Following on the heels of last month's "Two Fisted" checker problem, this month we again play real "hardball" with a position that one of the greats of checker history managed to get wrong. More about that when we discuss the solution, but first let's look at the following diagram.

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:W19,20,25,27,28,29,30,32:B3,7,8,11,12,13,14,17.

The originally published comment on this position was "... the following beautiful position ... appears to be a forced White win." That was something over 85 years ago. Modern computer analysis by KingsRow with the 10-piece endgame database declares the position a likely White win, but with a line of play different from the one published decades back.

In the solution, reached by clicking on Read More, we'll show you the computer line and give you a little more historical background. But first, we invite you to do your own analysis, and at the very least, decide how you would play the position. Certainly, it's a practical exercise, and although indeed we're playing hardball in asking you to do better than one of the game's leading champions of yore, the solution is surprisingly accessible.

In previous years, at this point on the calendar, we've explored the various meanings of both the term "Mayday!" and the various festivals that take place on the first day of May. And, although we've looked at the political aspects before, having come across the photo above, we can't help but revisit the topic once again.

The photo is of the enormous and elaborate "First of May Stadium" found in Pyonyang, the capital of the euphemistically-named Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), better known simply as "North Korea." The photo makes us marvel at the ability of this nation to build huge monuments to Communism and to its own maniacal leadership; to invest heavily in military "defense"; and most of all, to carry out an active nuclear weapons development program--- yet at the same time to be utterly unable to do something as basic as to keep its own people from starving. North Korea is neither "democratic" nor a "people's republic"; it is something both far less and far worse.

As we've so often said, The Checker Maven makes no excuse for standing up in the name of freedom and liberty.

But what has all this to do with checkers? Quite a lot, actually. If you want to think about what is truly "democratic" and what is truly for "the people" then there is little better a model than the game of checkers. It's democratic: anyone can play, and anyone can succeed to whatever degree they wish to work toward that success. It's for the people: checkers is a game that is very easy to learn, incredibly inexpensive, and wholesome, intellectual, and entertaining all at once.

In fact we'd like to suggest the "checkers model" for government, wherein all "men" are created equally, with no special powers or privileges except those earned through the hard work of making his or her way to the crowning row.

All that said, we know you'd like to see your weekly checker problem, and instead of the usual monthly speed problem, we've chosen a problem that is rather easy but still a bit beyond something that should be solved against the clock.

WHITE

BLACK
Black to Play and Win

B:W12,32,K17,K25:B3,7,23,K27.

Now, this is a democracy, and as one of the "people" you can exercise freedom of choice in selecting your moves. Can you lead the beleaguered force of Black freedom fighters to a win against the army of the White tyrant? Although no one is going to build a huge stadium in your honor if you succeed, we hope you'll try it anyhow, and then click on Read More to see the solution.

No fooling around, no sir-ee. What we have here today is an honest-to-goodness two-fisted, hard-core, serious checker problem. This week, wimpy checkerists need not apply. Do you think you're good? Do you have what it takes? Prove it. Have a look at this one. Read 'em and weep.

WHITE

BLACK
Black to Play and Win

B:W32,29,27,24,K17,11,K8:BK26,22,20,18,K15,5,2.

This problem was first published, as far as we know, something over 85 years ago, and it was variously listed as "advanced," "extra diffcult," and other such things. They weren't a-kiddin', folks. If you can solve it, you're good.

If you can't, there's always the Read More link, which will solve it for you. But you don't want that, do you? Stay in the fight and solve it on your own!

It's said that April showers "bring May flowers." Certainly, that's true at least in certain parts of North America, where, after a long winter season, the arrival of spring as a harbinger of warmer days is much awaited and indeed can't seem to come quickly enough.

And speaking of "quickly" it's our first column of the month, which brings neither showers nor flowers, but a speed problem. This one requires a little more thought than some others, and so we'll set the clock to 60 seconds. Can you solve our one-minute mystery? Click on the link below to set the second hand in motion and reveal the problem. Then, come back and click on Read More to have the solution rain down upon you.

April Speed Problem (medium difficulty)

The gadget shown above is known as a "boost fooler." Our Research Department, which came up with this week's illustration, informs us that a "boost fooler" allows a diesel engine turbocharger to achieve additional boost, or to quote from their source: "The fooler can fool your motor into allowing more boost without tripping an engine light. Despite its cheesy design, the boost fooler works flawlessly."

Notwithstanding this interesting introduction, if you're really anxious to get top power out of your diesel engine, you'd best look elsewhere than The Checker Maven; for today we present a real fooler of a different kind, intended to give boost to your checker game. It's a setting by Tom Wiswell, and it's anything but cheesy in design.

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Draw

W:W11,15,21,27,28,32:B3,4,8,14,20,25.

We warn you that this is a difficult problem, though it has at its heart a simple theme. Can you turbocharge your play and find the solution, or will your engine warning light go on? Gun your engines, give it a try, and then click on Read More to see the powerful solution.

It is sometimes said that in the Northern Hemisphere, the month of March roars in like a lion with winter storms featuring high winds, snow, and cold temperatures. What a prospect to contemplate! We have a better idea, and so for our top-of-the-month column, we're bringing you a stroke problem that roars like a lion, but has the courtesy to at least do so indoors, where a warm fire and a hot drink are just the right accompaniments.

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:W27,23,18,17,14,13,11,7:BK32,K22,K21,9,6,5,2.

When you have yourself roared through the problem, click on Read More to see the solution.

History will forever remember Sir Winston Churchill as the man who lead England to victory in the dark days of World War II. Sir Winston was a writer, painter, statesman, and politician; but above all, he was a leader who inspired and encouraged his people to endure, survive, and ultimately triumph. The Checker Maven has long admired the steadfast courage of the British people, and Sir Winston was its mainstay and embodiment.

We were reminded of Sir Winston when we saw the tutorial problem below; Black is to play and win, and Sir Winston's famous "V for Victory" seems to appear when the board is viewed from the White side, as shown below.

However, for the purpose of our study, since the terms specify Black to play, let's look at this the other way round.

WHITE

BLACK
Black to Play, What Result?

B:W25,24,20,17,16:B10,7,6,3,1.

The terms given are not "Black to Play and Win" but since we are talking about "V for Victory" and Black has a nice V formation, you might make an assumption here. (Of course, you know what they say about assumptions.)

In any case, keep your courage, stay the course, find the way to potential victory, and then click on Read More to see the solution.

February, of course, is the shortest month of the year, weighing in at just 28 or 29 days; and those days seem to rush by, especially if you've got bills that come due the first of every month. No sooner have you paid February's bills, it feels like the ones for March are coming due.

For the short and fast month of February, we propose a short and fast checker problem--- and we won't even bill you for it! Time on our Javascript clock rushes by as fast as can be. Can you solve this one in ten seconds? We consider it moderately easy. Click below to show the problem and start the clock; then click on Read More to confirm your solution.

February Speed Problem (moderately easy)

Today's publication date is the day after New Year's Day, 2010. The parades and bowl games are over, and if you celebrated a little too enthusiastically on New Year's Eve, you're likely to be fully recovered and ready to face the year.

It sounds to us like a good time to take a moment to contemplate a checker problem. Checkers may not have the external glitz and flash of the Rose Bowl Parade, and there isn't going to be a crowd of thousands in the stands watching the game (that only happens in Marvin J. Mavin's world). But as all avid checker fans know, there is an excitement of a different nature. Today, we present a problem that is tough indeed but guaranteed to be a great and entertaining way to open your checkeristic year.

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:W30,28,27,26,22,K1:B21,19,16,15,13,9,2.

It's hard to believe, but even a man down, White can win this position! Experts on both sides of the Atlantic thought it to be no better than a draw for many a year. To borrow from the late Margaret Farrar, this is a two-cups-of-coffee problem, if you can get it at all. But perhaps you can start the year with a bang, who knows until you try? In any case, one thing is this same this year and every year: clicking on Read More will bypass the coffee pot and take you right to the solution.

Just about everyone enjoys this most festive season of the year, and you don't have to belong to any particular group to participate in the good times. If the holidays are part of your personal traditions, you're surely already in the mood; and if the holidays aren't part of your traditions, there's no reason not to share in the celebrations of friends. In short, there's something here for everyone!

For today's Checker Maven column, we took that idea of "something for everyone" and picked out a checker problem that every checkerist will find challenging and useful. We're sure that, in the midst of your holiday schedule, you'll want half an hour out for a little checkers, and the problem below is just the thing.

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:W25,28,30:B1,9,21.

Forces are even in a 3-per-side endgame. Often in such a situation the player with "the move" has a potential advantage. But White doesn't have "the move" (or, as it might be best expressed, "the opposition"). Yet White can win with careful and precise play.

Earn yourself an extra slice of holiday pie or cake by solving this one. Can you make the moves even without "the move"? Give it the old holiday try and then click on Read More to check your solution.