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Phil's philosophy is wrong

Posted By: Phil Simborg
Date: Tuesday, 3 May 2011, at 1:47 p.m.

In Response To: Phil's philosophy is wrong (svilo)

Let's define terms. I love watching matches and studying annotated matches from time to time. I think it is a very interesting and educational way to advance your game if you are an open player or an intermediate player who has learned all of the basics. But it is a terrible waste of terrible way for a beginner to try to learn the game, or even for an experienced player who has not yet learned the key elements of the cube and checker play.

The very first time you come to a cube, how can you possibly understand why someone doubled or someone dropped if you don't know what a take point is, or the price of gammons, or understand market windows, market losers, Woolsey's Law. You would have to stop at that point and go through all of those factors in order to have any appreciation for what is going on. And the same is true for checker play--if you have no concept of game plan, timing, how to count shots, etc., how can you possibly appreciate why Mochy hit and left a blot intentionally?

I know players who have played this game 40 years and have played against very good players and have watched some of the best players in the world and they still make the wrong opening moves and have no concept of why you change some of your opening moves at GG and GS. Without having the basic concepts of the game first, a novice watching a match between two great players is like a cat watching television. You see everything and understand nothing.

That is why EVERY GOOD TEACHER I KNOW makes sure their students get the basics first. How can you play the checkers if you don't know there are 36 possible rolls and you don't understand what a "pip count" is and the importance of it?

I have been completely misquoted here and taken out of context by several--I have never been against playing or studying matches as one way of learning the game, and I do this with my with advanced students from time to time. Even then, I think it is an inefficient use of time until the student has a good understanding of all the basics. And the reason I do it even then is not to help understand individual moves and checker plays, but to teach general match playing strategies, over-the-board attitude and demeanor, and some advanced strategies that apply to playing humans vs. playing the computer (adjusting your game appropriately).

Messages In This Thread

• best recorded matches in the world-free
  Bill Patterson -- Sunday, 1 May 2011, at 7:36 p.m.
  • Phil's philosophy is wrong
    svilo -- Monday, 2 May 2011, at 5:27 a.m.
    • sometimes right?
      lenny -- Monday, 2 May 2011, at 5:53 a.m.
    • Phil's philosophy is wrong
      Phil Simborg -- Tuesday, 3 May 2011, at 1:47 p.m.