2015 CHRISTMAS QUIZ

[liam stephens]

Wishing everyone a Happy Christmas.

2015 CHRISTMAS QUIZ

1. In 2015 who said:

“Is checkers in decline? I am not sure, I hope not!
There are strong up coming players around the world!”

2. Checker Sharing !

In which tournament in 2015 did the first 6 players all finish on 19 points ?

3. Which country is now in the ascendancy in Draughts/Checkers ?

4. Which player won the most Scottish Open Championship titles ?

5. Would you believe it ?
In the position below taking the shot by 18-15 loses.




White to play
After whom was this position named and by what title ?

6. Ample warning !

In which world title match was the following condition included in the match contract regarding the time controls ?
“The referee shall give warning at ten (10) minutes and two (2) minutes before expiration of time, informing the player
of how many moves remain to be played before the flag falls.”

7. Who was the author of a pamphlet entitled:

“Original and Infallible Method of Discovering the Moves to Form Any Position or Problem in the Game of Draughts or Checkers”

8. When it was once said with words of doom and gloom - the game is dying, which famous player came up with the slogan:

“Strife gives life: only apathy kills.”


9. Which draughts book has had the most editions published ?

10. And finally, the unanswered question :

In the English language has the word “SOLVED” taken on a completely new meaning ?

I will post the answers early in the new year.

[liam stephens]

2015 CHRISTMAS QUIZ - ANSWERS

1. In 2015 who said:
“Is checkers in decline? I am not sure, I hope not!
There are strong up coming players around the world!”

George Hay, on the ACF Forum, 1 Nov 2015.

2. Checker Sharing!
In which tournament in 2015 did the first 6 players all finish on 19 points ?

The WCDF 2015 Qualifying Tournament held in Knighton, Wales.


3. Which country is now in the ascendancy in Draughts/Checkers ?

Italy , with two world champions:
3 move – Michele Borghetti,
Freestyle – Sergio Scarpetta.


4. Which player won the most Scottish Open Championship titles ?

Tom Watson, who has won 10 titles.
1987, 1989, 1991, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2011, 2013 and 2015.


5. Would you believe it ?
In the position below taking the shot by 18-15 loses.




White to play

After whom was this position named and by what title ?

Busby’s Paralytic Stroke Ref: Oldbury’s Ency page 215.

After 18-15? continue 11-27, 20-2, 8-11, (or 12-16) 32-23, 9-13, 2-9, 13-22, 26-17, 5-21, B. W.

6. Ample warning !
In which world title match was the following condition included in the match contract regarding the time controls ?
“The referee shall give warning at ten (10) minutes and two (2) minutes before expiration of time,
informing the player of how many moves remain to be played before the flag falls.”

Oldbury v Hallett 1991 Ref: Match Book



7. Who was the author of a pamphlet entitled:
“Original and Infallible Method of Discovering the Moves to Form Any Position or Problem in the Game of Draughts or Checkers”

Frank Sivetts c 1894 – Reference: Call 152 (Sivett’s Infallible Method)

8. When it was once said with words of doom and gloom - the game is dying, which famous player came up with the slogan:
“Strife gives life: only apathy kills.”

Derek Oldbury in the Square World, Jan/Feb issue, 1965.



9. Which draughts book has had the most editions published ?

Belasco’s Guide - reached its 39th edition in 1973. (ref – OCLC World Catalogue)


10. And finally, the unanswered question :

In the English language has the word “SOLVED” taken on a completely new meaning ?

Yes – if you have been following the discussions on the ACF Forum under the headings:

He wants to learn about American Checkers

New article on computers attempting to solve checkers


For the successor to Chinook see:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxGT2cTRUIY

[George Hay]

Hi Liam, and Happy New Year 2016!
These are my notes/comments/answers to the 2015 Christmas Quiz:

1. That was yours truly in response to a question by Sam Sloan. (It is an honor to be included in the Christmas Quiz.)

2. The 2015 GAYP Qualifier at Knighton, Wales, with Michele Borghetti winning on tie breakers with no further games played.

3. Italy.

4. Tom Watson.

5. ??? No Answer, but that is a most interesting and cautionary position! I like how the solution shows the follow up move sequence to soften up the Kings Row!

6. I did find a later world title match where the "ample warning" 10 minute and 2 minute warning was in the contract.
That was the 2003 World 3-Move Championship, Alex Moiseyev vs Ron King, 8-2-25, at Cookstown, Northern Irland.
(I call this match the Showdown--as in Showdown at OK Corral.) My reference is Sixth by Mr. Alex, Appendix C, article 10, on page 368.
Cross-Board players who really want to be champion should really study Sixth, that is if they really want to be champion, but I digress!

7. Frank Sivetts, and yes my reference is Liturature Of Checkers (LOC) by W.T. Call, item 152.

8. ??? No Answer, but it is not surprising that it was the great Derek Olbury. What is surprising is that he said it back in 1965.
DEO practiced what he preached, and here we are in 2016!

9. My incorrect guess was Lees' Guide that had at least nine official editions, and numerous other editions.

10. I have no idea what the difference is between "weakly solved" and "ultra-weakly solved."

--George Hay

[liam stephens]

Thanks George and well done - you got most of them right.

Re No 6, I missed that second case, the Moiseyev v King match - well spotted!
Maybe now, that is a standard condition in matches, but I found it amusing.
Reminds me of the bad old days when clocks were introduced in the UK and there was a ridiculous rule
whereby you had to give a warning notice when your opponent had only 10 minutes left on the clock.
So much for the players being responsible for controlling their own time.

Wishing you a happy New Year - Liam.