Scientists solve Checkers...I still have a ways to go

U of A Professors have proved that they can beat any human being in Checkers

Chinook Proof

You can even play Chinook
Alberta researchers solve checkers

SHANNON MONTGOMERY

Canadian Press

July 19, 2007 at 2:54 PM EDT

EDMONTON — It's taken dozens of computers humming away for almost 18 years, but a University of Alberta team has finally solved every possible game of checkers and concluded that as long as no mistakes are made, the game will end in a draw.

The popular game may be simple to play, but it holds a potential 500 billion billion positions. That's one million times more complicated than any other game solved before, says Jonathan Schaeffer, the computer science professor who began the project in 1989.

“In hindsight, it was ludicrous. Why tackle something a million times bigger?” said the wiry-haired academic. “Maybe there's a little bit of craziness there.”