# American Pool Checkers

American Pool Checkers, also called "American Pool", is a variant of draughts, mainly played in the mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States and in Puerto Rico.

## Basic rules

As in the related game English draughts (also known as American checkers or straight checkers), the game is played on an 8x8 board with the double corner (corner without a checker) to each player's right. The dark pieces player starts the game by making the first move. One difference from the rules of English checkers is that a piece may capture both forward and backward. A player must capture an opponent's checker when possible (both forward and backward), but if two possibilities exist, the player may choose the sequence (even if one sequence has more jumps). The pieces are not removed until all jumps are completed and the player's hand is removed from his piece. A player may not capture an opponent more than one time. A player may not capture his own pieces.
Another difference is that kings are flying kings, which means that a king can jump any number of squares forward and backward. A king can make right turns after a jump and continue along another path after successfully taking an opponent. A king must also make all the possible jumps during a sequence. If the condition arises that one player has three kings and the other has just one king, the player who has the three kings must win within thirteen moves (even if the fourteenth move is a capture).

## Past champions of the American Pool Checker Association

Names of champions in the several divisions are listed with the APCA club that they represent.
All Tournament Results 2005–2019
Championship Divisions :
| Year / Place | Top Master | Master | Junior Master | Gold Bar | Blue Ribbon |
| 2019 Memphis, Tennessee | Al "Eastpoint" Alfred Barnett, Sparta, Georgia | James Lyles, Georgia | Antony Tanqwa | George Dozier, Memphis, Tennessee | Nolan McCaskill |
| 2018 Baltimore, Maryland | Al "Eastpoint" Alfred Barnett, Sparta, Georgia | Michael Tramaine Adkins, Alapaha, Georgia | General Owens, Chicago, Illinois | Charles Smith, Bartlett, Tennessee | Robbie Mason |
| 2017 Chicago, Illinois | Al "Eastpoint" Alfred Barnett, Sparta, Georgia | Derrick Williams, Memphis, Tennessee | Kemraj Rambarr, New Jersey | Sonny Towns, Trotwood, Ohio | Charles Smith, Memphis, Tennessee |
| 2016 Durham, North Carolina | Al "Eastpoint" Alfred Barnett, Sparta, Georgia | Charlie Williams, Kentucky | Joe Davis, Louisburg, North Carolina | Booker Neely, Mantee, Mississippi | James McQuay, Jacksonville, Florida |
| 2015 Albany, Georgia | Al "Eastpoint" Alfred Barnett, Sparta, Georgia | Eugene "Sailorboy" McCloud, Moultrie, Georgia | James Lyles, Georgia | Ronald Jackson, Macon, Georgia | Stevie L. Scott, Lakeland Florida |
| 2014 Memphis, Tennessee | Al "Eastpoint" Alfred Barnett, Sparta, Georgia | Freddie Welcher, Augusta, Georgia | Derrick Williams, Memphis, Tennessee | Joe Davis, Louisburg, North Carolina | Kenneth Jones, Havana, Florida |
| 2013 Columbia, South Carolina | Calvin Monroe, Atlanta, Georgia Al "Eastpoint" Alfred Barnett, Sparta, Georgia | Carlye Lasane, Columbia, South Carolina | Alexander McNair, Durham, North Carolina | Michael Tramaine Adkins, Alapaha, Georgia | Cornelius McCleod, South Carolina |
| 2012 Atlanta, Georgia | Al "Eastpoint" Alfred Barnett, Sparta, Georgia | Michael Weaver, Washington, D.C. | Alex Issac, Darlington, South Carolina | Derrick Williams, Memphis, Tennessee | Walter A. Adams, Atlanta, Georgia |
| 2011 Columbus, Ohio | Calvin Monroe, Atlanta, Georgia | Fred D. Shurn, Chicago, Illinois | Michael Weaver, Washington, D.C. | Khemraj Rambarran, Washington, D.C. | Robert Firstlist, St. Louis, Missouri |
| 2010 Durham, North Carolina | Al "Eastpoint" Alfred Barnett, Atlanta, Georgia Calvin Monroe, Atlanta, Georgia | Tim Moore, Durham, North Carolina | Toney Simuel, Washington, D.C. | Michael Weaver, Washington, D.C. | William Wilkerson, Durham, NC |
| 2009 Washington, D.C. | Calvin Monroe, Atlanta, Georgia | Kim Williams, Washington, D.C. | Thomas Fletcher, Washington, D.C. | Toney Simuel, Washington, D.C. | William Ham Apex, North Carolina |
| 2008 Chicago, Illinois | Calvin Monroe, Atlanta, Georgia | Arthur McCarr, Tampa, Florida | Kim Williams, Washington, D.C. | General Owens, Chicago, Illinois | Joe Davis, Louisburg, NC |
| 2007 Chicago | Al Lambert, Chicago, Illinois | Clinton Thang & David Jackson Macon, GA | Gregory Green, Macon, Georgia | Kim Williams, Virginia Beach, Va. | Derrick Williams, Memphis, Tennessee |
| 2006 Columbus, Ohio | Calvin Monroe, Atlanta, Georgia | John Williams, Washington, D.C. | Larry Lindsay, Piedmont | Tommie Ferrell, Athens, Georgia | Keith Brown, St. Louis, Missouri |
| 2005 Atlanta, Georgia | Al "Eastpoint" Alfred Barnett, Sparta, Georgia Calvin Monroe, Atlanta, Georgia | Willie Robinson, Atlanta, Georgia | Hammond Clark, Atlanta, Georgia | Reggie King, Miami, Florida | Toney Simuel, Atlanta, Georgia |
| 2004 Memphis, Tennessee | Calvin Monroe, Atlanta, Georgia | Edward Danzy, Detroit, Michigan | Jessie Sherfield, Memphis, Tennessee | Freddie Lambert, Durham, NC | Robert Hunt, Miami, Florida |
| 2003 Atlanta, Georgia | Al "Eastpoint" Alfred Barnett, Sparta, Georgia | Homer King, Macon | Edward Danzy, Detroit, Michigan | Alexander McNair, Piedmont | Alexander Eley, Atlanta, Georgia |
| 2002 Washington, D.C. | Calvin Monroe Georgia Charlie Brown, Baltimore Alexander Katz, New York | Albert Harrison, North Carolina Joe Wilson, Memphis, Tennessee | John Williams, Washington, D.C. | Robert N. Johnson, Piedmont | Michael Weaver, Washington, D.C. |
| 2000 Columbus, Ohio | Ion Dosca, Moldova | Clorius Lay, Gary | Arthur McCarr, Tampa | Keith Goodman, Atlanta, Georgia | Lynwood Tharrington, Piedmont |
| 1999 Memphis, Tennessee | Al "Eastpoint" Alfred Barnett, Sparta, Georgia | Frank Cox, Bahamas | Donald Jackson, Macon | Emmett Smith, Georgia | James Lanier, Piedmont |
| 1998 Atlanta, Georgia | Al "Eastpoint" Alfred Barnett, Sparta, Georgia | Louis Rufus, St. Louis | David Jackson, Macon | Timothy Moore, Piedmont | Vilner Philippe, Bahamas Emanuel Rogers, St. Louis |
| 1997 Flint, Michigan | Al "Eastpoint" Alfred Barnett, Sparta, Georgia | Alex Golodets, Memphis, Tennessee | Joseph Wilson, Memphis, Tennessee | Willie Robinson, Midwest, Ohio | Elliott Eley, St. Louis |
| 1996 Houston, Texas | Al "Eastpoint" Alfred Barnett, Sparta, Georgia | Anatoliy Grupin, Los Angeles, California Anthony Simmons, Georgia | Servin Hanna, Bahamas | Chauncey Smith, St. Louis | Timothy Moore, Piedmont |
| 1995 Augusta, Georgia | Al "Eastpoint" Alfred Barnett, Sparta, Georgia Elton Williams, Flint | Vincent 'Dino' Dean, Bahamas | Freddie Welcher, Augusta | Gary Watson, Florida | Eugene Davis, Georgia |
| 1994 Winston-Salem, North Carolina | Calvin Monroe, Georgia | Timothy Irving, Houston, Texas | Fred Shurn, Chicago, Illinois | Rodger Knowles, Bahamas | William Byrant, Piedmont |
| 1993 Petal, Mississippi | Elton Williams, Flint | Orlando Williams, Chicago, Illinois | Anatoliy Grupin, Los Angeles, California | Wayne Lockheart, Toledo, Ohio | Clinton Murphy, Georgia |
| 1992 Nassau, Bahamas | Carl Smith, Chicago, Illinois Andrew Frazier, Bahamas | Charles Hudson, Detroit, Michigan | Michael Williams, Bahamas | Leonard Bains, Bahamas | General Owens, Chicago, Illinois |
| 1991 Los Angeles, California | Carl Smith, Chicago, Illinois | Melvin Martin, NA | Frank Cox, Bahamas | Therman Earnest, Chicago, Illinois | Joe Bailey, LA |
| 1990 Atlanta, Georgia | Iser Kuperman, Midwest, Ohio | Simon Levine, NA | Willie Robinson, Georgia | Obie Rufus, Memphis, Tennessee | Leonard Bain, Bahamas |
| 1989 Columbus, Ohio | Iser Kuperman, NA | Valentine Cox, Bahamas | Nelson Moore, St. Louis | Clifford Johnson, Chicago, Illinois | Crover Kennedy, LA Christopher Stinson, LA |
| 1988 Detroit, Michigan | Iser Kuperman, NA | Sylvester Wilson, NA Al Lambert, Chicago, Illinois | Orlando Williams, Chicago, Illinois | Fred Shurn, Chicago, Illinois | Joseph Capers, Detroit, Michigan |
| 1987 Memphis, Tennessee | Iser Kuperman, Bahamas | Henry Stokes, Memphis, Tennessee | Albert Harrison, Winston-Salem | Jessie Sheffield, Memphis, Tennessee | Fred Shurn, Chicago, Illinois |
| 1986 St. Louis, Missouri | Iser Kuperman, Bahamas | Henry Miller, Georgia Andrew Frazier, Bahamas | Valentine Cox, Bahamas | Frank Cox, Bahamas | Garland Kilpatrick, LA |
| 1985 Dayton, Ohio | Iser Kuperman, Bahamas | James Garrett, Winston-Salem | Andrew Frazier, Bahamas | Robert Butler, Bahamas | Eddie Smith, Chicago, Illinois |
| 1984 Nassau, Bahamas | Iser Kuperman, Bahamas | Neil Wright, NA | James Chambers, Bahamas | Andrew Frazier, Bahamas | Roger Knowles, NA |
| 1983 Chicago, Illinois | Carl Smith, Chicago, Illinois | George Briscoe, Berston/Flint | Al Lambert, Chicago, Illinois | Louis Rufus, St. Louis | Wayne Lockheart, Toledo, Ohio |
| 1982 Akron, Ohio | Carl Smith, Chicago, Illinois | James Shell, Georgia | Eugene Hampton, Berston/Flint | Valentine Cox, Bahamas | Sylvester Wilson, Berston/Flint |
| 1981 Memphis, Tennessee | Momodou Fall, Georgia | James Stone, Georgia | Homer King, Georgia | McBee Smith, Cleveland, Ohio | Robert Johnson, Chicago, Illinois |
| 1980 Washington, D.C. | Momodou Faal, Georgia | Rembert Ford, Detroit Parmalee McClammey, Brooklyn | Bobby Hodo, Chicago, Illinois | Dan Flowers, Detroit, Michigan | Prince Garland, Washington |
| 1979 Winston-Salem, North Carolina | Momodou Faal, Georgia Vladimir Kaplan, N.Y. Dream Elton Williams, Berston/Flint | Larry Stepter, Memphis, Tennessee | Parmalee McClammey, Brooklyn | Bobby Hodo, Chicago, Illinois | Emory Myrick, Brooklyn |
| 1978 Detroit, Michigan | Vladimir Kaplan, N.Y. Dream | Jesse Hurst, Memphis, Tennessee | Charles Hudson, Detroit, Michigan | Ben Rice, Detroit, Michigan | Johnny Jamerson, Piedmont |
| 1977 Atlanta, Georgia | Vladimir Kaplan, N.Y. Dream | Joel Marshall, Georgia | C.P. Rudy, N.Y. Dream | Parmalee McClammey, Brooklyn | Bobby Hodo, Detroit, Michigan |
| 1976 Memphis, Tennessee | Carl Smith, Chicago, Illinois | Raleigh Taylor, Brooklyn | James Sharp, Chicago, Illinois | Luther Murray, Detroit, Michigan | Jesse Sheffield, Memphis, Tennessee |
| 1975 Chicago, Illinois | Carl Smith, Chicago, Illinois | Ohio Mitchell, Chicago, Illinois | Larry Stepter, Memphis, Tennessee | Stephen Trader, Harlem Pk. | S. Saneigeyman, Cleveland, Ohio |
| 1974 St. Louis, Missouri | Carl Smith, Chicago, Illinois | Charles McDuffie, St. Louis | Alex Femandez, Brooklyn | Jesse Galloway, N.Y. Dream | Leroy Thomas, Chicago, Illinois |
| 1973 New York, New York | Carl Smith, Chicago, Illinois | Elton Williams, Berston/Flint | Jasper Grayson, NA | Alex Femandez, Brooklyn | Stephen Trader, Harlem Pk. |
| 1972 Detroit, Michigan | Carl Smith, Chicago, Illinois | See Top Masters | Elton Williams, Berston/Flint | Charles Florene, Chicago, Illinois | Ray Lawrence, N.Y. Dream |
| 1971 Flint, Michigan | Victor Krafft, Chicago, Illinois Ollie Howard, N.Y. Dream | See Top Masters | Joel Marshall, Georgia | Elton Williams, Berston/Flint | Eddie Reynolds, Cleveland, Ohio |
| 1970 Cleveland, Ohio | Carl Smith, Chicago, Illinois | Carl Smith, Chicago, Illinois | Wood Williamson, Detroit, Michigan | Rudy Slade, N.Y. Dream | Elton Williams, Berston/Flint |
| 1969 Atlanta, Georgia | William Langley, Detroit, Michigan | Carl Smith, Chicago, Illinois | Frank Mitchell, Georgia | James Turner, Detroit, Michigan | Archie Hinton, Georgia |
| 1968 Detroit, Michigan | Charlie Carter, Georgia | Carl Smith, Chicago, Illinois | Ben White, Detroit, Michigan | Pierce Towns, Georgia | Walter Hall, Berston/Flint |
| 1967 Detroit, Michigan | Carl Smith, Chicago, Illinois | George Lyons, Cleveland | James Shell, Georgia | Howard Jackson, Georgia | Michael Jordan, Georgia |
| 1966 Detroit, Michigan | George Sykes, Detroit, Michigan | George Sykes, Detroit, Michigan | Rembert Ford, Detroit, Michigan | Howard Jackson, Georgia | Michael Jordan, Georgia |