Who says there is no luck in the game of checkers? This is an interesting bit of history about a famous hotel, The "Claremont" in Oakland, CA.
This story is documented on their website.
http://www.theclaremontnewsroom.com/PressKits/History/
[b:8379c3182a]A Lucky Game of Checkers[/b:8379c3182a]
The property fell into the hands of Frank Havens and “Borax” Smith, a famous miner. They planned to erect a resort hotel on the property with trains running directly into the lobby. However, these plans were abandoned. One night, Havens, Smith and John Spring, a Berkeley capitalist, played checkers in the old Athenian Club of Oakland with the stakes being the property. As legend goes, Havens won.
Ray Shelly told me this story while at the national tournament in Las Vegas.
“Borax” Smith is "Francis Marion Smith" of "20 mule team Borax" fame.
http://www.scvhistory.com/scvhistory/bo ... leteam.htm
Luck in Checkers?
Luck in Checkers?
Bob Murr