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© Copyright 2002, Jim Loy
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William F. Ryan wrote Streamlined Checkers, which is a tiny 1938 book of analysis of "The Bronx Express," an opening variation which he wanted to popularize. Normally, I have found Ryan's analysis to be mostly sound, compared to many other checkers authors. But most of the analysis of this book has been refuted, or has become superfluous, because his main variation (his variation 2) was busted. Here is my analysis of the Bronx Express:
9-14 22-18 5-9 18-15 (Bronx Express, considered weak by everyone but Ryan) 11-18 21-17 14-21 23-5 12-16(F) 25-22 8-11!(A) (this is Ryan's Var. 2) 22-17?(v.1,2) (Ryan's recommendation) 4-8 24-20 16-19 29-25 8-12 27-24 3-8 24-15 11-18 32-27 10-15 26-23 6-9 23-14 9-18 31-26 (17-14 also loses, PP. Other White moves between here and the previous note lose) 8-11! (15-19 also may win) 26-23 15-19 (Ryan gave 18-22? to draw) RW, Rex Wood.
A - 16-20(B) 22-17 8-11 (8-12 29-25 4-8 25-22 8-11 = same) 29-25 4-8(E) 25-22 8-12 26-23 11-16 or 10-15 draw, in Ryan's book.
B (off A) - 6-9 27-23?(C) 16-20 24-19 8-11 22-18 2-6 (4-8 29-25 = var. 5) 19-15 10-19 23-16 "leaving White with a nice game," Ryan. Continue 6-10 26-22 4-8 31-26 (29-25 10-14 31-26 RW?) 21-25 30-21 10-14 26-23 8-12 23-19 14-23 RW.
C (off B) - 29-25(D) 8-11 (9-13 draw?) 24-20 4-8 27-24 (27-23 draw?) 8-12 22-17 (22-18 10-15 25-22 7-10 draw?) 9-13 or 2-6 draw?
D (off C) - 24-20 8-11 (16-19 draw?) 26-23! (29-25 = note C) 4-8 27-24 8-12 24-19 2-6 or 11-15 draw?
E (off A) 11-15 (interesting) 25-22 4-8 (or 7-11 draws) 30-25 21-30 17-13 30-23 27-4 20-27 32-23 10-14* 28-24 14-18* 22-15 6-9 13-6 1-28 23-18 28-32 18-14 drawn, W. F. Ryan.
F - 8-11 25-22 11-15 (6-9 draws) 27-23 (22-17 15-18 26-23 18-22 RW in Ryan's book, but it may be a draw) 4-8 (6-9 draws) 29-25 15-19 (8-11 or 7-11 or 6-9 draw) 23-16 12-19 24-15 10-19 22-17 8-11 25-22 7-10 32-27 11-15 27-24 3-8 17-13 2-7 31-27 10-14 22-17 7-10 27-23 8-12 23-16 12-19 26-22 14-18 17-14 10-26 30-16 drawn, J. Robertson.
Var. 1 - 29-25 (Kear's Encyclopedia) 4-8 22-18 (26-23 8-12 24-19 6-9 draws, Shearer, MP, continue 22-17 9-13 25-22 2-6 28-24 16-20 R. strong) 16-20(A) 18-14 (25-22 loses, PP) 10-17 25-22 7-10 [8-12 22-13 11-15 (or 6-10) 24-19 15-24 28-19 7-11 R. may be strong, Loy] 22-13 10-14 24-19 8-12 27-23 (19-16 loses, PP) 11-16 26-22 (23-18 loses, PP) 21-25 30-21 14-17 21-14 6-9 13-6 2-25 19-15 25-30 15-11 30-25 32-27 draws, Tescheleit MP.
A - 10-15 (6-9 draw?) 18-14 16-19 24-20 6-9 14-10 7-14 27-23 2-7 23-16 8-12 32-27 12-19 27-23 9-13 23-16 14-18 28-24 18-22 25-18 15-22 26-17 13-22 24-19 22-25 31-26 25-29 19-15 11-18 26-22 18-25 draw, PP.
Var. 2 - 26-23 16-20 (4-8 draws, PP) 24-19? [22-17 11-15 (6-9 17-13 draw?) 29-25 4-8 draw?] 11-15!(A) 29-25 15-24 28-19 4-8 22-18 8-11 25-22 6-9 ("draws," Churchill) 19-16 2-6 23-19 9-13 16-12 13-17 22-13 10-15 19-10 6-22 13-6 22-25 9-6 RW? Loy.
A - 4-8 29-25 6-9 (11-15 draw) 23-18 2-6 (10-14 draw) 18-15 11-18 22-15 10-14? (8-12 or 9-13 draws) 19-16 14-18 16-12 WW? PP.
Nowadays, the main lines would seem to be my variations 1 and 2. The line in the square brackets of variation 2 looks safest to me.