Nexus Game 2

[Chexhero]

Here I present another tough loss on a tough opening. I am red and Nexus is white, I have the weak side. Hopefully you get an idea how to play this opening from red's perspective and I also present a losing endgame theme that has got me twice this year!

11-16, 21-17, 7-11 (I played this opening against Morrison in TN and he destroyed me on it, suffering my worst loss as an ACF member. Tough to play this line from red without pp knowledge on it) 17-14 (strongest move for white) 10-17, 22-13, 11-15 (everything else may lose!) 24-19, 15-24, 28-19, 9-14, 25-22, 8-11, 22-18, 3-7 (avoid 6-10 in this spot and in the early stages of this line as it usually leads to a loss, that was my mistake against Morrison) 18-9, 5-14, 29-25, 7-10 (now you can see how red has its center protected and has white under control. If 25-22, then 14-17 is a good move for red) 25-21, 2-7 (programs prefer 4-8, but 2-7 is just as good) 23-18, 14-23, 27-18, 16-23, 26-19, 11-16, 31-26, 16-23, 26-19, 7-11, 18-14, 10-17, 21-14, 4-8 (looks like a possible loss for red, but the 4-8 can break up white's bridge) 32-27.

There are two choices here, 11-15 or 11-16, but only one draws.



Well, if you guessed 11-15, you guessed right. I guessed wrong with 11-16. Here's the thing...11-16 looks fine because the red piece on 6 doesn't look in jeopardy, but after 19-15 by white, it sure is. White wins now as follows....16-19, 30-26, 12-16, 27-23, 19-24, 26-22, 27-24, 23-18 (this is the killer as red piece on 8 was key, but white is now forcing it to move, limiting the protection of the piece on 6. It still looks like the piece on 27 can come behind white and get the draw, but such is not the case) 8-12, 14-9, 6-10, 15-6, 10-1, 9-6, 27-31, 6-2, 16-20, 2-6 (now red has two moves here, 31-26 or 31-27, but both lose)



31-26, (if 31-27, 6-15, 27-23, 18-14, 23-18, 15-19 and the same losing idea) 6-15, 26-17, 15-19, 17-22, 18-15, 22-26, 15-11, 26-31, 11-7, 31-27, 7-2, 27-32, 2-7, 32-28, 7-11, 20-24, 11-15 (White Wins) Another nice win and perfect game played by Nexus.



Same losing idea that Michael Holmes beat me with in TN, I learned the theme, but sometimes that is not enough. That is what makes checkers challenging, these losing ideas come up a mile away out of sight, and before you know it, it bites you in the butt!

[Bill Salot]

Joe,
You are exploring good problem ideas here if you don't limit yourself to the game positions.
Bill Salot

[Chexhero]

Yea, this would have been a good problem after the 11-16 loss, approximately 30 to 40 moves deep to solve! Would probably be too easy for white to solve though.

[rich beckwith]

Joe, Thanks for sharing game. A couple notes:

Before first diagram, after 2-7 option: White also has a good ending attack with 26-22 (instead of 23-18) and into Mantell line in Ryan’s Encyclopedia p. 130 note I, also won by Alex over Borghetti in last year’s match, G. 15.

Before diagram, the 32-27 moves looks good and gives red a chance to make a wrong decision. Ryan’s Encyclopedia (p. 131-K) gives only 14-9 (instead of 32-27) 11-16 and into a draw under a bridge, credited to John T. Bradford.

[Chexhero]

Ahhh, your right, 26-22 is a good option as well and is actually very strong. 4-8 instead of 2-7 probably is the better move for red after all.

[rich beckwith]

Yes, 4-8 may be somewhat more popular, but there are pitfalls there as well, and a couple mid-game star moves need to be known. Elbert Lowder played the 2-7 line on me to a good draw at the 2002 US National (ACFB #309). I've had 4-8 played on me in tournaments twice -- Larry Keen drew at an IL tournament, and Hallett lost in one of the Las Vegas Nationals.