Yes, it's janvier, meaning "January" in French, and Janvier happens to be the name of the old-time American checker player and writer, J.D. Janvier, to whom today's study in our Checker School series is attributed.

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:W14,15,18,20,23:B7,8,11,12,K29.

Black has the early king. Still, White is about to go a piece up, but Black will quickly even the count. How can White win? This problem is rather easier than most of our Checker School studies, but it's interesting nonetheless. Trouvez la solution and then click on Read More to verify your answer, read the explanatory notes, and play through a sample game.

Today we present the seventh and final volume of Grandmaster Richard Pask's 21st Century Checkers, comprising the 12-16 ballots. 21st Century Checkers will surely be the definitive reference for many years to come, and The Checker Maven is proud and privileged to be able to offer Mr. Pask's work, absolutely free for the taking thanks to Mr. Pask's boundless generosity to the checker-playing community.

Looking forward, Mr. Pask contemplates an "omnibus" which will be comprised of all seven parts in a single book, to be entitled Complete Checkers; it will be available most likely later on in 2016 as a free downloadable electronic version. We are also contemplating a printed edition, which of course cannot be free, but will be offered on a non-profit basis, with all proceeds above costs being donated to support youth checkers.

Meanwhile, volume seven can be downloaded here or from the "Richard Pask" page linked in the column on the right. And to get you started, here's a fascinating position taken from the book. The run-up is as follows:

We have now reached {v14, #2096 in the book}

A losing move. Detailed computer analysis shows 30-25 to be a narrow (and very hard to find) draw, but can you find the Black win here?

WHITE

BLACK
Black to Play and Win

B:W32,31,30,26,23,22,21,17,16,13:B20,19,14,10,7,6,5,3,2,1.

This problem is certainly in the grandmaster category. But we urge you to try it anyhow. Doing the analysis will surely develop your skills, and when you click on Read More and view the solution, you'll learn something no matter what your current skill level. Advanced problems are a great challenge for top players and a source of inspiration and education for the rest of us.

A couple of Checker School installments back, we presented a position attributed to the great champion James Wyllie, "the Herd Laddie." Unsurprisingly, many other positions and studies are ascribed to this great master of days gone by.

Today's entry differs greatly from the previous presentation. Whereas that solution tended toward the subtle, this one leans more to the spectacular. Mr. Wyllie, obviously, was expert in every facet of the game, from the most delicate wins to the most bombastic strokes.

We've given you enough of a hint already, and you'll probably find this problem to be somewhat on the easier side.

J. WYLLIE
BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:W30,22,20,K7,5:BK27,21,14,13,12.

Show your wiles and be Wyllie by finding the solution and then clicking on Read More to see the solution, sample games, and explanatory notes.

In the offices of The Checker Maven, we're learning new things all the time, and in seeking a theme photo for our extended "Kelso" series, we came across "Dr. Bob Kelso," who is pictured above. Apparently, Dr. Kelso is a character in a television series about which, we must admit, we know nothing (we definitely prefer checkers over television).

Fortunately, there's always more to learn about checkers, too, and today we'll be looking at a slight variation on the Kelso from that shown last time; just a single move changes, but in checkers that can make all the difference. This is a continuation of Variation 2 on Capers in the Kelso as found in Willie Ryan's classic Tricks Traps & Shots of the Checkerboard. Here's the run-up without annotation; see the previous columns in this series for complete notes and discussion.

WHITE

BLACK
Black to Play and Draw

B:W31,30,28,26,24,23,21,20,19,13:B17,15,14,12,11,10,6,5,3,2.

Can you doctor the play enough to find the moves needed to draw? The cure is rather complex. But fear not, healing is at hand by clicking on Read More for the full solution treatment.

The iconic Staten Island Ferry is something that attracts commuters and tourists alike, and it's one of the few real transportation bargains in New York City. For many years, the cost was just five cents. It rose to 25 cents in 1975 and then to 50 cents in 1990--- still a good deal for a five mile boat ride--- but in 1997 the ferry became free. You can now ride it for the same amount it costs to read The Checker Maven--- nothing!

You may not be paying for today's Checker School problem, but there is certainly a payoff. It's a practical situation attributed to olden-day checker champion James Ferrie.

J. FERRIE
WHITE

BLACK
Black to Play and Win

B:W23,22,20,19,18,17:B13,12,11,10,9,5.

Pay your way by solving the problem, and then put paid to all doubt by clicking your mouse on Read More to see the solution, numerous sample games, and some explanatory notes.

It is once again our proud privilege to present the next volume in Grandmaster Richard Pask's 21st Century Checkers series: Volume 6, the 11-16s. You can download the book here, or from our Richard Pask page as linked in the right-hand column.

21st Century Checkers is a landmark series, produced by Mr. Pask with the aid of modern computer engines. It is sure to be the definitive reference on 3-move ballots for years to come.

The series is nearing completion, and Mr. Pask expects to issue the final volume, on the 12-16s, at a date in 2016.

To get you started, here's position arising from the 11-16 21-17 16-20 ballot.

WHITE

BLACK
Black to Play and Draw

B:W32,31,30,27,26,25,18,16,13:B20,17,11,10,7,6,3,2,1.

The solution is to be found on page 32 of the book.

We are grateful to Mr. Pask for making his work available to checker players of the world at absolutely no cost.

While we enjoy and appreciate both applied and abstract math, it can certainly be challenging at times, and we'll wager the young man above finds the going more than hard enough.

Today's position in our ongoing Checker School series is definitely hard enough, or, as it is attributed to old-time checkerist E. M. Harden, we can say it is Harden-nuff.

E. M. HARDEN
BLACK

WHITE
White to Play, Black Draws

W:W31,27,25,21,20,19:B14,13,12,11,10,5.

The position looks simple but in fact an unwary White or Black player can go wrong, and both sides must make a "star" move to save the draw; the terms could equally well have been "White to Play and Draw."

Don't "harden" your heart against this problem; it's instructive and intriguing. When you've worked harden-nuff on it, click on Read More to see the solution, a sample game, and complete explanatory notes.

In researching this series we found that there are quite a few restaurants and bars named Capers, many more than we had ever expected, and representing varying meanings of the name. In the photo above, the Detroit-area bar named Capers is known to feature "good stiff drinks" although we're frankly not sure that's quite the right reputation to have.

At the Checker Maven, we're not drinkers ourselves, but if we were, we might still say that this week's problem merits a "good stiff drink."

We'll be looking at yet another Kelso variation found in Willie Ryan's classic Tricks Traps & Shots of the Checkerboard. To be specific, it's Variation 2, Note H, in the original book. Here's the run-up without commentary. See previous columns in this series for notes and discussion.

WHITE

BLACK
Bblack to Play and Draw

B:W31,28,27,26,25,24,21,20,19,13:B17,15,14,12,11,10,6,5,3,2.

This position doesn't look so good for Black, to put it mildly, yet a draw is here. It will require no less than five "star" moves, and isn't at all easy to find; we'd call this an expert level problem for sure.

Whether you're an expert or not, the position is dramatic and worthy of study, and the solution is very pleasing. So do give it a try, and then click on Read More for the solution.

The expression, "drum up some business" originates in the idea of beating a drum to attract attention to something--- presumably, whatever it is the drum-beater wishes to sell. The idiom has since come to mean applying persistent effort in order to obtain a desired end, in this case, more business.

The person in the picture above supposedly went to Europe to "drum up some business." We didn't ascertain just what kind of business, but the poor fellow seems to look much like the spy left out in the cold. We gather it wasn't the most successful trip.

Old-time checkerist J. Drummond "drummoned up" plenty of business over his checkerboard, and was rarely left out in the cold. Today's Checker School position is credited to him.

J. DRUMMOND
BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Draw

W:W20,21,22,23,26,31:B9,10,11,12,13,14.

Drum up the draw, then drum your mouse on Read More to see the solution, explanatory notes, and no less than six sample games.

Julius D'Orio was an interesting character. An Italian immigrant who eventually ended up in California, he was a master checkerist in the early part of the 20th century, even if a somewhat lesser player than the very best in his times. He wrote one book, Mysteries of Dama, an autographed copy of which sits on the shelves in the Checker Maven offices. Mr. D'Orio is known for his promotion of the "triangle" defense, which as a general principle of play has never been widely accepted, as it has substantial flaws (as demonstrated by Jim Loy and others).

But his book is fascinating to read, and today we present an interesting position found within it.

WHITE

BLACK
Black to Play and Draw

B:W32,30,26,24,22,21,20,18:B23,15,13,12,11,8,7,4,1.

Mr. D'Orio characterizes Black's position as seemingly hopeless, and indeed, White appears to have the upper hand. Mr. D'Orio proposes a solution, which is both neat and valid. Can you find it? We asked our computer--- KingsRow with the 10-piece endgame database--- and it came back with something completely different and unexpected. Dama is indeed full of mysteries.

Don't be mystified; Mr. D'Orio's solution is within reach, even if the computer's solution might remain, well, mysterious. When you're ready, click on Read More, after which all secrets will be revealed.