No one knew much about her, not where she lived, if anywhere; not who her parents were, if she even had any; not even what her real name might be, if she herself even knew what it was. They all just called her "The Little Checker Girl" because she would be seen on various streets around the downtown area of this big northern city, sitting with her back up against a building, her checkerboard on the sidewalk in front of her, asking and sometimes even begging passers-by to play a game with her.

"Play checkers for a dollar?" she would call out. "Easy to play, easy to win!" Once in a while someone would take pity, or take interest, or just take a moment, and a dollar bill would go into the grimy pocket of the girl's tattered overcoat.

They would see her even on cold days and often well after darkness, inviting play under a street lamp. "Only a dollar! Play a game before you go home!" But in the chill darkness of the night, there was no crowd and the few stragglers just wanted to go to their trains or cars or buses, to get home and out of the cold, to have a hot meal, and to climb into a warm bed. But there was none of that for the Little Checker Girl.

If someone asked her name she would perhaps say Suzie, or maybe Carol or Betty or something else. A few people, the ones who passed by more often, would ask, "What's your name today, Little Checker Girl?"

Little Checker Girl was thin and wan. She looked a bit better in the summer but the winters took their toll. She had been playing on the streets for about three years, and those who cared to think about it believed her to be around ten years old. But not likely, they said, to be around much longer.

This winter had unfortunately been especially severe, and there were many days and nights of cold and snowy weather. It was late in December and tonight was in fact Christmas Eve. Most offices had let out early and by dark the streets were nearly empty. But the Little Checker Girl was still huddled up against a building, hoping to play a game for a dollar; maybe someone would even give her an extra dollar because it was almost Christmas.

She needed the money badly; what no one knew was that she lived in a room in a crumbling apartment building that had long been abandoned. She had found a spot on a high enough floor where the drunks and the vagrants didn't go because it was too much of a climb on steep stairs. She got water from a faucet in a nearby courtyard. She had scavenged an old bucket and a little tiny oil stove on which she warmed whatever food she could obtain, and then use it--- sparingly, as oil was costly--- to make a little heat on the coldest nights.

Unfortunately on this night, on Christmas Eve, she had neither money nor food and the oil canister was empty. Filling it up cost five dollars and food cost a couple of dollars more. So she stayed out in the bleak night in the hopes of getting just enough money to buy a little fuel and something to eat.

But then it started to snow and the street was now completely empty. In sadness the Little Checker Girl packed up her board and pieces and started on her way to her bleak and cheerless home. It would be a cold and hungry night, but at least she could get out of the snow and the biting wind that was now blowing stinging snowflakes into her face.

However, the snow soon became so heavy that she couldn't see a foot in front of her. She must have lost her way, for much time had passed and still she hadn't reached the old building in which she took refuge.

Finally she gave up and went into an alleyway to get a respite from the wind. She huddled up in a corner, pressing her back into the walls of a grimy brick building, hoping that perhaps a little heat would leak through from inside. It was so very cold.

The Little Checker Girl wrapped her arms around herself and before long her eyes closed. Her mind as well as her body was numb and she wanted to sleep, not realizing that she might never again awaken.

"Little Checker Girl, wake up! I want to play a game of checkers with you!"

Slowly Little Checker Girl's eyes opened. Vaguely she remembered falling asleep--- or was it something else?--- in an alley in the midst of a snowstorm. But now she saw neither snow nor grimy walls nor dingy buildings. She was in a soft bed, covered with warm quilts, in a small rustic cabin where a fire was blazing brightly on the hearth.

The voice she heard belonged to an elderly, grey-haired woman with kind eyes and a soft expression. "Come over to the table," she said, "and in a moment we can play a game or two of checkers."

Little Checker Girl folded back the bedclothes and saw that she was clothed in a fine wool nightdress, with woolen stockings on her feet and a woolen cap on her head. There was no sign of her tattered overcoat or her other well-worn clothing. In the center of the cabin there was a rough wooden table, and on it was a fragrant loaf of bread, plates of butter and jam, and a steaming pot of tea ... and her checkerboard and pieces.

Little Checker Girl realized how hungry she was and, murmuring thanks, went to the table and spread slices of bread thick with jam and butter. She ate gratefully and drank some of the delicious hot tea. And while she had her meal, the best meal she could remember in ages and ages, the kindly old woman spoke.

"You know, your name isn't really Little Checker Girl," she said, "or any of the other names you've been using. It's actually Maureen and I know all about you. I know how your parents and brothers and sisters all died in a fire one night, and how you escaped with only your checkerboard and the clothes on your back. You were afraid and ran away and no one ever found you, for they all thought you died in the fire too."

Maureen looked up, surprised. "But I don't remember ... " she started to say, but the kindly woman interrupted.

"No you don't," she said, "it was so horrible your mind blocked out your memories. And even though I tell you of it now, it will all still stay locked away. That's for the best, I think, and in any event you are safe now in a warm place with food to eat and someone to care for you. If you wish, you may stay here with me for as long as you like. There are other children in the neighborhood with whom you can play, there are schools where you can go to learn, and you need not worry about anything ever again."

Maureen stood and walked around the cabin. Outside she could see a mist imbued with warm, ethereal light. "Oh! It is such a generous offer! I will of course stay here and live with you," she said. 'But what shall I call you?"

"My name is Seraphina, and I am your Guardian Angel."

Maureen smiled and went to Seraphina and gave her an affectionate hug. "Thank you again," Maureen said, "and we can play that game of checkers now if you wish."

---

Our story is of course inspired by the Hans Christian Andersen classic The Little Match Girl. We hope you found it appropriate to the season.

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Maureen and Seraphina played checkers often and their games were always friendly, spirited, and a great source of enjoyment for them both. Here's one game that led to an interesting position.

1.	11-15	23-19
2.	7-11	22-17
3.	11-16	26-23
4.	16-20	30-26
5.	2-7	25-22
6.	8-11	19-16

22-18 was best here. Black now will get a solid advantage.

7.	12-19	23-16
8.	4-8	16-12
9.	11-16	17-13

How would you win this one? What move do you think Maureen played? Can you match wits with her? See what you can do and then click on Read More to see the solution.

Solution

10.	8-11*	26-23
11.	10-14*	29-25

Although 29-25 seems natural, Lloyd Gordon wrote to point out that 23-18 is the computer move here, but Black still wins:

2. ... 23-18 3. 14x23 27x18 4. 20x27 31x24 5. 7-10 21-17 6. 16-19 24-20 7. 19-23 28-24 8. 23-26 32-27 9. 26-31 27-23 10. 31-26 23-19 11. 26-23 19-16 12. 23x21 16x7 13. 15-18 22x15 14. 10x28 7-2 Black Wins.

12.	14-17	21x14
13.	9x18	23x14
14.	6-9	13x6
15.	1x26	31x22
16.	5-9	25-21

Mr. Gordon additionally suggests 22-17 as requiring Black to find a very long win; however, 25-21 is the computer move here. You might wish to explore with your own computer.

17.	9-13	21-17
18.	7-10	...

Black Wins.

Maureen played quite well, capitalizing on the one real mistake made by her guardian angel Seraphina. Back in the real world, though, today's setting was derived from a game played in 1885 between Patrick Frazer and Alexander McMillan in Glasgow. As sometimes happens the problem turned out to be far more complicated and difficult than we had wished and would possibly have been a draw in over the board play.