Problem Contest #30 is Underway

[Bill Salot]

Do you recognize 1st Position when you see it? These contest problems may raise a few doubts about that.
Please let us know your impressions. And don't forget to vote for the one that pleases you most.

[tgf]

There is really no contest there, Sore Elbow is actually even more spectacular than shown, here is another line might be a draw, can someone work the details, I am at work and it s is hard to count:
1.14-9 17-22 2.9-6 22-25 3.6-2 29-30 So far as in the solution
4.2-6! 30-25 5.6-9 25-22 6.9-14 22-18 (on 22-25 14-17) 7.14-17

Here we have a galore of moves - 18-14, 11-15 and 20-24, please review

[Bill Salot]

Hold on, Jake, you overlooked that the White piece on 19 is a King. So you haven't been working on the problem diagrammed in the contest.

Maybe you are creating a new one? From your diagram, Kings' Row seems to like all three of your continuations/pitches for a draw.

[tgf]

Sorry, was trying to recall from memory. Will take a look tonight at home

[tgf]

I could not make nothing of the 2-6 line, still it enriched the position http://checkersusa.com/books/straight/a ... _elbow.htm

[Bill Salot]

Jake,
I like the Aurora Borealis animation of variations. Is that something that a below average guy, like me, can acquire, learn and use?
Bill Salot

[tgf]

If I can do it, everyone can!

Seriously, I worked with many programmers sending bugs and wishes, I found Mr. Svirin very receptive to user wishes, over the years Aurora is more and more easy to use.
My last proposals was on Straight checkers, one can now publish to html with white checkers on the bottom, the way we like.

Frankly I only care for ease of use, I do not care if the program could beat me or not. Aurora is mature, more and more little things that add to user experience, things that annoy in other programs, here it is easy to enter the game, sort the database, search by name, tournament and even a position!!!. Most of all you can generate html and even post them on Aurora' server if you do not own a website. You all enjoy thousands of USA and World Title games I posted in the library, you can do it too.
Mind you - I am not selling anything, just sharing information. Aurora page is here http://aurora.shashki.com/ , do not know what it costs, but you should know to request later beta version as it incorporate changes I described.

Jake

[George Hay]

Contest #30 delivers as promised on first position, and a good review on how not to miss a win! I liked working through first position at the end of each problem.

--George Hay

[Bill Salot]

This contest is down to its last weekend.
It has been a 3-way race most of the way.
Your last minute vote may decide the winner.

[Bill Salot]

Results of Unofficial World Championship Checker Problem Composing Contest 30 - Early First Position

In a close 3-way race, "Skilled Trade", by Jim Loy, escaped with 7 votes to win by 1 over both the aptly named "Squeezed Out", by Roy Little, and "Sore Elbow", by Bill Salot. Roy Little's 3-contest consecutive win streak was broken by that 1 vote. "Mobility Wins" received the first vote, but strangely no more after that.

"Skilled Trade" and "Squeezed Out" had the shortest solutions and fewest star moves, but their paths to "First Position" were well hidden behind false solutions.

In "Sore Elbow", if the Red king were a single piece, White would have an alternate draw by 27 24 at the 15th move. Then continue 20-27, 31 24, 16-20, and, surprise, you have "Skilled Trade".

The contest had 307 visitors, 20 of whom voted.

[tgf]

I really liked the Sore Elbow, to me it stood out.