Note: The board is rotated so you are at the bottom.
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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.
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, who chooses the weak 26-17 variation of the Single Corner opening.
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 22-18 Single Corner.
15-22 26-17? Draws, according to PP, but almost loses. The scoring begins with your
next move (choose your move).
----- -----
8-11(5) 30-26 23-18 draws? PP.
11-15(5) 24-19 10-15(3) may be OK.
15-24 28-19
9-14(5) 25-22 4-8(3) or 10-14(3).
4-8(8) 27-24 5-9(4) or 6-9(4) or 7-11(4).
8-11(5) 24-20 7-11(4) or 5-9(3).
11-15(5) 32-28 5-9(3). Instead of 32-28, White's 19-16 may lose.
15-24 28-19
[diagram] Continue the quiz below.
Note: The board is
rotated so you are at the bottom.
your opponent's
move move comments
5-9(10) 5-9 is a cook (new move). 6-9(8) or 7-11(8) are
published draws. If you considered 5-9, but did
not play it, give yourself (1) more point.
17-13
1-5(10) 10-15(7) (looks promising) 19-10 6-15 13-6 1-10
22-18* 7-11 (12-16? 20-11 7-16 29-25 WW) 29-25
11-15 25-22 3-7 17-13 2-6 22-17 7-11 31-27 15-18
23-19 18-22 27-24 22-26 19-15 11-18 24-19 draw.
22-18
14-17(5) 21-14 7-11?(-10) WW.
10-17 19-16
12-19 23-16
7-10(5) 26-23
17-22(5) 23-19 9-14(5) 18-9 5-14 23-19 14-18.
9-14(5) 18-9
5-14 16-11
14-17(8) 19-16
10-14(3) 16-12 10-15(2) is similar.
22-26(5) 31-22 Should be obvious.
17-26 11-8
26-30(3) 8-4 26-31(3).
30-26(3) 4-8
26-23(3) 8-11
23-19(2) RW 23-18(2) or 14-17(2) or 14-18(2) win too.
There may be a draw after the 5-9 cook. But, so far, I have not found one. 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?