Checker School today brings us a problem that exhibits a certain form of symmetry; not the perfect symmetry of our photo, to be sure, but nevertheless an appealing geometric pattern. The position is credited to a Mr. Brooks, and looks like this.

A. Brooks
WHITE

BLACK
Black to Play and Win

B:W13,11,K3:BK10,5,K2.

As it turns out, reflecting our theme of symmetry, Black has not one but two ways of winning. Can you find them both?

Reflect on this for a while, but if you can't mirror the winning thought process, a simple click on Read More will flip to the solution page, which contains the answer to the problem, a sample game, and detailed notes, all courtesy of Ben Boland.

Solution

The solution, game, and notes are all from Ben Boland's Famous Positions in the Game of Checkers.

2-6---A, 3-8---B, 5-9, 8-12---C, 10-15, 11-8, 15-11, 8-4, then 11-7 or 11-15, the two for two. Black Wins.

Game: 11-15, 23-19, 10-14, 19-10, 6-15, 22-17, 8-11, 17-10, 7-14, 25-22, 2-7, 22-17, 7-10, 17-13, 1-6, 26-23, 3-7, 23-19, 4-8, 24-20, 15-24, 28-19, 11-15, 27-24, 15-18, 29-25, 18-22, 25-18, 14-23, 31-27---F, 10-14, 27-18, 14-23, 21-17, 7-10, 30-25, 23-26, 32-28, 26-30, 25-21, 30-26, 19-15, 10-19, 24-15, 26-22, 28-24, 22-18, 15-10, 6-15, 13-6, 18-23, 6-2, 23-19, 2-7 (20-16, 19-28, 16-11, Drawn), 19-28, 7-11, 15-18, 11-4, 28-24. 17-14, 24-19, 21-17 (20-16 draws), 19-15, 4-8, 18-22, 8-3, 22-26, 3-7, 26-30, 7-2, 30-25, 2-6, 25-22, 17-13, 22-17, 14-10, 15-11, 6-2, 17-14, 10-7-I, 14-10, 7-3, 12-16---G, 2-7, 11-2, 20-11---H. Forms above position. J. P. Grey, Draughts World, Irregular Game 2544, Vol. 38, Sept. 1911.

A---P. Thirkell stars this move, but it is not necessary; 10-15, 11-8 (3-8, 2-6, 11-7, 5-9, 7-3, 15-11, 8-15, 6-1. Black Wins), 15-11, 8-4, 2-6, 3-8, 5-9, Black Wins. The writer came into the same position in No. 24 in the New Checkergram, Vol. 1, May 1933.

B---11-8, 5-9, 8-4, 10-15. Black Wins.

C---8-4---D, 10-15, 4-8, 15-19, 8-12, 6-1. Black Wins.

D---8-3, 10-15, 11-7---E, 15-11, 7-2, 6-1. Black Wins.

E---11-8, 15-11, 8-4, 11-15. Black Wins.

F---32-28, 7-11, 30-25, 23-27. Drawn. Grey.

G---This is now No. 28 by R. A. Davis, in Stearns' Book of Portraits, Vol. 2.

H---Left as draw by Grey; Thirkell in the Oct. issue of the Draughts World, points out above win.

I---10-6, 14-9,6-1, 11-15, 13-6, 15-11. Black Wins.

The above position may be found as No. 4 in Spayth's Game of Draughts, 1863. The names of the authors of the positions are not given, but it is believed to be by Alonzo Brooks. See "Familiar Themes," Page 18.