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M. Tinsley - A. Long, 1947 Practice Game

© Copyright 2003, 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.


Because Marion Tinsley was regarded as nearly perfect, it is especially satisfying to point out some of his mistakes. He may have taken the win for granted, allowing Mr. Long to draw the difficult ending. This game was shown in notes to the 1970 National Tournament.

M. Tinsley - A. Long, 1947 Practice Game
1. 12-16 21-17 2. 9-14 24-19 (the Minotaur, considered one of the most complicated openings, with much flawed published play) 3. 14x21 19x12 4. 11-15 (11-16 is also popular) 22-17 5. 5-9 28-24 6. 8-11 24-20 (17-13 or 25-22 PP) 7. 4-8 25-22 8. 9-13 23-18? (R.L. Fortman pointed out 17-14* 10-17 23-18 15-19 27-23 to draw) 9. 21-25 30x21 10. 10-14 17x10 (18-9? 15-18 RW PP) 11. 7x14x23x30 20-16 12. 11x20 31-26 13. 30x23 27x18x11x4 14. 20-24? [2-7 29-25 (22-18 6-10 29-25 = same) 6-10 22-18 (4-8 10-15 RW) 13-17 RW] 22-18 15. 6-10(A) 29-25 16. 2-7 25-22 17. 1-6 (1-5 4-8 10-14 draw) 21-17 18. 6-9 12-8 19. 3x12 4-8 20. 24-28 8-4 21. 7-11 (12-16 draw) 4-8 22. 11-15 18x11 23. 9-14 11-7 24. 14x21 22-18 1/2-1/2

A - This is a great ending: 2-7 29-25 6-9 4-8 7-10! 8-4* 10-14 18-15 14-18 4-8 9-14 8-11 13-17 11-16* (15-10 24-27! RW) 24-28 16-19 17-22 19-23 22-29 23-26 1-6 15-11 6-9 11-8 9-13 8-4 3-7 (13-17 4-8 18-22? 26-30 WW) 12-8! 7-10 8-3! 18-22 26-17 13-22 3-7 29-25 4-8 22-26 8-11 25-22 7-2 14-18 2-6 10-14 6-9 26-31 11-7 31-26 7-10 22-17 9-13 26-22 10-15 18-23 13-9 draw!


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