jahaja: I remember when one of the highest rated human players on FIBS had the username onepointer because he only played one point matches. Knowing the fine points of checker play is like knowing the fine points of chess endgames: necessary but not sufficient to make one a well-rounded player. Adding the doubling cube is like adding a third dimension (anybody ever read Flatland?). And by the way, folks who have not played with the cube before would do well to read up on cube strategy before venturing into ratings land with the cube for a guide.