Checkers for the Novice
Version Reviewed
Print version with 159 numbered pages marked as 1st revision published by Avi Gobbler Publishing, Honolulu. The image is taking from the print edition.
ISBN: 9781986847070
About the author
Richard Pask – Draughts Grandmaster
Mr. Pask was born in Weymouth, on 1st December 1961.
His interest in the game was only sparked when, at the age of 11, he stumbled across books by Willie Ryan and Tom Wiswell in his local library.
However, it was not until he was 17, when he joined the EDA (English Draughts Association) and ACF (American Checker Federation), that he began to study the game seriously.
He managed to establish himself as a seasoned player during the years from 1983-1991. Although he lost his 1990 match for the British Championship with Derek Oldbury by the score of 0-3 and 13 draws, he was not at all discouraged, and believes that subsequent matches might well have turned out differently.
Becoming a full-time teacher in 1993 largely crimped Mr. Pask’s crossboard ambitions, although he successfully competed for the English Match Championship five times between 1995 and 2006, and forced him to concentrate on his book writing activities.
Draughts achievements:
English Match Champion: 1995-2006 (40-0 & 34 draws)
British Open Championship: 2nd in 1984, 1986 and 1990 (23-2 & 35 draws)
Board 1 for England: 1984 and 1988 Home Internationals (6-0 & 26 draws)
UK and Ireland v USA: 1983 and 1989 (2-3 & 35 draws)
County Championships (Avon): 1984-1997 (10-1 & 33 draws)
Avon Open Champion: 1987-1989 (35-2 & 25 draws)
Total score between 1984 and 2002: 161 wins, 13 losses and 334 draws (65%)
Books written on the game of draughts: 35
– Shorten from the online version of Checkers for the Novice –
Book index
Content
Who is this book for?
As in the title it caters to the novice. Richard Pask aims as usual to give as much beginner and advanced ideas to put up a decent fight against even an lower expert level player. If you are starting out or want to go over the most basic ideas and structure it is well worth the read.
Conclusion
It is a very comprehensive and compact book that gives you the best idea about all very important things and touches on some advanced subjects. The author gives its best given the limited space and who wants to touch on more advanced subjects can look them up into one of his other books which address a higher level audience. With his exceptional draughts skills and his experience as an educator this is another book to cherish. Now one has to look forward to the other books in the series of 5.
Rating
Where to obtain
As usual Checker Maven is the go to page.
Checker Maven – Checkers for the Novice
or if you do prefer a commercial version of it
Alternative novice books
Starting out in Checkers
How to Be a Winner at Checkers
Play Winning Checkers
Win at Checkers
Checkers: All the Answers on the Art of Successful Checker Playing
…and so many more…