2010 Southern News & Results

[waynegober]

Thanks for the update John.
I always look forward to your posts from the tournies you attend.
I know your tired after a day of playing but axiously await the next post .


wayne

[Alex_Moiseyev]

In 3rd round I played 2 draws with L. Keen, Joe Shwartz won one game over Teal Stanley and Jim Morrison won one game over John Webster.

After 3 rounds im Master Division (top) ...

Alex Moiseyev - 10 points

Larry Keen & Dr. Shuffett - 8 points

Joe Shwartz s & Jim Morrison - 7 points.

[bugs]

Thanks John........ One question.. I wasn`t there so who brought the goodies??????You got cake? hahahahah Also, who is cleaning the dining room????? Good luck and keep the results coming. Tell everybody I said hello. Bugs

[waynegober]

John,

Just got home and came straight here to see the standings. Thanks for taking time to keep us updated.

What can you say......It's a horserace to the finish at the Southern in all divisions !!! Good luck to you all !!

wayne

[Alex_Moiseyev]

Here are the standings going into the final round tomorrow morning-- italics indicate a score pending R7 results.

Masters

Moiseyev 20 (drew first R7 game)
Morrison 18
Schwartz 17
Keen 16 (drew first R7 game)
Estes 15
Stanley 14
Shuffett 14
Davis 12
Webster 12
Stephens 10
McClard 9

I played two draws with Larry. Interesting fight for the 2nd place. Tomorrow I should play with Jim Morrison and Larry with Joe Schwartz. Three players didn't lose a single game: me, Larry and Joe.

[Alex_Moiseyev]

Yet I played two draws with Jim Morrison and Larry Keen played two draws with Jow Shwartz.

1 A.Moiseyev 24, $150

2-3 L. Keen & J. Morrison, 20, $90

4 J. Shwartz, 19, $60

[Palomino]

Congratulations Alex.

[waynegober]

Congratulations champions !!!!

Alex...... what a champion..... I am proud to belong to the ACF with such a champ at top. He goes to so many tournaments and makes himself vulnerable to possbile losses (well maybe, hehe) ect. I know he does this because of his love for the game and strong desire to promote checkers and encourage aspiring players. I only met Alex in person for the first time early this year at Tenn open. I have to say, I was very pleased in what I saw. I am proud to call him "Friend" and " Champ" !!

Who won the majors?? If I did the math right on honor points, I think the ACF scribe-in-chief and my good buddy, John Acker, did. Way to go all 4 of you tied at the top. I have the priveledge of playing all 4 of these guys online at Kurnik. How can I help but improve with such good sparring partners !! A special note on John Post..... John and I have been friends since he beat me a game in Ark. back in 02 best I recall. It is so good to see Mr. Post back in checkers. Did I mention he is only in his early 20's (I think 22??) What a way to come back to tournament play with a tie for first with these veterans. Way to go both John's !!!! Mike and Lynn congrats on a great tournament. Two great guys and good to see you two at the top.

Who is the Stanley that won the minors ???? His dad better get to the books and study as soon as he gets over busting buttons with pride. Congratulations to all 3 Stanleys in this tourney. Another young champion on his way up the ladder.... Look out for this young-un !!

Wish I could have been there for all the fun,
wayne

[MikeChoate]

What a great time we had at the Southern tournament. We had lots of fun with many of wonderful people. The competition was strong in all divisions. It really got intense when four of us were tied for the lead going into the last round and that's the way it ended 4 tied for the top spot. That type of competition is why we play!

I feel that I would be remiss if I didn't thank all of the people who helped organize this tournament and a very special thanks to all who participated in the Sunday morning church service. "Big Thank Yous" to Fay Harvell and Mary Davis who sang a duet, to Ken Christian who also sang for us, and to Ted Williamson for the wonderful sermon.

I am certainly looking forward to doing it again!

[tommyc]

If you want to encourage MORE younger players to the game and to stay in the game ,in my opinion one way would be to give them Equal status in prize money,same prize money as the Masters/Majors then they may feel more important.

[jpost]

Thanks for all the compliments Wayne. Mike and I fought for two gritty draws in the last round, which took over two and a half hours to finish. First game was drawn on a nice pitch by Mike and the second was a strong position that I gambled on a risky 18-14 swap that put my 14 piece as a liability, which put some pressure on but was ultimately a draw as well. Mike played very well, as did all the players in the majors division. I was very--and I repeat, VERY--lucky to tie for first place, and I'm honored to be in such company as Mr. Acker, Mr. Choate, and Mr. Steelman. I also want to thank Alex Moiseyev for encouraging me to keep playing the game and giving me a copy of his book (initially for free!, as collateral to make sure I continued playing the game; luckily I was able to pay him back with my winnings).

Also, John Acker brought some nice new bound editions of Basic Checkers, all the books bound into one copy. It goes without saying that it is an important book, and one that gives simple, accessible, and also solid explanations for why the moves are made. I heard someone mention something about attracting younger players to the game. What I would like to see, in books like Basic Checkers or maybe just a simple page on this website, is a sort of guide to basic checkers theory--nothing major, maybe a one or two page summary of what you are trying to do on a checkers board to win. Chess has a tangible goal, to trap the king; checkers, however, is a little more nebulous--you are trying to end the game with more pieces than your opponent. But how do you do this? Even now, when analyzing positions, sometimes I find it hard to see the forest for the trees, but then again, maybe the "theory" of checkers is ingrained in my mind. Concepts such as attacking the double corner, cramping pieces, binding others, seems almost assumed by us as players, but as a beginner I knew none of these things, and I was studying lots of published play at that time. There might be pieces like this written in books already, and if so I apologize for the redundance, but just throwing in my two cents.

[Alex_Moiseyev]

The prize distribution has nothing to do with age, only with the level of one's competition. It would hardly be fair to the masters to make them play much tougher opponents for the same money as the minors group, and would in fact discourage people from improving their game and moving up the ranks.

John, Tommy was kidding but forgot to place smile icon

[tommyc]

Well actually im not kidding and hate the way people keep whining on abt promoting youth and then classing them 2nd class citizens before they start and dont forget a minor playing another minor, is just as hard as a master playing a master, so that arguement doesnt hold water .............besides fair doesnt come into it when you pay the same money to enter your entitled to the same reward.Im not pretending this is the answer to the problem but at least its FAIR play and might encourage young players to see they are getting the respect also, and after all the dollar in America is still king no matter what age you are.

[rich beckwith]

In addition to Loy's Checker Lessons mentioned above (as well as other ACF store books),
there is a Millard Hopper Book and a couple Robert Pike books (as well as many older checker books) for free download at http://books.google.com/books?q=subject ... 2&as_brr=3

There's also a strategy page with assorted articles on the Classroom menu at this usacheckers.com site. I also have a 3-page "Checkers Advice" WORD article I wrote that I can send anyone by request. However, it's more about study approaches and checker books for the beginner/intermediate player, rather than going over general tactics (like attacking the double corner, controlling the center of the board). While these general tactical rules have much merit, there always seems to be the occasional position where the general rules fail.

[jaguar72]

In addition to Loy's Checker Lessons mentioned above (as well as other ACF store books),
there is a Millard Hopper Book and a couple Robert Pike books (as well as many older checker books) for free download at http://books.google.com/books?q=subject ... 2&as_brr=3

Millard Hopper also wrote a a thirty-two page pamphlet called The Major Tactics of Checkers which is quite good; probably my favorite "How-To-Play" type of book... it is maybe a notch or two beyond complete beginner level but not at all hard to understand (after all, I pretty much understood it so how hard can it be?). It was published in 1939. There is a lot packed into the thirty-two pages; the print is very small; I, alas, usually have to use a magnifying glass to read it... .

It includes in additon to tactical instruction many illustrative games and some excellent problems (example from the pamphlet's cover: R - 5, 9, 16, 25K; W- 23, 28, 31, 32; White to move and win in three moves).

The problem is, of course, finding a copy and I don't think it is published online (but it might be; I could not find it). I did pick up a very decent copy on eBay last week for $9.95 which admittedly seems a little steep (or maybe not...), but the copy I was using has been used hard and is in sad shape; I did, however, get it free with a package of Elam's I bought for a couple of bucks last year.

Anyhow, if you can find a copy it's a worthwhile study guide and would make a nice gift to someone who wants to start playing the game.

V/R,

Gary Jenkins/jaguar72