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Quiz #8 - Laird and Lady

© 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.


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 Red against a relatively strong opponent.

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    23-19
   8-11    22-17     
   9-13    17-14
  10-17    21-14     Laird and Lady.  Scoring begins with your next move (choose your move).
  -----    -----
  15-18(2) 26-23     4-8(0) or 6-10(0) are difficult.
  13-17(2)           4-8(1) or 6-10(1).
           24-20     19-15 is more popular.
  6-10!(5)           17-21(3) is published to win in Churchill's Compilations,
                       but is actually weak.
           25-22?    28-24 or 25-21 would seem to draw.
  18-25(1) 29-13
  10-17    31-26
 1-6!!(10)           These look strong, but probably draw: 11-16(5) or 5-9(5)
                       13-6 1-10 or 17-22(5) 26-17 11-15 or 2-6(5).
           27-24
17-22!(10) 26-17     5-9(1) or 6-9(1) or 4-8(1).
 6-10!(10) 32-27     Others lose.
  4-8!(10) 30-26     10-15(1), not 11-15?(-5) 23-18 15-22 19-16 WW.
  10-15(5) 19-10     Should be obvious.
   7-21    23-18
  21-25(2) 27-23     2-6(1) or 3-7(1).
   2-6(3)  26-22     5-9(1) or 25-30(1) 13-9 draw?
12-16!(10) 24-19     25-30(3) 22-17 30-25 17-14 6-10 draw.
   8-12(5)           25-30(1).
           19-15     18-14 6-10 RW.
16-19!(10) 15-8      3-8(1) or 25-30(1).
  19-26    18-14
  25-29(2) 22-18     Or 25-30(2) or 26-30(2) or 26-31(2).
  29-25(2) 18-15
  25-22(1)  8-4
   3-7!(10) RW       Wins the piece.  22-18(2) or 26-30(2) or 26-31(2) all 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?


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