Hey I am far from having my rating at the top of the list

exactly Ed!!! There is no way you can play the game without a forced jump it could go on forever. Not a good idea!! :o)

I personally would not like to play in checkers if there was no forced jumping. The only time I do not want to jump is when I made a really bad mistake, because I usually lose two or more pieces. lol

I have never heard of someone not taking the jump even when I was a kid we played it that way.

I do not understand about using checkers engines and such. Why not just buy a book and checker board and study your little heart out?? It may take a long time to do it and try to somewhat understand it, but using programs etc, is just not a sporting way of playing the game.

My thoughts anyway :oD

I would like to know why any colour can go first on here, but in a proper game black always goes first :o)