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Jump to navigationHoliday Coffee and Cake
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It's the holiday season, which means family, friends, and feasting. So, we at The Checker Maven thought, why not treat our readers to more coffee and cake?
Our old friend Brian Hinkle sent us a composition of his own that he thought would make a great "coffee and cake" problem, and we heartily agree. It's a 3x3 twin with, as Brian points out, the unique feature that no matter who plays, White wins.
So, in between courses at your holiday dinner, or maybe after dinner with a second helping of coffee and cake, you might want to try this one out. We think it's easier when Black is to play, but you'll have to decide that for yourself.
BLACK
Black to Play, White Wins
B:W30,26,24:B17,13,12.
WHITE
White to Play and Win
W:W30,26,24:B17,13,12.
Can you earn that coffee and cake? We'll give you credit if you make a good effort, after which you can click on Read More to see the solutions.
Solution
With Black to Play the solution is relatively straightforward.
| 1. | 17-21 |
Other possibilities:
12-16 24-20 (not 24-19)16-19 26-22 17x26 30x16 White Wins.
17-22 26x17 13x22 24-19 White Wins.
| 1. | ... | 24-19 |
| 2. | 13-17 | 19-15 |
| 3. | 12-16 | 15-10 |
| 4. | 16-20 | 10-7 |
| 5. | 20-24 | 7-2 |
| 6. | 24-27 | 2-6 |
| 7. | 27-31 |
Or 27-32 6-9 32-27 9-13 27-31 13x22 White Wins.
| 7. | ... | 6-9 |
| 8. | 31x22 | 9-13 |
White Wins.
With White to Play, the solution is longer and the White win requires several star moves at the outset.
| 1. | ... | 26-23* |
| 2. | 17-22 | 23-19* |
| 3. | 13-17 | 24-20* |
| 4. | 17-21 | 19-15 |
Or 20-16.
| 5. | 22-25 | 15-10 |
| 6. | 25-29 | 10-7 |
| 7. | 29-25 | 7-3 |
| 8. | 25-22 | 3-7 |
| 9. | 22-17 | 7-10 |
| 10. | 17-22 | 10-15 |
| 11. | 22-17 | 15-18 |
| 12. | 17-13 | 18-22 |
| 13. | 13-9 | 30-26 |
| 14. | 9-14 | 26-23 |
| 15. | 14-10 | 23-19 |
But not 23-18.
| 16. | 10-14 | 20-16 |
| 17. | 14-10 | 16-11 |
| 18. | 10-14 | 11-7 |
| 19. | 14-10 | 7-2 |
| 20. | 10-14 | 2-7 |
| 21. | 14-9 | 7-10 |
| 22. | 9-5 | 10-14 |
| 23. | 5-1 | 14-9 |
| 24. | 1-5 | 22-17 |
| 25. | 5x14 | 17x10 |
| 26. | 21-25 | 10-15 |
| 27. | 25-30 | 19-16 |
| 28. | 12x19 | 15x24 |
| 29. | 30-26 | 24-27 |
White Wins.
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The Checker Maven wishes you the best of holidays, filled with everything you love, and plenty of checkers, coffee, and cake.
The Checker Maven is produced at editorial offices in Honolulu, Hawai`i, as a completely non-commercial public service from which no income is obtained or sought. Original material is Copyright © 2004-2026 Avi Gobbler Publishing. Other material is public domain, AI generated, as attributed, or licensed under CC1, CC2, CC3 or CC4 and the various CC options. Information presented on this site is offered as-is, at no cost, and bears no express or implied warranty as to accuracy or usability. You agree that you use such information entirely at your own risk. No liabilities of any kind under any legal theory whatsoever are accepted. The Checker Maven is dedicated to the memory of Mr. Bob Newell, Sr.
