The Game of Checkers

According to John P. Cardie, author of How to Beat Granddad at Checkers, the classic game of checkers teaches "sound strategy" that is useful not only in the board game, but also in life. Checkers is a tried and true---and very fun---activity, Cardie says, that can greatly boost a child's reasoning ability and even help improve his math and social skills.

Checkers may seem like a whimsical afternoon's diversion, but it's actually a compelling and enriching mental exercise in complex decision-making. Developing the skill of "forethought"---the ability to perceive the likely consequences of one's actions and the discipline to proceed accordingly---is highly correlated with the fundamental hope parents have for their children: that they will make good choices. Parents who pick up on a child's interest in checkers can help their children expand their minds.

How much brain power would it take to "solve" the game of checkers? (In this context, "solving" the game means playing in such a way that one can never lose.) Computer scientists in Canada, led by Professor Jonathan Schaeffer at the University of Alberta, spent nearly 20 years and used 50 computers to finally solve checkers. The grand total of different checkers positions was 500 billion billion. It's no wonder checkers naturally draws players into learning about analysis, planning, tactics and strategy.

Indeed, the lessons checkers teaches in how to develop sound strategies---in checkers as well as in life---is the focus of Cardie's entertaining book, How to Beat Granddad at Checkers. But How to Beat Granddad at Checkers also highlights the role parents and grandparents can play in helping their children (and grandchildren) learn the lessons and develop the considerable skills that checkers offers. The most important point is simply to realize checkers' potential.

While it's certainly a very fun way to spend a few hours sprawled on the floor by the fire---or curled up in a chair in front of the computer---checkers, even casually played, is miles away from mindless entertainment. Many children, once exposed to checkers, show an interest in the game, and sometimes even a passion for it, at least for a while. At that point, a pretty wonderful thing can happen. The child (often with his parent's help) can discover checkers books and the fact that he can, if he so chooses, take his game to the next level.

Who knew? Thousands, maybe millions of young checkers players may have asked themselves how to play a better game of checkers, but had no clue how to proceed from there. Many people don't think of checkers as a game of skills that can be learned, practiced and developed. Lisle Cormier, author of Baby Steps: A Beginner's Guide to Checker Study, writes about this turning point in a checkers player's life. She states: the "first important epiphany in every checker player's life is the discovery of checker literature."

True, a player's first attempts at studying checkers literature may lead to some eye-glazing. Opening, midgame, endgame, resign, three kings against two---suddenly checkers reveals just how challenging it really is under that otherwise staid black-and-red shell.

For the player who is already tinkering with his game, however, and who desires to learn the mechanics as well as begin to understand, as two-time national titleist William F. Ryan said, the "laws or seasons governing the moves," Cormier recommends three books: Lees' Guide by James Lees; Total Checkers by Richard Pask; and Familiar Themes by Ben Boland. And, of course, what budding checkers-playing child wouldn't get a kick out of How to Beat Granddad at Checkers?

So, if your child or grandchild shows an interest in checkers, go for it!

First, so far as possible, make time to play the game with your child. Not only will this improve his game, it will make great memories of your time together---especially if the child grows up to play checkers with his children and grandchildren.

Secondly, let your child know there are plenty of resources to choose from if he decides to up his game, and is willing to put in the time, study and hard work to progress.

Your child may just have found his game for life. And along the way, you'll be helping him develop the skills of forethought and complex decision-making, skills he needs to make good choices on the game board and in life.

*** John P. Cardie is donating all proceeds from sale of his book, How to Beat Granddad at Checkers, to the American Checker Foundation Youth Program.

Sources

William Welter, Jean Egmon, The Prepared Mind of a Leader (p. 99), Google Book Search.

"Computers Crack Famous Board Game," BBC.

John P. Cardie, "How to Beat Granddad at Checkers," Lifevest Books (Authors To Believe In).

Lisa Cormier, "Baby Steps: A Beginner's Guide to Checker Study," USA Checkers.

William F. Ryan, "A Master's Advice to Beginners," USA Checkers.