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© Copyright 1999, Jim Loy
You may print this and show it to others. But, this article will eventually be
part of a book that I am writing. So, please do not distribute it widely.
If you need help reading checkers notation, please print out the numbered board.
I think this is my best game, so far. It is spectacular, with two surprise pitches (sacrifices) at diagrams 2 and 3.
T.Sheehan-J.Loy, 1998 I-D (Inter-District Checkers-by-Mail Tourney)
10-14 22-17 11-16 (One of the formerly barred openings) 17-10 6-15 21-17 (Or
23-18 or 26-22 or 23-19) 7-10 25-22 (Or 17-13 9-14 PP) 9-14 (By Brian Hinkle)
17-13 16-19 23-16 12-19 29-25 3-7 (Looks best, but 8-12 may also draw) 24-20
8-11 (8-12? 27-23 4-8 23-16 12-19 20-16 WW) 27-23 4-8?(A) 23-16 8-12
[first diagram]
White wins with a couple quiet moves: 32-27! 12-19 27-24 (Red now has little hope) 1-6(B) [second diagram]
White wins with a little pitch (sacrifice): 22-18! 14-23(C) 25-22 11-16 (The only move worth trying) 20-11 7-16 [third diagram]
One more surprise move: 13-9! (24-20 may also win, maybe not) WW.
Continue: 6-13 (5-14 22-18 is worse) 22-18 WW. I think it is a fairly easy ending.
A - 19-24 28-19 15-24 22-18 4-8 18-9 5-14 25-22 11-15 20-16 8-12 draw, J.Loy-T.Sheehan. I was surprised that he agreed to a draw, here. Continue 13-9 12-19 23-16 1-5* seems to draw.
B - 14-18 (The move I expected) 22-17 1-6 26-22 11-16 (Other moves lose quickly) 20-11 7-16 24-20 5-9 20-11 9-14 11-8 14-21 8-3 WW.
C - 15-29 24-8 7-11 8-3 11-15 26-23 15-18 23-19 14-17 3-8 17-21 8-11 29-25 11-15 25-22 20-16 18-23 16-11 5-9 11-8 9-14 8-3 14-17 15-11 22-25 28-24 25-22 19-16 22-18 3-7 WW