It was opening day for the new National Checker League season. Training camps were completed, season tickets sold, myriad print and media articles produced, and there was a general air of excitement. With the scandals of the previous season over and the NCL under new and vibrant leadership, everyone, from coach to player to fan to referee, greeted opening day with eager anticipation.

The same was true for Marvin J. Mavin, team captain of the highly rated Detroit Doublejumpers. There was just one problem. Marvin was feeling ill and feared he had the flu, or worse.

The Doublejumpers opened at home against the Phoenix Paraffin, captained by top ranked player Stella Striker. Marvin expected a competitive game played at the grandmaster level, and he would normally be all for it, except that he wondered if he would be at his best. His head ached, his sinuses were acting up, and he felt feverish with a feeling of intermittment chills punctuated by periods of sweat.

The match was scheduled for 7 PM and practice turnout was at 4:30. Marvin's wife, Priscilla, before her driver picked her up at 7 AM to take her to her CEO's office at Rust Belt Holdings, took one look at Marvin and told him he was staying home tonight.

"For one thing," Priscilla said in the stern voice often used with Marvin, "you might make others sick. What if you have Covid or something? You want to spread contagion? I shouldn't have to tell you that you don't need any more controversy in your career."

Priscilla continued, "But that's not all. What about your health? Don't you think you ought to take care of yourself? You may not like to hear it but you're quite sick right now and the last place you should be is in front of a checkerboard being watched by 50,000 checker fans."

"Aw, gee, Prissy," Marvin said, although it was more like a groan, "you gotta ..."

"Keep quiet and listen!" Priscilla cut in. "I'm not done yet. Lastly, your team counts on you, and you can't tell me you'll be able to play your best in your current condition. You are staying home. Period. I don't want to hear a word from you about it. Now goodbye. My driver is waiting and probably wondering what happened to me."

At that Priscilla headed over to the private elevator in her swanky 5,000 square foot condo and set off for work.

Marvin knew he was sick, but he thought that a morning and an afternoon of rest would be enough to shake off whatever it was he had and still play that evening.

He slept during most of the day. Priscilla, the previous evening, had her private chef prepare a large pot of chicken soup, and Marvin had some of that during his brief waking periods. By about three thirty in the afternoon, Marvin felt that he would be able to play. So, despite Priscilla's admonitions, and definitely risking her ire, Marvin took a hot shower. That made him feel a lot better and so he dressed and went down to the garage, where Priscilla kept her little fleet. Marvin wasn't allowed to drive the Mercedes or the Bentley, and certainly not the Rolls-Royce, but he did have permission to drive the "everyday" Lexus.

During pre-game practice and warm-ups, he felt a little tired but thought he was doing well enough, until the Coach approached him.

Recall from our previous story that the Doublejumpers had once again inadvertently hired a bizarre coach who went by the name California Hummingbird, and ending up firing her on the first day of training camp. While Problem Coach Riddleme filled in for a while, the Doublejumpers managed to recall Sammy Sawizawiz, and he was now Head Coach.

"Marv," Coach Sawizawiz said, "you seem a little off today. Everything okay? You want me to change the lineup and bring in Milo Gru? I know it's opening day and all, but still, if you're not at 100%, maybe I shouldn't play you today."

"Nah, Coach," Marvin replied, "I just kinda took a coupla naps today and it sorta like made me a little sluggish and stuff. I'll be fine."

Coach looked dubious but said, "Okay, fine, but I want 100% from you."

"You got it, Coach," Marvin said.

It was soon time. The players came out on the field, the National Anthem was played, everyone took their places, and the referee blew his whistle and called, "Play checkers!"

Stella Striker of the Paraffin was a top player and Marvin knew he needed to be at his best. Still, he decided to play a safe line and see how the game developed; he hoped to stay within published play for as long as possible and give himself a little extra time to shake off the fogginess he was feeling.

Stella, however, liked sharp play and sharp lines and wasn't afraid to go into new territory. Marvin made a couple of small slips and the game ended up in the following tough position.

Suddenly Coach Sawizawiz was on the field, signalling to the referee for a time out. The referee blew his whistle and a three minute break began.

Coach approached Marvin and said, "That's it." He pointed to the dugout and signaled for number six --- a player popularly known as "Courteous Curt Curtiss" --- to come in as a pinch mover. "You're out, Marvin," Coach said. "You didn't play at anything like your full ability, and in fact you look even more ill than you did before. I'm disappointed that you didn't put your team first and sit this one out as you should have. Go home, and when you get well we'll have a serious discussion about what you did."

Marvin, dejected, left the field and made his way to the showers.

---

Can Courteous Curt, as a pinch mover, pull off a draw in this position? Will Marvin face consequences? How would you have done if called in as a pinch mover? Solve the problem, then click on Read More to see the solution and the rest of this installment.

Solution and Conclusion

After play resumed and some thought, Courteous Curt made his move. Coach decided to leave him in the game and play continued as followed.

1.	31-27	7x14
2.	9x18	17-14
3.	18-22	14-10
4.	6-9	13x6
5.	22-26	30x23
6.	27x11	21-17*
7.	11-7	17-14
8.	7-2	6-1
9.	3-8	...

If 2-6 then 19-16 6-15 14-10 15-6 1-10 to a White Win.

If 2-7 then 19-16 7-2 16-11 2-6 11-7 6-15 14-10 15-6 1-10 White Wins.

9.	...	19-16
10.	8-12	16-11
11.	2-6	11-7
12.	6x15	14-10
13.	15x6	1x10

Black resigns. One possible conclusion is:

14.	12-16	10-15
15.	5-9	7-2
16.	9-14	2-7
17.	14-17	7-10
18.	17-22	10-14
19.	22-26	14-18
20.	26-31	18-23
21.	16-20	15-19

White Wins.

Despite his best efforts,Curt couldn't pull off a draw. He courteously shook hands with Stella, who remarked, "Nice try, Curt. But really I expected more from Marvin. He certainly didn't play like a champ today."

Curt thought it wouldn't be courteous to criticize his teammate, so he just said "good game" and left the field. The Paraffins had managed a 3-2 Opening Day win over the Doublejumpers, and 50,000 dejected fans slowly exited the Detroit Checkerdrome.

Marvin, for his part, had taken his shower, put on his street clothes, and gone on home. Priscilla took one look at him and sent him straight to bed. "How did it go, honey?" she asked, fearing the worst. Her fears were realized when Marvin said, "Coach pulled me out 'cause I wasn't playin' so good, and I think I'm in some kinda trouble."

Priscilla, though feeling bad for her husband and realizing he was quite ill, still couldn't help saying, "I told you to stay home but of course you didn't listen. Well, whatever happens, it's all on you." At that she turned off the lights and left the bedroom without another word.

Marvin was too sick to react. He slept and had feverish dreams about Coach and Priscilla being in the same room and telling him he was being sent down to the Minors as a punishment. Coach was yelling that Marvin was washed up and Priscilla was just grinning all the while.

To be continued.

Today's setting originated with a Mr. N. A. Dundee of Victoria, Australia. It was published in 1925.