiswell's problems are not known for being easily, but they are worth the effort taken to solve them, and they never fail to delight. Diagrammed below is today's selection.

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:W9,19,24,25,27,30:B2,6,13,21,K32.

White is a man up, but Black has a king and will quickly get the man back. How can White win this one? The solution is amazing. Don't give up too quickly; you'll be richly rewarded if you do solve it. When you've drummed up your answer, click on Read More to see the revolutionary solution.

Solution

White starts out by giving up a man!

24-20 32-16 20-11 13-17---A 11-8---B 6-13 8-3 2-6 3-7 6-9 7-11---D 9-14 11-16 14-18 16-19 17-22 19-15 22-29 15-22 White Wins---F.

A---6-10 leads to a long ending in which there is no doubt about White winning; it just takes time. One way is 6-10 25-22 10-15 11-8 15-19 8-3 19-24 3-8 24-28 8-11 28-32 11-15 32-27 22-18 13-17 18-14 17-22 15-18 22-25 14-10 25-29 18-22 27-23 9-5 23-19 5-1 19-23 1-5 23-19 5-9 19-15 10-6 15-10 6-1 2-7 22-17 10-15 9-14 7-11 17-22 15-19 14-18 11-16 1-6 19-24 18-23 24-19 23-27 19-15 27-24 16-20 24-27 15-19 6-10 19-24 27-23 24-28 23-19 20-24 22-26 29-25 26-31 25-22 10-15 22-17 15-18 White wins----KingsRow.

B---White gives up yet another man! But saving the piece doesn't work: 9-5 6-9 5-1 9-14 1-5 14-18 5-9 2-6!---C 9-2 17-22 Drawn---Tom Wiswell.

C---An immediate 17-22 falls to 9-14 22-29 14-23 29-25 23-18 2-6 11-7 6-9 7-2 9-13 2-6 13-17 18-14 25-22 6-9 22-25 9-13 17-22 13-17 White Wins---KingsRow. Instead, the White king must first be drawn away by pitching 2-6.

D---If 7-10 then 9-14 draws, as now White must play 10-7---E after which follows 14-18 7-10 18-23 10-14 23-27 etc. Drawn---KingsRow.

E---The blunder 10-15? loses for White after 14-18 15-22 17-26 30-23 21-30 Black Wins.

F---And White, a man down, cinches the game as Black must give up his forces, for instance 29-25 22-29 13-17 30-26 White Wins. Another amazing Tom Wiswell tour-de-force! If you solved this one, you are one fine checkerist.

And now, on to the watermelon, fireworks, and celebrations --- Happy Birthday America!