Checkers

This document provides the documentation and usage instructions for the DECUS FOCAL program 'Checkers' (FOCAL8-149), written by Paul M. Klinkman for the PDP-8 in 1971. The program simulates a game of checkers on an 8x8 board. Key features include:

• Gameplay Logic: The computer evaluates board spaces, determines legal moves and jumps, and prioritizes 'thrusting' checkers forward to gain a tactical advantage.
• Interface: The program prints the board to the terminal using specific characters (C, O, Q, K, #) to represent checkers, queens, and empty spaces.
• Implementation Details: Due to limited memory, the program uses a specific storage optimization for board spaces and requires the player to enter moves based on coordinates defined in the program comments.
• Constraints: The software has limited capacity for handling input validation for illegal moves and provides no formal feedback for victory or defeat.