Contest 39 , May 19 - June 30, 2018: The solutions to any two of its problems will show you their uncommon mystery theme. Knowing it should make the other problems in this contest easier to solve. Although Boland's Familiar Themes devotes a page to this theme, none of the current contest problems are included there.
However this is a composing contest. Four composers each entered two problems, but one problem was disqualified, leaving a total of seven. You don't need to solve them to enjoy them. If you are not a solver, just visit the animated solutions and their notes. Then vote to tell us which solution impresses you most.
If you think you are a good judge of problems, get on the ladder, and find out how good you really are. Do so by telling Bill Salot (before the contest ends) which problem got your vote. His address is below the diagrams. Here are the problem titles:
A Walk Through Time
Two Happy
5-Ways
Back at You
Alternating Current
Smoke and Mirrors
Mixed Vegetables
Problem Composing Contest 39 Underway
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Bill Salot
- Posts: 448
- Joined: Sat Dec 15, 2007 10:57 am
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Bill Salot
- Posts: 448
- Joined: Sat Dec 15, 2007 10:57 am
Re: Problem Composing Contest 39 Underway
The "Mystery Theme" of this contest was dubbed "Captive Cossacks" by Ben Boland in his "Familiar Themes", 1938. The theme is undefined, but you know it when you see it. It is among composers' favorites, but only occasionally (some say rarely) arises in games.
These 7 problems collected 6 votes from the United States and 5 from other countries, plus a total of 300 non-voting visitors. The new low of 11 votes worldwide is not a sign of the imminent demise of these contests. Composers will continue to show their wares with or without votes of support.
The winner of Contest 39 was the only entry of the stroke type. It was Smoke and Mirrors, by Ed Atkinson. It received 4 votes, thanks to Liam Stephens (Ireland), Lloyd Gordon (Canada), Kathy Wirthwein and Wilma Wolverton. Incredibly it was Liam's 7th consecutive vote for a winner.
A 3-way tie for second, with 2 votes each, included Two Happy, by Roy Little, which got Gene Ellison's vote; and Alternating Current, by Brian Hinkle, which got Gary Ellison's vote. Those two problems had similar solutions and may have stolen votes from each other. The third party in the tie was Mixed Vegetables, by Bill Salot. Tony Gallagher (UK) and Jim Somers (Ireland) voted for it.
Fifth, with one vote, was the instructive A Walk through Time, by Brian Hinkle. Slava Gorin (Russia) voted for it.
Last with no votes were Back at You, by Ed Atkinson, and 5-Ways, by Bill Salot.
Roy Little was the only composer with only one problem entered. His second one was disqualified just before the contest started.
The top 4 voters on the Problem Evaluation Ladder are now as follows:
1) Liam Stephens 7 wins in 7 tries,
2) Lloyd Gordon 2 wins in 2 tries,
3) Gene Ellison 4 wins in 6 tries,
4) Wilma Wolverton 3 wins in 5 tries.
Fifteen others are batting no better than 50%. Picking winners is not easy.
These 7 problems collected 6 votes from the United States and 5 from other countries, plus a total of 300 non-voting visitors. The new low of 11 votes worldwide is not a sign of the imminent demise of these contests. Composers will continue to show their wares with or without votes of support.
The winner of Contest 39 was the only entry of the stroke type. It was Smoke and Mirrors, by Ed Atkinson. It received 4 votes, thanks to Liam Stephens (Ireland), Lloyd Gordon (Canada), Kathy Wirthwein and Wilma Wolverton. Incredibly it was Liam's 7th consecutive vote for a winner.
A 3-way tie for second, with 2 votes each, included Two Happy, by Roy Little, which got Gene Ellison's vote; and Alternating Current, by Brian Hinkle, which got Gary Ellison's vote. Those two problems had similar solutions and may have stolen votes from each other. The third party in the tie was Mixed Vegetables, by Bill Salot. Tony Gallagher (UK) and Jim Somers (Ireland) voted for it.
Fifth, with one vote, was the instructive A Walk through Time, by Brian Hinkle. Slava Gorin (Russia) voted for it.
Last with no votes were Back at You, by Ed Atkinson, and 5-Ways, by Bill Salot.
Roy Little was the only composer with only one problem entered. His second one was disqualified just before the contest started.
The top 4 voters on the Problem Evaluation Ladder are now as follows:
1) Liam Stephens 7 wins in 7 tries,
2) Lloyd Gordon 2 wins in 2 tries,
3) Gene Ellison 4 wins in 6 tries,
4) Wilma Wolverton 3 wins in 5 tries.
Fifteen others are batting no better than 50%. Picking winners is not easy.
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George Hay
- Posts: 1054
- Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2011 7:41 am
- What do you like about checkers?: Checkers is a game of pure logic.
- Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
Re: Problem Composing Contest 39 Underway
"Captive Cossacks" is one of the charming themes that makes checkers such a charming game! Congratulations to Ed Atkinson for the winning entry "Smoke and Mirrors." All seven entries are par excellence. Specking of par excellence, Liam Stephens has judged the winner a "magnificent" seven times in a row! (7 for 7)
--George Hay
--George Hay