Does the shot lose, win, or draw? 10-14 17-1 9-14 18-9 11-18
23-14 16-32 24-19 8-11 etc. draw (as Red regains the piece).Return to my Checkers pages
Go to my home page
© Copyright 2003, 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.
These games was played on ItsYourTurn.com game service. Some of the players use handles instead of their real names. In the first round, Richard Fortman (the favorite, of course), SixPack, bprice, chuck, and I won our separate sections. The five of us met in the second round. SixPack and I won that round, beating chuck and bprice, and drawing Fortman and each other (including my lucky game that you see below). Fortman drew both his games with bprice. bprice forfeited his games against SixPack and chuck without playing them.
This game should have been a loss for me, but turned out to be an interesting draw.
Jim Loy-SixPack, 2002 ItsYourTurn.com, "Pro Checkers" Tournament, round
#2
9-13 24-19 11-16 22-18 8-11 26-22(A,B) 16-20 30-26 11-16 21-17
10-14? (5-9 is apparently much better, D. Lafferty as told to R. L.
Fortman, see next game) 17-10 6-24 28-19 7-10 25-21! (corrects Churchill
and the 1981 I-D booklet, as does 22-17 13-22 26-17 5-9 17-13! WW, Loy) 1-6
18-15! 4-8 22-18 3-7 21-17? (26-22 10-14 18-9 5-14 22-18 WW) 13-22 26-17
5-9 17-13 10-14 29-25 14-17 25-22 17-26 31-22 7-10 22-17 2-7 32-28 (18-14
9-18 23-14 16-23 27-18 10-19 14-9 7-11 9-2 19-23 draw) 7-11 28-24
[diagram]
Does the shot lose, win, or draw? 10-14 17-1 9-14 18-9 11-18
23-14 16-32 24-19 8-11 etc. draw (as Red regains the piece).
A - My notes in the margin of my copy of Churchill's Compilations say 25-22 5-9! 29-25 10-14 28-24 7-10! 24-20? 10-15 19-10 6-15 23-19 14-23 19-10 2-7 27-18 7-23 26-19 16-23 31-27 (31-26 3-8 RW) 1-5 27-18 9-14 RW, Loy.
B - My notes also say 28-24 16-20 25-22 11-16 29-25 4-8 18-14 10-17 21-14 6-10 25-21 10-17 21-14 1-6 22-18 13-17 (= 9-13 22-18 12-16 25-22 8-12 29-25 16-20 24-19 11-16 18-14 10-17 21-14 6-10 25-21 10-17 21-14 1-6 22-18 13-17 28-24 4-8) 32-28 7-10 14-7 2-11 26-22 17-26 31-22 6-9? (6-10* draw PP) 22-17 9-13 17-14 13-17 19-15! (14-9 draws, Tescheleit) 17-22 15-10 22-26 10-6 26-31 6-2 31-26 2-6 26-19 24-15 16-19 27-23 WW, Loy. SixPack avoided this as Red.
Now began a marathon battle (checkers for 26 miles and 385 yards) which ended with my victory over SixPack in round 10. After the above game, SixPack defended against my prepared innovations (shown in the comments below) in superhuman fashion, but did not tax my defensive abilities much at all, allowing me to copy moves right out of the book. In the end, he faultered by failing to make the book move in a published position. So a superior library succeeded where hard work failed.
SixPack - Jim Loy, round #3
9-13 22-18 12-16 25-22 (as White,
SixPack moved 24-19 8-12 26-22 which is the same as the above game. I got a
relatively easy draw with 16-20 30-26 11-16 21-17 5-9, instead of the 10-14?
loser in that game) 8-12 29-25 16-20 24-19 11-16(A) 18-14 10-17 21-14
6-10 25-21 10-17 21-14 1-6 22-18 13-17 28-24 4-8 32-28 17-21 26-22 7-10!
(6-9 loses?) 14-7 3-10 31-26 10-14 18-9 5-14 22-18 14-17 19-15 2-7!
(6-9? 18-14 WW) 18-14 7-11 23-18 [diagram]
Red draws most easily with 17-22!!
26-17 16-19 14-10 19-23 10-1 23-32 1-5 20-27 28-24 27-31 24-20 32-27 15-10
27-24 10-7 24-19 7-2 19-15 18-14 draw.
A - 6-9 29-25 4-8 32-28 10-14 19-15? (18-15 draws) 2-6! (1-6 22-17 draw) RW, Loy.
SixPack - Jim Loy, round #4
11-16 23-18 16-20 (Bristol Cross)
24-19 10-14 26-23 8-11 22-17 7-10 17-13 (our other game was a book draw
with 30-26) 3-7 25-22 14-17 21-14 10-26 31-22 9-14 18-9 5-14 29-25 14-17
23-18 17-26 30-23 6-10 13-9 10-14 25-21 1-5! (4-8 draw?) 19-15 11-16
9-6! (15-10? 16-19 RW, E. Fuller) 2-9 15-10 7-11 (16-19 loses)
10-6 (in my pregame notes, I had this labeled a WW) 9-13 18-9 5-14
28-24 13-17 6-1 17-22 1-6 22-25 6-9 (after the game, my computer thought I
had a win at this point with 6-10, but it was mistaken) 14-17 21-14 25-30
14-10 30-26 23-18 draw.
SixPack - Jim Loy, round #5
11-16 24-19 7-11 22-18 3-7 25-22 11-15
18-11 8-24 28-19 4-8 29-25 (the other game went 22-18 9-13 29-25 6-9 to a
quick draw) 8-11 22-18 9-13 25-22 6-9 22-17 13-22 26-17 9-14! (1-6?
17-14!! 10-17 21-14 6-10 31-26 10-17 19-15 WW corrects PP in the Mount
Sterling Advocate) 18-9 5-14 30-25 11-15 25-22 15-24 27-11 7-16 31-26
1-5 32-27 16-19 23-16 12-19 17-13 2-7 13-9 14-17 21-14 10-17 draw.
Jim Loy - SixPack, round #6
11-15 24-20 15-18 22-15 10-19 23-16
12-19 27-24(A,D,F) 7-10 24-15 10-19 32-27 6-10 25-22 8-12 27-24(I)
1-6 24-15 10-19 21-17 6-10?! (I had prepared this in advance. 3-7 draws,
PP) 29-25 (17-13 9-14 26-23 19-26 30-23 14-17 22-18 draws) 9-14 25-21
4-8 [diagram]
White has a strong move here (note J):
26-23?!(J) 19-26 30-23 8-11 22-18 5-9 31-27 11-15 18-11 9-13 23-19 13-22
27-24 22-26 11-7 2-11 draw.
A - The other game went: 25-22 8-11(B,C) 27-23 4-8 23-16 8-12 32-27 12-19 27-23 11-16* (3-8? 23-16 8-12 22-18 12-16 18-14 9-18 26-23 WW, Loy) 20-11 7-16 29-25 6-10 21-17 3-8 25-21 8-12 17-13 1-6 22-17 10-15 31-27 15-18 23-14 9-18 26-23 draw.
B (off A) - 9-14 22-17 6-10 27-24 10-15 (2-6 draws PP) 17-10 7-14 29-25 5-9 20-16 9-13? (8-12 draw?) 24-20 1-6 25-22 14-18 22-17 13-22 26-17 18-22 16-12 (17-13 draws PP) 6-9 17-13 22-25 13-6 2-9 31-26 9-14 32-27 25-29 27-23 29-25 23-16 15-19 26-23 WW, Loy.
C (off A) - 8-12 22-18 4-8 29-25 9-14 18-9 5-14 25-22 7-10 22-17 8-11 27-23 11-15 23-16 12-19 20-16 2-7 32-27 1-5? (15-18 draws PP) 27-23 5-9 26-22? (17-13 WW, Loy) 19-26 30-23 15-19 31-26 9-13 16-12 (called a WW in Churchill's Compilations) 19-24 28-19 7-11 draw, Loy.
D - 27-23 8-12 23-16 12-19 32-27 8-12 23-16 12-19 32-27 4-8 27-23 8-12 23-16 12-19 31-27 3-8 20-16(E) 8-12 25-22 [27-23 6-10 25-22 9-13 (9-14 29-25 draw, Loy) RW, Loy] 6-10 (9-14 29-25 draw, Loy) 22-18 9-14 18-9 5-14 30-25 (29-25? 10-15 RW?) 10-15 25-22 1-6 22-17 or 28-24 draw, Loy.
E - 27-23 8-12 23-16 12-19 20-16 7-11 16-7 2-11 25-22 9-14 22-17 11-15 (14-18 17-14 11-16 26-22 draw?) 17-10 19-23 26-19 15-24 28-19 6-24 (draw in Churchill's Compilations) 29-25* 5-9 25-22* 24-27 22-18* 27-31 18-11* draw, Loy.
F - 21-17 8-12 25-21(G) 7-10 29-25 4-8 25-22 8-11 17-13 9-14 22-17 11-15 27-23 15-18! 23-16 12-19 26-23 (20-16? loses PP) 19-26 30-23 18-27 32-23 2-7 20-16 10-15 17-10 7-14 23-19 14-18 RW?, Loy.
G (off F) - 25-22 4-8 22-18(H) 9-14 17-10 6-22 26-17 5-9 29-25 2-6 25-22 7-10 17-13 8-11 22-18 3-8? (19-23! 28-24 10-15 18-14 9-18 31-26 6-10 26-19 1-6 RW, Loy) 30-26 (27-23 draw, Loy) 19-23 26-19 10-15 19-10 6-22 13-6 1-10 28-24 22-25 (12-16 23-18 draw, Loy) 27-23 (31-26 loses, PP) draw, Loy.
H (off G) - 29-25 9-14 17-10 6-15 22-17 5-9 25-22 1-6 17-13 7-10 27-24 (22-17 draw, Loy) 9-14 20-16 3-7 22-17 (32-27? loses PP) 14-21 30-25 draw, Loy.
I - 22-17 4-8 17-14 10-17 21-14 9-18 29-25 1-6 27-24 19-23 26-19 18-23 19-15 2-7 25-22 7-11 (23-27 draws PP) 30-25 11-18 22-15 3-7 RW, Loy.
J - I did not forsee 17-13! 8-11 13-9 10-15 (11-15 draw?) 22-17 14-18 9-6! (luckily seems to be a draw, in many different ways, including White playing two pieces down) 2-9 17-13 9-14 13-9 3-7 9-6 7-10 6-2 5-9 21-17 (2-6 or 2-7 draw) 14-21 2-7 10-14 7-23 18-27 31-24 14-18 (15-18 20-16 12-19 24-15 14-17 draw) 24-19 15-24 28-19 9-13 (18-23? 19-15 WW like 2nd Position) draw.
Jim Loy - SixPack, round #7
10-15 23-18 9-14 18-9 5-14
26-23(A) 15-18 22-15 11-18 31-26(B) 8-11 24-19 6-10 21-17 14-21
23-14 10-17 27-23 7-10 25-22 11-15 22-13 15-24 28-19 4-8* 29-25 8-11* 25-22 3-7
13-9 (22-18 1-6 = 10-14 22-17 7-10 17-13 3-7 25-22 14-17 21-14 9-25 29-22
11-15 23-18 5-9 18-11 8-15 27-23 9-14 24-19 15-24 28-19 4-8 22-18 1-5 18-9 5-14
26-22 14-17 31-26 8-11 22-18 17-21 draw PP) 11-15 32-28 15-24 28-19 7-11
22-18 11-16 18-15 (26-22 16-20 18-15 1-6 9-5 12-16 draw) 1-5 (10-14
draw) 15-6 5-14 6-1 21-25 draw.
A - The other game went: 22-18 14-23 26-10 7-14 27-23 11-15 25-22 8-11 29-25 4-8 24-19 15-24 28-19 11-15 (6-10 22-18 1-5 is published to draw, but may lose) 19-10 6-15 22-17 15-18 (2-7 draws) 17-10 18-27 31-24 2-6 10-7 (21-17 6-15 24-20 8-11 25-22 12-16 17-14 16-19 14-10 19-23 22-17 15-19 17-14 19-24 14-9 24-27 9-6 27-31 6-2 11-15 20-16 23-26 RW?, Loy) draw.
B - 21-17 14-21 23-14 12-16 25-22 8-11 29-25 4-8 22-18 8-12 25-22 6-10 14-9 (31-26 draw, Loy) 16-20 31-26 10-15 18-14 1-5 22-17 15-18! (7-10 draw, PP) RW?, Loy.
Jim Loy - SixPack, round #8
9-13 23-18 12-16 18-14 10-17 21-14
6-9(A) 22-18 11-15 18-11 9-18 24-20 8-15 20-11 7-16 26-23 3-7 23-14 1-6
30-26 [new. Against the published 27-23, I was planning 4-8! 25-21 (others
draw) 16-20 32-27 (21-17? loses) 6-9 30-25! seems to be the easiest draw]
6-9 26-23 9-18 23-14 16-19 31-26 2-6 27-23 6-10 23-16 10-17 25-22 5-9
draw. Although there were probably several ways to draw, I tried to be very
careful, as we were playing a new variation.
A - The other game went: 6-10 24-20 10-17 25-21 1-6 21-14 6-9 29-25 9-18 22-18 11-18 20-11 8-15 26-23 2-6* 23-14 6-9 31-26 9-18 26-23 13-17 23-14 4-8 27-23 7-10 (new. 15-18 or 8-11 draw, PP) 23-19 15-24 28-19 10-14 19-16 8-12 16-11 5-9 25-21 17-22 11-7 9-13 7-2 14-18 2-6 18-23 6-10 draw.
In round #9, we followed the book (beginning 11-16 22-17 7-11) most of the way.
Jim Loy - SixPack, round #10
10-15 23-18 6-10 18-14 9-18 24-19
15-24 22-6 1-10 28-19 11-15 27-24 8-11 25-22(A) 11-16* 26-23 16-20 31-27
5-9 30-25 (22-17 = note A) 4-8 23-18? (a loss. 22-17 is published to
draw) 8-11 21-17(C) 9-13* (11-16 draw or 10-14 draw) 18-14
11-16 14-9 16-23 27-11 7-16* 32-27 (9-5 is a long RW) 3-8 (10-15
17-14 16-19 22-17 19-28 may win, but I don't see how) 9-5 8-11 RW. I win
a piece. I didn't expect him to resign just yet, as he can get two or three
kings. But the win is probably fairly easy.
A - The other game: 21-17 11-16 26-23 5-9!(B) (published somewhere) 25-21 16-20 31-27 (back into Churchill's Compilations) 4-8* 17-13 8-11* 13-6 2-9 29-25 11-16* 21-17* 7-11 17-13 9-14 13-9 14-18* 23-7 16-23 27-18 20-27 32-23 15-29 7-2 draw. Nice, but published all the way.
B (off A) - 16-20? (given as a draw in Ryan's Modern Encyclopedia of Checkers) 31-27 4-8 25-22 8-11 17-13 11-16 22-17 5-9 13-6 2-9 17-13 9-14 13-9 7-11 9-6 3-7 6-2 14-18 23-14 16-23 27-18 20-27 32-23 15-22 14-9 10-15 9-5 22-26 29-25 (23-18? draw, Ryan MEC) 26-31 25-22 WW? Loy
C - I expected 22-17 15-22 25-18 10-14 17-10 7-23 27-18 20-27 32-23 11-16 19-15 16-20 15-10 (23-19 20-24 RW or 21-17 9-13 17-14 20-24 RW) 20-24 10-6 24-27 6-1 27-31 1-5 9-13 18-15 (18-14 31-26 23-18 26-22 18-15 22-17 15-10 12-16 RW) 31-26 23-18 12-16 RW.