Tommy Wagner was finishing up his sophomore (2nd) year at a large high school in central Florida. Recall that from our last story, Tommy's coach, Coach Schann, had moved him up to fifth board on the Varsity Checker squad's first team. His performance had been solid, and with summer coming up, it wouldn't be long until fall tryouts. As a junior (3rd year), Tommy would like to be able to move up a board or two.

He had good chances. The top three players, a titled Master and two Experts, were graduating. But still the competition would be tough. The fourth board player was also an Expert. Tommy had reached Class A but there were three other Class A players on the second team and they too were wanting to move up.

There was just one little problem: Tommy was tired. He had worked hard all through the school year, not just on checkers but on his schoolwork, and had turned in a series of straight A report cards, earning top marks in nearly every one of his classes.

But he wanted some time off. He wanted to go fishing and ride his bicycle and sleep late in the morning. He wanted to sit out in the shade and read some science fiction. And he wanted to make another attempt at reconciling with his former girlfriend Tina--- or lacking that, find a new one.

He didn't want to study checkers every morning and evening. He didn't want to work as a checker coach at summer camp. And sad to say, he didn't want to go for lessons with Uncle Ben every Saturday morning.

Uncle Ben was a retired checker professional who had had a storied career and had written many well received checker instruction books. He took on a small number of students, generously giving his time for free to promising candidates. Tommy was his star pupil and the two of them had built a close relationship. Although Ben wasn't really Tommy's uncle, Tommy saw him as one.

But Tommy wanted a few weeks, maybe even a month, of pure leisure.

Tommy's mom wasn't too happy about this. "You need to talk to Uncle Ben," she said, "he's been very good to you and you really shouldn't let him down."

"Okay, Mom, I will, but gee ... "

His mom interrupted. "No more, Tommy. We'll talk about this after you've talked with Uncle Ben.

So when Saturday came around, Tommy didn't skip down the sidewalk in anticipation as he usually did when on his way to Uncle Ben's porch, where he knew a fresh pitcher of lemonade would be waiting along with lots of checker material to learn.

Tommy arrived at Uncle Ben's and pretty much dragged himself up the steps of the front porch. Uncle Ben, of course, couldn't help but notice.

"Let's have some lemonade and talk a little," Uncle Ben said in a calm voice. "We don't need to rush to get into our lesson this morning. Help yourself!" Uncle Ben indicated the icy cold pitcher. "Please pour me a glass, too."

Tommy did as he was asked. He had to admit that the lemonade looked and smelled as wonderful as always. When he had handed Uncle Ben his glass and took a seat with his own, Tommy said, "I bet my Mom called you."

"Actually, she didn't," Uncle Ben said, "but it's obvious that's something is ailing you and I know what it is."

"Really?" replied Tommy. "But how could you ... "

"Tommy, I'm an old fellow and I've seen a lot in my days. You've got a case of checker fatigue, pure and simple. It happens to all of us sometimes. Even to me."

"To you, Uncle Ben?" Tommy said incredulously.

"Yes, and more than once. The first time was in college and the second time was when I moved up from AAA checkers to the Majors. I should have been excited and thrilled, and I guess I was, but I had put in so much effort I didn't know if I had anything left to give."

"I kind of feel that way too," Tommy said. "I really think I've worked hard and now it's time to move up, but that means working even harder. And then working still harder after that to do well for the team."

"You're right," Uncle Ben said, "there is a lifetime of work ahead of you."

"What did you do when you felt that way, Uncle Ben?"

"What I did, Tommy, was to take a look back, and took the time to realize hard work had brought me a long way. But I also recognized that things go along one step at a time, and instead of thinking I was facing endless years of work, I focused on the one thing that came next. In the college case, it was making it into the pro ranks. Never mind about A or AAA or the Majors; the first thing was just to get in. And then later when I did hit the Big Show, it was just, let's win the next match. Not, let's win every match this season, but just the next one, one at a time. And ... I also made sure I got some rest during the off-season."

"How did you do that?"

"I took off the first two weeks after the season ended and didn't even think about checkers. I visited home, I went to a few shows, I slept late a few times ... kind of like you're thinking about doing."

"Yes ... but ... don't you want me to continue working hard?"

"Of course I do, Tommy. But I can tell when someone needs a break, too. Now, you've got over ten weeks until the fall tryouts. I'll show you some material today and give you some to take home with you. But I want you to take two weeks off to ride your bike and go hiking and all the things you want to do. However, after those two weeks it will be time to get back to work. And I think you'll be more than ready to do so. In fact, you'll want to get back to work."

Tommy once again thought about what a wise man Uncle Ben was and how lucky he was to have him as a mentor. "Sounds great, Uncle Ben!" he said with renewed cheer.

"All right then, young man, let's look at a problem that involves the notion of a pitch."

Uncle Ben pointed to a position he had set up on an adjacent checkerboard.

"I'll pour us a little more lemonade while you work this one out."

Tommy smiled and set to work.

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Yes, we all need a break at times, and if we've been working intensely at it for a long while, perhaps even a break from checkers. But let's hold off on that and solve today's problem. Match wits with Tommy and then click on Read More to see the solution, the brief conclusion of our story, a sample game, and no less than 21 additional examples.

Solution and Additional Material

"Got it, Uncle Ben!" Tommy then demonstrated the winning play (see #22 below).

"Well done, Tommy," Uncle Ben said. "Now, that will be all for today. Here's a sheet of problems for you to take home with you. But put them aside during your two week vacation. Then take the next week to work through them and bring your solutions back with you the following Saturday."

Uncle Ben handed Tommy the material shown below, and this time, Tommy skipped down the sidewalk as he made his way back home.

Game----11-15, 22-17, 15-19, 24-15, 10-19, 23-16, 12.19, 25-22, 8-11, 30-25, 4-8, 22-18, 11-16, 27-23, 8-12, 18-15, 3-8, 17-13, 7-10, 25-22, 10-14, 31-27, 14-18, 23-14, 9-25, 29-22, 2-7, 27-23, 7-10, 32-27, 10-14, 22-17, 16-20, 23-16, 12-19, 17-10, 19-23, 26-19, 8-11, 15-8, 6-31, 8-3, 31-26, 3-7, 1-6, 21-17, 26-23, 7-3 (see 22 below, draw), 23-19, 3-7, 19-16, 7-3, 16-11, 17-14---Forms No. 22.

THE PITCH

1. W. Payne, No. 7, His Introd. to Game, 1756. B-3, 13, 14, K-24. W-19, 21, K-15, 22. W. W. 21-17, 14-21, 15-18.

2. J. Sturges, No. 2, His Crit. Sit. 1808. B-12, 21. K-27. W-30. K-19, 22. W. W. 30-26, 27-23, 19-15, 23-30, 15-19 by 1st Pos.

3. J. Sturges, No. 85 Ibid. B-23, 28. K. 20, 22. W-32. K-11, 16, 30. W. W. 16-19, 22-26, 11-16, 20-11, 32-27.

4. J. Drummond No. 31 S. D. P. 3rd Ed. B-3, 5, 9. K-21. W-12, 13, 17. K-2, 6. W. W. 17-14, 9-18, 13-9, 5-14, 2-7.

5. R. Martins, No. 1 The Drs. Brd. Nov. 1869. (From Wyllie-Martins Match Games, 1864.) B-5, 12, 17, 21. W-20, 26, 29. K-28. W. W. 28-24, 5-9, 24-27, 9-13, 26-22, 17-26, 29-25. 21-30, 27-31.

6. R. M'Culloch No. 243 Lym. Prob. Bk. B-12, 14. K-25. W-22, 31. K-2, 11. W. W. 2-6, 25-18---A, 6-9, 14-17, 9-13, 17-21, 13-17, 18-23. 31-26, 23-30, 17-22.

A---Now No. 20 Jan. Anderson also No. 6 Duffy's Stand. Pt. 1.

7. C. F. Barker, No. 6 His A. C. P., 1880. B-5, 6. K-20. W-13, 29. K-14. W. W. 29-25, 20-16, 25-22, 16-11, 22-18, 11-7, 13-9, 6-13, 18-15.

8. A. Schaefer, No. 113 L. P. Bk. B-6, 14. K-11. W-13. K-22, 23. W. W. 22-18, 14-17, 23-26, 11-7, 18-14, 17-21, 13-9, 6-13, 26-22.

9. D. Robertson No. 680 G. Prob. Bk. B-11, 13, 19, 20. K-26. W-21, 27, 28. K-23. B. W. 19-24, 28-19, 11-16, 19-12, 26-19, 12-8, 19-15, 8-3, 20-24, 27-20, 15-11.

10. A. Hannah Gem 32 D. W. Vol. 4, End Game. B-5, 12. K-18, 30. W-13, 20. K-19, 24. W. W. 19-23, 18-27, 24-31, 30-25, 31-26 25-21, 13-9.

11. J. A. Kear, Pg. 184, Kear's Sturg. B-1, 3, 5, 20. K-19. W-10, 13, 14, 17, 28. B. W. 19-15, 10-7, 3-10, 14-7, 1-6:7-3, 15-11, 17-14, 6-10 as No. 22.

12. Herakles, No. 233 W. Prob. Bk. B-12, 13. K-30. W-26, 28, 31. K. 22. W. W. 28-24, 30-23, 31-26, 23-30, 24-20.

13. W. J. Perrett, No. 37 W. Prob. Bk. B-9, 21. K-27. W-23, 26. K-19. W. D. 23-18, 27-23, 18-14, 9-18, 19-15.

14. J. Wyllie Gem 25 D. W. Vol. 4 (from Ferrie-Wyllie Match Book). B-1, 12. K-30. W-5, 20, 22. B. W. 30-26, 22-18, 26-23, 18-15, 12-16, 20-11, 23-18.

Atwell in His Scient. Drs. gives this setting: J. Drummond, No. 110. B-13, 14, 28. W-21, 32. K-6. W. W. 6-10, 14-18, 21-17, 13-22, 10-15.

15. W. F. Prine No. 66 W. Prob. Bk. B-1, 16, 20. K-14. W-27, 28. K-2, 24. B. W. 14-10, 2-6, 10-15, 6-9, 1-6, 9-2, 15-10.

16. Wm. Beattie No. 98 W. Prob. Bk. B-6, 7, 18. K-29. W-13, 15, 22. K-31. W. W. 13-9, 6-13, 31-26, 18-25, 26-30.

17. J. Wilkie, No. 60 Problemists' Guide. J. Wilkie, No. 60 Problemists' Guide. B-2, 5. K-15, 27, 32. W-10, 13, 21. K-8, 14. W. W. 10-7, 2-11, 13-9, (any move) then 14-17.

18. L. L. Granger No. 40 W. Prob. Bk. B-2, 4. K-23. W-15, 16, 30. K-17. W. W. 30-26, 23-30, 17-22, 2-7, 15-10---A, 7-14. 16-11.

A---P. J. Lee No. 26 His Prob. Bk. plays 22-18, 30-26, 15-11, 7-10, 11-7, 4-8, 7-2, 8-12.

19. S. D. Q., Vol. 3, Game 73. B-13, 15. K-22. W-11, 21, 24. B. W. 15-19, 24-15, 22-18, 15-10, 18-15. Curley's Gem. B-13. K-16. W. 21, 24, 27. W. D. avoids above idea by 21-17: D. P. W. M., 1885.

20. "Bobus" Pg. 390 D. W. Vol. 24. B-5, 24. K-25. W-13. K-26, 32. W. W. 26-31, 24-28, 31-26, 25-21, 13-9.

21. J. M'Lellan, Gem 646 D. W. Vol. 29. (No. 1457 People's Jour.) B-5, 12, K-30. W-13, 23, K-31. W. W. 23-19, 30-25, 31-26, 25-21, 13-9, 5-14, 26-22.

22. A. Anderson, No. 299 Lyman's Prob. Bk. From his Guide 1852. 6-10, 14-7, 11-2, 3-8, 2-7, 8-12, 20-24, 28-19, 7-11. B. W.

At 7th move before diagram; F. Allen shows this draw: No. 13 D. Brd. June 1, 1869: 7-3, 23-19, 3-8, 19-15---A, 8-12, 15-19, 12-8, 20-24, 8-3, 24-27, 3-7, 27-32, 7-11, 32-27, 17-14, 27-32, 14-10, drawn.

A---19-16, 17-14, 16-19, 8-11, 19-16, 11-8, drawn. This was later shown by Wyllie too.

In Gem 104 D. W. Vol. 7, Wyllie shows how J. C. Brown could have won from Ferrie in the Scottish Trny. Bk., 1896. Double Corner Game. W. MacAdam also published same.

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Uncle Ben's Porch is a purely fictitious account of the retirement days of the great checker player and author Ben Boland. Material in this column comes from his classic treatise Familiar Themes in the Game of Checkers. Proofreading is graciously provided by Lloyd Gordon but your editor remains solely responsible for any errors. OCR transcription from old prints is indeed error prone; please let us know if you find anything that needs correction by writing to us at editor@checkermaven.com.