The American Checker Federation

My grandmother, Alberta Bailey, passed away due to complications from DLB on Tuesday morning, November 24, 2009, at the age of 91. My family will sorely miss this great woman's spunk, wisdom, charm, and dignity. The many hours of checkers I played with her will always be a fond memory. She was the f...

This position from Boland's Bridges caught my attention because of its practicality. Black has sacrificed a man in order to break through for a king while maintaining a strong defense with his remaining forces. The caption "White to Win" should bring hope since many of us have faced an uph...

Here is the old "stuff 'em in a corner" routine. Quicksand http://fmjd.org/dias2/save/12435199562.png White to Win. Answer: 20-16 * , 12-19, 27-23 * , 19-26, 17-14 * , 10-17, 29-25 !* . White Wins. http://fmjd.org/dias2/save/12435203094.png White to Win. Answer: 6-10 * ,14-18, 10-15 * , 18...

The King Shot is a well known and useful theme. These two problems from Wiswell's Checker Magic illustrate less obvious variations on the shot. Brooklynite http://fmjd.org/dias2/save/12430083568.png White to Draw. Answer: 30-26 !* , 9-13, 26-23 !* , 14-17, 22-18 * , 6-9, 11-15 !* , 17-22 (A) , 15-10...

I call this theme Self Incrimination because Black, in three instances, is punished by a two-for-one shot if he exposes a White piece to capture. The first two times, Black can avoid threatening the White piece. But the third time, Black must allow the drawing shot. Another classic from Wiswell's Ch...

Thank you lisle for those interesting and fascinating problems . I am just surprised that there has been no contributions but your own here , as the idea of starting an " interseting endgame " article , is a good one . KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK , and if I get a bit of time to myself then i w...

These companion problems from Wiswell's Checker Magic highlight a theme called The Pocket. A Study in White http://fmjd.org/dias2/save/12418244641.png White to Win. Answer: 30-25 * , 14-18, 21-17 * , 18-23, 25-22 * (A) , 9-13, 17-14 * , 23-26 (B) , 22-17 !* , 13-22, 19-15 * . White Wins. A. 17-13 ? ...

A nice problem from Boland's Bridges. http://fmjd.org/dias2/save/12409333076.png White to Draw. Answer: 7-2 * , 19-15 (A) , 9-5 !* (B) , 18-9, 10-6 * , 1-10, 5-1 * , 9-13 (C) , 1-6 * , 13-17, 2-7 * , 17-14, 7-2 * . Drawn. A. 19-23, 2-6 * (a) , 23-26, 6-2 * , 26-22, 2-6 * , 22-17, 10-7 !* (b) , 1-10,...

Jim Loy's problem book has a beautiful correction of Problem 97 in Gould's Problem Book. Jim, you found a gem. http://fmjd.org/dias2/save/12417008896.png White Plays, Black Draws. Answer: 21-17, 23-26 * , 11-15, 26-23 * , 15-10, 23-26 * , 10-6, 3-8 * , 6-1, 8-11 * , 22-18, 11-8 !* (A) , 17-13, 26-22...

This problem combines two themes - the Single Corner Cramp and the Fugitive King. It is easier to solve from a macro view than move-by-move. Hold the four checkers cramped in the single corner, then attack the king without allowing the cramp to unwind. Since it only requires two checkers to hold the...

Here is another Familiar Theme in a hidden setting. http://fmjd.org/dias2/save/12415326111.png Black Plays, White Draws. Answer: 15-18, 23-19 * , 6-9, 26-23 !* , 18-27, 30-26 * , 27-31, 26-23 * , 17-22, 25-18, 31-27, 19-16 * , 27-24, 16-12 * , 24-20, 12-8 * , 20-16, 23-19 !* , 16-23, 8-3 * . Drawn.

The double breeches standard from Familiar Themes. http://fmjd.org/dias2/save/12411047172.png White to Win. Answer: 19-16 * , 30-26, 29-25 * , 4-8, 25-21 * , 26-22, 21-17 * , 22-26, 16-12 * , 8-11, 12-8 * , 11-16, 8-11 * , 16-20, 11-15 * , 26-23, 17-21 * , 20-24, 14-9 * , 5-14, 15-18 * . White Wins.

From Boland's Familiar Themes, this problem uses control of the single corner to force a winning exchange. http://fmjd.org/dias2/save/12410080349.png White to Win. Answer: 15-10 * , 13-17, 11-15 * , 17-22, 15-18 * , 22-25, 18-14 * , 25-29, 14-9 * , 29-25, 30-26 * , 25-30, 26-22 * , 21-25, 9-13 * , 2...

Below are a few useful endgame ideas.

Single Corner Forced Exchange
Double Breeches
Triangle Cramp
Single Corner Cramp
Man-Down Double Corner Cramp
Bridge Position
The Pocket
Self Incrimination
The King Shot
Single Corner Block
Bridge Position #2

Yes, I played 37-32 in my first online game without thinking much about it and discovered quickly that openings in straight checkers do not translate to other styles. How embarrassing!