Ideas you have never seen on a checker board

[Bill Salot]

No matter how long you have playing the game, I bet the contest just launched today has at least one, maybe several checker ideas that you have never before seen played out on a checker board.

And this time the original, unpublished problems are all not only animated, but are also database-vetted to assure that they are sound and dual free.

And the whole world is eligible to vote for them, except their proud composers.

Please join the amazed crowd and let the composers know if they are worth the price of admission. Cast your valued vote this month to determine the winner of Contest #9 as well as the next unofficial world champion, original, unpublished, animated, vetted, checker problem composer.

Here is your link to problem paradise:

[Chexhero]

I have done the first two so far. The first one, Transformation, is a true masterpiece. One of the most interesting problems I have done in a long time.

[Bill Salot]

Joe,

Without divulging the name of Transformation's composer, I can assure you that he appreciates your high praise. It is worth more than money.

When you say you have "done" a problem, does that mean you have solved it, or does it mean you have reviewed and evaluated it?

Bill Salot

[Chexhero]

Bill,

It means I tried solving it on my own before I looked at any solution. I judge problems based on its main ideas and how much they surprise me. This one was well up there because it forced me to look for things I normally never look for

[Bill Salot]

Thanks, Joe,

When you are through with all 5, would you let us know how many you correctly solved, how long it took, and what moves fooled you?

I have talked to a number of top players about problems and they are adamantly opposed to being shown the solution. They feel absolutely that they must solve them without help. You are in good company.

Many of these problems are weeks or months in the making with the aid of a computer. It will take a rare combination of patience and genius to solve them without a computer.

What concerns me is that too many masters will ignore the contests because they do not have the time to solve the problems. What we would like them to do is compare and judge the problems, without spending too much time solving. How can we get them to do that?

[Chexhero]

Bill you are partly right. Many of them including myself don't have too much time on hand to go over and study each problem extensively. However, I don't think all of us are ignoring the contests. I think a lot of us including me take these problems as crossboard practice. I normally try to spend at least 5 minutes a problem and sometimes more. I was able to solve 3 without computer aid this contest. None of the solutions were very lengthy, but very well hidden. I voted for Transformation this contest as I felt it was the most original.

[George Hay]

The Home Run animation is missing a Red King on Square 4.
--George Hay

[George Hay]

It sounds to me like they are avoiding the contest because it is "too hard." I think DEO would agree with me!
If you don't want to fail to find a solution to a checker problem, then don't try to solve it!
--George Hay

[Bill Salot]

Joe,

You master players are great solvers.

What were the two problems that you did not solve?

Do they qualify as ideas that you had never seen?

[Chexhero]

Transformation and Cornered I was not able to solve. Both problems involved type of situations I have "rarely" seen on the board, I would not say never. George, the screen must not be showing you the correct board setup for that problem. On my screen that square 4 is covered with a king.

[George Hay]

The Red King on 4 is missing on the View Animation web page for Home Run! When pointing the mouse pointer
on Square 4 all it reads is "Square 4." If it was only a graphics problem on my screen, it would read "Red King on 4."
I only mention this so that all problems get a fair viewing!
--George Hay

[George Hay]

Jason, thank you for placing the "Red King on 4" for Home Run!
You are the Best!
--George Hay