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How To Study Checkers
© Copyright 1999, Jim Loy
You may print this and show it to others. But, this article will eventually be
part of a book that I am writing. So, please do not distribute it widely.
I get email asking how to learn to play stronger checkers. I thought that my
pages already showed them how. Perhaps they need some guidance in using my
pages. I think the learning process should be done in several ways:
- Browse the material. Play through the games and endings, and get a feel for
what is going on. Don't worry about memorizing or understanding much. For
example, see that First Position is a win for the stronger side, but don't
worry about how it is done. This is an important process, and is very
educational.
- Answer the questions that I pose in my articles. Each game, and ending
contains diagrams. Almost every diagram is a position where a good move can be
made. See if you can find the move. An especially fun article is the
Famous Opening Shots.
- Read my article Opening Weaknesses. I don't
think you will find another article like it anywhere.
- If there are things that you don't understand, do some study first. Try to
answer your question yourself. If you ask yourself, "Why didn't White go
here?" you may find that your move leads to disaster. Remember that
checkers is more tactical than chess. There are more traps and shots. So be
alert when playing or studying.
- Really work on some positions. Study First
Position. Study some tough openings. You may not be happy with the results
of this study. But, as you get better, this process will become more
productive. And finding interesting moves is perhaps the most valuable and most
rewarding skill of all.
The above advice can be applied to the study of other checkers books, too.
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