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© Copyright 1996, 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.
This amazing game (in Gould's Memorable Matches) was played in the 1897 Scottish Tournament. Before that, almost the same position at the diagram was given as a problem in Lyman's Problem Book in 1881. The problem was composed by John Dempster.
T. Ballantyne - G. Buchanan, 1897 Scottish Tournament
11-15 24-20
8-11 (Ayrshire Lassie) 23-18 (28-24 is the most popular) 4-8 26-23 (27-24 draws
in Churchill's Compilations) 15-19 23-16 12-19 22-17 9-14 18-9 5-14
25-22 11-15 29-25 15-18 22-15 19-23 27-9 6-29 15-6 2-9 21-17 9-13 17-14 13-17
28-24 17-21 32-27 29-25 31-26 25-29 27-23 29-25 14-9 8-11 (25-29 is given as a
RW in Churchill's Compilations) 23-18 25-29 24-19 29-25 19-16 25-29 9-5
29-25 26-22 25-29 [diagram]
White
goes two pieces down, for a simple draw: 18-15! 11-25 16-11 7-16 20-11 1-6
11-7! 3-10 5-1 draw. The draw from here is simple. But, my computer cannot draw
it, at any skill-level7 (now, my newer program can draw it, as it is in the
six-piece database). Try it yourself. You will enjoy it.
Here is another game (from Churchill's Compilations) which ends up in the same exact position: 9-14 22-18 5-9 18-15? (Bronx Express) 11-18 21-17 14-21 23-5 12-16 25-22 8-11! 29-25 4-8 22-18 10-15 (16-20 is also strong) 18-14 16-19 24-20 6-9 14-10 7-14 27-23 2-7 23-16 8-12 32-27 12-19 27-23 9-13 23-16 14-18 28-24 18-22 25-18 15-22 26-17 13-22 24-19 22-25 31-26 25-29 19-15 11-18 26-22 18-25 same as the second move after the above diagram.