Notes from devoted students and their childhood draughts setups. Part Three

Today we stopped in Ventspils. It’s a strategically important ice-free port and a very beautiful city, built up by Mayor A. Lembergs. The Ventspils cows have, of course, become the city’s trademark. You can see them everywhere in town. You can even climb on them and take a photo. It was here that Andris Sametis, a student of Rudolf Tomass and a math teacher, opened a checkers school. He poured all his energy and passion into his checkers program. He was the only one in Kurzeme who was truly committed to helping his students succeed. We used to visit him during the stages of the famous “Albatross” tournament. He was grateful for the support and wanted the federation to meet him halfway by organizing at least one qualifying round in Ventspils. His request fell on deaf ears. And draughts in the city died out. And we weren’t able to help Andris in this regard. Now, once or twice a year, he takes his car and comes to Riga with 3–4 children. We can only sympathize with him. It was all ruined by the idlers at the federation. Sitting in a café near Livonian Castle, we pull out V.K. Adamovich’s business cards. We make a decision and talk to Andris.

Today we pulled out some problems from the archive of the famous coach V.K. Adamovich. We used to work through them when we were little kids, taking our first steps in draughts. Viktor Kuartoich would give each of us one, and we’d try to find a forced win. We invite you to try it, too.

	White’s move. A forced win.
	White’s move. A forced win.
	White’s move. A forced win.
	White’s move. A forced win.
	White’s move. A forced win.