Checkers

Yesterday I had to spend a bit of time teaching and supporting the teachers of a "special" class of students from grades 1-3 (6ish to 8ish). I had to take one of the kids to the library for half an hour to do some assisted reading. We made a deal that if he read the books, we could play Checkers afterwards.

He was able to read most of the books alright, even though he was picking most of the nouns from the pictures. I almost started a war though by correcting him when the picture looked like a seal (turns out their only notable, visible difference in a stationary, black & white picture is that sea lions' ears are out and seals just have holes).

It was a sea lion. I showed him the word for lion, back a few pages and showed him how the words were the same, but one had "sea"out the front. Nup, I was wrong, he was right. It was a sea lion. I think eventually he just said sea lion to shut me up.

Seal - grey, no visible ear flaps.

Sea lion - brown, visible ear flaps. Also spelt with "lion".

Lion of Flanders :)

Checkers was next up and this is where the "fun" really started.

Rule amendment #1: You put the crown side of the checker face up, even though indicates it is a piece that can go forwards and backwards.

Rule amendment #2: Even though he was the black team, he got to go first.

Rule amendment #3: When you take a piece, you have to hit it as hard as possible with your own piece sending all the other pieces ricocheting all over the place.

Rule amendment #4: If you're about to take a turn that would see you putting your piece in danger, the other person gets to go if you please. Note, opposing playing cannot reciprocate.

Rule amendment #5: The first player to take 6 pieces from the other player wins.

Rule amendment #6: It is ok to beg your opponent not to take your piece and instead take the opponent's piece on the very next turn. Oh, and chastise them for "taking you on".

Rule amendment #7: In fact, #5 is the only way you can take a piece (but again, not your opponent).

Rule amendment #8: If your opponent does manage to take one of your pieces, simply place it back on the board telling them that it wasn't their turn, even if it was.

Rule amendment #9: Only the player making up the rules can move his/her piece backwards without first getting it to the end of the board. I saw this one coming after #1.

Rule amendment #10: Rule #3 can be repeated until amender is satisfied.

Rule amendment #11: If amender's piece is moved so that it is in a corresponding square to opponent's piece, you can take it, since the aim of the game is to make beside then whack it from the board. Opponent must still only take pieces by jumping over amender's pieces.

Rule amendment #12: If you win, you get up and run away immediately.

I was up against it.

I've played against a sibling that would "mysteriously" accuse in Cluedo before anyone had taken a turn and get it right on regular occasions (until they wised up and did it a few turns in), but this was a step above.

I have a problem: I hate losing. Be it a computer game, triathlon, or not perfecting a skill, I can't handle it. I am the type of person who will do it endlessly until I've finally got it right. This is the problem I've had with triathlon: I've never been the winner. It's been the dominant motivation in my life for over 10 years now, my need to get it right.

That's why this is such a big year for me. This is an occasion where I'm drawing a line in the sand and saying if you don't get it right this year, you have to give up. It's been a fantastic motivator. There's possibly only six months left of this sport I love competing in and my very own nature will eat me up if I don't "get it right".

Safe to say, despite my need to win, even little board games, I felt no need to go through another game of Checkers with the kid.