Mistakes in draughts literature – 4 (Article from the website “Шашки всем”)

14.01.2025

We are starting a series of publications devoted to errors in the assessment and analysis of positions found in the draughts literature.Currently, a lot of draughts literature has already been published, in which in total you can find literally everything about the game of draughts. However, it is no secret that in some draughts books there are errors in the assessment and analysis of specific positions that arise when playing draughts.

This is not surprising, it is almost impossible to play draughts accurately, therefore, both players and authors of draughts publications are mistaken. It is important for beginners and inexperienced draughts players to understand that when studying draughts literature, everything does not need to be considered the absolute truth, it is necessary to critically evaluate all the information encountered. This will not only help not to repeat the published errors in the evaluation and analysis of draughts positions, but will also serve as an excellent training for those who independently check and make sure that the printed versions are correct (or erroneous).

We offer interesting information on this topic, received from Dmitry Anurin, who has extensive experience playing Russian checkers and is well acquainted with draughts literature. The errors discovered by Dmitry in draughts publications are of great importance for the correct assessment of the positions under consideration. Below we publish some of them.

Chart 1

Source book: V. Litvinovich, I. Perchenok “School of positional play. Russian draughts” 1984, p. 95, d. 329

White’s move is in this position, and as it turns out, they can win in two ways.

The first way to achieve victory is indicated in the book (in the “Answers” section on page 176): 1.gh4, etc. with a win.

And here is the second way to win: 1.cd4 ec3 2.bd2 de5 3.ef2! ba7

(3…ed4 will be followed by 4.dc3 db2 5.ac3 ba7 6.ef4 and the game is reduced to the main version)

4.ef4 ed4 5.dc3 db2 6.ac3 cd4 7.cb2 bc5 8.gh4 ab6 (on 8…cd6 wins 9.hd5x) 9.ba3 dc3 10.fe3 and White wins.

Chart 2

Source book: V. Litvinovich, N. Negra “Course of draughts openings” 1985, p.223

1.gf4 ba5 2.cb4 ac3 3.db4 fg5 4.bc5 db4 5.ac5 gf6 6.bc3 gh4 7.ab2 fg5 8.ba3 cb6 9.cd4?Sokov pointed out that this was a weak move.) As stated in the Draughts Openings Course, this natural continuation forces White to defend after 9…dc7!

A well-known position, which is usually obtained in the opening “Wagering”. Black has the advantage, but white gets a difficult draw. This analysis could not be found in the draughts literature.

10.cb2 cd6 11.ed2 db4 12.ac5 ed6 13.ce7 fd6

(Later in the book, the variant ends, and Grandmaster Litvinovich assesses White’s position as difficult, pointing out that, for example, he loses 14.dc3 because of 14…ba5!, etc.)

There is still a draw for white: 14.ba3 hg7 15.hg3 bc5 16.db6 ac5 17.dc3 gf6 18.cd4 ba7 19.db6 ac5

Chart 3

20.ed4 ge3 21.db6 ed2 22.ba7 fe5 23.ab4

(Loses move 23.ab8? because of 23…dc1 24.ab4 cg5 25.gh2 ge1 with black winning)

23…dc1 24.ba5 cg5 25.ab6 gd8 26.gf4! and Black cannot win: 26…da5 (after 26…ee1 27.gf2 eg3 28.ab8 draw) 27.fg3 hf2 28.ge3 eg3 29.ab8 dc5 30.bh2 ac3 31.ef4 cf6 32.fg5 fh4 33.he5 is a difficult draw that White had to make from the opening, after his unsuccessful 9th move.

Chart 4

Source book: V. Malamed “Course of draughts endings” 1989, p.203, d. 762

B. Blinder analyzed this position, having established that White has a difficult draw. But his analysis needs to be adjusted.

1.gf4 bc3 2.fe5 cb2 3.ed6 ab4 4.de7 bc1 5.ef8 bc3

Chart 5

Here, only 6.fa3 ch6 7.af8 cb2 8.fe3 hc1 9 leads to a draw.fh6 ba1 10.hg3=

Blinder’s proposed sequel 6.fh6? loses because of 6…ca3 7.hc1 cb2 8.fg3 hf2 9.ge3 ba1 10.hg3 af6 11.gh4 ad6 12.ca3 db8

(You can also use 12…df8 13.ef4 B. Blinder thought it was a draw, but after 13…fc3 14.ac1 hg7 15.fg5 cd2 16.ce3 gf6, black wins)

13.af8 and here, contrary to Blinder’s opinion, Black wins: 13…be5 14.fa3 fg7 15.hg5 (with 15.ac1 gf8 16.hg5, the game boils down to the main option)

15…gf8 16.ac1 ec3 17.gh6

(17.ef4 hg7 18.gh6 gf6 19.ca3 ca1 20.ac1 fd6 with black winning)

17…hg7 18.ca3 gf6 19.ac1 fc5 20.ef4 cd6 and Black has a standard win.

A vivid example of how difficult the endgame can be in the game of Russian checkers.

The above options are indicated by D. Anurin

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