Today's Beginner's Corner episode deals once again with that "you've got to win it" idea. A man up is usually a win, but short of the expert level, the other player isn't just going to concede; you'll have to show that you know how to win it.

Here's one such situation.

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:W25,21,15,K11,10:BK18,14,12,5.

Can you "man up"* and win with a man up? We think you can. Prove us right by solving the problem and then clicking on Read More to see the solution.

*Editor's Note:: The image at the top of this article is intended to express the idea that both men and women play and excel at checkers.

Solution

10-6 18-23---A 15-10 23-27 25-22 27-24 6-1 24-20 1-6 20-24 10-7 24-20 7-3 20-24 3-7 24-20 7-10 14-18 22-15 20-24 etc.

White is now two men up and has an easy win.

A---Clayton Cachia of Malta was kind enough to write and suggest that Black move 14-17 instead. This move evens up the piece count, and although White still wins, the job is much harder:

14-17 21x14 18x2 15-10 5-9 10-6 9-14 6-1 14-18 25-21 18-23 21-17 23-26 17-13 26-31 13-9 31-27 1-5 27-23 9-6 2x9 5x14 23-19 11-16 19-23 16-20 23-27 14-18 27-32 20-24 32-28 24-27 28-32 18-23 and White wins by First Position.