Surprising draw!

[Richard Pask]

My apologies if this correction has been given before.
I refer to MFT's proposed correction of Boland's Masterpieces in the first issue of Checkers magazine (May 1987).

Black: kings on 22, 30; men on 12,20
White: kings on 19, 23; men on 31, 32

With White to move, it is a win.
MFT also claimed a White win when it was Black to move.
However, with the aid of the databases, Black escapes with 30-25 19-15; 22-17 32-28; 17-14 15-18; 14-10 23-26; 25-30 26-22; 12-16 22-17 and 16-19! (30-26 and 10-6 given to lose) to draw.

I think MFT would have greeted this outcome with both surprise and admiration: yet another example of the remarkable tool the programmers have created for us.

[rich beckwith]

Good post Mr. Pask. Another more-recent published draw (not necessarily any easier) runs:

30-25 19-15; 22-17 32-28; 17-14 15-18; 14-10 23-26; 25-30 26-22; 30-26 (instead of your 12-16 at once) 22-17 26-30 17-21 10-6 18-15 12-16* with continuation shown in ACF Bulletin #258 Dec. 1995, p. 12

I find this a good position to periodically study, regardless of who has move.