SOLVING CHECKERS: FIRST RESULT

Abstract

The game of checkers (8×8 draughts) has a search space of roughly 500 billion billion positions (5×l0²⁰). There are 174 three-move (or ply) openings in checkers. This paper reports that the much-feared White Doctor opening has been solved—it is a draw. This is the first checkers opening to have its perfect-play result determined. Roughly 50 openings need to be solved before the game-theoretic value of the initial position of the game can be determined. The only hurdle remaining to complete the goal of solving checkers is computing resources.