"Ratings Importance Maybe Blown Out of Proportion"

[Alex_Moiseyev]

I'll give you guys a right number of ACF members who actively play in the real tournaments today. Recently Alan Millhone told me, that from 250 3-move 156 decks which were printed by ACF couple years ago with new openings, 230 were sold as of today.

If we consider the fact, that some players replaced it - we are getting a real number - 200-210. Thats it.

Regards,

Alex

[Alan Millhone]

Hello everyone:

Next week many of us will be in Medina,Ohio for the week 'slugging' it out. The Masters prefer 'winner take all' which favors the top players. I am sure the Majors and Minors will prefer game scoring, we shall see:-)

This coming week-end we will have the 2nd. annual " Arthur Niederhoffer Youth Tournament". My Daughter will again be bringing along her Son (my Grandson:-) who is now nine. Solomon and others like him are the future of the game and the ACF . Without getting youth involved in our game, in time we will have no game nor any ACF. Video games rule many young person's lives today and many other distractions. All groups today (Church,fraternal,etc.) have all suffered the loss of membership. I suspect the advent of television in the 60's has led to much of the decline.

If each of us could find one young person to introduce to our game and then work to keep them interested, then and only then will our game survive. As far as Solomon goes I have begun building him his own library, he belongs to the ACF and proudly carries his membership card. I got him a basic Checker computer program and play him when he wants a game. I do not let him win and set up problems for him to try and sight solve. He also likes Chess, Backgammon, plays on a soccer team ,loves school and reading. Solomon is excited about going to Medina this week-end . So............... Don't forget our young people. In the end they will make or break the ACF and Checkers.

I also want to publicly thank Mr. Victor Niederhoffer who firmly believes in our youth and for the second year has financially contributed to having our youth tournament.

Sincerely:
Alan Millhone, President
American Checker Federation
" Proud Grandfather "
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" Purchase your own copy of SIXTH at Medina,Ohio next week"
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[Michael Holmes]

I also want to thank Mr. Victor Niederhoffer!

And to add to what millhone is talking about there is a book by Robert Pike (The Little Giant Encyclopedia) that I have bought my son. It has several hundred sight solving problems from easy to mediocre skill level. A master player saw my son studying it one day and decided to buy one for himself after looking at some of the problems from my son's book. I am not sure why it is not on the ACF Website here anymore but it is regulary sold on Ebay for around $6.00. I bought an extra one just in case something happened to this one.

I also went and bought several miniature checkerboards and book sets that Robert Pike authored and I gave one to the IL Tourney Director as a gift set for someone and I will be doing the same at this National. It is a simple book that comes with it but it is exactly what a parent needs to teach their kid how to really play checkers.

Oh, and about the 3-move decks being used to determine how many players are at these tourneys- that cant really figure up any numbers as most tournaments I go to I see many players that do not have boards or cards.

I am also looking forward to my copy of Sixth that moiseyev promised to deliver to me at this National.

Michael Holmes

[Mr. Checkers]

As I recall from an earlier ACF Forum posting many of Robert Pike's books are no longer in print. You may still be able to find these at Amazon.com or BarnesandNoble.com.

[Michael Holmes]

Or eBay