Unofficial World Championship Checker Problem Composing Contest #4
2012-04-27 through 2012-05-27
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The ACF Website wishes a big congratulations to Melvyn Green, Manchester, England, the composer of Springboard , which was voted the winner of
Unofficial World Championship Checker Problem Composing Contest #4.
KINGS AT PLAY

The winning composer in Contest #4 and now reigning, undisputed, undefeated, unofficial world champion checker problem composer was also a co-winner of his first contest (Contest #3). He is master player Roy Little of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. His April Fools masterpiece won in a runaway with 9 electronic votes +1 for being a computerless composer who was unable to cast a vote. April Fools was the only Slocum Stroke (deferred stroke) in Contest #4. It was unusual in that the theme of the White draw was the same as the theme of the Red wins when White falls for the false solutions. Has such a phenomenon ever been shown before?

In a tight race for second place were two pure strokes that were otherwise very dissimilar. For those prejudiced against this style of problem, the popularity of these two may be surprising. But there is no question about the ingenuity demonstrated in them

The runner-up, Springboard, added an international flavor. Its intricacies garnered 6 votes +1 for being composed by a computerless composer. It was composed by Melvyn Green of Manchester, England. He is well known among problemists, having competed in the ACF/EDA/NZDA problem composing contests back in the 1970s, and having published a book of his stroke problems in 1991. After a break of a few years, he started again in 2004 and has carried on since. His problems are almost always accompanied by the slogan: Keeping the stroke problem alive! Springboard supports that sentiment.

Close behind Springboard was aptly named Multiple Choices with a total of 5 votes. It was composed by another recently reactivated composer and former tournament player, Edgar Atkinson of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Has there ever been a younger composer? In 1952, he published 2 problems in Elams Checker Board at the age of 14, and has composed many unpublished since then. He will be a continuing force in these contests. His Multiple Choices is perhaps unique in featuring two 3-way pitches in sequence. Has such a phenomenon ever been shown before?

Trailing were two hybrids that started with fireworks and faded into little endings. Their style is apparently not well suited for drawing votes.

Zonk earned 2 votes +1 for its computerless composer, V. J. Parrot, who prefers to stay out of the limelight. Mr. Parrot was a co-winner of Contest #3, but not this time.

As in Contest #3, the booby prize again goes to me, Bill Salot, for that monstrosity, Escaped Prisoner. It garnered only one vote, my own! It was a new low for these contests. I vow to change my ways. Settings with 13 Red pieces are definitely unlucky!

Bill Salot

AFTER THE CONTEST, AL LYMAN FOUND A DUAL SOLUTION TO APRIL FOOLS, THUS DISQUALIFYING THE PROBLEM. INSTEAD OF 20 16 AT NOTE B, 3 8 ALSO DRAWS FORCING 9-13, THEN 8 11 AND 8 3 BOTH DRAW.

LATER JIM LOY FOUND AN EASIER SOLUTION TO APRIL FOOLS. AT THE FIRST MOVE, PLAY 10 14.
Springboard
Composed By: Melvyn Green, Manchester, England
Current Votes:
White to move. White Wins
Trunk*30 25, 21-30, *17 21, 26-17, *20 16, 15-22, *19 15, 12-19, *7 2, 14-16, *4 25, 19-10, *21 7, 30-21, *2 6, White Wins
April Fools
Composed By: Roy Little, Oklahoma City, OK

DISQUALIFIED

April Fools has multiple dual solutions, thus disqualifying it. Instead of 6 2 at A, 10 14, also draws, Jim Loy. Continue 19-23 (11-15 allows draws by both 6 10 and 6 9), *6 9 (not 6 10, 27-31, RW), 27-32, *14 17, Draws. Instead of 20 16 at B, 3 8 also draws forcing 9-13, then 8 11 and 8 3 both draw, Al Lyman
Current Votes:
White to move. Draw
Trunk6 2AY, 11-15, *2 7, 5-9, 20 16BZ, 27-31, *7 11, 15-18, *10 15, 19-10, *11 7, Draw
ANot 3 8, *11-15, 8 11, *12-16, 11 18, *19-23, Red Wins
BNot 7 11, *12-16, 11 18, *19-23, Red Wins
YDUAL SOLUTION: 10 14, also draws, Jim Loy. Continue 19-23 (11-15 allows draws by both 6 10 and 6 9), *6 9 (not 6 10, 27-31, RW), 27-32, *14 17, Draw
ZDUAL SOLUTION: 3 8, 9-13, 8 11 and 8 3 both draw, Al LymanDraw
Escaped Prisoner
Composed By: Bill Salot, Colonial Heights, VA
Current Votes:
White to move. White Wins
Trunk*5 14, 18-9, *15 10, 7-14, 8 15, 20-18, *21 17, 14-21, 23 5, 13-17, 32 23, 28-32, *5 1, 32 27, *24 19, 27-18, *1 6, 18-23A, *6 10, 23-16, *10 15, 16-20, *15 19, White Wins
AIf 18-14, *6 10, 14-7, *19 15, White Wins
Multiple Choices
Composed By: Edgar Atkinson, Harrisburg, PA
Current Votes:
White to move. White Wins
Trunk*20 16, 12-19A, *17 14, 10-17B, *3 7, 25-18, *7 21, White Wins
AIf 11-20, *2 7, 25-18, 7 30, 13-22, *5 9, 20-24, *9 14, 24-27, *14 18, White Wins
BIf 26-17, *14 23, White Wins
Zonk
Composed By: V. J. Parrot
Current Votes:
Red to move. Draw
Trunk*27-31, 20 27, *31-8, *7 3A, 8-12, *16 11, 23-26B, 30 23, 18-27, *10 7, 14-18, *3 8, 12-10, *17 14, 10-17, 21 32, 29-25C, *1 6, 25-30, 6 10 (or 6 2), 30-26, *10 7, 26-23, *11 8, 4-11, 7 16, 22-26. *16 20, Paynes Double Corner DrawDraw
AIf 16 12, *8-11, Red Wins
BAny other also gets *10 7, Draw
CIf 22-26, *1 6, 26-31, 6 10 (or 6 2), 31-26, *10 7, 26-23, *11 8, 4-11, 7 16, 29 25, *16 20, Payne’s Double Corner Draw Draw
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.