The holiday season is in full swing and we extend greetings and best wishes to all of our readers. No matter which holiday you celebrate, may you find happiness and blessing.

We thought we'd present a little longer study this week. Perhaps you'll have some extra spare time over the holidays (or perhaps not!), but in any case it's a good one. The problem situation is based on a game contested in Markham, Ontario, on April 15, 1889. The players were checkerists Fleming and Wright, and the game and variations appeared in a relatively short-lived periodical called The Chicago Evening Lamp.

Perfectly played thus far, and we've reached the end of the KingsRow opening book for the game as actually played.

This seemingly natural move actually loses. 25-22 would have been correct to draw.

Here the Lamp called the game a draw and showed a drawing line. But it's actually a Black win.

WHITE

BLACK
Black to Play and Win

B:W14,18,19,20,22,30:B1,2,5,6,11,K27

Can you do better than the Lamp did, over 130 years ago? Shed some light on this interesting position, and then click on Read More to illuminate the solution and notes.

Solution

The Lamp gave this play:

Drawn.

However Black wins as follows:

27-23 only draws.

19-16 26-22 Black Wins.

8-3 10-6 Black Wins.

Black Wins. Quite a nice demonstration of technique.

And now, enjoy the holidays. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!