Play Winning Checkers (Mensa) [Spiral-bound]

Robert Pike (Author)

Book Description

Series: Mensa | Publication Date: June 30, 1999

Champions at checkers, according to Sherlock Holmes creator Arthur Conan Doyle, learn everything needed to become great detectives. Become a winner! Learn to find alternative solutions to problems, break down complex situations, and keep control of your long-term strategy. Here's everything you need to know to leave your opponent gasping in surprise. Dozens of strategies take you, move by move, through many entire games. Start with the basic moves that put you on the winning track. See how to protect your pieces, get kings and use them well, and block your opponent. Fight for control of the center of the board, set up multiple jumps, and avoid the "dog hole." You even learn to play computer checkers, with move-by-move replays of great recent man-versus-machine contests, plus Internet sites where you can pit yourself against "Chinook," the world computer checkers champion. BIG BONUS: The back cover is a specially designed fold-out game board. Open it up, put down the pieces, and practice all the techniques and strategies as you go through the book. 128 pages, 78 b/w illus., 5 3/8 x 8 1/4.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 8 Up-A book for both beginning and advanced players. Pike points out the benefits of this multigenerational, all-inclusive, interactive game and recommends it to improve concentration and the ability to deal with complex situations. Early pages discuss the history of this ancient game. "Part Two" is devoted to strategy and tactics and offers over 50 easy-to-follow diagrams on plays at the beginning, middle, and closing of the game, and pitfalls such as the "doghole." Advice for setting up a checkers tournament (including a sample scorecard and schedule) and "Rules of Play and Laws for Standard American Checkers" (as well as variations) conclude the volume. The back cover folds out to become a board with numbered spaces so readers can follow along with the diagrams and the spiral binding makes the book easy to consult.-Edith Ching, St. Albans School, Mt. St. Alban, Washington, DC

Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 128 pages
• Publisher: Sterling (June 30, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0806937947
• ISBN-13: 978-0806937946
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,764,608 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book and rating booster!, August 10, 2000

By 

Jake Xiangqi (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Play Winning Checkers Book & Gift Set (Paperback)

I am a regular at the MSN gaming zone (usually playing in rated room 1 or kings a competitive room) and before buying this book I had around a 1550-1600 rating which is not good at all. So I thought I would try reading a book and see what it would do to my game. A MAJOR improvement occured in my game after reading this book. My rating is now hundreds of points higher than before. I have beaten some of the best players and my recent statistics are 16 wins and 3 losses. Where would I be without this book? I dont think my rating would of moved a notch. This is clear to understand and I am buying it for my checker buddys. The board it includes with the 32 numbers is not only great for recording your games you play...but its great for mail play! I got 100 times more out of this book than what I payed. Thank you Mr.Pike...you really improved my game.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Fun But Not Very Helpful, May 25, 2002

By 

Mr. Fred (Honolulu, Hawaii) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Play Winning Checkers (Mensa) (Spiral-bound)

This book is fun, witty, and entertaining, and certainly will get you interested in playing serious checkers. But it won't help you very much.

The book mainly deals in a disorganized way with mid-game tactics and end-game situations. Interesting traps and shots are presented, along with problems that are too hard for most beginners. That's all there is; just a little about openings, for instance. I kept reading and rereading this book thinking there has to be more here, but I have yet to find it.

Read the book if you only wish to have your appetite stimulated, and then do your real study from a more complete book such as Reinfeld.

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Checker Advanced Move Theory, June 12, 2010

By 

Curtis Walters "CW Radio" (U.S.A.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Play Winning Checkers (Mensa) (Spiral-bound)

This is not a primer on how to play checkers. What its main goal is to teach you to think out your moves to advance your game. I cant say it will make you a champion, but if you follow the authors guidelines you will develope into a better player.