The lure of research in turn-based play

[Pedro Saavedra]

I just had a great experience. I won a tournament in IYT and in the last game I played a line I found in Durgin's Single Corner -- a book over 100 years old (but now in the Internet). I know some of you do not like the use of books in turn-based play, but I really love doing research on lines I am playing.

This was particularly a high because I had lost many a game against that line, and this time I had found Durgin's and decided to let my opponent come up with a better move. He never did and fell into a losing line. The line, by the way, was from Strudwick's article on the Flora Temple Refused. Years ago I would have found Durgin in a used book store. This time I found it in Google Books. Google Books is replacing some of my old searches for old checker books. I also tell it, because my interest is not so much in winning as in researching positions. That is what made mail play in olden times and makes turn-based play so much fun. At least for me. So if somebody has a cook against Strudwick's analysis, by all means play it (only give me the reference after you beat me).

Of course, my most exciting game where I followed a line to the end was when I followed a line in Basic Checkers, and then found the game it referred to. I followed it to a drawn ending and then discovered I was playing Dick Fortman.

Pedro (aka vatecubano in IYT and Guanarteme in GT).