Openings
Double Corner (9-14)
By most accounts Ink’s second-best first move. The man heads for the centre from the double-corner side. Here’s every sound reply, the line Checky teaches for each, and where it goes wrong.
Short answer
Double Corner is the first move 9-14: Ink moves the man on 9 to 14. Pink’s sound replies are 22-18 (Bay State), 22-17, 24-20, 23-19, 24-19, 23-18 (Double Cross). Their lines have 4 traps worth knowing, below.
The first move
Written 9-14, it means Ink moves the man on square 9 to square 14. 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.
22-18: the Bay State
Also called Kaulen’s Game. The main book answer is 5-9, which backs up the man on 14.
The main line Checky teaches: 9-14 22-18 5-9 18-15 11x18 21-17 14x21 23x14x5 8-11.
Named openings after 9-14 22-18
- Double Corner Choice 9-14 22-18 11-15. Ink plays 11-15, straight into a swap. Pink can take either way, 18x11 or 18x9.
- Bronx Express 9-14 22-18 5-9 18-15. A surprise named by Willie Ryan in 1938. Pink gives up a man with 18-15 and wins it back a few moves later.
22-17
Pink answers 9-14 with 22-17. It has no name of its own, but it’s a sound reply that you’ll meet.
The main line Checky teaches: 9-14 22-17 11-15 25-22 15-19 23x16 12x19 24x15 10x19 17x10 6x15.
Named openings after 9-14 22-17
- Double Corner Dyke 9-14 22-17 11-15 25-22 15-19. Ink pushes on to 19 and a triple swap follows. Most popular in the two-move tournament years.
Trap: Ink’s 14-17
After 9-14 22-17 11-15 23-19 5-9 17-13, Ink’s 14-17 looks natural, but it loses two men to 21x14x5. You play Pink here: find the punishment.
Learn this opening in Checky24-20
Pink answers 9-14 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: 9-14 24-20 6-9 22-18 11-15 18x11 8x15 28-24 1-6.
23-19
Pink answers 9-14 with 23-19. It has no name of its own, but it’s a sound reply that you’ll meet.
The main line Checky teaches: 9-14 23-19 11-15 27-23 8-11 22-18 15x22 25x18x9 5x14.
Trap: Ink’s 14-17
After 9-14 23-19 11-15 22-17 5-9 17-13, Ink’s 14-17 looks natural, but it loses two men to 21x14x5. You play Pink here: find the punishment.
Learn this opening in CheckyTrap: Ink’s 12-16
After 9-14 23-19 11-15 27-23 8-11 22-17 4-8 25-22, Ink’s 12-16 looks natural, but it loses a man to 19x12. You play Pink here: find the punishment.
Learn this opening in Checky24-19
Pink answers 9-14 with 24-19. It has no name of its own, but it’s a sound reply that you’ll meet.
The main line Checky teaches: 9-14 24-19 11-15 28-24 7-11 22-18 15x22 25x18x9 5x14.
Trap: Pink’s 19-16
After 9-14 24-19 11-15 28-24 8-11 22-17 5-9, Pink’s 19-16 looks natural, but it loses two men to 12x19x28. You play Ink here: find the punishment.
Learn this opening in Checky23-18: the Double Cross
Double Corner meets Cross. Barred from early tournaments until players found how Pink could hold it.
The main line Checky teaches: 9-14 23-18 14x23 27x18 5-9 26-23 12-16 30-26 16-19 24x15 10x19 23x16 11x20.
Learn the Double Corner in Checky
Checky’s Openings teach the Double Corner one line at a time: 29 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 Double Corner in checkers?
It’s the first move 9-14, where Ink moves the man on 9 to 14. By most accounts Ink’s second-best first move. The man heads for the centre from the double-corner side.
What can Pink play against 9-14?
Pink’s sound replies are 22-18 (Bay State), 22-17, 24-20, 23-19, 24-19, 23-18 (Double Cross). Each one is shown above with its main line.
How do I learn the Double Corner?
Learn one reply at a time, starting with its main line. Checky’s Openings teach them move by move, then test you on them.
