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Tough Game - Colossus-Loy

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.


Colossus is a strong computer program, by Martin Bryant of England, for PC compatible computers. This game was part of a 6-game match that was played on my own computer, with Colossus set on 30 minutes/move average. My specialty is mail play. I guessed that an average of 30 min./move would be typically serious mail play. Both players thought that they were winning this game.

Colossus-Loy
10-14 24-20 7-10 (opening #58, chosen at random from the tough move deck) 22-18 11-16 20-11 8-22 25-18 4-8 28-24 8-11 24-19 9-13* 18-9 5-14 29-25 3-7 25-22 1-5* (Colossus' book ends here) 22-18 13-17 (Not PP) 18-9 6-13* (5-14? 30-25 WW) 21-14 10-17 23-18 7-10 26-23 (19-15 10-19 26-22 17-26 30-7 2-11 18-14 11-15 14-10 draw) 2-7! (Is White in trouble?) 27-24 17-22 24-20 13-17 [diagram#1]

White has a little trick, to almost win. Continue from diagram #1: 18-14 11-15 (17-21? 23-18 10-17 19-15 WW?) 20-16 15-24 23-18! (16-11 seems to draw) 12-19 18-15 17-21 15-6 7-11 32-28(A) 22-25 6-2 11-15(B) 2-7 15-18 7-11 [diagram #2]

From diagram #2, Colussus rejects the clever draw in parentheses: 25-29 (18-23! 11-16 23-26!! 16-23 25-29 28-19 29-25 30-22 25-27 draw, Colossus) 11-15 18-23 15-18 23-27 18-22 27-32 14-10 32-27 10-6 27-32 6-2 32-27 2-7 27-32 7-11 32-27 11-16 27-23 16-20 23-27 draw (Repeat the position).

A - 6-2 (After the game, I thought that this would win) 24-28 (11-16? into note B) 2-7 11-16 7-11 16-20 11-16 (11-15 22-25 draw) 19-24 16-11 22-25 11-15 25-29 15-18 29-25 14-10 5-9 10-6 24-27 31-24 20-27 32-23 9-13 6-1 13-17 1-6 17-22 draw Loy & Colossus.

B - 11-16? 2-7 25-29 7-11 16-20 11-15 19-23 28-19 23-27 (20-24 19-16! & 15-19 WW) 31-24 20-27 15-18 29-25 19-15 (a fairly easy, but time-consuming win follows) 27-32 15-10 32-27 10-6 27-24 6-1 24-19 1-6 19-24 14-10 24-19 10-7 19-24 7-2 24-19 2-7 19-24 7-10 24-19 10-14 19-24 6-9 24-19 9-13 19-24 13-17 24-19 14-10 19-24 17-22 25-29 10-15 WW.


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