Checker tournaments were held regularly at Cove Creek Farm during the 1950s and 1960s. On any Sunday afternoon during the three tolerable seasons of spring, summer, and fall, teams of men dotted the lawn of the Bingham house and lined the porch, facing each other across checker boards, sitting on cane-bottomed, ladder-backed chairs.

Uncle Clyde, dapper in his three-piece suit and wing-tip shoes, sat tall and thin, quiet; a knitted brow betrayed his determined and sometimes successful strategy. Neighbor Olis was the extrovert who shouted, “Crown my rooster! I say, crown my rooster!” every time he attained a king. Incompetent checker-player Cousin Ned looked astonished at his opponent’s every move; his be-speckled brown eyes peered unbelieving at his own defeat. Cousin Chalmer and Uncle Joe were the spectators. Once or twice I saw them play, but mostly they were content to merely observe. Uncle Fin was there for the party. Win or lose, he played every game with a grin and a sparkle in his blue eyes.

Uncle Bob was the humble champion. Bent with arthritis, he folded his small body over the board. He crossed his legs and placed his hand over his chin in a disarming posture. He responded to the moves of his opponents with a somewhat surprised snort, “Hmmph . . .” as if he hadn’t been paying attention. Seemingly unconcerned, his poker face belied his concentration. As soon as his challenger was brimming with confidence, Uncle Bob would move with a multiple jump all the way across the board, and Wham! render his opponent nearly checkerless and unable to recover!

Uncle Bob could see all the way to the end of a game of checkers. He was checker poetry in motion, a marvel. He tried to teach my sister and me the art of checkers, but neither of us could master it. I think we were intimidated. We were so in awe we could not learn.

Uncle Bob was our fun, unassuming little playmate until he got behind a checker board. At that point, he was transformed into a wizard, the Merlin of the game of checkers. We didn’t know him then.

This set, created with dramatic black line agate and sterling silver, hand-knotted with strong jeweler’s thread, will take you from the checker tournaments of Cove Creek to the gaming tables of Las Vegas. The bracelet is 8 inches long and fits my average wrist with a fashionable drape.

Please see matching pieces in the necklace and earring categories, or see the entire Checkers Ensemble and save!