quiz question

[john reade]

What is the minimum number of moves it takes to win a game of draughts?

[Alex_Moiseyev]

What is the minimum number of moves it takes to win a game of draughts?

In 3-moves event it will be 3-moves. If my opponent doesn't like my face, (s)he can resign before we start.

[George Hay]

What is the minimum number of moves it takes to win a game of draughts?

From the standard starting position, It would take 10 moves on each side, or 20 "plys."
White would win on his tenth move. This would not include resigning!
--George Hay

[john reade]

Can you give an example of a game where black (or white) wins in 20 moves?

[George Hay]

Hi John, an example is given by Martin Gardner in his checkers article in Scientific American Magazine, January 1980.
Jay H. posted this extraordinary article in the AFC Forum, in the Checker Sharing section.

viewtopic.php?f=13&t=1573

If the link does not work, it can be found by typing "Gardner" in the forum search box.
The diagram at the bottom of the second page shows "the shortest checkers game known."

--George Hay

[liam stephens]

This was in the Christmas Quiz for 2011:

3. In 1977, who composed the shortest game of draughts in 20 moves,
ending in a block game, or with all the pieces removed ?
9-14, 22-18, 11-15, 18-11, 7-16, 24-20, 2-7, 20-2, 3-7, 2-18, 10-15 A, 18-2, 12-16,
23-18, 1-6, 2-9, 5-23, 26-3, 4-8, 3-12, W.W. all pieces taken in 20 moves.
A – 1-6, 21-17, 10-15, 18-9, 5-21, 23-19, 12-16, 19-3, 4-8, 3-12, W.W.
Block game in 20 moves.

[George Hay]

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/23853384/th ... f-draughts

Martin Bryant in his article The Shortest Game Of Draughts, 12th February 2003 confirms by computer the 1977 work
of Alan Beckerson. Ref: EDJ, Vol 17, No 3, Dec 1977. (Ref from X-mass quiz) It looks like this is it! It takes 20 moves (10 on each side) for the shortest game of draughts. Yet, Martin Bryant states in the article, "It would be useful to have
another program confirm the results presented here...."

--George Hay

[liam stephens]

Hi George,

Thanks for that link. A very interesting article by Martin Bryant.

Alan Beckerson, subsequently, in EDJ, Vol 20, No2, Sept 1980 showed two 21 move block games with no jumps or captures to improve on Sam Loyd’s 24 move block game referred to by Martin Gardner in your previous reference.(Scientific American Jan 1980)

12-16, 22-17 16-20, 23-19, 11-15, 19-16, 9-14, 16-12, 14-18, 26-22, 5-9, 31-26, 9-14, 26-23, 6-9, 23-19, 9-13, 30-26, 7-11, 26-23, 11-16.

11-15, 21-17, 8-11, 17-13, 9-14, 24-20, 14-17, 23-18, 12-16, 27-23, 15-19, 32-27, 10-15, 27-24, 7-10, 31-27, 5-9, 25-21,
10-14, 29-25, (or 30-25, ) 1-5, (or 2-7, or 3-7, or 3-8, or 4-8, ) making TEN different FINAL POSITIONS.

Regards - Liam.

[john reade]

Is it possible to prove which game is the shortest?

[Richard Pask]

I still think getting 24 kings, legally, tops them all!

[George Hay]

Is it possible to prove which game is the shortest?

I guess the best proof is that no one claimed the 100 pound prize
for finding a draughts game shorter than ten moves on each side!
--George Hay

[George Hay]

I still think getting 24 kings, legally, tops them all!

The Internet Checkers Federation site has an interactive 24 Kings page in the h4ns section!

I can link the main site only, and the path to 24 Kings is:
icheckers.net>>h4ns.net>>Openings>>24 KIngs

http://icheckers.net/