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© Copyright 2004, Jim Loy
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Richard L. Fortman's book, Basic Checkers is one of the real classics of checkers. It is a book on all of the over-the-board three-move openings, and it is very good. But, its presentation of the Minotaur (12-16 21-17 9-14 24-19, which was named the Minotaur by Mr. Fortman, back in 1969) contains several errors. This is not Mr. Fortman's fault, because much of published play on this opening is riddled with errors. Checkers giants such as Marion Tinsley, Asa Long, and Walter Hellman propogated some of these errors, and slightly lesser giants such as R. L. Fortman, Jerry Childers, and Eugene Frazier could not do any better. Mere mortals, like Rex Wood, Hall Carr, and Ernest Churchill did much worse. The fault is the extreme complexity and tactical nature of this opening. I will illustrate this by quoting almost all of Basic Checkers' play on this opening (12-16 volume, page 12, variation 1, the trunk line in Basic Checkers being the less critical 17-13 at the fourth move), with my corrections and comments in RED.
12-16 21-17 9-14 24-19 14-21 19-12 11-15(var.2) 22-17(C) 5-9 (15-19 23-16 8-11 to var. 2) 17-13(D) 9-14 28-24 8-11 25-22 14-18(E) 23-14 10-17 27-23 11-16 24-20 7-11(F) 32-28(G) 1-5 31-27(H) 2-7 27-24 7-10 23-19(I) 16-23 26-19 17-26 30-23 4-8 13-9 draw, C. Cantor - M. Tinsley, 1946 practice game.
C)
1) 28-24 5-9 24-20(z) 8-11 27-24 9-14 22-18 to a draw, M. Tinsley - P. Davis, 1975 Southern Ty, in Shuffett's Checkers the Tinsley Way, opening #127.
(z) 23-18 (22-17 goes into note D or 22-18 goes into note 2 below) 15-19* [8-11? 26-23 9-13 (11-16 may draw?, Shearer's Handbook, p.135, var. 63) 24-20 WW, L. W. Taylor - R. Flood, 1962 U.S. Nat.] 24-15 10-19 and Red has a better double corner than White, if 22-17 (if 27-23 8-11 etc.) 9-13 17-14 8-11, continue 25-22 11-16 27-23 19-24 or 6-10 seem to draw, J. Loy.
2) 22-18 15-22 25-18 8-11 29-25 5-9 28-24 11-16(y) 25-22(x) 4-8 (given to draw in Shearer's Handbook, 10-14 to var. 2) 24-20 [if 22-17 (24-19? 8-11 RW) 16-19 24-15* 10-19 23-16 9-14 17-10 6-22 26-17 8-11 draw, R. L. Fortman] 8-11 27-24 (22-17 21-25 30-21 16-19 shot, RW) 10-14 24-19 7-10 32-28 10-15 19-10 6-15 22-17 15-22 17-10 2-6 26-17 6-15 28-24 9-13 17-14 15-18 31-27 18-22 23-18 22-25 14-10 25-29 18-15 draw, Bell - Sterling, Shearer's Handbook.
(y) 10-14? 25-22 11-16 18-15 16-19 (16-20 draw?, J. Loy) 23-16 14-18 22-17 9-13 [7-11 (18-22 24-20 22-25 draws, J. Loy) 15-8 4-20 17-13 9-14 24-19 W. strong, E. F. Hunt and M. Banks - L. Stubblefield, 1975 I-D] 24-20 13-22 26-17 18-22 16-11 7-16 20-11 22-25 (or 6-9 WW L. Stubblefield - M. Rex, 1973 I-D) 17-14 25-29 12-8 or 14-10 W. powerful, E. F. Hunt.
(x) 24-20 7-11! (1-5 3rd American Ty.) 32-28? [18-15 (25-22 10-15 27-24 6-10 23-19 16-23 26-19 9-13 19-16 2-7 31-27 1-6 27-23 13-17 RW, R. L. Fortman) 10-19 32-28 6-10 27-24 10-15* R. L. Fortman, 1981 I-D, continue 25-22 1-6 (9-13 draws, J. Loy) 22-18 15-22 24-8 4-11 26-17 6-10 17-13 (31-26 draw, J. Loy) 10-15 R. strong, R. L. Fortman, 1981 I-D] 10-15 18-14 9-18 23-14 15-19 27-23 1-5 23-18 19-23 26-19 16-23 25-22 21-25! 30-21 23-26 14-10 6-15 18-14 26-30 22-17 30-25 14-10 15-19 17-13 19-23 10-6 2-9 13-6 5-9 6-1 9-13 1-5 23-26 long RW, R. L. Fortman - C. Jackson, 1955-61 ACF National Mail Ty.
3) 27-24 8-11 (5-9 24-20 9-14 seems plausible) 24-20 11-16 (5-9 28-24 9-14 to M. Tinsley - P. Davis in note 1 above) 20-11 7-16 22-18 15-22 25-18 4-8 29-25 8-11 25-22 5-9 22-17 9-14 [10-15 26-22 6-10? (15-19 draw? H. Carr) 28-24 1-5 31-27 16-20 17-13 9-14 18-9 5-14 13-9 WW, H. Freyer - M. Kemmerer, 1958 U.S. National (ECB, p.8286)] 18-9 6-22 26-17 11-15 draw, L. Munger, Elam's Checker Board (ECB), p.8287, note F.
D) 28-24 8-11 (9-13 24-20 13-22 26-17 6-9 17-13 9-14 13-9 8-11 9-6! 2-9 25-22 remarkable draw, D. Oldbury - R. Johnson, 1976 U.S. National) 24-20 4-8 25-22 9-13 23-18? (17-14! 10-17 23-18 15-19 27-23 6-10* draw, R. L. Fortman) 21-25! 30-21 10-14 17-10* 7-30 20-16 11-20 31-26 30-23 27-4 20-24? (2-7! RW, as shown in my M. Tinsley - A. Long, 1947 Practice Game) 22-18 6-10 29-25 2-7 25-22 1-6 21-17 6-9 12-8! 3-12 4-8 24-28 8-4 7-11 4-8 11-15 18-11 9-14 11-7 14-21 23-18 draw, M. Tinsley - A. Long, 1947 practice.
E) 4-8? 22-18 15-22 26-17 10-15 17-10 7-14 29-25 15-18 24-20 11-15 (2-7 23-19 14-17 31-26 11-15 long draw, Maine - Coleman, 4th USA - GB mail match) 20-16 15-19 16-11 8-15 23-16 14-17 31-26 15-19 16-11 19-23 26-19 17-22 draw, D. Lafferty.
F) 15-19? (1-5? 20-11 7-16 23-18 15-19 18-15 16-20 32-28 WW, R. Fortman - D. Lafferty, practice) 20-11 7-16 22-18 19-24? (4-8 may draw, J. Loy) 18-14(a) [32-28? 24-27 31-24 16-20 24-19 3-8 (20-24 RW, J. Loy) draw, E. Frazier, continue 31-27 23-18 27-23 18-14 17-22 15-10 23-18 13-9 18-15 9-6 15-18 RW] 4-8 (16-20 23-19, M. Tinsley, continue 3-7 draw, J. Loy) 29-25 8-11 25-22 (14-9 draw, J. Loy) 16-20 23-19 (23-18 draw? J. Loy) 11-16 (21-25 30-21 11-16 RW, J. Loy) 14-9* 16-23 26-19 17-26 31-22 WW, M. Tinsley, continue 24-28 19-16 20-24 16-11 3-7 11-8 7-10 9-5 10-14 8-4 21-25 draw or 14-17 draw, J. Loy.
a) 18-15! 24-28 (24-27 loses) 15-11 16-20 (1-5 23-18 16-20 18-14 3-7 11-8 WW) 23-19 (29-25 WW) 3-7 11-8 WW, J. Loy.
G) 31-27? 15-19* 32-28 6-9*! 13-6 1-10 22-13 19-24 28-19 11-15 RW.
H) 29-25 2-7* [15-19? 22-18* 17-22 26-17 19-26 31-22 16-19 18-15 (18-14 WW, J. Loy) WW] 28-24 [23-18 4-8 (5-9 RW, J. Loy) 31-27 6-9 13-6 16-19 22-13 15-31 27-24 31-27 R. best, R. L. Fortman] 7-10 23-19 16-23 26-19 17-26 31-22 (possible WW, D. Lafferty) 5-9 19-16 (22-17 15-18 19-16 10-15 16-7 3-10 = same) 10-14 16-7 3-10 22-17 14-18 20-16 18-23 R. strong, M. Tinsley (draw).
I) 24-19 [23-18? 5-9 29-25 4-8 (16-19 RW, J. Loy) R. L. Fortman, continue 18-14 9-18 24-19 WW] 15-24 28-19 11-15 20-11 15-24 11-7 (23-18 5-9 11-7 10-14 7-2 draw, M. Chamblee) 24-27 23-18 (7-2 27-31 RW, M. Chamblee, continue 2-9 5-14 23-19 31-27 13-9 draw, J. Loy) 27-31 18-14 6-9* 13-6 10-15 22-13 3-17 RW, M. Chamblee.
Var. 2 - 11-16 22-17 (28-24 16-20 to note D) 5-9(C) 17-13(D) 8-11 25-22(E) 11-15 22-17(F) 16-20 29-25 7-11(G) 28-24 4-8 25-22 2-7(H) 23-18 21-25 30-21 10-14 17-10 7-30 31-26 30-23 27-18 20-27 32-23 6-10* 13-6 10-14 18-9 1-10 9-6 (21-17 draws W. Hellman) 11-16* (10-14? 22-17 15-18 17-10 18-27 10-7 WW, W. Hellman) 23-18 8-11 6-2 15-19 2-6 10-15 6-10 16-20 18-14 ("WW," W. Hellman) 20-24 14-9 24-28 9-6 11-16 6-2 19-24* (16-20? 2-7 19-24 10-19 3-10 22-18 24-27 21-17 WW, W. Hellman) draw, R. Flood.
C) 16-19 (8-11 25-22 4-8 17-13 10-15 22-17 7-10 28-24 16-20 draw Hunt - Loew, 1960 practice, Van's 6th Dist. Newsletter) 23-16 8-11 25-22 11-20 17-14 (22-18 A. Long - W. Hellman, 1948 World Champ. Match) 10-17 22-13 4-8 29-25 5-9(CC) 25-22 9-14 22-17 8-11 (6-10? 13-9 draw, Howe - Todd, ECB, game 9735) 17-10 7-14 26-22 14-17 31-26 11-15 27-23 2-7 23-18 15-19 18-14* (18-15? 19-23 RW, continue 21-25 23-18 25-30 18-14 draw, J. Loy) 1-5 22-18 7-11 26-22 draw, J. Caldwell.
CC) 8-11 25-22 6-10 (7-10 is a published draw, if Red needs to avoid this line) 26-23 1-6 23-18 (V. Dowsey - J. Downie, 7th USA - GB mail match) 6-9 13-6 2-9 28-24 10-15* (11-16? 31-26 9-13 24-19 16-23 26-19 5-9 18-15 10-14 19-16 long WW, R. Fortman - V. Monteiro, Haye's mail ty.) 22-17 (31-26 9-13 18-14 (26-23 draw?, J. Loy) 11-16 26-23 draw, D. McGrath, continue 16-19 23-16 21-25! RW, J. Loy) 15-22 17-13 9-14 13-9, with the issue still in doubt. Continue 22-25 9-6 25-29 6-2 29-25 2-6 25-22 6-9 22-18 24-19 11-16 31-26 16-23 26-19 18-23! 27-18 14-23 9-6 20-24 19-15 7-10 15-11 10-14 RW?, J. Loy.
D) 28-24 16-20 17-13 9-14 24-19 8-11 25-22 14-17 19-16 11-15 23-18 15-19 32-28* (18-14? 20-24*! 27-20 21-25! 30-21 19-23 RW, W. Hellman) 1-5(a) 18-15(y) 5-9(x) 15-11 10-15 29-25(w) 9-14 (20-24! 27-20 9-14 31-27 14-18 RW, T. Sheehan) 27-24 20-27 31-24 15-18! 24-15 (22-15 19-23! 26-19 14-18 "R. strong," K. Todd, draw E. Frazier, Midwest Checkers, Jun. 1986) 18-23 26-19 17-26 30-23 21-30! 13-9 6-13 15-10 14-17 10-6 R. best, C. Beebe and K. Todd.
(a) 4-8 29-25 (18-15? 19-23*! RW, W. Hellman) gave Red problems, K. Todd - G. Zuber, mail game. Continue 1-5 18-14* 20-24 27-20 19-23 26-19 17-26 30-23 21-30 28-24 10-17 16-11 7-16 20-4 30-26 31-22 17-26 23-18 26-31 18-15 31-27 24-20 (15-10 draws, E. Scheidt) 27-23 19-16 23-19 15-11 6-9 draw, E. Scheidt.
(y) 29-25 5-9 18-14 9-18 22-15 4-8 13-9* 6-13 15-6 2-9 25-22 (27-24 is an easier draw, E. Frazier) 9-14 27-23 20-24 22-18 8-11 18-9 11-20 23-16 24-27 31-24 20-27 9-6 27-31 26-23 (26-22* draws, E. Frazier, Midwest Checkers, Oct. 1986) 31-27 23-18 17-22 (27-23* RW, E. Scheidt, Midwest Checkers, April 1986) 6-2 27-23 2-11 23-14 11-15 draw, C. Beebe, 1973.
(x) 4-8? 22-18 17-22 (5-9 draw? J. Loy) 26-17 19-23 27-24 20-27 31-24 10-19 24-15 23-27 29-25 27-31 25-22 31-27 16-11! 7-16 15-10 W. strong, C. Beebe (WW).
(w) 27-24 (27-23 draw?, J. Loy) 20-27 31-24 7-10* 24-20 19-24* (10-14? 12-8 3-12 16-11 WW?, R. L. Fortman) 28-19 15-24 11-7 2-11 16-7 10-15 7-2 24-27 20-16 27-31 16-11 [26-23!! 17-26 29-25 15-19 25-22 19-24 (21-25 draw) 22-17 24-28 23-18 28-32 30-23 31-26 17-14 draw, J. Loy] draw, R. L. Fortman, continue 3-7* (prevents 11-7) 11-8 (12-8 may draw?, E. Scheidt) 4-11 12-8 15-18 22-15 11-18 2-11 31-22 11-15 18-23 8-3 22-18* 15-22 17-26 RW, E. Scheidt.
E) missing.
F) 28-24? 16-19 23-16 15-18 R. powerful, W. Hellman (probable draw, J. Loy).
G) 9-14 25-22 7-11 28-24 1-5? (4-8* = note H, or 11-16? 23-19* 16-23 27-11 20-27 32-23 WW, R. Flood) 23-18* 14-23 27-18 20-27 31-24 and 26-23 WW, R. Flood.
H) 9-14 23-18 14-23 27-18 20-27 32-23 2-7* [1-5? 31-27 (18-14 WW, J. Loy) 2-7 27-24 15-19 24-15 10-19 23-16 11-20 18-14 6-10 13-9 W. best, R. Flood] 31-27 15-19 23-16 11-20 18-14 10-15* 14-9 6-10 27-23 8-11 (20-24 9-6 draw, R. Flood) 9-6 10-14 17-10 7-14 6-2 14-17 13-9 (2-7 3-10 12-8 11-16 8-3 15-19 3-7 19-24 draw, R. Flood) 1-5 22-13 5-14 2-6 15-18 23-19 14-17 6-10 18-22 26-23 11-15 19-16 15-19 23-18 22-26 draw, R. Flood.