The Magical Checker Games of Elbert Lowder
Version reviewed
The Checkers Games of Elbert Lowder
First Edition in 2007 – Totaling 446 pages.
Published by Jim Loy.
About the author
Jim Loy
Some of you will know Jim Loy. In his own words as of January 2021. ” I have lived my entire life in Montana (except for a few years in the Army, including Vietnam). I am 73 right now. I got a degree in mathematics and worked as a computer programmer. I am now retired. I got into checkers because I wanted to write a checkers program for my Apple ][+ computer. I joined the ACF and bought a pile of books. My checkers improved faster than the checkers program did and I became a moderately strong mail player. I created a WWW site with checkers pages. I designed a checkers diagram font. In 2005, I became the editor of the ACF Bulletin, which I still do. I’ve written a lot of checkers books, more than anyone, although Tom Wiswell and Richard Pask have sold more. I am coaching Lubabalo Kondlo by email. He calls me “oldman,” which he assures me is a sign of respect. I am currently writing the Best Checker Games of Walter Hellman. I have created a lot of checkers problems by correcting other people’s games and problems. I plan on living forever. Which has worked so far.”
Who was Elbert Lowder
Elbert Lowder (1932-2006)
The youngest of thirteen children, he was born and raised in Albemarle, graduating from High School in 1950. Following that, he served in the U.S. Army in the 1950s, most notably in Italy, later he made his living selling, tuning, and repairing pianos.
His true calling, however, was in the field of playing and analyzing the game of checkers. He won the North Carolina Open Tournament for the first of 34 times in 1952 at the age of just 20. Some of his top achievements are that he would become the World 11-Man Ballot checkers champion and had two separate attempts to become the GAYP and 3-Move World Champion. All in all, he played in at least 284 checker tournaments locally, nationally, and internationally over 57 years.
Book index
The book misses an actual page index and list of opponents but has games grouped into openings near the end of the book.
Content
Who is this book for
For all of you admirers of the history of the game and which are interested in a collection of games of Mr. Lowders. Where else you do find all of his play in one place it is usually scattered all around the centuries. Is it complete? No by no stretch but it is to Honor Mr. Lowders legacy and life commitment to our game. A real must for collectors and lovers of good games.
Conclusion
It is to honor Mr. Lowders legacy who used to be one of the top US grandmasters during his life and a very strong crossboard player. Well worth it for any draughts history lover, book collector, or admirer of good games.
Rating
Where to obtain
Jim Loy – moc.l1731947658iamg@173194765867yol1731947658mij1731947658
Other game books
- The Checkers Games of Richard Jordan
- The Checkers Games of Harry Freedman
- The Legendary MFT
- Gould’s Memorable Matches
- More Memorable Matches
…and so many more…