Today's problem by master composer Ed Atkinson, CV-6: Metamorphosis, is the last in our series of special Wednesday publications, intended to provide a little extra checker diversion during the public health crisis.

CV-6: Metamorphosis
BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:B7,18,K1,K23:W9,14,31,K5,K30

None of the problems in this series have been easy, and this one is no exception. You have the usual two weeks to find the solution before we publish it in this column. Meanwhile, stay safe and healthy, checker fans, wherever you are.

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:WK5,K11,12,16,K19,21,25,28:B2,3,6,K10,13,14,20,26K

1. ... 5-9---A 2. 14-18 12-8---B 3. 3x12 28-24 4. 20x27 21-17 5. 13x29 11-8 6. 6x13 19-23 7. 12x19 23x7 8. 2x11 8x22 White Wins---C

A---A star move and the only one to win. Seven other moves merely draw.

B---The order of moves is critical; if 1. ... 12-8 2. 3x12 5-9 now 3. 14-18 loses but 3. 26-30 draws (KingsRow).

C---Tom Wiswell called this one-holds-two formation the "Spread Eagle": 13-17 22-13 29-25 13-17 or 29-25 22-29 13-17 29-25 17-21 25-30, White Wins.

Composer Brian Hinkle says that this is one of his best problems. That's really saying something, as Brian has composed countless world-class checker problems. He also tells us this one was partially inspired by Ed Atkinson's "Jack in the Box" theme, in which a king becomes surrounded by four opposing pieces, as seen in our 15th Anniversary problem.

Thank you, Brian, for sending this one to us.

Memorial Day has a long history. Once called Decoration Day, it began in various forms after the Civil War, at least as early as 1868, but it wasn't until 1971 that it actually became an official Federal holiday in the United States. Originally it was celebrated on May 30, but it is now observed on the last Monday of May. (There is even a Confederate Memorial Day celebrated at the end of April in a few Southern states, but apparently it's not "politically correct" to mention it.)

Memorial Day is an important observation, a day to honor and remember those who gave everything to safeguard our freedom. As is so often said, freedom isn't free.

On Memorial Day weekend we like to feature a checker problem by a celebrated American composer from the past. Often it's Tom Wiswell, but this year we turn to Charles Hefter, who as a keen analyst specialized in problems that represented corrections to actual play. This makes Mr. Hefter's offerings practical as well as entertaining.

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:WK1,K9,14,20:B5,7,15,K23

The White win proposed by the problem terms might look a bit--- problematical-- but it's there, and not really all that difficult to find. Can you solve it? See what you can do and then click on Read More to see the solution.

Our special Wednesday CV series is intended to provide a little extra checker entertainment during difficult days. Our fifth problem, CV-5, comes from master composer Brian Hinkle. He didn't give this composition a title, and just points out that it's an 8 by 8 (eight pieces per side). We call it a "Mindbender." Keep in mind that the CV problems are intended to be challenging!

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:WK5,K11,12,16,K19,21,25,28:B2,3,6,K10,13,14,20,26K

You'll have two weeks to solve it, at which time we'll publish the solution. Good luck, and stay safe and healthy, checker fans, wherever you are.

CV-4: Donnybrook
BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:W6,13,20,21,24,28,31:B4,5,7,14,K22,K23,26

24-19 23x16 20x2 14-17---A 21x14 22-17 31x22 17x1---B 28-24---C 4-8 24-19 8-12 2-7---D 5-9 13x6 1x3 22-18 3-7 18-15 White Wins---E.

A---Black has a wide variety of possible moves here, but this 2 for 2 may give him the best chance for a draw over the board.

B---White seemingly has a crushing grip on the game, but in fact very precise play is necessary.

C---Moving the piece on 22 or playing 2-7 would give Black a 2 for 1.

D---But now White can and indeed must give Black a 2 for 1.

E---Winning with the move.

Problem composer Ed Atkinson notes that all White moves are star moves, and says of his problem, "This one has been described as 'weirdo' by a well known problemist and as 'psycho' by an expert player and solver."

We'd prefer to just call it "unique and entertaining." We hope you enjoyed it, and our thanks to Ed for sending it our way.

Our ongoing series of special Wednesday columns, intended to provide a little extra checker entertainment when we need it the most, continues with another fine and tough problem from master composer Ed Atkinson. He named it after Donnybrook Fair, which was known for its frequent brawls. If you solve this problem, you'll see why the title is appropriate.

CV-4: Donnybrook
BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:W6,13,20,21,24,28,31:B4,5,7,14,K22,K23,26

Be forewarned; this is a doozy! Once again, you have two weeks to work on it before we publish the solution.

We hope you are enjoying this series. Stay safe and healthy, checker fans, wherever you are.

Two weeks back, we presented Ed Atkinson's "Sturges Remembered" problem. We said that the title might give a slight hint toward the solution. Judge for yourself.

Problem CV-3
BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:B5,K2,K26:W10,23,29,K17

1. ... 23-19 2. 26-23 19-16 3. 23-19 16-11 4. 19-15 10-6 5. 15x8---A 17-13 6. 2x9 13x6 7. 8-12 6-10 8. 5-9 29-25 9. 12-16 10-15 10. 9-14---B 25-22 11. 14-18 15-11 White Wins---C.

A---The order of the jumps is immaterial.

B---Ed informs us that this is now into a problem by--- Joshua Sturges!

C---18-25 11-20 winning with the move, or 16-7 22-15 likewise, with the single man trapping the king!

Ed points out that all of White's first 10 moves are star moves--- no other moves will garner the win.

Our thanks to Ed for this fine composition.

It's May and summer is just around the corner. We're writing this in March so we don't know how late winter and early spring unfolded, but we're hoping that everyone came through it in good health and spirit. We trust that some merriment will be in order, perhaps such as a beautiful walk in the park, followed by this nice checker problem sent along by Josh and Lloyd Gordon of Toronto.

WHITE

BLACK
Black to Play and Draw

B:WK4,14,19,26,30,32:B3,6,11,17,24,28

White has the first king but it's trapped in the corner, so maybe Black can pull off the draw. The problem itself isn't all that tough, although it's a little bit beyond the strict "speed" category. So take as much time as you need, after which you "may" click your mouse on Read More to see the solution.

Stay safe and well, checker fans, wherever you are.

Joshua Sturges is best known to us for his early treatise on the game of draughts, or checkers. But as an innkeeper and proprietor of a "publick house" he was known for other things, including his ledger system for other innkeepers. Truly he was a man of many talents.

We continue our series of special Wednesday columns, intended to present a little extra entertainment during the current public health crisis. Today's problem, CV-3, was kindly provided by master problemist Ed Atkinson. He calls it Sturges Remembered (for checkers rather than innkeeping). That title might give you a small hint for this problem.

Once again we'll hold the solution for two weeks, at which time we'll present problem CV-4.

Without further ado, here's CV-3.

Problem CV-3
BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:B5,K2,K26:W10,23,29,K17

Enjoy solving this one! And stay safe and well, checker fans, wherever you are.

The bridge and trail above, near Martin, Tennessee, are named after Brian Brown. That's one example of "Brian's Bridge."

Today, for the second in our series of special Wednesday publications, we present problem CV-2, composed by Brian Hinkle, which is his own interpretation of "Brian's Bridge." Needless to say, it's a difficult problem--- something to keep you occupied during the present public health emergency--- and we'll give you two weeks to solve it before publishing both the solution and the next problem in our series (and let's hope this doesn't go on long enough to reach problem CV-19).

Here's the position.

Problem CV-2
BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:W7,9,11,17,31,32:B1,2,4,15,20,23

It is our wish that this problem, along with our regular Saturday columns, will provide you some needed entertainment during difficult days. Stay safe and well, checker fans, wherever you are.