The Checker Maven

The 2005 ACF 9th District Tournament

The first three days of August saw unusual action in the gaming rooms of the Four Queens in Las Vegas, Nevada.

No, we're not talking about Blackjack or Texas Hold'Em, though we're sure there was plenty of action of that type elsewhere in the casino.


Nery Cardenas and Ryan Pronk; Tom Jones and John Cardie

We're talking about the 2005 edition of the American Checker Federation 9th District Tournament, organized by California checker stalwart Gerry Lopez. A small but enthusiastic group of players gathered in the City of Entertainment for some serious cross-board action.

Competition took place in two divisions, with these final results:

A Division


Ranking Name State Points Remarks
1. Gerry Lopez CA 10 2005 Cal. and Dist. 9 Champion
2. Nery Cardenas CA 8
3. Ryan Pronk AZ 4 withdrew
4. Bob Murr CO 2

B Division


Ranking Name State Points Remarks
1. John Gibson CA 20
2. Alex Lopez CA 18 first tourney
3. John Cardie CO 16 first tourney
4. Robert Ferguson UT 14 first tourney
5. Tom JonesNV 8 first tourney
6. Paul Stein CA 4
7. Joe ColemanIA 2

Division A Game 1
White

Red
Position at Note B, Red to Play and Draw


[Event "9th District 2005 Round 2 Game 1"]
[Date "2005-08-01"]
[Red "Ryan Pronk"]
[White "Bob Murr"]
[Result "0-1"]
1. 11-16 23-18 2. 7-11 26-23
3. 3-7 30-26 4. 16-19 (A) 23x16
5. 12x19 24x15 6. 10x19 27-24
7. 7-10 24x15 8. 10x19 32-27
9. 9-14 18x9 10. 5x14 27-23
11. 11-16 22-18 12. 6-9 18-15
13. 8-12 (B) 25-22 14. 16-20 23x16
15. 12x19 15-11 16. 20-24 22-17
17. 14-18 26-22 18. 18x25 29x22
19. 19-23 28x19 20. 9-13 17-14
21. 23-26 (D) 19-15 (E) 22. 26-30 22-18
23. 30-25 14-10 24. 25-22 10-7
25. 4-8 11x4 26. 2x11 15x8
27. 22x15 8-3 (F) 28. 15-11 31-26
29. 1-6 26-22 30. 11-15 4-8
31. 15-10 8-11 32. 10-14 3-7

White wins.
(A) 9-14 would be an alternative here but there is nothing wrong with the actual move.
(B) The losing move. 1-5 should have held the game.
(C) King's Row prefers 1-6 here, but the game is still lost for Red.
(D) Again, KR prefers 1-5 here ...
(E) ... and 22-18 here, but the outcome won't change.
(F) There is little left to say, or play.
Annotations from King's Row.

Division A Game 2
Notes by Ryan Pronk

White

Red
Position at Note G, Red to Play and Draw


[Event "9th District 2005 Round 1 Game 1"]
[Date "2005-08-01"]
[Red "Ryan Pronk"]
[White "Nery Cardenas"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
1. 11-16 21-17 2. 9-14 (A) 17-13 (B)
3. 16-19 (C) 23x16 4. 12x19 24x15
5. 10x19 25-21 6. 8-11 27-23
7. 6-10 23x16 8. 11x20 26-23 (D)
9. 14-17 (E) 21x14 10. 10x26 31x22
11. 4-8 22-18 12. 8-11 29-25
13. 7-10 25-22 14. 10-14 18x9
15. 5x14 22-18 16. 14-17 23-19
17. 17-22 13-9! 18. 1-5 (F) 18-14
19. 20-24 19-16 20. 11x20 28x19
21. 20-24 19-16 22. 3-7 16-12
23. 7-11 12-8 24. 11-15 8-3
25. 15-18 3-8 26. 18-23 8-11
27. 24-27 11-15 28. 27-31 15-18 (G)
29. 22-26 18x27 30. 31x24 30x23
31. 24-27 23-18 32. 27-23 18-15
33. 23-18 15-11 34. 18-22

Drawn.
(A) A 3-move opening that usually transposes into
Pioneer lines.
(B) Regarded as inferior because it allows the
powerful 16-19 dyke. Going into Pioneer lines with
25-21 is best. However, if the opening were 12-16,
21-17, 9-14, then this 17-13 (as preferred by Tinsley)
would be best.
(C) Planting the piece on 19, and making for a strong
game - but not in this case!
(D) Really took me by surprise. I was expecting 22-17
which may give white a stronger game. But as they
say, the element of surprise is sometimes good enough
to win!
(E) Is there anything better than this natural move?
(F) Again the previous move really took me by
surprise, but after this 1-5, I could see to the end
of the game.
(G) A nice problem setting for the beginner.

Division B Game 1

White

Red
Position at Note E, Red to Play and Draw


[Event "9th District 2005 Round 6 Game 1"]
[Date "2005-08-02"]
[Red "Robert Ferguson"]
[White "John Cardie"]
[Result "0-1"]
1. 10-14 22-18 2. 11-15 18x11
3. 8x15 24-19 4. 15x24 28x19
5. 7-11 25-22 (A) 6. 3-8 (B) 22-18 (C)
7. 6-10 19-15 8. 10x19 23x7
9. 2x11 27-23 (D) 10. 1-6 (E) 29-25 (F)
11. 6-10 (G) 25-22 12. 12-16 22-17
13. 9-13 18x9 14. 5x14 23-18
15. 13x22 18x9 16. 22-25 9-6
17. 25-29 21-17 18. 8-12 6-2
19. 10-15 17-14 20. 15-19 2-6
21. 4-8 14-10 22. 19-23 26x19
23. 16x23 10-7 24. 12-16 7-3
25. 8-12 3-8 26. 11-15 8-11

White Wins.
(A) 23-18 would be better here.
(B) 4-8 is stronger; KR thinks 3-8 is quite weak.
(C) 29-25 is better but White already has a strong game.
(D) This moves blows away the win! 29-25 would have won easily.
(E) But Red misses the chance! 14-17 would have drawn.
(F) White gives Red another shot at a draw! 26-22 would have won here.
(G) And for the last time, Red misses the chance to draw with 14-17. Beyond this point there are some sub-optimal moves on both sides, but Red is lost no matter.
Annotations from King's Row.


John Cardie, Winning!

The Checker Maven congratulates Gerry Lopez for not only having organized this event, but taking home the District 9 and California championships!


Champion Gerry Lopez

Our thanks to Bob Murr for photos and games, Ryan Pronk for additional games, and Gerry Lopez for permission to publish.



08/20/05 - Category: Games -Printer friendly version-
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