Virtually every week The Checker Maven brings you a puzzle or a problem to solve; something to enjoy and learn from, and which demonstrates the endless depths of our game of checkers. But this week is a little different. Today instead we present for your pleasure two excellent games from last year's U.S. National tournament, which took place in July 2007 in the fabled city of Las Vegas. We're also shamelessly pitching the 2008 National tournament, in the hopes that you will attend if you can or donate a little something if you can't.

Our spotlighted games from the 2007 tournament were sent along by Colorado Springs checker expert Bob Murr, whom we're proud to say has been a reader and supporter of The Checker Maven since the very beginning. In the 2007 tournament, Bob played a pair of games against the Irish expert Tommy Canning, famed for his skill as a correspondence player, but equally formidable in an over-the-board contest. The games below were annotated by Bob. We hope you enjoy them.

[Event "US National 2007"]
[Date "2007-07-25"]
[Black "Bob"]
[White "Tommy C"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]

1.	11-15	23-19
2.	8-11	22-17
3.	9-14	17-13
4.	4-8	25-22
5.	15-18	22x15
6.	11x18	29-25
7.	7-11---A	26-23
8.	10-15---B	19x10
9.	6x15	23-19---C
10.	14-17---D	21x14
11.	18-23	19x10
12.	2-6	27x18
13.	6x29	14-10
14.	12-16	24-20---E
15.	16-19	32-27
16.	11-15	20-16
17.	8-12	16-11
18.	12-16	11-7
19.	16-20	27-24---F
20.	20x27	31x24
21.	19-23	7-2
22.	23-27	10-7
23.	3x10	2-7
24.	10-14	7-10
25.	15-19	24x15
26.	27-31	10x17
27.	31-26	30x23
28.	5-9	13x6
29.	1x26---G	Drawn.

A---This move has a bad record strongly favoring White; the 10-15 exchange is favored here, followed by either 26-23 or the 24-19 exchange to an even game.

B---11-15 seems better.

C---30-26 is the power move here followed by 2-6, 26-22, 3-7, then the 24-19 exchange appears to win.

D---During the game, I thought this would equalize but it offers White a powerful advantage.

E---31-27 is the power move although this also appears to win.

F---This allows Black an even game, 7-2 wins by 19-24, 28-19, 15-24, 2-7, 24-28, 7-11, 28-32, 31-26, etc. WW.

G---Black was very fortunate indeed to escape.

Click here for an animated version of this game.

[Event "US National 2007"]
[Date "2007-07-25"]
[Black "Tommy C"]
[White "Bob"]
[Result "0-1"]

1.	11-15	22-18
2.	15x22	25x18
3.	8-11	29-25
4.	4-8	24-20
5.	10-15	26-22---A
6.	9-14---B	18x9
7.	5x14	22-17
8.	6-10---C	25-22---D
9.	2-6---E	23-18
10.	14x23	27x18
11.	15-19	17-13
12.	1-5---F	22-17
13.	10-15	18-14
14.	7-10---G	14x
15.	3x10	17-1
16.	10x17	21x14
17.	15-18	31-26
18.	12-16	26-23
19.	18x27	32x23
20.	19x26	30x23
21.	16-19	23x7
22.	6-10	7-3	White Wins.

A---25-22 is more common as in the trunk line of Duffy's Single Corner (DSC).

B---As taken in Duffy's variation 33.

C---New to me; Duffy recommends either 7-10 or 15-19 as in note C of variation 33 of DSC.

D---Or 15-19, even game.

E---15-19 looks easier.

F---19-23 and 12-16 also fail the test 19-23, 21-17, 12-16, 18-14, 1-5, 31-27 etc.

G---Or 6-10, 13-9, 12-16, 9-6 etc. Black doesn't have many options.

Click here for an animated version of this game.

Did you like these games? We hope so, and we hope you'll consider attending the 2008 Nationals, to be held at the Vegas Club in downtown Las Vegas. This year an incredible checker triple-header will take place!

First, there is the "Arthur Niederhoffer" National Youth Tournament, running from July 19th-20th , 2008 This event is for youth 21 and under. Full information can be found here:

http://usacheckers.com/tournamentannouncements.php#186.

Then, the "Gene Lindsay" 3-move US National will be held from July 21st-25th. This will be a three-move restriction event using the 156-opening deck and played in a Swiss system format. Additional information can be found here:

http://usacheckers.com/tournamentannouncements.php#184.

Finally, the District 9 Open (Western States Championship) will be held from July 27th-28th with a playoff on the 29th if necessary. Further details can be found here:

http://usacheckers.com/tournamentannouncements.php#185.

The Vegas club is offering checker players a very inexpensive room rate at $55 plus tax for Friday and Saturday nights, and only $29 plus tax for Sunday through Thursday nights. Players will also need to add an additional $15 per day of play to help with the costs of the playing room.

Legendary organizer Gerry Lopez is accepting donations for the Nationals prize fund. A contribution of $10 or more will bring a copy of 50 selected Masters' Division games direct to your mailbox. Please be generous and send your donation to:

Gerry Lopez, ACF Representative
41858 Corte Selva, Temecula CA 92591.

You will also receive credit in the ACF bulletin and the Missouri Newsletter.

Imagine it --- ten days of top-quality checkers in fabulous Las Vegas. It's a checker player's dream!