The Checker Maven

Marvin in Winnipeg

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Marvin J. Mavin

With the holidays having come and gone for another year, Marvin J. Mavin, the superstar Captain of the Detroit Doublejumpers of the National Checker League, was back on the road.

The League teams didn't play between Christmas and New Year's Day, but the schedule resumed in earnest right afterward, and the Doublejumpers had traveled to Winnipeg, Manitoba, for a three match series with the Winnipeg Wyllies.

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Now, Winnipeg in the winter is seriously cold, and January is the coldest month of all. Marvin didn't know how this series got scheduled, but with outside temperatures staying around -10F most of the time, Marvin certainly felt the cold. He barely was able to warm up even indoors, as the hardy Canadians who resided in Winnipeg were used to cold weather and kept indoor temperatures well below 65F.

The Wyllies were a good enough team but not quite a match for the Doublejumpers, and the visiting Detroit team took the first two matches easily enough. Those matches were played at the Winnipeg Convention Centre, which was heated to 60F, still chilly for Marvin, but he made up for it by wearing a heavy woolen sweater.

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The third match, though, was going to be different. It was to be part of a winter tradition of having an outdoor event at the coldest time of the year. The match would be played on the frozen ice of the Red River. Limited temporary seating had been arranged and tickets sold out long in advance.

But that wasn't all. Part of the tradition involved setting up portable saunas on the bank of the river, and then cutting a three foot diameter circular hole in the ice, which was a couple of feet thick. Players were expected to spend about 15 minutes in the sauna, and then run out and dive into the hole in the ice, immersing themselves in the frigid water before coming back out, drying off and quickly dressing, and then starting their checker match.

"It's what they do in Scandanavia," the event organizers pointed out. "It's invigorating and refreshing, and sharpens your thinking so you can play your best!"

Marvin tried to opt out but all expectations were that he would participate, and he didn't want to make too much of a fuss given all the trouble he had had with the League over the past months (see previous stories).

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The next day came and Marvin was due to enter one of the saunas at 10 in the morning; an early start was necessary as darkness comes early to Winnipeg in the winter. The team bus took everyone down to the assigned place on the river bank.

"Where do I change?" Marvin asked one of the attendants, when Marvin reached Sauna #7.

"Oh, right out here," the attendant said, "we didn't bother with changing rooms because it's just a one-time thing."

"But it's freezing out!"

"Sure, but you'll warm up, the sauna's nice and hot."

Marvin quickly took off his heavy winter parka, gloves, boots, and outer garments, and put on the robe and slippers offered by the attendant. He hustled into the sauna, already shivering.

Inside it was gloriously warm, with steamy, humid air. Marvin relaxed at once on a wooden bench and nearly fell asleep. But a quarter of an hour later the sauna door abruptly opened. The attendant leaned in and said, "Out you go! Time for your dip in the river! Robes off please!"

Marvin slipped off his robe and poked his head out the door. "Time's passing!" the attendant said. "Right this way!" He pointed to a path in the snow leading down to the river.

"You're kidding ... " Marvin began, but the attendant pulled on his arm and soon Marvin was out in the cold air dressed only in slippers and an undergarment.

"Run, boy," said the attendant, "it's better if you do."

Marvin, faced with no option, ran faster than he had probably ever run in his life. But he pulled up short when he reached the hole in the ice."

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"In you go!" said another attendant and before Marvin knew it, he had plunged into the hole and down into the super-cold water. It was as if a thousand needles had punctured his body. He let out a yelp as he submerged, but quickly closed his mouth to avoid letting the icy water in. As fast as he could recover he pulled himself up and the attendant helped him out, wrapping him a in large towel.

"Now, back up to the bank!" the man said. Marvin, shivering nearly uncontrollably, again ran at top speed. Up on the bank, a change of clothing and his winter gear awaited him.

He was given a cup of hot chocolate, but no sooner than he could drink it, it was time for him to go back on the ice--- this time, at least, fully clothed in winter garb--- to begin his match.

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Casmir Stonkoluk

His opponent was already waiting at Board One. The man's name was Casmir Stonkoluk and he was reputed to be a rough character as well as a skilled professional checkerist. Casmir took one look at Marvin and said, "Enjoy your little winter adventure? I thought it was fun and put me in a mood to get even for the last two matches." Marvin had defeated Casmir twice in a row in the earlier matches of the series.

"I need more hot chocolate," was all Marvin could say as he gave Casmir a quite shaky handshake.

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"Cold, are you? Well this is going to be one cold day for you, my American friend, 'cause I'm going to knock you cold--- on the checkerboard, I mean! Don't look like some scared rabbit--- I'm not gonna hurt you too much!" Casmir guffawed. But at that moment the referee's whistle blew and the match began.

Was it that Casmir played better than in previous matches, or did Marvin play worse? Marvin was constantly calling for more cups of hot chocolate, which were duly served by the staff, but the afternoon was wearing on, it was getting colder by the minute, and what was a light breeze was starting to turn into a significant wind.

Marvin was aware of a League rule which stated that the referee could suspend the match if conditions were unfavorable. At one point Marvin actually went to the referee and asked.

"Isn't it kinda, you know, like too cold and windy and stuff to keep playing?"

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Referee Muskie Muskovich

The referee, one Muskie Muskovich, replied, "You mean you want me to stop the match? Are you joking? We only stop outdoor play when the wind chill hits -100F, and we're only at -75F now. Plenty warm enough. You better go back to your board, your clock's running."

Marvin, continuing to constantly drink hot chocolate and not having time to make it to the restroom, was now squirming in his seat, having a problem besides being cold. The game, however, had reached a critical point. The other games in the match had concluded with the score 2 1/2 - 1 1/2 in favor of the Doublejumpers. To win the match for his team, Marvin needed a draw, but he was a piece down in the following position.

WHITE
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BLACK
Black to Play and Draw

B:WK16,17,K18,22:B13,K26,K31

Marvin knew he had to bring the game to a conclusion--- for more than one reason. Quickly, he made his move.


We hope that you're both warmer and more "relaxed" than Marvin, if you know what we mean. You don't have to go out on the ice nor need you drink hot chocolate (unless you wish to) in order to solve this problem. It's surprisingly easy and very practical. Don't get cold feet; solve the problem and then cool your mouse on Read More to see the solution and the brief conclusion of our story.20050904-symbol.gif



Solution and Conclusion

Play went on as follows.

26-30 16-12 30-26 12-16 26-30 16-19 etc.

Drawn. White cannot do anything except shuffle the king lest he lose a piece.

The game was a draw and the Doublejumpers had swept the series with the Wyllies. "Good game," Marvin said as he leaped out of his seat and made a beeline for the restroom.

"Hey, aren't you going to shake hands?" Casmir asked. "You're being a poor sport!"

"Later!" Marvin shouted over his shoulder.

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The restroom, of course, was outdoors and unheated, and although Marvin didn't realize it, a strange thing had happened. The thought of a nice cold post-game beer hadn't even crossed his mind. All he wanted was a warm room and another gallon or two of hot chocolate.

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This problem was derived from an original 1885 setting (several moves back) by a Mr. A. Hannah of Glasgow, who erroneously gave the terms as White to Play and Win; at the diagram Mr. Hannah gave 31-27 for Black, which loses.

01/25/25 - Category: Fiction -Printer friendly version-
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