British Open 2014

[Alex_Moiseyev]

Here is one of few games from BO-2014 which Mr. Myles Hannigan kindly shared with me. This post includes his original comments and my couple cents . My comments are in blue.

2nd Rd, Colin Young (R) vs Ron King (W)

11-16, 22-17, 7-11, 23-18, (A) 9-14, 18-9, 5-14, 24-19,16-23, 27-9, 6-22,26-17, 11-15, 17-14, 10-17, 21-14, 8-11,25-22, 4-8, 22-17, 15-18, 29-25, 11-15, 17-13, 8-11, (B) 25-21, 12-16, 14-9, 16-19, (C) 31-26, 3-7, 9-5, 2-6, 21-17, 18-22, 17-14, 22-31, 14-9, 6-10, 9-6, 10-14, 6-2, 14-17, 13-9, 1-6, 5-1, 6-13, 1-6, 17-22, (D) 6-9, 13-17, 9-14, 17-21, 2-6, 22-25, 14-17, 11-16, (E) 28-24, 19-28,6-10,7-14, 17-12, 25-29, 12-16, 29-25, 16-19, 25-22, 19-24. (F) Drawn.

A. This transposes into 11-16, 23-18,7-11, where 22-17 now is considered a secondary line as per basic checkers. With now 3-7 given. However WCC rates the 9-14 reply as an even position.

After 23-18 If someone prefer, the game can be transpose into classic Glasgow: 11-15, 18x11, 8x15, 24-19, 15x24, 27x11, 3-7 Glasgow !

B. Red now strong and taking control of the center.

Not really. Due to upcoming pitch on the right red flank and getting King behind, having close 1st Row - white shouldn't have any troubles in this game at this point. Ron screwed things later.

C. Forms diagram.

White to move

21-17 draw, 31-26? loses

Myles gave diagram after couple moves, but I am giving it here. 31-26? is a losing move. 21-17 instead with following pitch in double corner would be correct and even giving white some chances, if red overplay it.

D. At this point its a forced red win.

This is Mr. M. Hannigan comments, however as I said - I think losing move was made earlier (31-26).

E. The master of combinations, and finely drawn.

It is easy to sit at home across computer and checking every move with powerful program. What is not easy - to play such position against grandmaster. To the best of my memory even legendary Don Lafferty missed a win with 2 mans up against Ron King in their historic 3-moves World Title Match in 1996.

Position before drawn 11-16? needs a diagram



F. Very entertaining for both players and onlookers.

That's for sure ! Lucky Colin - over decades Ron collected a lot of such clever wins

[Alex_Moiseyev]

Rd (9), Game 1. F. McNally (R) vs M. Hannigan (W)

9-13, 22-18, 10-15, 18-14 (A), 11-16 (B) 23-18, 15-22, 25-18, (C) 16-20, 24-19, 8-11, 27-23, 6-9, 32-27, 11-16, 29-25, 4-8, 25-22, 1-6 (D), 22-17, 13-22, 26-17, 8-11, 30-26, 9-13, 26-22, (E) 7-10, 14-7, 3-10,18-14, 2-7, 14-9, 5-14, 22-18, 13-22, 18-2, 10-14, 19-15, 11-18, 2-11, 22-25, 11-15, 25-30, 15-22, 30-26, 22-25, W-Win. (F)

A. I showed in "Sixth" that after 18-14 red can play 6-9 with following 24-19, 15x24, 28x19, 9x18, 23x14, 7-10* with even game. In the last World Title Match 2013 current World Champion Michelle Borghetti played 24-20 against 6-9 and got a good game.

B. Now into 10-15, 22-17, 9-13, 17-14.

In my eyes 11-16 is weaker than 6-9.

C. This is the trunk line in B. Checkers. With 6-9 in reply recommended to slow down the white development, but both 16-20 and 8-11 are sound.

All these confusing order of moves are well covered in BLC and Ryan Encyclopedia (bit obsolete today).

D. Important moment which Mr. Hannigan missed in his comments. See position diagram. 1-6? here loses by 19-15*. Good thing to know. I think I lost this once (with different order of moves) to Larry Keen.

Red to move.

2-6 & 7-10 OK, 1-6? loses

E. Forms diagram with 6-9 sound and 7-10 the losing move.



F. My games against Francy always provide some friction and the next game was no exception to the rule.

2nd game between them will be annotated later in the next post.

Stay on for late news.

AM

[Ingo_Zachos]

Thxanks Myles for the games and your notes.

And also to Alex for posting them with additional notes.

For far too long the checkeristic content of this Forum has been neglected.

Ron King is the King of swindles

[Alex_Moiseyev]

I continue here analyses of BO-2014 games which Mr. Myles Hannigan shared with me. As usually - Myles comments are in blue.

[Event "BO-2014"]
[Black "M. Hannigan"]
[White "A. Harper"]
[Result "2-0"]

1. 10-14 22-17 2. 9-13 (A) 17x10 3. 6x15 24-19 (B) 4. 15x24 28x19 5. 1-6 23-18 (C) 6. 7-10 (D) 18-14 7. 10x17 21x14 8. 3-7 (E) 26-23 9. 11-16 25-21 (F) 10. 6-9 31-26 11. 9x18 23x14 12. 16x23 27x18 13. 2-6 26-23 14. 6-9 23-19 15. 8-11 29-25 (G) 16. 13-17 25-22 (H, I) 17. 17x26 30x23 18. 11-16 19-15 (J) 19. 7-11 15x8 20. 4x11 32-27 21. 16-20 23-19 22. 11-16 27-23 (K) 23. 20-24 14-10 24. 24-27 10-6 25. 27-31 6-1 26. 31-27 21-17 27. 9-13 17-14 28. 27-24 (L) Red Wins

Diagram #1. ........................... Diagram #2. ........................... Diagram #3.
... ...
Red to move and draw .............. Red to move and draw .............. White to move and draw

A. As longer I am playing this opening, as more I agree and like it's title: "Black Hole". On practical consideration - all positions generated by this opening have very little or no strategic logic and in most cases you just have to memorize all these confusing order of moves!

Forms the Black Hole opening and well covered by Tommy Cannings Compilation, with many strong white attacks.

B. Just one from many other strong attacks. 25-22 here is considered by many as main attack.

C. In 2011 3-moves World Title Match Italian star Michelle Borghetti (current World Champion) played here unexpected 19-15! and I lost the game. There are so many wonderful ways to screw! For those who are interested, here is a trunk line:

... 5. 1-6 19-15 6. 11x18 23x14 7. 6-9 26-23 8. 9x18 23x14 9. 8-11 25-22 10. 7-10 14x7 11. 3x10 27-23 12. 2-6 30-26 13. 10-15
23-18 14. 6-9 21-17 15. 15-19 17-14 16. 11-16 etc Draw

D. In 2005 3-moves World Title Match, G20, against Ron King, with little or no knowledge's about all these wonders, I played here 11-16? Instead correct 7-10 and lost after 26-23.

E. Tommy recommends 11-16 at this point. And it does seem to limit white to three possible continuations, see (book).

Of course 11-16! 3-7 can be well meet by very powerful 25-22. In position on diagram #1 after 25-22, red have extremely difficult draw with many star moves in the row! Continue from diagram #1:

9. 11-16 29-25 10. 16x23 27x18 11. 8-11 26-23 12. 6-9 23-19 13. 2-6 30-26 14. 6-10 25-21 15. 10x17 21x14 16. 11-16 26-23 17. 16-20 32-27 18. 7-11 14-10 19. 9-14 18x9 20. 5x14 10-7 21. 11-16 22-18 22. 14-17 7-2 23. 17-22 Draw

F. 25-21 completely equalize the game and give up on any white ambitious plans. However, in position on diagram #2 Kingsrow checkers program proposed a curious but very strong 30-26* and now red should play very carefully to secure a draw. Continue from diagram #2 :

10. 13-17 (6-9? loses after 19-15* White Wins) 25-21 11. 8-11 26-22 12. 17x26 31x22 13. 4-8 22-18 14. 6-9 32-28 15. 16-20 19-15 16. 11-16 15-10 17. 16-19 Draw

G. WCC rates position as drawn.

H. If 30-26, then 7-10.

I. 19-15 good and lays a little trap, leave this to the reader to sort out.

J. 32-28, WCC database draw.

K. Loses! See diagram #3 before 27-23? Correct way is 19-15*, 16-19, 15-11*(15-10? loses after 19-23, 21-17, 23x32, 17-13, 32-27, 13x6, 27-23 with following 23-26 and capturing a man), 19-23, 21-17, 23x32, 17-13 etc Draw

Any other move and white draws.

A bit emotional Myles remark which is completely understandable. In fact only 19-15 here was a draw.

L. Addie Harper played extremely well in this his first masters ty. Drawing the second game against Myles, and scoring a 3-1 result over Danny Oliphant In the next rd.

[Alex_Moiseyev]

Continue ...

[Event "BO-2014, Rd. 2"]
[Black "M. Hannigan"]
[White "S. Phillips"]
[Result "0-2"]

1. 9-13 24-19 2. 6-9 22-18 (A) 3. 11-15 18x11 4. 8x24 28x19 5. 9-14 25-22 6. 4-8 29-25 7. 8-11 22-18 8. 11-16 (B) 18x9 9. 5x14 25-22 10. 1-5 22-18 (C) 11. 3-8 18x9 12. 5x14 23-18 13. 14x23 27x18 14. 16x23 26x19 15. 8-11 18-14 16. 10x17 21x14 17. 11-16 14-10 (D) 18. 7x14 31-27 19. 16x23 27x9 20. 12-16 9-5 21. 16-19 32-27 22. 2-7 (E) 27-23 23. 19x26 30x23 24. 13-17 5-1 25. 17-22 1-6 26. 22-26 6-2 27. 7-11 (F) White Wins

Diagram #1.

Red to move and draw

A. Here 28-24 gives white more scope in my opinion. This 22-18 allows red to trade pieces and clean the board, eventually forces game almost immediately to the very end.

B. Basic checkers gives 1-6, at this point, though 11-16 as played is quite sound.

C. Kingsrow program also gives here funny 19-15!, 10x19, 32-28 and now red has to play 16-20 to stay out of troubles.

D. I was expecting 14-9, to a draw.

This Myles 14-9 actually is not a bad idea. It is always kind of lottery: you never know where your opponent can screw things or make a blunder.

E.See diagram #1. Myles made a diagram after white jumped onto 9, but I am giving it here where actual error happen. Draw was available after 13-17, 5-1, 17-22 (or 17-21), 1-5, 2-7, 5-9, 7-11, 9-14, 11-16 with following 22-26 Draw

Price of ETERNAL VIGILANCE. At this point i had calculated 13-17 to an easy draw, but had decided a few moves earlier to run with 2-7 and squeeze into the double corner side, if 32-27 was played.

F. Much to my consternation, i realized the error of my ways, and could only congratulate Sean on a very neat little win. (well played).

[Alex_Moiseyev]

Continue annotating BO-2014 games ...

[Event "BO-2014, Rd.9, G2"]
[Date ""]
[Black "M. Hannigam"]
[White "F. McNally"]
[Result "0-2"]

1. 9-13 22-18 2. 10-15 25-22 3. 6-10 18-14 (A) 4. 10x17 21x14 5. 15-19 24x15 6. 11x25 29x22 7. 1-6 22-18 8. 13-17 (B) 27-24 9. 8-11 24-19 10. 11-16 32-27 11. 4-8 26-22 (C) 12. 17x26 31x22 13. 16-20 30-25 14. 8-11 (D) 28-24 (E) 15. 11-16 (F) 18-15 16. 7-10 (G) 14x7 17. 2x18 22x15 18. 6-9 15-10 19. 9-14 25-22 20. 5-9 10-6 21. 9-13 22-18 22. 14-17 (H) White Wins on time

Diagram #1. ........................... Diagram #2.
...
White to move and draw ............ White to move and draw.

A. This is away from the normal continuations as given in the trunk line of B.C. and perhaps gives red an easier game.

Only people don't lose who never tries! Indeed 18-14 gives away everything, including publish play but maybe that's what white were looking for ?

B. 6-9 was definitely better with following 2-6, 6-10 and attacking white left flank.

C. Generate a weak center for white and looks a bit suspicious to me. 27-24 was easy for white and 19-15 even gives white some edge. Continue ...

11. ... 27-24 12. 16-20 31-27 13. 6-9 18-15 14. 9x18 23x14 15. 7-11 14-10 16. 11x18 26-22 17. 17x26 30x14 18. 8-11 19-16 19.
12x19 24x8 20. 3x12 27-23 21. 12-16 23-18 Draw

D. At this point WCC rates the white game as weak, but not a loss.

Perhaps WCC considered something like this ...

7-10 14x7 14. 3x10 30-25 (28-24 just another order of moves which leads to position on diagram #2) 15. 5-9 25-21* (first star move, many other ahead) 16. 16-20 18-15* 17. 2-7 28-24* 18. 9-13 22-18* 19. 7-11 (see diagram #2) 18-14* 20. 10x17 21x14 21. 11x18 19-15* 22. 18-22 (D1) 23-19* Draw!

D1. 13-17, 14-10, 18-22, 10x1, 12-16, 1-6, 22-26, 6-10, 8-12, 15-11, 26-30, 23-18, 30-26, 18-14, 26-22, 14-9, 17-21, 10-14, 21-25, 11-8, 25-30, 9-6, 30-26, 6-2, 26-23, 27x18, 22x15, 2-7, 20x27, 7-11 Draw

E. When this move was played i had high hopes of winning the game.

F. Forms position on diagram #1.

Really amazing ! With this bind: three pieces against four on white double corner, position looks like complete and easy win for red, but ... not quite!

G. Shane McCosker looked at the 6-9 press but the ending turns out the same.

Yes. 6-9, 22-18, 9-13, 25-22, 7-10, 15x6, 2x9, 14-10, 9-14, 18x9, 5x14, 10-16, 14-17 - the same. Draw

H. At this point WCC rates the position as drawn and i agree so. However Francy pointed out that i had failed to make the second time control , i.e a further 15 moves to the half hour, i conceded the game but pointed out that it was his duty as white to record the game. And since he hadn’t recorded the moves could not prove how many moves had been made.

No comments except smiles

[Alex_Moiseyev]

Continue ...

[Event "BO-2013, Rd.7"]
[Black "J. Morgan"]
[White "L. Inster"]
[Result "1-1"]

1. 12-16 21-17 2. 9-14 (A) 25-21 (B) 3. 16-19 23x16 4. 11x20 24-19 5. 8-11 17-13 6. 11-15 27-23 (C) 7. 15x24 28x19 8. 4-8 (D) 22-18 (E) 9. 8-11 18x9 10. 5x14 19-16 (F) 11-15 (G) 16-12 (H) 12. 7-11 (I) 29-25 (J)13. 11-16 (K) 25-22 (L) 14. 15-19 (M) 22-18 15. 19-24 18x9 16. 24-27 31x24 17. 20x27 23-19 (N) 18. 16x23 26x19 19. 27-31 9-5 20. 10-15 (O) 19x10 21. 6x15 21-17 22. 15-19 17-14 23. 19-23 14-9 24. 31-26 9-6 25. 2x9 (P) 13x6 26. 1x10 5-1 27. 26-22 1-6 28. 10-14 6-10 29. 14-17 10-14 30. 17-21 14-9 31. 22-18 (Q) Draw

Diagram #1. White to move ........ Diagram #2. White to move and draw
...
22-17 is OK, 27-23? weak ........... 31-27*

A. Covered in both Kears Ency and basic checkers with much play.

Formations in this opening are complicated, but well explored and study in the past by experts. Not much new under the sun!

B. 24-19 goes into the Minotaur, a complex opening, to which an entire book could be devoted. Ron King has favoured the line in previous encounters.

I refer to Game #27 from historic 3-moves World Title Match with Ron King in Northern Ireland, where he play Minotaur with white, got winning position and ... lost on time! Minotaur played important role in checkers history and may well decide the fate of title in this match!

C. Certainly not good at all ! 27-23 is seriously weakening white right flank and make it now as a permanent target for red. Instead 27-23, 22-17 is correct way to play. See diagram #1 before 27-23?

D. Due to next note "E", 7-11 and 20-24 are better here to avoid 32-27.

E. Unexpected and not looking natural 32-27! is best here to stop and neutralize red pressure on white right flank. It is more likely that 22-18? already loses.

F. 29-25 better and perhaps a draw.

G. Probably missing a win. It seems like 20-24*, 16-12, 11-16 (or 11-15) should win the game.

H. 29-25* was probably the only sound move here to neutralize 20-24.

I. And 20-24 missed again! Due to the next note, 7-11 allows white an easy escape.

J. See diagram #2. Missing a great drawn opportunity! Instead, 29-25 keeping a big red advantage, white has a "one-second chance" to play here 31-27*, 11-16 (2-7, 23-19 etc Draw) , 26-22* and equalize the game.

K. Missing a win 20-24.

L. Missing a draw 31-27, 2-7, 25-22, 15-19, 23-18 Draw

M. Missing a win 20-24.

Diagram #3. W. to move & draw .. Diagram #4. Red to move and win . Diagram #5. Red to move and win
... ...
23-18* draw, 23-19? loses .......... 10-14* and 10-15* wins ............... 1x10 wins, 2x9? draw

N. See diagram #3 before 23-19? This move loses, but 23-18* instead drew the game: 27-31, 26-22, 16-19 (not 1-5? 18-15, 19x10, 22-17 WW) 18-15, 1-5, 32-28, 5x14, 28-24, 19x28, 22-17 Draw)

O. Forms position on diagram #4. Red has a good alternative in both 2-7, and 10-14 which result in the same ending and still a draw. Although white must play carefully. Leave it to the reader to check out.

In position on diagram #4, 2-7 draw and both 10-14 and 10-15 wins for red.

P. Final error. See position on diagram #5. 1x10 here wins the game and 2x9 as played in the game leads only to unfortunate draw. What a game !!!

Q. Lamont exercised considerable skill and concentration going through the ty without loss of a game and we look forward to his play in the masters in the near future.

This game is truly action getter! Really wonderful game with "comedy of errors" where both opponents mixed several times winning / drawn opportunities.

[Alex_Moiseyev]

Mr. Myles Hannigan wrote to me in email:

"Alex a wonderful piece of work(s). Takes a damn lot of hard work to put together accurately, and with the aid of diagrams will surely encourage other newcomers to pursue game further. Basic move order alone is much to dry. I have on read through once and cant wait to repeat and enjoy. myles."

Thanks, Myles!

Sincerely, AM

[tommyc]

Off diagram 2 ........Black Hole..after Alexs 3026class...
10-14, 22-17, 9-13, 17-10, 6-15, 24-19, 15-24, 28-19, 1-6, 23-18,
7-10, 18-14, 10-17, 21-14, 11-16, 26-23, 3-7, 30-26!! great move, ........but 1st 8-11!!, 26-22,
6-10, 31-26, 10-17, 25-21, 16-20!, 21-14, 11-16*, 29-25, 4-8*, 22-18,
13-17, 25-21, 2-6, 14-9, 6-13, 21-14, 13-17, 19-15, 16-19, 23-16,
12-19, 27-23, 8-12, 23-16, 12-19, 15-10, 7-11, 10-6, 17-21givin white a run for his money.TC.