Article by Alf Jordan

[liam stephens]

There is an article by Alf Jordan published in the American Checker Monthly Feb 1925 (Vol. V, No. 2).
entitled Checker Automata.
Below is a brief extract:
“After the Britain vs. America match, Robert Stewart, Allan Hynd, and I went to New York and Melvin Brown took us to see Ajeeb. I played the first game. Ajeeb put on the “Fife” and a draw resulted. Allan Hynd then tried the Cross and nearly lost. Stewart went next, and insisted on having the black pieces, putting on the Laird & Lady. Just as the “Steel stroke” was ready, “the figure” took a long time to consider the situation. The attendant said that Stewart must move more quickly or he would charge for the game by time. Stewart said it was “the figure’s” turn to play and he thought it needed winding up. The attendant then pretended to wind up an imaginary main-spring and eventually the figure made the losing move 31-26. Stewart called to us to see the finish and Ajeeb just knocked the pieces over in token of surrender. The attendant said we must be very good players to beat Ajeeb 1 to 0 and 2 draws, but Stewart said the figure was lucky to get 2 draws. As Dr. Schaefer was still in Boston we knew he could not have been the player, and I afterwards heard it was a player named Hill (neither James nor Willis G.) who officiated at the machinery. “

[George Hay]

Thanx for sharing this incredible story Liam, I just had to look up the Steel Stroke, and it was just WOW !!!

From H4ns, now part of the Internet Checkers Federation website:

http://icheckers.net/h4ns/games/sh_steel.html

Steel Shot is listed under Traps in H4ns.

--George Hay

[DrCaesar]

Thanks for sharing this, Liam. I would love to read the full article.