Brian Hinkle's ferocious bear is finally captured in today's Checker Maven column.

No, we did not receive any correct solutions. We did receive some pretty good attempts; and we also heard from a few skeptics who claimed the setting was wrong to begin with.

So, at long last, we present Brian's solution to what we believe is destined to become an enduring, classic problem--- a great new variation on a theme which, strangely enough, has been around for quite a number of years.

To refresh your memory, here's the situation:

1.

11-16

Alternatively, Black can first play 22-25, 30-21, 18-22 and the results are almost the same.

1.	...	20x11
2.	22-25

This is the second, necessary pitch, that removes the "clutter."

2.	...	30x21
3.	18-22

Moving to start the formation of a 4-piece "clover leaf of safety."

3.

...

28-24

If ... 6-10 then black can immediately complete the "clover leaf of safety" with 15-18 and white cannot penetrate the position, for instance 10-15 12-16 15-19 16-20 19-15 29-25 15-19 and then the black man can simply stay on square 20, or black can play 20-24 and we are headed back toward the final position as played out in the main line, which continues below

The main line move as given (28-24) instead sets a trap for black.

4.

12-16

Moving the piece farthest from the king row, and at this point the only move that draws. If black instead rushes to complete the "clover leaf of safety" with 15-18 then 24-19! and white wins as now the man on 12 cannot advance.

4.	...	4-8
5.	15-18

This now completes the aforementioned 4-piece "clover leaf of safety."

5.	...	24-20
6.	16-19	6-10
7.	19-24	8-12
8.	24-27	11-8
9.	27-32

This black king will stay permanently on square 32 and complete the defensive barricade on the double corner side.

9.	...	8-4
10.	29-25

And this is the king that will "wiggle forever."

10.	...	4-8
11.	25-30	8-11
12.	30-25	21-17
13.	25-29	17-14
14.	13-17	9-13
15.	17-21

Drawn.

This is now the draw formation attributed to Dr. T. J. Brown in Ben Boland's Masterpieces in the Game of Checkers, p. 155, diagram C.

Note that all seven black pieces are required and must be in position to obtain the draw.

• Four men form the "clover leaf of safety" which cannot be attacked due to
• the black king parked on square 32 (which itself cannot be drawn away), and
• the unassailable black man on 21, protecting against white incursions into the single corner, while
• the king in the single corner "wiggles" forever, watching white's futile efforts play themselves out.

It is amusing that white can move a king or kings onto squares 19, 24, 27, 28, and 31 without any effect whatsoever! Black simply ignores these efforts and continues to "wiggle" his single-corner king among squares 30, 25, and 29.

The "Bear Claw" is surely a unique and brilliant problem that will entertain checker fans for generations to come.

Are you cross when you find yourself in a loss?

Today's installment from our ongoing republication of Willie Ryan's unmatched Tricks Traps & Shots of the Checkerboard deals not with crossness, but with the Cross opening (more accurately, the Cresent Cross), and a neat trap that, should you fall into it, might indeed lead to a cross disposition. But you can avoid this terrible fate by studying this example and paying attention to Willie as he explains as only he can do.

An Interesting Cross Loss

"The 26-23 line of the cross (4th move) has never enjoyed the same popularity among top-notchers as that of the 27-23 build-up. I am among the few moderns who are partial to it. The play presented on the next page reveals the one trap I have used most frequently with the white pieces:

11-15, 23-18, 8-11, 26-23, 10-14---A, 30-26, 7-10---C, 24-19, 15-24, 28-19, 11-16, 22-17, 4-8, 26-22, 9-13---D, 18-9, 5-14, forming the diagram.

A---If 4-8 is used, then proceed with 30-26, 10-14, 24-19, 15-24; at this point, 27-20* is still essential, as 28-19 loses by 11-16, 32-28---B, 6-10, 22-17 (27-24, 8-11; now 22-17 is beaten by 11-15, and 24-20 by 10-15), 8-11, 26-22 (if 17-13, 10-15 wins), 1-6, 17-13, 14-17, 21-14, 10-26, 31-22, 7-10, 25-21, 16-20, 29-25, 3-7, 22-17, 9-14, 18-9, 5-14, 19-15, 11-18, 23-19, 7-11, and black wins. Wm. F. Ryan vs. H. L. Rudolph.

B---22-17, 8-11, 17-10, 6-24, 27-20, 9-14, 18-9, 5-14, 25-22, 16-19, 23-16, 12-19, 22-17, 7-10, 29-25, 3-8, 17-13, 8-12, 25-22, 11-15, 22-17, 14-18, 17-14, 10-17, 21-14, 18-23, 26-22, 23-26, 14-10, 26-30, and black wins. Wm. F. Ryan.

C---If 6-10, 24-19, 15-24, then 27-20* is correct to draw; but 28-19 loses by 11-16, 18-15 (22-17 loses immediately by 10-15), 1-6, 15-11, 14-18 *, 22-15, 9-14, 26-22, 14-18, 23-14, 16-23, 27-18, 10-26, 31-22, 7-16, 21-17, 3-7, 25-21, 16-19, 32-27, 7-10, 15-11, 2-7, etc., and black wins. Wm. F. Ryan. This win corrects draw play by Hugh McKean, W. D. Benstead, and others.

D---Tempting, but fatal. The correct play is 16-20, 17-13, 8-11, 22-17, 12-16*, 19-12, 10-15, 17-10, 15-22, 25-18, 6-22, 13-6, 1-10, 21-17, 5-9, 23-18, 9-13, 32-28, 11-16, 27-23, 2-7, 18-14, 10-15, 23-18, etc., resulting in a draw. Wm. F. Ryan."

Don't be cross yourself if you have trouble finding the solution; click on Read More to see how Willie does it.

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This month's speed problems were contributed by a GoldToken player who calls himself Robyn Hode. Though we're not informed about his archery skills, he's certainly a fine checkerist, as these "fast shots" will show. They are relatively easy, so we won't give you much time to fire your bolt. The first problem arises from a common beginner's blunder in the Single Corner opening. The second problem is adapted from Italian checkers.

November Speed Problem 1. 5 seconds; very easy.

November Speed Problem 2. 15 seconds; fairly easy.

Quickly find the target, but there's no need to quiver; clicking on Read More takes you straight as an arrow to the solutions.

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This installment of Checker School is one that we really enjoyed working on, as it's got a lot of good, practical playing instruction in it.

We have a situation in which, though the White forces are well-advanced down the board, they seem to have been pretty well cornered by the Black team. It's a tough predicament to be in, but there is a very clever draw for White---- if you can see it. This one is well worth learning, as we're sure you'll see similar themes in many of your own games.

Can you find White's way out of the box? One wrong move and it's curtains! But don't despair. Try to find the answer, but if you've still got your back to the wall, clicking on Read More will lead you safely to the solution, along with a sample game and some deep and detailed analysis.

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Our feature problem today is another elegant Tom Wiswell offering, one in which a good start is essential. Let's get right down to business:

A quick review of the position shows that, while a White win is anything but obvious, there are two likely-looking moves for White to play. Yet, as you might expect, only one of them will work.... but which one? Getting a good start here is vital!

Can you find the correct move for White, and the follow-up that will carry the day? We'd rate this one as "not so easy" but certainly solvable--- with a good start.

Work out your line of play, but don't worry; clicking on Read More will start you on your way to the finish line with the solution and some helpful notes.

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This month's speed problems come from actual play on the GoldToken turn-based game site. The first one is a nice win crafted by a rather skilled player who calls himself Lost Soul for reasons to which we are not privy; but this skilled player is anything but lost when playing over the board! The problem is in the easy category, and we're allowing you 15 seconds to solve it.

The second problem is a neat victory gained by Larry OTC. Again, we're not sure what "OTC" means, but we doubt that it's "over the counter"; could it be "one terrific checkerist"? Only Larry knows for sure; but we rate the problem as medium in difficulty and give you 60 seconds to find the right moves.

October Speed Problem 1 (easy)

October Speed Problem 2 (medium)

Don't lose your own soul over these problems; salvation is at hand by simply clicking on Read More to see the solutions.

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Despite Brian Hinkle's generous $100 prize offer, no correct solutions were received to his admittedly difficult Bear Claw problem, and the prize offer has now expired. However, we still would like to see someone solve the problem prior to our publication of the solution, and to that end, Brian has sent us what he calls a "trainer" position.

Here are Brian's comments on this position:

"There are 4 solutions to the Bear Trainer position.

• If you can find one solution then you may be a minor player.
• If you can find two solutions, then you may be a major player.
• If you can find three solutions then you may be a master player.
• And, if you can find all four solutions, then you may become the next world champion checker player!"

We can't say if Brian's rating system is accurate, but we can say that you should give the position a try, and then complete your training by clicking on Read More for Brian's solutions.

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In one of Tom Wiswell's many fine books, Mr. Wiswell published a number of situations which he referred to as "checker brilliancies." We have to agree with him, as in these settings, the winning player invariably comes up with a move or a sequence that is, well, brilliant, both in concept and execution.

Today, we challenge you to match wits with James P. Reed, in a game played back in 1889 against Charles F. Barker. The move Mr. Wiswell calls "Barker's Blunder" allowed Mr. Reed to find an astounding win. Here's the run-up and the game position:

Black:	Charles F. Barker
White:	James P. Reed
10-14	22-17
7-10	17-13
3-7	25-22---A
14-17	21-14
9-25	29-22
10-14---B	24-19
6-10	22-18
14-17	27-24
1-6	19-15
10-19	24-15
12-16---C

A---24-20 can be played here.
B---This move doesn't lose, but it could be argued that 11-15 or even 10-15 is better.
C---This is the "blunder" that loses.

Can you match Mr. Reed for brilliance and find the winning move? We'll warn you, it's really something and takes a truly skilled player to find. How about correcting Mr. Barker's "blunder" and instead demonstrating a draw?

Work it out and then click on Read More to see if your play really shines.

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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!

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.

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.

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As I made my way down the sidewalk, a trace of early morning coolness still lingered in the air, but the temperature was on the rise and I knew that another hot and humid Florida day was ahead. But it was still, in every respect, a fine Saturday morning, a day free from school and a morning free of chores; and on many a Saturday morning such as this one I would make my way over to Uncle Ben's porch.

He would always be waiting for me there, usually with an ice-cold pitcher of fresh-made lemonade or sometimes sweet tea. And his checkerboard would be set up and ready.

It was no different this morning. I called out a greeting to him. "Mornin', Uncle Ben!" Of course, he wasn't really my Uncle, but we all called him that. We didn't know all that much about him, just that he had lived in the New York City area until his retirement, and that he was a famous checker expert who had written a lot of books.

"Mornin', Tommy," he replied. "Ready for a little checkers today?" Uncle Ben had that wry grin that told me he was expecting me this morning and that he was ready with something new to challenge me.

"Sure am", I answered as I climbed up the old stairs to the porch. Uncle Ben had been teaching me checkers and he told me I was making good progress. I thought so, too, judging by the number of games I was winning in the schoolyard, but then Uncle Ben would always encourage me to learn more and do better.

"What do you think of this one, Tommy?" he asked. I pulled up a chair and looked at the checkerboard. Uncle Ben had set up this position:

"Can you work it out, Tommy?" Uncle Ben inquired of me, "It isn't as hard as some others, you know!" Uncle Ben's idea of "hard" was a little different than mine, I can tell you, but I wasn't going to quit without giving it a good try.

Well, I sure had to spend a few minutes thinking. After a bit, Uncle Ben asked, "Would a glass of lemonade help?" He didn't wait for my reply but went ahead and poured me a tall, brimming-full glass of his delicious, cold lemonade. He always seemed to know just the right time to offer refreshments or give a hint. He was a natural-born teacher and I often wished my teachers at school had his ways.

I took a few sips, thought a little more, and suddenly the idea came to me. Another few moments and some additional mental effort convinced me that I was on the right track. Finally, I offered, "Yep, Uncle Ben, I think I'm ready."

"OK, then, young man, show me how it's done!" he exclaimed.

"Well, here's my idea," I said, as I started to shift the checkers.....

What solution would you have proposed to Uncle Ben? Unfortunately, you'll have to make your own lemonade, but when you're ready, click on Read More for the solution, commentary, a sample game, and over two dozen fully-diagrammed additional examples of this common and important checker theme.

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