Once again we're coming up on Labor Day, a great holiday that can trace its origins in the United States back over 140 years. Labor Day is celebrated in Canada at the same time, although many other countries opt instead for May 1.

Be that as it may, it's a day to honor workers of all stripes. You might be a business executive.

Or maybe you're a plumber.

Perhaps even a welder.

No matter. As we say every year, we feel that all honest work is worthy of respect and recognition. We don't think of any job as either lowly or elite; we're all just trying to get the job done in our own field and in our own way.

It's a three-day weekend and that might just allow a little extra time for checkers, amidst the parades, celebrations, BBQs, and everything else. So let's call on America's own Louis Ginsberg, one of the greats of the Golden Age of checkers. Here's a problem of his that we believe dates to the late 1920s.

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Draw

W:WK3,6,11,21:B5,10,12,14,K28

This one requires persistence and many "star" moves. Labor away at it, and then work your mouse over to Read More to show the solution.

In our ongoing Checker School series, we've been following along in Andrew J. Banks eclectic 1945 book Checker Board Strategy. Today we come to a set of articles on the topic of memorization. In our picture above, the protagonist is evidently trying to memorize a list of words. Of course today we know of many systems to aid in memorization, but the question of course is, what role does memorization play in our game of checkers? In Mr. Banks' first segment, he talks about repetition. Let's hear what he has to say.

Drew Carriker - Creative Commons

"I am a bookworm," chuckled Hatley, "I will memorize everything." It was during his February vacation in Florida when he started to study "Lees' Guide." In his room and on the white sands of Daytona Beach, he memorized game after game, but when he returned to the Nation's Capital, he discovered that Stone did not play those games. Hatley soon forgot them; hence he was completely discouraged. What was his mistake?

He had violated the rule of repetition; he had tried to memorize too many games at one time. Natural--- but incorrect! He should have selected fewer games, then repeated them from memory not only on the first day, but on the second, third, fourth, seventh, and eleventh days also. To see what it was that he had forgotten, he should have tested his memory immediately, then again and again on later days until he could follow the sequence of cause and effect through each game and some of its variations. Remembering is aided by repetition and spacing periods of study.

Public Domain

There is practically no limit to the amount that one can learn. Richard Jordan, for example, early in his meteoric career, defeated three famous world champions--- James Ferrie, Robert Stewart, and James Wyllie; and he himself became world champion in 1896. Moreover, in 1897, he again defeated Robert Stewart. Richard Jordan could play 20 games simultaneously at an exhibition while blindfolded; then he could repeat all of them from memory; and in addition he could remember those games backward. He apparently enjoyed recalling games that he had played.

Repeat and repeat from memory--- not from the book; then your memory troubles will not be so bad.

Public Domain

Certainly modern theory supports the idea of learning by repetition at spaced intervals, as famously championed by the SuperMemo system and many others; but Mr. Banks unfortunately doesn't address the main question. Should memorization be a part of checker study? Some say yes, some say no. Dr. Tinsley expressed the view that checkers is more about what you see than what you remember. Others say that memorization is a necessary part of preparation, especially with some 3-move ballots. What do you think?

Here's a problem from the selfsame book. Would any amount of prior memorization help you solve it? Perhaps that's an irrelevant question to ask about a "gem" problem, as Mr. Banks styles this one--- or is it?

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:WK12,17,K20,K21:B11,22,K26,K28

You decide. Solve the problem and then click on Read More to see the solution. And do write to us with your thoughts on memorization in checkers.

In one of the nightly contests between our regular contributors from Toronto, Lloyd and "Gosh Josh" Gordon, Lloyd remarked that "Josh slipped out."

We don't know if Gosh Josh can be said to be "slippery as an eel" but the following position, which is of "speed problem" difficulty (on the easier side relatively speaking), shows what he is capable of under pressure.

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Draw

W:W21,12,10,K7:B19,3,1,K18

Are you as slippery as Josh? Can you help White slide out of this one and get a draw? Sure you can ... and we don't even need to grease the way with a hint. Do click on Read More to see the slick solution.

When this column appears it will be the middle of the 4th of July holiday weekend. Here in Waikiki, where our Checker Maven offices are located, there will be plenty of people heading to the beach, including visitors from Hawaiian Neighbor Islands, the mainland, and places all around the world. It's lots of fun and a great way to enjoy the long weekend.

However, it may be that you wish to avoid crowds and stay at home. If you're reading this column, you're undoubtedly a checker enthusiast, and perhaps you might wish to spend a little time with an entertaining checker problem. In that spirit, we offer the following.

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:W14,K15,K18,26:BK5,7,17,24

Spend a little time--- you've got an extra day this weekend--- and see how you do. There are actually three ways to win this one; we suspect most players will find two but perhaps not the third. When you're ready to check your solution, just make a leisurely click of the mouse on Read More.

As of this writing the 4th of July 2025 is coming up in a few days. We've always said how much we like the 4th, and we've also often said that we're unapologetic American patriots. Certainly in the political sphere this has been an unusual year, but we believe a patriot always wants what's best for our country. The idea of what's best can of course vary widely across the political spectrum, but that too is part of the American way; everyone gets to have their say and to fight for what they believe in. Whether Democrat, Republican, Independent or otherwise, we can all support the idea of working to make the country and the world a better place.

Nearly every year for our 4th of July column we turn to a great checkerist, a great patriot, and a great problemist, Tom Wiswell. Here is one of his compositions.

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:B5,15,K31:W12,13,17,26

White is a piece up and you'd think it would be easy. But Black has a mobile king and things are not so clear. Of this problem, Mr. Wiswell says, "Simple--- therefore difficult."

Give it a good effort before clicking on Read More to see the solution.

Credit: Quotefancy

The quote above, used in a slightly different form by Mark Twain in Huckleberry Finn, is generally taken to mean that you are responsible for your actions. This certainly applies to many if not all things in life--- and it's something well illustrated in our game of checkers.

Today's problem is a first Saturday of the month speed problem, in which you pay your money (actually, you don't; The Checker Maven is a free public service) and take your choice--- of checker moves--- after which you'll be responsible for the outcome.

WHITE

BLACK
Black to Play; What Result?

B:W14,15,17,19,22,25,30,32:B5,7,8,9,10,11,13,23

The problem isn't hard at all; you just have to make the right choice. Which jump do you take? What will be the outcome of one jump or the other? See what consequences your choices may have, and then choose to click on Read More to see the solution.

There's quite a collection of props in the photo above. These are undoubtedly theater props, but the word "props" has a number of meanings.

Continuing along with our Checker School series and Andrew J. Banks unusual book Checker Board Strategy, we come to the topic of checker props, wherein lies a valuable lesson.

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:WK3,K22,23,30:B11,13,K15,K27

Most experienced players will be able to solve this one fairly readily; the less experienced checkerist may have to think a bit. Either way, it's fine. Give it a try and then prop your mouse on Read More to see the solution.

In baseball, we're told to "keep your eye on the ball" and this phrase has spread widely; it's often heard in business discussions, for instance. In ice hockey, there's a saying that goes "keep your eye on the puck and you won't get a puck in the eye." There are other examples like "keep your eye on the prize" and "keep your eye on the birdie" and no doubt many others.

Yes, checkers too. The phrase "keep your eye on the draw" is well-known in checkers and is often attributed to Tom Wiswell. It's something of an appeal for caution; we are to ensure that each move we make won't, at minimum, lead to a loss.

In the following position, from actual play between regular Toronto based contributors Lloyd and "Gosh Josh" Gordon, the draw is all there is, and both sides need to make several star moves to avoid a loss. It's a keen eye that must be kept on the draw.

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play; Both to Draw

W:W17,19,21,23,24,27,29,30,31,32:B1,3,5,6,7,10,12,14,15,16,20

Eyeball this one and see if you can find the draw for both sides; then when you're ready, click on Read More to lay eyes on the solution.

When voting you have to make a choice. It's often (though not always) between two viable candidates. There are of course endless situations in life that require making a choice. Sometimes there are many options, some times just one or two. We make choices in checkers, too, among various possible moves. This column has the title "Tinsley's Choice" for reasons that will soon become apparent.

Today's problem derives from a position that occurred in the 1956 U.S. National tournament in a game played by the great Marion Tinsley against one A. Cameron. You won't be surprised to hear that Dr. Tinsley won the game, but you may be surprised at just how he won. First let's look at the run-up to the critical position.

Loses. 10-6 would hold the draw.

WHITE

BLACK
Black to Play and Win

B:WK5,20,21,23,31:B6,10,11,12,13,K25

At this juncture you might or might not be surprised to hear that there are just two Black moves which lead to a win (if we told you why we'd give too much away). We would of course expect Black, being a piece up, to have the win. However one move leads to a longer win while another move leads to a snappy finish. Which one do you think Dr. Tinsley played? Can you find both of them and show the winning lines of play?

The answers may surprise you. See how you do and then click on Read More to see the solutions and to find out what actually happened over the board.

Fundamentals. They are the basis of success in any sport. Knowing how to swing your bat or position to catch a fly ball in baseball. Blocking and tackling in American football. Making free throws in basketball. And there are fundamentals in our game of checkers, too.

Today we have something that's not quite a speed problem but does fall more into the novice or beginner category. It's a sound exercise in those checker fundamentals--- seeing a win when one is there and then carrying it out.

WHITE

BLACK
Black to Play and Win

B:W19,22,23,24,26,28:B10,11,12,13,14,15

An experienced player won't have any difficulty with this one; if you fall into that category, see how quickly you can solve it. For the less experienced player, please don't give up until you find the solution, as it relies on relatively simple play that will score you many a point over the board. When you're ready, it's fundamental to know that clicking on Read More will show you the solution.