I'm new to the Forum and to checkers in general so this question my seem ah, well, simplistic... . I've been trying to build a checkers library (not too easy in this day and age...) and recently acquired the book "Inside Checkers" by Walton W. Walker published in 1922 (!). I really like it because it goes through over thirty games move by move explaining the reason for the move and presenting the various traps, shots and positions that can result. For me, a checkers newbie, it was invaluable and reminded me of the chess equivalent, Irving Chernev's "Logical Chess Move by Move". Same kind of approach.
However, on Bob Newell's excellent checkers site he mentions (but does not, alas, review) the Walton book in his checkers books section and has a brief comment about its "errors and all".
I wonder if anyone else is familiar with this book and could possibly point out some of the errors? I have neither the experience or the natural ability to pick up on them and if somebody could offer some expertise I would certainly appreciate it. I should point out that there were apparently errors in Chernev's chess book and I missed those as well! Perhaps I should try easier games... .
Anyhow, thanks in advance for any help anyone can give me.
Gary Jenkins/jaguar72
Fairborn, Ohio
Inside Checkers, Walton W. Walker
Re: Inside Checkers, Walton W. Walker
Hi Gary,..............most old checker books are "in places" a lil outdates and have been surpasses in some ways by modern books,that is not to say they dont still hold many good plays.The reason might be that with the onset of programmes and such like or mb todays top players are just plain better.
Alot of these "old" books have been corrected here and there but its good to have you in the game and there are many books available ,some on ebay some from the ACF Library and other sources.I do have a library myself but ive not heard of Walton altho there are many authors that contributed to checker folk-lore down the ages like him.
Well i wish you well and if you can link up with the ACF President Alan Millhone or even Mr Moiseyev as hes in Columbus Ohio im sure you ll get all the info of whats going on in the checker world."........................"Its yur move"
Tommy Canning Ireland
Alot of these "old" books have been corrected here and there but its good to have you in the game and there are many books available ,some on ebay some from the ACF Library and other sources.I do have a library myself but ive not heard of Walton altho there are many authors that contributed to checker folk-lore down the ages like him.
Well i wish you well and if you can link up with the ACF President Alan Millhone or even Mr Moiseyev as hes in Columbus Ohio im sure you ll get all the info of whats going on in the checker world."........................"Its yur move"
Tommy Canning Ireland
Always read "Cannings Compilation 2nd Edition" every day.
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jaguar72
- Posts: 282
- Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2009 11:09 am
- What do you like about checkers?: Its minimalist beauty and economy of force.
- Location: Fairborn OH
Re: Inside Checkers, Walton W. Walker
Dear Tommy,
Thanks for the quick response...I reckon you are correct. It only makes sense that checkers must have advanced since 1922! I'll continue to read the old books, though, because at my level of play (quite low) it probably doesn't make much difference. Plus, I really enjoy playing through the old expert games no matter how ancient they are...no doubt I will learn a lot.
Thanks again for taking the time to reply.
Laughing all the day,
With true friends who try to make you stay,
Telling jokes and news,
And singing songs to pass the night away,
We watched the Galway salmon run,
Like silver dancing, darting in the sun,
Living on your western shore,
Saw the summer sunset, I asked for more,
I stood by your Atlantic Sea,
And sang a song for Ireland.
Song for Ireland, Phil and June Colclough
When I listen to Mary Black sing that ballad, well, nothing else seems to matter.
Gary Jenkins/jaguar72
Thanks for the quick response...I reckon you are correct. It only makes sense that checkers must have advanced since 1922! I'll continue to read the old books, though, because at my level of play (quite low) it probably doesn't make much difference. Plus, I really enjoy playing through the old expert games no matter how ancient they are...no doubt I will learn a lot.
Thanks again for taking the time to reply.
Laughing all the day,
With true friends who try to make you stay,
Telling jokes and news,
And singing songs to pass the night away,
We watched the Galway salmon run,
Like silver dancing, darting in the sun,
Living on your western shore,
Saw the summer sunset, I asked for more,
I stood by your Atlantic Sea,
And sang a song for Ireland.
Song for Ireland, Phil and June Colclough
When I listen to Mary Black sing that ballad, well, nothing else seems to matter.
Gary Jenkins/jaguar72
Re: Inside Checkers, Walton W. Walker
Yes good stuff Gary,..................theres another version that i particulary like (i even used to sing it at one time).....it was Paddy Reilly dueting with his wife ..............they done a great cover of it.
Always read "Cannings Compilation 2nd Edition" every day.
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Ingo_Zachos
- Posts: 1286
- Joined: Sun Nov 13, 2005 7:41 am
- Location: Dortmund, Germany
- Contact:
Re: Inside Checkers, Walton W. Walker
Dear Gary,
it is amazing to me that I acquired some 1000 books on checkers in the last 4-5 years, but you found one that I did not find.
I assume that you r a beginner and not a master, so my advice: dont memorize "corrections" for now and dont look for corrections in newer books too hard.
First try to figure out, how much time you can afford to spent reading checker books.
I assume you have a few hours on the weekend and in the evening.
So what to do?
1. Buy a numbered board (in regular colors) and pieces. You can do that on the ACF online store.
The youth boards and a few red and white backgammon pieces wil do it.
2. Buy a small-sized magnetic board. It does not have to be in regular colors or numbered.If you want, add numbers with a permanet marker. It should be so small that you can hold it with one hand, and the book in the other. So you can read your book in the quietest places, which I found a good place to contemplate about checker games.
3. Play over GAMES first without the annotations. First take games that don't end in a draw. From them you can leanr the most.
Write them in a notebook (preferable with a rim and squares like math books for school children) and leave some space for annotations.
4. Try to find out from which point the game is hopeless. And then try to remember WHY it was hopeless.
5. Write down what you found in the space you left for annotations for below and mark in in the "main line"
6. Try to make a diagram of the position that you found which you think was a loss.
And write below what you think is better.
7. Then check what the annotation said in your book.
Did you find the flaw? You r a genius!
Did you miss the REAL losing move and the loss is even earlier then you thought? You r only human.
8. Use a red pen and write the comment of the book on the rim of your notebook.
9. Did you find that there was a loss EARLIER then your book ?
Check if u r right. (you migt use a progrm like checkerboard for that) If not- you r only human. If it still stands - you found a correction!
10. If you found no correction of the book that way - you at least corrected your own play!
And that is the corection you really need if u r a beginner!
You dont need to improve the book, you need to improve yourself.
Good luck for all the happy hours in the quiet places mentioned above,
Ingo Zachos
P.S: From time to time play in a ty or online (but don't cheat), as a book is a good friend, but it makes more fun to play with others.
it is amazing to me that I acquired some 1000 books on checkers in the last 4-5 years, but you found one that I did not find.
I assume that you r a beginner and not a master, so my advice: dont memorize "corrections" for now and dont look for corrections in newer books too hard.
First try to figure out, how much time you can afford to spent reading checker books.
I assume you have a few hours on the weekend and in the evening.
So what to do?
1. Buy a numbered board (in regular colors) and pieces. You can do that on the ACF online store.
The youth boards and a few red and white backgammon pieces wil do it.
2. Buy a small-sized magnetic board. It does not have to be in regular colors or numbered.If you want, add numbers with a permanet marker. It should be so small that you can hold it with one hand, and the book in the other. So you can read your book in the quietest places, which I found a good place to contemplate about checker games.
3. Play over GAMES first without the annotations. First take games that don't end in a draw. From them you can leanr the most.
Write them in a notebook (preferable with a rim and squares like math books for school children) and leave some space for annotations.
4. Try to find out from which point the game is hopeless. And then try to remember WHY it was hopeless.
5. Write down what you found in the space you left for annotations for below and mark in in the "main line"
6. Try to make a diagram of the position that you found which you think was a loss.
And write below what you think is better.
7. Then check what the annotation said in your book.
Did you find the flaw? You r a genius!
Did you miss the REAL losing move and the loss is even earlier then you thought? You r only human.
8. Use a red pen and write the comment of the book on the rim of your notebook.
9. Did you find that there was a loss EARLIER then your book ?
Check if u r right. (you migt use a progrm like checkerboard for that) If not- you r only human. If it still stands - you found a correction!
10. If you found no correction of the book that way - you at least corrected your own play!
And that is the corection you really need if u r a beginner!
You dont need to improve the book, you need to improve yourself.
Good luck for all the happy hours in the quiet places mentioned above,
Ingo Zachos
P.S: From time to time play in a ty or online (but don't cheat), as a book is a good friend, but it makes more fun to play with others.
You can rent this space for advertising, if you like!
Re: Inside Checkers, Walton W. Walker
CHECKERS: The Mind Sport of Kings and Ordinary Men.
Re: Inside Checkers, Walton W. Walker
Jeekers Ingo ..................ARE YU TRYING TO PUT GARY OFF B4 HE EVEN STARTS RIGHT....GET A GRIP MAN,HE COULD HAVE A GOOD BOOK READ B4 HE READ THAT "BOOK" OF YURS................
Anyway sounds like heS a fun player not too serious for now till he gets smitten i only hope yu haven t put him off for EVER.
Having read yur "book" i think yu missed yur true profession................talking.!!!!! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Anyway sounds like heS a fun player not too serious for now till he gets smitten i only hope yu haven t put him off for EVER.
Having read yur "book" i think yu missed yur true profession................talking.!!!!! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Always read "Cannings Compilation 2nd Edition" every day.
Re: Inside Checkers, Walton W. Walker
jOSH,......Its not often yur wrong but yur right this time.!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Always read "Cannings Compilation 2nd Edition" every day.
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jaguar72
- Posts: 282
- Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2009 11:09 am
- What do you like about checkers?: Its minimalist beauty and economy of force.
- Location: Fairborn OH
Re: Inside Checkers, Walton W. Walker
Dear Tommy, Ingo, Palomino, Tommy (again!!), and Josh,
Wow! The responses to my original question (including a phone call or two!) have been fast, informative, instructional, enthusiastic, unexpected and remarkable...all of those things. I've included below some individual responses to your emails:
For tommyc - thanks again for the quick checkers advice...Song of Ireland is a beautiful song. I've heard it sung in pubs all over the world and it never fails to move me especially when I've had a pint or so of Guinness or Boddingtons.
For Ingo - many, many thanks for the detailed pointers...much appreciated. I'll look 'em over in more detail tomorrow but I really like your systematic approach...and I've got plenty of time to read checkers books. I also have a very extensive, I mean a lot of stuff, chess library, so playing through games is something I'm pretty familiar with (at least as far as chess is concerned). I like checkers, though, for its minimalist elegance, its beauty (especially in the end game; quite breathtaking), and its economy of force. It is a remarkable game and I'm rather surprised it took me so long to get into it. My loss. By the way, I've got checkers equipment and I stopped using a numbered board a couple of months ago having played through enough expert games to make the numbers automatic (well, almost; I make errors from time to time) from either side of the board. I play mostly in coffee shops (and bars...), both chess and checkers. I get more requests from other patrons to play chess rather than checkers. I hope that will change.
For Palomino - Serendipitous, indeed!
For tommyc - Don't worry, Tommy, it's too late...I'm already smitten (good word!) and various approaches are all to the good! It doesn't matter, because I'm not really a "serious" player of chess or checkers. I play for fun, I guess. I like to try and play well, of course, and create a good game (pretty rare...) but I just seem to get enjoyment out of the game itself, win or lose.
For Josh - You are probably correct, Josh, but I like to do book stuff, too. I can play through a Hellman/Tinsley game, for example, and perhaps not understand it all but certainly appreciate the beauty of it. That, to me has some value... . Besides, there are usually some (rather sparse) annotations.
Hope I didn't miss anyone. Once again, many thanks to all who took the time and made the effort to answer my email. Hugely appreciated! I'm a little awed.
Very Respectfully (V/R)
Gary jenkins/jaguar72
Wow! The responses to my original question (including a phone call or two!) have been fast, informative, instructional, enthusiastic, unexpected and remarkable...all of those things. I've included below some individual responses to your emails:
For tommyc - thanks again for the quick checkers advice...Song of Ireland is a beautiful song. I've heard it sung in pubs all over the world and it never fails to move me especially when I've had a pint or so of Guinness or Boddingtons.
For Ingo - many, many thanks for the detailed pointers...much appreciated. I'll look 'em over in more detail tomorrow but I really like your systematic approach...and I've got plenty of time to read checkers books. I also have a very extensive, I mean a lot of stuff, chess library, so playing through games is something I'm pretty familiar with (at least as far as chess is concerned). I like checkers, though, for its minimalist elegance, its beauty (especially in the end game; quite breathtaking), and its economy of force. It is a remarkable game and I'm rather surprised it took me so long to get into it. My loss. By the way, I've got checkers equipment and I stopped using a numbered board a couple of months ago having played through enough expert games to make the numbers automatic (well, almost; I make errors from time to time) from either side of the board. I play mostly in coffee shops (and bars...), both chess and checkers. I get more requests from other patrons to play chess rather than checkers. I hope that will change.
For Palomino - Serendipitous, indeed!
For tommyc - Don't worry, Tommy, it's too late...I'm already smitten (good word!) and various approaches are all to the good! It doesn't matter, because I'm not really a "serious" player of chess or checkers. I play for fun, I guess. I like to try and play well, of course, and create a good game (pretty rare...) but I just seem to get enjoyment out of the game itself, win or lose.
For Josh - You are probably correct, Josh, but I like to do book stuff, too. I can play through a Hellman/Tinsley game, for example, and perhaps not understand it all but certainly appreciate the beauty of it. That, to me has some value... . Besides, there are usually some (rather sparse) annotations.
Hope I didn't miss anyone. Once again, many thanks to all who took the time and made the effort to answer my email. Hugely appreciated! I'm a little awed.
Very Respectfully (V/R)
Gary jenkins/jaguar72
il faut (d'abord) durer...
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Alex_Moiseyev
- Posts: 4358
- Joined: Sat Nov 12, 2005 5:03 pm
- What do you like about checkers?: .....
Re: Inside Checkers, Walton W. Walker
Hi, Gary ! I am not a big expert in American (specifically - Ohio!) geographyjaguar72 wrote:Gary Jenkins/jaguar72
Fairborn, Ohio
Where Fairborn is located - north area (Clevelend), south (Cincinnati), west (Dayton), center (Columbus) or east ?The reason of my question is simple: we have in June, 3rd weekend (Saturday-Sunday), official Pennsylvania State tournament. It will be in Grove City, near road 79, few miles away of road 80.
It would be nice if you can make it and join checkers family. Your fun will jump significantly to another level of enjoyment and excitement !!! If you live close to Columbus, we can make trip together in my (preferable) or your car and even share the room to lower expanses.
Regards,
Alex Moiseyev
checkers player
Last edited by Alex_Moiseyev on Thu May 14, 2009 10:50 am, edited 1 time in total.
I am playing checkers, not chess.
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Alex_Moiseyev
- Posts: 4358
- Joined: Sat Nov 12, 2005 5:03 pm
- What do you like about checkers?: .....
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jaguar72
- Posts: 282
- Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2009 11:09 am
- What do you like about checkers?: Its minimalist beauty and economy of force.
- Location: Fairborn OH
Re: Inside Checkers, Walton W. Walker
Dear Mr. Moiseyev,
Well, um, this was like getting and email from Vishy Anand or Garry Kasparov inviting me to a chess tournament... . Things like that usually don't happen in the real world (and I don't think I'm gonna get an email from either of them...).
Fairborn is in eastern Dayton just south of Rt 70 and about 70 miles from Columbus; my wife is from Columbus and her mother lives there also.
Alas, the third weekend in June (and the fourth as well) are already booked with a trip that we had planned for some time; however, things could change (especially for the 3rd weekend) and if they do I will let you know as soon as possible. The invitation to the tournament was much appreciated and I had fully intended to play in some organized competition in the future.
However, I must tell you that at the present time I really (REALLY) am not much of a checkers player, only having been "seriously" looking at the game since January of this year. I barely know an Alma from an Ayrshire Lassie and I don't have a real concept of the "flow" of the game, i.e., the way the moves fit together. For me, checkers is a tremendously difficult game; unlike chess, one single small mistake can doom the game 'cause you can't take anything back. You really have to know what you're doing. There is no margin for error.
Also, there is the matter of my lack of experience: I haven't memorized Lee's Guide yet (just kidding), the only position I know well enough to win (usually) is the 1st Position, I can't sight-solve any of Willie Ryan's problems (they are all quite difficult), and I've probably played maybe sixteen "serious" games so far, including two against Chinook. That's it. I can usually solve the tactical "trap and shot" problems (like the ones in Richard Pask's excellent book), but I would think any competent player has that ability.
Also, I haven't ordered Sixth yet, but I'm going to...I hope you have some left.
By the way, a member named Steve Holliday from Cleveland called me last night to tell me, amongst other things, about the Pennsylvania Ty. He also mentioned that you will be playing a World Championship match with Ron King in October in Medina. I hope to attend at least part of that match.
Anyhow, Mr. Moiseyev, thanks again for the invitation to the Pennsylvania tournament. If things change I'll let you know soonest. You know, it's not every day you get a invite from a World Champion. I'll tell my wife when she gets home...I doubt if she'll believe me.
V/R,
Gary Jenkins/jaguar72
Well, um, this was like getting and email from Vishy Anand or Garry Kasparov inviting me to a chess tournament... . Things like that usually don't happen in the real world (and I don't think I'm gonna get an email from either of them...).
Fairborn is in eastern Dayton just south of Rt 70 and about 70 miles from Columbus; my wife is from Columbus and her mother lives there also.
Alas, the third weekend in June (and the fourth as well) are already booked with a trip that we had planned for some time; however, things could change (especially for the 3rd weekend) and if they do I will let you know as soon as possible. The invitation to the tournament was much appreciated and I had fully intended to play in some organized competition in the future.
However, I must tell you that at the present time I really (REALLY) am not much of a checkers player, only having been "seriously" looking at the game since January of this year. I barely know an Alma from an Ayrshire Lassie and I don't have a real concept of the "flow" of the game, i.e., the way the moves fit together. For me, checkers is a tremendously difficult game; unlike chess, one single small mistake can doom the game 'cause you can't take anything back. You really have to know what you're doing. There is no margin for error.
Also, there is the matter of my lack of experience: I haven't memorized Lee's Guide yet (just kidding), the only position I know well enough to win (usually) is the 1st Position, I can't sight-solve any of Willie Ryan's problems (they are all quite difficult), and I've probably played maybe sixteen "serious" games so far, including two against Chinook. That's it. I can usually solve the tactical "trap and shot" problems (like the ones in Richard Pask's excellent book), but I would think any competent player has that ability.
Also, I haven't ordered Sixth yet, but I'm going to...I hope you have some left.
By the way, a member named Steve Holliday from Cleveland called me last night to tell me, amongst other things, about the Pennsylvania Ty. He also mentioned that you will be playing a World Championship match with Ron King in October in Medina. I hope to attend at least part of that match.
Anyhow, Mr. Moiseyev, thanks again for the invitation to the Pennsylvania tournament. If things change I'll let you know soonest. You know, it's not every day you get a invite from a World Champion. I'll tell my wife when she gets home...I doubt if she'll believe me.
V/R,
Gary Jenkins/jaguar72
il faut (d'abord) durer...
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Alex_Moiseyev
- Posts: 4358
- Joined: Sat Nov 12, 2005 5:03 pm
- What do you like about checkers?: .....
Re: Inside Checkers, Walton W. Walker
Gary, don't forget to tell her, that in Grove City there is very big discount manufactory mall with prices usally 15%-20% off retail prices. Grove City is well known to "shopping tourists" and many people often spent here couple days over the weekend.jaguar72 wrote:I'll tell my wife when she gets home...
Well ... I am not George Bush, Barack Obama or Bill Gates
I can't give checkers or people money. But going across the country, playing in many state tournaments and encouraging people are just my 5 cents to do something for checkers. Regards,
Alex
I am playing checkers, not chess.
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jaguar72
- Posts: 282
- Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2009 11:09 am
- What do you like about checkers?: Its minimalist beauty and economy of force.
- Location: Fairborn OH
Re: Inside Checkers, Walton W. Walker
John,
Thanks very much...I certainly will do so. I get to Columbus fairly often and we should be able to get together. If you are coming Fairborn way, I know several decent (and maybe some not so decent...) places we can play.
It is mainly checkers players that I have trouble running into...chess players are, it seems, much more numerous and even if I'm sitting in a coffee shop or book store working on end games, there is usually someone who asks for a game. Not so with checkers, at least in the short time I've been playing (my wife plays with me but sez I'm too slow...probably true) in public places.
Thanks again for the offer. Much appreciated.
V/R,
Gary Jenkins/jaguar72
Thanks very much...I certainly will do so. I get to Columbus fairly often and we should be able to get together. If you are coming Fairborn way, I know several decent (and maybe some not so decent...) places we can play.
It is mainly checkers players that I have trouble running into...chess players are, it seems, much more numerous and even if I'm sitting in a coffee shop or book store working on end games, there is usually someone who asks for a game. Not so with checkers, at least in the short time I've been playing (my wife plays with me but sez I'm too slow...probably true) in public places.
Thanks again for the offer. Much appreciated.
V/R,
Gary Jenkins/jaguar72
il faut (d'abord) durer...
-
jaguar72
- Posts: 282
- Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2009 11:09 am
- What do you like about checkers?: Its minimalist beauty and economy of force.
- Location: Fairborn OH
Re: Inside Checkers, Walton W. Walker
For all who took the time and trouble to respond to my original email on this topic, I was casting about online a few minutes ago and noticed that Jim Loy on his excellent site does have a review of Walker's Inside Checkers. As well as some general comments on the book, he points out some of the errors and gives corrections.
Now how do you suppose I managed to miss that??
Anyhow, if any of you want to look for yourselves, it's at http://www.jimloy.com/checkers/walker.htm.
Of course, the site has got a lot of other really good stuff as well (as I'm sure most of you already know...).
V/R,
Gary Jenkins/jaguar72
Now how do you suppose I managed to miss that??
Anyhow, if any of you want to look for yourselves, it's at http://www.jimloy.com/checkers/walker.htm.
Of course, the site has got a lot of other really good stuff as well (as I'm sure most of you already know...).
V/R,
Gary Jenkins/jaguar72