The photo above is of the Three Kings Monument in Chiang Mai, Thailand. It's a fitting header for today's Checker School column in which we present not just one but two problems involving three kings. Not ancient kings perhaps, but kings that figure prominently in instructive endgames.

The following pair of positions appeared in Andrew Banks' eclectic book Checker Board Strategy, which has been the basis of many recent Checker School columns.

The first one is really easy and is sort of a speedy warm-up. It's an illustration of finding a way to draw when a piece down. (Mr. Banks points out, however, that this position couldn't have arisen had not White blundered into it. Well, as they say, anything can and does happen in over the board play.)

WHITE

BLACK
Black to Play and Draw

B:WK10,K11,K18,K22:BK19,K24,K27

The second one will be easy for the experts and good practice for the improving player. Winning three kings against two baffles many a novice, and even a surprising number of players above the novice level.

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:WK5,K13,K17:BK1,K6

Give these problems a royal effort, and after you've put on the crowning touches, click on Read More to verify your solutions.

Solution

Problem One

19-16 11x20 27-32 20x27 32x7 Drawn.

Mr. Banks points out that this is a variant of the "long pitch" theme.

Problem Two

17-14 6-2---A 13-9 1-6---B 5-1! 6x13 14-9! 13x6 1x10 White Wins.

A---6-9 is very tempting but there follows 13x6 1x17 5-9 White Wins.

B---2-7 14-10 simpliifies to an easy two against one win.

A very nice finish. We hope you found these problems interesting and useful, whatever your level of skill.