British Draughts Federation

Week 005: April 20th 2001 by George Miller

Practice Makes Perfect by Roberto Waldteufel

In his preparation for the World Title Eliminator match with Alex Moiseyev, British Open Champion William Docherty asked me to help with his training by acting as a sparring partner. We have played several games at VOG, mostly on various Kelso openings, and William has given his permission to publish this pair of games on the Tyne opening, played at VOG on 15th April 2001. The notes are mine, but I am sure you can enlarge upon them!

Wyllie v Docherty - Tyne Opening

10-15 21-17 9-13 17-14 11-16 23-19(a, f) 16-23 26-10 6-15 27-23 15-18(c) 22-15 7-10 15-6 2-27 32-23 8-11 25-22 3-7 29-25(c) 7-10 22-18 10-15 18-14 15-18 31-27 1-6 14-10 6-15 23-14 13-17 14-10 17-21 10-6 15-18 6-2 11-15 2-6 12-16 6-10 16-19 10-14 19-23 24-20 23-32 14-23 5-9 25-22 9-13(d) 23-18 15-19 28-24 19-28 18-23(e) black resigns.

a) This and 24-19 (used by Wyllie in the second game) are the two main attacks here.

b) This is a pp loss, although Hellman once played this and got a draw against Cornell.  Fortman gives 8-11 as a star move here, but this was a good test of William's preparation on this line, one which he passed admirably!

c) Cornell played 30-26 here in the Hellman game, with Basic Checkers quoting 22-18 (by Jeff Clayton) as a star move to win.  However, William's play may provide another winning path, unless Wyllie missed something.

d) At this point William said "I think I see a beautiful win".  Can you see the winning shot?

e) Although a man up now, Wyllie sees its position is lost.  Isn't that a pretty finish?

f) 24-19 15-24 28-19 6-9 22-18 8-11 25-22 16-20 29-25 11-16 25-21 1-6 32-28 6-10 30-25 10-17 21-14 7-10 14-7 3-10 25-21 4-8 18-15 10-14 22-18 13-17 26-22 17-26 31-22 9-13 18-9 5-14 22-18 2-7 18-9 7-11 15-10 11-15 27-24 20-27 10-7 15-24 28-19 27-31 drawn, Docherty v Wyllie game 2.

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