The relationship between checkers and math

[vhabgood]

Hi, recently I was asked to speak to a math department meeting about the relationship between checkers and math. I have my own research I have gathered from myself and studying calculus. I have also looked into some of the research by the University of Alberta. The department had been sponsoring chess tournaments for the colleges and had decided that chess did not have the mathmatical backround they wanted. They sponsor sodoku tournaments and are looking into checker tournaments. So I am interested in everyone else's infinite wisdom here and possibly some other research that I am not aware of. Thanks!

[Alex_Moiseyev]

Vic, checkers mathematical model is close to statistic theory (probability, chances, etc) and graph theory (trajectory of moves). It is a task to find solution in situation with uncertain conditions. In terms of "strong-weak" formations and forms, checkers also have many similarities with topology.

When you calculate - you consider various strategy principals and weight them properly (or unproperly, ha-ha) and finally build evaluation number for every piece of "tree". This is also close to graph theory.

Can you provide more details - what particular requirements to game sponsors (math department) have in order to meet criterias ? After then we can provide an answer.

Probably John Reade, math professor, can help us much better.

Alex

[MostFamousDane]

Here is a graphical representation of the checkerboard as a mathematical network

[john reade]

Victor,

I contributed a paper on round robin tournaments at the Mathematics in Sport conference at Manchester last year. I am interested in the problem of ensuring that you can always make the next draw without repairing at a Swiss tournament.

Martin Bryant (compiler of the checkers program Colossus) is your man for the role of mathematics in playing the game itself.

John.

[Ingo_Zachos]

Dear Victor,

I hope this link:
http://www.usna.edu/Users/math/wdj/math_chess.htm

may help you.
It is about math and chess, but it gives you an impression on how this topic can be worked. out.

BTW:
The greatest Chess player of all time, Emanuel Lasker was a Mathematician as well as the greatest Checker player of all time, Marion Tinsley.

Greetinx from Germany,

Ingo Zachos

[vhabgood]

Thanks everyone for contributions. In my research I have found that checkers directly coorelates to infinite series ranging from variable set points. I would show the equations here, but my Mathtype on Microsoft Word doesnt seem to want to directly copy to the discussion board here. Alex you have gave me some good ideas I want to further my research on also. Thanks! I will let you all know what comes of it. Their tournaments have not been large, but has had around 20-30 people on average showing up for all the different Math Departmental sponsored events. So my hopes is that we can gain at least 2-3 serious checker players and spread a little of the game in this area. I tutor Math at several different community colleges and have often raised the suggestion about instituting checkers. This is the first real interest that they have shown in this so far. Hopefully more to come!

[vhabgood]

Well they have decided to host a checker tournament in the summer and possibly again in the fall (if it turns out ok). I will be there coordinate the function and i am donating some money for a prize fund and hopefully we can get some more interest. Thanks to everyone who helped!

[john reade]

Which Mathematics Department is this?

[vhabgood]

Tidewater Community College. They have 5 campuses around the Hampton roads area.

[whitefork]

check out Jonathan Schaeffer's One Jump Ahead