Unofficial World Championship Checker Problem Composing Contest #44 Underway

[Bill Salot]

It is time for some fireworks! Keep your extinguisher in hand.

These four entries are in alphabetical order. They are not just giant strokes where you give away many pieces in order to execute a big sweep to victory. They are compound strokes, defined here as strokes whose solutions contain at least four consecutive highlighted jump-moves (two Red and two White).

Such problems are a challenge both to compose and to solve. The mind-bending series of jumps changes the settings so much and so rapidly, that it is almost impossible to visualize the finish. It is checkerboard madness!

See the solutions unfold as exciting animations. Then vote for the one that dazzles you most.

Also consider joining the voters' ladder, currently headed by Lloyd Gordon of Canada. Or consider becoming a competing composer. These contests are now in their 7th year, all free and suitable for all levels of talent, including yours.

[Bill Salot]

He entered a problem in just one contest in each of the odd numbered years, Contest 14-2013, Contest 25-2015, Contest 35 2017, and now Contest 44 2019. And guess what! He won or tied for first in every one of them! His name is Leo Springer, who is in his mid-80s and resides in the Netherlands. What is your secret, Leo? His current winner, Crossing, a concise compound stroke with a 2x2 Zugzwang finish, received 7 votes, including votes by Gene Ellison and Liam Stephens (Ireland).

In 2nd place with 5 votes was Jeopardized, by Bill Salot. His compound stroke had the most variations, and attracted votes from Lloyd Gordon (Canada) and Slava Goren (Russia).

Tied for 3rd with 3 votes each were Roy Little's Electrocution and Ed Atkinson's Dominoes.

Electrocution had the most pieces and the most jumps, uniquely including three triple jumps, all by White. It won the votes of Gary Ellison and George Hay.

Dominoes compounded a wild string of 6 consecutive jumps. It attracted votes by Brian Hinkle and Kathy Wirthwein.

The web site had 399 visitors during the contest, 18 of whom voted.

The updated Voters' Ladder follows:
1. Lloyd Gordon (Canada) 5 winners picked in 7 tries (71%)
2. Liam Stephens (Ireland) 8 winners picked in 12 tries (67%)
3. (tie) Kathy Wirthwein 5 winners picked in 9 tries (56%)
4. (tie) Slava Goren (Russia) 5 winners picked in 9 tries (56%)
5. Wilma Wolverton 3 winners picked in 6 tries (50%)

14 other voters have picked fewer than 50% winners, or have not voted in more than 3 contests.

Consistently identifying the winners in advance is not easy! With apologies to a few voters, some are averaging below the 25% that random selection would achieve in 4-problem contests. Why is that?

George Hay and Liam Stephens have voted in all 12 contests since the Voters' Ladder was started.

[George Hay]

Congratulations to Leo Springer for winning a fine and competitive Contest 44 with Crossing. What makes for a good problem, it still seems to be a mystery, yet it is a fine art in the scientific game of checkers.

--George Hay

[Bill Salot]

There was an error in the Voters' Ladder as reported after Contest 44. Gene Ellison's name and third-place score were inadvertently omitted. The error has been corrected on the web site. I apologize.
The corrected Voters' Ladder follows:
1. Lloyd Gordon (Canada) 5 winners picked in 7 tries (71%)
2. Liam Stephens (Ireland) 8 winners picked in 12 tries (67%)
3. Gene Ellison 7 winners picked in 11 tries (64%)
4/5. (tie) Kathy Wirthwein 5 winners picked in 9 tries (56%)
4/5. (tie) Slava Goren (Russia) 5 winners picked in 9 tries (56%)
5. Wilma Wolverton 3 winners picked in 6 tries (50%)
14 other voters have picked fewer than 50% winners, or have not voted in more than 3 contests.