Weak Position with a Strong Move for Checkers

[Eric Strange]

wonderful post Jay and thank you....

Many players have argued that ACF is currently stuck in the past which is okay. Too many of the players are biased against our form of the game which is okay. It prevents ACF from reaching out to the online players and get them involved in x-board play which is not okay.

Yes Jay the game will be around... but how many serious players will it hold?? I only want to grow the number of active tournament players for the future which really doesn't seem that difficult to do with a little promoting. Everyone wants players that know the game to come to tournaments.... why not have our few in masters... few in majors... and a hundred in minors and 200 in youth???? setup some fast games for the large numbers that go all day... have a championship match at the end of the day with a slow timer and be done with it..... the prize money will be huge and will attract more young players to show up..... maybe talk to a college see if they will offer a 1,000 scholarship which would only cost the school around 100 bux.... how many kids would give it a shot... how many parents would push their kids into giving it a shot..... just so many ways to get new blood.... but every time someone new shows his face at a tournament..... some welcome them with open arms and some just plain don't like the change.... the society difference between the generations is HUGE!!! Before you think we are arrogant, disrespectful kids that didn't get raised right. Did you ever think that the way we act is NOW the way to get by in society.... the quiet respectful male is no longer respected... it's the arrogant cocky asshole that gets praise in this day in age. I am not saying it is right.... but before you cast us out... give us a chance... all I'm saying

I do apologize for how some people act in Kurnik. We all talk nothing but crap to each other and some idiots don't know when to leave some of you older players alone. You should not have to listen to that crap.... So if you like to practice some games in Kurnik then I'll show u where the ignore button is so you don't have to hear them. I will not act completely innocent... I definitely voice my thoughts harshly as well.

Thank you all

[tommyc]

Too many of the players are biased against our form of the game ............Eric says???

Im afraid i couldnt let this pass,as a neutral i cant see the MANY that are biased that you talk of?? One or 2 maybe but everyones not going to agree on any point nvr mind this subject.As you can see from many posts other people have their own likes and dislikes as to what form of game they like most and im sure respect they difference.

I like guys like yourself who are full of"spunk" and want a chance to do it their way..........Eric my question to you is what are you doing abt making this change happen for like minded players as yourself?? Have you made any offical approach to the ACF? In the University of Life i have learned there are some things you just cant "go at" with a SLEDGEHAMMER. However as you can see from my previous posts i wish you well in your endeavours to reach your goal..

[nickaddante]

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[ae_ted]

WELL SAID!!
some VERY good points and opinions by some insightful young people. Us old folks and ACF should be listening.

[BillyBoy]

Hi Everyone, Reading these post everyone has ideas of promoting but nobody is really doing it. Alex Weaver and jump cycle are on the streets of New York playing random people and making a good bit of videos on youtube. What if everyone hung out somewhere playing random people promoting checkers and Acf and putting them online? And if any player lives in Maryland or Pa get with Jay H he sets up events which are huge and draws people. Lastly like I posted before and Nick just mentioned organization is a must. If Acf gets organized more online and in mail then the people they do have will at least stay which is a start. Another thing to look at what needs to be saved more checkers or ACF? Checkers been around what a million years and dont look like people are going to quit anytime soon. Lets try to work to make both bigger. Billy

[Eric Strange]

as far as robbing the intricacy of the game goes... you learn to see shots and beautiful moves in split seconds so it makes it even more special when u bust them out in a 1/0 game and everyone watching your game goes WHOA!!!! When I was new to checkers and I watched players do great moves in a 1/0 game it made it that much more amazing. Dale Rumpf, Heath Pearson, Clint Olson, Steve Jones, Josh Armstrong, Nick Addante, and myself are examples of some blitz players that have played in tournaments. Can't think of any of them that did not do well in tournaments.... accept Nick at his first showing haha. The ACF sanctioning 1/0 is a neat idea!!! Online tournaments is a neat idea. The beauty of it is if your a good online blitz player.... I know who you are.... That leaves little room for unknown idiots to cheat and will get online players to join the ACF. There are programs like Teamviewer where u can watch people desktops to make sure they are not using an auto prog and in a 1/0 game it is too fast to try and use 2 computers. I would think 10 game matches would be appropriate, 20 games if it is 3-move. I think that if the ACF steps forward on seriously considering this idea that it would do wonders for the ACF and checkers as a whole. I may just give Alan a call and propose this idea.... Anyone oppose or embrace this??? I would like to do slower timer online tournaments as well but a lot needs to be considered for security.... ACF dues would knock out a lot of cheaters but of course there will always be someone.

teamviewer watching the desktop and a webcam on the person playing for the slow timer tournament would be a wonderful idea!!!! you can see if anything is running on the desktop and make sure the mouse is moving to pick up the pieces..... webcam on the persons hands and face at all times will prevent any 2 computer usage!!!!

I really think this could be a turning point for the ACF and checkers if everyone will get in with this idea.

so what do you guys think???? Is it time for a change?

[Jay H]

as far as robbing the intricacy of the game goes... you learn to see shots and beautiful moves in split seconds so it makes it even more special when u bust them out in a 1/0 game and everyone watching your game goes WHOA!!!! When I was new to checkers and I watched players do great moves in a 1/0 game it made it that much more amazing. Dale Rumpf, Heath Pearson, Clint Olson, Steve Jones, Josh Armstrong, Nick Addante, and myself are examples of some blitz players that have played in tournaments. Can't think of any of them that did not do well in tournaments.... accept Nick at his first showing haha. The ACF sanctioning 1/0 is a neat idea!!! Online tournaments is a neat idea. The beauty of it is if your a good online blitz player.... I know who you are.... That leaves little room for unknown idiots to cheat and will get online players to join the ACF. There are programs like Teamviewer where u can watch people desktops to make sure they are not using an auto prog and in a 1/0 game it is too fast to try and use 2 computers. I would think 10 game matches would be appropriate, 20 games if it is 3-move. I think that if the ACF steps forward on seriously considering this idea that it would do wonders for the ACF and checkers as a whole. I may just give Alan a call and propose this idea.... Anyone oppose or embrace this??? I would like to do slower timer online tournaments as well but a lot needs to be considered for security.... ACF dues would knock out a lot of cheaters but of course there will always be someone.

teamviewer watching the desktop and a webcam on the person playing for the slow timer tournament would be a wonderful idea!!!! you can see if anything is running on the desktop and make sure the mouse is moving to pick up the pieces..... webcam on the persons hands and face at all times will prevent any 2 computer usage!!!!

I really think this could be a turning point for the ACF and checkers if everyone will get in with this idea.

so what do you guys think???? Is it time for a change?

Hey Eric...much better than the too much vodka and whiskey post.....HAHAHA!!!
How about .."Is it time for an expansion..?"...?
I, myself, could NEVER be competive as a "speed" player, either online or crossboard. I just am not capable of seeing that quikly into a position.....and, playing speed robs me, (as well as others) of some of the beauty of the game.
However, that could change. Either way, I would fully support a venture such as you mention. For example, I have never competed in a crossboard tournament, but I have contributed to prize funds for several.
I have never competed in a match, but I have sent donations to several.....
My point is, even tho' I am not qualified to play and or compete, I would still support such a promotion...as , quite simply, I love the game, and am impressed enough by the skills of the people that play this game, that I am willing to support it financially.
If there is a Title involved, throw me down for twenty U.S. dollars toward the prize fund for the first ACF officially sanctioned online tourney....

Regards

Jay H

[jaguar72]

To me, having to play a game of Checkers at such a high rate speed robs the game of the intrinsic beauty which I behold in the quiet and contemplative deep level of thought the game deserves.

Eric/Jay (previous two posts: "as far as robbing the intricacy of the game goes..."):

Well, ah, actually Dennis did not say it robs the game of intricacy but that it "robs the game of intrinsic beauty" (see above) which is much more abstract and an entirely different proposition, if you catch the distinction.

It is also much more difficult to judge or evaluate, being rather more subjective than "intricacy."

V/R,

Gary jenkins/jaguar72

[Bernard Coll]

This topic has become a source of amusement to me. What exactly is it about? To me it is about a bunch of no hope for teenagers looking for self gratification. You all know the ones I mean. Whiz kids with their latest gizmo game. ATTENTION SPAN??????????? ZERO. Too much American Telly? YES! These laddies aspire to be great checker players! GOOD! Nothing wrong with that. I believe one is suing Gillette because he actually cut himself whilst playing his zapper game when he was still learning to shave!
But to get to the point, these kiddies want to be recognised. They aspire to be known in the checkerworld, BUT there is a small problem;! There are too many hardened master/grandmaster players in front of them who learned the game the HARD way, through long arduous hours of book study and hard X-board experience. So they propose an Online tournament, "FASTEST GUN WINS" Wild West style." Ah Yes I won a MICKEY MOUSE checker tournament on the internet solely because I had a quicker mouse." CONGRATULATIONS Sonny! You really deserve that!
The noble game of draughts/checkers was never designed to be in this category. It was designed for intellectual minds not predisposed to their next zapping session! The genuine checker player does homework, arranges with his employer if he can take a particular week from his work on vacation. He/she then digs deep into their pocket for travel and accommodation costs, not to mention their entry fee. In total this can be a substantial amount of money to any individual. These are the players who have kept this game going knowing full well that most could only hope to win a minor prize.
Time to grow up young fellas because checkers is really a man's game! Sorry ladies, you are not the target.

[nickaddante]

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[nickaddante]

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[tommyc]

John, you aren't good at checkers, so your opinion means nothing....................

.Bern would kiss yur asssss any time!!..................

Dont get too big for your boots now muscle man,yur still in the juniors league and theres a long way to go to the Top table,keep taking the tablets and prob your best hope is in the Fastest Colt 45 draw wins ONLINE.Until yu can prove otherwise ZIP DA LIP.

[nickaddante]

as

[tommyc]

When yu write yur 1st book sunny and play for a world title then YU CAN TALK.

[Jay H]

The emergence of Online play, in all of its forms, is quite simply the latest phase in the evolution of the game itself.....
and now, as history itself shows, there will be some support, and some resistence.
James Wyllie himself never participated in simultaneous play exhibitions, and looked at Blindfold play as nothing more than a parlor trick. And yet, these facets of the game were fully supported by the playing fraternity of the times.
Manson Teetzle, one of the premiere promoters and publishers of his era, absolutely abhored 11-Man Ballot....and yet, there were many tournaments and matches supported by the governing bodies of the day, as well as the playing fraternity at the time.
Many Europeans despised the fact that an American (Asa Long) would dare to claim the "World Championship" while Robert Stewart was still alive.....and resented even more the fact that he was claiming the World Championship while playing a different form of the game, the "American rstriction" i.e., 3-move.
These three examples are ancient examples...but, will help to prove a point,....... if there is enough support for the game of the day, in whatever form it may take, it will be succesful and thrive......some will not recognize the efforts of a new discipline, some will. The game itself will survive, one way or another.....
If online checkers is the future ( blitz, turnbased, real time, or anything yet to be discovered), so be it. I will support it, just as I support crossboard tourneys and matches now, and as I use to support Mail play....

Regards

Jay H