Sometimes, just a little bit of difference is all it takes... and that's the subject of today's installment in our continuing series of lessons in Checker School.

Here's the first situation we'd like to have you consider:

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:W13,K19,21:B10,18,K32.

Forces are even, but the Black man on 10 is decidedly exposed, and we'd have to give the edge to White.

But now, take a look at this one:

WHITE

BLACK
Black to Play and Draw

B:W21,K19,9:BK32,18,10.

Not much difference, is there? It's as if White had played 13-9 in the first diagram, not at all an illogical move on the face of it, and thereby changed a win into a draw!

Checkers is indeed a subtle game, where little differences can mean a lot. Make a difference for yourself by solving these two problems, and then clicking on Read More to see the solutions, with detailed notes and a sample game.

Here are two more entries from Willie Ryan's classic Tricks Traps & Shots of the Checkerboard, as we continue our long-term project of republishing the entire book for your entertainment and edification. Let's hear Willie in his own words.

A Hole in The Dyke

The struggling tyro seems to have an unexplainable "aptitude" for walking into the following shot with his eyes wide open. I have scored with it innumerable times. To arrive at the position on the diagram, move:

11-15 22-17 15-19---A 23-16 12-19 24-15 10-19 25-22 8-11 29-25---B 11-15 27-23---C.

WHITE

BLACK
Black to Play and Win

B:W32,31,30,28,26,25,23,22,21,17:B19,15,9,7,6,5,4,3,2,1.

A---Forms the Dyke, a standard opening.
B---A very weak move, but drawable; 27-23 or 17-13 would be better.
C---Hooked! The following series of moves draws narrowly and corrects important play by F. Teschelheit: 17-13, 4-8, 21-17*, 7-10, 27-23, 8-12, 23-16, 12-19, 31-27* (the only move to draw, correcting Teschelheit, who gives 32-27 to a black win), 2-7 (if 3-8, 17-14 draws; if 9-14, 27-23 draws), 27-23, 19-24, 28-19, 15-24, 23-18, 7-11, 17-14, 10-17, 25-31, 3-7, 21-14, 24-28 (11-16, 14-10, white wins), 22-17, 11-16, 26-22, 16-19, 30-26, 7-11*, 14-10, 6-15, 13-6, 1-10, 18-14, 19-23, etc., drawn. Wm. F. Ryan.

A Six-Move Blitz

Among the most effective six-move killers is this well-known example on the Denny opening. Set up the pieces for play. Now move 10-14, 23-19, 11-16, 26-23, 9-13, 20-24---A, and we get the layout of pieces pictured here.

WHITE

BLACK
Black to Play and Win

B:W32,31,30,29,28,27,25,23,22,21,20,19:B16,14,13,12,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1.

At A, instead of 24-20, white can get a good game by 22-17, 13-22, 25-9, 5-14, 29-25, 7-11, 25-22 (not 24-20, 14-18), 6-10, 22-18, 1-5, 18-9, 5-14, 30-25, 11-14, 25-22, 16-20, 22-17, 8-11, 17-13, 2-6, 31-26, 12-16, 19-12, 11-16, 13-9, 6-13, 26-22, 16-19, 23-16, 3-7, 22-18, 15-22, 16-11, 7-16, 24-19, 16-23, 27-9, 10-15, 9-6, 22-26, 6-2, 15-19, 32-27, 4-8*, 12-3, 26-31; resulting in a draw.

When you've blitzed these problems, and are sure there are no holes in your solutions, you can click on Read More to see how Willie worked these out.

After a rather heavy-duty problem last month, this time we're heading to the somewhat lighter side with a stroke problem that should entertain without baffling. Well, not too much.

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:W6,7,10,K16,23,32:B3,13,14,17,25,26,K31.

So, lighten up, solve the problem, and then see the light by clicking on Read More.

Sometimes, breaking even is the best you can do.

That is never more the case than when dealing with the United States Internal Revenue Service. And the publication date of this article, April 15, 2006, is the traditional American tax day, on which income tax returns --- and final payments --- fall due.

Keeping that theme in mind --- of doing everything you can to just break even --- take a look at today's feature problem.

WHITE

BLACK
Black to Play and Draw

B:W28,26,24,K3:B19,15,14,2.

Forces are even, but White has a king and Black is going to have to struggle just for a draw.

Tax your brain, then file your solution before paying up by clicking on Read More to see how it's done.

As yet another teaser from our very soon to be released electronic republication of Richard Pask's Key Themes, we bring you a situation that Mr. Pask takes as far as a Black win, but leaves it to you to finish the job.

Here's a runup to the diagram:

WHITE

BLACK
Black to Play and Win

B:W32,30,24,22,21,20,19,18:B15,13,12,11,10,9,3,2.

Can you find where White went wrong, and correct the play, and then can you find the winning move for Black and finish the job?

When you think your work is complete, finish off by clicking on Read More for solution and commentary.

This is a busy week, as our second feature article contains two substantial problems, related in a way that will become clear later on, and sharing a common thread of thought: at first glance, you're likely to say "So What" or even "Big Deal."

But these problems are the compositions of that noted problemist of a bygone era, Mr. Chas. Hefter, a checker force not to be taken lightly, so perhaps we should avoid hasty judgments.

Here's the first one:

WHITE

BLACK
Black to Play and Draw.

B:W28,21,K16:BK30,24,19,K15.

Well, "So What?" Black is a man up and we're just asking for a draw... oh... wait.... Black is about to lose a man and... a second one... so Black will be a man down... hmm, maybe there is something to this after all.

And now the second situation:

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:W21,28,K32:BK19,K25.

So, "Big Deal." White is a man up and what else should he do but win? Oh.... the king and man jammed into the double corner could make it harder... hmm, maybe it's not as easy as it first looked.

Try out the problems but if you are stumped, so what. Clicking on Read More to see the solutions is no big deal.

Some of our problems, we admit, can be on the tough side, especially for the average player. But today, we'll give you a checker problem that is easier than you might think:

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:W22,26:B9,10,13

Can you find the trick that gives White the win? Today's the day for you to solve this problem!

Click on Read More for the surprising solution.

To open the month, we've chosen a speed problem that may take you a bit longer than some of the others we've run in the past. In fact, we were right on the edge in our decision as to whether or not this is a true speed problem; but the solution is simple and snappy... once you see it.

You know the drill. Click below to show the problem and start the clock. We've allowed you three minutes on this one, but what's your hurry?

April 2006 Speed Problem

We're sure of one thing, though; we know you won't lose any time clicking on Read More to reveal the solution.

As writers ourselves, we're keen appreciators of elegance and style, and we profess unabashed admiration for the writing style of a bygone era.

During the heydays of checker magazines, we've noted that the authors and editors of those long-departed publications had a certain verbal flair and often waxed most eloquent. Few examples surpass this one, penned by E. B. Hallman nearly eighty years ago. His subject was How To Study Checkers.

"There are many checker players who would add tremendously to their enjoyment of the game and increase greatly their skill by well directed study. Checkers is not unlike other activities; knowledge of what others have accumulated by their experience cannot be neglected without loss in playing ability. The game might be compared to a mighty forest, crisscrossed by countless paths, some mere "blind alleys," some leading to dangerous swamps, others along safe and delightful ways, with beautiful scenery on all sides. No man can stand on the edge of the forest, a stranger to its wandering trails, and reason or guess where the paths lead; no man can reason at the beginning of a checker game what the effect of a given move will be."

Our columnist then goes on to advocate the study of endgames and presents a sample problem which, alas, we don't think either well represents the "mighty forest" of checkers, or is nearly as gripping as his flowing prose.

So we'll offer you this one instead, which we think adequately encompasses the virtues that our writer so beautifully espouses.

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Draw

W:W24,K26,K27:BK11,15,K17,18.

Can you find the path through the forest that leads to safe and delightful ways for White, or will you encounter a dangerous swamp? Have no fear; clicking on Read More will always bring you out of danger.

The title for this problem was bestowed upon the position by Willie Ryan himself, as published posthumiously in the book Big League Checkers. Here's the position:

WHITE

BLACK
Black to Play and Win

B:W31,30,28,27,26,25,24,21,20,18,14:B17,16,12,11,9,7,6,5,4,3,2.

Forces are even, but frankly, we don't really like the looks of the Black piece on 17. Can you come up with the move that turns the tables and wins the game?

Give it a spin, and if it all comes out backwards, turn around and click on Read More for the solution.