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The 197 Years Problem

© Copyright 1999, 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 diagram shows the position which was formerly known as the Hundred Years Problem. It was first published in 1800, in J. Sturges' Guide to the Game of Draughts, as a White win. Over the next 100 years, numerous players made corrections to the published analysis of this position. Some showed a draw, others showed a White win. Then in 1900, J. Sensecall finally showed that the position was a White win. Or did he? Throughout the twentieth century, a couple minor corrections were made to the analysis. Then in 1997, Chinook (World Champion checkers program) showed that the position is a draw. And, as Don Lafferty observed, the Hundred Years Problem became the 197 Years Problem. Here is Chinook's drawing play:

We start with Sensecall's analysis, in note OO in Boland's Masterpieces, page 128: 8-11 14-17 21-14 31-26 22-18 26-22 11-15 22-17 15-19 17-22 18-15 13-17 15-11 22-18 19-23 18-09 10-7 09-13 07-03 02-06 03-07 17-21 (we are now in note YY, in Masterpieces) 23-26 13-17 07-03 21-25 (mentioned in Masterpieces, where Sensecall's main variation is 6-10 to a later WW) 26-30 (Lafferty was making Sensecall's moves to here, by email. Chinook now shows the draw) 25-29 11-07 17-13(A) 07-02 13-09!!(A) 02-07 09-13 03-08 06- 09 08-11 09-14 07-10 14-17 11-15 17-21 15-19 29-25 19-23 13-17 23-26 25- 22 26-31 etc. draws Chinook!!!!! (The five exclamation marks were awarded by Lafferty).

A - Commenting on these two moves, Lafferty said: "It is little wonder Sensecall and anyone else would overlook these two moves. Who would apparently waste time twice by backing up his King??"

197 years, on a rather simple-looking position? Are checkers players dense, or something (as chess players seem to think)? We are not that dense. Please play over the above moves, and you will see that this position is amazingly difficult. And of course, this means that checkers can be amazingly difficult. Checkers is not dead, or solved, when positions like this keep cropping up. This position is an extreme example. But many positions (in the opening books) take years to resolve into wins or draws, with mail players constantly working on them.

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