We get our title for today's Checker School installment from the look of the problem position.

WHITE

BLACK
Black to Play and Draw

B:W28,27,K15,10:BK22,20,16,12.

Black's little "bump" of three men off on the left side of the board is a formation that spells trouble, because it has no mobility, and mobility is what checkers is all about. But this bump in the road, though it's kind of a rough one, won't cause a wreck--- if you know how to handle it. There's a draw here for Black; can you find it?

Don't let this problem bump you off; solve it and then give your mouse a bump on Read More to see the solution, a sample game, and complete notes.

Solution

The solution and lettered notes are from Ben Bolands Famous Position in the Game of Checkers. Numbered notes are by the Editor, using the KingsRow computer engine.

22-17 (or 22-26), 10-7, 17-22---A, 7-2, 22-26, 2-7, 26-22---4, 7-11, 22-26, 15-10, 26-22, 10-14, 22-26, 14-17, 26-31, 28-24, 16-19. Drawn.

Game: 9-14, 22-18, 5-9, 25-22, 12-16, 24-19, 16-20, 30-25, 8-12---1, 22-17, 9-13, 18-9, 13-22, 26-17---2, 6-22, 25-18, 11-15---3, 18-11, 7-16, 23-18, 16-23, 18-14, 10-17, 21-14, 23-26, 31-22, 4-8, 22-18, 8-11, 29-25, 3-7, 25-22, 2-6, 27-23, 1-5, 32-27, 6-10, 14-9, 5-14, 18-9, 10-15, 9-6, 11-16, 6-2, 15-19---B, 2-11, 19-26, 11-15, 26-30, 22-17, 30-26, 17-14, 26-22, 14-10. Forms above position. G. F. Allan, Var. 1, Game 1921, the Draughts World, Vol. 27, Feb. 1906.

A---17-14, 7-2, 14-9, 15-10, 9-5, 2-6, 5-1, 6-9, 1-5, 9-14, 5-1, 14-18---C, 1-5, 18-23, 5-9, 23-26, 9-5, 26-31, 5-9, 28-24, 9-5, 27-23, 20-27, 31-24, 5-9, 23-18*. White Wins. G. F. Allan.

B---7-10, 2-6, 10-14, 6-9, 14-18, 23-14, 15-19. Drawn. G. F. Allan vs. W. J. Cheal, Game 1921, Draughts World, played by correspondence.

C---A shorter way to win; 18-23, 9-5, 10-14. J. Macfarlane.

1---11-15 is definitely to be preferred.

2---25-18 was the correct jump; the game is now even once again.

3---2-6 would have been better.

4---26-31 has to wait: 26-31? 15-18 31-24 28-19 16-23 18-27 12-16 7-10 16-19 10-15 19-24 27-32 24-28 15-11 20-24 11-15 White Wins.

The above position by J. Macfarlane, may be found as No. 1335, in the Draughts World, Vol. 28, March 1906. It was given as a correction of Game 1921 (see above), Var. 1, at 11th move.

Compare the above position to the Wyllie, Robertson, and Petterson Position, Page 175*, and also to the Jackson Position, Page 128*.

*---In Mr. Boland's book---Ed.