Opening: OFF 9, 24
12-16, 22-17 (A), 16-19, 23x16, 11x20, 25-22, 5-9, 22-18, 10-15, 18x11, 8x15, 29-25, 4-8, 25-22, 7-10, 26-23, 8-11, 23-18, 9-13, 30-26, 2-7 (B), 27-23, 1-5, 17-14, 10x17, 21x14, 7-10, 14x7, 3x10, 23-19, 15x24, 28x19, 6-9, 26-23, 20-24, 32-28, 10-14, 19-15, 24-27, 31x24, 11-16, 24-20, 14-17, 20x11, 17x26, 15-10, 26-31, 18-15, 13-17, 23-19, 17-22, 28-24, 22-26, 11-7, 31-27, 24-20, 27-24, 7-2, 26-30, 19-16, 30-26, 16-12, 26-23, 15-11, 9-14, 2-6, 14-17, 10-7, 23-19, 7-2, 17-22, 11-8, 22-26 20-16 White Wins
...................1.........................................2
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A. See diagram 1 after opening moves.
B. Loses! See diagram 2 before 2-7? 1-5 was correct. Continue: 17-14, 10x17, 21x14, 3-7 (6-10 also draw but more responsible), 27-23, 13-17 etc. Draw
Round 1, G2. Vadim Lapin vs Alex Moiseyev, July 8
Opening: OFF 9, 24
12-16, 22-17, 8-12, 17-14, 10x17, 21x14, 16-19, 23x16, 12x19, 25-22, 4-8 (A), 22-18, 6-10, 29-25, 10x17, 25-21, 1-6, 21x14, 19-23, 26x19, 6-10, 31-26, 10x17, 28-24, 8-12, 27-23, 5-9, 24-20, 9-13, 19-15, 11-16, 20x11, 7x16, 18-14, 17-22, 26x17, 13x22 Draw
...................1
A. See diagram 1 before 4-8. Probably most interesting and important moment in this games. Checkers is not a game of win-draw-loss, but game of chances. Certainly 11-15 here would generates more chances for red. After 4-8, 22-18 red are a bit on defensive, and I decided to clean the board. After 11-15 game may take another, attractive scenario and course!
Round 2, G1. Alex Holmes vs Alex Moiseyev, July 8
Opening: OFF 11, 25
9-14, 24-20 (A), 10-15, 22-17 (B), 15-19, 17x10, 6x15, 23x16, 12x19, 21-17, 5-9, 29-25, 8-12, 17-13, 9-14, 25-22, 14-18 (C), 22-17, 19-23, 26x10, 7x21 (D), 31-26, 3-7, 28-24, 4-8, 24-19, 1-6, 19-16, 12x19, 27-23, 18x27, 32x16, 7-11, 16x7, 2x11, 26-22, 8-12, 22-17, 12-16, 17-14, 16-19, 14-9, 6-10, 9-6, 10-14, 6-2, 14-18, 2-7, 11-15, 7-10, 18-23, 13-9, 23-27, 9-6, 27-32, 6-2, 32-28, 2-7, 15-18, 7-11, 18-23, 10-15, 19-24 Draw
..................1..........................................2
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A. See diagram 1 after opening moves.
B. 28-24 here instead 22-17 would be more appropriate to stop 15-19 trade and take red center pieces in clinch.
C. Alex is a brave man! Personally, I would certainly try to stay away of this trade and going to square 21.
D. See diagram 2 after trade.
Round 2, G2. Alex Moiseyev vs Alex Holmes, July 8
Opening: OFF 11, 25
9-14, 24-20, 6-9, 28-24, 7-11 (A), 24-19, 11-15, 19-16, 12x19, 23x16, 8-12, 16-11 (B), 15-19, 27-23, 3-8 (C), 23x16, 12x19, 26-23, 19x26, 30x23, 8x15, 31-27, 15-18, 22x6, 1x10, 20-16, 10-15, 16-11, 9-13, 27-24, 13-17, 23-19, 15-18, 24-20, 17-22, 19-16, 22-26, 11-7, 2x11, 16x7, 26-31, 7-2, 18-22 Draw
..................1..........................................2
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A. Similar to one of 3-moves openings idea to neutralize 22-17.
B. See diagram 1 before losing 16-11. 27-23 was a drawn move but i suspect it's not what my worthy young opponent was dreaming for! In fact - winning move for me wasn't so obvious and i missed it in this game.
C. Missing a win! See diagram 2. 1-6* is a winning move here. Continue: 26-23, 19x26, 30x23, 10-15 and white can defense this position and save man on 11.
Round 3, G1. Alex Moiseyev vs Michael Holmes, July 8
Opening: OFF 12, 23
9-14, 24-19 (A), 8-12, 22-17, 11-16, 27-23, 4-8, 25-22, 8-11, 17-13, 10-15, 19x10, 6x15, 23-18 (B), 14x23, 26x10, 7x14, 28-24, 16-20 (C), 22-17, 20x27, 17x10, 2-6, 32x23, 6x15, 30-26, 11-16, 23-18, 15x22, 26x17, 16-19, 13-9, 5x14, 17x10, 19-24, 21-17, 24-28, 17-14, 28-32, 29-25, 32-28, 25-22, 28-24, 22-17, 24-19, 10-7, 3x10, 14x7, 19-15, 7-2, 15-18, 31-27, 12-16, 27-24, 18-15, 24-20, 16-19 Draw
..................1..........................................2
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A. See diagram 1 after opening moves.
B. See diagram 2 before 23-18 trade. The program has slightly preferers here 31-27, however I agree with Michael choice - cleaning board a bit at this point is not a bad idea.
C. It looks like aggressive 11-15 here works better and occupy central squares but my intuition seriously opposed to this ! All first row for white is still full with pieces and having few red pieces in center and front of other , also without good trading columns, may only become over developing problem for red.
Round 3, G2. Michael Holmes vs Alex Moiseyev, July 8.
Opening: OFF 12, 23
9-14, 24-19, 8-12, 26-23, 11-15, 28-24, 14-18, 23x14, 10x26, 19x10, 6x15, 30x23, 4-8, 25-22, 5-9, 29-25, 8-11 (A), 32-28, 9-13, 24-19, 15x24, 28x19, 11-16, 22-18, 2-6, 25-22, 7-10 (B), 18-15, 16-20, 15-11, 10-15, 19x10, 6x15, 27-24, 20x27, 31x24, 12-16, 24-20, 15-19, 23-18, 19-23, 11-7, 3x10, 20x11, 23-26 Draw
..................1..........................................2
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A. See diagram 1 after 8-11. White to move - what next ?
B. See diagram 2 after 7-10. Next round of "clean board" activity is near.
Round 4, G1. Alex Moiseyev vs Tetiana Zaitseva, July 9
Opening: OFF 7, 26
9-14, 23-19 (A), 11-15, 27-23, 5-9, 32-27 (B), 8-11, 22-17 (C), 11-16, 24-20, 15x24, 20x11, 3-8, 28x19, 8x24, 27x20, 4-8 (D), 30-26, 8-11, 17-13, 10-15, 26-22, 2-7, 22-18, 15x22, 25x18, 7-10, 29-25, 10-15, 25-22, 12-16, 22-17, 15x22, 17x10, 6x15, 13x6, 1x10, 23-18, 22-25, 18-14, 10x17, 21x14, 15-18, 14-10, 18-23, 10-7, 16-19, 7-3, 11-15 Red Wins
..................1..........................................2..........................................3
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... 
A. See diagram 1 after opening moves. For both sides man from 2nd row was removed, however red and white opening moves did npt generate more weaknesses and I consider position on diagram 1 as nearly even.
B. Probably radical 22-18, 15x22, 25x18, 8-11, 30-25 would be easy for white.
C. Now why not try 30-26 ?
D. See diagram 2 before losing 30-26 ? White has the two drawn paths here - can you find them ? First one: 25-22*, 9-13, 22-18, 13x22, 18x9, 6x13, 30-25 with escape.
And here is second way to draw: 17-13!, 10-15, 25-22, 1-5, 22-17, 14-18, 23x14, 9x18 - see diagram 3. Continue from diagram:
31-26**, 15-19 (18-22, 30-25*, 22x31, 13-9 - pretty), 29-25, 18-23, 26-22, 23-27, 22-18, 27-31, 25-22, 31-27, 30-25 with following 18-14 - Draw!
Round 4, G2. Tetiana Zaitseva vs Alex Moiseyev, July 9
Opening: OFF 7, 26
9-14, 23-19, 11-15, 22-17 (A), 8-11, 25-22, 3-8 (B), 17-13 (C), 5-9, 30-26 (D), 11-16, 26-23, 16-20, 31-26, 8-11, 19-16, 12x19, 23x7, 2x11, 26-23, 4-8, 22-17, 15-18, 24-19, 8-12, 29-25, 18-22, 25x18, 10-15, 19x10, 6x22, 17x10, 9-14, 10-7, 22-26, 7-3, 26-30, 23-19 White Wins
..................1..........................................2
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A. 27-23 here (instead 22-17) with following trade 22-18 will be certainly easy for white, but are we looking for easy life ?
B. Red prepares now for standard 11-16, but didn't realize that white can fight against this.
C. See diagram 1 after 17-13. Now 11-16 can be meet by 30-25, 16x23, 27x11, 8x15, 13-9, 6x13, 22-17, 13x22, 25x11 ... however red position seems to me even a bit better. It looks like Tetiana saw this trade, overestimated and didn't play 11-16!
D. See diagram 2 before losing 11-16? I had problem here placing different diagram after just one more move. But finally decided to do this - due to worthy of information from each diagram! Red had very delicate technical draw here by 15-18*, 26-23, 18x25, 29x22, 9-14, 23-18, 14x23, 27x18, 6-9, 13x6, 2x9, 21-17, 1-5, 17-13, 9-14, 18x9, 5x14, 13-9, 22-17, 11-16 etc, Draw with care of
Round 5, G1. Matthew Clark vs Alex Moiseyev, July 9
Opening: OFF 11, 25
7-11, 23-18 (A), 9-14 (B), 18x9, 5x14, 24-19, 11-15, 28-24, 15-18 (C), 22x15, 12-16, 19x12, 10x28, 29-25, 8-11, 25-22, 11-15, 26-23, 3-7, 30-25, 1-5, 22-17, 6-10, 25-22, 5-9, 17-13, 7-11, 13x6, 2x9, 12-8 White Wins
..................1..........................................2
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A. See diagram 1 after opening moves.
B. This first move (9-14) in opening position and it's immediately puts red on defense with very critical play. 11-15 trade would be more scientific and way easy for red.
C. See diagram 2 before losing 15-18? Technical draw was available after 8-11*, 22-18, 15-18, 17-13, 3-7, 29-25, 11-16, 26-23, 16-20 etc White better
Round 5, G2. Alex Moiseyev vs Matthew Clark, July 9
Opening: OFF 11, 25
7-11, 23-18, 10-14, 27-23, 11-15, 18x11, 8x15 (A), 23-19 (B), 14-18, 19x10, 18x25, 29x22, 6x15, 21-17, 4-8, 17-13, 9-14 (C), 22-18, 15x22, 26x10, 2-6, 30-26, 6x15, 24-19, 15x24, 28x19, 8-11, 26-23, 3-7, 31-26, 7-10, 23-18, 10-14, 18x9, 5x14, 13-9, 14-17, 26-23, 17-22, 23-18, 22-26, 9-5, 26-31, 19-15, 11-16, 15-10, 16-19 18-15 Draw
..................1..........................................2
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A. Due to what happened in first game, I had very strong opinion that this opening is strong for white and red should rather play it carefully or try aggressively to clean the board! I choose the second option.
B. Red try to clean the board, but why white ? Certainly 29-25 here with following 31-27 or something similar to keep pressure will be the best strategy here.
C. See diagram 2 after 9-14. Another radical action aggressively pushing cleaning the board. As I mentioned in previous note - I considered this position as better for white and just wanted to be safe.
Round 6, G1. Brian Hinkle vs Alex Moiseyev, July 9
Opening: OFF 8, 22
10-15, 24-20 (A), 4-8, 28-24, 15-19 (B), 24x15, 11x18, 23x14, 9x18, 21-17, 8-11, 25-21, 6-9, 17-13, 9-14, 29-25, 1-6 (C), 26-23, 11-15, 32-28 (D), 3-8, 28-24, 8-11, 30-26, 6-9 (E), 13x6, 2x9, 26-22, 9-13, 23-19, 7-10, 31-26, 13-17, 22x13, 18-23, 27x9, 5x14 White wins
..................1..........................................2..........................................3
... 
... 
A. See diagram 1 after opening moves.
B. He is certainly a brave man! I almost dropped from my chair when he played this on me. After then I started thinking - "am I too old and too weak in nowadays that people started making such moves on me ?" However - as more I calculated, as better I approve this trade!
C. Immediately loses! See diagram 2 before 1-6?, Instead, 11-15 with following 12-16, or 7-10 & 3-7 would work well.
D. Missing a win! Instead, 30-26* should win the game.
E. It doesn't matter who made first mistake, it is important who made it last. See diagram 3 before 6-9 ? Instead, 6-10 saves the game. Continue from diagram 3: 6-10*, 13-9 (26-22, 14-17, 21x14, 10x26, 31x22, 12-16, 23x14, 16-19 Draw), 12-16*, 26-22, 14-17, 22x13, 5x14, 31-26, 2-6 Draw!
Round 6, G2. Alex Moiseyev vs Brian Hinkle, July 9
Opening: OFF 8, 22
10-15, 24-20, 4-8, 23-18 (A), 15x22, 25x18, 9-14, 18x9, 5x14, 29-25, 11-15, 25-22, 14-18 (B), 30-25, 8-11, 21-17, 6-9 (C), 17-14, 9-13, 14-9 (D), 7-10, 9-5 (E), 3-7, 27-23 (F), 18x27, 32x23, 11-16, 20x11, 7x16, 25-21, 16-19, 23x16, 12x19, 31-27, 2-6, 27-23, 19-24, 28x19, 15x24, 23-19, 10-14, 26-23, 6-9, 22-18, 13-17, 18-15, 17-22, 19-16, 14-17, 21x14, 9x27 Red Wins
..................1..........................................2..........................................3
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A. Interesting trade, I would probably made the same - red position before trade looks strong and ready for capturing center. This trade take off some pressure.
B. See diagram 1 before 14-18. When I played here I wasn't 100% that this sound and scientifically proved, but had very strong feeling that there is something behind the corner and tactic should help me !
C. The program suggests here 1-5, but the Russian proverb says: "If you say "A", then you have to say "B" !"
D. After 26-23 red can pitch 13-17, 222x13, 18-22 with some winning chances.
E. See diagram 2. How about 9-6 instead 9-5 ? Continue: 2x9, 26-23, 1-5, 23x7, 3x10, 27-23, 12-16* (the only drawn move), 28-24, 10-14, 32-28, 24-19, 15x24, 32-28, 24-27 etc Draw
F. Now loses. See diagram 3 before 27-23 ? 28-24 here would be enough for draw. Continue from diagram 3:
28-24*, 11-16 (12-16, 27-23 Draw), 20x11, 7x16, 24-20, 16-19, 27-23, 18x27, 32x16, 12x19, 25-21, 19-23, 26x19, 15x24, 22-18, 24-28, 18-14, 10x17, 21x14, 28-32, 20-16, 32-28, 16-11, 28-24, 14-10, 24-19, 10-7, 19-23, 7-3, 13-17, 11-8 Draw