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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 draw is really spectacular. Marion Tinsley (World Champ) defeated Don Lafferty (World Go-As-You-Please Champ) 2-0 with 38 draws, in this World Championship Match (3-Move World Championship). Here Lafferty pulls a few rabbits out of his hat.
D.Lafferty-M.Tinsley, 1987 World Championship Match, game #6
9-14 22-17 5-9 (not a difficult opening) 17-13 1-5 24-19 11-16 28-24 14-18
(Lafferty moved 16-20 in game #15 of the same match, a game that he lost on
time, in a drawn position) 23-14 9-18 26-23 10-14 30-26! (Prepared for this
match) 7-10? [14-17 21-14 7-10 14-7 3-10! (2-11? loses. Tinsley) 23-7 16-30
draw H. Freyer] 25-22 18-25 29-22 8-11! 24-20 3-7 22-18 14-17 21-14 10-17 26-22
17-26 31-22 7-10 22-17 [diagram #1]
Red is
running out of moves. What can he do? Continue: 11-15!! (A trade) 18-11 5-9
(Regains the piece) 17-14 10-17 11-7 (Another trade) 2-11 19-15 11-18 23-5
16-19 32-28 (5-1 draws. Tinsley) 6-10 5-1 10-15 1-6 17-22 6-10 19-24 10-19
24-31 (White plans to have three kings against two) 19-23 22-25 13-9 25-30
28-24 4-8*!! (Very brave. Doesn't this piece looked doomed?) 9-6 8-11 24-19
[diagram #2]
White saves
the day with this trade: 30-26!! 23-30 31-27 6-2 27-24 draw. White will have
two kings, too.