Alex Moiseyev is the reigning World Champion of 3-Move Restriction Checkers, the sixth in a line stretching back over seventy years to the first generally acknowledged 3-Move World Champion, Asa Long. However, with the notable exception of Derek Oldbury, these champions didn't write instructional books about checkers. Mr. Moiseyev has changed all that with his recent book, appropriately titled Sixth, with the subtitle Volume 1: The Way to the Crown.

World Champion Alex Moiseyev and his book "Sixth"

At first glance, the book looks like a college textbook: it's a sturdily constructed hardcover, nearly 400 pages in length, with the printed paper over boards casing style adopted by many text publishers. In fact, the book is in a way an advanced checkers text, though it's far too entertaining and lively to have been published by the typical publisher of college texts.

The book was printed and bound in the Ukraine, perhaps as an economy measure, and our only complaint is that the inking in our copy is uneven, with some pages dark and others quite light. But it's the content that matters, and that really shines.

Mr. Moiseyev presents two complete World Championship matches; his encounter with Ron King in 2003, and his contest with Elbert Lowder in 2002. He also gives us a selection of fifty of his best games from the 1996-2004 timeframe. The games are illustrated and annotated in a way seldom if ever seen in a checker book. Each page has at least one diagram, often more, and diagrams are always near the text section in which they are referenced, making for extraordinary ease of use.

In total, the book contains over 500 diagrams, presents 114 games, and treats 66 openings directly and 114 more indirectly. And you won't want to miss Mr. Moiseyev's coverage of the 3-Move World Championship Title controversy, which stretched out over the 2001-2003 time period. Checkers too has its moments of drama!

But when it comes to analysis of play, which is the real heart of the book, Mr. Moiseyev left no stone unturned. In addition to his own elucidations, he adds commentary and analysis by notables such as Richard Fortman; and finally, he verifies everything with the strong Nemesis computer engine. The result: annotations that are insightful, complete, detailed, easy to follow, and above all, interesting and engaging.

Who can use this book? The play analysis is deep and uncompromising, and there's no doubt that expert players will benefit most fully. But intermediates and even beginners will benefit as well, and will obtain untold enjoyment in playing over these fine games, learning as they go, with more of the analysis becoming accessible at each replaying. We ourselves are certainly at the lower end of the skill spectrum, yet Sixth has already given us numerous hours of entertainment and education, with many more to come.

We surely hope that the subtitle Volume 1 will mean that Mr. Moiseyev will publish additional books in the future similar to this outstanding edition.

With Mr. Moiseyev's kind permission, generous extracts from the book are reprinted here; just click to see them. Mr. Moiseyev has also selected two problems from the book, which we present below for your solving pleasure.

You can order the book through the American Checker Federation Online Store or direct from Alex; write to Alexander Moiseyev, 5676 Springburn Drive, Dublin, OH, 43017 USA. The cost of the book is US $48, or US $78 if you would like an inscribed, personalized copy.

And now, here are the problems:

Problem One
BLACK

WHITE
White to Move, Black to Draw

W:WK11,K12,K15,K18,30:B17,K20,21,K28,K31.

Problem Two
BLACK

WHITE
White to Move and Draw

W:WK7,9,20,24,27:B4,8,11,12,K15,16.

We didn't say they were easy! But clicking on Read More will lead you unfailingly to Alex's solutions.

A reader recently asked us if we had a bibliography of checker-related fiction; we didn't, and so we decided to research the topic a bit. It was an interesting exercise; on the internet, we found out about Checkers restaurants, auto parts, taxicabs, hockey teams, and much more, but disappointingly little checker-related fiction.

Of course, there's the Sliders T4 story, certainly the best modern example. And we found references to a few more stories in old fiction magazines: Altruism and Checkers, by Jessie Bartlett Davis, in Poker Chips, #4, September 1896; She Played Checkers, by Sam Allison, in Western Action, Vol. 19, #6, May 1956; Back to Checkers, by Edward Leonard, in Western Story Magazine, Vol. 37, #1, August 25, 1923; and The Checkers Match by 'Gepruitt', found on Blogit, which will cost you about ten dollars for an access subscription. (Checkers, the novel by John Marsden, is about a dog, not our game of checkers.) In addition, we found the Chess N Checkers Restaurant in Allentown, Pennsylvania, hardly fiction, but a place we really must visit some day!

Still, wanting to give you a story to read and a couple of problems to boot, we dug through our own collection and found our single item of checker fiction, a short piece called A Midnight Encounter, attributed only to an author named 'Martin'. We hope you enjoy the story and the problems contained therein.

The game of checkers, to one who can comprehend its deeper mysteries, is one of the highest intellectual amusements. In my own estimation it occupies the first place, and chess owes its superior reputation to the complexity of its manceuvers rather than its opportunities for scientific play. But my intention is not to write a panegyric upon my favorite game, but to narrate a most singular event, which made an impression upon my mind that many years have failed to efface.

At the time of this occurrence I was about twenty, and enthusiastically fond of checkers, in which I had attained such proficiency as to conquer all players in my own New England village. A signal victory over an old sea-captain, who alone disputed my supremacy, determined me to make a journey to England and cultivate my talents under the instructions of the London masters. That I did not carry out this design is owing to the following remarkable adventure:

A short time before my intended departure, I was seated in an old country inn on one of the dullest and rainiest days it was ever my fortune to see. I had been playing checkers with mine host, but found him such a mere tyro, that there was no sport in beating him. I therefore dismissed him and proceeded to solve a problem of Sturges; but the old master of checkers had constructed so difficult a position that I could see no solution to it; but I scorned to refer to the book for assistance. Suddenly happening to look up, I perceived a tall old man gazing upon me with an air of triumph. Seating himself opposite to me, he solved the problem with a few simple moves, and offered me the choice of men.

I looked at him with some surprise, and beheld a really handsome man, although much beyond the prime of life, with a grave, studious sweetness of look. I moved 11 to 15 and the struggle commenced. The game occupied nearly an hour, for I was determined to do my best against this strange antagonist, and played with great deliberation. He moved apparently without a moment's thought, but so skillfully, that in several instances only the greatest concentration of my power enabled me to save my game. At length the following position was brought about:

BLACK (Myself)

WHITE (Stranger)
White to Play and Win

W:W10,11,K15,18:BK2,K4,13,K29.

Here, it being my antagonist's turn to move, he uttered a low, musical laugh and said: "Sir, you have played this game very prettily, but you will now lose every one of your pieces in just eight moves." Of course he was right and I was beaten.

We fell to conversation upon the game, when the stranger related anecdotes and displayed problems that filled me with amazement. The colloquy was so interesting that I should never have desired it to cease, had not the stranger broken off, exclaiming: "Favor me, sir, with one more game, for my time is short, and I have not played for many years."

Again we engaged. The game was most absorbing, and I had strong hopes of victory. I was surprised at myself, and my adversary no longer played with the careless rapidity of the former game. With beating heart I sternly determined that I would win, if any skill would enable me to do so. At length this was the position:

WHITE (Myself)

BLACK (Stranger)
Black to Play and Win

B:W32,29,K16,K13,K12,K5:B27,K23,22,K15,6,K3.

Here, considering my superiority in kings, I thought myself sure of victory; but my rival, whose turn it was to play, said mildly. "You lose every one of your pieces, sir, in just nine moves."

The nine moves followed, and I again yielded to superior skill. I asked the name of the stranger.

"Joshua Sturges, friend. Farewell, with thanks."

He was gone with the first streak of dawn, and I gave up my voyage to England and my game of checkers.

But this need not be the end for you; clicking on Read More will show you the solutions to the problems.

The holidays have ended, leaving us perhaps a bit weary from all the merry-making and festivities. And so, we'll start the year out with a pair of speed problems taken from actual play, that will give us some entertainment without taxing our tired heads too terribly much. We rate both problems as "easy" but in fact they are most likely "very easy." Still, in the spirit of post-holiday rest, we'll allow a full 15 seconds for each and go "easy" on you.

January Speed Problem #1 (easy)

January Speed Problem #2 (easy)

If somehow you find this all just too much for so early in the year, you can always click on Read More to clear things up at once.

The Checker Maven has suffered from what computer geeks call "a joe job." It's an almost universal spammer's trick: they take an email address or domain name found on the internet, and then use that address as a phony "from" address for millions of spam emails. The idea is that bounced and undeliverable mail, and especially angry complaints, won't get forwarded back to the spammer, but instead go to the address that the spammer "borrowed."

Believe us when we tell you The Checker Maven hasn't been sending out solicitations to buy pirated software or the like! Unfortunately, there's nothing we can do about this rash of spam mail which some low-life has sent out in our name.

Marvin J. Mavin, the famous captain of the National Checker League's Detroit Doublejumpers, was in Colorado Springs, Colorado, for a New Year's Eve exhibition match with the Colorado Springs Cross Stars, a top team in the AAA Pacific Checker League. The match was a benefit fund-raiser for disadvantaged youth and Marvin took great pride in taking part.

Robby "The Rocket" Murry and Marvin J. Mavin

Marvin, playing first board for the Doublejumpers, was pitted against the Cross Star's Captain, Robby "The Rocket" Murry. After a friendly handshake and a short exchange of pleasantries, the game began, and played out as follows.

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Draw

W:W13,14,19,20,21,22:B5,6,7,11,12,K26.

It seems that our hero Marvin has once again managed to get himself into trouble, with The Rocket's king behind Marvin's men and seriously threatening them. The big crowd at the sports arena, though obviously partisans of their home town player, had come to see Marvin play, and was, to say the least, surprised. After all, though The Rocket was a strong AAA player, he wasn't a major league star like Marvin.

There was almost dead silence as Marvin considered his move. Marvin, characteristically, was fidgeting in his chair and muttering to himself. What exactly he was saying couldn't quite be made out by the crowd, although a few of the fans in attendance thought they heard the phrases "some New Year's Eve this is gonna be" and "I need a beer."

What would you play in this position? Match wits with Marvin, and then click on Read More for the rest of the story.

The Checker Maven sends its best New Year's wishes to all of our readers!

Whatever holidays you celebrate, everyone loves this time of year when the very air seems filled with magic. As our holiday offering to you, we present a problem from a little booklet called Modern Magic, published long ago and featuring the miniatures of S. J. Pickering. Here's our holiday situation:

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Draw

W:W22,K20,K3:BK31,K13,K11.

White's enjoyment of the holidays looks as though it's about to be spoiled, as he appears to be in a very un-festive predicament, with his king on 3 trapped and his man on 22 at risk. Can you pull off some magic of your own and save the season for White? Earn yourself a cup of holiday cheer by solving today's problem. There's no danger, though, of spoiling your own seasonal enjoyment, as clicking on Read More will, as if by magic, bring the solution to you.

The Checker Maven wishes the best of the season to one and all.

In this article, we're offering you something quite different: a quick survey of what's on the tube. The "tube" we're referring to, of course, is the popular internet video site YouTube. Curious about the hype surrounding this site and its recent acquisition by Google for a fantastic sum of money, we decided to take a look for ourselves, and see if--- against all odds--- YouTube had anything to offer the checker enthusiast.

Apparently, YouTube has something for everyone, and we found checker-related videos (at least of a sort) in great quantity. We spent a little time (actually a little too much time) sorting through some of these and have selected a small sampling that might interest our readers.

Don't expect great technical production and professional acting, and above all don't expect great checkers. But do expect some unusual and unexpected checker-related entertainment. Here's our pick of the bunch, and we'd be interested to hear what you think. Write us at webmaster@checkermaven.com.

Xtreme Checkers A video game spoof.	King of Checkers Rather humorous video about "crowning."
Checker Shots An attempt to teach checkers; rather hard to follow.	Checkers They use red and white pieces but ignore compulsory jumps!
Checker Master An amazing win; apparently Turkish checkers.	Checkers Gone Wrong A surreal experience; some rough language.
Ghost Checkers Checkers and the supernatural!	Checker Battle Checkers as drama, played on an unusual board.
Split Personality As suggested by reader "Pal" Bucker.

Abilene Texas is cowboy country, partner, you just better believe it. The home of many a Hollywood showdown between the guys in the white hats and the guys in the black hats, Abilene is practically synonymous with the Wild West.

It's perhaps less well-known but every bit as important (at least to us) that Abilene has a history of great checker shootouts too. We recently came across the results of the 8th Semi-Annual West Texas Tourney, held on Washington's Birthday in 1935, and surely Abilene rocked and reeled that day, not from gunshots, but from the excitement of high-class competitive checkers.

We've chosen a situation from a game between a Mr. Geo. R. Gristy, of Eastland Texas (playing White) and Mr. A. H. Tate of Olden Texas (playing Black).

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win

W:W32,30,24,21,K15:B13,14,16,23,K22.

Believe it or not, there's only one winning move. Everything else draws or loses. Here Mr. Gristy played 24-20, allowing Mr. Tate to come up with a spectacular draw.

Can you win this unexpectedly difficult shootout? Can you figure out what Mr. Gristy should have played to win with the White side (instead of 24-20)? Can you show how Mr. Tate cleverly drew after 24-20?

Fight for the solutions, and then shoot back in time with us to Abilene Texas, 1935, to see the full game, explanatory notes, and the surprising answers. All it takes is a simple click on Read More.

We received our copy of 8th IM: 2005 Eighth International Match this week, and the book is a gem and a rare must-own. Co-edited by Gerry Lopez and Jim Loy, it's a genuine tour-de-force.

Not a mere booklet or even a trade paper edition, this is a professionally bound hardback covered in bookcloth, with oversized high-weight pages, large, clear type, and easily readable diagrams. But it's the content that shines. Here you get Al Darrow's history of the entire match series, photos from previous matches as well as color and black-and-white photos from the 2005 match, player biographies, and many more features. Of course, every game is included with expert annotations by the players themselves and other annotators including Alex Moiseyev, Jim Loy, Mac Banks, and others.

Get your copy quickly while they last from Alan Millhone, P.O. Box #1, Belpre, OH 45714-0001 or Gerry Lopez, 41858 Corte Selva, Temecula, CA 92591. It's just $40 in the US and $45 international.

To whet your interest, here's a problem taken from the book.

BLACK

WHITE
White to Play and Win
W:WK15,21,30,32:B14,17,24,K31.

For the solution, click on Read More.... but first, order the book without delay!

The Checker Maven is pleased and privileged to present a new electronic edition of Grandmaster Richard Pask's instructional book, Key Endings. In its pages you will find a wealth of information including detailed play on 25 common and important checker endgame situations, as well as material on the opposition, parameters, and much more. This book contains essential knowledge for the developing checker player and an important summary and review for the established expert.

Together with the already-released electronic editions of Mr. Pask's Key Themes, Key Landings, and Key Openings, as well as the other books available on this site, the makings of a basic checker library are now easily and freely available, without cost, to checker players around the world.

You can download your own PDF-format copy of Key Endings here, or from the Richard Pask page, as linked in the right-hand column of our front page. The book is free, thanks to the generosity of Mr. Pask, in allowing us to republish it and offer it here for your education and enjoyment. Mr. Pask has also given us permission to republish his Solid Checkers, which we hope to accomplish sometime in the latter part of 2007.

Please bring any errors (for which we alone take full responsibility) in Key Endings to our attention, so that we may promptly correct them. Write webmaster@checkermaven.com.

And now, to get you started and spur your interest, here is a tough position presented in the book. Mr. Pask calls it the Skullcracker Ending as it arises from the difficult 3-move ballot known as, unsurprisingly, The Skullcracker.

BLACK

WHITE
Black to Play and Draw

B:WK7,K15,19,20:B4,12,K26,K31.

If you can solve it, great! If you have trouble with it, download the book and study the theme. We won't give the answer to the problem here; you'll find it in the book!