In a previous column dating back to the days of our Santa Fe office, we admonished readers to stay hydrated, or to "drink water." That was especially important in the unforgiving dryness of New Mexico's high-desert region.

Now that our offices have been in Honolulu for a while, a mere block and a half from the Pacific Ocean and the beaches of Waikiki, we tend not to think about hydration quite as much. But the warm Hawaiian sun ought to remind us to "drink water" here as well, for it's no less important than it was back on the mainland.

Of course, you've got to know that this is leading up to another Checker School lesson from F. W. Drinkwater, and knowing how to win the following position is an important matter as well; that's true whether you're in Honolulu, Santa Fe, Belpre, Morristown, or anywhere else across the nation and around the world.

F. W. DRINKWATER
BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:W18,20,21,32:B5,10,12,13.

White has a slight mobility advantage, but the position is pretty finely balanced and the slightest error will be too much. Can you win with White, or will the position gulp you up? See if you can swallow the difficulties and find your way to the solution; then click on Read More to drink deeply from Ben Boland's extensive study material, including the solution, sample games, and detailed notes.

Solution

Solution, sample games, and lettered notes are taken from Ben Boland's Famous Positions in the Game of Checkers. Numbered notes are by the Editor using the KingsRow computer engine.

32-27, 5-9---C, 1, 27-23, 12-16---2, 20-11, 10-15, 21-17, 15-22---3, 23-18. White Wins---4.

Game: 10-14, 23-19, 14-18, 22-15, 11-18, 21-17, 9-13, 26-22, 7-11, 22-15, 11-18, 17-14, 8-11, 24-20, 4-8, 25-21, 11-15, 19-10, 6-15, 27-24, 8-11, 24-19, 15-24, 28-19, 18-22, 30-25, 22-26---A, 31-22, 3-7, 19-15, 11-18, 22-15, 7-10, 14-7, 2-18, 25-22, 18-25, 29-22, 1-6, 22-18, 6-10. Forms above position. E. F. Hunt.

Game: 10-15, 23-18, 7-10, 27-23, 3-7, 24-20, 9-14, 18-9, 5-14, 22-18, 15-22, 25-9, 6-13, 29-25---D, 10-15, 25-22, 15-19, 23-16, 12-19, 32-27, 8-12, 27-23, 4-8, 23-16, 12-19, 22-18, 8-12, 18-15, 11-18, 26-23, 18-27, 31-15, 7-10, 15-6, 1-10, 30-26, 10-15, 26-23---B. Forms above position, colors reversed with man on 32 on 31.

Game: 11-15, 23-19, 8-11, 22-17, 9-13, 17-14, 10-17, 21-14, 4-8, 19-10, 6-15, 24-19, 15-24, 28-19, 1-6, 25-22, 6-10, 29-25, 10-17, 25-21, 11-15, 21-14, 15-24, 27-20, 8-11, 30-25, 11-15, 25-21, 15-18, 22-15, 7-10, 15-6, 2-18, 26-23, 18-27, 32-23, 3-7, 23-18, 7-10. Forms above position with man on 32 on 31, play is the same. James Smith, "Northern Leader," 1888.

A---In the Sept. - Oct. The American Checker Monthly, 1937, Game No. 620. J. B. Hanson vs. Edwin F. Hunt. Hanson played 3-7 to a draw. Later Hunt pointed out, if 22-26 White Wins as above.

B---Loses; 26-22 would have drawn. From "Cousins' 1,000 Best Games."

C---10-14, 18-9, 5-14, 27-23, 13-17, 23-18. White Wins by 1st position.

D---Monty Schleifer The Brooklyn Expert believes 28-24 would win for White.

1---The computer prefers 12-16 but it loses just the same---Ed.

2---10-14 loses as in Note C above---Ed.

3---13-22 11-8 22-25 18-11 White Wins---Ed.

4---22-25 17-14 25-30 14-5 completes the job---Ed.

The above game by James Smith was given as Game No. 163 in the Oct. 15, 1892 issue of the "Liverpool Weekly Mercury." In the next issue Oct. 22, F. W. Drinkwater claimed the position saying, "I published the position about 20 years ago. I think it was the'^Edinburgh Magazine' under the Editorship of Bownas, of Leeds. It was first given as a draw, and in the next issue I gave the correct solution. I believe it was also inserted in the xAlnwick Journal', with man on 31 on 32, made the change to prevent playing 31-26 as well as 31-27. It occurred in an analysis of a game with Mr. J. Webley."

F. W. Drinkwater's position may be found as No. 205 in the "Chelsea Public," June 5, 1875. Later as No. 39 in the "English Draughts Player," Vol. 1, 1878. Then into Lyman's and Gould's Problem Book. Also see "Familiar Themes," Page 7.