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© Copyright 1996, Jim Loy
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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.
This short game features Willie Ryan's "Atomic Cook." A cook is a new move, a theoretical novelty. Marion Tinsley was 19 years old, and was playing in his first major tournament. Ryan was one game down, in the final round of the tourney. If Ryan had not won this game, Tinsley would have been awarded first prize. With this game, Ryan tied the score, and the match continued in a sudden death mode. Ryan went on to win the match and the tournament.
M. Tinsley - W. Ryan, 1946 U.S. National Tournament
11-15 23-18 12-16 (called Ryan's Cross) 18-11 8-15 24-20 9-14 20-11 7-16
[diagram]
Ryan's
innovation, his "Atomic Cook", follows: 22-17 (22-18 is PP) 4-8 26-23
8-11? (15-19! or 16-20 both draw with some care. After 8-11?, Red will
eventually run out of safe moves) 25-22 16-20 17-13 5-9 28-24 3-8 22-17 15-18
29-25 8-12 (11-15 also loses, Freyer-Rosenfield, 1952 match) 30-26 11-15 32-28
WW.
Red will lose a piece, and still be in deep trouble. Continue: 1-5 26-22 2-7 24-19 WW.