Interesting quote about Alfred Jordan by D.G. McKelvie

[DrCaesar]

From the Draughts Review, just after Jordan's death in 1926:

"Jordan was not a player of exceptionally swift perception in an unknown position, nor was he a deep and sure analyst, but he spent, utilized, or wasted--just as you view it--more time on the game than any man I have ever known. He had vast stores of knowledge, and his motto was 'play for safety.' He was not inaptly termed the 'Drawing Master.'"

I think there are a lot of objectionable and condescending aspects to McKelvie's assertions here.

[George Hay]

Alfred Jordan was a great draughts promoter, and was world champion from 1912-1917 according to the WCDF and ACF. Edward Winter in his Chess Notes has 10756. Emanuel Lasker and draughts/checkers, where Alfred Jordan plays Emanuel Lasker checkers. Scrolling down from the link should get to the game, Chess Note (C.N.) 10756.

https://www.chesshistory.com/winter/winter164.html

This is a single corner opening where"Herr Lasker" has the white pieces and avoids the "Goose Walk" trap in the opening. Alfred Jordan ultimately wins, with notes A and B explaining where the game went wrong for Lasker.

--George Hay

[DrCaesar]

Alfred Jordan was a great draughts promoter, and was world champion from 1912-1917 according to the WCDF and ACF. Edward Winter in his Chess Notes has 10756. Emanuel Lasker and draughts/checkers, where Alfred Jordan plays Emanuel Lasker checkers. Scrolling down from the link should get to the game, Chess Note (C.N.) 10756.

https://www.chesshistory.com/winter/winter164.html

This is a single corner opening where"Herr Lasker" has the white pieces and avoids the "Goose Walk" trap in the opening. Alfred Jordan ultimately wins, with notes A and B explaining where the game went wrong for Lasker.

--George Hay

Thanks for sharing that game, George. I wonder if Lasker ever won in draughts against Alf. I also wonder if they ever played chess, given Alf's interest in the game.

[DrCaesar]

Reading more of McKelvie's articles in the Draughts Review, I think his comment on Artful Alf was less malicious than it appeared at first. Still, no player could have compiled Alf's record in tournament and match play against literally all the greatest draughts players on both sides of the Atlantic without having powerful crossboard and analytical skills.

Monomaniacal book learning alone would not have taken Alf as far as he went.