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© Copyright 2002, 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.
I have rewritten this quiz, because of analysis sent to me by Ed Gilbert: see The 26-17 Defiance.
This is a quiz patterned after the Solitaire Chess originally seen in Chess Review, and now found in Chess Life. It is not highly interactive, because some of you may have caveman WWW browsers. So, please use a checkers board to play this game, while you read the moves from the screen (or paper if you choose to print out the game). You will be playing White against a relatively strong opponent. Be ready for some torture this time, as you will have to defend a weak position. You begin with a losing position, but then your opponent will make a mistake and allow the draw. We begin the quiz after Red's mistake, 21 moves into the game.
The maximum possible score is 100 points. Below, you will see three columns. The left column will show the recommended move that you should have made, with your score for that move in parentheses. For example 6-1(4) means that the move 6-1 scores four points. The second column will show your opponent's move. The third column shows alternative moves (with their scores in parentheses) and other comments. Be sure and use a piece of paper (or something) to cover up the moves which have not been played yet. Uncover them one row at a time. I recommend that you spend some time thinking about some of these moves, as they are not always obvious. Please do not use an opening book. Write down your score, as you go. Let me know what you think of this quiz (Send me email).
your opponent's
move move comments
11-15 No score for the first 21 moves (your first ten moves).
23-19 9-14
27-23 8-11 Decide upon your next move before continuing.
22-18 15-22 Other moves are weak.
26-17? Loses. Normal is 25-9.
5-9 Churchill gave 4-8 to draw, but 6-9, 5-9, or 4-8 all seem to win.
17-13 1-5 This (17-13) is tough, but other moves may be worse:
24-20 3-8 14-17? 21-14 9-27 32-23 11-15 30-26 15-24 28-19 4-8 25-22
8-11 22-18 seems to draw.
30-26 14-18 14-17 21-14 9-27 32-23 11-16 (or 10-14 26-22 draw?) 20-11
8-24 28-19 7-11 looks strong for Red, but may draw.
23-14 9-18
26-23 18-27 Others lose.
32-23 11-15? 11-16 wins (see The 26-17 Defiance). The quiz begins
with your next move:
----- -----
----- -----
31-26(10) 15-24 Others lose.
28-19 8-11 Or 10-14.
19-16(10) 12-19 Others seem to lose.
23-16 10-15! 11-15 16-11! 7-16 20-11 15-19 25-22 19-24 26-22 24-27 23-18
27-31 11-7! 2-11 22-17 31-26 18-14 draws nicely.
16-12(5) 15-19
12-8(5) 11-16
20-11 7-16
8-3(5) 16-20 19-24 is similar.
25-22!(10) Or 21-17(10). Not 26-22?(5) 19-23 22-18 23-26 3-7? (others
lose?) 2-11 18-14 26-30 25-22 30-26 22-17 6-9!! 13-6
26-22 17-13 22-17 14-10 17-14 10-7 14-10 RW.
20-24
22-18(5) 24-27 Or 22-17(5) or 29-25(5).
26-22(5) 27-31 Or 29-25(5).
22-17(5) 31-26 Or 29-25(5).
29-25!!(25) Not 3-7?(5) 2-11 18-14 6-9!! same RW as above.
19-24 26-22 18-14 is an easy draw.
3-7!(10) 2-11
18-14(5) draw.
The total was 100 points (as far as I can tell). If you got over 50, you probably did well. 80 or so may be Master strength?