Openings
Dundee (12-16)
One of Ink’s weaker first moves. Pink’s strongest reply is 24-20, which cramps Ink’s side of the board. Here’s every sound reply, the line Checky teaches for each, and where it goes wrong.
Short answer
Dundee is the first move 12-16: Ink moves the man on 12 to 16. Pink’s sound replies are 24-20, 21-17 (Dundee-Switcher), 23-18, 22-18, 22-17, 24-19. Their lines have 3 traps worth knowing, below.
The first move
Written 12-16, it means Ink moves the man on square 12 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.
24-20
Pink answers 12-16 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: 12-16 24-20 10-15 22-18 15x22 25x18 11-15 18x11 8x15 20x11 7x16.
Named openings after 12-16 24-20
- Bonnie Dundee 12-16 24-20 8-12. The Dundee’s main road, with each side’s strongest moves. Older books called it the Black Switcher.
- Skunk 12-16 24-20 10-15. Named by Elbert Lowder, and added to the tournament list in 2003. It has long been common in Russian draughts too.
Trap: Ink’s 15-18
After 12-16 24-20 10-15 28-24 6-10 32-28, Ink’s 15-18 looks natural, but it loses a man to 22x15x6 1x10. You play Pink here: find the punishment.
Learn this opening in CheckyTrap: Pink’s 25-22
After 12-16 24-20 8-12 28-24 9-13 22-18 10-15, Pink’s 25-22 looks natural, but it loses a man to 16-19 23x16 12x19x28. You play Ink here: find the punishment.
Learn this opening in Checky21-17: the Dundee-Switcher
The Switcher reply, 21-17, played against the Dundee. Ink has several good answers, such as 16-20 and 9-13.
The main line Checky teaches: 12-16 21-17 9-14 17-13 16-19 24x15 10x19 23x16 11x20.
Named openings after 12-16 21-17
- Minotaur 12-16 21-17 9-14. Named by Richard Fortman, and rare until openings were picked at random. A little risky for both sides.
23-18
Pink answers 12-16 with 23-18. It has no name of its own, but it’s a sound reply that you’ll meet.
The main line Checky teaches: 12-16 23-18 10-15 21-17 9-13 24-20 8-12 17-14 16-19.
22-18
Pink answers 12-16 with 22-18. It has no name of its own, but it’s a sound reply that you’ll meet.
The main line Checky teaches: 12-16 22-18 16-20 25-22 8-12 24-19 4-8 22-17 9-14 18x9 5x14.
22-17
Pink answers 12-16 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: 12-16 22-17 16-20 17-14 9x18 23x14 10x17 21x14 6-9.
Trap: Ink’s 14-18
After 12-16 22-17 16-20 17-13 9-14 24-19 8-12 25-22, Ink’s 14-18 looks natural, but it loses a man to 22x15x8 4x11. You play Pink here: find the punishment.
Learn this opening in Checky24-19
Pink answers 12-16 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: 12-16 24-19 16-20 22-18 11-15 18x11 8x15x24 28x19 4-8.
Learn the Dundee in Checky
Checky’s Openings teach the Dundee one line at a time: 23 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 Dundee in checkers?
It’s the first move 12-16, where Ink moves the man on 12 to 16. One of Ink’s weaker first moves. Pink’s strongest reply is 24-20, which cramps Ink’s side of the board.
What can Pink play against 12-16?
Pink’s sound replies are 24-20, 21-17 (Dundee-Switcher), 23-18, 22-18, 22-17, 24-19. Each one is shown above with its main line.
How do I learn the Dundee?
Learn one reply at a time, starting with its main line. Checky’s Openings teach them move by move, then test you on them.
