American Checkers Federation American Checkers Federation

ACF Mailbag


by Al Lyman


from ACF Bulletin number 298, August 2002

Eugene’s Frazier’s Wilderness 1, 9-13, 22-18, 11-16 has been heavily explored in the annual ID books. But not all it’s secrets have been disclosed. It is a beautiful opening that belongs in the 3-move deck. Frazier stated that in his April 1959 ECB article...and inaugural play. Getting the defensive move order correct would be a great challenge, against a barrage of White attacks.

Trunk

9-13 22-18 11-16 18-14 10-17 21-14 16-20(A) 25-21(B) 8-11(C) 24-19(D) 11-16 26-22(E) 4-8(F) 29-25 6-9*(G) 31-26(H) 9-18 22-15 1-6(I) 28-24!(J) 7-10 25-22 3-7 22-18 7-11 18-14 11-18 14-7 2-11 23-14 16-23 26-19 (best) 6-9*! 14-10 11-16 19-15 (Probably Best) 16-19 10-7 19-28 7-3 9-14 30-26(K) 5-9(L) 26-23 13-17 3-7(M) 17-22 7-10 22-26 10-17 26-31 17-13 31-24 13-6 12-16 Drawn.

A) Sound from this runup, but from 9-13, 23-18, 11-16 (Wilderness II)18-14, 10-17, 21-14 only 6-9* draws, then if 22-18, Frazier’s classic 1-6 defense has always been starred - BUT 7-11 will draw and is the computer programs' favorite defense. From trunk, 6-9 can be played in lieu of 16-20 then 23-18 is into this Wilderness II.

B) A deceptive attack, certainly unexplored in PP. It is mentioned in the 88 and 89 ID and that is about it. This is due to the 23-18 move, here or next, being favored as the power attack.

C) Or 12-16, 24-19, 8-12 results in trunk. 12-16 was given in the 88 ID book, and 8-11 in the 89.

D) As mentioned in B, 23-18 here, or a move sooner, dominates the pp. The now famous Kingsrow program used this to defeat Mac Banks, and the cake++ program used it to defeat Tom Canning.

E) Or 29-25, then if 6-9?, 26-22 is the loss of V-1. On this 29-25, 4-8, if 25-22, 6-10, 22-18, 10-17, 21-14, 13-17, 19-15, 1-6, 23-19, 16-23, 26-19, then 7-10, 14-7, 2-11 is another pp dr.

F) A vital waiting move. It changes the tempo and denies white the move order of V-1.

G) Now ok as it requires white to take a waiting move.

H) If 22-18, 1-6, 25-22, 6-10, 31-26, 10-17, 21-14 then 7-10, 14-7, 2-11 is a pp draw.

Square 32 Square 31 Square 30 Square 29
Square 28 Square 27 Square 26 Square 25
Square 24 Square 23 Square 22 Square 21
Square 20 Square 19 Square 18 Square 17
Square 16 Square 15 Square 14 Square 13
Square 12 Square 11 Square 10 Square 9
Square 8 Square 7 Square 6 Square 5
Square 4 Square 3 Square 2 Square 1
Black to play and Draw

I) 7-11 may now draw also, then 26-22, 11-18, 22-15 and 3-7* (NOT 2-7?, 25-22, 7-11, 30-25* etc is the way Banks lost) 25-22, 2-6*, 23-18, 16-23, 15-10, 7-14, 18-2, 12-16, 27-18, 1-6 draws - unless better play was missed.

J) Anything else allows 7-11 and a Black advantage. After 7-11, 23-18 is in order as 30-25? 11-18, 22-15 would allow Black the deadly shot with 13-17 and 6-10.

K) 3-7, 12-16, 30-26, 8-12*, 26-23, 16-19* etc Draws.

L) Also 14-18, 27-24, 20-27, 32-14, 28-32 draws with care.

M) 23-18, 14-23, 21-5, 23-26, 3-7, 26-31 draws.

Varation 1

6-9? 29-25 9-18 22-15 4-8 25-22 7-11?(A) 30-25* 11-18 22-15 3-7 25-22 2-6(B) 28-24 6-10 15-6 1-10 31-26 10-14 19-15(C) WW

A) 1-6? Is now out of order-with the 23-18 and 15-10 shots.

B) As tried by Canning. 1-6 seems no better after the shots mentioned in A.

C) Black now gains a man with 16-19 etc, but loses the game. Hidden beauty in the Wilderness 1.

This is all new play on an unexplored attack. The great thing about the attack is that computers want to go 6-9? Immediately at note (F) of trunk.