Return to my Checkers pages
Go to my home page

Go-As-You-Please Opening Guide

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 is a two-part guide to the go-as-you-please (GAYP) openings. In GAYP, you can make any opening moves that you want. The other main style of checkers is called 3-Move, in which the first three moves (Red-White-Red) are chosen at random from a list of accepted 3-move openings. The two parts of this guide are Part I - 11-15 (Old Faithful, below), and Part II - Others (farther below). 11-15 was named "Old Faithful" by Tom Wiswell. It is the strongest first move.

Note: "R." stands for Red, "W." for White. I've used "?" to indicate a weak move, and "!" for a strong move. In some checkers literature, an "!" indicates surprise, and may actually be used indicate a bad move.

Part I - 11-15 (Old Faithful)

Switcher (11-15 21-17? 9-13!)
11-15 21-17? 9-13! (9-14 25-21=9-14 22-17 11-15 25-22 in Part II) 25-21* 8-11(A) 30-25(B) 4-8 24-19 15-24 28-19 11-16 (11-15 17-14* 15-24 27-20 10-17 21-14 R. better) 22-18 13-22 26-17 8-11 17-14 10-17 21-14 16-20 25-22 R. strong.

A - 5-9 29-25 (30-25 R. better) 9-14 (15-19 24-15 10-19 23-16 12-19 17-14 R. better) 23-18* 14-23 27-11 8-15 17-14 10-17 21-14 R. better.

B - 17-14 10-17 21-14 6-10 22-17 13-22 26-17 4-8 (15-18 24-20 R. strong, or 1-6 29-25 R. strong) 29-25 R. strong.

White Dyke (11-15 22-17 8-11 17-14)
11-15 22-17 8-11 (For others, see the following openings) 17-14(A) 10-17 21-14 9-18 23-14 12-16 (6-9 R. better or 4-8 24-19 even) 26-23 (25-22 4-8 R. better) 16-19 23-16 11-20 24-19 (25-22 R. better) 15-24 28-19 6-9 30-26 9-18 26-23 R. better.

A - 17-13? (26-23 4-8 Nailor, R. better, or 25-22? 9-13!=Switcher) 15-18! (4-8 25-22 Douglas, R. better) Maid of the Mill, R. strong.

Boston (11-15 22-17 9-13 17-14)
11-15 22-17 9-13 17-14 (24-20 see Wagram, or 25-22?=Switcher) 10-17 21-14 8-11 24-19 (23-19=Laird & Lady) 15-24 28-19 11-16 (4-8 even) 25-21 6-9 29-25 9-18 23-14 16-23 26-19 even.

Wagram (11-15 22-17 9-13 24-20)
11-15 22-17 9-13 24-20 (dull) 13-22 25-11 8-15 21-17 (29-25 4-8 25-22 8-11 23-18 6-9 28-24 12-16 32-28 even) 5-9 17-13 4-8 29-25 8-11 28-24 (25-22 9-14 28-24 same) 9-14 25-22 even.

Black Dyke (11-15 22-17 15-19) (also called the Dyke)
11-15 22-17 15-19 24-15 10-19 23-16 12-19 25-22 8-11 (9-14 17-10 6-15=Double Corner Dyke, in Part II) 27-23(A) 4-8 (11-16 17-13 9-14 R. better) 23-16 11-20 22-18 8-11 32-27 9-14 R. better.

A - 30-25 4-8 (11-15 R. better) 22-18 9-13 (11-16 R. better) 18-14* R. better.

Single Corner (11-15 22-18)
11-15 22-18 (very popular) 15-22 25-18* 12-16(A) 29-25(B) 9-13(C) (Flora Temple variation) 18-14 (24-19 R. better) 10-17 21-14 16-20 23-18 6-10 25-21 10-17 21-14 2-6 (1-6 26-23 R. better) 26-23 R. better.

A - 8-11 29-25 (23-19=Tillicoultry) 4-8 24-20 (25-22 R. better) 10-15 (12-16 26-22* 8-12 28-24 9-13 32-28 R. better) 25-22 12-16 21-17* 8-12 17-13 (17-14? R. strong) R. better.

B - 18-14 (Lucy Long variation, safer) 10-17 21-14 9-18 23-14 6-10 (8-11 or 6-9 R. better) 29-25 10-17 25-21 1-6 or 2-6 R. better.

C - 10-14 (Anne Gray variation) 24-19 16-20 28-24 8-11 19-16 (32-28 4-8 R. better) 4-8 25-22* R. better.

Cross (11-15 23-18)
11-15 23-18 8-11(A) 27-23!(B) 4-8(C) 23-19 10-14 [9-14 18-9 5-14 22-17 15-18 (6-9 even) 26-22 R. better] 19-10 14-23 26-19 7-14 (6-15 even) 24-20 6-10 22-17 11-15 or 9-13 R. better.

A - 9-14 (Cross Choice, or 10-14 even) 18-9 [18-11 8-15 22-18 (22-17 even) 14-23 (15-22 even) 27-11 7-16 25-22 even] 5-14 22-17 8-11 25-22 (26-23 even) 4-8 even.

B - 26-23 (Crescent Cross, or 18-14 Waterloo, R. better) 10-14 (4-8 30-26 R. better) 30-26 6-10 (7-10 24-19 R. better) 24-19 14-24 27-20* R. better.

C - 10-14 (11-16? Slip Cross, W. better) 22-17 (23-19 R. better) 15-22 17-10 6-15 26-17 R. better.

Alma (11-15 23-19 8-11 22-17 3-8)
11-15 23-19 8-11 (7-11=10-14 23-19 7-10, in Part II) 22-17 3-8 (For other moves, see the following openings) 25-22 11-16 27-23 (26-23 7-11 31-26 9-14 29-25 16-20 19-16 R. better) 7-11 24-20 15-24 28-19 10-14 17-10 6-24 22-18 24-28 or 1-6 R. better.

Old Fourteenth (11-15 23-19 8-11 22-17 4-8)
11-15 23-19 8-11 22-17 4-8 (Very popular) 25-22(A) 9-13 27-23 (17-14 10-17 19-10 7-14=Black Doctor, see the next opening) 6-9 23-18 9-14 18-9 5-14 26-23 1-6 30-25 15-18 22-15 11-27 32-23 13-22 25-9 6-13 29-25 R. better.

A - 17-13 15-18 24-20 11-15 (9-14 R. better) 28-24 8-11 R. better.

Laird & Lady (11-15 23-19 8-11 22-17 9-13 17-14 10-17 21-14) & Black Doctor
11-15 23-19 8-11 22-17 9-13 (Complicated) 17-14 [25-22? (Laird & Lady Refused) 5-9* RW] 10-17 21-14 [19-10? (Black Doctor, a gambit) 7-14 27-23 4-8 R. strong] 15-18 (6-10 even) 19-15(A) 4-8 24-19 6-10 15-6 1-17 25-22 18-25 30-14 even.

A - 26-23 [24-20 3-8 (4-8 even) 19-15 6-10 15-6 1-17 25-22 18-25 30-14 even] 13-17 19-15 11-16 (4-8 24-19 6-9 28-24 even) 24-20 16-19 23-16 12-19 even.

Glasgow (11-15 23-19 8-11 22-17 11-16 (or 9-14 25-22 11-16))
11-15 23-19 8-11 22-17 11-16(A) (Very popular) 24-20 (25-22?! Kentucky Glasgow, R. strong) 15-24 (16-23 to same) 20-11 7-16 27-11 3-7 28-24 (safer than 11-8) 7-16 24-20 16-19 25-22 4-8 29-25 10-15 (9-14=note A) or 19-24 R. better.

A - 9-14 [15-18? (Center) 19-15 W. better] 25-22 11-16 (6-9=Souter) 24-20 15-24 (16-23 to same) 20-11 7-16 24-20 16-19 29-25 4-8 R. better.

Tillicoultry (11-15 23-19 8-11 22-18)
11-15 23-19 8-11 22-18(A) (Considered a variation of the Single Corner) 15-22 25-18 11-16 27-23 16-20 32-27 10-14 R. better.

A - 27-23 (26-23 Nailor, R. better) 11-16 (9-13 R. better) 22-18 15-22 25-18 same.

Will-o-the-Wisp (11-15 23-19 9-13)
11-15 23-19 9-13 (Deceptive) 22-18 15-22 25-18 7-11(A) 19-15 10-19 24-15 5-9 (12-16 29-25 even) 29-25 even.

A - 10-14 (5-9 29-25 W. better) 18-9 5-14 27-23 8-11 26-22 6-10 22-18 even.

Fife (11-15 23-19 9-14 22-17 5-9!)
11-15 23-19 9-14 22-17 [27-23 (See the Defiance) is more popular] 5-9! (8-11, see Glasgow, for others, see the following openings) 26-23(A) 9-13 30-26 (24-20 15-24 28-19 13-22 25-9 6-13 29-25 1-5 or 8-11 R. better) 13-22 25-9 6-13 29-25 8-11 (1-6 R. better) 25-22 4-8 22-17 13-22 26-17 R. better.

A - 17-13 14-18! (A strong gambit) 19-16 12-19 26-23 19-26 30-5 15-18 R. better.

Souter (11-15 23-19 9-14 22-17 6-9)
11-15 23-19 9-14 22-17 6-9 17-13 2-6 25-22 8-11 29-25 (24-20 15-24 28-19 4-8 29-25 same) 4-8 24-20 [26-23 14-17 (14-18 even) 21-14 even] 15-24 28-19 11-15 27-24 14-17* 21-14 9-18 26-23* even.

Whilter (11-15 23-19 9-14 22-17 7-11!)
11-15 23-19 9-14 22-17 7-11! 25-22 11-16 26-23 5-9(A) 17-13 3-7* 29-25 7-11 (1-5 22-17 R. better) 24-20 or 31-26 R. better.

A - 16-20 30-26* 2-7 23-18 (17-13 8-11 R. better) 14-30 19-16 12-19 31-26 30-23 27-2 20-27 32-16 R. better.

Defiance (11-15 23-19 9-14 27-23)
11-15 23-19 9-14 27-23 (Very popular) 8-11(A) 22-18 15-22 25-9 5-14 29-25 11-15 (6-9 25-22 9-13 24-20 11-15 32-27 15-24 28-19 4-8 R. better) 25-22 7-11 (4-8 24-20 15-24 28-19 8-11 or 10-15 R. better) 22-18 (24-20 R. better) 15-22 26-17 11-15 24-20 15-24 28-19 4-8 R. better.

A - 5-9 22-18 15-22 25-18 7-11 (8-11 R. better) 26-22 (19-15 10-19 23-7 3-10 R. better) 11-15 18-11 8-15 24-20 15-24 28-19 R. better.

Second Double Corner (11-15 24-19)
11-15 24-19 15-24 28-19 (27-20? R. strong) 8-11(A) 22-18 11-16 (9-14 18-9 5-14 25-22 R. better) 16-20 (4-8 R. better) 22-17 (29-25? RW?) 4-8 (9-13 17-14 R. better) 17-13 8-11 R. better.

A - 9-14 22-18 5-9 (8-11=note above) 26-22* (25-22? RW) 7-11 27-24* 11-16 22-17 16-20 R. better.

Ayrshire Lassie (11-15 24-20)
11-15 24-20 8-11! [15-19 (9-13 22-17=Wagram)=11-16 24-20 16-19 in Part II] 28-24 (27-24 Old Paraffin, R. better) 4-8(A) 23-19 (22-18 R. better) 15-18(B) 22-15 11-18 26-22 7-11 22-15 11-18 30-26 8-11 25-22 18-25 29-22 11-15 R. better.

A - 3-8 23-19 (23-18 9-14 18-9 5-14 22-17 R. better) 9-14 26-23 5-9 22-17 1-5 R. better.

B - 9-14 (12-16 19-12 15-18 22-15 10-28 even) 22-17 6-9 (15-18 26-23 6-9 R. better) 17-13 1-6 26-23 15-18 32-28 14-17 21-14 10-17 23-14 9-18 R. better.

Part II - Other first moves

Edinburgh (9-13?)
9-13? (The weakest first move) 22-18!(A) 12-16(B) 24-20 [18-14 (24-19 or 25-22) 10-17 21-14 16-19* 23-16 11-20 W. better] 8-12* 25-22 [28-24 (27-24 3-8* 24-19 W. better) 4-8* 18-14 W. better] 10-15* 18-14 [21-17 6-9 17-14 (29-25 1-6 W. better) 1-6 W. better] 16-19* 23-16 12-19 14-10 (30-25 6-9* 14-10 7-14 27-23 W. better) 7-14 27-23 14-18 W. better.

A - Other moves are not as strong:

  1. 21-17? 11-15 (Or 5-9 B. better)=Switcher, in Part I
  2. 23-18 5-9 (12-16 W. better) even.
  3. 23-19 11-15=Will-o-the-Wisp, in Part I
  4. 24-20 11-15 22-17=Wagram, in Part I

B - 10-15 25-22 (18-14=10-15 22-17 9-13 17-14) 6-10* 23-19 (24-20 5-9 28-24 W. better) 11-16 18-11 16-23 27-18 8-15 18-11 7-16 W. better.

Double Corner (9-14) [featuring the Double Corner Dyke, and the Pioneer]
9-14 (Second strongest to 11-15) 22-18(var.1) 5-9(A) 25-22(B) 11-16 (11-15 18-11 8-15=note A) 18-15 10-19 24-15 16-19 (7-10 27-24 10-19 24-15 2-7 or 16-19 even) 23-16 12-19 22-17 8-12 even.

A - 11-15 18-11 (18-9 5-14 25-22 even) 8-15 25-22 5-9 24-20 (24-19 or 22-17 even) 7-11 even.

B - 24-19(C) 11-15 (11-16 even) 18-11 8-24 28-19 4-8 25-22 8-11 22-18 11-16 29-25 even.

C - 24-20 (18-15?! Bronx Express, R. better) 11-16 (10-15 28-24 15-22 26-10 7-14 25-22 1-5 even) 20-11 8-22 25-18 4-8 even.

Variation 1 - 22-17(D) 11-15(E) 25-22! (23-19=11-15 23-19 9-14 22-17 in Part I) 15-19(F) (Double Corner Dyke) 24-15 10-19 23-16 12-19 17-10 6-15 21-17 5-9 27-24 1-6 or 2-6 even.

D -

  1. 24-19 11-15! (5-9=note B) R. better.
  2. 24-20 5-9 22-18=note C.
  3. 23-19 11-15 (11-16 even)=11-15 23-19 9-14 in part I.

E - 11-16 (6-9 W. better) 25-22 8-11 (16-19=var. 1) 22-18 16-20 18-9 5-14 even.

F - 8-11 17-13 (23-19 to Part I) 11-16 (Pioneer) 24-19 (29-25 even) 15-24 28-19 4-8 22-18 8-11 18-9 5-14 29-25 11-15 even. See the Bristol (11-16) for the other, closely related, Pioneer.

Denny (10-14)
10-14 (Fifth best) 24-19!(A) 6-10 (14-18 or 11-16 W. better) 22-17 (Or others) 9-13 [11-15 17-13 (26-22 W. better) 15-24 13-6 2-9 28-19 W. better] 28-24 13-22 25-9 5-14 26-22 (29-25 11-15 25-22 or 26-22 W. better) 11-15 22-17 (29-25=previous note) 8-11 or 7-11 W. better.

A - 22-17 [23-19 (22-18 11-15 18-11 8-15 even) 11-16 26-23 (Or others) 6-10 even] 7-10 (6-10 24-19=above) 17-13 3-7! 25-22 (24-20 14-18 or 11-16 W. better) 14-17 21-14 9-25 29-22 W. better.

Kelso (10-15)
10-15 (Fourth best) 21-17!(A) 11-16 (15-18 W. better, or 7-10? Octopus, W. strong) 17-13 [17-14 9-18 23-14 8-11 22-17 (=10-15 22-17 11-16 17-14 9-18 23-14 8-11 21-17) even] 16-20 22-18 (25-21 8-11 even) 15-22 25-18 8-11 29-25 or 24-19 even.

A -

  1. 23-18 (Kelso Cross) 12-16 (7-10 27-23 or 26-23 even) 26-23 (21-17 9-13 24-20 16-19 17-14 6-9 even) 16-19 (8-12 even) 23-16 11-20 18-11 8-15 22-18 15-22 25-18 even.
  2. 22-18 (Kelso Single) 15-22 25-18 9-13 (11-15 or 6-10 even) 29-25 (24-19 even) 11-15 18-11 8-15 even.
  3. 23-19 7-10 22-18 (22-17 3-7=Alma, Part I, or 11-16 even) 15-22 25-18 even.

Old Faithful (11-15) See Part I.

Bristol (11-16)
11-16 (Third best) 22-18!(A) 8-11 (16-20 25-22 8-11=same) 25-22 (24-19=note A) 16-20 (4-8 even) 22-17 (29-25 10-14 or 4-8 even) 9-14 18-9 5-14 29-25 (Pioneer, or 24-19 even) 11-15 (4-8? WW) 25-22 (26-22 7-11 17-13 4-8 even) 7-11 17-13 4-8 even. See the Double Corner (9-14) for the other, related, Pioneer.

A -

  1. 24-19 8-11 (Paisley. 16-20 22-18 8-11 or 10-14 even) 22-18 4-8 (10-14 even) 25-22 or 26-22 even.
  2. 23-18 (Bristol Cross) 16-20 (8-11 18-14 even) 24-19 10-14 (9-14 even) 26-23 (18-15 7-10 even) 8-11 22-17 even.
  3. 24-20 16-19 23-16 12-19 22-18 (27-23 R. better) 9-14 (10-14 or 8-11 even) 18-9 5-14 25-22 even.
  4. 21-17 9-14 (9-13 25-21 5-9 or 16-19 even) 25-21=Double Corner (9-14 22-17 11-15 25-22).
  5. 22-17 (23-19? RW?) 16-19 (8-11 17-14 even)=Black Dyke, in Part I.

Dundee (12-16)
12-16 (Only 9-13 is weaker) 24-20!(A) 8-12! 28-24! (22-18 16-19 23-16 12-19=11-16 24-20 16-19 23-16 12-19 22-18 8-11) 3-8! [9-14 22-18 3-8 18-9 5-14 23-19 (Or others) W. better] 23-18 (22-18 16-19 W. better) 9-13 18-14 (21-17 or 27-23 W. better) 10-17 21-14 6-10* W. better.

A -

  1. 22-18 16-20 (8-11=11-16 22-18 8-11) 25-22 (24-19=12-16 24-19 16-20 22-18) 8-12=11-16 22-18 8-11 25-22 16-20.
  2. 24-19 (23-19? RW? or 23-18 16-20 24-19 even) 8-12 (16-20 even)=11-16 24-19 8-11.

Return to my Checkers pages
Go to my home page