Why not black vs white? I know black vs white on a black and white checkered board can burn your eyes and red vs black on a red and black board will make you blind but...
Black and white on the green and white buff boards is fine. I also think dark wood vs light wood is better than red vs white...Was it a decision based on that old "white vs black is racist"? Just wondering.
Why red and white checkers?
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Phil Bauer
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- What do you like about checkers?: In checkers you have to deal with every threat with defense or attacking that man. You can't run away. Face your enemy and never back down. Amen. With a dry cool wit like that I could be an action hero. I am also into tattoos, arm wrestling, beer, the universe/telescopes and the NHL. GO BRUINS!! I started playing checkers at the age of 31. I have a lot of catching up to do.
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Danny_Alvarez
- Posts: 1116
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- What do you like about checkers?: I enjoy learning more and more as i go. despite its alleged simplicity the game is incredibly complex and rewarding.
- Location: Queensland, AUSTRALIA
Re: Why red and white checkers?
Mr Bauer, Derek Oldbury criticizes 'coloured' boards in his Encyclopedia of checkers , including buff and green, he also mentions mauve lol.... i will have to go and find the quote now.... but that could be some time till i find it. To be honest i dont know why Mr Bauer, i will endeavour to find the aforementioned quote, and i will wait with you to be enlightened by someone that knows more.
I grew up with a red and black board and it was too confusing i must say.
At the moment i have an ancient green and buff board and i have my fauvorite set of checkers are red and yellow bakelite checkers .... i like the feel and weight of them and they allow me to perform my little tricks easier than other lighter checkers. i hope to one day upgrade to an ACF board soon
cheers
Danny Alvarez
I grew up with a red and black board and it was too confusing i must say.
At the moment i have an ancient green and buff board and i have my fauvorite set of checkers are red and yellow bakelite checkers .... i like the feel and weight of them and they allow me to perform my little tricks easier than other lighter checkers. i hope to one day upgrade to an ACF board soon
cheers
Danny Alvarez
Amateur Checkerist, Professional Lover of the Game
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Danny_Alvarez
- Posts: 1116
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- What do you like about checkers?: I enjoy learning more and more as i go. despite its alleged simplicity the game is incredibly complex and rewarding.
- Location: Queensland, AUSTRALIA
Re: Why red and white checkers?
I finally found the quote from the great Derek Oldbury himself.
It is located just after the foreword on the first volume of "the complete encyclopedia of checkers"
"The squared board should be of compatible light and dark shades; the men of contrasting colours. Too much need not be made of this; the choice is quite subjective- no scientific tests to determine the 'correct' colours have eve been made: contrary to popular belief. Andrew Anderson, in his Second Edition (1852), admirably stated the case:
As Red and White men show a beautiful contrast, it is desirable to choose those in preference to any other, and, if they be placed on the darker squares, they will appear to greater advantage than White and Black men upon either Black or White squares; for, in this way a piece cannot be placed (as in each of the other two ways) upon a square of its own colour, while, at the same time, there is sufficient distinction between the men.
A modern trend, towards the use of coloured boards, in a desire to lend 'tone' to our game, is a fetish not subscribed to by this writer...who has on more than one occassion declined in tournaments to use boards with squares coloured tangerine and red; olive and puce; the english version of buff and green (known in tourney circles as vomit-and-lime!), or similar lurid combination
Anderson again: 'those of real or imitation Rose and Satin, or Ebony and Maple woods, are the best and most generally used'. Nice!"
I hope you enjoyed this Mr Bauer. Obviously things have changed a bit since mr Oldbury's days but the explanation is superb.
Cheers
Danny Alvarez
It is located just after the foreword on the first volume of "the complete encyclopedia of checkers"
"The squared board should be of compatible light and dark shades; the men of contrasting colours. Too much need not be made of this; the choice is quite subjective- no scientific tests to determine the 'correct' colours have eve been made: contrary to popular belief. Andrew Anderson, in his Second Edition (1852), admirably stated the case:
As Red and White men show a beautiful contrast, it is desirable to choose those in preference to any other, and, if they be placed on the darker squares, they will appear to greater advantage than White and Black men upon either Black or White squares; for, in this way a piece cannot be placed (as in each of the other two ways) upon a square of its own colour, while, at the same time, there is sufficient distinction between the men.
A modern trend, towards the use of coloured boards, in a desire to lend 'tone' to our game, is a fetish not subscribed to by this writer...who has on more than one occassion declined in tournaments to use boards with squares coloured tangerine and red; olive and puce; the english version of buff and green (known in tourney circles as vomit-and-lime!), or similar lurid combination
Anderson again: 'those of real or imitation Rose and Satin, or Ebony and Maple woods, are the best and most generally used'. Nice!"
I hope you enjoyed this Mr Bauer. Obviously things have changed a bit since mr Oldbury's days but the explanation is superb.
Cheers
Danny Alvarez
Amateur Checkerist, Professional Lover of the Game
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Danny_Alvarez
- Posts: 1116
- Joined: Wed Oct 20, 2010 7:29 pm
- What do you like about checkers?: I enjoy learning more and more as i go. despite its alleged simplicity the game is incredibly complex and rewarding.
- Location: Queensland, AUSTRALIA
Re: Why red and white checkers?
If they were recommending red and white checkers in Scotland in the 1850's i seriously doubt that it is an american initiative (red and white checkers choice). With the arbitrary decision made for reasons now lost to us part, i agree totally though. I see as aesthetic reasons and nothing else.JohnAcker wrote:I think the red and white pieces may be limited to checkers in the US-- probably just a decision that was made early on for reasons now lost to us. Or maybe the Swiss government secretly runs the ACF.
If the ACF is secretly run by the swiss i hope they have some gold bullion stored under the alps
and my suspects are Mr Gary Jenkins (he speaks french.... one of the official swiss languages ) and the second one would be you Mr Acker (you speak german another one of the official Swiss languages) .
cheers
Danny
Amateur Checkerist, Professional Lover of the Game
Re: Why red and white checkers?
JohnAcker wrote:Vee haf vays ov making you donate to zee National Tournament.
hAHA feggin Ha....
Awesome......
Jay H
Aut Inveniam Viam Aut Faciam !!!
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Danny_Alvarez
- Posts: 1116
- Joined: Wed Oct 20, 2010 7:29 pm
- What do you like about checkers?: I enjoy learning more and more as i go. despite its alleged simplicity the game is incredibly complex and rewarding.
- Location: Queensland, AUSTRALIA
Re: Why red and white checkers?
Maybe the ACF executive + Mr Acker, due to his germanophiliac (that is not an insult nor am i casting doubts upon your health lol) nature should dress up in lederhosen in october to increase donations for the national tournament ... and yes i know my argument has more holes than a leaky boat and that the tournament is in july which happens chronologically b4 october.... but it is just a fundraising idea thats all
cheers
Danny
PS I am sure Mr H would pay to see that....
cheers
Danny
PS I am sure Mr H would pay to see that....
Amateur Checkerist, Professional Lover of the Game
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Phil Bauer
- Posts: 35
- Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2011 4:06 pm
- What do you like about checkers?: In checkers you have to deal with every threat with defense or attacking that man. You can't run away. Face your enemy and never back down. Amen. With a dry cool wit like that I could be an action hero. I am also into tattoos, arm wrestling, beer, the universe/telescopes and the NHL. GO BRUINS!! I started playing checkers at the age of 31. I have a lot of catching up to do.
Re: Why red and white checkers?
Well I bought my first checkers set. It is a nice wooden board with dark brown and light brown squares with black and white checkers. Looks great.
When I take it to my first tournament I hope my opponent doesn't mind using it.
When I take it to my first tournament I hope my opponent doesn't mind using it.
Re: Why red and white checkers?
I would-the rules call for a green and buff board-red and white checkers -that is what the majority of players are use too.
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Phil Bauer
- Posts: 35
- Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2011 4:06 pm
- What do you like about checkers?: In checkers you have to deal with every threat with defense or attacking that man. You can't run away. Face your enemy and never back down. Amen. With a dry cool wit like that I could be an action hero. I am also into tattoos, arm wrestling, beer, the universe/telescopes and the NHL. GO BRUINS!! I started playing checkers at the age of 31. I have a lot of catching up to do.
Re: Why red and white checkers?
If my opponent had a "regulation" board and pieces and he wanted to use that set then I would have to use it. No fuss from me.
If I was the only one with a board then it's not a big deal if we used mine. I used to play chess and at tournaments I would see regulation sets as well as many different sets.
It all comes down to the opponents agreeing with each other.
If I was the only one with a board then it's not a big deal if we used mine. I used to play chess and at tournaments I would see regulation sets as well as many different sets.
It all comes down to the opponents agreeing with each other.
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George Hay
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Re: Why red and white checkers?
Phil, red and white checkers on the green squares of a green and buff board probably evolved because it is good visually. Of course, other color schemes may be observed like the wood tones used in 10x10 checkers. I am wondering why did you switch from chess to checkers? --George Hay
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Phil Bauer
- Posts: 35
- Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2011 4:06 pm
- What do you like about checkers?: In checkers you have to deal with every threat with defense or attacking that man. You can't run away. Face your enemy and never back down. Amen. With a dry cool wit like that I could be an action hero. I am also into tattoos, arm wrestling, beer, the universe/telescopes and the NHL. GO BRUINS!! I started playing checkers at the age of 31. I have a lot of catching up to do.
Re: Why red and white checkers?
In chess I was in a slump...so I looked at "other" mind games. I found out that in checkers you have to deal with every threat with defense or attacking that man.George Hay wrote:Phil, red and white checkers on the green squares of a green and buff board probably evolved because it is good visually. Of course, other color schemes may be observed like the wood tones used in 10x10 checkers. I am wondering why did you switch from chess to checkers? --George Hay
It made me think about chess and how a misplaced piece can run home and regroup. If you attack a piece in chess it can run away. Not so with checkers.
The pawns in chess have to stay and fight...but they are only half of the pieces. I also noticed some chess games end with a 5 move combination that can be hard to see.
I saw in checkers that combinations/forced move patterns can be much longer and harder to see. In short...Checkers is harder.
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Phil Bauer
- Posts: 35
- Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2011 4:06 pm
- What do you like about checkers?: In checkers you have to deal with every threat with defense or attacking that man. You can't run away. Face your enemy and never back down. Amen. With a dry cool wit like that I could be an action hero. I am also into tattoos, arm wrestling, beer, the universe/telescopes and the NHL. GO BRUINS!! I started playing checkers at the age of 31. I have a lot of catching up to do.
Re: Why red and white checkers?
Another reason... but it may be lame is...I grew up poor and in chess the king is always the king. In checkers the hard working man becomes a king.
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Phil Bauer
- Posts: 35
- Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2011 4:06 pm
- What do you like about checkers?: In checkers you have to deal with every threat with defense or attacking that man. You can't run away. Face your enemy and never back down. Amen. With a dry cool wit like that I could be an action hero. I am also into tattoos, arm wrestling, beer, the universe/telescopes and the NHL. GO BRUINS!! I started playing checkers at the age of 31. I have a lot of catching up to do.
Re: Why red and white checkers?
Of course every chess player will say chess is harder...yadda yadda yadda..."The knight moves weird! chess is harder!"
The publics misconception about chess being harder is from the movement of the pieces and stupid rules like en passant and castling.
The publics misconception about chess being harder is from the movement of the pieces and stupid rules like en passant and castling.
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George Hay
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- What do you like about checkers?: Checkers is a game of pure logic.
- Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
Re: Why red and white checkers?
Phil, thank you for your insighful answers. Your last answer is not lame at all, as checkers is the people's game. --George Hay
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Phil Bauer
- Posts: 35
- Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2011 4:06 pm
- What do you like about checkers?: In checkers you have to deal with every threat with defense or attacking that man. You can't run away. Face your enemy and never back down. Amen. With a dry cool wit like that I could be an action hero. I am also into tattoos, arm wrestling, beer, the universe/telescopes and the NHL. GO BRUINS!! I started playing checkers at the age of 31. I have a lot of catching up to do.
Re: Why red and white checkers?
My consultation fee is $150 how would you like to pay?