Openings

Bristol (11-16)

Ink heads for the side, not the centre. Once rated the second-best first move, it’s still a solid choice. Here’s every sound reply, the line Checky teaches for each, and where it goes wrong.

By the Checky team · Updated 4 November 2026

Short answer

Bristol is the first move 11-16: Ink moves the man on 11 to 16. Pink’s sound replies are 23-18 (Bristol Cross), 21-17 (Newcastle), 22-18 (London), 24-19 (Paisley), 24-20, 22-17 (Leeds). Their lines have 4 traps worth knowing, below.

The first move

Written 11-16, it means Ink moves the man on square 11 to square 16. Pink has 6 sound replies, and each one leads to openings of its own. Below is each reply, the line Checky teaches for it, and the traps to watch for.

The checkers opening move 11-16, Bristol — Bristol: 11-16.

23-18: the Bristol Cross

With 22-18, one of Pink’s two best replies to the Bristol. Ink’s main answers include 9-14 and 16-20.

The main line Checky teaches: 11-16 23-18 16-20 24-19 10-14 26-23 7-10 22-17 8-11.

The checkers opening 11-16 23-18, the Bristol Cross — The main line after 11-16 23-18.

Named openings after 11-16 23-18

Bristol Crescent 11-16 23-18 16-20. Ink runs the man on to 20, at the side of the board. The main book answer is 24-19.
New Bristol 11-16 23-18 8-11. Ink backs up with 8-11. Pink’s main answer, 18-14, sets off a swap of two men each.
Manchester 11-16 23-18 7-11. Ink plays 7-11. Pink’s main answer, 18-15, sets off a swap of two men each.

21-17: the Newcastle

Frank Dunne gave this reply its name in 1890. Ink has several good answers, such as 9-14 and 8-11.

The main line Checky teaches: 11-16 21-17 8-11 17-14 10x17 22x13 4-8 24-19 9-14.

The checkers opening 11-16 21-17, the Newcastle — The main line after 11-16 21-17.

Named openings after 11-16 21-17

Oliver’s Twister 11-16 21-17 8-11. Willie Ryan named this after his friend Oliver Mauro, who helped him analyse it. Pink’s main attack is 17-14.
Baby Octopus 11-16 21-17 7-11 17-13. A close relative of the Octopus, and also known as the Octopus Refused.

22-18: the London

Many players rate this Pink’s best reply to the Bristol. Ink has plenty of good answers, such as 16-19 and 8-11.

The main line Checky teaches: 11-16 22-18 8-11 24-19 4-8 25-22 16-20 22-17 9-14 18x9 5x14.

The checkers opening 11-16 22-18, the London — The main line after 11-16 22-18.

Named openings after 11-16 22-18

Millbury 11-16 22-18 8-11. Ink backs up with 8-11. You also reach this exact position from 12-16 22-18 8-12.
Reverse City Game 11-16 22-18 10-14 25-22. The same shape as the City Game with the colours swapped, which is where the name comes from.
White Doctor 11-16 22-18 10-14 25-22 8-11 24-20 16-19 23x16 14x23 26x19. A very old gambit: the Black Doctor with the colours swapped. Ink plays on a man down, on purpose.

24-19: the Paisley

Named after another Scottish town in 1881, though the line is much older. The main book answer is 8-11.

The main line Checky teaches: 11-16 24-19 7-11 22-18 3-7 25-22 11-15 18x11 8x15x24 27x20x11 7x16.

The checkers opening 11-16 24-19, the Paisley — The main line after 11-16 24-19.

Named openings after 11-16 24-19

Bear Trap 11-16 24-19 7-11. Ink plays 7-11 instead of the main move, 8-11. Matt Long wrote a whole booklet on it in 1968.

24-20

Pink answers 11-16 with 24-20. It has no name of its own, but it’s a sound reply that you’ll meet.

The main line Checky teaches: 11-16 24-20 16-19 23x16 12x19 22-18 10-14 18-15 19-23 26x19 7-11.

The checkers opening 11-16 24-20 — The main line after 11-16 24-20.

Named openings after 11-16 24-20

Bristol Trunk 11-16 24-20 16-19 23x16 12x19. The line first called Bristol, in Anderson’s 1852 book. Ink meets 24-20 with 16-19, and a swap follows.
Liverpool 11-16 24-20 9-13 20x11 8x15. Ink takes back with 8x15. It’s playable, but computers rate 7x16 much higher.

Trap: Ink’s 7-11

After 11-16 24-20 16-19 23x16 12x19 27-23, Ink’s 7-11 looks natural, but it loses a man to 23x16x7 2x11. You play Pink here: find the punishment.

A checkers position where Ink has just played 7-11

Trap: Ink’s 19-24

After 11-16 24-20 16-19 23x16 12x19 22-18 10-14 27-23, Ink’s 19-24 looks natural, but it loses a man to 28x19. You play Pink here: find the punishment.

A checkers position where Ink has just played 19-24

22-17: the Leeds

Frank Dunne named this one too, in 1890. There’s no single main answer: Ink has plenty of good moves.

The main line Checky teaches: 11-16 22-17 9-14 25-22 8-11 22-18 16-20 18x9 6x13x22 26x17 5-9.

The checkers opening 11-16 22-17, the Leeds — The main line after 11-16 22-17.

Named openings after 11-16 22-17

Cheek 11-16 22-17 9-14. Ink’s 9-14 heads for the centre. The main answer is 25-22, which can run into the Double Corner Dyke.
Wilderness Companion 11-16 22-17 9-13. The third of the Wilderness lines, long thought to lose for Ink. Pink’s 17-14 leads straight into Wilderness 1.

Trap: Ink’s 14-18

After 11-16 22-17 9-14 24-19 8-11 17-13 16-20 25-22, Ink’s 14-18 looks natural, but it loses a man to 22x15x8 4x11. You play Pink here: find the punishment.

A checkers position where Ink has just played 14-18

Trap: Pink’s 25-22

After 11-16 22-17 9-13 17-14 10x17 21x14 16-20 24-19 6-10, Pink’s 25-22 looks natural, but it loses a man to 10x17. You play Ink here: find the punishment.

A checkers position where Pink has just played 25-22

Learn the Bristol in Checky

Checky’s Openings teach the Bristol one line at a time: 33 lines for Ink across 6 replies, with a test at the end of each reply to check you know them. You can learn them as Pink too. Start learning openings.

Questions people ask

What is the Bristol in checkers?

It’s the first move 11-16, where Ink moves the man on 11 to 16. Ink heads for the side, not the centre. Once rated the second-best first move, it’s still a solid choice.

What can Pink play against 11-16?

Pink’s sound replies are 23-18 (Bristol Cross), 21-17 (Newcastle), 22-18 (London), 24-19 (Paisley), 24-20, 22-17 (Leeds). Each one is shown above with its main line.

How do I learn the Bristol?

Learn one reply at a time, starting with its main line. Checky’s Openings teach them move by move, then test you on them.