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© Copyright 1996 & 1998, 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 old version of this article. It is rather messy. Checkers analysis is like that. Look in Elam's Checker Board, and you will see worse messes than this. 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, here, by maintaining the original lines, in their original order, and by just adding variations, where they came up. If you browse through this page, you will get a good feel of how the 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. If that is what you want, then please go to The 9-13 21-17 10-14 17-10 7-14 Loss, which has been rearranged for readability.
Before I wrote this article, this opening was considered a loss. Now, 7-14 has become the main line (Brian Hinkle says that 6-15 is better). And it is still considered a loss. See Cayton's Compilation of the Barred Openings (including recently approved openings) on the ACF pages.
NEW info: We have two strong variations from Tom Sheehan (var. 4) and Carl Reno (var. 5). See part II, below.
Further NEW info: Variation 5, below has become the main line in Cayton's book. After Tom Sheehan and Carl Reno wrote, with their proposed refutations, I heard nothing more from readers, except that this article was "a mess." It is not a mess. Well, it is a mess. But, there is a reason that it is a mess. It was "an on-going experiment" which was intended to evolve over time. And, I did not want to cover up the old variations, by rearranging them or erasing them. I wanted the article to clearly show how it has changed. So, to clear up the mess, I have divided it into two parts. Var. 5, in Part II is apparently the refutation. The more I search for defenses, the more depressing this opening becomes.
Further New Info (12/4/98): I have received corrections from Bert Vanderpool (note I of the trunk variation, to be found in part I, below), and from Carl Reno (note D and E, of var. 5, to be found in part II, below).
Further New Info (12/6/98): More corrections from Brian Hinkle (Var. 1, note A, in Part I), credited to Checkers 3.0, and Bert Vanderpool (trunk, note G).
Further New Info (12/17/98): I got a lot of stuff from Hinkle and Vanderpool. See part III, for Bert's letter. My article really is a mess, now. It is very confusing, and I will rewrite it eventually. After my 7-14: 25-21, 22-18, 24-19, 24-20, and 23-19 all seem to win.
Part I (the article, mostly as it first appeared)
This article is intended be an on-going experiment. Visitors are invited to email analysis or ideas to me at jimloy@onemain.com [no longer a valid email address]. And, I will try to publish the good stuff here. The idea: Can you defeat this defense (or can you improve this defense)? You are invited to print out the article, and work on it at your leisure.
The opening 9-13 21-17 10-14 is considered a loss for Red. There is an interesting game that I played in my article on the Barred Openings. The defense that I used in that game (7-14) is turning out to be fairly hard for me to beat. Below, I am going to present my analysis (incomplete as it is), and see if anyone can contribute corrections. Are you interested? If this defense is sound, then this opening may become a popular opening in mail play. Let's begin:
9-13 21-17 10-14 17-10 7-14(A) 22-18 (var.1&5) (Var. 5 is the main line, now) 3-7(B) (6-10 can lead to the same) 18-9 5-14 25-22 6-10(C,var.2) 22-18(D) 1-5(var.3) 18-9 5-14 29-25 11-15 25-22(var.4) (23-19, in Var. 4, seems to win) 7-11!(E) 24-19 (23-18 14-23 27-18 11-16 draw?) 15-24 27-20 (28-19 11-15 draw?) 11-15(F) 20-16?(J) (Vanderpool says that 20-16 draws. 28-24! in note J, is better) 12-19 23-16 8-12?(G) (Vanderpool says 8-11, in G, draws) 16-11 12-16 (14-18? 22-17 WW?) 26-23?(I) (28-24! in I seems to win) 14-17 31-26(H) 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?
A - Dennis Cayton shows play to defeat 6-15 in his excellent A Compilation of the Barred Openings (revised 1996).
B - 5-9 (seems to lose) 25-22 1-5(B1) 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.
B1 - 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
C - This is the formation (pieces on 7 & 10 and letting White trade) which seems to give White the most trouble.
D - 29-25 11-15 24-19 (25-21 perhaps) 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?
E - 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.
F - 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.
G - 8-11 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? Loy) 8-3 10-14 (10-15 3-7 WW Loy) 3-7 16-20 (14-18 7-11 to same) 24-19 20-24 (I had 14-18 19-15 18-23 WW? Loy) and if 19-15 or 19-16 then 24-27 draws, Bert Vanderpool.
H - 23-18 17-26 31-22 16-19 (13-17 draw?) 11-7 2-11 18-14 draw.
I (added 12/4/98) - 28-24! 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.
J (added 12/17/98) - 28-24! 8-11 (2-7 23-18 WW Vanderpool, or 14-17 23-19 WW Banderpool, 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.
Var. 1 - 24-20(A) 3-7 (6-10 to same?) 25-21?(C) (Others in C are better) 6-10 28-24 1-6!(B) 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.
A (corrected 12/6/98) - 24-19 3-7 (6-10 19-15 WW? Loy) 22-18 (28-24 6-10 22-18 11-15 18-9 5-14 26-22 14-17 or 1-5 draw? Loy) 6-10 18-9 5-14 25-22 11-15 29-25(A1) 15-24 28-19 8-11 (7-11 22-18 or 19-15 draw? Loy) 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? Loy) 22-18 14-17 18-14 WW Checkers 3.0
A1 - 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 Loy
B - 11-16(B1) 20-11 8-15 23-19(B2) 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
B1 - 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.
B2 - 23-18 14-23 27-11 7-16 24-20 (22-18 10-14 draw?) 16-19 22-18 10-14 draw?
C (added 12/17/98) - 22-18(C1) 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.
C1 - 23-19(C2) 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
C2 - 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 Loy) 25-22 5-9(C3) 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
C3 - 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 Loy) 13-17 19-15 WW Loy.
Var. 2 - 7-10 (more difficult?) 22-18 6-9(A) 29-25 11-16 25-22 16-20(B) 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
A - 1-5! 18-9 5-14 29-25 11-15 25-22 8-11 24-20 4-8!(A1) 20-16 (23-18 draw?) 12-19 23-7 2-11 27-23 15-18 22-15 11-27 32-23!(A2) 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?
A1 - 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
A2 - 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(A3) 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
A3 (off A2) - 22-26 (may lose) 11-7 26-31 23-19 14-18 7-2 10-14 2-6 19-16 (6-9? 18-23 Red almost wins) 17-21 6-9 14-17 WW or draw?
B - 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.
Var. 3 - 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?
Part II (corrections by Tom Sheehan and Carl Reno)
Variation 5 seems to be the best refutation of my 7-14 defense. Let me repeat the opening moves, which lead up to these two variations:
9-13 21-17 10-14 17-10 7-14 22-18 (var.5) (24-20 and 24-19 are shown in Part I) 3-7 (5-9 and 6-10 are mentioned in Part I) 18-9 5-14 25-22 6-10 (7-10 is shown in Part I) 22-18 (29-25 is shown in Part I) 1-5 (14-17 is shown in Part I) 18-9 5-14 29-25 11-15 25-22(var.4), continued part I.
Var. 4 (by Tom Sheehan) - 23-19! (This looks like a win) 7-11(A) 25-21 15-18 (14-18 26-23 WW Sheehan or 2-6 27-23 WW Loy) 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 Sheehan & Checkers 3.0.
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 Loy.
var. 5 (by Carl Reno) - 25-21!(Var. 6) (The main attack, same as 10-14 22-17 9-13 17-10 7-14? 25-22) 6-10(A) 22-18 11-15 18-9 5-14 29-25 8-11 25-22 3-8(B) 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. The defense is becoming depressingly difficult, as I study this line.
A - 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."
B - 1-5 (my idea) 23-18 (24-20 maybe) 14-23 27-18(D) 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 Loy) 18-14 10-17 21-14 16-20 (16-19 14-10 WW? Loy) 24-19!(C) 15-24 28-19 2-6 26-23 (Carl Reno continues from here) WW credited to Checkers 3.0, in Cayton's book. I did not notice this convincing win, as I looked through Cayton's book.
C - 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? Loy.
D - 26-19 (27-18 is looking like an easier win) 5-9 27-23 9-14 24-20 15-24 28-19 11-15(E) 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.
E - 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. 6 (added 12/17/98) - 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 Loy.
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 Loy.
Part III (Letter from Bert Vanderpool)
See The 9-13 21-17 10-14 17-10 7-14 Loss, for play incorporting this letter, with corrections.
The following letter, with typos, may be a clue to the 22-18 attack of my 7-14 defense. Notice that he uses X or XX or XXX for forced jumps:
Here is the final line on the 9-13,21-17,10-14 opening.
9-13,21-17,10-14,17-10, 7-14,22-18,3-7(A,B,C,D,E) 18-9,5-14,25-22,6-10(F,G,H,I) 29-25,11-16(J,K) 23-19, (L) XX,1-5,26-23,X,22-18,14-17,18-14,.17-22,XX,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
(A) 6-10,XX,25-22,14-17,29-25,1-6,24-19,3-7,27-24,11-16,32-27,16-20,23-18,7-11, 18-15,XX,2-7,26-23,8-11,XX,31-26 WW
(B) 5-9,25-22,3-7,29-25,6-10,24-20,14-17,18-14,X,22-6,1-10,25-22,10-15,28-24, 17-21,23-18,12-16,27-23,7-10,18-14,X,23-19,XXX,31-22 WW
(C) 6-9,24-19,1-6,25-22,14-17,29-25,17-21,28-24,9-14,XX,22-18,6-9,25-22,14-17, 24-20,3-7,27-24 WW
(D) 11-15,18-11,X,25-22,14-17,23-18,3-8,XX,27-23,4-8,23-18,8-11,32-27,17-21, 18-14,11-16,14-10,5-9,24-20,16-19,27-24,9-14,20-16 WW
(E) 11-16,XX,23-19,XX,1-5,32-27,X, 25-22,12-16,29-25,16-20,24-19,8-11,27-23,6-10, 22-18,14-17,19-15,XX,3-10,25-21,2-7,XX,18-14,4-8,14-9,7-10,9-6,10-14,6-2, 17-21,26-22 WW
(F)6-9,22-18,11-16,29-25,14-17,25-22,16-20,24-19,8-11,18-15,XX WW
(G)1-5,22-18,14-17,24-19,11-16,28-24,16-20,32-28,6-9,18-15,17-21,29-25 WW
(H)14-17,29-25,1-5,23-19,6-10,25-21,11-16,X,XXX,24-20,5-9,28-24,17-21,18-15 WW
(I)11-16,23-19,XX,1-5,24-19,X,26-23,8-11,22-18,13-17,XX,29-25,4-8,28-24,11-16, 24-20,8-11,25-22,XX,7-10,22-18,2-7,30-26,10-14,X,13-17,19-15,XX,27-31WW
(J)11-16,23-19,XX,1-5,26-23,X,22-18,14-17,18-14,17-22,XX,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
(K)14-17,25-21,1-6,XX,24-20,11-15,28-24 WW
(L)11-16,23-19(a) XX,1-5,26-23,X,22-18,14-17,18-14,17-22,XX,14-9,13-17,23-18, 17-21,18-14,22-25,9-5,25-29,5-1,29-25,31-26 WW
(a) 24-20,14-17,X,7-16,25-21,2-7,XX,28-24,1-6,23-18 WW