| Youths in Austin, Dallas, Houston and other | | | | way modern computers play chess. It has been |
| locations in Texas play checkers more often than | | | | proven by computer experts that every chess |
| chess. If you're an individual who's a serious | | | | move can not be completely played out by any |
| checker player, you sometimes have to defend | | | | computer. Avid checker players who are also |
| your position that checkers is better than chess! | | | | computer experts believe that the same is true |
| Of course, both games have merit, but here are | | | | of checkers, although it is more limited than chess. |
| some of checkers finer points. | | | | When it comes to checker competition levels, |
| Checkers has been played in Europe since the | | | | there are two main styles played in tournaments, |
| 16th century. A similar game was played in | | | | Go-As-You-Please (which is also called Freestyle or |
| ancient times. The British Museum has specimens | | | | Unrestricted) and 3-Move Restriction. In |
| of ancient Egyptian checkerboards in their | | | | Go-As-You-Please style, you can make any |
| collection. | | | | opening moves you want. In 3-Move, the first |
| Checkers is called by different names in different | | | | three moves, Red-White-Red, are chosen at |
| parts of the globe. In the U.S., Canada, Australia, | | | | random from a list of accepted three-move |
| Ireland and a few other countries the game is | | | | openings. The list has no openings that are known |
| called checkers (or in the U.S. it is sometimes | | | | losses. |
| called Polish Checkers). In Great Britain, checkers | | | | 3-Move checkers is more popular in serious |
| is played on an 8x8 board where it is called | | | | tournaments and matches, because it decreases |
| draughts. The most popular version of checkers, | | | | the number of draws. After playing a game with |
| however, is played on a 10x10 board in Eastern | | | | one of the 3-Move openings, you play a second |
| Europe. In other places, it is called International | | | | game with the same opening, but from the other |
| Draughts. | | | | side of the board to even out the disadvantage |
| Now both styles, checkers and draughts - are | | | | of having to play a weak opening. |
| gaining popularity on both sides of the ocean. The | | | | Under international sanctions, there are World |
| Eastern Europeans are starting to play the U.S. | | | | Championship Matches in both Freestyle and |
| game, and U.S. players are starting to play the | | | | 3-Move styles. The 3-move World Championship is |
| Eastern European game. This is due to the efforts | | | | the more prestigious. Furthermore, there are a |
| of the International Checkers Hall of Fame. In | | | | number of National Championship Tournaments, |
| addition, there are additional 8x8 varieties of the | | | | District Tournaments, State Tournaments, local |
| game being played in Spain, Italy and other | | | | and mail tournaments, mail ladders, International |
| countries. | | | | Team Matches (which include both over-the-board |
| There is an incredibly widespread fallacy about | | | | and mail), as well as other checker-related events. |
| checkers. Many individuals believe that it is a dead | | | | Checkers is a great strategic game that can help |
| game because it is "solved." Another fallacy is that | | | | keep your mind healthy into your later years. |
| a super-computer can play perfect checkers the | | | | |