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December, 2003 ACFB #306

VARIATION 2

KEEN V. LAVERTY, ROUND 1, GAME 2, MASTERS, 43RD

A)-Forms Pask's Key Landing No. 9.

B)-Basil Case covered the essential points of this game in his annotations to ABC.101.74. Case v. Hellman played this same game in their 1953 match. The Dawson-Gregg edition of Lees' Guide shows this line credited to J. Ferguson. LG.25.j. KE3 and KE4 illustrate the position at the end (CR) as Problem No. 25. An example of First Position pushed too far back to force a win. Kear's derives it uncredited on page 115 and lists Problem No. 25 as "Author Unknown." Gonotsky quotes the game without credit in GG.36.c. Pask quotes the game and credits Case v. Hellman using the standard that when two grandmasters play a line, that line receives the highest endorsement and should be noted.

VARIATION 3 (Off Var. 2)

WEBSTER V. WALCOTT, ROUND 1, GAME 4, MASTERS, 43RD

A)-22-18 6-10 14-7 3-10 28-24. SAME. Ginsberg v. Gonotsky.GG.24.9(1925)(via 11-16 23-18 10-14.) Also Lieber v. Gonotsky, GL.35.40(1928)(via 11-16 24-19 8-11.) Also J. Murray. KE4.110.13(via 11-16 23-18 16-20.)

B)-Credits in Note A. Continue 23-19 16-32 9-13 20-27 13-24. (c. f. Crocodile shot.)

JIM MORRISON V. VICTOR HABGOOD, ROUND 1, GAME 3, MASTERS, 43RD

A)-Same as 10-15 21-17 15-18 23-14 9-18 22-15 11-18 24-19. Treated and recommended there by Pask. Fortman treats it under this Denny opening.

B)-Both Fortman and Pask favor 17-13 as did Tinsley.

C)-Now a pair of two-for-one's lead to an open game and an easy draw.

ELBERT LOWDER V. LARRY KEEN, ROUND 3, GAME 1, MASTERS, 43RD

A)-Transposes to 10-14 22-18 11-15. This is how it arose in the critical 25^th game of the Hellman v. Tinsley 1955 match.

B)-Boland termed the combination that follows a rebound (FT, p. 40.) Willie Ryan once called it a 1-17 Compound. [The American Checkerist, Vol. 6. p. 22, Notes C and E. (From the Cross)] Since the same idea arises colors reversed, a better way of describing it might be an Elbow Rebound to distinguish it from a Straight Rebound as in No. 2 of the FT reference.

VARIATION 1

HALLETT V. BURTON, ROUND 1, GAME 2, MASTERS, 43RD

A)-Initiates a 12-piece clearance leading to a draw. To mine this ending, study the Lumsden-Tunnel Position (BM.54-56) and Left Side Herding (BC.69-75.)

VARIATION 2

KEEN V. LOWDER, ROUND 3, GAME 2, MASTERS, 43RD

A)-Another large reduction involving 10-pieces.

B)-Burton v. Hallett, Round 1 Game 1, called it a draw here.

C)- This was left here by Heffner. AT6, P. 263, Note N. Now 25-22 leaves a trivial 2X2. Long and Hunt played this in their 1936 match (games 9 and 10.)

STEVE JONES V. LARRY KEEN, ROUND 6, GAME 3, MASTERS, 43RD

A)-Allows White to confine Red in the dangerous single corner. 6-9 was the original defense by Victor Davis. See Variation 1. Richard Fortman pointed this out in C2003, P. 83, GAME 37. This opening was in a state of uncertainty in the early 1940's. Ryan had rated it almost as critical as the Octopus. At present it has cooled down considerably, thanks to persistant analysis.

B)-White now exchanges kings. Both sides crown but Red is forced to crown on the wrong side of the board.

C)-Then 18-22 reduces to a simple 3X2 enging. The Tennessee master has handled the ending with consumate skill, a classic exercise in Left Side Herding. See Boland's Border Classics for a detailed study of this technique.

VARIATION 1 (Off Trunk, Note A)

KEEN V. JONES, ROUND 6, GAME 4, MASTERS, 43RD

A)-20-16 15-19 31-27. SAME. BC3, P. 62, Note I, Subnote 1.

B)-After 16-11 14-18 and the 1-for-1, Red nets the isolated man on 26. A neat touch by Davis. AC, Vol. 4, P. 75, Game 140 (01/1945.) Ryan used the same idea in an exhibition game shown in the cover problem of that issue. The 4th edition of Kear's quotes this draw, correcting earlier play.

VARIATION 2

JACK FRANCIS V. EARL MORRISON, ROUND 8, GAME 4, MASTERS, 43RD

A)-A handicap defense that Ryan had featured in the 2nd edition of his MEC. (His trunk was also by Davis.) Ryan wasn't convinced that the 11-16 line offered better prospects until Game No. 191 in AC, Vol. 5.

B)-A doubtful choice. It further weakens the Red Double Corner side. Eventually White breaks through for a free king and confines Red by tying up Red's backward Single Corner men and confining his King.

C)-White lines up for a 2-for-2 and a free king.

D)-Red's king is not free.

E)-Now the 2-for-2.

F)-Red releases his king with a neat Breeches idea. To no avail: White's king power is overwheming.

G)-Simple opposition play now. An instructive ending by the Canadian master.

VARIATION 3

MORRISON V. FRANCIS, ROUND 8, GAME 3, MASTERS, 43RD

A)-The 22-18 line in the trunk is strongest. Fortman calls the text inferior when properly met with 10-15. In MEC2, Ryan noted that Hellman had defeated him with 27-24 in 1938 Cedar Point Master's. This would have been round 6 of that tourney. They also met in the semi-finals and finals. Ryan won the former and they divided 1st and 2nd prize money after playing 12 draws in the latter. They played a total of 20 games, each won a game with 18 draws. This event was reported in the last issue of the American Checker Monthly, Vol. 18, P. 102f. (July & Aug. 1938.) The editor, Manson Teetzel died September 8, 1938, after suffering a fractured hip on August 30.

B)-10-15 is considered the strongest reply. Continue: 22-18 15-22 25-18 14-17 21-14 11-16 20-11 8-22 26-17 9-27 32-23. Removes ten men and leads to an open game. See Pask's Solid Checkers, Part 3, P. 74, Var. 20. Pat McCarthy v. Tom Landry (1985.)

TONY BISHOP V. ED KING, ROUND 1, GAME 1, MASTERS, 43RD

A)-The trunk attack in both Fortman and Pask. However, Pask recommends 17-13 and Fortman acknowledges disciples of that line.

B)-Fortman prefers 11-16 and quotes an E. F. Hunt improvement of a weak Hellman draw. Var. 1 treats 1-6, the third logical defense. Pask gives play only on this 12-16.

C)-25-22 7-10 24-19 15-24 28-19 8-11 22-18 4-8. SAME. Oldbury v. Marshall, 1950 Scottish Tourney, P. 59, Game 66.

D)-Lawson and Marshall took the three-for-three by 18-15 against Oldbury in ST1950. Some subtle play in this late midgame can be found in the notes to Game 50 of that work. For example, see Target Practice No. 11 for an Oldbury trap.

E)-Oldbury frowned on the previous move but Nemesis continued Oldbury's attacking idea as follows: 2-6 30-26 3-8 26-23 5-9 32-28 10-14 19-15 12-16 22-17 14-21 28-24 8-12 15-8 6-10 13-6 (another Quisling Slip) 16-19 23-16 12-28 6-2 1-5 8-3 10-14 18-9 5-14. DRAWN.

F)-Clears the ending nicely.

VARIATION 1 (Off Trunk, Note B)

KING V. BISHOP, ROUND 1, GAME 2, MASTERS, 43RD

A)-11-16 25-22 1-6 29-25 7-10 25-21. SAME. The order in BC4's trunk.

B)-22-17 lead to the Hunt defensive innovation in BC4.

C)-7-10 32-27 4-8 21-17 5-9 30-25 9-14 25-21 SAME. Andrew R. Dossett. Fortman referred to him as "The Sage of Lebanon, IN."

D)-White breaks through easily after 19-15 (Nemesis preferred 24-20 22-26 (D1) 20-16 etc. - tapping the same elbow) 11-18 24-19 22-26 19-15. Elbow Tap.

D1)-14-18 17-14 and White nets the isolated man on 6.

PHIL SCHWARTZBERG V. LES BALDERSON, RD. 5, G. 1, MAJORS, 43RD

A)-The Octopus, so named by Ryan in the first edition of his Modern Encyclopedia of Checkers and dedicated to A. J. Mantell, who was largely responsible for laying the foundations of a sound draw on this critical opening.

B)-The attack. Richard Pask comments on the tactical possibilities of 17-13 in a note to game 147 of the Seventh International (U. S. v. U. K and Ireland.) This 17-13 idea is even more attractive in the Baby Octopus (11-16 21-17 7-11 17-13), though the 17-14 attack is almost irresistible there as well.

C)-The Schonbach defense jumps the other way. Schonbach's analysis may be found in Midwest Checkers, Vol II, Nos. 4 and 5 (Aug. and Oct., 1980.) Fortman labels this defense "suspect." This did not prevent World Three-Move Champion, Alex Moiseyev from adopting it successfully against Jim McCarthy in the game mentioned in Note B. I suspect that Alex drew this game because he is Alex and not because of the merits of the defense! In Interdistrict mail play, Ken World has championed this defense. See recent booklets for interesting, though not yet convincing, details of his attempts to draw.

D)-An intriguing mystery here is why 9-14 loses. Several have tried in vain to weave a sound defensive pattern. Tim Laverty told me recently that his friend and mentor, the ever aggressive, iconoclastic Elbert Lowder, at one time spent considerable effort on this defense but concluded in the end that it was a lost cause.

E)-Following Ryan's analysis in MEC. In Variation 1 Phil tries a Hellman cook..

F)-Ryan left it here in Variation 7, Note A of both editions of MEC. Les squeezes a little more juice out of the ending.

VARIATION 1

BALDERSON V. SCHWARTZBERG, ROUND 5, GAME 2, MAJORS, 43RD

A)-Hellman defeated Long with this variation in game 7 of their second match (1962) (via 11-16, 21-17, 7-11, 17-14 10-17 22-13, 11-15.) Ed Markusic had previous alerted Hellman to the possibilites of this line (BC4, p.7, Note L.)

B)-Hellman was successful with 27-23 19-26 30-23 after Long's weak 9-13 reply. Instead Don Lafferty had seen the following during the Long-Hellman game: 8-11 31-27 3-7 27-24 7-10 24-19 15-24 11-15 32-28 15-24 28-19 4-8 20-16 9-13 16-12 13-17 22-13 8-11. DRAWN. Hellman v. Long Match Book, P. 8, Note F.

C)-27-24 4-8 31-26 was Hellman's order of moves in BC.

D)-Loses! BC4 shows the correct play by Hellman: *8-11 26-23(D1) 26-23 19-26 30-23 15-18 23-19, etc.

D1)- Or 32-27 11-16 21-17 14-21 24-20 9-13 20-11 19-24 28-19 15-24 23-19 24-27 23-19 is sound. Nemesis.

E)-Continue 26-22 19-26 30-23 16-20 24-19 15-24 28-19 20-24 22-18 and Nemesis steals a piece. WHITE WINS.

RICHARD HALLETT V. JACK FRANCIS, ROUND 3, GAME 3, MASTERS, 43RD

A)-25-21 8-11 29-25 5-9 17-13 9-14 26-23 11-15 24-20 was how Hellman v. Ryan reached the position after Note B. WCC, P. 68, Game 39. Hellman then surprised Ryan with 12-16 transposing to an unpublished line of the Skull Cracker (10-15 22-17 15-19.)

For 24-19 see VAR. 1.

B)-A draw by E. A. Harrhy runs 30-26 3-7 23-19 1-5 (B1) 26-23 6-9 13-6 2-9 31-26 8-11 26-23 9-13 32-28 5-9 21-17 14-30 23-5 30-26 22-18 15-22 19-16 12-19 24-8 10-14 8-3 7-10 3-7 10-15 7-10 15-18 10-17 26-30. WCC., P. 69, Note D.

B1)-A Not forced. 8-11 is surprisingly strong. Continue: 26-23 6-9* 13-6 2-9 31-26 9-13 32-28 13-17 19-16 12-19 23-16 1-6 27-23 18-27 25-22 9-13 12-8. DRAWN. BC4, P. 18, Note G. This variation contains a landing reached from openings Nos. 6 and 58.

VARIATION 1 (Off Trunk, Note A)

FRANCIS V. HALLETT, ROUND 3, GAME 4, MASTERS, 43RD

A)-Same as 10-14 24-19 14-18 23-14 9-18 22-15 11-18 21-17.

B)-26-23 10-14 31-26 4-8 28-24 6-10 25-21 11-16 29-25 3-7 13-9 8-11 26-22 11-15 9-6 (neat shot) 2-9 24-20 15-31 22-6 1-10 20-2 10-15 2-6 9-13 25-22 15-19 23-16 12-19 6-10 5-9 10-17 19-23 32-18 31-27 30-25 23-26 17-14 9-18 22-15. Morrison v.Burton drew this in Round 2, Game 4. Red gets the piece back easily.

C)-28-24 16-20 30-26 2-7 32-28 5-9 26-22 7-10 22-15 12-16 19-12 10-26 31-22(C1) 6-10 13-6 14-18 22-15 10-19 24-15 1-19 is a standard E. F. Hunt draw here, ending in a Straight Rebound.

C1)-Hugh Burton v. Earl Morrison called it a published draw in Round 2, Game 3.

D)-Continue: 21-17 7-11 15-10 6-15 19-10 11-15 10-6 8-11 25-21 11-16 17-14 16-19 6-1 19-23 14-10 23-32 24-19 15-24 28-19 32-27. DRAWN. Nemesis.

JOHN WEBSTER V. ELBERT LOWDER, ROUND 2, GAME 2, MASTERS, 43RD

A)-For important analysis on the 15-19 defense, see ACFB, #302, P. 8.

B)-One of three strong attacks, Pask especially recommends the line in SC4. Both Pask and Fortman also treat the other two: 23-18 and 24-20.

C)-Ryan labeled this move "unquestionably the best" in MEC2 but Fortman showed sound play in BC4 on 6-10 that he had used in mail play aginst Stenson Tribble and Matt Long. Pask shows a draw Fortman v. L. Goans from the 1983 ID Booklet.

D)-Nice pitch. Typical of Elbert's style.

E)-Trying to force an immediate 16-12 but White backs up 16 with his next move.

F)-5-9 16-12 6-10 32-27 9-13 27-23 14-17 31-27 17-21 27-24 1-5 24-19 15-24 28-19 10-14 19-16 14-17 23-19 5-9 22-18 17-22 26-17 13-22 19-15 9-14 18-9 11-18 16-11 7-16 20-11 DRAWN. Nemesis.

G)-Red has run out of moves!

[Editor's Note: Beginning with the February issue, Mac Banks will be fully in charge again. He was in a bad automobile accident that prevented him from editing games this time. At this writing he has recovered from his ordeal and is enthusiastically ready to pitch in. His address, for those who wish to send him holiday greetings is: Mac Banks, ACF Games Editor, 3482 Countryhill Drive, Barlett TN 38135-2458.]

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