Another Tillicoultry Correction

    In the last issue of the New British Draughts Journal
we saw  the Lees'  Guide trunk  line, which has stood for
over a  century, taking  a possible  knock-out blow. This
time we  present a  correction of a more recent 'defence'
prepared by the US Grandmaster Elbert Lowder.
    
1989 Freestyle World Championship Match - Game 11

Black:Don Lafferty  White:Elbert Lowder

11-15 23-19 8-11 22-18 15x22 25x18 11-16 26-23(a) 9-13(b)
29-25 5-9  25-22 16-20  30-26(c) 10-14  18-15(d) 4-8  15-
10?(e) 6x15 19x10 8-11??(f) 22-17 etc. to a draw.

(a) In the  January 1992  issue of  "Checkers",  Lafferty
    referred to this as a "beautifully prepared cook". We
    shall see.
(b) Best, improving on 16-20 as taken by Lafferty earlier
    the same year in the Tennessee Open.
(c) 31-26 seems playable but Black is best after 10-14.
(d) The 19-16 exchange also seems sound.
(e) Loses! Instead  22-17* is  forced, then  13x22  26x10
    7x14 and the 23-18 break-up seems to draw.
(f) But missing  the win  by  the  odd-looking  1-5!  The
    threatened 2 for 1 forces 22-18, then 8-11 10-6 11-15
    18x11 7x16  6-1 3-8!  and White has to lose a man, as
    if 1-6 then 14-17!

    So Lowder's  26-23 at  8th seems  sound but surely no
more  than   another  'weak-side'   of  a  draw.  However
considering the  doubtfulness of  the standard 27-23 now,
it may  be all  that the  Tillicoultry has  left to offer
White!