Openings

Kelso (10-15)

Named after the Scottish town whose players made it popular. It’s one of Ink’s better first moves. 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

Kelso is the first move 10-15: Ink moves the man on 10 to 15. Pink’s sound replies are 21-17, 22-17 (Kelso Dyke), 23-18 (Kelso Cross), 24-20 (Kelso-Lassie), 23-19, 22-18 (Kelso Single), 24-19 (Kelso Exchange). Their lines have 5 traps worth knowing, below.

The first move

Written 10-15, it means Ink moves the man on square 10 to square 15. Pink has 7 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 10-15, Kelso — Kelso: 10-15.

21-17

Pink answers 10-15 with 21-17. It has no name of its own, but it’s a sound reply that you’ll meet.

The main line Checky teaches: 10-15 21-17 9-13 17-14 11-16 24-19 15x24 28x19 8-11.

The checkers opening 10-15 21-17 — The main line after 10-15 21-17.

Named openings after 10-15 21-17

Octopus 10-15 21-17 7-10. Named by Willie Ryan, and one of the hardest tournament lines for Ink. Pink’s 17-14 is the strongest attack.
Tyne 10-15 21-17 9-13. Probably named after the English river, back in 1869. It’s another very hard line for Ink.
Albion 10-15 21-17 6-10 17-13 1-6. An old poetic name for England. Players used this Kelso road long before openings were picked at random.

22-17: the Kelso Dyke

The Dyke reply, played against the Kelso. Ink’s main answer is 11-16.

The main line Checky teaches: 10-15 22-17 15-19 24x15 11x18 23x14 9x18 17-13 5-9.

The checkers opening 10-15 22-17, the Kelso Dyke — The main line after 10-15 22-17.

Named openings after 10-15 22-17

Skull Cracker 10-15 22-17 15-19. One of Ink’s hardest lines, named by Lee Munger. Pink should take 24x15, and forced jumps follow.
Nutcracker 10-15 22-17 9-14 17x10 7x14. The most famous barred opening. Willie Ryan showed it loses for Ink, and it was voted out in 1937.

Trap: Ink’s 7-10

After 10-15 22-17 15-19 24x15 11x18 23x14 9x18 26-23, Ink’s 7-10 looks natural, but it loses a man to 23x14x7 2x11. You play Pink here: find the punishment.

A checkers position where Ink has just played 7-10

23-18: the Kelso Cross

The Cross reply, played against the Kelso. Ink’s two main answers are 12-16 and 7-10.

The main line Checky teaches: 10-15 23-18 7-10 27-23 3-7 24-20 15-19 23x16 12x19.

The checkers opening 10-15 23-18, the Kelso Cross — The main line after 10-15 23-18.

Named openings after 10-15 23-18

Strickland’s Cross 10-15 23-18 7-10. Named after William Strickland, a blindfold champion and a noted analyst.
Goatgetter 10-15 23-18 6-10. A side road in the Kelso Cross. The book answer is 18-14, and three men each come off in a run of jumps.

Trap: Pink’s 23x16

After 10-15 23-18 7-10 27-23 3-7 24-20 9-13 28-24 15-19, Pink’s 23x16 looks natural, but it loses two men to 12x19x28. You play Ink here: find the punishment.

A checkers position where Pink has just played 23x16

24-20: the Kelso-Lassie

The Ayrshire Lassie’s reply, 24-20, played against the Kelso. Ink’s main answer is 15-19.

The main line Checky teaches: 10-15 24-20 15-19 23x16 12x19 27-24 7-10 24x15 10x19.

The checkers opening 10-15 24-20, the Kelso-Lassie — The main line after 10-15 24-20.

Trap: Pink’s 27-24

After 10-15 24-20 7-10 22-17 9-14 25-22 3-7 29-25 5-9, Pink’s 27-24 looks natural, but it loses a man to 9-13 24-19 15x24 28x19 11-16 20x11 8x15x24. You play Ink here: find the punishment.

A checkers position where Pink has just played 27-24

23-19

Pink answers 10-15 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: 10-15 23-19 6-10 26-23 9-13 23-18 11-16 18x11 16x23 27x18 8x15 18x11 7x16.

The checkers opening 10-15 23-19 — The main line after 10-15 23-19.

Named openings after 10-15 23-19

Gemini 2 10-15 23-19 11-16 19x10. The twin of Gemini 1 in the Denny, and rated very hard for Ink. It only joined the tournament list in 2003.

Trap: Ink’s 12-16

After 10-15 23-19 6-10 22-17 1-6 25-22, Ink’s 12-16 looks natural, but it loses a man to 19x12. You play Pink here: find the punishment.

A checkers position where Ink has just played 12-16

Trap: Pink’s 24-20

After 10-15 23-19 6-10 26-23 9-13 23-18 5-9, Pink’s 24-20 looks natural, but it loses a man to 15x24 28x19 11-15 18x11 8x15x24. You play Ink here: find the punishment.

A checkers position where Pink has just played 24-20

22-18: the Kelso Single

An early swap, like the Single Corner. 25x18 is the only good way for Pink to take back.

The main line Checky teaches: 10-15 22-18 15x22 25x18 11-15 18x11 8x15 21-17 4-8.

The checkers opening 10-15 22-18, the Kelso Single — The main line after 10-15 22-18.

24-19: the Kelso Exchange

Another early swap. Pink’s book recapture is 28x19.

The main line Checky teaches: 10-15 24-19 15x24 28x19 6-10 22-18 11-15 18x11 8x15x24 27x20 4-8.

The checkers opening 10-15 24-19, the Kelso Exchange — The main line after 10-15 24-19.

Learn the Kelso in Checky

Checky’s Openings teach the Kelso one line at a time: 26 lines for Ink across 7 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 Kelso in checkers?

It’s the first move 10-15, where Ink moves the man on 10 to 15. Named after the Scottish town whose players made it popular. It’s one of Ink’s better first moves.

What can Pink play against 10-15?

Pink’s sound replies are 21-17, 22-17 (Kelso Dyke), 23-18 (Kelso Cross), 24-20 (Kelso-Lassie), 23-19, 22-18 (Kelso Single), 24-19 (Kelso Exchange). Each one is shown above with its main line.

How do I learn the Kelso?

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