Unofficial World Championship Checker Problem Composing Contest #44
2019-03-16 through 2019-04-30
So far 399 visitors have viewed this contest 894 times.

The ACF Website wishes a big congratulations to Leo Springer, Netherlands, the composer of Crossing, which was voted the winner of
Unofficial World Championship Checker Problem Composing Contest #44.
He entered a problem in just one contest in each of the odd numbered years, Contest 14-2013, Contest 25-2015, Contest 35 2017, and now Contest 44 2019. And guess what! He won or tied for first in every one of them! His name is Leo Springer, who is in his mid-80s and resides in the Netherlands. What is your secret, Leo? His current winner, Crossing, a concise compound stroke with a 2x2 Zugzwang finish, received 7 votes, including votes by Gene Ellison and Liam Stephens (Ireland).

In 2nd place with 5 votes was Jeopardized, by Bill Salot. His compound stroke had the most variations, and attracted votes from Lloyd Gordon (Canada) and Slava Goren (Russia).

Tied for 3rd with 3 votes each were Roy Little's Electrocution and Ed Atkinson's Dominoes.

Electrocution had the most pieces and the most jumps, uniquely including three triple jumps, all by White. It won the votes of Gary Ellison and George Hay.

Dominoes compounded a wild string of 6 consecutive jumps. It attracted votes by Brian Hinkle and Kathy Wirthwein.

The web site had 399 visitors during the contest, 18 of whom voted.

The updated Voters' Ladder follows:
1. Lloyd Gordon (Canada) 5 winners picked in 7 tries (71%)
2. Liam Stephens (Ireland) 8 winners picked in 12 tries (67%)
3. Gene Ellison 7 winners picked in 11 tries (64%)
4/5. (tie) Kathy Wirthwein 5 winners picked in 9 tries (56%)
4/5. (tie) Slava Goren (Russia) 5 winners picked in 9 tries (56%)
5. Wilma Wolverton 3 winners picked in 6 tries (50%)

14 other voters have picked fewer than 50% winners, or have not voted in more than 3 contests.

Consistently identifying the winners in advance is not easy! With apologies to a few voters, some are averaging below the 25% that random selection would achieve in 4-problem contests. Why is that?

George Hay and Liam Stephens have voted in all 12 contests since the Voters' Ladder was started.

Here is how Contest 44 was introduced:

It is time for some fireworks! Keep your extinguisher in hand.

These four entries are in alphabetical order. They are not just giant strokes where you give away many pieces in order to execute a big sweep to victory. They are compound strokes, defined here as strokes whose solutions contain at least four consecutive highlighted jump-moves (two Red and two White).

Such problems are a challenge both to compose and to solve. The mind-bending series of jumps changes the settings so much and so rapidly, that it is almost impossible to visualize the finish.

See the solutions unfold as exciting animations. Then vote for the one that dazzles you most.

Also consider joining the voters' ladder, currently headed by Lloyd Gordon of Canada. Or consider becoming a competing composer. These contests are now in their 7th year, all free and suitable for all levels of talent, including yours.
Crossing
Composed By: Leo Springer, Netherlands
Current Votes:
White to move. White Wins
View Animation
Trunk*26 22, 24-15, *23 18, 14-23, *12 8, 21-14, *22 18, 15-22, 8-15, 10-19, 1 26, 23-27, *26 23, 19-26, 30 32White Wins
Dominoes
Composed By: Ed Atkinson, Pennsylvania
Current Votes:
White to move. White Wins
View Animation
Trunk*26 23, 19 26, *17 14, 10-17, *27 24, 1-10, *9 6, 2-9, *20 16, 11-27, *32 7, 3-10, 4 25, 21-30, 31 15White Wins
Electrocution
Composed By: Roy Little, Oklahoma
Current Votes:
White to move. White Wins
View Animation
Trunk*10 6, 1-10, *23 18, 22-15, *3 7, 16-23, *7 16, 12-19, 27 4, 20-27, *31 6, 2-9, 5-30White Wins
Jeopardized
Composed By: Bill Salot, Virginia
Current Votes:
White to move. White Wins
View Animation
Trunk*24 20, 27-18A, *10 6B, 1-10C, *30 26, 21-30D, *20 16, 15-24E, 28 19, 30-23, 19 26, 12-19, *26 23, 18-27, 31 22, 3-7, *5 1, 7-11, *1 6, 11-15, *22 26White Wins
A15-24, 28 19, 27-18, 30 26 (or 10 6 or 10 7 first), 21-30, *20 16, 30-23, 19 26, 12-19, 10 6 or 10 7, jump, *26 23White Wins
BNot 30 26 (Not 10 7, *3-10, 30 26, *21-30, 20 16, *30-23, RW), *21-30, 20 16, *30-23, 10 6, *15-24, 28 26, *12-19Red Wins
C15-24, 28 19, 1-10, *30 26, 21-30, *20 16, same White Wins
D15-24, 28 19, 21-30, *20 16, same White Wins
E30-23, *5 1, 15-24, 28 26, 12-19, *26 23White Wins
Please enter your original, unpublished, dual-free problems in future contests by sending them at anytime to:
Bill Salot
1006 Elmwood Drive
Colonial Heights, VA 23834-2905

or at wjsalot@comcast.net.