Openings
Edinburgh (9-13)
By most accounts Ink’s weakest first move, though it’s popular with people learning the game. Here’s every sound reply, the line Checky teaches for each, and where it goes wrong.
Short answer
Edinburgh is the first move 9-13: Ink moves the man on 9 to 13. Pink’s sound replies are 22-18 (Downfall), 23-18 (Edinburgh Cross), 24-20, 24-19, 23-19, 22-17.
The first move
Written 9-13, it means Ink moves the man on square 9 to square 13. 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 Downfall
Pink’s best reply to Ink’s weakest first move, which explains the name. The book answer is 10-15.
The main line Checky teaches: 9-13 22-18 10-15 25-22 6-10 23-19 11-16 18x11 16x23 27x18 8x15 18x11 7x16.
Named openings after 9-13 22-18
- Dreaded Edinburgh 9-13 22-18 6-9. One of the most studied lines outside Old Faithful. Martins brought in 6-9 against Wyllie in 1872.
- Henderson 9-13 22-18 10-15. Widely rated Ink’s second-best answer to 22-18. Hugh Henderson worked out much of the play.
- Inferno 9-13 22-18 10-14 18x9 5x14. Worked out in the 1930s and thought to lose for Ink, it took more than 60 years to get back on the tournament list.
- Edinburgh Single 9-13 22-18 11-15 18x11. One of the hardest of all tournament lines for Ink. 8x15 is the right way to take: 7x16 loses.
- Wilderness 1 9-13 22-18 11-16. One of three related lines that were long thought to lose for Ink. Pink’s 18-14 is the strongest attack.
23-18: the Edinburgh Cross
The Cross reply, played against the Edinburgh. Ink’s main answer is 5-9.
The main line Checky teaches: 9-13 23-18 11-16 18-14 10x17 21x14 6-9 26-23 9x18 23x14 8-11.
Named openings after 9-13 23-18
- Wilderness 2 9-13 23-18 11-16. Marion Tinsley thought this one lost for Ink, but a defence was found, full of moves that have to be exact.
24-20
Pink answers 9-13 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: 9-13 24-20 11-16 20x11 8x15 23-18 3-8 18x11 8x15.
Named openings after 9-13 24-20
- Twilight Zone 9-13 24-20 11-16 20x11. Analysed and named by Dennis Cayton, and added to the tournament list in 2003. The book recapture is 8x15.
24-19
Pink answers 9-13 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: 9-13 24-19 10-14 22-18 6-10 18x9 5x14 25-22 11-15.
Named openings after 9-13 24-19
- New Edinburgh 9-13 24-19 10-14. Barred from tournaments after 1931, and little played before that. Pink’s main answer is 22-18.
23-19
Pink answers 9-13 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: 9-13 23-19 10-15 19x10 6x15 26-23 7-10 24-20 3-7.
Named openings after 9-13 23-19
- Garter Snake 9-13 23-19 10-15 19x10. Named by Richard Fortman for its likeness to the barred Rattlesnake. Tournaments took it up in 2003.
22-17
Pink answers 9-13 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: 9-13 22-17 13x22 25x18 11-15 18x11 8x15 29-25 4-8.
Learn the Edinburgh in Checky
Checky’s Openings teach the Edinburgh one line at a time: 21 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 Edinburgh in checkers?
It’s the first move 9-13, where Ink moves the man on 9 to 13. By most accounts Ink’s weakest first move, though it’s popular with people learning the game.
What can Pink play against 9-13?
Pink’s sound replies are 22-18 (Downfall), 23-18 (Edinburgh Cross), 24-20, 24-19, 23-19, 22-17. Each one is shown above with its main line.
How do I learn the Edinburgh?
Learn one reply at a time, starting with its main line. Checky’s Openings teach them move by move, then test you on them.
