It's double barreled action in today's installment of Checker School, as we continue to bring you interesting situations from Boland's Famous Positions in the Game of Checkers.

Let's look at one that you might find challenging. It's by F. W. Drinkwater, and the solution contains a number of "star" moves. (A "star" move is a move for which there is no alternative, and it's often rather hard to spot.) Fire away!

F. W. DRINKWATER
WHITE

BLACK
Black to Play and Draw

B:W28,32,K15:B3,12,26.

If you missed the target on that one, prime the second barrel and try this easier position, which arises from a variant of the first problem's solution. It's credited to A. Sinclair.

A. SINCLAIR
BLACK

WHITE
Black to Play, White Wins

B:WK14,K15,18:BK22,K23.

No matter how well you've aimed, though, you won't get shot down. Trip the mouse trigger on Read More and score a bullseye with Ben Boland's solutions, illustrative game, and detailed notes.

Solutions

Drinkwater: 12-16, 28-24, 16-20*, 24-19, 26-31, 15-18, 20-24, 18-22, 3-8---A, 22-18, 8-12, 18-22, 24-28, 22-18, 31-26, 19-15, 12-16*, 15-10, 16-20*, 18-15, 26-23*, 10-7, 20-24*, 7-3, 24-27. Drawn. Editor's Note: A marvelous example of maneuvering to get, and keep, the opposition.

Sinclair: 22-26, 15-1.1, 26-22, 18-15, 22-18, 14-9, 23-19, 15-10, 19-15, 9-14. White Wins.

Game: 11-15, 23-19, 8-11, 22-17, 9-13, 17-14, 10-17, 21-14, 15-18, 19-15, 4-8, 24-19, 6-10, 15-6, 1-17, 26-22, 18-25, 30-14, 2-6, 29-25, 6-10, 25-21, 10-17, 21-14, 13-17, 26-22, 17-26, 31-26, 31-22, 11-16, 22-18, 16-23, 14-10, 7-14, 18-9, 5-14, 27-9, 8-11, 9-6, 11-15---B, 6-2, 15-18, 2-6, 18-23, 6-10, 23-26, 10-15. Forms above position, by F. W. Drinkwater, the New England Checker Player, Vol. 5, Oct. 1880.

A---24-28, 19-16, 3-7, 16-12, 7-11, 22-18, 11-16, 18-15, 31-26, 12-8, 26-22, 8-3, 16-20, 3-7, 22-26, 15-19, 26-31, 7-10, 31-26, 10-15, 26-22, 19-23, 20-24, 23-19, 22-26, 15-18, 24-27, 32-23, 28-32, 18-14, 32-27, 23-18, 27-23, 19-16, or 19-24. Forms a variation of the above position by A. Sinclair; continue 26-22, 18-15, 22-18, 16-19. White Wins.

B---3-7, 6-2, 7-10, 2-6, 10-14, 6-10, 14-17, 28-24, 17-22, 10-14, 11-16, 14-18, 22-25, 24-20, 16-19, 18-15, 19-24, 32-28. White Wins. E. Roberts vs. F. W. Drinkwater, Game No. 535 in the New England Checker Player.

The above position by F. W. Drinkwater, may be found as No. 496 in the New England Checker Player, Oct. 1880. It is No. 105 in Lyman's and No. 127 in Gould's Problem Book.

A. Sinclair's position first appeared as No. 88 in the Glasgow Herald. It was then published in Bowen's "Cross," 1878, and later as No. 71 (after first move) in Lyman's and No. 888 in Gould's Problem Book.