In our previous Marvin J. Mavin episode, a match between the Portland Pitchers and the Detroit Doublejumpers ended in a declared win for the Pitchers. This was due to a controversial interpretation of rule 3.1415926, which states that if the board is upset during the final minutes of a time control, the player on move when the board was upset forfeits the game. Marvin, unfortunately, was on move when the dome ceiling of the Pitchers' home arena cracked and rainwater poured down on the playing area.

Doublejumper management filed an immediate appeal with the National Checker League Commissioner, Axel Homeboy.

The referee had claimed that rule 3.1415926 was absolute and didn't refer to fault or intent in upsetting the board. Doublejumper manager Baba Dudut said this interpretation was unreasonable and intent should be factored in.

A small hearing took place in the Ohio offices of the National Checker League. Present were Baba Dudut, Marvin, Commissioner Homeboy, and the referee of the match in question, Willy Will Wilson. Also present were D. Rock Noodle, Marvin's opponent in the disputed game, and the Pitchers' coach, Lefty Leftwing.

Baba Dudut started out with, "The rule's interpretation was ridiculous. Mr. Mavin didn't upset the board, the rainwater did. It's the Pitchers fault for not maintaining their stadium. They're the ones that should forfeit."

Lefty Leftwing snapped back, "Hey man, we ain't got no money on accounta police harassment."

"Can you explain that?" the Commissioner said. "No, don't bother, it's irrelevant."

"Defund the police, man," Lefty said, but meanwhile Willy Will had spoken up.

"I calls 'em as I sees 'em," he said. "The rule is what it is. Not up to me to redefine it."

Marvin looked as if he wanted to say something but Baba Dudut hissed, "Remember what I told you, not a word--- you're in enough trouble as it is."

The argument continued for several more minutes. Finally the Commissioner said, "Enough of this. Rule 3.1415926 is poorly written and needs to change. I'll turn that over to our lawyers and for a few million dollars they should be able to come up with a wording change in a couple of years. But meanwhile we have to resolve this. My decision is that the game be replayed right here and now, in this office to settle the matter."

Marvin and D. Rock looked at each other. Lefty and Baba looked at each other.

"But Marvin was going to ... "

"But the rule says ... "

"Stop!" the Commissioner commanded. "Replay the game right now with no further discussion!"

Meanwhile assistants had set up a side table with a checker board and set.

"Well, you heard the Commissioner!" the two coaches said almost simultaneously to the two players.

Marvin and D. Rock sat down. There was no handshake. Willy Will Wilson didn't have his whistle along and so couldn't blow it. The game began.

After a while, the following position was reached with Marvin to move. Again, all he needed was a draw. Just as Marvin was about to make his move, D. Rock started singing, "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head" in a loud voice.

"It won't work, bro," Marvin said, "not this time."

He made his move.

---

In this tense situation, what would you have done? You "only" need a draw ... can you find it? Give it your best and then click on Read More to see the solution and the rest of our little story.

Solution

Marvin moved 7-2 and play continued.

7-2 25-22 2x9 22-17 21-25 17x10 9-14 10x17 (29-22 loses) 25-22 17x26 30x7 Drawn.

The game was a draw, and the Doublejumpers were retroactively given the win for the match.

On the plane back to Detroit, Coach Baba Dudut said to Marvin, "Good thing you pulled that one off. You would have been in even worse trouble if you hadn't."

"Gee Coach," Marvin said, "don't I get no appreciation?"

"For fixing a problem you caused in the first place?"

"Hey, Coach it ain't my fault that ... "

"Don't want to hear it," Coach replied.

Marvin kept silent the rest of the way home, but privately he was wondering about the similarities between the Coach's logic and his wife's.