Look at the
diagram. White is in a desperate situation. Red will be able to king easily.
White will have to perform a miracle, and give up his piece advantage, to king.
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© Copyright 1996, 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 game was the final game of the 1981 World Championship Match, between the defending champ (and winner of this match, with 3 wins, 0 losses, and 34 draws) Marion Tinsley and the challenger Asa Long (then 77 years old). The move 7-11!! (before the diagram) was called a "block-buster" by Long. It was then considered a win for Red. But it is now a draw (See note A).
M. Tinsley - A. Long, 1981 World Championship Match, Game #37
9-14 23-18 (Weak. In 3-move, both players have to play this move. But, the
match ended before Tinsley could play it) 14-23 27-18* 5-9 (12-16 used to be
more popular) 26-23* 12-16 30-26* 16-19 (Several moves are strong here) 24-15
10-19 23-16 11-20 22-17 (32-27 is tough) 7-11!! (The cook, or new move. Red has
just walked into a trap, intentionally. White has little choice but to win the
piece) 18-15 11-18 28-24 20-27 32-5 [diagram]
Look at the
diagram. White is in a desperate situation. Red will be able to king easily.
White will have to perform a miracle, and give up his piece advantage, to king.
Continue: 8-11 26-23 4-8 25-22?(A) 11-15 17-13 8-11 21-17 11-16 23-18 15-19 17-14 19-24 14-10 6-15 18-11 (Do you see how difficult White's game is? You may want to experiment) 24-28 22-17 28-32 17-14 32-28 31-27 16-19 27-24 19-23 24-20 23-26 29-25 26-30 25-21 30-26 14-9 26-23 20-16 23-18 16-12 18-14 11-8 28-24 8-4 24-19 4-8 19-16 9-6 1-10 5-1 10-15 1-6 2-9 13-6 16-11 8-4 15-18 6-1 18-22 1-6 22-26 6-1 26-30 1-6 30-26 6-1 26-22 1-6 22-18 6-1 14-9 1-5 9-6 21-17 (almost a draw) 18-22 RW (17-13 6-1 5-9 22-17 9-5 17-14 RW).
A - This article is really about two games. The mail game J. Charles (England) vs. R. Fortman (World Champ at checkers-by-mail at that time) is maybe even more interesting than the above game! Now Red will probably avoid the above variation altogether, because Charles' draw is too easy. Discovering it was the hard part:
J. Charles - R. Fortman, 1981 mail game (from note A)
17-13 8-12 (11-15 23-18 maybe) 21-17 11-16 31-27 16-19 23-16 12-19 25-22
(17-14? 6-9 RW, Fortman) 3-7 29-25* 7-11 25-21* (22-18 19-23 RW, M. Tinsley
& D. Lafferty) 11-15 13-9* 6-13 17-14 2-7 14-9 7-11 21-17 11-16 17-14 draw.