World Mail Championship Macc Banks Champion v Tommy Canning

[tommyc]

Many thanks to Martin and Ed for giving us an insider look at the "soul" of a computer programme of how it actually works and its slight shortcomings.
I find it very interesting!!

[Lindus Edwards]

Many thanks to Martin and Ed on their educational replies which I enjoyed reading immensely.

[EdTrice]

Until this ''secret" is revealed, I will still consider mail-play a program vs program match with the aid of books and manuscripts. The winner just simply has the patience to search for a line to defeat his opponent - using a program to do this of course!

What could the secret be? Possibly the better mail-play players use multiple computers to have a MEGA CHECKERS PROGRAM!

You typically just go a piece-down and "bunch up" the program's checkers on the side of the board where it has the majority, usually its own double corner area.

Easier said than done, but it can be executed almost without fail.

[Alex_Moiseyev]

So-called secret is simple - find an errors in opening books and play these lines. There is a method to find such errors. It seems Mac Banks is well familiar with it.

Alex

[Lindus Edwards]

Yes Ed you are right of course. A piece down against a computer program can cause great problems as I discovered to my annoyance in the aforementioned Welsh Open Postal Championship.

[tommyc]

I f you can escape from Alcatraz...........nothings impossible .......like Alex says..........the only thing to stop you is......YOUR mind!!!

Thata why HE will be the One for a long time to come!!

[Alan Millhone]

Hello Tommy:

As I find the time I have been studying Mr. Alex's excellent book SIXTH.
He tells in the preface how to beat him !! Simply learn more pp than he knows ! The late World Champion Walter Hellman once remarked that he took a year once and did nothing but study endings. Many Master players feel that if they know the openings well enough that they can neglect the study of endings. I feel it takes a combination of learning opening, the study of problems and learning to recognize endings developing in a game........ before you get there ! Mr. Alex once told me that if one cannot study.......... then the next best thing is entering as many tournaments as one can and play the best players there. For myself I always like to play the best of the best any time the opprotunity arises. There is no disgrace losing to a World Champion,etc. at a tournament.

In the recent Indiana Tournament (in reply to Tommy) Roger Blaine offered a 'combo' package for entry fee and ACF Membership. The Ohio Tournament is organized and run by Dr. Beckwith and I will have to let him answer your question as to fees and ACF Membership. All I really care about is making the ACF and Checkers/Draughts more professional. The use of clocks and game recording is one step in the right direction. Tommy your thoughts are appreciated from the other side of the Ocean:-)

Sincerely:
Alan Millhone, President
American Checker Federation
" Journeyman Checker player "
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Checkers---------- " The mind sport alternative to video games "
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[tommyc]

Well Al.................yu know da ol saying 2 heads are better n one!!

Info sharing is good watever side da ocean yur on!!!!

lets make things better ..........leave no 1 behind?

[Patrick Parker]

fun stuff to read

[jimloy]

About this "secret," of course a relatively strong program on a relatively strong computer are important. A good library is important. The skills and experience to recognize when the computer may be wrong are important. But, in my opinion, the real secret to mail play is hard work, both before and during play. You, the player, have to spend humongous amounts of time, studying the positions (with the help of a computer) and searching (and verifying or refuting) the literature. This was true before computers, and it remains true. Oops, I revealed the secret. Now I'll be drummed out of mail play; wait; don't drum me out!

[tommyc]

Does anyone have a Kears Enc. for sale or know where i can get one?.
Appreciate!!.

[Mr. Checkers]

Tommy you should state which edition you are looking for. I would suggest the 4th (expect a $45-$55 cost for it) to you unless you are a collector of old fine checker literature. "Inky"

[john reade]

Tommy, Have you tried Don Goodwin? John.

[tommyc]

Thanks to both JOHNS Acker and Reade.............yes i have got a reply from D.Goodwin so i may pursue that..thanks again.

Its for young Shane that i was wanting it.............Tommy

[Mr. Checkers]

"Meow, Meow!! Behave yourself "Inky".