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The press. It might refer to a printing press, as above, or perhaps a press reporter. Or maybe pressing clothes, as shown below.

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There are also a coffee press, press-on nails, and many other things. But in checkers, of course, press has its own meaning, and if you solve today's Checker School problem, you'll see an example. (There ... we've already given a big hint.) The problem is attributed to one E. J. Rees and appears in Andrew Banks' eclectic book Checker Board Strategy.

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:W18,22,27,29,31,K32:B4,7,K8,13,K26

This one isn't particularly hard, although there's an unusual twist. Press on and find the solution. No press-ure; take all the time you wish, and then press your mouse on Read More to see the solution and some interesting notes.

Solution

29-25* 26-17 25-21* 17-22---A 21-17* 22-15 31-26* 13-31 32-28* 31-24 28-12 White Wins.

A---The computer thinks this is the worst move by some margin, and that Black should just let the king be taken. However the text is what almost any human would play.

About the problem Mr. Banks notes "(This) Illustrates a spare move, forcing a king to press, and (an) in-and-out jump. Try to occupy a key position at a critical time. Mr. Rees lived in America and is now Champion of Wales."

But let's go back to the computer, which recommends that the Black king not press with 17-22. Here's one of the computer lines (there are several with roughly equal evaluations):

29-25* 26x17 25-21* 8-3 21x14 3-8 27-23 7-11 14-9 13-17 9-6 17-22 6-2 etc.

and on to a long piece-up win for White. Hardly as spectacular and definitely with a "computer" rather than a "human" feel. In any case we certainly hope you were im-press-ed by today's problem.