(1) 10-15 23-19
(2) 6-10 22-17
(3) 1-6 25-22
(4) 11-16 17-13
(5) 16-23 26-19
(6) 7-11 29-25
(7) 11-16 22-17
(8) 16-23 27-11
(9) 8-15 24-19
(10) 15-24 28-19
(11) 4-8 25-22
(12) 8-11 31-26
(13) 3-7 22-18
(14) 9-14 18-9
(15) 5-14
The men on 6, 10, 13, 14, 17 and 21 form the elbow, the strength of which becomes apparent on the 19th move.
(15) … 26-23 (16) 11-15 32-28 (17) 15-24 28-19 (18) 7-11 30-26 (19) 2-7 19-16 (20) 12-19 23-16 (21) 11-20 26-23 (22) 7-11 and wins.
The danger involved in an elbow, which is not sufficiently backed up, is shown in the following game.
Black White
(1) 10-15 23-19
(2) 7-10 22-17
(3) 3-7 25-22
(4) 9-14 29-25
(5) 5-9 17-13
(6) 1-5 22-17
(7) 11-16 26-22
(8) 16-23 27-11
(9) 7-l6 31-26
(10) 8-11 24-19
(11) 16-23 26-19
(12) 11-15 30-26
and White wins through the threat to get two for one by 19-15 after the exchange. Black cannot help the loss of a man.
The reader, who has thoroughly acquainted himself with the fundamental endings, will have no difficulty in playing a good game of checkers, if he follows at every move the general principles discussed in this chapter. When playing over the countless variations, which are offered in the majority of checker books, he would find that they are merely illustrations of the application of those principles to the various openings.
Following are two examples from master play, the careful study of which will do more good to the student than the perusal of a great number of games that lack adequate annotation.
Black White