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© Copyright 2002, Jim Loy
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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 played on the USA Today Sports Center Network (which no longer exists). We used handles instead of our real names. I have lost my record of Mightymove's real name. He was at the top of the ladder when I first signed on. He and a few others improved dramatically in the couple years that I played on this game service. This was an extremely tense game, as I intentionally got into a very difficult position in my pursuit of a win.
Jim Loy-Mightymove, 1991 USA Today, Tournament PO#41
11-16 24-20
16-19 23-16 12-19 22-18 9-14 18-9 5-14 25-22 10-15 22-17 6-10 26-22 (out of
the book) 8-11 17-13 4-8 13-9 1-5? (14-18, which I didn't consider, is
strong. I thought 1-5 might win) 22-17 14-18 [first diagram]
White gets a strong game with 9-6! (or 17-13 which is
similar) 2-9 17-13 9-14 13-9 18-23 27-18 15-22 9-6 19-23 (Red expects to
break through and king somewhere, probably with a sacrifice) 6-2 8-12?
(5-9! giving back the piece by 20-16 seems strong) 28-24 10-15 2-6 14-18
21-17 12-16 6-2 (17-14 looks good, but probably draws) 16-19 32-28 23-27
20-16 11-20 2-11 19-23 11-16 [second diagram]
Red now gives back the piece with a good position: 22-26! 31-22
18-25 29-22 27-31 16-19 20-27 19-10 27-32 17-13 31-26 22-17? (White is
drifting into a loss. 30-25! 26-17 25-21 draws easily) 26-22 28-24 23-27
24-19 27-31 17-14 32-27 19-16 (according to my notes, I thought the game
was a draw) 22-17 16-11 27-24 11-7 31-27 7-2 24-19 10-7 3-10 14-7 17-14
(here I foolishly offered a draw, and White foolishly refused) 7-3 14-10
2-7 10-6 3-8 27-23 8-11 23-18 11-8 6-1 7-10? (White's first obvious mistake
of the whole game. 7-11 keeps the game going, but probably loses) [third
diagram]
Red sets up a cute shot with 18-15 10-14 (10-7 is worse)
15-10 14-7 5-9 13-6 1-12 RW.
Addendum: Here are some more of my games against Mightymove:
Jim Loy-Mightymove, 1991 USA Today, Tournament PO#48
9-14 22-18
5-9 25-22 11-16 29-25 16-19? (I was reading the wrong page of the book!)
23-16 14-23* 26-19 8-11 24-20 10-15 (regains the piece) 19-10 12-19
31-26? (30-26! may win) 6-15 27-23 4-8! 23-16 8-12 32-27 12-19 27-23
(ineffectual) 3-8! 23-16 8-12 21-17 12-19 26-23 19-26 30-23 7-10!
(Red may be winning!) 23-19 (25-21 9-13! 23-18 15-19! RW or 28-24
9-14 25-21 2-7 RW or 23-18 1-5 17-13 2-6 25-21 15-19 21-17 19-23 RW?) 15-24
28-19 9-14 RW (17-13 11-15 19-16 14-17 RW).
Jim Loy-Mightymove, 1991 USA Today, Tournament PO#55
11-15 22-18
15-22 25-18 12-16 29-25 10-14 18-15 16-20 24-19 8-12 23-18 14-23 27-18 7-10
31-27 10-14 26-23 9-13 18-9 5-14 30-26 4-8 28-24 6-10 15-6 1-10 32-28 3-7 19-16
12-19 24-6 2-9 25-22 7-11 (surprisingly, Red may be winning) 22-18
13-17! 28-24 (23-19 also loses) 8-12 24-19 11-16 18-15 9-13 15-11 14-18
21-14 13-17 19-15 18-22 23-18 22-31 a long RW.
Jim Loy-Mightymove, 1991 USA Today, Tournament PO#60
11-15 22-18
15-22 25-18 12-16 24-19 16-20 29-25 10-14 25-22 6-10 27-24? (may lose) 20-27
31-24 9-13 18-9 5-14 22-18 14-17 21-14 10-17 19-15 (18-14 17-22 26-17 13-22
23-18 2-6 RW?) 17-22 26-17 13-22 23-19 1-5! 24-20 5-9 32-27 (OrangeRook
got to this same position against me, and moved 28-24 9-13 18-14 7-10 RW)
9-13 27-23 22-26 15-10 7-14 18-9 26-31 23-18 31-27 18-14 27-23 19-15 23-18
15-10 (White has played well to save his piece, but still loses) 18-22
9-5 22-18 14-9 18-14 10-6 14-10 6-1 8-11 28-24 4-8 RW.