Good/Bad Choice?

[Michael S. Sanders]

Well, decided to grab a more substantial checker set than what I now have (two sets, the typical folding board with red/black plastic pieces and a small 5in.x5in. study board). After reading <Bob Newell's article on obtaining a regulation set>, a sobering hunt ensued...

Hoping to strike a reasonable balance between a nice looking set as well as a usable set, here's what I ordered from http://www.thechessstore.com/

Board:
Type: Walnt and Maple
Square size: 1

[Alan Millhone]

Hello Michael:

Your set looks very nice. However for tournaments you will need the regulation red and white pieces and green and buff boards. You can find both for sale from our official ACF Equipment Dealer, Mr. Roger Blaine on our ACF 'Store' on ACF Web Site.

Sincerely:
Alan Milhone, President
American Checker Federation
" An average Checker/Draughts player "
===============================================
Anxiously awaiting my copy of " SIXTH"

[Alan Millhone]

Hello Michael:

Your set looks very nice. However for tournaments you will need the regulation red and white pieces and green and buff boards. You can find both for sale from our official ACF Equipment Dealer, Mr. Roger Blaine on our ACF 'Store' on ACF Web Site.

Sincerely:
Alan Milhone, President
American Checker Federation
" An average Checker/Draughts player "
===============================================
Anxiously awaiting my copy of " SIXTH"
===============================================

[Michael S. Sanders]

Howdy Alan.

Thanks for the heads up, appericate it. Would you belive this was my first choice? Seems the ACF store is out of checkers :/

[Alan Millhone]

Hello Michael:

Yes, the ACF store has steadily sold out of regulation pieces and this morning I sent an inquiry to Mr. Roger Blaine about placing an order for sets of Crisloid pieces. I usually carry some pieces and boards with me to tournaments I attend to sell. Roger also stocks red and white plastic pieces at a much reduced price from the regulation sets. I will post on the forum when more sets are in stock.

Sincerely:
Alan Millhone, President
American Checker Federation
District 6 Champion
===============================================
" I read 10th. ACA Tournament every day till my copy of " SIXTH" arrives"
===============================================

[Bob Murr]

Another source for regulation sets and numbered boards for study:

Evelyn Micallef
16 Romac Dr.
Toronto, Ontario
Canada
M1C 4V6

Email: dgoodw9616@rogers.com

She is also selling many fine Checker books

[rich beckwith]

Roger Blaine told me a few weeks back that it would take a month or so to replenish his checker equipment (except for the pool checkers), so hopefully he will have additional sets soon.

[Alan Millhone]

Hello John:

I guess that I had always adhered to the 'standard rules' of our game that denote red and white pieces of a certain size and green and buff boards.

All tournaments are not under ACF goverance and I suppose you could run into a problem here and there at those tourneys.

Another issue not in the rules................ The use of a 'numbered' board in tournaments. Nothing says you can't use one, but many Master players openly object and will not play on a numbered board.

My boards are over 30 years old and were hand made by the late Elzy Langdon. Mr. Elmer Wallace and a Mr. Hawkins also made boards by hand decades ago.

I will say one thing about boards and pieces................ If yours is worn out.............. Replace it and set a sterling example to other players, especially younger players that you are proud of the game you play and prefer to play on quality equipment.

Comments welcome of course to my reply.

Sincerely:
Alan Millhone, President
American Checker Federation
District 6 Champion

[Ingo_Zachos]

http://www.bobnewell.net/checkers/checker-sets.html


I would recommend a magnetic set for studying purposes, as one can put it on one page of a checkerbook while reading and playing through the opposite page.

Also, to number a cheap chess board with stickers or permanent markers and use pieces similar to the ones you've shown is a good idea, but after some month of practice, you won't need the numbers anymore.

The colours don't really matter for study purposes, as visualization and positional memory works without board and needs no colours.

Regulation colours r recommended for ty's, but for private use it is up to your personal preference.

One hint: If a board looks too good, you begin to look at the beauty of it, instead of the position, so "keep it simple"

Greetinx from siberic-cold Dortmund, Germany

Ingo Zachos

[Michael S. Sanders]

Re: Another source for regulation sets and numbered boards for study...

Hi Bob.

Thanks for reference, appreciate it!

So, how did you become involved in checkers? (Just new guy small talk =)

[Michael S. Sanders]

Re: One hint: If a board looks too good, you begin to look at the beauty of it, instead of the position, so "keep it simple"

Hi Ingo.

Good point. Too many distractions can spoil the experience. Is checkers popular in Germany?

Re: siberic-cold...

Try to stay warm if you can! =) Tsch