Pennsylvania State Open Checker Tournament 2013

[neilwenberg]

Time to change the subject here to a "less controversial point" about Pennsylvania checkers. In case the reader of this post does not know, Don Deweber saved the PA Trust Fund with the actions he took. Don should be commended for this heroic act but it apppears there are many who condemn him for his action. The only people who even have standing to question Don on this matter and have standing in regard to it are PA checker players. Thus, seeing we live in the greatest Republic on earth, we who are ACF members area all free to present our view point on this site. In other words everybody in the United States has a right to be wrong!! So if your on Don's back, think about what I am saying and if you said something hurtful to or about Don, apologise. Don is man enough to accept apologies. Thank yo for doing the right thing in regard to this matter.

[neilwenberg]

Last "uncotroversial" topic for today. If I am priveleged to referee the PA Open CT in 2013, I will probably have use honor points to decide tied game point positions. In the 25 years of running ND CT's I used an honor point system that was only used by me. I am not thinking about using this system but instead propose the following. "X" and "Y" are my hypotetical players. If X beats Y both games of a 2 game match, X will be awarded all of Y's game points as honor points for that match. If X beats Y one game and the other game is a draw, X will be awarded 3/4 of Y's game points as honor points for the match. If X and Y draw the match with 2 points each, X will be awarded half of Y's game points as honor points. If X gets only a draw and loss in his match with Y, X will be awared 1/4 of Y's game points as honor points. Now I know all readers are way ahead of me here, but if X loses both games to Y, he gets no points for honor points. I do not care who comments on this propsal, but I would appreciate feed back from Eric Strange, Richard Beckwith, and Tim Laverty. Thank you reading and commenting on this.

[neilwenberg]

Anyone having trouble with my "new spelling" of some old words, contact John Acker because with a, PHD in English earned very soon, John may be able to help you decifer what I said.

[Alex_Moiseyev]

I do not care who comments on this proposal, but I would appreciate feed back from Eric Strange, Richard Beckwith, and Tim Laverty.

Actually I have something to say about this interesting proposal but I am not on list of experts.

All I can say - If you want to change anything with rules, you should get this approved by PA Checkers State Association. It's not a Referee or organisers rights and power to change anything in existing system and Constitution / By-Laws.

As PA resident you can submit your motion to authorities.

[rich beckwith]

Neil,

There are various ways to compute what ACF calls "honor points" when looking at chess books. What you describe sounds similar to "Sonneborn Berger" (used by WCDF). It can potentially break ties even for a round-robin. I don't personally have an objection to it, and it seems like a minor change (assuming no existing statutes say otherwise?). Perhaps it's worth mentioning at the pre-tournament business meeting (and maybe also in tournament announcement), so there are no surprises about how final placements are decided.

[Eric Strange]

An honorpoints system to break ties for round robin is a great idea.
I do not see a downside with the system that you proposed.

It is better than having the two players flip a coin.

The fact that it is used by WCDF currently, should make this a smooth transition!

[JR Smith]

Link to Pennsylvania State and District 3 Results

http://www.nccheckers.org/NCCA/2012%20D3%20Results.htm

[neilwenberg]

I really appreciate the posts from Richard B. and Eric Strange. Very constructive and helpful in regard to my proposed plan to referee 2013 PA Open CT.

[neilwenberg]

Alex M. Appreciate your concern in regard to PA CT bylaws. Maybe seeing your no longer a PA resident, you can send me your copy so I follow correct procedure. I think it would be great if you lived on property right on PA and OH frontier so you could be state champion of both states. Alex, it is not early to give you a personal invite to our 2013 PA Open Checker Tournament, as people from all US states and all foreign countries are welc ome and invited to attend.

[Alex_Moiseyev]

Alex, it is not early to give you a personal invite to our 2013 PA Open Checker Tournament

Neil, it's never earlier and never late! Pennsylvania is in my heart, I lived here 10 years (1992-2002) and also I am still an employee (since 1998) of Pittsburgh based PNC Bank.

I played in all PA State evnets from 1997 till 2009. Things stopped couple years ago due to bad luck and certain sircumstancies. But one day I will be there !

[Chexhero]

I suggest we have the tournament back in Carlisle or the Reading area. Reading is only maybe an hour to hour and a half from Carlisle. The reason for this is because Jay Hinnershitz has giving me the opportunity to promote checkers at a block party in Reading. I will be there this Saturday and will try to make it another Saturday later in the summer. From what I know there are a lot of people that go to it, which means I can do some heavy promoting. So I think there is a chance that if I do a good job we could possibly draw a few more people for next years tournament, so having the tournament close by would be helpful. It obviously would be A LOT better to have done this before this year's tournament started, which I had the chance to do, but couldn't because of work, but I am sure there will be a good chance I can do this the following year too.

The plan is to have me sit at 3 tables with a sign about me being state champion and my checkers history. Then people can come play me, possibly 3 at a time with the 3 tables. My plan is to give everyone I play a card with my number, email, and also this website address. I am also going to be putting my own website on the card, which will be available later during the summer. If you want Neil, I could put your contact info on the card since you are the one who seems to be running this next PA tournament. But let me know if that is ok with you. BTW, this is a big event, if anyone has any advice for me and good ways in which I can promote our game and for next upcoming PA tournament let me know, I am very open to ideas! I am very thankful to Jay H for giving me this opportunity.

[neilwenberg]

cARLISLE EXCELLENT LOCATION!! hOW ABOUT dICKENSON cOLLEGE????

[neilwenberg]

Joe really apprieciate your effort. For me to come the PA Open CT will have to be held at Carlisle, State College, or Lancaster Area. My preference is Carlisle and my perfered location there would be Dickinson College. I am in process of contacting "powers that be" at Dickeinson and if I find something out will relay it to Jason Solan.

[Chexhero]

It was a great time and great success at the event. I played probably around 40 people and Jay and I gave them information regarding ACF and checkers. I gave everyone a business card and encouraged them to check out our site for membership and tournaments. Many seemed to be interested, so we will see what happens. Even if we just get one new member, its an improvement! But I do plan to do more events like these in the future.

Neil, this is just a thought of mine, but I was thinking maybe it would be best not to require ACF membership for newcomers in the next PA tournament. I think the admission price, along with the hotel and travel costs are enough for potential newcomers to handle. Why not just give them a trial run for their first tournament? We obviously want to do everything possible within reason to encourage tournament participation.

[JohnAcker]

I'll pledge a year's ACF membership for any first-time tournament player (at the 2013 PA tournament) who finishes in the top five.