Editor's Note

I'm working on a way to streamline the online match a bit, as well as givethe readers full opportunites to make decisions. As things are now, I ammaking a judgment call on whether the position might be close to a double.This is not optimal for several reasons. First of all, it may happen thatI don't think it is close to a double while some readers want to double(this has happened). Secondly it now wastes a full day to ask thedoubling question when not doubling may be pretty clear. And thirdly, Iam prompting the readers by asking the doubling question. This last ismost serious. As we all know, every roll is a new cube decision.The readers should make the doubling decision for themselves every turn,even if it obviously isn't a double.

The plan is to offer the readers a chance to double every time it is theirroll and they have cube access. After they vote on doubling, they willthen be presented with a dice roll to play. They will play the roll underthe assumption that the majority vote was to not double. If the vote isto double, the roll is cancelled. I will make my take decision, and if Itake a new roll will occur.

I'm also considering doing a similar thing with obvious play (at playsthat I think are obvious but others might disagree). Instead of my makingthe play for the readers they will vote on the play themselves (even if itis an opening 3-1). If I think it is an obvious play I will have thereaders go on to the next move as before. If it turns out that thereader's vote overrides my decision, then anything which happened beyondthat point is cancelled.

These improvements will both speed the game along and give the readers theopportunity to vote on every checker play and cube decision without anyinterference from me. That is how it should be. If anybody has anyfurther improvements along these lines they wish to suggest, please let meknow.

Kit Woolsey

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