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© 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 is the new version of this article. The old version (My Experiment: Defeating This 7-14 Defense) was rather messy. Checkers analysis is like that. Look in Elam's Checker Board, and you will see worse messes than that. This just looks more messy, because the mess is collected into one place. The way this mess occurs is that one promising variation becomes the main line. Then, later analysis relegates this main line to oblivion, by completely refuting that line. Or the line may merely become a minor variation, as new variations become more vital. I attempted to show that, there, by maintaining the original lines, in their original order, and by just adding variations, where they came up. If you browse through that page, you will get a good feel of how this variation has evolved. It is interesting.
But, Brian Hinkle objected (with good reason). He wanted my article to be an accurate account of the current state of this opening variation. Then people can see just why this opening is considered a loss, and why the ACF has barred it from play. And so, I have rearranged this page for readability.
This opening has always been considered a loss. My 7-14 move is apparently somewhat inferior to the 6-15 move, which is covered in Cayton's Compilation of the Barred Openings (including recently approved openings) on the ACF pages.
9-13 21-17 10-14 17-10 7-14(A) 25-21(Vars. 1,2,3,4) (Same as 10-14 22-17 9-13 17-10 7-14? 25-22) 6-10(B) 22-18 11-15 18-9 5-14 29-25 8-11 25-22 3-8(C) 24-20 2-6 27-24 15-18 22-15 11-27 32-23 8-11 24-19 11-15 30-25 15-24 28-19 10-15 19-10 6-15 25-22 15-19 23-16 12-19 22-17 13-22 26-10 4-8 20-16 19-24 21-17 8-12 16-11 24-28 11-7 28-32 7-2 32-28 2-7 1-5 17-14 12-16 7-11 16-20 11-16 28-24 10-6 WW Checkers 3.0 & Carl Reno. (Both players can vary, quite a bit. But, nothing seems to be an improvement. Loy)
A - Dennis Cayton shows play to defeat 6-15 in his excellent A Compilation of the Barred Openings (revised 1996).
B - 11-15 22-17 13-22 26-10 2-7 29-25 7-14 25-22 6-10 22-17 5-9 17-13 3-7 13-6 14-18 23-14 10-17 21-14 1-17 27-23 7-10 24-20 10-14 28-24 (20-16 allows a draw Reno) 15-18 24-19 18-27 32-23 17-22 19-15 14-17 15-10 17-21 10-7 22-25 7-2 25-29 2-6 29-25 31-26 25-29 WW Checkers 3.0 & Carl Reno who says, "This is something I didn't spend much time on. I'm sure you can find better play for Black."
C - 1-5 (my idea) 23-18 (24-20 maybe) 14-23 27-18(C2) 12-16 (5-9 26-23 3-7 23-19 11-16 18-11 16-23 24-20 7-16 20-11 12-16 31-26 16-19 28-24 19-28 26-19 9-14 30-26 WW, incorrectly attributed to Checkers 3.0, in Cayton's book) 18-14 10-17 21-14 16-20 (16-19 14-10 WW?) 24-19!(C1) 15-24 28-19 2-6 26-23 (Carl Reno continues from here) WW, Checkers 3.0, in Cayton's book. I did not notice this convincing win, as I looked through Cayton's book.
C1 - 14-10 (This line looked like it might be a win, originally) 20-27 31-24 11-16 26-23 16-20 23-19 20-27 32-23 15-24 28-19 4-8 19-16 8-11 (others?) draw? or WW?.
C2 - 26-19 (27-18 is looking like an easier win) 5-9 27-23 9-14 24-20 15-24 28-19 11-15(C3) 30-26 15-24 22-18 4-8 18-9 8-11 21-17 13-22 26-17 11-15 17-13 15-19 23-16 12-19 9-6 2-9 13-6 10-15 6-2 15-18 32-28 18-22 2-6 22-25 6-10 25-30 20-16 30-25 16-11 25-22 10-14 22-25 14-17 19-23 28-19 (Carl goes on for many more moves) WW Carl Reno & WCC.
C3 (off C2) - 3-7 22-18 14-17 21-14 10-17 18-14 17-22 14-9 13-17 9-5 17-21 5-1 22-25 31-26 11-16 20-11 7-16 1-5 4-8 5-9 25-29 9-14 29-25 14-18 2-7 32-27 25-29 19-15 21-25 30-21 29-25 18-14 25-30 15-10 7-11 14-18 16-20 10-7 11-16 18-15 8-11 15-8 16-19 23-16 30-32 16-11 WW Carl Reno & WCC.
Var. 1 - 22-18 3-7(A) (6-10 can lead to the same) 18-9 5-14 25-22 7-10(Var. 1A) (Probably a loss, but the win has not been shown yet) 22-18 1-5!(C) 18-9 5-14 29-25 11-15 25-22 8-11 24-20 4-8!(D) 20-16 (23-18 draw?) 12-19 23-7 2-11 27-23 15-18 22-15 11-27 32-23!(B) 8-11 23-19 13-17 28-24 6-9 24-20 9-13 19-16 11-15 16-11 17-22 26-17 14-21* 11-7 15-19 draw?
A - 5-9 (seems to lose) 25-22 1-5(A1) 29-25 14-17 24-19 (25-21 11-15 draw?) 3-7 28-24 (25-21 6-10 OK?) 17-21 (11-16 18-15 WW?) 19-15 11-16 (or 12-16) 23-19 (or 24-20 perhaps) 16-23 26-19 7-10 (7-11 15-10 WW) 15-11 8-15 18-11 9-14 32-28 (or 27-23 WW) 5-9 31-26 WW
A1 - 12-16 (11-16 24-20! similar WW or 14-17 18-15 WW) 24-20! (24-19 was the move in the game mentioned at the beginning of this article) 8-12 29-25 6-10 25-21 10-15 27-24 2-6 23-19 16-23 26-10 14-23 31-26 WW
B - 31-24 11-15 24-19 13-17 28-24 6-9 24-20 11-15 19-16 15-18 16-11 18-22 26-23 10-15(B1) 11-7 22-26 7-2 9-13 2-6 17-21 20-16 26-31 16-12 14-17 12-8 31-26 32-27 26-19 27-23 draw
B1 - 22-26 (may lose) 11-7 26-31 23-19 14-18 7-2 10-14 2-6 19-16 move? (6-9? 18-23 Red almost wins) 17-21 6-9 14-17 WW or draw?
C - 6-9 29-25 11-16 25-22 16-20(C1) 18-15 (24-19 8-11 draw?) 10-19 24-15 14-17 15-10 12-16 28-24 8-12 23-18 4-8 (17-21 26-23 WW?) 26-23 WW
C1 - 8-11 24-20 2-6 27-24 14-17 24-19 (18-15 was a thought) 10-14 (17-21 28-24 4-8 32-28 WW?) 19-15 17-21 15-8 4-11 28-24 6-10 24-19 WW.
D - 2-7 23-18 14-23 27-18 4-8 (6-9 similar) 32-27 (or 28-24 6-9 32-28 same) 6-9 27-24 10-14 26-23 7-10 24-19 WW
Var. 1A - 6-10(B) 29-25(var. 1B) 11-16(A) 23-19 16-23 27-9 1-5 26-23 5-14 22-18 14-17 18-14 17-22 25-18 10-17 18-14 17-22 14-9 13-17 23-18 17-21 18-14 22-25 9-5 25-29 5-1 29-25 31-26 WW, Bert Vanderpool
A - 11-15 (14-17 25-21 1-6 21-14 10-17 24-20 11-15 28-24 WW Vanderpool) 25-21(A1) 1-6 24-20 14-17 21-14 10-17 28-24 WW Vanderpool
A1 - 24-19 15-24 28-19 8-11 22-18 14-17 (1-5 OK?) 25-22 11-15 18-11 7-16 22-18 17-22 26-17 13-22 18-15 (27-24? may lose!) 4-8 15-6 1-10 27-24 2-6 24-20 8-11 30-26 draw?
B -
Var. 1B (off Var. 1A) - 22-18(D) 1-5(var.1C) 18-9 5-14 29-25 11-15 23-19!(B) 7-11(A) 25-21 15-18 (14-18 26-23 WW Sheehan or 2-6 27-23 WW) 19-15 10-19 24-15 2-6 (12-16 28-24 2-6=same) 28-24 12-16 (13-17 26-23 17-22 30-26 WW) 24-20 13-17 26-23 8-12 and 31-26 WW Tom Sheehan & Checkers 3.0.
A - 8-11 (my attempt at saving Red) 25-21! (other moves are less clear) 4-8 30-25 15-18 (14-18 24-20 WW or 2-6 27-23 15-18 32-27 WW) 26-22 2-6 22-15 11-18 31-26 14-17 21-14 10-17 26-23 WW.
B - 25-22 7-11!(B1) 24-19 (23-18 14-23 27-18 11-16 draw?) 15-24 27-20 (28-19 11-15 draw?) 11-15(B2) 28-24!(B3) 8-11 (2-7 23-18 WW Vanderpool, or 14-17 23-19 WW Vanderpool, or 2-6 32-28 15-19 23-16 WW Vanderpool) 23-18 14-23 26-19 2-6 30-26 6-9 32-28 9-14 26-23 14-17 31-26 WW Bert Vanderpool.
B1 - 8-11 23-18 14-23 27-18 11-16 18-11 16-20 22-18 20-27 (7-16 18-15 WW?) 31-24 7-16 24-20 (18-15 WW?) 16-19 32-27 13-17 18-15 2-6 15-11 WW.
B2 - 14-17 (11-16 20-11 8-15 31-27 WW?) 28-24 17-21 (Other?) 32-27 12-16 24-19 8-12 22-18 2-6 26-22 6-9 27-24 (30-26 WW) 4-8 31-26 10-14 19-15 WW.
B3 - 20-16? 12-19 23-16 8-11!(B4) 16-7 2-11 26-23 4-8 23-19 15-24 28-19 8-12 31-27 14-17 19-15 17-26 15-8 26-31 27-24 12-16 (10-15 24-20 WW?) 8-3 10-14 (10-15 3-7 WW) 3-7 16-20 (14-18 7-11 to same) 24-19 20-24 (I had 14-18 19-15 18-23 WW?) and if 19-15 or 19-16 then 24-27 draws, Bert Vanderpool.
B4 (off B3) - 8-12? 16-11 12-16 (14-18? 22-17 WW?) 28-24!(B5) 14-17 (14-18 22-17 13-22 26-17 18-22 24-20 15-19 17-13 10-14 13-9 19-24 32-28 16-19 20-16 WW Vanderpool) 24-20 17-21 26-23 15-19 31-26 19-24 23-19 16-23 26-19 10-14 19-16 14-17 22-18 17-22 11-7 2-11 16-7 22-25 7-3 25-29 3-7 29-25 7-10 25-22 10-15 22-17 20-16 WW Bert Vanderpool.
B5 (off B4) - 26-23? 14-17 31-26 [23-18 17-26 31-22 16-19 (13-17 draw?) 11-7 2-11 18-14 draw] 17-21 23-19 (23-18 16-19 18-14 10-17 32-27 15-18! 22-15 17-22 draw) 16-23 26-19 15-24 28-19 10-14 32-28 (19-16 14-17 22-18 17-22 16-12 draw?) 14-17 22-18 17-22 19-15 22-25 11-8 4-11 15-8 25-29 8-3 29-25 18-14 25-22 14-9 22-18 draw?
Var. 1C (off Var. 1B) - 14-17 (seems to lose) 24-19 1-5 28-24 11-15(A) 18-11 8-15 29-25 7-11(B) (17-21 25-22 7-11=same) 25-22 17-21 (4-8 23-18 WW?) 32-28! (or 22-17 WW?) 4-8(C) 23-18! (or 24-20 WW?) 11-16 18-4 16-32 4-8 32-27 24-20 27-32 8-11 5-9 11-8 (31-27 OK) 9-14 8-11 14-17 11-8 ... WW.
A - 2-6 24-20! 6-9 27-24 17-22 26-17 13-22 30-25 10-14 19-15 14-17 25-21 WW.
B - 5-9 [15-18 23-14 17-21 26-23 10-17 19-15 2-6 24-19 (or 24-20 WW?) 4-8 27-24 6-9 24-20 WW] 25-22 9-14 24-20 15-24 22-18 17-22 18-9 7-11 26-17 13-22 23-18 12-16 (10-14 9-5 WW) 27-23 24-28 9-5 10-15 18-14 15-19 23-18 19-23 14-10 16-19 10-7 WW.
C - 5-9 19-16 11-20 (12-19 23-7 2-11 27-23 WW) 23-18 WW?
Var. 2 - 24-20 3-7 (6-10 to same?) 22-18(A,B,C) 6-10 18-9 5-14 25-22 11-15 29-25 15-24 28-19 8-11 22-18 1-5 (14-17 25-22 11-16 18-15 1-6 15-11 6-9 22-18 16-20 18-15 7-16 15-6 17-22 26-17 13-22 6-1 WW Checkers 3.0) 18-9 5-14 25-22 11-16 22-18 14-17 18-14 WW, Checkers 3.0.
A - 23-19 6-10 25-21 14-17 21-14 10-17 29-25 5-9 19-15 11-18 22-15 17-21 25-22 1-6 26-23 7-10 23-19 9-14 22-18 14-23 27-18 13-17 28-24 10-14 18-9 6-13 15-10 17-22 20-16 8-11 16-7 2-11 10-7 WW Checkers 3.0
B - 28-24 6-10 22-18 (32-28 11-16 20-11 8-15 24-20 7-11 22-18 15-22 25-9 5-14 29-25 4-8 27-24 11-15 25-22 8-11 23-18 14-23 26-19 1-6 22-18 15-22 19-16 12-19 24-8 WW Checkers 3.0) 14-17 (5-9 25-22 1-6 32-28 13-17 22-13 11-16 20-11 8-22 26-17 14-21 23-18 12-16 27-23 16-20 24-19 WW) 25-22 5-9(B1) 32-28 17-21 24-19 11-15 18-11 8-24 28-19 4-8 22-18 10-14 19-15 14-17 20-16 12-19 23-16 8-12 27-23 12-19 23-16 1-5 15-11 WW Checkers 3.0
B1 - 1-6 32-28 17-21 24-19 11-15 18-11 7-16 20-11 8-24 27-20 4-8 23-19 8-11 26-23 6-9 22-18 (Or 31-26 & 19-16 WW) 13-17 19-15 WW.
C - 25-21? 6-10 28-24 1-6!(C1) 22-18 (24-19 11-16 draw? or 29-25 11-15 or 6-9 draw?) 14-17 21-14 10-17 23-19 (24-19 11-16 draw?) 17-21! (6-10 draw?) 26-22 21-25 30-21 11-16 20-11 7-23 draw.
C1 - 11-16(C2) 20-11 8-15 23-19(C3) 4-8 26-23 8-11 23-18 14-23 27-18 5-9 21-17 11-16 (a complicated near-escape) 18-11 16-23 11-8 23-26 30-23 9-14 8-3 14-21 22-18 7-11 24-20 2-6 32-27 10-15 18-14 (3-8? RW) 13-17 3-8! (31-26 15-18 14-9 6-13 23-14 11-15 draw) 17-22 14-10 21-25 10-7 25-30 7-3 6-10 27-24 30-26 23-19 26-23 3-7 23-16 7-14 WW
C2 (off C1) - 11-15 23-19 1-6 (8-11 26-23 or 7-11 26-23 or 5-9 26-23 may all be similar) 26-23 6-9 (7-11 23-18 WW) 29-25 14-18 23-14 9-18 21-17 or 20-16 WW.
C3 (off C1) - 23-18 14-23 27-11 7-16 24-20 (22-18 10-14 draw?) 16-19 22-18 10-14 draw?
Var. 3 - 24-19 3-7 (6-10 19-15 WW?) 22-18 (28-24 6-10 22-18 11-15 18-9 5-14 26-22 14-17 or 1-5 draw?) 6-10 18-9 5-14 25-22 11-15 29-25(A) 15-24 28-19 8-11 (7-11 22-18 or 19-15 draw?) 22-18 1-5 (14-17 25-22 11-16 18-15 1-6 15-11 6-9 22-18 16-20 18-15 7-16 15-6 17-22 26-17 13-22 6-1 WW Checkers 3.0) 18-9 5-14 25-22 11-16 (11-15 19-16 12-19 23-16 7-11 16-7 2-11 26-23 4-8 27-24 8-12 32-28 14-17 draw?) 22-18 14-17 18-14 WW Checkers 3.0
A - 28-24 (Carl Reno shows a rather lengthy win with 19-16 12-19 23-16 8-11 16-12 11-16 29-25 etc. WCC) 1-5 29-25 5-9 25-21 7-11 32-28 11-16 24-20 15-24 28-19 WW
Var. 4 - 23-19 (Tentatively offered as yet another win, by Brian Hinkle) 6-10 27-23 11-15(A) 22-18 15-22 25-9 5-14 19-16 12-19 24-6 1-10 29-25 8-11 25-22 4-8 28-24 11-15 31-27 8-11 24-20 14-17 32-28 10-14 27-24 2-7 23-19 7-10 19-16 3-7 16-12 17-21 12-8 14-18 8-3 18-25 3-8 13-17 (Others lose) 26-23 10-14 24-19 15-24 28-19 17-22 8-15 25-29 15-10 WW Checkers 3.0.
A - 11-16(B) (An aggressive defense that almost draws) 25-21 16-20 32-27 8-11 (5-9 30-35 (or others) 2-6 19-16 WW?) 19-16 12-19 24-6 1-10 22-18 2-7 18-9 5-14 29-25 10-15 25-22 4-8 22-18 15-22 26-10 7-14 30-25! 11-15 25-22 8-11 23-19 WW.
B - 5-9 22-18 11-15 18-11 8-15 25-22 4-8 24-20 (Maybe 29-25) 15-24 28-19 8-11 19-16 12-19 23-7 2-11 22-18 14-23 26-19 & 19-16 WW.
Note: All unattributed lines are my own analysis. When a line says:
14-17 (5-9 25-22 1-6 32-28 13-17 22-13 11-16 20-11 8-22 26-17 14-21 23-18 12-16 27-23 16-20 24-19 WW) 25-22 5-9 32-28 17-21 24-19 11-15 18-11 8-24 28-19 4-8 22-18 10-14 19-15 14-17 20-16 12-19 23-16 8-12 27-23 12-19 23-16 1-5 15-11 WW Checkers 3.0
The variation in parentheses is my own analysis. Other authors figure that I am attributing the entire paragraph to Checkers 3.0. If the line in parentheses were by Checkers 3.0, they I would have said "Checkers 3.0" after the "WW." I believe in spelling out the source, if it is from someone other than myself.