The KM doesn't have programs that I know of but we have very skilled players who enjoy working on this kind of thing. It has been hard to get up the energy to set up a checker board with all the stuff that has been going on but when the smoke clears I am hopeful it will be back to checkers for us all. That's why so many of us came here. (not putting down chess buffs) LOL

Good luck. Thanks for the insights. Checkers is just a hobby for the KM too...believe it or not.

To what purpose? The game looked like a draw but after analyzing we saw you were right. It proves positions can be set up but is not a test of skill level. And we didn't know the answer in advance.

I thought we were analyzing 4th position. Ustica has games on Goldtoken (where he is undefeated in over 100 games) and he may be playing there.

Trying it both ways..playing it out with different strokes. So far you are right. I think Usurper is also looking at it too.

Think this is right. Going to try something from the white side. Hold a second

He is Ustica KM. Now the board doesn't look the same. I must have set it up wrong.

Jack has volunteered

We are more than willing to learn.

I say it is a draw which means nothng but when Usurper and Ustica say it's a draw it means a LOT!!!

I have it set up on a checkerboard without benefit of program and am trying to work my way through it with my naked eyes. This is tough but I'm seeing it. I think. Good problem, thanks.

My wetv gets the link as a larger than screen board that you have to scroll to see position. Was it black to move? I will start at the beginning and see what I'm doing wrong.

Thanks Ed. This will keep me and other checker lovers busy for awhile.

Congrats. Some 11 yr olds are tough. Do you remember Bobby Fisher beating Big Blue (IBM) in chess a few decades back? This is the same thing. Man over machine. Quite an accomplishment.

Yes!! Give the game number to Fencer and he will declare a draw. You must offer your opponent a draw first. It is not automatic however.

As there does not appear to be much interest in a Ladder here I did not make that phone call to Mac Banks. If, in the future, people want to revive the idea we can always try again. Thanks.

CaoZ of the Killing machine has just posted two amazing wins over the Chinook Computor Program. This is NOT easy. Try it yourself. LOL. Congrats CaoZ. If anyone else does this feel free to post it here and, if possible, a list of the moves you made.

I just recieved an e-mail from Mac Banks who just got back from Las Vegas offering to lend us his expertise in setting up a Ladder. For those of you who know checkers it would be like Bill Gates offering help in setting up a company. He left me his phone number to call. The purpose would be to provide a challenge for our elite checker players (or those who aspire to be) to gain recognition other than with the BKR. It would be open to established players Brainknight and up. Unless the whole idea has too many flaws and needs to be aborted early my plan is to finalize the entire package and then present it to Fencer for a thumbs up or thumbs down. Is there any interest in this? Ed also has fairly extensive knowledge of Ladder play so his insights would be welcome.

http://www.cs.ualberta.ca/~chinook/

Chinook has a webpage where their computer checker program offers games against the public. They have it set for 3 levels of difficulty. It is EXTREMELY hard to beat. The URL to play it is on this DB several posts back but I will look it up and post it here again. Chinook was one of the original checker programs and has a perfect 8 piece endgame database knowledge. I played it nearly 100 times to get 2 wins and about 8 or 9 draws.

Anyone who has played and beaten the Chinook computer has to be distressed that the Wall of Honor hasn't been updated in over 18 months. So many of us are still waiting for our plaques. Does this keep you up at nights? LOL. Still it's irksome.

If you like checkers you will like these links.

As the number of checker players on the site increases Fencer may move the "checker graphics" higher up on his "to do" list. A certain number of reminders never hurts but too many and it becomes annoying nagging. We are trying to hit the correct balance. :o)

Deepest thanks. Usurper soon I will know the feeling of turning 29 three times. LOL

Not clear if Brandy in question is female or beverage but in either case it is often a remedy for the shakes. Jury is out on whether checker game will benefit. :o)

The KM Checkers tournament which is now underway features some great match ups and I hope everyone looks in on the games. You will see some top notch checker players in action (myself excluded) and some exciting games.

I was going over the list of banned openings. (114 of them) and can't believe that many are "thought to lose" but the big boys must know what they are doing.

How do you guys REALLY feel about The Rattlesnake? Daedal help me out!! Ustica KM? Anybody? LOL

More and more people are openning with 9-13. I don't mind defending it but I would never choose it in a GAYP game as my first. The only disadvantage to the 11-15 is that the opponent can force you into a single corner game which temporarily takes control away but with practice you can get the move back fairly quickly. When confronted with 9-13 the reply I like best is 24-19 although 22-18 is more "book." I never used to believe that a game can be lost after 3 moves but experience has made me face that reality so the opening is super important. The Duckworth Tease is not all it's quacked up to be. :o)

Outstanding idea. We get many requests in our KM Checker Fellowship for example.

I'm sorry I asked. LOL. (I thought NOBODY wrote more prolificaly than Usurper KM. I stand corrected)

Usurper could you repeat that? (J/K) Thanks for the work and research. Lobogal, I know you're reading this. Your comments please? LOL

Wow. You gentlemen are super advanced. This is much appreciated. I will get a board set up and follow along.

Outstanding Ustica KM.

Lots of good info there for beginner and advanced alike. Thank you.

Very good sites. Thanks Daedal

Posting is very welcome. I was thinking of Jim Loys pages and the links from there. All contributions welcome and if you can make the links clickable so much the better.

In that connection perhaps Fencer could put checker pieces on the chess games. :o)

Three move would be cool but the top priority I find from talking to checker players here is the implementation of checker pieces to replace the present chess pieces.

Las Vegas has you the early favorite to win.

I thought the hint that everybody tank the games leaving me the winner was totally subtle. And you saw through it? Well back to the drawing board.

August 19th (Chief's Birthday) the bodies start to fall.

We now have all 20 players signed up and with the addition of David Upshaw we have 8 players rated 2000 or better. If checkers is your game you should follow the action in the prestigious tournament.

LOL. I have won a few when my opponent started eating his checkers. Poor little guy almost choked on a King though.

No they get 10 and you will get an extra man (13) and a draw will count as a win or you. LOL. James Wyllie use to give his opponents that kind of advantage in the 19th century and he STILL WON.

Ronzoil just joined the tournament today. That makes SEVEN over 2000. Gulp.

Me, I'm good and scared. Listen..these big boys are ripe for a fall. And you are just the man to do it Aragon. :)

There are 6 players who are signed up who are rated over 2000. WOW!!

Gothic Chess Pro said he was concentrating on the World Chess Championship so would not be able to participate in the tournament. But we still have MANY of the top players and there will be more to come.

There are 10 people signed up and we are reserving 3 spots for folks who are finishing their present tournaments. Also 3 invites have been sent with no reply yet so that still leaves 4 open seats. This may be your one chance to play the best checker players on BK so let me know if you are interested.